Wednesday, 16 January 2013


Wednesday 16 January 2013

Should really have kept quiet – awoke this morning to more rain, a really dull grey day again, but it’s not cold at all so that is something. Most of the adjoining m/h’s were gone by the time we had breakfast so after a quick visit to the service point the satnav led us safely out of this really quite pleasant, typically modern Spanish town. The major difference we have noticed to French towns is that there are people around!

Our plan today is to cross into Portugal and head for a campsite in Evora; not a long drive but first of all we needed to refuel then a visit to a supermarket to top up on supplies, bread & milk, that sort of thing. Found a very new and modern shopping centre on the edge of Badajoz – there seemed to be new building going on everywhere in Spain, we thought Spain was bankrupt! – so spent an hour browsing and of course buying far more than we had planned. It did mean however that we could forget shopping for a few days.

The Portuguese border came up only a couple of kilometres after Badajoz but of course there were no formalities, the only difference being the change in road signs. The first town we came across was Elvas, quite modern from the outside but with impressive walls and fortifications and an aqueduct built on top. However it was not long before we noticed a more subtle change in the countryside; farms were smaller, there were more of what, for better words, we would call poorer small cottages. Many places were simply but colourfully decorated and the whole effect was as if we had gone back in time 10-15 years. Quite different from Spain and France.

We had taken the decision to stay off the motorways – many were now toll roads and we had read that there was some confusion on how these were paid, and that they were expensive. So a steady drive along the “old” N4, which actually was in excellent condition, showed us more of the country. This gave us the benefit of being somewhat closer to the scenery and resolved one of yesterday’s queries – the trees were cork oaks and they were everywhere, many of them showing evidence of where the bark had been stripped off for the cork.

Along the way we had been puzzled by what appeared in the distance to be quarry spoil heaps, but as we got closer they turned out to be huge piles of large cut rock, stacked up apparently waiting to be shipped out. Then almost immediately we came to a large stone-yard and all became clear – it was marble, something we had read that the area was famous for and the material for much of the local building, including some very humble cottages and even the kerbstones!

Lunch was taken at a simple lay-by. The rain had stopped for some time although it was still dull but not at all cold and it was while “taking the air” another of yesterday’s questions was answered – there high above the adjacent motorway on a pole put up for that express purposes was a storks nest, with a pair doing, well, what comes naturally! We were to see more storks later at the campsite.



Evora was not much farther on and the satnav again took us safely round this old walled city, which we hope to visit in the next couple of days, and 2 km further on to Camping Orbitur Evora, an ACSI site so we saved around 50% on the fees which more than paid for the ACSI membership! Not quite Caravan Club standard, but not their prices either and all we need for a couple of days stopover. Booked in for three nights to give us time for a sort-out and general clean and hopefully a bit of tourism! Unfortunately the weather has turned showery again and the local forecast is not brilliant, but at least it’s relatively warm as the van heating has hardly come on this evening.

1 comment:

  1. Sounds good so far, pity about the weather, if it clears up, don't forget to take some photos.

    Quateira is promoting it's revamped camper van site in the local press. €2.00 per night. Close to a great beach, excellent swimming, and Super Bock on draught.

    Bom Viagem

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