Jim's Holidays: Portugal Summer 2019

Saturday we get to Gatwick in plenty of time, of course, but then hang around as the flight is late leaving.. After landing it's an easy drive up to Seixas and our villa which is large and well equipped with lovely views to Spanish peaks whose clouded tops look like smoking volcanoes. A supermarket run to Caminha and it's pasta for tea in the evening sun. Sunday I go for a swim first thing whilst listening to the local church bells ringing out every quarter hour which they do all day every day. It's a very hot day and spend it reading and swimming in the pool. Lovely sunset turning a fiery red which is pretty much the colour that we've all turned. Monday is very lazy partly avoiding sun and dipping in the pool. After the supermarket run it's BBQ for supper. Another lovely sunny evening although it's getting cloudy across in Spain in late evening. Tuesday is cloudy from the off with the sun trying to burn through in the morning. After another lazy morning we pop into Caminha to wander the streets and sit at a cafe in the main square until the rain drops start. Doesn't really get going but we come back home for more reading and lazing. Evening meal outside watching the clouds gather on the Spanish hilltops before a bit of pool (billiards, not swimming). Wednesday morning is overcast and by midday the clouds have moved right in and dumping rain on us and we can hardly see the Spanish hills across Rio Minho. Clears a bit in the afternoon and Jack, Maya and myself wander into the centre of Seixas looking round the church and visiting the local grocery shop. More rain in the evening so after a good meal we lounge around playing pool, reading, chatting and watching Portuguese telly. Thursday is a little bit brighter late morning with Spain fading in and out of view. After lunch we go to the hill top fortified village of Valenca reaching the car park through very narrow arches in the castle walls. Great views over both the town and the Rio Minho separating us from Spain. We wander down to the bridge and most of us go over to say we've been to Spain. Back up though the dark tunnels of the fortaleza and as it then starts raining we return home just in time as it's tipping down. Very stormy night bringing a short power cut ("what, even the Wi-Fi isn't working") and next day we find a pool lounger in the pool. Must have been breezy. All inflatables made it through the night though. Friday morning is again overcast with the Spanish hills opposite shrouded in cloud. By the afternoon it's cleared up a bit so Debbie and me go for a wander across the tracks down along the river. Supermarket visit then coffee at the cafe in the church square where the local "character" tries to dance with me at the bar. Then back home to deflate the inflatables for the year, eat and watch the sun go down behind the hazy cloud. Saturday we stop off at Vila do Conde to marvel at the aqueduct, wander through the market, along the river front and back through the old town. Then it's back to Porto airport for another delayed flight home dropping Jack and Maya off at Balham station.