The adventures of the red van: Portugal

Portugal
Portugal countryside is beautiful, towns of all white houses dotted over the hillsides. We arrive in Peniche, the man at the campground gate has the friendliest smile. Camping costs all of 5 euro including electricity and hot showers. “Supertubos” (a famous surfspot) is on one side and a great bay of beaches is on the other, all 5 minutes walk. We have a great arvo surf however…..Lou still has some commitment issues (commitment to catch waves that is). We go for a pleasant cycle into town but are greeted with an extremely offensive fish odor. Depending on the wind direction the smell from the giant fish factory can really cut short an afternoon stroll along the beach. Relaxation levels have gone up a notch in this town, is that even possible? Mental health is reaching 100%.

Huge storms roll in and manage to ruin the surf for a few days, Lou sniffs out UK Physio guy who is camping next to us, she swaps info on Physio jobs in Australia for Morocco travel tips. Once we are well informed we head off to Obidos, a walled medieval town. This town is so beautiful that it was once given as a wedding present (in the 12^th century actually).

Onwards we travel to Ericeira another of Portugal’s top surf spots. Massive swells and high winds once again take their toll on the ocean; the potential for surf here is so good it’s irritating. We need a little bit of comfort food so we settle into a quaint little restaurant overlooking the wild Atlantic and feast on famous fish stew and white wine.” Entourage” season 7 is over how will we fill our nights now?

We plan on heading to Lisbon but were told by friendly local that this may be “complicated”, but we soon realise that she means that the NATO conference and Obama are in town! Instead we head to Sintra, a town that is meant to be fairytale like with castles in the clouds, palaces, gardens and hikes. …..we wouldn’t know however we couldn’t get a park!

Now that Obama has buggered off we can go to Lisbon, we stay in a carpark for free in view of the impressive landmark ‘Padro Dos Descobrimentos’, there are about 10 other campervans, no toilet but a killer sunset. Sundays are free in museums so we do ‘the lot’. We take an antique tramcar up to Alfama, but we miss the stop because Lou was too busy watching the Tram surfer clinging on the outside of the car for dear life. Had the worlds best custard tart, still warm hmmmm, and consume a ‘stand at the counter and down it’ espresso for energy. We finish the day off having sunset beers on the river watching grown men cycle by in ¾ lycra pants???.

Next stop is the Algarve region in the south. Brilliant scenic drive thru cork tree plantations. Arrive at Arrifana Beach to find the most beautiful stretch of coastline to date. Can't resist free camping in the carpark onto of the bay, as it turns out neither can two massive white motorhomes who pull up within 1metre of us (so French!)

We spend the next 5 days exploring the Algarve region, camping at Sagres, driving the little red dragon down dirt tracks to secluded beach breaks, at times we found water over the road but after a quick depth check using the pole of our Australian flag we drove right on thru! Hilux eat your heart out! Spend our nights having delicious port, chocolate and lollies with two other VW driving couples from Great Britain.

We say goodbye to our new friends with a desperate 'all in' surf session; 3 girls on mini mals and 3 guys. The rip is too strong and the girls give up within half an hour, Lou loses feeling in toes......Quick warm up cuppa and we are off to Spain to meet our friends Colin and Liz for Colin’s birthday!

What did we learn...

1. Cork trees cannot be harvested for the first 25 years of their life and then only every 9 years after that.

2. An Australian can speak Spanish to a Portuguese person but a Spanish person cannot speak Spanish to a Portuguese person even though they understand each other perfectly....got it!

3. Port from Portugal is brilliant but doesn't last long when shared among 6 friends.

4. Apparently you can make a cheesecake in a VW van!

5.When it is rainy, little 250ml beers get drunk very quickly. Its actually quite deceiving!....anyone for another?

6.If your van is red with a dragon on the side it can go anywhere!