May 29 - Don't cry because it's over...smile because it happened...

The "flight day" is always the hardest day...

Received what I think is our last Lucy update...

We are about 5 minutes from the airport so the planes coming and going can be heard quite clearly as we sleep.

Followed by early morning flight notifications.....flight change from 1:00 departure...to 1:45 due to mechanical issues on a plane...then flight change to earlier at  1:20..... and so it begins...

Marginal breakfast then off to return the Sixt car rental. We are so glad we chose to deal with some off it yesterday with Daniel, as it certainly helped. We arrived a little over 4 hours early, last about half hour just getting to the rental place. Great service again from the day manager, looks like it should not cost us any extra. We have had nothing but a great experience with them.

Now the fun part....we heard for months there were up to 3 -4 hour waits to go through the new EES system...people missing flights, total mayhem....poorly marked...

Well....we got off so lucky!!! We managed to essentially walk through all the Electronic Processing, finger printing and picture recognition and customs etc and made it to our gate before 11:00 am!!!

This is what our lineups looked like.  Apparently starting just TODAY they added more machines for the photo/finger printing as weĺl as the EES Border machines for arrivals/departures as well as additional processing/security staff......IT WORKED!!

We got horseshoes up you know where!!!

All flights on time....considering all the mass confusion at the Lisbon airport, flight cancellations and, upcoming system wide  transportation strike June 3...Jet fuel shortages.....we dodged many bullets....ahhh home at last...exhausted but we made it!

I was wrong, one more update

Now that's a wrap

May 28 - back to Lisbon where it all began

Very excited to be one step closer to seeing our Lucy..

Suitcases being crammed full.... the return flight packing is much like how I load a dishwasher...like a raccoon on Crack!

Bittersweet breakfast view...

This was a really nice place to stay

We had a pretty short drive to our last nights stay which was about 5 minutes from the airport.

We didn't leave until just after 11:00 and in no real hurray today. Finally got to see the cork up close. They basically shave it off the main trunk area .

Its super light, when you break it off the trunk it is almost like..oh yeah...a wine cork...

One last stop in a little town outside Lisbon called Comporta. Because its so close to Lisbon and such a small area bordered by nature reserves there, the old fishing village has turned into an area for the well-to-do. You would never know it by the little quaint town until you look at the prices in the little boutique stores!! The highest we have seen by a large margin!

Now off to Lisbon Airport to see if we can deal with the car ding before we have to leave tomorrow. 

Mayhem!!!  MAYHEM! Mayhem! The car rental drop off area is on about the 2nd floor of a partially enclosed parking area. Cars coming from everywhere, vacuums going, hand car wash, horns blaring......THE NOISE WAS NUTS!!  so we tried to explain to the person why we were there a day early as we had a ding, did not have claim papers....yada yada yada... and this young man, Daniel, turns out  was a supervisor and in the crazy mayhem he multi-tasked the heck out of the place and managed to not only direct us through the forms, he actually fixed the fender and then directed the guys to move vehicles in and out and maneuvered the car back out of the gridlock and essentially said, all good, just bring the papers back at drop-off and it will be good. 

Checked into our Guesthouse, super cute! Paula the host was so nice and friendly, bonus free parking, a two minute walk to the uptown restaurants .

After a nice walk in town finally found a place to eat! Great food, good vino!

One thing in Portugal....so many meals have an egg on top! I had no idea it was coming on my meal... but there it was!

And you can even get an egg for dessert!!

Early night to prepare for the flight home!

May 27 - final day in Milfontes...

Just like clockwork....Lu enjoyed her day as her large pack returned...

The poor workers who lay these pathways and roadways....tiny block by tiny block....in the direct sun and intense heat...

Had a very relaxing last day...sauntered down to breakfast....chillaxed....went for one last walk on the beach. Ending up running into the German hiker and her friend...after hugs we chatted for a bit... they will leave tomorrow for the last 20 km of their 6 day hike.....hiking in ankle deep sand...no shade.... no amenities.....just the ocean and the sand....hmmmmm

Last walk through the village..

In Portugal, marble is so abundant and affordable that it is treated more like "fancy concrete" than a rare luxury. We see it on windowsills, door thresholds, park benches....

