Aparthotel Atlantico Figueira da Foz

It's amazing how a bit of sunshine lifts the spirits and makes everything look better! Our new campsite, at Figueira da Foz, on the coast about 125 miles north of Lisbon, was just what we needed. Set in pine trees behind the dunes, it was peaceful and relaxing, with the distant sound of the Atlantic breakers to lull us to sleep. There was a brand new and very comfortable toilet block, free wi-fi in the bar ...

We had our longest journey -should have been 7 hrs but turned out to be 10 after the highway was closed. We had lunch in Salamanca and I want to go back. Superb architecture and one of the oldest universities in Europe with signs of enlightened learning on every corner. We shared an amazing dinner of local fare ...

Day 4 – 25/12/08

LISBON-EVORA-ALCOBACA-B ATALHA-FATIMA-COIMBRA

We left early after breakfast. The GPS proved to be blessing for 'wrong' drivers like me. As it was Christmas there was less traffic on the roads & we had a smooth drive to Evora. There we saw the Roman Temple, the church & the Chapel of St.Francis. The sleepy town had narrow lanes ...

... when I was passing by and sit for a bit. Very peaceful. - Clock tower of the University of Coimbra with its renowned library, the Biblioteca Joanina and the former royal palace. (Coimbra used to be the capital of Portugal). There is a beautiful square, which we used to cross when coming back from our classes. - Rua Ferreira Borges. It's the main street of Coimbra full of clothing stores, cafes and little ...

... folk. They told me about a student festival that was happening at the end of the week and next thing I know Ive booked a room for a whole week! It was really nice, was able to catch up on laundry, reading, writing, reorganzing my pack (left a couple pounds of clothes at the hostel, they would never be clean again!) and even saw a really bad American movie at the theater, Tempeste Tropical ...

... and taken care of. Salima had left for Africa on Friday, but everyone else above as well as Sameer and Anaisa were in Figueira for the next few days. On Sat, our first day in Fig, Kaka took us to Battalha (a historic monument which marks the spot where the Portuguese launched a successful defense against Spain). The Battalha has the tomb of Joan I. We ate pregos outside Battalha. At the ...

... keltide ajal. Roomlased seadsid ennast sisse 1. saj pKr, mil see kasvas ja õitses suureks linnaks. 3. saj olid elanikud ohustatud sissetungijate eest ning ehitasid enda kaitseks linnale kaitsvad müürid ümber. Kahjuks polnud see piisav sueevidele (germaani hõimude rühmale), kellel õnnestus 468.a vallutada linn. Kohalikud põgenesid Coimbrasse, säästes sellega Conímbrigat suuremast hävingust. Seetõttu võib ...

... Kõikidel inimestel oli käes palmioks, kirikuisa pidas loengut ja inimesed kordasid aeg-ajalt tema järgi mingeid sõnu.

Algselt plaanisime Coimbras veeta ka öö, kuid kuna me polnud midagi broneerinud ja jätsime endale nö lahtised käed, siis kohapeal olles tundus see väga mõistlik otsus olevat. Peale mõningast luusimist istusime autosse ja sõitsime edasi. Ilmselt nädala sees, kui kõik üliõpilased on ka kohal ja hängivad tänavatel, on seal linnas rohkem melu ja elu.

... with Adam looking for a kebab shop and trying to convince him everything was shut. Eventually did then we got lost (ha something new) we had to go back to the train station and walk home from there as it was the only way we knew. So sporting a fair hangover and rather a bit tired 2 guys staying at the hostel Morton from Denmark and Jamie from Scotland suggested we hit the beach for some soccer. Yeah sure why not how hard could a little game of soccer be. BLOODY HARD let me tell u ...

... a friend, and on the bus we met two nursing students who live there. They were very friendly, took us to their house, fed us dinner, and gave us a place to sleep.

Now I'm in Coimbra, and I came here to see a forest. I should actually be going now to catch my bus. If this internet connection weren't so slow this letter would be longer. It took me a whole hour to read the 15 letters I had (50 minutes waiting, 10 minutes reading). More later