Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Step 59 - The European Leg Portugal

Tuesday 29th March - In Transit





 Well we are on our way at last, flight took off on time and although the 
 plane was tightly packed at least we managed to get a set of 3 just to the two of us.



Editors note: Metric or Imperial, by any measure we are not tall people and yet in QANTAS economy we feel oversized. In fact the guy in front managed to smack Di in the head with his seat when he laid it back while she was trying to eat her dinner.



Reader question - An hour to kill in Singapore Changi Airport - what should we do?



Obvious answer: Shop



Correct answer: Shop, shop, shop



Did you know?

                            There's a Harrod's store in the airport

Proof readers note: Actually it was just make up shopping for Elke

Wednesday 30th March 



Back in London, for the first time in 20 years for Steve ! Managed to make our way to the tube and head on in to Euston to pick up the train to Liverpool. 



Did you know:




    • The tube train we caught from the the airport is the actual train I rode on last time I was in London. And it was old then!
    • Unlike the last time I was here they now do a very good fry up at British railway stations
  • Richard Branson owns the train line
Liverpool home of the Beatles - and at the moment our little girl

Elke's house - her room is just behind her, bottom left 


 
Thursday 31st March

Lunch in Liverpool at the Heritage listed Philharmonic pub - The Phil


Friday 1st April - Monday 4th April

What could go wrong time:

  • Arriving at Liverpool Airport for RyanAir flight with 5 extra kilos of luggage. Estimated Excess baggage fee  175 quid.

Plan B: repack suitcase & hand luggage on the floor of Liverpool airport

Quotes of the day:
                              Dad, have you ever travelled before???
                              Dad, I am never travelling with you two ever again!!

Despite all that arrived safe and sound n Portugal on time to be picked up by Alf & Gloria

Did you know:
  • Ryanair seats not only don't recline, they don't even have seat pockets for your in-flight magazine
  • If you are travelling with a group of 20 guys on a bucks night/week who have been drinking for 3 hours before they get on the flight, when the captain turns off the seat belt sign there is a BIG rush for the toilet
  • On average a guy on a bucks/night week can drink 5 cans of beer or 6 small scotches on a two and a quarter hour flight
Saturday 1st April
Great to catch up with the family again and to finally get to see Casa Alfredo in Portugal

Did you know:
  • In Australia we have been travelling for 4 months and driven 12,500km's and we are still in Australia, today we drove for 40 mins and popped over to Spain for lunch
  • We were in Spain less than 3 hours and we saw 20 shoe shops and Elke got another new pair of shoes

  • Elke is managing to reeeeeeaally stretch out her 21st birthday celebrations and is getting very spoiled. Thanks to Gloria and Gina for the cake!


Tuesday 5th April - Saturday 9th April


Cape St Vincente - most South Westerly point in Portugal.
In fact most South Westerly point in Europe

Cape St Vincente - just like the Bunda Cliffs on the Nullarbor - but with buildings


This is Lagos, Portugal. The souvenirs that look like boomerangs are BOOMERANGS.
Made in Spain as souvenirs for Lagos. It's looking more like the Nullarbor all the time
Occupational Health and Safety Portuguese style

Rush hour - Portuguese style



Thursday - and it's off to the airport for our flight to Porto (as you do). Much as Di and I love culture and history what could be better than the culture and history of making Port.

Did you know:
All those signs on the buildings are different Port Factories
All the boats are for transporting Port


Did you know:
This bridge was built by Gustav Eiffel
Possibly with the left over bits from the Eiffel Tower

There's a lot of hills in Porto
But there's a bar at the end of every hill  so it's worth the walk

Da Vinci Code fans having a laugh with Silas the Albino Monk

That's a little harsh Kitty

Sometimes I think Di struggles with the concept of sharing

Just kiddin

1692 - That's older than the South Australian branch of the family
Saturday 9th April

Lunch in Portugal

Bedtime in Ireland

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