Bordeaux, France

what can I say, I flew from Porto with Ryanair, treated to true cattle class, "interesting", very very low budget, still that is just the flights, I had arranged to couchsurf in bordeaux,  first night with Andi, and the next two with Marina, both using the last minute couch request, (I had sent off 12-14 requests earlier, only to get 2 declines I was like damn) a little different to home, where I send off details where I live, maps and how best to get to my place, no, I get there mobile numbers, I sent a txt off with no reply.... eeeep, this was to andi, anyway, I've learn't after Lisbon, always have a backup... Formule 1 Hotels (as cheap as a hostel, and you get your own room) Anyway I stayed there the first night, only to get a message from Andi, saying, I didn't get your txt, you can still come over, (by that time I had passed out and was fast asleep)

Me & 20+kgs of backpack in 26+ degrees heat

Street music french style, it was amazing, I spend about 10-15 mins watching.. thinking Damn

One of the many Arches in Bordeaux

Yes, I was almost shattered at this point, but I must continue walking, amazing fountain behind me

Looks very much like someone got the ideas from Sagrada Família & Gaudi's work

Another Amazing fountain

Second hand stores

Not sure what this was, but looks amazing

In a park, damn french, have seen them in there basically getting it on! was like damn!

Little bit better picture of the Fountain

Feel the pain of lugging around that backpack, for only a few hours... this is nothing! the next day I have a 8:30pm pickup! and I checked out of my hotel at 10am! aaaarrrggghhh

Last few days in Portugal

Sorry about the delay in posts, Its been all action/no internet eeep!

Anyway last few days with Rui & Family/Friends, Easter sunday, we went to Rui's Parents home, for Lunch, I didn't know what to expect, I was welcomed as if I was just one of the family, it was amazing, the first real time I have felt homesick... It was just like being at home with mum and dad...

Anyway... the Lunch (sorry no photos)

Roast Pork Roasted Vegies Roasted Chestnuts (unique, is traditional), cooked bananas (for me)
salads, and other vegie delights, yes they knew I was vegie, and prepared vegie food for me... damn I felt really bad...few glass's of red wine, out came the port, (when in porto :) )

After lunch, the deserts came out, a little different to NZ style, no cream?, chocolate moose, cakes etc etc.

we retired... to watch some sport on TV, Soccer, and a new sport, "handball", I was like wtf?, cross between    soccer and netball I guess, It's pretty full on.... I'm surprised people don't get ready hurt. I have noticed something else, with Portuguese TV sends me to sleep, I had to do my best to keep from nodding off!!

Next day, Viana do Castelo, around and hours drive north of Porto, to visit another city

Chris, Rui, Marina & Rui (yes it seemed every guy in portugal was named Rui)

NZ and Portugal, both remember the 25th April, ANZAC day for us, Carnation Revolution for Portugal

Looking back down on the city, it was known for ship building (all kinds)

Me standing in a street

Another one of me

Crystal clear waterfall... there was a girl that stripped off for a swim before us...

I guess I must have scared her off!! water was a little on the cool side, but was a nice 26 degrees outside, so was nice.

Really sucks to be vegie in portugal, I got bread and butter!! duh!

Old roman bridge, across the river,  it was crystal clear you could see the fish it was amazing...

looky at what I found?

Porto at night, it's just magic

Last dinner with my amazing friends! Thankyou soo much Rui, for making Portugal so amazing!

Loosing Track of what day it is...

At last a fine day, time for a walk along the beach, it's just 500 metres from Rui's appartment, after about 4km walk down the beach, we found the fishing village, am like damn will these boats handle the surf, I guess they do, they had nets etc.. 

Bit that we walked out on for me to get wet on, fishing boats, on the side..

Fishing boat, think the name on it was "Lets go"

Waiting for a wave.... 

Still waiting on a wave.... must have waited 5 mins.... tide was out... would hate to be here in a storm or even with the tide in...

