Abacist goes to Spain

Abacist said:
Well, we have had a busy few days! After Montsaraz we thought we would nip across the border and refuel on the cheap in Spain and then head for Alvor in the Algarve. We had just done the refuelling trip and were back in Portugal when we found out that the Alvor and Lagos aires had been closed so we needed a new plan quick! We decided to head for Chipiona down near Cadiz where there seemed to be 3 aires fairly close to each other. That meant an about turn and back into Spain again to head south on the motorway.

Meantime I thought our gas was getting low so needed a refill along the way which we ended up finding in Jerez at a Repsol garage. I found the right adaptor for the gas pump but could I get it to latch on so went to consult the cashier who produced her own box of adaptors which confirmed I was using the right one. I had forgotten about the little catch at the top of the pistol grip to lock onto the adaptor. Success we were now full of gas again.

We arrived at Chipiona Marina aire at 10:30pm and moved in. You get 45 minutes after the barrier lets you in to pay at the machine and choose and register your pitch which lasts for 24 hours. The entry and exit is one and the same and is controlled by number plate recognition cameras. We woke up to find ourselves being one of about 10 Motorhomes on a brand new tarmac aire. I then read the regulations which prohibited virtually everything you could possibly think of doing apart from breathing!

We went to explore the town and thought the place was dead for the winter until we turned a corner and the place turned out to be a bustling, busy town with lots of shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and shops. We had a coffee, walked some more and it was hot, hot hot.

We went to the Marina restaurant where the prices looked eye watering and then saw the bustle of people around by the fish market at a cafe/bar/restaurant and went around there. As we were about to sit down at a vacant table a Spanish lady asked us if we were English and suggested that we first ask one of the staff. I obviously chose the wrong one as my request was met with a torrent of Spanish, followed by even more when I asked if he spoke any English! He then went off as he was busy. The boss then arrived and immediately whipped out an extra table, 2 chairs and a parasol for us And gave us a menu with English alternatives. We had a fabulous lunch of all assorted seafood and fish and the bill with 2 beers and a coke for Margaret and a large tip came to 40 Euros which was the price for just a sea bass at the Marina restaurant! It turned out that all the tables were reserved with little booking slips under the ashtrays. The whole place was sold out.

After lunch we reached a decision, Chipiona was too far south for us as we were not enjoying the heat and resolved to head back up to the Portuguese west coast. The next night saw us at Badajoz on the Spanish border were we squeezed into the aire, not even on a proper parking bay. There was a rap concert in full flow and wondered if we would get any sleep But it all went quiet at eleven. We were on our way again by 9am and are now back in Foz do Arehlo! Various pics to follow!
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🥵
Struggling to keep up with your travels.
 
excellent pictures, nice to see the sun (y)
 
Abacist said:
Bull fighting cruel in this day and age but not our country!
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They don't kill the bulls in Portugal.
at the end of the corrida, leading oxen are let into the arena and two campinos on foot herd the bull along them back to its pen. After the fight the bull may be either killed by a professional butcher or, after a good performance, restored to health and released to pasture for breeding.

Abacist said:
View attachment 543961
spikey looking plant like aloe Vera with a huge “flower” growing out of it
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It is Aloe vera . The flowers are produced in summer on the centre stalk growing out of it.

Loving the photo's & thanks for posting.
 
gus-lopez said:
They don't kill the bulls in Portugal.
at the end of the corrida, leading oxen are let into the arena and two campinos on foot herd the bull along them back to its pen. After the fight the bull may be either killed by a professional butcher or, after a good performance, restored to health and released to pasture for breeding.


It is Aloe vera . The flowers are produced in summer on the centre stalk growing out of it.

Loving the photo's & thanks for posting.
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Think you will find that is an Agave.

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Lenny, can you still wild down by the lake or have the new rules had an effect.
 
Restaurante Europa for lunch today. Fish Soup to start followed by garlic squid for me and
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peppered steak for M.

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That food looks lovely. Roll on our next visit down that way.😋😋
 
We have now Foz do Arehlo and are heading to the border with Spain near Guarda. Stayed at a nice little aire on the border village owned and run by the general store opposite for €5 per night but extra for electric and €2 for water.

Registered for Portuguese motorways - thanks Lenny HB.

Bypassing Salamanca and heading for Avila, famous walled city where there is now a new aire opened in 2020. You can park for the day or stop overnight. €11 for overnight inc water but electric extra. You arrive and have to go through a time consuming online check in to get the gate access code which then comes in the longest email I have ever seen, all in Spanish in spite of registering as English etc and using English check in webpage!

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Stayed there in June,, the aire was full with Irish travellers,not a pitch to be had.Parked in a park a mile out of town.BUSBY.
 
On the pic with the funfair you can just see the Motorhome parking/aire behind
 
Very impressive. We ate in a small resurante very close to the aquaduct it's famous for suckling pig. Yes it was lovely, but that about 1998, if May memory is right the traffic the passed under the structure. Happy Days 😋

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f6c said:
Very impressive. We ate in a small resurante very close to the aquaduct it's famous for suckling pig. Yes it was lovely, but that about 1998, if May memory is right the traffic the passed under the structure. Happy Days 😋
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Unless there is a tunnel well out of sight no traffic goes under the aqueduct. Would have liked to try the suckling pig!
 
f6c said:
Very impressive. We ate in a small resurante very close to the aquaduct it's famous for suckling pig. Yes it was lovely, but that about 1998, if May memory is right the traffic the passed under the structure. Happy Days 😋
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That is also my memory from around that time.
 
It’s still hitting over 30C during the day but the temperature soon drops at sunset. Only 8C outside this morning before sunrise. Brrrrrr!
 
We travelled up to San SEBASTIAN but lucked out on finding anywhere to stay overnight as all full. Spanish guy suggested an alternative and took us on a nightmare journey down tiny residential streets to a dead end with no free places so gave up on San Seb!

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