Tuesday, 17th November, 1981 ... cont
-then on through to
Arrived Guarda to find camping "Ferme" (closed) so
decided to head for
John did a good job driving especially as later in the day
it began to drizzle. The countryside on
top of Sierra de Estrella was more lush than
Showered and into bed.
The difference in temperature is felt already. No long socks and pops pants in bed tonight.
Wednesday, 18th November, 1981 happy
birthday Amber
Awoke to the sounds of church bells. We all slept in as to quote Sean "thank
God for tired dads" John has cold so he slept in. The bells disturbed me during the night and
San had a restless night so we appreciated no rush. The sun is shining and it must be 20°. Did washing by hand like the women at the mountain and then into
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| Portugal dos Pequenitos |
We are now in Mateus Rosé country. Libby and Cathy would thrive here on it. Goodbye Olive and Christopher Columbus land and hello Vasco de Gama - Rosé and Port country.
The people are so friendly, willing to help and
understand. We had lunch in the
"dos Pequenitos” spent quite a time there.
Saw a lady with a basket of cakes there - persuaded me to buy one for
Sean and she let me photograph her. We
had our coffee in a nice clean cafe then Sean developed migraine so I took him
and Rae home whilst San and John went shopping.
Caught up on diary and book.
Very warm!
Thursday, 19th November, 1981 very warm
Got up, had breakfast with ease and off by 10:30 a.m. towards
Leiria. Decided to head for
Into Leiria at 11:59 a.m. where John took off for the
bank and we went to the tourist office.
Had lunch in streets. I caused a
stir every time I stepped out in my blue towelling tracksuit; one girl grabbed at
it and went into hysterics. All the way
down we saw the women in black carrying their baskets on their heads - they have strong
straight backs but all have big hips and sway backs. Women washing at local wash areas, clothes out
on ground. Oxen and donkeys pulling
carts. Even in the city of
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| Nazare, Portugal |
On the beach, hundreds of coloured small fishing boats wait
to take to sea - fishermen repair nets and women wear their national dress. Spent a pleasant hour wandering along the beachfront. Sandra and Rae brought sandals as it must be
20°- we are stripped to T-shirts and I brought a hand knitted white cardigan for 1000 escudos about $15 - local wool.
This morning we stopped at the mountain to look at pottery - this
area is known for pottery, woollen goods besides Mateus Rosé.
Had nice tea on arrival back at camp. Ready for bed - met a couple from
On to
Friday, 20th November, 1981 sunny and warm
Up after a lazy lie in - spent some time talking to a couple
from
On the way to “Parqur de Campismo" we passed along a
long avenue of shanties.
Saturday, 21st November, 1981
Here in the camp area there are more English-speaking people than anywhere. It is a huge area with a games room, TV, tennis, minigolf, washing machine, cafe, supermarket and post office. The weather is beautiful, so spent today, lazing, washing and sunbaking. Sean and I had a game of pool. Met this lady who looks after the washing machine. We spoke for three quarters of an hour and all I understood, was 5 p.m. is the knock off time. They employ a huge staff here. There are gardeners everywhere ladies in ablutions they do your washing for 42 escudos.
Met Titus and Charlotte Scholl - an American couple - he is a
Lutheran minister. We met through mutual
interest in papers and books.
Pat's Memories of Charlotte and Titus
We have been travelling for 5 months on our trip of a lifetime. We, being Sandra, my daughter, John, my son in law, Sean aged 12 and Rachelle 10 years old. at Lisbon in Portugal - Ou arrival at "Parque de Campiamo" we immediately began our search for English speaking travellers wanting to exchange books and papers - our last being Paris - that is how we met Titus and Charlotte. He gave us some of his papers and Charlotte - books. They were just like long-lost friends.
A great help to Sean & Rae next day when Sandra went into Lisbon to wish her Dad a happy birthday by phone - only to find he had just passed away. Titus and Charlotte helped us all!
We decided to find a quiet camping area and stay awhile to regain our equilibrium, so a teary farewell to T & C - we headed south to the Algarve and settled into "Valverde" in town to shop and found T & C doing the same. They were in "Trindade" camp area - but after our praises of "Valverde" they beat us home. We had many friendly eveings and day with them and our other new-found friends.
One day at lunch with another Aussie couple and Titus and Charlotte - Elaine brought out a jar of vegemite - if you knew what vegemite is to an Aussie, the first part of a baby's diet after mother's milk. We had many weeks before we finished our 3 kilo jar and were starved for it. Titus and Charlotte thought we were mad.
"If it's that good", he said "Charlotte & I will taste it!" Ugh - wry faces and screwed up noses resulted. We told them you had to be reared on it.
After a spaghetti lunch with T & C we continued on our way. Rae was crying buckets of tears. Charlotte and Titus had now become part of her family and every good bye was a wrench but every "hello" was their joy.