Today we even noticed the grocery store is closed from 2:00-4:00 for siesta...

Stopped for beer at a local bar... about a dozen old guys drinking their inexpensive beer $1.20 for a mini beer/$2 for a pint....chatting...watching sports....siesta time.

The old boys sitting in the shade...playing cards...chatting....drinking coffee...enjoying their company....unsure where the ladies are? 

Last stop at the market for water and snacks...hot dogs.....

Its pretty hot now, about 34 degrees....only thing left to do was enjoy a glass of chilled red wine in the shade by the pool...

So pleased with my choice in changing plans and playing out the last days here. More kitties!!!

Portugese facts...almost all homes have electric shades on the outside of the windows... this is for cooling in the summer, they hold heat in the winter, security and privacy as Portuguese culture values a high degree of domestic privacy.

This place is one of the safest towns in Portugal, but you still have to be aware of pick pockets and petty theft.

The population is 5,600 in off season  and swells to 55,000 in the summer due to tourists, hikers,  as well as farm workers.

About 45 % of the population here is not Portugese but a mixture of Brazilian and an ever increasing Indian, Angola, Pakistan  and Ukrainian.

We were feeling a little lazy but thought we should go for a walk...maybe an appie... not sure, so off we went....we passed by many places and then actually stopped and looked back and decided to go to this little restaurant tucked away in a corner..... and who is there but the German lady, Ruth, and her friend, who we first met at the top of the stairs from the ferry, then on a walk way off the beaten path at the beach and then again at the restaurant....we ended up chatting over wine for several hours.....looks like we may be hosting friends from Germany soon! An amazing end to an amazing vacation...

Obrigado Portugal for a wonderful time in your country!

May 26 - chill day

Comfy bed......sleeping in our favorite place on this trip.... what could be better....but with about a 100 cats and counting in this little village, of course two would have a heated discussion in the alley in the wee hours of the morning.... not a full fight just a discussion...

It's about a 5 minute walk to the water and to the restaurant/hotel where our complimentary breakfast is...view from the breakfast table..

Today we are taking the little ferry to the other side of the waterway.  Many use it to access the Fisherman's Trail or just to enjoy a different beach,  $7.00 euro each for a return trip on a little boat. 

The original owner in about 1970 started it up to transport people and supplies across the waterway, before the bridge went in, and then continued the service for the hikers and for people to access the other beaches without a car.

Beautiful quiet beach... but the water is chilly but a perfect temperature to cool off in the 34 degree weather.

After enjoying a cold SuperBock and some pan fried fish and homemade chips we headed back to home. 

On the ferry we met a German couple... who turned out not to be a couple after all, but rather single people who met up on the Fisherman's Trail who walked together. He said it must be a German thing because most were from Germany....he was now headed to Porto to get the Camino de Santiago... and this was only one of the many he had done in recent years...

The people who operate the boat also help support the stray cats in Milfontes by spaying/neutering, feeding and caring for them..... they are pretty chill here.....

So at the top of the stairs from the boat the lady who we thought was with the man, was sitting looking at her phone for directions, looking confused. Seeing as we know the google maps sends you about 3-5 blocks away from the actual address we figured we would help her out.

After a quick chat, turns out she was staying at the same place we stayed at 10 days ago... so seeing as we are almost locals here we escorted her to her place!!

Chill time at the chilly pool!

We sit and listen to the girls/ladies who take care of the place, and they chat and they laugh... they seem happy.... even though its work, it seems like they are treated well here.

Walked through an RV/caravan park a few minutes away... not busy at all..super large, but mostly the "seasonal occupants" units and about a dozen tents.

Have I said we love this place...found a little Italian Place...white wine...noodles and pizza... that was served uncut..... not by accident...as others had the same...

...apparently its a thing here to serve the seafood with their faces showing... they were not  hap....

Then back on the roof top patio for a night cap....George is looking like he belongs here...

We are not sure why we have not adopted the life style of the Europeans....there are no large "look at what I have" yards...they are very modest and non-descript from the street and then securely in the back,  is the amazingly peaceful and quiet living areas...I think we have it backwards....I guess because the areas are so old. It was done for security back then, but it looks like even the newer builds are the same.

Goodnight from Vila de Nova Milfontes....cheers