Tam, Jade and Franky's European Adventure

Well I drove up to silves this morning as looking on tripadvisor it looked a nice town.
Really raved it up as being the ex capital of the Algarve and a must visit town.

To say I'm dissapointed is an understatement .....in short what a dump :(

Lots of derelict buildings , cathedral closed and in desperate need of paint.
Old cars abandoned all over the place can't move in the town for cars despite the many surrounding carparks being empty.
Castle would probably be worth a visit but queued out the door and half way down street and I don't think dogs are allowed in so didn't bother.

I can only imagine it's so busy because the website makes it sound nice.

I wasn't impressed I've seen many many more beautiful places that didn't have all that hype.

I only managed to get 2 or 3 photos as it was hard to cut out the grafity and work vehicles :(



Don't know if something has changed on fun with uploading pics but I've not been able to do it for a few days now (
 
very good indoor market, very nice cakes.
 
Northernraider said:
Well I drove up to silves this morning as looking on tripadvisor it looked a nice town.
Really raved it up as being the ex capital of the Algarve and a must visit town.

To say I'm dissapointed is an understatement .....in short what a dump :(

Lots of derelict buildings , cathedral closed and in desperate need of paint.
Old cars abandoned all over the place can't move in the town for cars despite the many surrounding carparks being empty.
Castle would probably be worth a visit but queued out the door and half way down street and I don't think dogs are allowed in so didn't bother.

I can only imagine it's so busy because the website makes it sound nice.

I wasn't impressed I've seen many many more beautiful places that didn't have all that hype.

I only managed to get 2 or 3 photos as it was hard to cut out the grafity and work vehicles :(



Don't know if something has changed on fun with uploading pics but I've not been able to do it for a few days now (
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Nothing that Ive noticed (pic upload) @Northernraider
 
Silves
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I'm afraid that's all I got

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So I've moved now to this little place by the beach ....doggy friendly and a nice view
Not sure if you can stay overnight here mixed comments on park4night but certainly half a dozen vans here just now and I think a few of them have stayed over a few days so will see how it is later and if I need to move no drama ...its a nice spot to spend the day catching some sun
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matamoros said:
Welcome to the 'real' Portugal......well nearly:D

Part of the charm of lots of Portugal for me is the somewhat neglected look to lots towns and villages, if you want pretty and twee go to France:D

Lots of places remind me of Cuba.
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It's a bit like running tours to the gorbals of Glasgow lol
I'm not sure tourists want to see unloved and neglected but maybe just me.
 
Northernraider said:
It's a bit like running tours to the gorbals of Glasgow lol
I'm not sure tourists want to see unloved and neglected but maybe just me.
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It is a shame in many places in Portugal there are some really nice old buildings that would look superb if renovated, parts of Tavira and Olhao for example but I prefer them the way they are to places like Vilamoura, Albufeira, Alvor etc.

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Lenny HB said:
Usually happens when you have a slow connection.
Do you reduce the size before uploading?
I always reduce mine to 1024 X 768.
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I never reduce them but usually upload no probs.

They have done now it just took a bit of messing around
 
You really should have gone to the castle at Silves. The views from the top are great. Looks like you are at or near Feragudo now? Yes ,lots of derelict buildings in Portugal. It is still a relatively poor country. Keep going west,you’ll soon be at Lagos,and then on to Sagres and Cape St. Vincent,the south-westernmost point of Europe. Must go to the Mueum. At Sagres,take Frankie down the steep hill to the little harbour. The upstairs restaurant at the very far end,above the fisherman’s workplaces is good.
 
Podney said:
You really should have gone to the castle at Silves. The views from the top are great. Looks like you are at or near Feragudo now? Yes ,lots of derelict buildings in Portugal. It is still a relatively poor country. Keep going west,you’ll soon be at Lagos,and then on to Sagres and Cape St. Vincent,the south-westernmost point of Europe. Must go to the Mueum. At Sagres,take Frankie down the steep hill to the little harbour. The upstairs restaurant at the very far end,above the fisherman’s workplaces is good.
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Yes if there hadn't been a couple of tour buses in the queue for the castle I would have went in but I'd walked up with jade and didn't want to stand in a massive queue.

Your right I'm at feragudo, portimao next then Lagos but if I can stay near here tonight I will and go to Portimao tomorrow
 
chaser said:
very good indoor market, very nice cakes.
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Maybe the Pastel de Nata? I loathe custard tarts in UK,but these are yummy......but make sure you get them from a proper bakers Tam,the supermarket ones are ones are never as good.

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Alvor near Portimao is also worth a visit - good Aire/FLT spot there !! :)

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Teuchter said:
Alvor near Portimao is also worth a visit - good Aire/FLT spot there !! :)

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Which just goes to show...............that we all like different things,as I wouldn’t go near that place in a month of Sunday’s!! Too busy. But hey ho,each to their own.
If you go a little bit west on the n125,there is a left turn off a newish small roundabout,signposted to a station (estaciou or very similar spelling of station),go down there, over railway line,carry on for about two miles and you come to an area near a little nature reserve. Spaces to stop there.
It’s overlooking the sea at the other end of the bay that comes in to Alvor.
If I had the IT skills I’d send you a map..........but I ain’t!
 
