Portugal

Portugal was now our next destination, visiting Porto, Gaia, and then back to Spain, to visit Gibraltar up to Tarifa

As we entered Portugal we could see the marks that the recession had left.

Small patches of veggies

Many  houses stand empty, small farms have their own vegetable gardens. Here the building style changed, many styles, but very typical of Portugal is the beautiful mosaic on the walls of houses and churches.

One of the beautiful Churches, this one in Porto

You could see how rich they were and in what luxury they were living.

Palicio de Bugaso

Palicio de Bugaso which is now a 5 star hotel, a typical example of this.

Mariana, Stephanus and Elisme in front of the gate of Palicia de Bugaco

Palicio de Bugaco, the moziacs

We walked through a forest with trees of 50m and more. Water running out of the mountain over unusual stone covered by moss,

One of the Fairy fountains at the Palace

many fountains, ferns, surrounding these fountains.

Gaia is well known for its Port, there are many old cellars coming from the 12 century. 

We visited Taylors, they had lovely Port to taste.

The beautiful bridge over the river between Gaia and Porto

 New cottage between the pine trees. There Stephanus’ dream came true; After 3 week he had bacon and eggs for breakfast.

Hans had his own dream which he shared with Stephanus and that was a South African “BRAAI” .

Everything organized, then opening the succulent pork chop, just to find out it’s BACON, there goes their dream, with lots of laughter

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The Algarve is so different to the rest of Portugal and Spain. The people of Portugal and Spain, as I said, walk everywhere, walk ways you will find along the side the road. Here Elisme and Hans did walk everywhere. Stephanus and Mariana were there MENTORS, it was only and pleasure.

Walk ways of Portugal

  Here people will try to help you.

People walked us to this Restuarant. What a pleasant surprise, they put everything on your table, bread, olives, strange rock mussels, crab pate. We order Fish for 7,5 Euro, as on the menu. We thought our bill was right on 46 Euro. The next moment a guy knocks on our door. No, the bill was wrong, Fish was 16,5 Euro. We paid 78 Euro, not impressed at all. What a lesson.

These they call Rock Mussels. Hans was quite impressed.

They will even walk you to the place you are asking about. English is the 3rd subject at school, much easier, they can understand a little. The most beautiful golf estates, Louis will love it.

Sunset over one of the Golf Estates

We were so privileged to see the most Western point of Europe.

Most Western side of Europe, view of Sunset out of our Restuarant

The sun only sets at 10h00pm SA time. This was most unusual. For Hans and Elisme this is very hard going to bed at 12h00 pm every night.

The local shops close from 2h00 until 7 o’clock at night. We were constantly late for shopping. Never got use to it.

Hans was horrified to pass Lisboa(lisbon) with Stephanus as navigator, we did it so easily. In front of us we saw this beautiful bridge, and that was it 

One of many Bridges in Portugal.  We were so impressed with the roads in Spain. Then came the beautiful bridges in Portugal

Gypseys in their horse carts part of the Carnaval.

 The roads we traveled on were always full of interesting things, but this one was the ultimate for Hans


We think it was all part of the Independence celebrations. What a feast for the eye

We were so lucky, to see a Carnival of Landrovers, all with different canopies.

Mariana, Stephanus and Hans waiting for the celebrations to start at the plaza

View from our rooms on the Port of Villa Real

 Villa Rel was the next stop. Here people were still celebrating.Hans in one of the street Cafe's eating snails

Stephanus nearly couldn't take watching that.

Hans enjoying the small Portuguese snails

  








Then we headed back to Spain on our way to Gibraltar and getting our vehicles, but this is a story for later.

Tarifa was our next stop, here Hans and Stephanus decided; they will sort out our trip to Tangiers.

Horse riders on the beach, this was for Milly

Wind Power Generators all over Portugal, supplying enough power.

Mariana and Elisme were dead tired, of packing up and moving for 40 days now. They convinced the 2 men to stay at a very cosy cottage between Pine trees, right on the beach 
         

Our beach at Tarifa, Stephanus, Mariana and Elisme taking a walk on the beach, after 9pm.

Hans had to give our Citroen that had become a family member, back. Stephanus is so impressed with the Citroen he even went to visit a garage to find out more about one. “Mariana I am sure your next birthday present will be a Citroen”.

The Port of Tarifa, where we took the Ferry to Morocco

Finding the right place at the port where we had to leave from was not an easy task. No GPS street names. Elisme always through Hans must be a detective. Thanks to the help of Stephanus they found it. 

Mariana and Elisme were dropped with all the luggage at the Port, the guys set of for Algeciras to drop the Citroen.

Stephanus standing at immigration, to stamp passport to enter Morocco

Africa,watch this for a ferry

The ferry is a total different to the ones we are use to in Africa, This is a super luxury ship

Africa here we are - MOROCCO -Tangiers