To record the places I wanted but didn’t manage to visit – for the future:
As I contemplated today’s activity, I realised that I was actually sitting outside the van watching the sun go down around 9pm, comfortably still in tee-shirt and shorts for the first time I think since last September, and how pleasant that was. It tops a day which demands the most lyrical of waxing, extreme gushing and definitely makes it into the Good category. I took the 1hr 40min Douro Valley train journey from Regua to Pocinho for the sum of 13eu return, and this journey can be taken from Porto, and onboard a historic train from June.
The river, surrounding vineyards, relative emptiness, all of course enhanced for me by clear blue sky and hot sun softened by breezy shade, and the fact that this is still well before high season – no crowds, no booking, no hustling. The photos will do the waxing, but just before them – the train was very comfortable, not the sardine packing I’ve come to expect from the UK’s rail service, and amazingly …..
Direction of travel? no problem.
All of the vineyards had their ‘brand’ names including Sandeman, Cockburn, Taylors. It was very like the Moselle valley, or the steep hills/mountains around the Italian lakes. Would be great to have a cycle route also – the only thing missing.
Had a four-hour leisurely drive on the road N222, which I had read was one of Portugal’s great drives, for many miles from Porto up the Douro river valley. The road was perfectly fine, pretty empty, and the scenery was indeed stunning, so I recommend it. 28 degrees now, so rather hot. Had to swap summer pj’s for winter ones last night given that the menopausal guest had vacated, but it’s definitely back to the summer ones tonight.
The aire is fantastic – even toilets here, as part of this river leisure area. Considering train trip, cycle ride on converted track Linho do Sabor further up the valley, and move to a vineyard, before heading back to Spain.
After 3 nights around Lisbon, drove up the coast stopping to look at the sweeping beaches and the massive surf location of Nazare, before spending 4 nights at the above camping to spend some time in Porto. And now Porto is up there with Ronda and Cordoba.
Got bus from just outside campsite, altho could cycle as only about 5km from centre. On day 1, took a little road train tour, then proceeded to retrace the complete route on foot! Day 2, the ‘6 bridges’ boat trip, and exploring the river bank Ribeira area. Charming city and this photo selection doesn’t really do it justice.
Worthy of an additional photo gallery though for posterity – the ‘to a British person used to the risk aversion inducing health and safety culture’, amazing sharing of one of the main bridge crossings between pedestrians and/or cyclists, and the TRAM!!! not to mention the ease with which I could have chucked myself (or my sister) off.
Stayed at a lovely resort west of Lisbon, Cascais, well-served by buses and trains, enabling us to get to Sintra and Lisbon from just outside the Cascais Orbitur campsite entrance.
Loved both Sintra and Lisbon. Photos say it all.
A snapshot of magical Sintra where we did the recommended climb, and it is indeed a climb!, through the gardens of the Villa Sassetti to the palace. Needs another visit to see more.
Got the bus, then train from Cascais to Lisbon; took one of the iconic old trams around some of the old city centre streets. Again, a lovely city; the first two photos are of Cascais:
I was excited and looking forward to receiving the first official guest of my career break year, albeit the same person who accompanied me in getting out to Spain as part of my 18-19 annual leave and so therefore at that time not quite career break companionship material. I had determined from Park4Night primarily that the best place to park would be P3 official car park at the airport, and best to book in advance online, which I duly did. In driving primarily on non-busy roads for the last few weeks, it was abit of a jolt to find myself driving through the chaos of the approach roads to Lisbon Airport, around various spaghetti junctions, on red alert as I negotiated the traffic and managed to arrive amazingly at P3 at 12:20, when my booking was for 12:15 for 3 hours. In the end, whereas the driving had not thwarted me, getting the car park exit barriers to honour my pre-paid parking was beyond my guest and I, so we duly paid a 2nd time for the privilege of being 2 mins away from the arrivals terminal. Decision made to head for the Parque Natural da Arrabida, past the town of Setubal, south of Lisbon, to stay there for one night to visit some more beautiful coastline before basing ourselves at Cascais, north west of Lisbon for our visits to the capital and Sintra.
The beaches and coastline of this area are indeed beautiful, well worth visiting and we stayed at a really nice, recommended good value small campsite just beyond Setubal – Ecoparque do Outao.