The Wave.... yuck! I got wet.... Thanks again Rui! :)

Waves are probably a bit sloppy today for surfing..

more of the beach

BBQ on the beach, yep it's a whole pig, sucks being vegie... I'm amazed by how everyone is so happy and friendly here.

Guy about to do some kite surfing on the beach

more of the beaches... imagine this is summer when it's a little warmer... the water is cool, simlar to NZ

Me a Beer, and the Atlantic is the background... as good as it gets...

Beyond Porto, Guimaraes, The first city of Portugal, Porto at Night!

Good Friday, unlike NZ, everything is open over Easter, my friend Rui, to escape the rain, decided to drive north, probably a little disappointed that I haven't done any research on Portugal or where I wanted to go..

Anyway, we travelled north, to the City of Guimaraes, this is the beginning of Portugal, where it was retaken, over from the Moors, foundation city of the country of Portugal...

Me as the first king of portugal!

Some interesting information, Portugal, in the 14th-15th Century was a Superpower, I asked myself, "what happened?" I guess miss management over the centurys?,  It was very surprising, how far they travelled and there discovery of Brazil, i.e. they found Brazil, on the way to India, strange I know, they did 2 attempts at this, found Brazil, then continued on, around South Africa to India, to get there cargo of spices to return to Europe.

Map shows shows how far they went.. 

Anyway, we visited a fortress, around the 14th Century, and a Palace, I guess, for a duke, (actually have some photos), visited some more amazing churches.

View from one of the fortress's

me in the inner quartyard

outside one of the Dukes Palaces

Dinner anyone?

View from the top of a hill overlooking Guimaraes

Streets around Guimaraes

Footpath or Road... I really find it hard to tell here..

Lastly, Rui, after cooking again, I really feel soo guilty, he cooks a vegie meal for me, and a meat dish for everyone else... I am questioning  if I should just start to eat meat again, but I am scared, if I do, will I start to put on the weight again aaaggghhh..

Old Porto Day to Night

Lastly, around midnight, Rui his friend Rui (yes it's a common name here) asked if I wanted to go out, I was yeah sure!, I got changed, having no idea what I was in for, was my first time going out at night, since Germany.

All I can say is OMG Wow, it is insanely different to NZ, people, all ages are drinking on the streets, I was told there were out less people out, (due to easter) but with all the drinking on the streets, you feel totally safe,  people drink, but don''t appear to get totally trashed, there is zero police, (guess they only show up if there is trouble?) no security at all, i.e, bouncers... everyone is just happy... with an interesting mix, young ones, 15-16, to the older ones in there 50's...

Me and the Cat! I'm tempted to get a pet when I get home, maybe a little Doggie or a Cat...

120km/h speed limit (ok not unlimited like Germany) but still 120 is pretty good.

Finally, Ive booked my flights out of Portugal, I'm going to a city called Bordeaux, (this is on the 26th April flying Ryanair) in France, i'm not sure where I will be going to after that.. maybe Paris Nantes or Lyon..

Porto Day 2, Outside the old city

Dropped off in porto, gray day, rain, sun, rain..think it's ment to be like this for the next few days, Anyway here are a few photos

sign going onto the motorway... No cows? or carts?

there be america!!

I kind of recognised these trees, they looked like Pōhutukawa but I wasen't sure, as they were not in flower, they were everywhere hundreds of them, in parks and on the beaches, no really old ones like at home..

looking down the coast

walk way down the coast, I did an insane amount of walking today, I should get one of those walking measuring devices, Rui was even surpised how far I walked

10 Year Old Port, was very good, 3euro,  a glass, brought the bottle

fort on the coast

Police, on horses, even armed, It is noticable, you don't see the police much here, I've seen one outside a Jewellery store, one on the street of some upmarket neigbourhood, but crime dosen't seem visable here, atleast I couln't see it. Portugal feels very safe.

aaaaah, looky at what I found!!! 

Me trying to be vegie, had to get a custom made sandwich

waves crashing over, was still low tide, hate to think what it's like at high tide

Alot of people beg in the streets, there are a few that preform, this one had a little doggie