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In Which I Start To Smell Portuguese
October 1, 2007 by Mike
Vila Do Conde
Route: Viana do Castelo - Esposende - Povoa do Varzim - Vila Do Conde
They can call it the Costa Verde if they want to, but we know the Green Coast actually means the Rainy Coast, don't we? Not today, however, as I ride down in increasing sunshine conscious all the while that it's now October, that it's cold and grey and wet in England and Norway today, and that you are probably at work this Monday morning.
Apologies are in order, I suppose, for finding this happy juxtaposition of windmill, sea and sunshine, just sitting there in the village of Apulia, waiting for me to move in.
I'm only another five miles down the coast here in Vila do Conde, no more than 20 miles in total today. The town itself is compact, old, picturesque. And just outside, I've found a decent little campsite next to the sea. It's quiet. The caravans and mobile homes are empty. There's a couple of other tents in evidence: I saw the resident of one of them return this evening dressed in a business suit. There's a story there somewhere.
There is, however, a small restaurant, a bar, wifi access (hurrah!) and clothes washing facilities. All of which I need, in varying degrees. (OK so I don't *need* the bar, but I'm prepared to make use of it while I'm here.)
The thing is, with the washing, they took my bag away and washed the clothes for me. When they came back, they smelled Portuguese.. by which I mean I'm overwhelmed to the point of dizziness by the odour of washing powder. Seriously, they must have used a bucketful of the stuff to wash three t-shirts, my shorts, a towel and assorted smalls. (The yellow-and-green socks too? Yes, the yellow-and-green socks.) And the thing is, everyone here reeks of washing powder too. Clothes, table-cloths, sheets, the lot.
I'm a short hop from Porto: tomorrow, I'm off to the big city.
G'night.
Comments
By Zé | October 27, 2007 12:35 PM
Hey, hey,
That sounds marvellous. It is very nice indeed, living here, only a stone throw away from Porto, the so called work capital of the country.It's not a bad life at all, specially after spending nearly 10 years living in east London, the last of those years doing supply teaching ( Yuc!). Even Smokey the cat loves it, although she misses the garden from her London home. And then, going off the Costa Verde, there's Geres, a beautiful National Park, full of indigenous trees ( not an eucaliptus in sight), perfect for a good challenging hike.
Enjoy S. martinho do Porto! Zé x
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By Carlos Henrique | October 8, 2007 8:02 PM
PARABENS!...
Li com toda a atenção algumas das passagens da sua viagem, e gostei do que li.
Ainda ontem estivemos no Parque de Campismo da pequena localidade ribeirinha de S. Martinho do Porto Portugal, por onde esteve de passagem onde tive o grato prazer de o conhecer pessoalmente, e constatar que o gosto pela aventura é recíproco.
Pena é que eu não tenha mota nem um patrocínio, para poder desfrutar de uma volta a Africa, ou mesmo só chegar ao Sul de Angola, e poder convida-lo a esta aventura.
Leve consigo uma mensagem de Paz e Solidariedade para com todos os Povos que visitar com a melhor das Felicidades.
Que seja bem guiado na sua caminhada.
Desejo-lhe a melhor boa sorte, nas suas aventuras por este mundo.
Com um abraço
Carlos Henrique
08/10/2007