Portugal
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Position 41:20.426N
008:44.853W Saturday October 18th
18h30 Wind N Force 2 Sea State Calm Visibility Good Heading 152 T° Under: Main Motor Speed 6 Kts Have arrived in Portugal. 2 miles off the town I can
hear the Boy Racers. Hmmm. Blue Tarn here ahead of us can
see ARC flag over the marina. Michael is there to take our lines. Obrigado
(Thanks). We are berthed beside a Dublin Oyster headed for Madeira in the
morning. Very friendly first Portuguese contact, Bruno. Quick tidy up and head for
the club for a beer. This is quite a small marina about 10 mins walk from the
town centre where I can see C A S I N O in large red letters, the noise from
the boy racers is deafening as I paint a mental picture of Saturday night in
town I am using blood red paint. In the bar we quickly figure
out it is better to open conversation in English than in Spanish. I had just
become used Castillano and had become quite comfortable with it. I hate this
feeling now where you hope that people speak English. It makes me feel arrogant
as I am sure it looks from that outside that you expect to be
understood. Trying to learn a few words but the pronunciation is quite
technical in a drunk sort of way. Ursula is tired so I go to town
on my own and promise to bring home a cheeseburger after dinner. On my way I am
wondering where I will find a cheeseburger and realise that we have not seen a
McDonalds since Cork. Refreshing. I have a quick wander around
town and realise that its not bad at all and that the boy racer noise is
actually a motor racing grand prix. There are very few restaurants and a lot of
takeaways so I stop for a beer and realise I have been walking for 40 mins and
am totally disorientated. I had assumed that down hill leads to the sea but I
am now lost. The last time I remember being lost was in Paris in 1985. I pass the Banco Spirito
Santo, not sure about the interest rate but should, at least, prove a safe
haven. Have now figured it out. 1.
The sea front is a crescent, not linear as first thought, much like the planet
and 2. The town is at, or below, sea level therefore downhill leads further
inland. I need to climb back uphill to the embankment to find the water. Two burgers in hand I return
to Cerys. Ruaidhri Prendergast |