Portugal

Apr 25th - Apr 30th 2010

Sunday 25th April 2010

Home to Vilamoura

Quiet start to the morning in Calvert. I'd had a horribly late one at the Lottery on Saturday night so only crawled into bed at just before 01.00. Then woke up at 03.00 convinced I could hear people talking downstairs. After a rather bleary-eyed investigation I figured I was going mad so went back to sleep. The alarm hurt at 07.30 when it came!

Toast and coffee and some final packing and we left for the airport around 08.50. We were driving to Dunstable to park at work. I normally leave around 09.10 and get there at 09.50 - but of course I had to leave earlier as we were going on holiday. Consequently we were then at work about 20 mins before the taxi was due.

He turned up just before 10.00 and took us up to the airport. New taxi drop off place which is further away from the terminal building so that was fun! Still some restrictions in place after the ash cloud so we had to queue up to check bags in. I'd bought Speedy Boarding which would normally get your own check-in but today was a bit busier so about 4 people in front of us. Check in was fine and we went through the Priority Pass channel through security. They are very helpful at Luton and we were through in about 5 minutes.

Went to Est for some lovely toast and a latte before going to the special assistance place to get our lift to the plane. That went OK but slightly stressful as we were the last on the plane. Very helpful chap though with the chair and asked if Nikki would dump me and take him to Portugal instead!

Were sat in row 2 with 3 seats between the two of us which I like. Good flight - think we both dozed off a few times. It was a 2'30" flight which passed quite pleasantly.

Wheels down in Faro about 10 minutes late and we had an air-bridge to get off. Bloke brought the chair up and helped us through the terminal and through passport control. Picked up the bags and went to the Avis desk to get the car. Very straight forward. Got a Peugeot 207 and popped the seats down for the chair and we were off!

We got lost literally within 5 minutes of leaving the Avis lot. Don't quite know how we do it - but we did. Signposting in Portugal isn't their strongest point so we were growling at each other by the time we did eventually find Vilamoura.

Took a while to find the hotel but we got there in the end. Very good check in and we'd been upgraded to an Executive Room which was nice. Very friendly staff and by the time we got to the room our bags were already here. Result.

Quick shower for Huw and then off for an explore. Checked out the pool ready for tomorrow and had a pre-dinner snack at the bar. Lovely to be sat outside in the sun having people bring you things - even if it was £13 for a salad.

Back to the room and quick chat with Danno about the wi-fi. They want £22 a day for wi-fi connection which is a bit steep. Danno sorted me out with a BT Openzone voucher which brings it down to £27 for the week.

Caught up with Mum & Dad and Ann on Skype and that's where we're up to now. Time for a quick check on Google Earth to find out just where in the hell we actually are!

Got the car brought round and headed down into Vilamoura. It's kind of like its own self-contained resort but on a giant scale. Found the Marina which was jam packed with million dollar yachts and speed-boats. Had a wander along the front before opting for an Italian place for dinner. Risotto for me and a melanzana for Nikki. Chatted to the waiter for a bit about football(!). He was watching Roma play Sampdoria and wanted Roma to lose so that Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan would do something. They love the Special One here!

Back to the hotel via a garage for some milk - which turned out to be off anyway - and so to bed. Knackered.

Monday 26th April 2010

Vilamoura

Pretty good night sleep - the rooms here are rather well sound-proofed - as proved by me opening the door and finding someone hoovering right outside. Both woke around 07.45 which is a nice lie-in. Had coffee on the balcony and enjoyed the early morning sun before venturing down for breakfast.

It's fair to say you can always judge a hotel by the quality of its breakfast and this lives up to its 5 stars. Fantastic buffet with everything you could need as well as an egg/omelette station. Great selection of rolls and they did me a nice latte as well. Very well looked after. I don't think the hotel is anywhere near full - I imagine it would be more crowded around the buffet at the height of the season.

After breakfast it was a quick shower and then off to the pool. Just down the corridor from our room is a lift which takes you straight to the pool which is handy. Grabbed our towels and settled down for a morning doing bugger all. And we totally achieved it. Man brought us an ice-bucket and some water and later brought a coffee so all was good.

Watched a father and mother playing with their 4 year old for a bit - he was clearly a laid-off city trader and had that attitude about everything. Reminded me of a character in Hustle who just shouted "ARSE" at everything. Funny to watch though!

