Abacist goes to Spain

[Abacist]

 

[Abacist]

And a few pics of Vila Nova de Cerveira

 

[gus-lopez]

A pic I missed posting earlier of the view into the garden of a posh villa after they drove out but before the electric gate shut!

Only rich people do that.poor people wait & make sure the gate shuts & the thieves,who have covered the sensors, do not walk in.

 

[Abacist]

We had a nice lunch stop purely by chance and seeing a couple of other motorhomes parked up.

 

[Abacist]

Not a soul to be seen!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Abacist]

We tried stopping on the aire at Darque opposite Viano do Castelo where you cross the river as a foot passenger on a ferry to visit the town but no chance as it was full and Portuguese fisherman were telling us we could not park outside the allocated spaces.

The SatNav had just done one of her incomprehensible directions to go around a block with extremely narrow streets with double parked cars around the blind corner when we should have gone straight on! Everyone looking at us like idiots while I’m trying to negotiate the tag through the tight corner with bollards on both sides. Meanwhile the wife is making helpful comments like I do wish you wouldn’t come in places like this!

 

[Abacist]

We are now at an aire at Esposende with a nice Le Voyageur RMB opposite.

 

[Abacist]

So we upped and left Esposende without exploring the town after a difficult day the day before. We decided to duck a visit to Porto after the problems from earlier. Margaret does not now want to go into cities for fear of damaging our Moho or causing damage, getting stuck etc.

Today we got onto the motorway intending to bypass Porto but just a few miles down the road and there was a sign for electronic tag only so I immediately left at the next junction remembering from 2 years ago that I should have registered at the border for motorway travel. We immediately hit roadworks and a deviation which was none too clear so a very nice Portuguese man said follow me and I’ll take you to the route nationale 13 which will take you to Porto. Cobbled streets for few miles around the deviation shook the Motorhome and us up but we survived. Successfully by-passed Porto and headed to Aveiro, the Venice of Portugal.

Having parked in the car park, next to the full Motorhome aire spaces we went to find a mobile phone shop to buy a data SIM card.

We found a MEO office which turned out to be more office than shop then walked 30 minutes to the MEO shop to find they had dropped the pin in completely the wrong part of town! Gave up on that and went into a shopping plaza only to see a Vodafone shop and bought a 15 day unlimited data card for 15 Euros. The shops are all the same as UK! Zara, Bodyshop et al!

There are some pretty coloured boats giving rides at quite expensive prices on the canals - pics tomorrow!

Movng on tomorrow as weather going to be poor with thunderstorms and rain forecast for a couple of days. Early start to get out of tight car park before the commuters arrive in their cars!

Met a Welshman with a Fun number plate who bought it before realising there was a Fun website and forum. Never found out if he had joined though!

 

[Abacist]

I

 

[Abacist]

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Abacist]

Sorry about the pics the wrong way around! They were right in my photo album!

 

[Lenny HB]

Today we got onto the motorway intending to bypass Porto but just a few miles down the road and there was a sign for electronic tag only so I immediately left at the next junction remembering from 2 years ago that I should have registered at the border for motorway travel.

Easy to buy virtual toll cards on line that's what we do.

 

[Abacist]

I have to say that UK certainly can be a rip off! Bought a Portugal only, data only, unlimited Vodafone sim yesterday which cost €15 for 15 days

Still can’t get TV as it seems my Mifi can’t have a VPN installed on it. Got the phones, iPads and fire stick sorted but UK TV services still detect the Portuguese data sim!

 

[Abacist]

Easy to buy virtual toll cards on line that's what we do.

Thanks for the tip Lenny HB, most helpful - in the heat of the moment etc. Panic set in!

 

[Lenny HB]

I have to say that UK certainly can be a rip off! Bought a Portugal only, data only, unlimited Vodafone sim yesterday which cost €15 for 15 days

Still can’t get TV as it seems my Mifi can’t have a VPN installed on it. Got the phones, iPads and fire stick sorted but UK TV services still detect the Portuguese data sim!

Interesting I thought it was only NoS that did sims like that.

VPN is nothing to do with the Mifi, you install it on the device you are using for streaming in your case the Firestick. You need to open the VPN and let it connect before you open any apps.
TV companies are always blocking VPN's so they need to be up to date or may need to change the VPN.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks for the tip Lenny HB, most helpful - in the heat of the moment etc. Panic set in!

We panicked the first time we ended up on one. Once you understand the system it's easy and they have a very good English speaking help line.

 

[Abacist]

Good aire at Aviero with water and both dumps, close to train station and with a Continente supermarket right next to the car park.

Rufty Tufty 4X4 Hymer in a proper aire bay

 

[Lenny HB]

Is it a new Aire? Last time we were there the only one we found was right under a flyover.

 

[Abacist]

Interesting I thought it was only NoS that did sims like that.

VPN is nothing to do with the Mifi, you install it on the device you are using for streaming in your case the Firestick. You need to open the VPN and let it connect before you open any apps.
TV companies are always blocking VPN's so they need to be up to date or may need to change the VPN.

Lenny HB Vodafone also had a 30 day card same terms I think it was €25 but too long for us.

Thanks for the tip about the VPN and the fire stick!

 

[Abacist]

Is it a new Aire? Last time we were there the only one we found was right under a flyover.

Looks like it! Brand spanking new blocks of flats around brand new park & ride car park for the trains with about 12 Moho very long and wide spaces right close to train station on Park4Night.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Abacist]

VPN now sorted on the Amazon Fire Stick thank you Lenny HB. Just in time as its a cold cloudy day here! Now at the aire at Costa de Lavos. Just having a coffee before we dress up warm to go and explore!

 

[Abacist]

 

[Abacist]

I am not taking pics today as it looks cold and grey. The majority of Mohos here are French with 1 Dutch, 1 Spanish, 1 Portuguese and 1 German and us! Only one small cafe/bar open for the locals. Beach as far as the eye can see on either side and 3 fishing boats. Lots of holiday rentals all shut up.

 

[Abacist]

 

[Abacist]

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Abacist]

 

[Abacist]

 

[Abacist]

 

[Abacist]

 

[Abacist]

Last nights stop on the coast at Praia de Lavos - see green Moho dot in the middle on the coast!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}