28 April

Sintra

They told us that this was a romantic village and it really is. Tucked away between mountains, Sintra has an old charm and again a slow pace that we love. The "Palacio de Pena" looks like it have just jump out of a children's book. It is so colourful and so high in the mountain.






 We spent the whole day exploring the so many tracks it has, particularly pretty were the fountains and the camellias all over the gardens. It felt like a magical place.....

After a day on the beach we come back for "Quinta de Regaleira", a "haunted mansion" will be the best description. Mysterious, dark, with so many hidden little places, caves, weird statues....

Back to the coast (we can't be far away from the water for too long!!)...we spent a few days travelling, bike riding, running, eating fresh fish....we love these routines!

We also took the time to stay at a thermal place. It wasn't a fancy spa retreat but the hosing  treatment was totally worthy

People think that Portugal is the country we love the most. It is not. There is a lot to love about this country, specially the nature, the historical buildings and the small cute little villages but our heart belongs to Italy, closely by Spain!. I believe that what it was so good about this side of the trip is the pace; we are really taking all in, stopping and enjoying....the fact that we had 6 weeks to explore the place has helped us to relax a lot; so much needed given the anxiety that has slowly but certainly crept on us about our trip to Fiji to be with the family for our little daughter's wedding....can't wait any longer :)

April 23, Lisbon

And so after spending so many magnificent days at nature, running, swimming, cycling...totally enjoying the peace and beauty of some many little places we drove to Lisbon city...only to be greeted by rain and more rain.

It didn't deter us, as we took our bikes for a big round in the city. I have to say that from all the cities in Europe that we have already been, Lisboa is the dirtiest of all. :(

The beautiful old buildings are unkept as are the streets and the general outlook is not so pretty; which is such a pity as we could see  how beautiful it could be. 

We visited palaces and piazzas, all the restaurants and little coffee shops, the big promenade and the magnificent St Jerome monastery in Belem (and the super yummy "natas" from here....) They have the cutest trams ever as they are only 1 carriage trains. The city is all up and down which gives a very interesting look and  the views from the "terraces" passing through the cathedral are magnificent.

At this stage, every time we come to a city we are awaken by the reality of life: traffic, people, smog, noise, business, rudeness of the "service people"...we are so loving the little villages that it takes us a while to get used to city life.

The crisp and thinly laughs woke us in the morning. She had a huge smile and was ready to crawl on the beach. So white, blue and enormous eyes. We spent 2 days together and practised being grandparents. As we had noticed already, Dutch people are the most socially engaging. They want to chat, they want to know , they are interested in us. A night BBQ and a promise of future encounters!

Bath time

The Algarves, April 11 to 19

We had the best 2 days ever! First it was a glorious day on the beach at Praia de Rocha. White sand, warm (enough!) water. A beautiful beach with huge rocks all spread across. A bit of nostalgia as it reminded us of the 12 apostles. Much more apostles, a bit shorter and thicker but there are on the sand and form part of the beach...superb! We did our habitual run, drink mate, sunbake, play paleta, walk, had homemade fish and broccoli....it was a true holiday day! The day after we took our bikes. All along the cliffs there is this amazing walk/bike track... more walking than biking in this part as we had to carried our bikes for long stretches at a time. The view was really breathtaking, this enormous rocks forming caves and the water green....After a very long trip we ended in another long beach among dunes and boardwalks coming out everywhere...continue our adventure to find an almost hidden lagoon and on the other side the cutest, quiet village of Alvor. The simple church in white and yellow and the 3 street overcrowded with bars and restaurants....but it is April and is the best time to be around!!!

Back to Faro as our fridge refused to work....will need to wait for a week maybe for parts to arrive....

In the meantime, while we wait for the fridge parts we ended up at Quarteira- Vilamoura. We did our usual run, and some shopping in preparation for our daughter wedding. A beautiful marina surrounded by restaurants but all a bit too "touristic" for us. We have become so enchanted by the small and peaceful villages that anytime we go into a "city" (more than 10,00 people!) all we want to run away!

....and so we did and slept on the edge of the water, overlooking Ferragudo a very cute fisherman village with castle included!

Portugal certainly has not disappointed us. The nature is very raw, untouched. Huge cliffs and long beaches, the greenery and  to colourful flowers, the easiness of the country, the simple churches, the slow pace, the white houses with colour frame in doors and windows, the really small cobblestones. We visited "Fortaleza de Sagres", the south west end of Europe and the intensity of all really hit home. Night was spent at the "end of the world"!!

Arriving at Carrapateira we found a gem, A huge area, big sand dunes and spectacular cliff walks. It was like a paradise specially because it was only a few motorhomes there.

Continuing the cost road, we so many "ahhh" and "ohh" as the flowers of spring adorned every place we go. We stopped at Porto Covo and we like it so much that we stayed 2 full days spending on walking/running a very long track around the cliffs and on the beach finishing on a castle and a great bike ride on a dirty track to  the next village.

April 7, Portugal

We were so excited to cross to Portugal. As sad as it was to leave Spain (the people, the food, the language, the beautiful places) we had heard so much about Portugal that we couldn't wait.

But, we had 3 days of constant raining and strong winds. That means parked the house, do some shopping, some repairs and wait!

Day 4 at Faro, the sun did come up! We did our run and straight to the old city to explore. There is such a sense of "pueblo" over here; the pace is slow, the people so helpful and ready to engage. I noticed the cobblestones being small and with patterns and the little houses and balconies....so cute!

April 4, Seville

It was absolutely worthy all those extra kilometres just to see Seville again. As soon as we got there I had the same sense than 15 years ago when I visited her for the first time: this has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With all the tapas bar so busy, a perfect weather, the monuments that shine on the night, the great bicycle lane that takes us all around the city and along the promenade and the dancing and singing flamenco...so rich, so inspiring. Definitively in my list of "need to be here for at least 3 months "

March 31

We spent the first few nights in Tarifa, a few kilometres away from Cadiz. The village has a big dock and in its point is where the Mediterranean and the Atlantic meet.

This was the closest we got from Woodstock! Arrived in a very muddy place, with the cows around, on the beach and surrounded by plenty of trucks and old motorhomes. The music playing, the fire going; a mix really of hippies and kite surfing. This is the capital of kite surfing as the wind is usually so strong! We share meals, conversation and music with some young people who showed us a very different way of living!




In our way to Portugal, we took advantage of the great weather and stayed in Chipiona. Large sandy beaches perfect for running and the water that is a bit warmer. As usual we find a spot on the beach!

The coincides in life! Parked our home near another home of German people just to find out that she was born in Argentina!! Even though she was raised in Venezuela and has been in Germany for such the longest time it took no time for us to start chatting as we have known each other for ever!

There are as many ways of living as there are people in this world. We have just discovered a new one. Life on a truck. Enormous trucks converted as houses mostly driven by young people who just drive from place to place staying in big padlocks for 2-3 weeks at a time. He has been driving for 12 years already although he is only 29. I asked him what his family said about his lifestyle; particularly when his siblings are doctors, engineers and business people. "My parents were not happy about my choice but they have seen how happy I am so they are ok now". A dog as a loyal companion and an openness of mind and heart; a few months working in Switzerland to support his travels and pretty much that is all! On another truck, a Polish/Check combo who have just started a year ago and still getting used to and another couple who have been living like this for 10 years but now finally settled here. A life without hurry.