Autumn 2024

Mazagón (Spain) & Tavira (Portugal) - 2 & 3 October 2024

02.10 - Mazagón

There was constant road noise last night in Seville - but that’s not a problem for us sleeping. Stayed quite warm overnight! Plus, this morning we killed 3 🦟 - little buggers!

On that basis, (hot and irritated!) decided we didn’t want to drive for two hours to Córdoba, as the inland temperature was still very hot. Hard to cool down a motorhome! Leaves places to visit for another time too…

Instead we’re now by the coast.

Tintin drove today - went to a place in Umbrete to service Dave about 20 minutes away - no shade, and nothing really there - new houses being built - so didn’t stay.

Filled up with diesel on the way out - €1.17 per litre! Then drove another 1-1/4 hours to the beach. Quite boring driving - straightish road for over 60 km!

Very uninspiring driving through the last few miles - very industrial - plus such mega bumpy roads ☹️

Free park up here seems nice enough - very quiet - and close to the beach.

After a late lunch, went to the beach. Lots of men with rods out fishing on the shoreline.

Cute little birds (thinking Sanderlings) which made me smile when they were trotting along the shoreline.

We sat and read our books. The umbrella had to be put away as it was so windy. We didn’t actually go for a swim. Those that did, walked in, got wet and walked out - didn’t see any actually swimming.

Lots of wasps, perhaps hornets around here…

Anyway, an easy way to spend the afternoon.

Had a good FaceTime catch up with my lovely ‘new’ sister - and just like that - it’s rum time again! At 19.00 the sign up the road says it’s 27° - much better! I did go for a walk up the road to see what the supermarkets had, first one - not a lot - like a corner shop. Walked to the Spar - still couldn’t get a big tub of Greek yogurt or fresh milk - so will have to try in Portugal!

03.10 - Tavira - Portugal

I’m still hot and irritated - so going to whinge again! Last evening a Spanish moho came and parked right next to us, blocking out the evening sun, and then proceeded to be loud into the evening. They had the whole frigging carpark to park in!

I have at least another 7 bites on my back and a few more on limbs. We also found (and killed) another mosquito this morning. I have no suitable words that I can write to say how cheesed off I am. I seem to react badly, the whole area goes red and swells up - plus don’t like to have to take antihistamines - much better if I don’t get bitten! Rant over… sort of…

Me driving today. First 30 minutes or so was on the rubbish roads from yesterday - probably the worst of this trip - so far!

Tintin was trying to register for the Portuguese toll roads. Tried yesterday, but hadn’t received an email confirmation, so tried again as I was driving…

Looks like we cross the ‘border’ over the river.

Straight away, Portugal seems greener and more cultivated. We also went back an hour - which we then lost faffing around with trying to get internet again!

We’re parked up in Tavira. Not a proper parking space for mohos - but there don’t appear to be any restrictions…

After an early lunch - blame jet lag! - we walked into the town. Crossed over the Rio Gilãu, and collected a map from the tourist information and went for a wander. The castle and gardens were free, so started there.

We stopped off for a Pasteis de Nata (custard tart) - and had them with a cocktail each! Mojito for me and Margherita for himself. I know they don’t go together - but heyho! €17

By then the palace recommended by the tourist information lady was open (after 2pm). We paid €3 - I even had to get Tintin’s passport out for her to check his age. There were two female staff downstairs, plus another two upstairs. Not sure the entrance fees cover the staff! Not much to say, was an exhibition in 10 rooms about artifacts showing a journey through the Roman history of Tavira. It tells stories of its inhabitants, their daily lives, economic activities, health concerns, beauty practices, and funeral rituals.