We arrived in home "camping Flaminio" and imagine our delight to find Titus and Charlotte there - we had missed them in Spain and at Christmans. As we drove into camp area we spotted the School van we all jumped out, leaving only our driver, to meet them.
They had spent time at Elche, so we weren't far in Spain away from us. They came in for a drink after tea and we caught up on all their travels - we talked non-stop for 3 hours. Titus took us all to "Tivoli" next day and we had the funniest afternoon. Our driver had to ask the way many times ere we arrived at Ville d'Este.
Darkness fell whilst we were visitng Adrianas Villa, so we missed the turn to Camp - we were going the wrong way, so first opportunity Titus swung the van to right side and were caught up in a traffic snarl - about 2 hours later we arrived home - his comical comments kept 2 tired kids and us laughing. We finished a pleasant day together with a cabbage salad and spaghetti dinner.
Another tearful goodbye to T & C
A couple of months passed before we met again. On awakening in "Obermenzig" camp in Munich, through the beautiful snowing dawn we saw T & C's van. The kids went berserk. Rachelle wrote in my diary in inch high littters
GUESS WHO IS HERE! TITUS AND CHARLOTTE, YIPPEE
We were sad to hear Titus hadnit been well and they were on their way home. However, we spent a lovely couple of days with them. Was glad they showed courage when we went through Dachau Concentration Camp. The next evening the kids decorated our van with farewells to the Scholls last tea with us - Next morn our last tearful good-by.
Though T & C only touched our lives spasmonically oin that year we all benefitted by know them and have many happy memories.
Sunday, 22nd November, 1981 RJ's day fine but overcast
Rose about 8:30 a.m. to our first overcast morning for awhile. Breakfasted, cut lunch and caught bus into town to catch the train to the coast to Cascais from Cais Do Sodne station. Lovely day - the train runs along beside the seaside all the way to Cascais. We had a rollercoaster ride into town on the bus. No speed limit on buses methinks, arrived at station and had little trouble finding our way and tickets though John was short-changed 50 escudos - he quickly adjusted that situation. Cost 70 escudos return - one dollar in our money. Cascais is a pleasant beachside resort, lots of fishing boats, women mending and making fishnets and a lot of tourist attractions.
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| Cascais, Portugal |
We spent a pleasant few hours wandering the seashore, then
back on narrow streets and decided to walk through new section along the
waterfront to Estoril two stations up.
On the way we found a Super Mercado opened - very busy so we strolled
through brought a few provisions, had our first coffee and cream, kids the
gelato, then caught the train back to town.
Monday, 23rd November, 1981 fine
but overcast
Haven't been into town yet. San and John have gone in today to see Dr, so spent the day catching up on books and letter writing. It rained a little last night. Met an American whilst washing at the lavabo and he gave me about 10 books - no exchange. We are always looking for book exchange. The kids are busy with their own devices. Sean has his nose in "Midnight Express" can't expect to hear much of him. Rae and I are sitting in the sun writing and reading - am anxiously awaiting Sandra and John to return as they are going to ring Bob for his birthday and see if Karen’s lump in the bosom is okay. You can only ring here through the Post Office - found that out after collecting hundreds of five escudos pieces.
Oh God what a black day it turned into. Bob died in his sleep at 3 a.m. Australian time. Just after his 58th birthday. Poor darling Sandra rang to wish him happy birthday and Jack answered - Jack was as stunned as Sandra because he thought we had been notified. Norma had to tell Sandra. They had to go onto the doctor who gave Sandra 2 by 24 hourly injections for hormones, so all should be well next week if this hasn't upset the balance again. They arrived home about 7 p.m. and had to break the news to us. Rae acted as expected and Sean took off breaking his heart. John found him later. Rae's heartache will be slower to heal as she is so emotional 11 year old. Was quite late before we settled and ate.
Tuesday, 24th November, 1981
Arose after a restless night, as we are anxious to talk to Tony and Karen. After two hours we were put through to Norma - the kids hadn't arrived. Were coming up on morning flight. I should have realised they wouldn't go up - without San there - too early. I wish we could have been with them. Now anxiously awaiting their letters.
We decided to keep ourselves occupied, seeing we will never
see
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| Madrid, Portugal |
Stairs are the other alternative. Wouldn't have missed the bus ride
though - little ones like our airways buses with only hand rails. The trams here are unique too, being short and
squat with old-style windows that go up and down. We love
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| Alfama, Madrid, Portugal |
The people just smile at us tourists. San had to have her other injection so I
bought the kids home.
Wednesday, 25th November, 1981
Decided to move south - so up, said goodbye to new-found friends. Rae did shopping, a chicken quarter kilo ham, loaf of bread, five rolls for five escudos plus a kilo of apples.
Headed for
Continued 10 km out to
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| Coimbra to Setubal, Portugal |
