I suppose it can’t get much more memorable than sharing the first week with a TV celebrity chef (see previous post) but there was a smattering of other bits I’d like to share with you
The Car
You may recall our disappointment with our Vauxhall Corsa rental car which was scratched and dented pretty much everywhere (but the Portuguese rental agency didn’t see that as a problem). On the second day Dougie discovered rather too late that the front nearside tyre was pretty bald (yes, we should have checked at the airport: thought we had, too blinded by the dents). Never mind, he thought, I’ll just change it for the spare. The spare had a huge gouge in it. So we were left with one probably illegal tyre which was preferable to the gored spare. “You don’t want to go far this holiday, do you?”. We were an hour and a half’s drive from the airport and we would have had to return it there for them to probably just shrug.
We chanced one trip out and as we reversed out of the car park we heard a tinkling noise very reminiscent of glass. Marvellous, the glass had fallen out of the driver’s side wing mirror – into lots of tiny pieces. Why would it do that? We decided to rescue the situation. A wobbly drive to the Intermarche to look for some tape (yes, Dr Duct Tape hadn’t brought his this time…what was he thinking!) and I searched in the toiletries aisle for a cheap wash-bag from which we removed the mirror (after paying for it, obviously). We taped the little rectangular mirror into the wing mirror’s housing and it did the job. Had to pay 40 euros to the rental agency at the end of our holiday for the damage. Ha! Now trying to get that back from the insurance as we, thankfully, had excess cover.
The Trips Out
This photo was taken at the ‘end of the world’, Cabo de Sao Vicente, the most south-westerly point of European mainland. It was cold, windy, and it was the day the glass had dropped out of the wing mirror so, as you can see, everyone’s a wee bit tetchy. We didn’t stay long.
Sagres fortress, the next must-see on the list, we didn’t see as the queue was long and I needed a pee as I had refused to pay for one at the end of the world.
We went home, via the supermarket to buy our repair kit and lots of wine.
We did go for some walks on our holiday – not proper adventure walks, just a little wander over the dunes. We tried it on the only day it rained. We got absolutely soaked and tried to take shelter underneath a shrubby tree thing, with Dougie getting all Ray Mears again, finding a filthy bit of old plastic sheeting and attempting to make a roof for us in the shrubbery. It didn’t work. We went home, wet. We drank wine.
The Food
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| The Lobster tank at As Dunas restaurant |
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| Cataplana copper pot |
The Lazing About
There was plenty of this. Two weeks of lolling around, swimming, a bit of tennis and lots of book reading. These final three photos sum up how relaxed we all were in Portugal. You may want to click on them to see the incriminating arrows!
My sons and husband all sleep with their mouths open – I would never be allowed to post photos on my blog just for that reason.
Sounds like your trip ultimately had the most important ingredients: sleep and wine.
Love the photos – they tell the best story!
Sounds like you had a good time even with the niggles one always gets. I suppose they make it even more memorable!
@Ms Caroline – I wonder does your husband snooze with his hand down his pants, like mine?
Yes, sleep, wine, good food and sunshine!
@Sarah – We had a brilliant time. The wind wasn't too bad for us; in the second week it was just a breeze so it felt very hot. All three of us just enjoyed chilling.
You missed a couple of good marker pen opportunities there with those last photos! Sounds like you had a great trip (stupid car aside!)… Emma 🙂
@Emma – You're so right! I didn't know how to do that so have just done a quick masterclass and have added some little red arrows.
This duct tape thing… it's getting to be quite a fetish, isn't it?
I'm not complaining by the way.
@Steve – The fact that he didn't lovingly pack a few rolls of the stuff in his suitcase makes me less worried.
The wash bag mirror thing? how very resourceful of you!
We went to the end of the world and sagres when the kids were little … it was very windy and I was bitten alive by mozzies on my ankles….
You all look relaxed and happy…you made memories…good eh?
@Libby – Yes, I thought I was awfully clever with the washbag idea. Dougie had to agree, in that way husband's have when it galls them to admit you've been resourceful.
I got one bite on my inner thigh…and yes, it was definitely an insect 😉
@Emma – apparently when you talked about marker pens in your comment, you meant real markers on husband and son's real faces while they slept. Oops. Still, I rather like my new arrows.
I knew when I read the lead up to this trip that I shouldn't read the post about it. Jealousy is such an ugly trait! Looks fab. Glad you had a great time!
I am still laughing about the arrows… they are fab! Emma 🙂
Actually, yes, he and both of my sons all sleep with one hand tucked into the waistband, but I was trying to be discreet and not comment on it. When you combine that with the open mouth, it makes excellent blackmail material.
Yes I remember how wet and windy it was up there, very blowy. Great to see you got a nice relax, welcome back. I'm heading down now to read about your celebrity spotting!
"No Duct tape" "No Duct Tape" I'm still running around my house with hands on my head in panic…how are you all sleeping with "no duct tape" ?!
@jfb57 – Sorry you're feeling a bit green, Julia. But we did have a super time!
@Ms Caroline – oh I'm glad my two aren't the only ones.
@About last weekend – Thanks for reading my Portugal posts and commenting on all three. You must be back from holiday too so will go and see what you've been up to.
@Kelloggsville – I know! Haha! We were getting close to our luggage weight limit so the tape was thrown out in exchange for more books!How foolish!