Visit 17-20 Sept 2012

22/9/2012

Other photos not shown here are on Photos Sept 2012.

Booked into the Long Stay car park at Stansted to save a bit on parking. It was okay, no delays. Would have preferred Purple Parking (CSL at Takeley) but they would have been closed when I returned.
The 9:15 RyanAir flight was on time and I picked up a Peugeot 208 diesel from Europcar at Porto Airport and was on the road by 12:15. At many places along the main A1 and the IC8 there was evidence of forest fires.

I didn't take this photo but saw the results of what was left. Many trees still had their leaves but they were burnt to a light brown - it looked very odd.

In Figueiro dos Vinhos, where I stopped for some groceries, the extent of the recent fires was plain to see. All around where Karen Whitehead has her house there were no trees left. It must have been terrifying for her and her neighbours.

Paulo arrived at 4pm and we walked through all the jobs for the new refurbishment. The property will be great when this lot of work has been done. It will become a 3-bed, with two en-suites, capable of sleeping 10 people. There will also be parking for 2 cars alongside a shaded terrace with a built-in BBQ. We are confident that Paulo will do a quality job, as he did with the first lot of work. He seems to be looking forward to making the changes.

The cafe wasn't open at the river beach even though it was 30c. The water had dropped by about 6 inches and was not running over the top of the dam.

Lots of leaves in the still water, which was quite warm. Only a few visitors to enjoy the river beach.

A new BBQ structure is being built next to the river beach.

After covering all of the furniture with plastic sheets I had bought at B&Q, I stacked the glass table and chairs in the understairs area and covered these with a blanket. All was ready for the builders to start work on tghe loft. And it was time to get something to eat at Cafe Alto. A steak, chips and salad, traditional rice dish, beer and coffee. Then Tómane, the owner, insisted that I had a drink on him - good to be back!

The shower tray had been sealed, great, but the boiler cut out after a few minutes of running tghe hot water. A cold rinse again (like in August) and a dash to turn off the excaping gas in the kitchen.

Paulo and two builders, Carlos and Rui, arrived just after 7.30am. The work was explained and Paulo left. I also left to go the the bank in Avelar to collect some cash. This had been previously arranged through Santander Totta in London. "Não", said the bank assistant. But we got there and I got the cash.

Back in Pedrogão Grande, I called in to say hello to Carlos and Fernando at Esfera Real Estate before meeting with Paulo for a few minutes.

Cabril Dam

Took a number of photos of this area, which is just a few kilometres on from Pedrogão Grande.

And the dam structure.

Pedrogão Pequeno

Does this plant remind you of something?

A few kilometres further on from the Cabril Dam is Pedrogão Pequeno. It was here that I stopped for a coffee and met, by chance, Reg, an Englishman who has lived in the area for 12 years.

Alterations to the loft

The loft as it was.

After a few hours. Builders Carlos and Rui.

Progress.

Channels for the pipes.

Alterations to the wine cellar (adega)

Where the wine was stored in bottles.

A little bit of history gone.

The rack where the barrels were kept.

In the process of being removed. On the day I left, the large concrete wine bin had been broken down and removed along with the far beam.

Kitchen Door

I gave the builders my key to the front door and I kept the key for the side, kitchen door. This photo was taken before the kitchen was installed.

The builders had gone off for a while and when I returned the door had also gone!

Luckily they weren't away for long and I no longer needed to keep the key.

The builders didn't waste any time removing the door, bricking it up and rendering it. The outside will be painted to match the current scheme and the kitchen side will be tiled.

Praia Fluvial do Poço Corga

Went to the kitchen supplier at Cortes on Wednesday to mention the missing shelf and decided, on the way back, to head towards Mega Cimera. After many twists and turns I came across this place. I knew of its existance but couldn't find it on the map. In fact it is near to Castanheira de Pěra. More photos are at Photos Sept 2012.

I got hopelessly lost coming back from Poco Corga and went the long way to Cafe Alto for lunch. A detailed map of the area would be most useful but I don't think one exists. Lunch was pork, cockles(?) in their shells, roast potatoes, salad, bread, beer, desert and coffee. All for 7 euros (£5.60). Tómane introduced me to Rebecca, an English woman who lives over the back of Cafe Alto in a vast house surrounded by forest.
The shade under the grapes at the river beach was very inviting as the temperature was about 30c. I took some tea with me and a magazine.
Later, when I was about ready to go to Sammy's, I met an English couple visiting the river beach. They had sold up everything to come and live in Portugal. They had bought their house from Fernando.
Got to Sammy's by 6pm and his lane was like driving through a sandy beach. Very dry and dusty, throwing up clouds of dust behind and over the car. Sammy's father and brother were there, as was a couple from South Wales and their daughter. Sammy's children but no Anna, who was visiting her mother in France. A lovely evening and great pizzas. Find information about Sammy at http://www.livinginportugal.org/en/