Podney said:
Maybe the Pastel de Nata? I loathe custard tarts in UK,but these are yummy......but make sure you get them from a proper bakers Tam,the supermarket ones are ones are never as good.
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I shall have a look for them
 
Podney said:
Which just goes to show...............that we all like different things,as I wouldn’t go near that place in a month of Sunday’s!! Too busy. But hey ho,each to their own.
If you go a little bit west on the n125,there is a left turn off a newish small roundabout,signposted to a station (estaciou or very similar spelling of station),go down there, over railway line,carry on for about two miles and you come to an area near a little nature reserve. Spaces to stop there.
It’s overlooking the sea at the other end of the bay that comes in to Alvor.
If I had the IT skills I’d send you a map..........but I ain’t!
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There's a bird sanctuary down there that do demonstrations of ringing etc www.arochalife.com

Lots of cockles (berbigao in Portuguese) in the bay there, need a scratting tool though......yummy.​

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Podney said:
Which just goes to show...............that we all like different things,as I wouldn’t go near that place in a month of Sunday’s!! Too busy. But hey ho,each to their own.
If you go a little bit west on the n125,there is a left turn off a newish small roundabout,signposted to a station (estaciou or very similar spelling of station),go down there, over railway line,carry on for about two miles and you come to an area near a little nature reserve. Spaces to stop there.
It’s overlooking the sea at the other end of the bay that comes in to Alvor.
If I had the IT skills I’d send you a map..........but I ain’t!
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As a matter of interest have you ever been there when it is quiet with only a handful of motor homes there? believe me it has a completely different character then

I have never camped there because it has usually been winter when I visited Alvor and it can flood a bit down at the Aire also it is usually too crowded then with lots of "snowbirds" overwintering there - we stay at "Camping Alvor" up the hill from the town.

Once though when we were at Camping Alvor in late March/early April when most of the "snowbirds" have gone - it was dry and the Aire was not at all crowded so looked pretty good - it is virtually on the beach, has great access on foot to the town, bars, restaurants, market etc, also great for dog walking right from the entrance!

Tam doesn't stay in campsites, he has a dog and sometimes likes to stay near "civilisation," so providing it is not crowded it may well suit him fine :)
 
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Not forgetting the 90 cent bars at Alvor :cheers:

Currently at Falesia for a bit, then will probably head back to Alvor, it seems to be the kind of ‘in between’ type of place I like best, busier than here, but not so manic as Albufeira, and the aire is in a great spot, if a bit dusty.

Amazing how relatively quiet the Algarve is motorhomewise, compared to winter!
 
BreweryDave said:
Not forgetting the 90 cent bars at Alvor :cheers:

Currently at Falesia for a bit, then will probably head back to Alvor, it seems to be the kind of ‘in between’ type of place I like best, busier than here, but not so manic as Albufeira, and the aire is in a great spot, if a bit dusty.

Amazing how relatively quiet the Algarve is motorhomewise, compared to winter!
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You moved then lol
Thought you were staying there for a month ?
 
Northernraider said:
You moved then lol
Thought you were staying there for a month ?
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After seeing the place at night.........it was time to move on:Eeek:

Hate being a bloody tourist surrounded by bloody tourists, kids, stags and hens, families, tourists, yobs, did I mention tourists.......:imoutahere:

Winter maybe, but not now, even for us:whistle2:
 
BreweryDave said:
After seeing the place at night.........it was time to move on:Eeek:

Hate being a bloody tourist surrounded by bloody tourists, kids, stags and hens, families, tourists, yobs, did I mention tourists.......:imoutahere:

Winter maybe, but not now, even for us:whistle2:
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Ha ha ha. ..yeah I got that impression through the day lol never mind at night
But at least that aire was far enough away to be quiet at night

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Few British vans parked up here but this thing is amazing...was speaking to the guy and he's actually still in the forces.

Was telling me it's a ex radio communications vehicle ....apparently never seen action the government bought a load of them but they got mothballed and never used. Cost in the region of £350k each to the taxpayer


He paid £10k for it and £750 for the trailer

6 litre Cummins diesel with 6x6 wheel drive :)

11mpg
 
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Bucher Duro , and Duro is an oxymoron , they have proved to be very unreliable electrics. , and when loaded poor brakes, suspension problems , The Irish army in Kosovo sent two vehicles for one IED team , parts supply slow . So dont be tempted @Northernraider
 
Northernraider said:
View attachment 245459 View attachment 245460 Few British vans parked up here but this thing is amazing...was speaking to the guy and he's actually still in the forces.

Was telling me it's a ex radio communications vehicle ....apparently never seen action the government bought a load of them but they got mothballed and never used. Cost in the region of £350k each to the taxpayer


He paid £10k for it and £750 for the trailer

6 litre Cummins diesel with 6x6 wheel drive :)

11mpg
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:Eeek:
 
tacr2man said:
Bucher Duro , and Duro is an oxymoron , they have proved to be very unreliable electrics. , and when loaded poor brakes, suspension problems , The Irish army in Kosovo sent two vehicles for one IED team , parts supply slow . So dont be tempted @Northernraider
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I'm getting a guided tour of it later :p
 

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