They have a snack bar place for lunch but that was closed so we went to the restaurant and had a sandwich and some potato wedges - £28 thank you very much. Tomorrow it's down the garage for some sarnies!

Spent the rest of the afternoon dozing on the sunbeds - girl a few up from us had a heavy cold so I'd doze until she decided to blow her not inconsiderable nose and wake me up.

Gave up around 16.00ish and came back up to the room. I realised I'd caught the sun a bit so went down to the shops in the lobby for some after-sun. The girl found it and showed it to me and just as I was about to get it, I noticed the price-tag was £37 - for some cream! I declined and said I'd go to the supermarket. She didn't seem too shocked by that decision.

Freshly showered and now enjoying the air conditioned room. Heading out in a bit for some tea and a wander around.

In the end decided to have a crack at Albufeira. I went there with Mum & Dad in the early 1980's and it was a small fishing village. Spoke to the chap at reception and he gave us a short-cut to get there which worked beautifully. Now it's a busy place! Drove around amazed just how hilly it is and eventually found what looked like a main street. Found a multi-story car park and parked up and wandered into the town for an explore.

There's no doubt the Brits dominate and in the height of summer I think it would be HELL - but it wasn't too bad tonight. Lots of people outside each restaurant inviting you to come in. Nikki was attracted by one chap on the sea front who offered her a glass of champagne - so in we went. I had tomato soup and Nikki had a kind of melted goat's cheese with pine-nuts. Then we shared a paella. Top class food - it really was. Couldn't fault it and the bill was less than £40 so pretty good.

Drove back to the hotel via a garage for some milk and were back in the room by 21.00. I watched a bit of politics on Sky News and News 24 and then caught the 22.00 news on BBC1 before turning in.

Tuesday 27th April 2010

Vilamoura

Quiet start to the day - both woke up around 08.00ish and had coffee on the balcony. Another beautiful day with temperatures up into the high 70's.

Showered etc and then went for breakfast. Both had some fruit then followed it up with an omelette for me and pancakes for Nikki. Very helpful staff and felt well looked after.

On the sunbeds by 10.00 - round the other side of the pool this time. Bit windy to start but it soon settled down into just being damn hot!

Watched the world go by all morning and apart from a brief spell where everything in the world was getting on my nerves (things like my book, a breeze, my sandals etc) it all went well.

Decided that £40 for lunch was a bit steep so we got the car brought round and went to the local supermarket. Fresh rolls, cream cheese, tomato, Pringles and a Twix for less that a tenner and that constitutes job done! Came back and prepared lunch on the balcony and felt quite smug about that!

Back to the pool for a couple of hours more basking in the sunshine and I decided it was time for a swim. Water not that warm but managed to get in and have a few laps before getting out back into the sunshine!

Back to the room about 16.30 and got showered before checking out the snooker room and having a quick knock around. I'm rubbish and Nikki is even worse but it was a laugh.

Went down to the Marina for some dinner around 19.00ish. Chap in reception told us about an easier car park to get the chair in. It was easier but a longer walk! Wandered around and checked out the various menus before settling on Il Lamparo Trattoria. Lovely setting and sat outside. Had a great risotto and Nikki had a goat's cheese affair. We were planning on having desert but it didn't happen. The aim is to have at least one ice-cream by the end of the week.

In bed by just gone 22.00 and lights out!

Wednesday 28th April 2010

Vilamoura

 

This doing very little can be habit forming. Up around 08.15 after a series of very bizarre dreams - showered and dressed for breakfast by 09.00. Another excellent breakfast where the waitress just knows I want a latte and just brings it. Wonderful!

Went down to the supermarket for our lunch and brought that back to the room. We've been cramming things in the mini-bar. It’s one of those automated ones where, if you move anything, you get charged. Looked at the bill on the TV and we'd racked up £50 of mini-bar charges. Rang reception to sort it out and the woman said would we prefer the mini-bar emptied so we could use it as a fridge. Excellent service!

By the pool by about 11.00. Much windier than on previous days but still very pleasant indeed. Listened to music and watched the world go by until about 13.30 and came back up to the room for lunch.

Back down by the pool by about 14.30 and stayed there on and off 'til about 17.00ish.

