Thursday, 26th November, 1981 sunny and warm
Collected washing from the line - all dried. Went for a stroll along the beachfront of
camping area. Then started on the long
trek to
Decided to have a ferry ride to cut off 20 km
for John. Bumped our way down to Doca de
Recrio to the ferry boat. Sandra asked
fellow where is so and so trying to speak Portuguese and he said "oh ferry
boat" we drove aboard with fish trucks, taxi and cars plus passengers. Cost 15 escudos per person plus 150 escudos
for the car. Left the
Just outside of Santiago de Cacem we stopped for lunch on side of road
in the country. Sean said “here’s a dog
mum" Sandra said “his owner probably sent him to spy out the
land". Well a few minutes later we
nearly died when down the road came an old man - no teeth, bandy legs, five
o'clock beard, dressed in black carrying a basket and beside him a little girl
in white. He had a dozen eggs in an old
basket and the little girl held up the paper with 80 escudos on it. Well after much discussion we bought them and
off he went after thanks. Then about
five minutes later we nearly died, back he wobbled with his grandchild and a
real live chook in his arms. Well talk
about a hassle - Sean reckons I had said yes I'll have a live chook. Well after much “no no nil comprende” off he
went with his live chook - we nearly had hysterics. They came from a nice, clean looking
house. The countryside looks better
here - and the villages take on a clean painted look - not as neglected looking as
further north. The churches and castles
are Gothic and Romanesque here in
On down through Cercal - the road has not improved - large
Kids went mad, had a swim and a go on the swings and a long
walk to Praia de Luz. It is a lovely
camp and it's great to see the kids frolicking and enjoying themselves. Met Robert and Cheryl - a couple we met in
Madrid - who went the opposite way to us in Spain - they came in for a gossip and
drink so it was late before we settled.
 |
| Algarve, Portugal |
Up fairly early eager to take in sunlight and relaxing day. Put the washing into the laundress -they do it for 25 escudos a kilo - had to wait till the shop opened for bread and milk for brekkie and I was waiting for the laundress to come at 9 a.m. and they were halfway talking - they are so casual doesn't matter if they are 15 minutes late.
After breakfast
went to ring Karen - you approached the Portuguese telephone service with
trepidation - takes about two hours for a phone call. They knit and talk and you fume. Well it only took two hours from woe to
go - was great to hear Karen's voice and know she is okay and Tony, it must have
been traumatic - funny all we were doing was worrying about them and all they
were doing was worrying about us. Time
should start to heal now we have spoken to Karen. Packed up and headed for the pool and have
been here since 11:30 a.m. There is a
slight breeze from the Gulf but the Costa de Sol is trying hard to please us.
Rae and Sean have frolicked in the water nearly all the
time - San did two laps with determination to lose weight but the cold and
exertion was too much - she came out chilled all over. I thought she would faint, so easy does it
for her tomorrow. They are all going to
play tennis later on with Robert and Cheryl.
Have written to Karen, Bev, Ian and Libby.
Saw a funny thing at the
Decided we would have a pizza for tea, drove a few
kilometres to the
Sandra had half the chicken, I had fish fillets, chips and
salad, Sean, John and Rae had pizzas. We
discovered piri-piri sauce made from chilli - blow your mind!
Robert and Cheryl came in for another evening.
Saturday, 28th November, 1981 fine with wind 22°
I woke early in answer to bodily functions and a beautiful
day. Decided to go into
 |
| Praia de Luz |
Found a nice open-air bar, had a mineral water whilst
basking in the sun. Then stocked up on
our larder at the only supermarket.
Because there are so many English-speaking people here the shelves
abound with all the goodies we know, but too dear. Strolled round clothing market, beautiful
jumpers, tablecloths. Brought three
small towels -70 escudos each - to supplement the linen cupboard. Then home to lunch by the pool and a day of
rest.
John went over to the bar.
We all (kids and I) strolled across to the TV lounge. Watched a little Portuguese
entertainment. Didn't need words, could
follow the actions - home to bed.
Sunday, 29th November, 1981 fine and windy
After a sleep in we are all happy now the specialist in
 |
| Praia de Luz |
Lovely old church but no priest or parishioners so strolled down to the beach, had a cappuccino. Not many make it here. Then walked home about 20 minutes. We met an English couple-Graham and Christine with their little 18 month-old Danielle-they are on holidays in a larger van than ours and Christine is 33 weeks pregnant-game? Returning home on 17th of December.
After tea we walked across to the bar-kids love that and had
a coffee, a chat with Trudy and Brian-expatriate's and Graham and then home to
bed.
Every able male has a little 2 stroke and you hear-putt
putt- all day and night-one way to get around on the narrow roads.
The nice weather continues to hold. Decided we would join John on the beach but was too chilly for any length of time. The kids dug holes and generally had a good time whilst I strolled along the beach and waves. As it was a holiday on Tuesday - tomorrow - we had to buy food.
