Capital Campers do Europe

The Good the Bad and the Ugly - Portugal

This is our last week and hoping to get some sun before we join the snow drifts in he UK we headed south and fast. From our last post when we were heading to Santiago we knew we had one nice day of sun before a week of rain so boogied into Portugal. After promising Paul aka ‘Pablohoney’ that I would give him plenty of notice of visiting him in Lisbon, I emailed a full 12 hours before we came. After Lisbon we rented a villa, very cheaply – we still expected rain and the nights are getting cold – not UK cold just Bongo cold.

 

The Good – Paul took us to a great steak restaurant mega reasonable with 3 euro house wine. A cheap cab ride by the Portuguese equivalent of Robert de Niro in Ronin, we survived the rollercoaster ride and saw the more amusing side to Portuguese cab drivers. Final good thing 1 euro beer and cheap cocktails which would have been economical but Carlo was drinking a triple G and T to ever 20 cl beer Paul had – some things never change.( I can vouch for the quality of the gin however I can not vouch for the mode of transport home that night & it is still a blank- Carlo)

 

The Bad – After the amazing food of Spain and France we had a shock for us in Portugal. Specifically the meat situation was not good, 2 meals consisting of pork and chicken both were inedible. This begins the curious anatomy class of professor Alice- Whilst peeling the spuds Alice calls me over with the words ‘I maybe wrong but I think this chicken has 3 wings’ after a 3 second inspection I informed Alice that her third wing was actually it’s neck….back over to Alice. Doh, they didn’t teach me that at Uni. The chicken (I didn’t cook it) was the chewiest, knife dulling bird I have ever had the mis-pleasure to try and eat. So we didn’t and filled up on our own version of crack; Palmiers – you can never eat just one.

 

The Ugly – Well I do not want to be zenophobic in anyway but as a friend said to me once the Portuguese have definitely not been hit with the pretty stick. Oh also the roads are also a shame to the country (Carlo’s quote not mine).

 

Look back in the Spring when we hope to enjoy the bongo lifestyle yet again with the sun on our side, I think Italy may come under our scrutiny next. Any suggestions for places to visit please post here, probably best not to put names and addresses but towns would be good.

 

Thanks for those that have read over the last couple of months.

Luarca – where we are now.

I think the piccies say it all.

 

The view from our tent

 

We went to a giant squid exhibition very strange, but right up Carlo’s street.

calamari for all!

San Sebastian

 

We had a great couple of days here but unfortunately had the worst weather. So no piccies. I did however NEED to buy a pair of boots to keep out the rain and did so for the princely sum of 15€. We did meet a couple on their honeymoon who had been travelling in their campervan for the same time as us, they had had rain the whole way. As soon as they left the sun is a shining again.

Estella visit at your peril

 

After reading in the lonely planet that once you got past the busy road Estella was definitely worth a visit, we took a little detour. When we got there the usual parking nightmare transpired – having a slightly taller car has its problems and most carparks in spain appear to be underground. Once we had found an underground car park we could park in, finding it slightly odd how dark it was in there, but not thinking too much about it. We had a quick walk around town and soon found that there was not much to see and that we really could have given it a miss and saved an hour driving. Hey ho off to the car park we go. First entrance we try we go down and no cars are there. No problem wrong car park. Second entrance is locked, ok weird we will just go to the car entrance. We go along to see metal grids have been placed on both the entrance and exit. No panic there must be someone who works here who will let us out, however it is nearly lunchtime and as soon as that happens no one will be around. 3 locked entrances later and 10 minutes of panic slowly rising in both us, Carlo’s brow visibly beading at the thought of a whole day in this place, we decide to ask someone in the area. We pick a pet shop opposite he must know. As we approach the entrance again we see a car coming out of our car park! A hundred meter dash that Usain Bolt would have been proud of followed by an Indiana Jones style roll into the car park (yes I did go back for the hat-Carlo) as the gates came crashing down (rather slowly) to get to our Bongo. I run back to the entrance to try and keep the door open, Carlo guns the engine, screeches to the entrance trying to make the door –thankfully it automatically let us out. We still have no idea why they closed everything and how that person got down to their car, we were just thankful they did.

 

Alice ’s lesson learnt:

 If it is a pitch black car park and they have not asked you to pay anything don’t go in.

 

Carlo’s lesson learnt:

Dark car parks are FREE car parks!

Going out Echo style

Again been a bit rubbish with updates, here is the last week and a bit.

 

We have been extremely lucky with the weather so far and knew that our luck was slowly running out. It ran out with style – and we ended up in a foot of mud at 10:00 in the morning with umbrellas raised trying to put a tent down – well Carlo was. I was safely ensconced in the front seat looking on the internet for a place that was not raining. After 15 minutes in the camping car park using their wifi it was clear only a 8 hour journey would get us back to sunshine. The up shot was we went to the pretty part and continued across the Pyrenees.

 

Anso near Echo

 As the weather was still pretty bad by the time we got there we decided against our first night in a bungalow – 70€, instead to get out of the rain and cold we decide to go out for our first evening meal (excl Barca). There was a Michelin rated restaurant in town which would have been my choice, but unfortunately was closed. However next door was a spit and sawdust bar that was packed with walkers (or people in walking attire, it since has become clear that is what most Spanish wear up in the north). They had tapas and platas combinados, to you and me that translates to eggs, chips and meat (I had sausages, Carlo ham). I was stupidly under the impression that the Brits had ruined the Spainish cuisine with these combo’s, but Carlo infirmed me they were there first. We also had the local wine at a shocking expense of 4 €’s a litre. After we had finished our admittedly delicious meal and wine we then had coffee and brandy. Not any normal sized brandy but the half a litre each of v cheap brandy. I couldn’t stomach it, but Carlo obliging finished both off. The brandy may have been cheap, but definitely had a kick, shortly after wards Carlo said ‘I’d like to go to the toilet but think I may fall over en route.’ After some coaxing he went and didn’t embarrass by toppling on more walkers who had just arrived.

