Mar 15, 2012 - Portugal - Portimao to Faro/Olhao

14 March: We went for a test sail to make sure everything was working OK and to remind ourselves how to sail! The plan was to move out of our very tight berth and onto the visitor’s pontoon in the marina before the wind got up for the day so that we could do last minute shopping, etc. before going out for our test sail. Unfortunately we were too late, the wind blew up very quickly and so we had a rather fraught move onto the pontoon! Our test sail went OK, but needless to say, we were very rusty – definitely need more practice to get back...

Aug 4, 2011 - Portugal

So we left Tignes in the morning, Steve dropped us off at Bourg st  Maurice station at the bottom of the mountain. He gave us all a hug and kiss goodbye, little did we know, this was not goodbye just yet. At the station we printed our tickets, Jess' didn't work so she had to get the lady at the desk to do it. I had a weird feeling about our train as I couldn't see what platform it was arriving at, it just said GR. But I quickly dismissed the feeling as the train would be the only one leaving at 9:10 so we would just wait. We just weren't...

Jul 13, 2008 - Finishing up in the Algarve

So we've been in Faro for the weekend and its coming to an end. Some of the most amazing beaches and amazing people are going to be left behind. I met some really cool portuguese people Friday night at this "Hip Hop" dance club...it was more like a techno disco that threw in an some fat man scoop every now and then. But I hung out with these people all night and they had a beach house down in Faro where we went after the club and hung out for a little while they kept wanting to test out there english skills while I was trying to show off my...

May 13, 2008 - The Algarve

I thought I was going to continue to update this on a more regular basis, but I think I have really gotten in the groove of traveling, and sitting at the computer feels like wasting time. But, I need to keep a good record of these amazing events. So...we were so sad to leave Ronda. The man who worked at our hotel, sweet Antonio, tried to convince us to stay another evening, and he even offered to take us to Sevilla on his way to Cordoba, to catch our bus to Faro. And let me tell you, we were tempted. We were actually tempted to stay in...

Sep 25, 2007 - Faro and South Portugal Field Trip

As part of the post-conference activities I attend the hydrogeology field trip to the south of Portugal. After a somewhat chaotic process of picking people up from hotels much later than expected, then realising that our bus was too small then arranging for a bigger one, we headed onto the highway south. The roads are amazing, quiet and empty ! Many seem very new, as does much of the infrastructure in Portugal, and I am told that since inclusion in the EU, Portugal has had a huge injection of EU money for improvements. Consequently, it has...

Mar 27, 2007 - Cat's M.A.S.H Unit

Hello to all of you that are following us along the way! Its Mother Catherine here, I use that name because for the past two weeks here in Portugal the kids have been very sick.Yep! When we first arrived, it was Kenya with high fever and chills, lasting 7 days. Without a break of fever, except with medicine, 3 day's into it, I decided to administer the antibiotics our doctor had given us just in case. Well, this was a case,and we started to thankfully see results in her health. We had a 2 day break with no sickness, and on the Sunday...

Mar 27, 2007 - Snowbirds in Europe, Five months in France, Portugal, and Spain

We left Kjersti's in October to head south. Michael has decided he is allergic to snow. We were going to spend the winter in the same place as last year...sunny, warm, southern Spain. We decided to do a little sightseeing on the way so we went via France and Portugal. You know how you always hear the French are so unfriendly and won't speak any language except French? Not true. Everyone we came in contact with was friendly, helpful, and could speak as much English as we could French. Actually, 99% of them spoke a lot more Engligh than we...

Dec 19, 2006 - Close Phase Five

I always thought of our three and half months or so in Europe as "phase five" of the trip. Furthermore, I always thought that when we reached the southern beaches of Portugal, that this phase would be over. The reason is that from here, we will be seeing friends on through Christmas, and then we begin the next phase which includes portions of the Middle East and Africa. How exciting! But Europe was not without it's challenges. Sure, Europe is an easy travel in general, but in many ways, the internet has changed everything about travelling...

Sep 18, 2006 - The Algarve - beach culture without the culture!

By far the main achievement of my 3 day visit to the Algarve was taking a salt-encrusted local bus to one of Faro's many heavily populated beaches, spending a few hours splashing in the Atlantic and bronzing up, then taking the salt-encrusted local bus home again. Just like I did yesterday. And just like I will again tomorrow! In Faro, where the livin` is easy, the streets are sleazy and the food is mighty greazy, there is not much else to do other than fry on the beach by day and fry your braincells in the heaving nightclubs by night. Alas...

Jul 18, 2006 - Faro

Faro seems like an alright town, for alright people, if you want an alright time. But after Lagos it could be said to be a little bit lacklustre. At least I have had Kelsey to keep me company while I wait for Ryan and Amy to get their deal together. Amy missed her flight and they pulled into Faro a day too late which unfortunately is going to cost her about a thousand bucks. Ouch. But those two love birds will get a few more days together so like any good crack addict you just ignore the loses and appreciate the fact that you got your fix...

Jul 5, 2006 - Lagos, Portugal

After Malaga we made our way to Lagos, Portugal. It was a mission and a half. First we took a train to Seville. We had to hang out there until midnight before we could catch a bus to Faro, Portugal. There are no direct trains to connect the south of Spain and Portugal which made things difficult and pricey. Seville was so pretty and had some kind of major sale going on all over the city so we shopped a little. There are some really gorgeous buildings there that we checked out but its hard to take quality night photos. When we got to Faro it...

May 21, 2006 - Heaven & Hell

May 20: There are always moments in a trip that truly stand out. Our trip up the Duoro river was just such an experience. A three hour trek consisted of part bus, part lorrie (pick up truck) up to the site of Churchill's Quinta (vineyard). Views of all of the different producers quintas; Graham, Taylor, Franscescoa and many, many more with the terraced vines rising up and up from the river were outstanding. The day started menacing with storm clouds. As we climbed the 1000 or so metres into the clouds we were apprehensive about being packed...