THE BEAUTIFUL PORTUGAL

Porto
Day 35, 36 (Good Friday)

Portugal is just simply GORGEOUS!!!!!!!

The people, the scenery, the food, the everything....oh! Itºs bliss here!!

We had a bad start when we got dumped off at the bus stop at 7.30pm last night and didnºt know where to go or what accomodation we might get but it all turned out really well!

We found a map at a bus station nearby (after trudging up the hill for about 2 kmºs and then back again - packs on back!) and asked a guy if he could help us, which, in English, he said he couldnºt because he wasnºt quite sure where we were himself!

But he spoke English!

We looked at the 4 star hotel and thought, well this might be where we stay for hte night while we work out what is available in this little known place. We did some more searching and found a hotel that was 2 star. And it was close to where we were. So uphill we trudged, and thatºs what it felt like. The last few days was catching up with us at this point!

When we found it, it was a four star hotel and the price was €200 per night!!!!

Should we catch a taxi and head for another hotel? The Peninsular was apparently a 2 star.

No. We asked. WHen stuck, ask. A good motto we found out!

THe lovely lady behind the desk said in perfect English, ªThis is not the real price! We have 3 hotels, a 4 star, a 3 star, a 2 star!ª We asked about the 2 star, always aware of our budget and knowing if we overspent in one country, weºd be deprived in another. And we really wanted to stretch our dollars out for the year of travelling. As you would!

`Howºs €32 a night sound?`

Howºd it sound. Perfect to us! And for 37 Euros it included a buffet breakfast for us both! We were actually quite staggered by that price. It was only 2 Euros more than the backpacker hostal in Spain and this was a hotel with CNN and BBC!!! (iºve missed the news so much!)

We got ourselves settled and decided to stay 3 nights! Thereºs also a bidet in the room! (first one weºve encountered in Europe!).

We saw on CNN how 15 British Military Service Personal released from Iran. 4 killed in Basra. Contrasting joyous and sad news items.

And Gregºs checking emails on the puter next to me and said Mumºs car was stolen from the pool!!! Bloody hell....

Off to Lisbon next! Will write from there!

xx

PS GO DOCKERS!!!!!!