We took an early flight from Malta
to Sevilla (Spain) allowing us time to sight-see in Sevilla together
this time
before taking the 5 hour bus ride to Portimao (Portugal).
It is not always easy to find the
best deals on-line, and often the cost is higher on-line as they charge some
booking or administration fee. We decided to buy the bus tickets in Spain and
paid 20 euros each for the Eva Bus (Damas Bus) instead of the faster Alsa Bus
(less stops) for 43 euros.
The difference more than paid for
the 21 euro taxi ride to Awakeland where our Motorhome awaited us.
We left the next afternoon to start
our busy time of getting some technical things fixed for the vehicle and taking
steps towards residence in Portugal. Inside the workshop.....
Being nomadic is becoming more difficult
and restrictive.
We favour “wild camping” for the
majority of time which just means that we find some public place to park and to
sleep. If we put table and chairs outside or open the awning we are then
camping and run the risk of being moved on by the Police or fined in some
places. Some towns designate parking spaces for vehicles like ours and provide
facilities to “drop” our grey water and black water.
Our other normal alternative is to
take service stops for one or two days at camping sites, or indeed to winter
there at discounted rates as many people do. Perhaps next year for the deepest
winter months?
In between these options are
private motorhome parks and we tried two for the first time. They work on the
basis that the vehicle is self-contained and the site supplies the minimum of
water and toilet emptying facilities, and perhaps a couple of toilets and
showers. The first had two “bathrooms” where we took a luke-warm shower from
solar heating. Larger vehicles have showers and the owners stay in the vehicle,
but a few like us use the external shower.
We were surprised that these two
adjacent parks were full, so we could not use the chosen one on the day we
arrived, but next morning before 10 am we took a place there with electricity.
The two showers there (50 cents for 4 minutes) were heated by gas and were hot.
As stated before having electricity
allows us to use the blender to make out green smoothie drinks, and to have
adequate light. We still have a dead leisure battery and will take it to change
under warrantee when we return to south east Spain.
March has arrived and we are
enjoying longer days and better temperatures, except when some bad weather
passes though. T shirt weather has arrived.
It is a joy to buy food in local
markets.
