We all arived in Lisbon safe and sound and got off and into the queue for getting through all the customs etc. Once again we got lucky with Annette and her walking stick, which meant we were only about 20 minutes waiting to get through to pick up our luggage. However, Adam and Andrew had gone running off ahead to try and get through the massive queue and sort out the luggage to wait for us. Fat chance!
We were moved slowly through all the lines of holiday makers towards the fron of the queue but, it was still taking a long, long time. Eventually we got to the front of the queue and found out which customs officer to see. Emma decided to wait behind us until we got through and had got told off by the custom officer for not stopping with us. We had a look around to try and see Adam and Andrew but, they were lost so far back, we just went on to get the luggage and await them. It was getting very hot now.
We went through to pick up the luggage and got that all sorted out, includding the one somebody had taken off the carousel ready for us. By now Annette had phoned Adam up and found out they would be about 3 hours before they caught up with us!! So we went forward, towards the exit to await the rest of our party. I had a look around some of the kiosks, to see what was going cheap, and came back to see it was all above what I would expect to pay for a drink. The days of mortgaging the house for a cheap little tin of coke were long past me.
Annette had another call from Adam telling her how thirsty they all were and expecting another 1 or 2 hours delay. Annette told them I’d be happy to get them a drink (how very inconsiderate, considering I wouldn’t buy anything at these prices) and after a little set to, Annette went off to get them a drink and we sat and waited, and waited until they arrived.
After about 2 hours they turned up, drank their drinks and we went off to find the car. Adam had phoned up the car people to let them know how late we were, but it was of no consequences as there were at least four other people in front of us and it took them about 20 minutes to pay up for every last bit of extra insurance we needed; attacks by dinosaurs, hillside collapses etc.
We found our way to pick up the car (about 15 minutes later) and Adam checked it was all OK and we were ready to depart for our destination. Adam got the satnav working and found we were about 2hours away from our retal place, if we nevere got lost.
It was a decent enough car, a biggish “Datsun” (I think it was) car, like Emma’s UK one, and we all fitted in nicely. After the unheard of departure time, I was feeling worn out but, I think I managed to stay awake. I’m pretty sure we got on the motorway quite easy, not surprising considering it was all ‘toll’ roads and Adam got off by letting the chap at the check out know we had got on at the airport. He made a note to avoid ‘toll’ roads from this point.
Adam had planed a stop, before we got to the digs, as we were travelling up the “Torres Verde” just to get there. I hadn’t got a clue as it was a secret to me, but, we had a look round the first ‘ mound ‘ of the defences and it was a pretty good stop too.
Adam then checked out a Lidl on the way so we could stock up on foods, ready to feast on throuhout the week. We got a stack of food and carried on, through the summer, to our holiday home, and were greeted pleasantly by and English speaking Belgian woman who told us were everything was; four rooms, barbaque, swimming pool, hot spa etc. We also had about a days supply of snacks, including bacon (Portugese).
About half hour latter we were all sorted out; me and Annette took the spare room, the other side of the pool, Adam got himself a corner room with a bog, Emma got the last room with a bog, leaving Andrew to share the toilet bath room with the rest of the mob. It was pretty good place to stay and was as good as anyhting anyone else could have gotten us. We then got unpacked and ready for getting a meal.