Trip to Portugal January 2023

https://ibb.co/fqcrZdZ We went to Porto by Tram /Train lovely city lots to see and do very easy to get about on the tram /train Take the ratty train from Faro to Villa real de san Antonio great cheap trip the ratty train we also call the Olahao express as it is pretty quant and well ratty hee hee it goes all the way to Lisbon too.We have spent many Winters wandering Portugal in our van was very easy with wild camping but not sure now , plenty of Aires however,
 
Pauljenny said:
Lagoas de Sao André?
Interesting beach, but can be a bit draughty . If you can be there when they open up the lagoons, to flood them at very high tide.
Sines.. Oil & gas port. Lots of industry.
Busy working town, these days.
Alcaçer do Sal is a nice place to visit.
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a bit south of Sines, Porto Covo; on one of the coastal trails.
 
rabW said:
a bit south of Sines, Porto Covo; on one of the coastal trails.
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Lovely place.
Used to wildcamp by the sewage outlet..
Fantastic wild tomatoes.
Millefontes is good.
Check out the nearby Isla Pessegueiro.. Nice walk.
Peach Tree Island.
Interesting story about the twin forts.
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If you get to Lisbon Marie, take a look at the aquarium there. When we were there I think it was the second largest in the world. It was spectacular, and from what I remember it was only about 10€ for entry. We spent a week in Lisbon, and the people there were brilliant, and we really enjoyed our visit.

www.oceanario.pt

Oceanário de Lisboa

Discover Oceanário de Lisboa, One of the World's Best! Explore Marine Habitats, Meet Fascinating Species, and Learn About Ocean Conservation. Family Fun Awaits!
www.oceanario.pt www.oceanario.pt
 
Beware in Lisbon. We got on the touristy - not specifically for tourists - ye olde tram in Lisbon to go round and see the town. I was standing when the tram suddenly did an emergency stop. Soon after we reached the stop we wanted and I checked my pocket to find my wallet was missing. I looked down on the floor and there it was, I assumed it had fallen out of my pocket. On checking it once we were off, I found all the cash had gone, but luckily no cards missing. I got back to our hotel and told some other Brits. They of course said hard luck old chap, you need to keep your hand on your wallet. The next day at dinner they said guess what, exactly the same thing happened to us. Apparently it is very common. The toe rags give a signal to the bus / tram driver who does an unnecessary emergency stop and the tea leaves pounce.
So we don't go to Lisbon any more.
 
gasgas said:
Beware in Lisbon. We got on the touristy - not specifically for tourists - ye olde tram in Lisbon to go round and see the town. I was standing when the tram suddenly did an emergency stop. Soon after we reached the stop we wanted and I checked my pocket to find my wallet was missing. I looked down on the floor and there it was, I assumed it had fallen out of my pocket. On checking it once we were off, I found all the cash had gone, but luckily no cards missing. I got back to our hotel and told some other Brits. They of course said hard luck old chap, you need to keep your hand on your wallet. The next day at dinner they said guess what, exactly the same thing happened to us. Apparently it is very common.
So we don't go to Lisbon any more.
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Be careful in any large city, Rome, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, New York, London, Madrid, Berlin, Munich, Lisbon, and others. Rome and Barcelona in particular are renowned for this, but I would happily return to both of them again in future.
 
In the dark days when we had caravans , we stayed at Lisbon on a well known camp site, forget the name but it was good and easy to get to the centre by bus, we also rode the tram, I believe it was number 13 advertised as the best sight seeing tour to do, we rode it for 2 circuits but had to dismount half way round and remount it when the driver had a break, we had NO problems at all , so this pickpocketing must be a new thing it was about 23 years ago now loved Lisbon. was going to go back recently when in Portugal with the Motorhome but never did, still a few years left so not too late I hope?
 
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https://ibb.co/M79b2Ts Paderne Portugal is an interesting place to visit, nice Portugese town, we wild camp at the wash house or could when last there in 2020, nice spot for a few days, easy walk to town from the squat, lovely water do your washing hang it out to dry, a fruit wholesaler is there , selling all local produce, space for about 15 vans in all , the water was off when last there because Spain had diverted the River we heard , but a public toilet there very clean and water tap for drinking water , toilet emptying too so all good, lovely walks along the Albufera River there all the way to the Ruined Castle. about 3 miles from Paderne was/ is ? a private home that takes Motorhomes for long stays run by a man called Pedro, he puts on all sorts of events such as Barbeques, quizzes fishing trips [SEA] etc, it is called Motorhome friends and can be found on line, we called in on spec one Christmas day and Pedro showed us around, insisted we had food and a few drinks, all very friendly, folks stay there for some months it seems, We once saw a German man sitting in one of the wash house tubs having a bath, he was loving it .Market in Paderne town weekly too .
SAD to see the wash house dry because Spain has high jacked the River but hey ho that is how it is, water used to gush out of the fountain and fill the washing tubs and flow on to the river , A tanker used to call in and fill with water there too, it was a Tractor with a trailer with a large tank on it , I guess the water was taken was for irrigating the fields, I think the town would have piped water now , but locals called in and filled their water bottles daily so the water was good, we always drank it and are still here . lots of Cray Fish in the wash house run offs to, had lots of fun catching them, just like Crabbing at home?
 
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Sounds like a plan, Marie! Don't know about hiring vans, but travelling up from Faro towards Porto will mean you can choose from lots of places to see. Might be a bit ambitious to get to Porto and back unless you are doing a night in each place......Will need careful planning as time goes so fast!
Definitely gets frost in central Portugal, we are halfway between Lisbon and Porto (below Coimbra, lovely city to visit). Just need layers of clothing...start off with loads then strip off as sun comes out...then reverse!
There is a good site near Tomar which is paid by donation (another great town to visit!) https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/farm/Quinta-das-Lameiras-Sº-Pedro-de-Tomar-385184644913356/
our friends stayed there and thoroughly recommended it.
Loads of free aires in towns along the coast but often not with EHU .
São Pedro de Moel is a unspoilt little town to investigate and easy overnight parking.
Aveiro is dubbed the Portuguese Venice and worth a visit.
The Serra Da Estrelas are amazing but might be very cold and snowy!
Several towns near us ie Serta , Figeiro dos Vinhos have free parking and not touristy.
The Douro and coast above Porto is beautiful too!
The planning should be nearly as much fun as the trip!
 
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