Portugal May 2016

It's finally arrived, at least the day before we leave has arrived. Not too sure about a 7.30am flight that involves a 415 am awakening though..

Tomorrow we are going to visit my brother in law and his wife. We are flying to Lisbon and from there will take a 3 hour train journey to the Algarve and their second house just outside of Albufeira.

Why fly to Lisbon you ask. My brother in law lives in Tomar, about 140 kms/90 miles north of Lisbon, but they have another house just outside Albufeira. For our second week we will be going by car to Tomar.  When we return home it is quite easy to catch the train back to Lisbon.

Heathrow. For a flagship airport I continue to be dismayed at security. Just one set of trays for everything: Hand luggage, phones, wallets, jackets, baby bottles. And shoes that can be covered in dog shit. I've complained about this by email and tweet and although they acknowledge me they do nothing to resolve the situation. It would be so easy to have a different coloured set of trays for shoes.

Celeste wanted some water and a magazine so we went in to WHSmiths where she bought the magazine but came out without the water. Back we went and I paid for the water. Later while waiting to board she went to take a sip of water but couldn't find the bottle. She thought I had picked it up and I assumed that she had. Never assume anything.

If it was only the water that was left behind. We take a wallet each with us. One with our Portuguese bank card and all our euros. Our arrival in Lisbon was scheduled for 10.15 but as our train didn't leave until 14.05 it would give us time for a leisurely lunch before catching our train.

It was a good job Celeste checked before we hired a taxi but the wallet with our card and the euros had been left behind. At least I had my MasterCard to obtain some cash even at the exorbitant 0.82 euros to the pound exchange rate.

Fortunately our bank had a branch on the station and within 20 minutes we were issued with a temporary card. An enjoyable lunch followed  and we boarded. It was well worth upgrading to first class  for the 3 hour train journey.