Ants

Nine days of Portugal

Day 1: Lisbon; congregation with overwhelming emotions; tranquillity hostel; ham, Bacalhau and some Sagres; walk in Bairro Alto; lemonade. Distance covered - 2471km.

Day 2: Sintra; fascinating site; Palacio da Pena, a fairy tale resort of the Portuguese royalty; girl with a tattoo on her neck; rustic ruins of the Maurish Castle; walk downhill; Palacio da Vila; sweets at Piriquita and long walk with empty stomachs; Bar do Pipa, a cosy paradise by the train station; food at last!; Spain - 1 Holland - 0. Distance covered - 22km +15km and back.

Day 3: Car aka Lurja; GPS aka Marina; The End of the Beginning; Obidos, rejuvenated small medieval town, long live the EU structural funds!; nice lunch at a cozy veranda; walk on the top of the castle wall; Margarita - those beautiful green eyes; Nazare; smell of the ocean; Fishermen's wives - Stop Here!; beautiful beach; conversation; sisters - 'she was not a kid anymore'; stroll along the shore; lighthouse; in search of the apartment; dinner; ice-cream from a Frenchman, evening walk; ice-cream again. Distance covered - 100km + 34km.

Day 4: Alcobaca; old Monastery; lunch and the crazy waiter; Coimbra the university town; uphill climb; memories and comparisons to our student life; Figueira da Foz (or 'fig tree at the mouth of the river'); in search of the place to sleep; Casa das Pombas; off-road; f***ing Marina; torturing Lurja; Praia de Quiaios; thanking you Marina; pre-Bday dinner; party on the beach. Distance covered - 10km + 108km + 50km + 60km.

Day 5: First breakfast at 28; Lurja and the hiccups; Porto; hand break uhhh; hotel at last; bottle of wine; an hour’s sleep; walk; the river - Douro; iron bridge; shortlived straw hat - our secrifice to Rio Douro, Gaia, Afurada. fishermen's village; public washplace (Lavadora Publica)- I would also wash if I were to be happy; impromptu Bday dinner; Restaurant – Casa do Pescador (Fishermens house); squid and the rest of sea products; saints on the house tiles; Francisco – kind smile; Ice cream and caipirinha; squire filled with young crowd; ladies night; dance floor. Distance covered 70km.

Day 6: Driving up the Rio Douro; closed highway; ’follow me’ - help from the local kind samaritanian; congested narrow village roads; a never ending debate on 'underlying intentions'; Peso da Regua; port wine cellar tour; tasting; couple of bottles; white melon; in desperate search for food; Pinhao; mistake; back to Regua; shrimp in garlic sauce hmmm. Distance covered 110km and back;

Day 7: Clean shave; corking equipment; road south; conversationssssss; pinching and biting with love; lunch on the side of the road - at last; Cabo da Roca; fog; wind; Lisbon; bye and thank you Lurja and Marina; luggage - to the fourth floor; receptionist – we, women want the same rights but not the same obligations; yellow tram and the skillful driver (she); Alfama in search of Fado; Bairro Alto; collective drinking in the packed narrow streets; 4 liters of mojito. Distance covered 340km + 35km.

Day 8: Breakfast/lunch/Praca do Comercio; Lisbon city center; market; shops; the beach; Cascais; Queijadas; dinner on the Tagus Ribeira; the conversation, ’culture’s and relationship’s; Distance covered 30km + 20km.

Day 9: The beginning of the end; 6am wake up call; a logistical disaster; take off at 9am; lazy take offs at 1pm and at 4pm: Distance covered - 2471km.

See you all again soon:)