Andy & Gillie's Big Adventure!: All Work and No Play…Not

Obidos was a revelation. We found a delightful small campsite (not campgrounds anymore – that was for the States) and did some internet-based stuff (more of which later), before driving in the next morning to this 13^th Century town.

Without being too info-oriented, this town has apparently been destroyed and rebuilt several times in its history, but now boasts a rather marvellous wall around which we walked. The weather was balmy, if a bit breezy, and we were careful not to get blown off at certain times, as there’s parts with no protection from a long drop!

We then drove the relatively short distance to Estoril/Cascais that afternoon and found another lovely campsite with an eccentric view of what makes a suitable site – lots of low branches and long distances between power points. Whatever.

We stayed for three nights before driving another short distance to Lisbon, where we had a most enjoyable long(ish) lunch at one of the tourist restaurants on the Praca do 25 abril, followed by a fantastic ‘free’ walking tour of Lisbon, which was supposed to last about three hours, but ended up taking nearly four! Our guide Rafael was very knowledgeable and clearly in love with his native city. He showed us lots of places and things we would never have found on our own, or with a more ‘conventional’ tour and was brilliant throughout. Real value for money. If you’re going to Lisbon, check out the ‘Chill Out’ walking tour. Because You’re Worth It!

Four hours of walking then waiting for the last bus (hoping we were at the right stop!), so we were knackered when we got back to the campsite. Early night.

The next day was a bit of a trek to get to Lagos, but we found another great campsite, with amazing views and all the facilities – for only €19 a night! Planned on spending three nights there, but the best laid plans…

Cast your mind back, dear reader, to the reference at the top of the post about doing some Internet Stuff (IS) in Obidos. Well, part of that was applying for a part-time temporary post at a school in S London. Completely forgot about it and was spending some time last Tuesday doing some more IS, when the phone rang. We thought it was Vodaphone or someone and were extremely surprised to find out that it was Woodcote School on the line inviting me for interview!!!!!.....!!!...!!!

After some confusion, to-ing and fro-ing and wincing at cost of flights – this was returning to a holiday hot-spot at the start of the half-term holiday, don’t forget – we made all the necessary arrangements, including contacting brother Richard, organising a razor, shoes and a suit(!) and gasping at the 4.30 am get-up on interview day.

Included in our plans was also the need to get to a house in Lagoa – 50 ish kilometers east of Lagos – a day early to start a house sit for Lesley, who was travelling to Edinburgh to run a half-marathon!

Lesley kindly agreed to put Gillie up for an extra night while I went off to the UK for the interview. It was a bit of a whirlwind trip, naturally, but the upshot was a phone call on Friday morning as I was walking to the gate for the flight back offering me the job! Never too old...?

So, sorted for the autumn, we can enjoy a relaxed couple of months around Europe without having to scour the virtual pages of TES etc.

Our house sit is quite lovely – at the end of a gravel lane, quite remote with great views all round and three charming dogs and two very independent cats, all of whom have a very discerning ear, it must be said (see pix).

Had a couple of days chilling and currently waiting for a) England to finish Sri Lanka off – although it’s good they’ve finally found some backbone – and b) Molly A to receive a new clutch (mofo). So staying another extra night courtesy of Lesley, who has been very understanding.

Our plans take us back into Spain this week, aiming for a few nights around Sitges and Barcelona, before trying to dodge the undoubtedly persistent attentions of the paparazzi around St Tropez, Cannes, Nice etc Oh me. Soon…

PS. Hi there, what a week! We always say you never know what’s around the corner. Also last week we secured a house sit in Putney for the last two weeks in August, so at the moment (fingers tightly crossed xx) things seem to be going according to plan. (When we get the bill for Moll’s repair tomorrow, I may revise that statement!)

We are really enjoying Portugal and as it’s our first visit, expected it to be very much like Spain. Which in a way it is, but the feel is a lot different and I don’t know really how to explain it. I think I expected it to be grander and smarter than Spain, but it isn’t; it feels a lot more rural and has a certain wildness about it, which we really like. It’s been lovely living up on the top of a hill in our house sit, wandering through the fields of wild flowers with the dogs (just like the ‘Famous Five’ in the Enid Blyton stories. Thanks again Lesley for being so kind to us. However, it’s back on the road tomorrow, with hopefully a new clutch that will enable us to go up hills without resorting in the end to first gear and a funny smell. Happy travels… Love G xxx