France / Spain / Portugal / Spain / France 2023 - in pictures.

[garry55]

Up the West coast, bypass Lisbon (been/seen/done/t-shirt) to our next port of call - 2 nights at the Parque de Campismo Baia Azul at Sao Martinho do Porto. What a beautiful little place this is! Campsite is just across the road from the beach that arcs around a stunning seashell bay. Nice bars and restaurants in town, direct train links to Lisbon and Porto, not much in the way of development, lovely dog-friendly beach, great for swimming AND a Yo-Yo kebab shop- whats not to like?
No prize for guessing which photo came from the tourist board...................

Sangria by the sea - 1.50 euro a glass.

 

[garry55]

We now had a vets appointment to keep in Tomar, so we headed up the coast to nearby Nazare, home of the big waves and big surfing community.

Unbeknown to us, it was National No Big Waves Day so with nothing to sea see we carried on and headed back inland. The old Tomar municipal camp site, superbly signposted I must say, in the town is free, but without facilities. Just turn up, pick a plot and set up. It's a steady 10 minute walk into the town centre.

There was a Soup Festival in the town on the Sunday, but we opted to walk up a very big hill to have a look around the Knights Templar Castle and Convent of Christ. Another one for me and the dogs to sit out.
Once a knight......

 

[garry55]

We had been on the Tomar site for 3 nights now and after our Monday appointment the vet informed us that we should stay in the area to collect the authorised documents "within the next 3 days". She said that she would text us when they were ready for collection. So we cast around for a campsite that had all the facilities we needed - clean water, grey and black disposal points and ehu. We found the Quinta de Cerejeira campsite in Ferreira do Zezere - only 20kms (but a world) away from Tomar. It had all the services we required plus extras - a swimming pool and a pool side bar. Situated in a small village amid rolling countryside it proved to be the perfect spot to chill out for a few days. And we had it all to ourselves!

Look! A Yorkshire Pudding shop!

On our way to the campsite, we detoured via Fatima as Sharon thought that I would enjoy dog sitting outside whilst she had a tour of the Sanctuary. All heart, she is.

They would fill this place if Oasis added it to next years tour.......

 

[garry55]

True to their word, the vets sent us a text informing us that we could collect the documentation at our convenience. We bade farewell to our lovely hosts at Quinta de Cerejeira and headed back to Tomar.
Result!

Note the smug looks that say "we can stay as long as want now"
We left Tomar and made our way to the Douro Valley - first stop Lamego. Located in a fertile valley, this delightful Baroque town has a charming central square laid out as a public garden surrounded by elegant 17th-century buildings. And a church - and what a church it is!

 

[garry55]

From Lamego we drove to our 2 day stop-over at the Peso da Regua aire, situated on the bank of the Douro river. Nice tiered parking area with all services including EHU. There is a grassed tier in front of each parking level where you can set up your table and chairs and soak up the sun. Great value too! Free parking was also available lower down, on the grassed area right by the river. One of the best ever meat dish meals I have eaten was served at the Restaurante Churrasqueira Maleiro II, a 15 minute walk from the aire. I gave up after the fourth round of meats carved at the table!

A lovely cross-country drive took us to our next destination - Campismo do Paco camping at Vila Praia de Ancora.

Back on the beach.....................

This was to be our last stop in Portugal before heading over the border to Santiago de Compostela. However, storm clouds were gathering..............

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[garry55]

Our next stop was to be Santiago de Compostela, then we were looking to drive along the top coast all the way back to San Sebastian before crossing back into France. However, the weather forecast for that region for the forthcoming week was rain, followed by more rain with some extra rain thrown in for good measure. So we consulted our trusty Philips Road Atlas and plotted a route back to the sun. The first leg was a short hop to Ourense, so that Sharon could partake of the thermal pools that Ourense is best known for. Quirky place which we enjoyed immensely.

Next day we did another short hop to

 

[Flairy]

Smashing pictures thankyou.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Wrong thread

 

[garry55]

Salamanca - a must see. We stayed at Camping Regio on the outskirts. Not my type of site but it had everything we needed, including a really good on site restaurant and very helpful staff who organised a taxi for us (we had the dogs with us and they can't travel on Spanish buses) to get to and from the city centre.

 

[garry55]

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[garry55]

On to Segovia - the Plaza de Toros free parking area is quite close to the old bull ring. Handy little supermarket close by too.
It's not far from the start of the aquaduct either.

 

[garry55]

This is the castle that it's said inspired one Walt Disney to create a fairy tale castle in one of his films. Can't remember which film it was though.

 

[CAB96]

Stunning. Thanks for posting these.

 

[garry55]

Next stop, Soria - we parked for free alongside the river at Parking Soria. Nice peaceful spot close to town.