Up early today as at last we are setting off to Portugal for a week for my birthday. There was an unexpected frost so I had to scrape the car before putting the cases in as well. We drove around to the statin and thanks to ur illicit signage for ‘expecting a delivery’, I was able to park back in the space outside the house and then walk quickly back to the station and catch the earlier train as I had been so fast!
The journey to Gatwick was easy part from discovering the platform lift was out down to 13 and then my knee started playing up.
It was a quick bag drop and even quicker trio through security although my case and bag got pulled because of all my camera batterie and cables. However the security man was really nice and interested in my photography and even wished me happy birthday on my departure.
After brunch or early lunch we boarded the plane… quickly as there seemed to be no order despite lower number groups meant to be going first - we weren’t supposed to go until group 7 was called.
It was a full flight so no spare seat for Gulliver but some great views as we flew in over the salt pans. It was an equally fast transit though immigration despite not being able to use the Europe channels and after a trip visiting a number of the car parks outside, we eventually found our hire car representative. It seemed worryingly easy this time and we have a rather new VW Polo which I was ‘nominated’ to drive first. It wasn’t too bad a drive and one we have done before to Olhao and once we were approaching the town I remember the route from last time. Eduarda was waiting for us with the keys and she was really nice and very apologetic that she had not been able to book the restaurant I wanted for my birthday meal but suggested an alternative nearby.
The apartment is huge but we didn’t spend much time exploring as we wanted to get to our favourite Pingo Doce supermarket before it closed to stock up on dinner and breakfast items.
We had a great dinner - massive fresh prawns followed by roast chicken and salad. We were shattered so it was an early bedtime… about three hours earlier than last night for me!
