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