Came back up and showered and sat on the bed watching Gordon Brown calling a woman a bigot. Loads of analysis on Sky and BBC News. Watched it again on the BBC 18.00 news before heading out for dinner.

Decided to go to Faro - partly to see somewhere different and partly to scope out the route to the airport. Took about 20 minutes to get there and drove around until we found the centre. It's basically a series of pedestrianised streets with bars and restaurants off the main drag. Wandered around until we found a decent looking pizza place and had some tea. Nothing to write home about but certainly filled a gap. Faro is quite run down in places and not what I was expecting. I was thinking it would be quaint with lots of squares etc but it wasn't!

Found our way back to the hotel without any drama and watched some more TV before hitting the sack around 22.30

Thursday 29th April 2010

Vilamoura

Another mildly restful day in Portugal. It mostly involved back timing activities to the leaders' debate at 20.30.

Very cloudy morning and looked like it was going to tip it down at any point. Checked online and saw the local weather service were saying the sun would be out by 11.00

Breakfast was taken in a correct and timely fashion - as was our now traditional trip to the supermarket to get some lunch. We were a little later this morning. By 10.45 we decided to trust the weather service so bagged the best sunbeds and got ourselves settled in. We were the only people by the pool and sat in glorious solitude while people walked by and thought we were mad.

At 11.05 the sun came out! Amazing. The clouds just fragmented and by 11.40 there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Soon we were joined by other sun seekers but our smug feeling remained!

Went back up to the room for lunch around 13.30 and watched some news for a bit before heading back down to the pool around 14.45. The chap I mentioned earlier in the week who looked like he'd been in Hustle was now sat right next to my bed. This obviously couldn't continue so we de-camped to one of the other swimming pools. This one was up some steps and was adults only. We stayed until about 17.00 and then called it a day.

Back to the room for a shower and then we'd decided to go down to Vilamoura Marina for egg & chips and an ice-cream. We parked and wandered down and found a place that provided egg & chips for a reasonable rate. Place was decked out with pictures of the owner with loads of football stars including David Beckham, Ronaldo etc etc.

After a satisfactory egg & chips we moved back to an Italian restaurant that had a gelateria attached and had some rather good ice-cream. I had M&M flavour, Nikki went for nuts and coconut.

Back in the room by 20.00 with some extra supplies for the big debate. Watched Sky News until 20.30 and then switched over to BBC1. Very entertaining. Nikki fell asleep for large parts of it! Stayed up to watch the opinion polls come in and was in bed asleep myself by 22.45.

Good day!

Friday 30th April 2010

Vilamoura to Home

Woke up just before the alarm call from reception at 06.15. Got up and were on auto-pilot mode until we checked out at 07.00. Very sorry to be leaving. The staff here have been superb and the hotel itself is excellent.

Quick drive to Faro Airport. Stopped on the way to get some petrol before dropping off the hire car at the Avis place just off the airport. Seems you pick up the car at the terminal but drop it off about a mile away. Chap helped us with our luggage and dropped us at the terminal. Found check-in easily enough and queued for about 15 mins to get our bag checked in. Helpful guy at check-in called someone to help us through security which went very smoothly. He dropped us off at Costa Coffee and said he'd come back for us just before boarding. He was the spitting image of Cristiano Ronaldo - something I commented on and he said he'd be told that many, many times! Nikki was quite happy though I think she'd have preferred Beckham.

The queue for Costa was quite short but the 2 people serving were quite rubbish. Took longer to get a coffee than it did to check-in and clear security. Had a coffee and a pain-au-raison and by the time they were consumed Ronaldo was back for us. Whisked us up in the lift and got us to the gate in plenty of time - in fact they'd called the flight before in the incoming one had arrived.

Took us down to the plane first and got us settled. Crew had just flown out from Luton and told us the weather wasn't going to be nice! I was tired out by this time and took offence when the guy in row one, the row with all the leg-room, decided to recline his seat. I got up and said "seriously?" to him and he put it back. Had some nibbles and then I got a row to myself and had a kip for about half an hour. Went back to my original seat as we were coming in over Jersey. Good flight. The lift thing wasn't ready when we landed at Luton so I made my displeasure known. It came about ten minutes later and we were whisked through security.

Got a cab back to work and picked up the car. Stopped on the way home for some milk and that was that. I think Vilamoura is somewhere we'll go back to again but probably not in the height of the season!