Back to lunch (salad, doorstops & ham) by the pool, a
swim. Have met some nice people here so
we are fortunate to have company. Washed
and had a reasonably early night after Sean and I won the battle of the van at
500. We have afternoon free. Tea.
Tuesday, 1st December, 1981 fine 22°
Still fine, warm weather - I sent Rae into the bar whilst we were lazing by the pool playing 500 - for 3 mineral waters and some Batata fritters, expecting a bag of chips - instead out came a large plate of hot chips, waited on and all for 50 escudos - about $.60. A holiday today so we are lounging by the pool - very hot. Brian and Trudy - the expats - are here, also our English friends Christine and Graham and their little one who is toddling around the pool - Christine has only seven weeks to go and they are far from home. Trudy is a great one on recipes so Sandra has found a soothing hobby copying recipes ready for a culinary attack on the family.
Trudy is a lovely person - we should see some more of them on
the road. John took us to the camp
restaurant for tea - very nice. Had a bad
time ordering, ended up with two extra plates of hot chips. Sandra and I had shrimp cocktail - beautiful - and ham omelette. The kids had veal, rice
and chips and pork slices, chips and rice.
We ended evening having coffee with Trudy and Brian - lots of laughs.
Wednesday, 2nd December 1981 fine but cool wind
Twenty three days to go til Christmas.
Decided to go into
We had fun in the markets, strolled around with our American
friends - they had arrived the night before and were staying at
Thursday, 3rd December, 1981 fine
We live so well - bran and yoghurt for breakfast - ham and
tomato rolls for lunch and chicken and veggies for tea, wine with every
meal - and sunshine - who could ask for anything more? Sandra and John went into
Last night we tried a Portuguese dish - Bacalhau - a salted
fish - which had to be soaked for 24 hours.
I held it in the bus coming home from
Friday, 4th December, 1981 fine and sunny
The English couple next to us are so outspoken and not very tactful - said they hadn't met any Australians who were educated and brown. A couple of whingers we think.
Have an exciting day down to bank this p.m. The bank closed at 2:30 p.m. and we left here
at 2:15 p.m. for the 1 1/2 kilometres run.
Ray and Elaine tooted us and picked us up then we didn't know the way to
the bank - pulled up and asked a local - he was so polite, picked him up too and he
directed us and just in time - they closed the doors as we entered. Were there 20 minutes - they are so casual.
We shopped, then strolled home to find new friends from New
Mexico -Titus and
Trudy and Brian came in after tea for drinks. Went home early. Trudy McIntosh is lovely - just like Miss Piggy
with dark hair. They are expatriates and
have been living together for nine years.
They are journalists.
Saturday fifth of December fine and sunny
Got up fed and dressed to go to the market - all in the van and turn on ignition and - nil, then the whole camp at Valverde became involved - advised in many languages, John quickly became confused - however with Sean in the driver's seat to clutch start and the league of nations pushing we didn't get to start, so John took over driver and another league of Nations pushed and away went the car to much clapping.
At last we must buy a new battery. Into town with a detour to see Trudy's beach
at
Back home, I cleaned the hundred sardines and redfin and had
just finished, with the assistance of my two apprentice fish cleaners when we
were called to lunch at Elaine and Ray's - chunks of bread, tomatoes, olives and
sardines (in the tin) and at the very end they bought out Vegemite - well imagine
the reaction of this Vegemite starved family.
We all had a slice, much to the amazement of our American friends who I
think thought we were mad.
Home to shower after our cleric brought out a hidden tape,
the devil. And out to the funniest
barbecue we've been to - Trudy and Brian fought all night - we sat around an
Australian campfire like bushies, then when it went out moved over to the
bar, where we were joined by five young Australians. Sean wanted to watch
Sunday, 6th December, 1981 rain a.m. fine the p.m.
Got up and prepared to leave. We are on the road again. John wanted to go to an airline conference he
saw in the "
After lots of good-byes we’re on the road again and made
Albuferia in good time then trouble began.
Couldn't find the way out of this maze of streets to the camp area. Eventually found Montichora hotel only to
find the conference was last month and the camp area was still in the process
of being built. Lunch outside this
multi-storey hotel then headed through Villamora to Quarteira through citrus
farms, but dry, arid drought bound area.
Here at Quarteira there are gum trees and stunted black olive trees - not
a blade of grass. The facilities are
clean and the little fellow opens the shower for you - as much hot water as you
like.
We played our number 1 battle of the van and after a mad
dash San & John won. We are still
not decided where and why as it depends on John getting money at American
Express in Faro. God bless.
Monday, 7th December, 1981 fine and sunny
We got up at 9 a.m. all had a good sleep - needed badly after
our continuous social life at Valverde.
Goodbye Quarteira on bumpy road to highway onto Faro where we double
parked while Sandra ran into American Express.
Faro is the capital of the
 |
| Faro, Portugal |
No messages, so on to Monte Gordo where we settled on a piece
of hard ground which was hard to find amongst all the sandy patches. No eucalyptus trees here.
Between Faro and the camp we saw a large drum on the back of
a donkey and cart being filled with diesel.
The old donkey is definitely a handy little animal here. Along the road a bit was a large sign
"accidents for the next hundred metres".
Walked up to beachfront.
All the souvenir vendor's were cut pricing for winter time. Sandra brought a lovely pure wool cardigan
for 400 escudos, half price. In
Tuesday, 8th December, 1981 fine
Got up reasonably early to hear
Sandra and Sean decided to run every morning now, well they
did get up this a.m. and jogged to the beach.
We had a visit from a couple who hope to go to
Wednesday, 9th December, 1981 rain
First rain in the
Setubal to Faro, Portugal
