Portugal...a dream come true.. Part 1 the North

On October 31st, with a big smile on our face and at 24° in Portugal, we arrive. No borders and no customs officer in sight. Only a sign indicates that we are now in Portugal. The landscape couldn't be greener. Due to the heavy rain in the past few days, the eucalyptus, pine, and pine forests look like a jungle. The same game is played here in Portugal as everywhere else. People wave - people take pictures of our bumblebee. We set our clocks back another hour.

At our first stop in Belinho, we meet the likeable Nico from Reutlingen with his really cool caravan. He can store his motorcycle and e-bike in it. We spend a very nice evening together. Unfortunately, he only has 4 weeks of vacation and since he wants to see as much of Portugal as possible, we say goodbye to him the next day. Goodbye Nico, it was very nice to meet you. We stay a little longer, explore the great beach and the town with the Wauzis, and marvel at the foreign vegetation. Cacti, palm trees, pampas grass, succulents, and eucalyptus forests characterize the landscape.

Kilian climbs onto the roof and tries to optimize the solar system while we enjoy a wonderfully warm shower in the evening. The sky is bright blue and the temperatures are 24°. The Atlantic Ocean is throwing big waves onto the beach. It's November 2nd. And it could be worse.

After leaving Porto behind (enough city for now), we end up in Espinho. Right behind the dune, we can stay overnight in a large meadow car park. The beach behind the huge dune is fantastic. Once again, endless wooden walkways lead through the dune landscape and make walking easier (they are simply everywhere here). Huge waves crash onto the shore with a loud noise and local fishermen try to secure their dinner with surf fishing. The temperatures have dropped by 10 degrees today, so we have to put on a sweater (luxury problem, I know, wink). We have finally solved our highway problem today. There are many highways in Portugal where you can only pay 'electronically'. You need an extra box for that, or as an alternative, a prepaid card linked to the license plate of the car. We had to turn around several times because of this. Now we finally went to a post office today and had a card activated, explaining it with hands and feet.

We continue along the coast and pass endless vegetable fields and greenhouses. The northern part of Portugal is the 'vegetable garden' of the country. Cabbage fields that stretch to the horizon and broccoli that grows higher than I will ever be, carrots, lettuce, and everything that is healthy thrives here splendidly. Oranges and lemons are waiting to be harvested. The trees are full of them. In between, pampas grass, three-meter-high reeds, and eucalyptus trees alternate. Since it poured down last night (according to a Portuguese, it rained as much as it didn't rain all last year), it sometimes looks like a jungle. We want to go to the beach because from a distance, we can see huge waves crashing onto the land. However, this is extremely difficult today. Our navigation system leads us 6 kilometers on a soaking wet gravel track with huge potholes. Everything is shaking in the truck and the dogs are annoyed. Kilian can't stop smiling because he can finally turn on the four-wheel drive. The place was not nice and underwater, so we had to drive all six kilometers back. We then end up in Figueira and I am immediately appeased. A great car park for eight euros right on the huge beach with palm trees, bars, wooden walkways, beach volleyball, basketball court, and huge waves - AND right in the city, awaits us. That's really cool - for everyone. A paradise for humans and dogs. We stay for three days at this beautiful place, stroll along the walkways by the sea, and inspect the city with its great market halls, narrow streets, and beautiful tiled houses and squares. We have truly 'arrived' in Portugal, feel comfortable and satisfied here. The attitude towards life is contagious. Although the people are clearly poorer than in Spain and France, they have not lost their friendliness and zest for life. We treat ourselves to a meal in the beach bar. For 19 euros, we each get a meat platter with fries and salad and two large beers. There are drinking fountains everywhere in the city - for people above and for dogs below. Lucy loves it. We discover a small park where the trees have been crocheted in pink...a sight for sore eyes. On Saturday, there is a big flea market at the harbor next to the market hall. Music sounds from every corner and a lot of old and used goods are offered. It's bustling with people and we dive into the hustle and bustle. We stay in this beautiful city for four days until we feel the urge to move on.

Just 40 km away in Pedrogao, we check into a nearly empty campground for 10 euros. The way there leads us through a huge desert-like landscape. The only other car here is: A short-hood truck! (that's what our trucks are called). It stands there, beautiful and blue. What a joy.

From afar, we can see the huge waves coming in at the beach. You can still hear the roar 200m away at our campground. In the tranquil town, there is mainly beach, waves, beach bars, and restaurants. Most of them are closed and so are the countless holiday apartments. There are mostly locals here. We immediately like it. From the bar, you have the perfect view of the spectacle on the beach and we have a beer for 1.50 euros and marvel at the surf. You can do this forever. Silently and enthusiastically watching the big waves. It has something meditative. We will stay here for a few days and wait for a package from Germany with spare parts for the bumblebee. Many parts are no longer available as they are no longer being produced. We were lucky to be able to buy some parts privately. Thank you, Mom, for sending them. You're the best.

We have now arrived in the middle of this small country on the outskirts of Europe and we are truly thrilled. The 'vibes' in Portugal are great and the landscape is beautiful. We are surrounded by beaches, dunes, palm trees, cacti, and pines. The climate is very Mediterranean. When the sun is shining, it's t-shirt weather and when it's cloudy, it's sweater weather. It could be worse on November 6th, grin. The people are friendly and we feel very comfortable and 'at home' in Portugal.

In a few days, we will move on and explore the southern part of Portugal...we can't wait.