Feb 16th, day 23 and we are in Almerimar

I last updated a few days ago when we were in, or rather near to Granada and our intention was to visit the Alhambra

Feb 13th, day 20 dawned cold, dull and overcast, but we wrapped up and took the bus down in to Granada. After a couple of hours wandering around looking in shops, we had a coffee and caught the bus back. After lunch we drove down to the local Lidl and back again, exciting stuff eh !! We met a really nice  couple of Brits, Rob and Jan Jones (well Welsh anyway) on site who were desparately trying to catch up with the rugby, but because there was a pretty good (paid for) wifi system, they watched it on our laptop computer and we shared a bottle or two in their van later on in the evening.

Wales won

Feb 14th, Valentines day. After a night of heavy rain, the day dawned wet and 'orrible. Sue and I exchanged cards, had breakfast and watched the rain, checked the weather forecast and decided to write the rest of the day off. Rob and Jan popped over to say ta ta and return a couple of camping books prior to their onward journey to Malaga.

Feb 15th Alhambra day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!This much anticipated trip started off flamin' wet and cold, but we took the bus down into town and after a coffee, we took a taxi up to the Alhambra palace. The experience defies description. The place is more than we could ever have imagined, we had several hours of jaw dropping delight. The rain even stopped and the sun came out. The pictures do not do it justice, but the memory will last us a lifetime

We had to stay over for another night, which brings us to today:

Feb 16th, day 23 and we are in Almerimar
We got up this morning and the temp in our van was 3c. Enough is enough, so we have scooted off to the coast and are now spending a couple of nights on the harbourside in the town of Almerimar and the temp was 23c in the van when we arrived here.
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Granada, I'm falling under your spell, and if you could speak what a facinating tale you would tell!!!!!!!, or so the song goes. So now it's the 12th, the story so far :----



Monday 8th, day 15 :
After a quiet day riding around the area we decided that the Algarve was not a place for the 'Oppys, but we did have a wonderful meal down by the water ( at Alvor) which lifted the Portugal experience for us, but overall we were not impressed. The following day we went to Silves, day 16. It is a superb medieval town and after a morning wander around, in the rain, we stopped at a restaurant that had been recommended to us and had a 4 course lunch with a bottle of wine for 15 euros total !!.Then an after lunch walk led us up in to the higher part of the town where there was some wonderful medieval architecture and the ruins of the original fortifications. And because it was Shrove Tuesday, we had crepes at a local caff.

Day 17,10th. Today we had a long drive through in to Spain and arrived at the town of Huelva, a port town with a very large statue of Christopher Collumbus looking out to sea. We spent the night there, a rather wet one too. The rain was bouncing off our roof sounding for all the world like frozen peas being dropped from a great height, we left first thing in the morning.

Our impressions of Portugal as a holiday destination are not great. Whilst some parts of the southern coastal region may be to some folks taste, it didn't suit us. As we came in from the north it was very much like travelling through the Carpathian region of Eastern Europe. The poverty and the subsistance level farming was very similar to that in eastern Hungary and western Romania and it was a little sad to see. But now we are in Spain.

Day 18.  Aiming towards Seville today, after another long drive, we spent the night at the town of Marchena. The aire was at the bottom of the town and together with about half a dozen other vans, we had a peaceful night. The aire was overlooking a sports area and park with lots of orange trees. The town is a right mish mash of buildings. At the bottom of the town are all the 'modern' flats, then as you go up the hill you pass some semi derelict areas and then the town really blossomed with some wonderful old houses, churches (of course) and the remains of the original Roman wall.

Day 19, Feb 12th--------------------Granada !!

After another long drive, 156 miles, and the last for a while, we have arrived at a campsite (with wifi!!) just outside Granada at a place called Suspiro Del Moro. It is raining------again!!! All this liquid sunshine is playing havoc with my joints! We are spending tomorrow doing the tourist thing, Sunday being Valentines Day we will probably spend on site and Monday we have booked to go to the Alhambra for the day. No pictures today, although we passed through miles and miles of olive grove en route.
So that's it, we're sat in our tin 'ut and it's raining. Toodle Pip 'till next time.

Well we've survived 'till Saturday

Well it's Saturday the 30th and I'm sat here with the obligatory glass of red, and it's raining. The story so far goes like this ; Monday as we gently amble down towards Portsmouth, the phone rings and it's Britany Ferries telling us that because the weather is going to be 'orrible, we are sailing at midnight and not 8 the following morning, so we upped the pace. The crossing was dreadful, even I had to take a pill (the first time in my life), but 7am Wedesday we landed at Santander and the adventure began.
We had intended to take a couple of days crossing Spain, but when we arrived at our first intended stop we were unimpressed,  but nearby there was the most wonderful Roman villa at Pedrosa de la Vega, close by Leon. The mosaics were the most fabulous we have ever seen.

After we moved from there I realised that to get into Portugal would be a realativly easy trip, so we went.
We arrived at our overnight stop at a place called Braganca and the free aire was at the base a of a 15c citadel, which was truly magnificent. The weather all the way was wet and windy though, but the journey through the mountains was wonderful.

Day 4, the 28th. The morning was spent looking round the town, and after lunch we headed off .
Again through magnificent scenery and arrived at  Paso de Regua and another free aire on the banks of the river Douro and home of the Port wine.
Day 5. As we left we entered more mountains, but they were covered with terraces of vines and olives, and as we passed the 500mtr mark, the scenery was truly stunning. We headed for the coastal town of Aveiro, known as the Venice of Portugal.

The free aire there was dreadful, but the city was beautiful with much stunning architecture, but after a couple of hours wandering round we decided to bite the bullet---------------and actually pay for a campsite for a couple of nights, so this is where we are now. Just a few kilometres south of Aviero at a place called Vagueira in amongst the pines on a lovely campsite, and where we met up with our first Brits (well one's a Brummie).  So until I hit more free wifi, that's it for now. Nite Nite & cheers

Day two

Got a phone call midday Monday to say the boat was going early due to expected bad weather, so we arrived half a day early. We are now at Broganca in Portugal. Will do update when at WiFi point

Well we're pretty much ready for the off, solar panel fitted, extra gas bottles, stuffed every corner with too many clothes, satnav updated too. We have got all the books-----Camperstop, All The Aires for Portugal, Spain & France, ASCI book, maps plus a plethora of computer printouts, so getting lost won't be a problem, moving the van just might be !!!!!
So we set off on Monday and drive down to Portsmouth to catch the early Tuesday morning ferry to Santander. When we get there it'll be very much a case of ;do we go left, right or straight on? Wait for the next exciting esipode when the oppy's invade Europe

Well this is page two of the trial and apart from enjoying a glass of red stuff, there is nothing else to add other than seeing if this bit works--------------------humour me-please

Well, I'm trying out this new fangled  web log thingy prior to a journey through Spain, Portugal, Spain again and France in our 1996 Lunar Roadstar motorhome.