Before the drink took over

 

Spending a grand total of 24€ we were very satisfied so much so the next day Carlo said to me “I bet I know what you are thinking” as we were going on a particularly treacherous bit of road and I said I very much doubt it I am thinking of sausage and eggs.   Yumm!!

1 month anniversary

No commentary needed I don't think - I think Carlo says it all in the picture.

I need a hero!!

For everyone who keeps wondering where we are this is a little place called Alquezar just off the pyrenees weather still great.  We had an amazing menu del dia for 13 euros, which included wine, water bread and 3 amazing courses all with the view you see below.

I made Carlo put on his tshirt for dinner.

Alquesar view

Spain Vs France – Motson (Kearney) half time report

Now that we are in Spain we feel we can justly put the French and the Spanish to judgement. The following categories are broken down into a point scoring system which is completely biased and based on our emotional state at the time.

 

Food

Spain 1 vs France 1

Supermarkets rule in France markets rule in Spain, but neither have satisfactory fresh milk in cartons less than 5 litres, not good for Bongo fridge.

 

Barca market

 

Wine

Spain 1 Vs France 3

Spain has drinkable cava and a plethora of undrinkable wines under a euro and some of these are under 2 euros, however gets a point for the cheap good cava – I love bubbles. France see previous posts – every wine good even under a euro.

 

Campsites

Spain 0 Vs France 2

Campsites in Spain consist of a million tents, caravans and motor homes squished together as much as possible with dogs and kids in equal measure – not our cup of tea. For reference see film ‘carry on camping’

France mixed bunch but at least they are cheaper and a tad more stylish.

 

Weather

Spain 2 Vs France 1

A close call as both have performed to the best of their ability but the location of Spain will always win through and therefore Carlo is now sleeping naked as Lucie and Luca know tooo wellll!!!!

 

Barca beach

 

 

Drivers/Roads

Spain 0 Vs France 1

French roads have no people on them, whereas Spanish roads have a tonne of truckers and a lady sitting on the road every 500 yards, Carlo thinks they must be very hot and tired sitting in the mid day sun.

 

Waiters – see Pablo he earned his own section, France we had none.

 

Half time score

Spain 4 vs France 8

 

France as this stage is way in the lead but wait this is a game of 2 halves and anything can happen, there is still all to play for, they might just pull it out of the bag yet!

Karaoke Queen Natalie

Quick post if you ever meet Natalie see pics you must ask her for her rendition of ‘Life for Rent’ by Dido – classic is one word.

The meal that time forgot

Underneath our apartment was a small, family run restaurant, where everyone in Barca comes to eat (that was what we were told). Lucie and I enter after once being refused (too late) to find that the restaurant was in the midst of a power cut in the dark and around 110 degrees.  Not out off Lucie and I sat down and waited for the others. In the interim the waiter and son Pablo tried his best to chat up Lucie until she explained her boyfriend was joining us. The mood changed!

 

Half an hour later all had gathered round the table power still out and also no drinks of menus yet. Pablo was acting strange even to those that could understand Spanish. After a further half an hour and a number of attempts to get served we got our beers and ordered off the hand written menu – this rustic must be amazing food!

 

Once we received our first courses, Luca was last and even then Pablo kept taunting him with the plate (note to reader never play with Luca’s food). It came clear Pablo had taken an instant dislike to Luca due to his affection for Lucie. However that was not the only issue, Carlo was most disappointed with his tuna (tinned) and tomato salad (one). The request for bread was met with Pablo’s response ‘what do you want that for’ no bread materialised. Main course was not greatly approved although the lights did come on. Luca’s pig trotters were not up to his usual standard – far too fatty, the ‘pig had never moved’ .

 

With the main courses finished with we had an extra visitor to our table a giant (no exaggeration) cockroach was walking round the floor in our direction. After 2 and half hours we finally got the bill – this was after having to accost Pablo’s mother to shout at him. 11 euros lighter we were not able to split the bill with our new cocokroach friend was not too bad but the 3 hours it took to do grilled chicken and salad was a new feat for us. Hey ho!!! You win and lose some!

Bumming it in Barcelona

                 

After weeks of careful planning we hooked up with Lucie and Luca for her birthday. The problem was where to leave the beloved bongo and all our worldly possessions. Carlo’s great idea was to get a campsite in Sitges and spend a fortune not being there however luckily he has a brighter wife.  I suggested we got a long term parking spot in Barca and sponged off Lucie and Luca in there 1 bed flat. Never mind Charlie who was supposed to be staying there.

2^nd Night – Luca and Carlo discovered the wonders of the market and cooked a feast Starter of vongole and prawns total fish weight 1.5 kg

Main course of monkfish wrapped in jamon serrano – total fish weight 1 kg

Dessert – cheese followed by big fat sponge, chocolate and cream cake (birthday cake with candles thoughtfully bought by Luca)

 

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!! 

 

Lucie's bday fish feast

3^rd Night – Left over monkfish with pasta – Carlo bravely cooked for an Italian, French and Spanish not the easiest of crowds but won through.

 

 4^th Night – Fish Spectacular

Vongole and prawns – total fish weight 2.5 kg OBSECENE, we couldn’t even finish the prawns off boo!!!