This is my office

All best laid plans can unravel. I was keen to see the storks and other bird life in the 60km lagoon national park. I went to on the day, only to be told that it was cancelled and there was a 6 hour cruise around the islands. So of course I joined that. 

I had half an hour to do a supermarket sweep and get breakfast and enough water that I didn’t melt. So I arrived on board with two pastel de nadas’s and water. It was a long wait until coffee, but me and my new best friends Sue and Scot from Scotland, sitting opposite me on the luxury boat laughed and gossiped as we sped across the water. First to a man made island, with prestine sand, the second to a fisherman’s island where we tucked into a plate of sardines and then to a deserted island. All so beautiful.

The guide was great, very friendly and kept on saying “this is my office”. Wow!  

Did you book this on line?

 Cash is king in Portugal. I can’t remember the last time I used cash at home. All transactions are just an easy quick tap. 

I grabbed with the app for the trains and downloaded my ticket to my Apple wallet, only to see all the passengers with their paper ticket. “Did you buy this on line?” asked the ticket inspector. We I certainly didn’t just make it in canva. 

And that’s another thing - train travel is so affordable, just another thing that our country fails at. It’s crazy that flying to Portugal is less than the train to London! 

No need to ask for directions

 I feel so grateful that I come from a generation where we had to plan our travel, as you know I absolutely love a spreadsheet! Well that’s not the case now. Everything we need to know is in the palm of our hands. 

No need to ask for directions, as you just follow google maps. No need to head to the tourist information, you just search the internet or ask ChatGPT.

We’re loosing our fabulous interactions. No one is chatting on the trains, they’re all glued to their screens. 

I still want to ask for directions!!!!! 

I shook the bishops hand

 This morning I explored the old part of town, fuelled by strong coffee and a pastel de nata. 

The cathedral was closed, but the square was buzzing. A large screen with chairs around was broadcasting from inside. A red carpet went around from the nearby museum and it was lined with scouts on guard. The new Bishop of the Algarve was having a special service and as I stood by the red carpet he came along and as he did with many in the crowd, he shook my hand. 

I’ll pay for you

 It feels weird, Portugal uses cash! It makes you realise how horrible it has all become that we just tap our cards all the time. 

After lunch I wondered through town and came across the Chapel of Bones. When the cemeteries were all full 1245 monks were ‘buried’ to make the chapel. It’s full of skulls and bones and is weirdly fascinating. 

I’d left my wallet in the hotel so had no cash, so when the ticket collector said cash only I retreated, only to be called back by the Welsh couple behind me who wanted to pay for my ticket. 

Wow it feels good so be travelling again after so long! 

Someone smells of garlic

 I do love Brits abroad, especially the woman who was standing behind me in the passport queue arriving at Faro Airport. She said loudly, someone smells of garlic and shouldn’t be breathing so much. 

Well it was me, I cooked a lovely steak last night with lots of garlic and butter. Crikey she’ll have a problem with tapas and other wonderful local food. 

Welcome to Portugal! 

You don’t need to inform the tourist police

When you check into a hotel in India, immediately you need to give over your passport for them to make a copy of, and often fill out a huge tome of travel info. This does not seem to be the case in Sri Lanka. 

We checked in later than anticipated at our hotel in Ella, after our scenic train was quite delayed en route. The guy had a a list on his phone and then we said room for Sarah and room for Emma. After a great nights sleep I checked my WhatsApp and had a message from the owner saying he had reported me to the transport police as I had made a fraudulent booking and not turned up. Imagine his surprise when I replied that I was in room no 2. 

Turns out there was an issue with booking.com and his list showed 2 rooms for Emma and one for me, so he assumed I never turned up. Panic over and no need for him to inform the tourist police!