After landing in lisbon, I find a nearby taxi and grab a ride to the train station.I climb the stairs and walk up and down checking the platforms to find my train. I find, what my guess is, my platform and head to the cafe to enjoy a croissant and a hot chocolate. I have two hours to fill in and this is about the most exciting thing to do at the station. After an hour I decide to peel myself off the seat and double check that Im in the right place. I join a large que and slowly shuffle to the front to ask the question. I am pointed in the right direction and I go to the platform to wait.
The train arrives and I can't figure out what carriage I am in. After walking up and down the train begins to huff and puff and make sounds of impeding movement. I jump into the carriage closest to me and drag my huge bag down the aisle, banging into anyone that is even a millimetere out of their seat. Finally after three cabins I find an empty seat. I squish my bag up against the wall and take a seat, crossing my fingers that Im in the right place. A few straggling passengers board and I hold my breath each time they come towards me. Thankfully, no one seems to be allocated this seat and the train pulls away from the station.
Two minutes later I am asleep - my handbag pressed against the window and my head leaning awkwardly against it. I wake as we get to a stop - I try to read the sign. I assume this is not my stop. After a couple of hours I start to worry, have I missed my stop? It would be very much in character for me to have missed it. Country side wizzes past-no help at all. Everyone around me seems to be speaking foreign languages, and, still having no voice it makes it extreemely hard to ask anyone directions! Soon the speaker crackles to life and a string of unrecognisable sentences spill out. Lagos, is the only word I recognise and I am hoping they mean that is the next stop. A few moments of tense waiting, I see the sign and it is indeed lagos. I jump out of my seat and heave my increasingly heavy bag out into the warm sunlit station.I text fabiana to tell her of my arrival and then locate the cafe and sit to wait.
Sheena!!!!! I spin around and see fabiana running towards me I jump up to call out to her- nothing - we have a quick hug and she looks at me weird. I point to my throat and try to make some form of explanation. We sit and have a coffee and she fills me in on life since our last meeting. We finish our coffees and head to the car - a nice little convertable, perfect for the gorgeous sunny day ahead. After a brief tour we head to pick up her boyfriend liam and go straight to the beach.
The wind whips us as we each get out of the car. Its a bit chilly but the suns heat fights off the chill. We climb down the long set of steps down to the sand. After wandering along the beach and taking a few photos we plonk down into the warm sand to relax. Soon, fabiana gets a phone call. After a lengthy conversation in which I have no idea what she is saying she looks at us with excitement in her eyes. She proceeds to fill me in on her fathers friends jeep. They are going out 4 wheel driving and have invited us to come along! We jump up and make a hurried pace back to the car. We zoom along the country side and meet up with her father and his friend. We follow them down a small country road and pull over to the side of an old pub. Fabiana, Liam and I jump onto the back of the jeep, excited for the adventure to come.
The jeep slowly crawls along the flat ground and turns into a forest area. The roads become rougher, yet suprisingly easy. Luring us into a false sense of security. Before I know it the pace increases and so does the altitude. A very steep almost vertical hill side is in front of us. The men look at each other, laugh and then the foot hits the floor and we are racing towards it!!! We then start the slow controlled and very rough ride up the side of the cliff - how the jeep manages, I have no idea. We cling on for life and then break through the top. The view of the country side creeping down to the beach is breath taking. We stop for photos and then continue.
There are rough old tracks winding around the hillside - however, that would be too easy apparently. We bounce off the beaten track and make new tracks of our own. Weaving in and out of pot holes and under tree braches, leaves slapping our faces. It is hillarious, exhillarating and very scary all at the same time. Up another verticle climb I tighten my grip as I am all but hanging out of the jeep now. No one can hear me scream as it is just a slight wisper that scrapes painfully through my throat. Back to the top of the hill and the only way is back down, I close my eyes, there is no way we will get down without flipping!!! After more bumping and bouncing, I feel the familar sensation of gravity in its rightful use and I can relax. After more photos, admiration of the sunset and a lot of laughs we make our way back to the cars. What an adventure! and I have only just arrived. Portugal is amazing.
We make it back to Fabianas home where her mother is waiting and has made a beautiful dinner for us all. After introductions as best I can with no voice we sit down to enjoy the meal before us. After the delicious meal, lovely wine and dessert we all retire to bed. It is 11pm and more excitement awaits tomorrow . . .
'We have to leave in 20 minutes' - I wake to Fabianas voice. I jump up, shower, and throw on a bikini. A small sundress over top and Im ready to go. We call goodbye to her mum and head down the cobble stone street to her car. Today I will spend the day at the beach where Fabiana and Liam work. We pull into the dusty car park and head to the office. I am introduced to her work mates and then we go out onto the beach. Fabiana works as a photographer and Liam works with the water sports equipment. While she starts her first clients I wander down to the lounge chairs and make myself comfortable with my book, bottle of water and ipod. A day to relax, work on my tan and enjoy the serenity of the beach.
Soon a collegue of fabianas approaches me. 'Would you like to go out on the water and do some publicity for us?' he asks. I all but fly off the chair-jet ski!!! of course!!! I walk down to the water where fabiana has her camera ready to shoot. I suddenly realise, as many times as iv been on a jetski, im always on the back- I have no idea how to actually drive!!! I have a quick tutorial from Liam as I clip into my life vest. Then I am in the boat and heading out to the circuit with the other two tourists. A small boy of about 10 years old is jumping in and out of the boat turning on the skis and bringing them to us. He laughs at my clumsyness and lack of skill as I attempt to board the ski. I turn it on and feel it sputter to life. OMG!!! I do a practice lap of the circuit at about 1knott per hour. They are laughing from the boat telling me to go faster. With each lap my confidence grows and I go faster and faster. Soon I Am whizzing around the laps, water spraying my face. I look to fabiana and she is following me with the camera. I wave and continue the laps. What an amazing time!
After 15 minutes they call me back to the boat. Miraculously I manage to get on the boat without falling into the water - however, it is not the most ladylike of entrances. We drive back to shore where I am informed I will be going on another water sport adventure. Two young girls are waiting by a large blow up thing with handles and a rope attached to a boat. I am seated in the middle and we are shown the hand signals to go faster and slower. Then the boat pulls slowly away - dragging us behind. Once we are in the water the boast speed rapidly increases. I tighten my grip and hold on as we lightly bounce over the water, past the jest ski area and deeper out to sea. The driver decides to let loose and I hold on for dear life. with each large bounce I am sure we are going to flip and with each hard splash back onto the water my bikini bottoms are wedged firmly into my butt. The sand scrapes get harder and harder with every violent change of direction. They are going too fast for any of us to let go for even a second to signal them. They whip us around from side to side, bouncing higher and higher. Im not sure how much longer I can hold on!!! Finally they turn to see us and realise their speed and decide to slow right down. We are gently towed back to shore. I don't know if it is going to be possible to remove my bikini from my butt, it is that far wedged!! after a good laugh and a quick photo shoot I stagger back to my position in the sun to relax for the afternoon.
The following morning we rise early again and go to the beach. Another beautiful sunny day relaxing in the sun. I spend some time playing on the jet skis with various staff members and then fabiana takes me in to town for lunch and to show me around. It is a gorgeous little town with lovely old buildings, friendly people, interesting markets and stalls. The cobble stone streets leading down little alley ways lined with people selling jewellery, food and other interesting wears. Fabiana leads me to a beautiful little restaurant that is tucked away down one of the allys. The service is amazing and we order delicious fresh salads.
After lunch we decide to go to another beach for the afternoon. We find two lounges and set up camp. After a few minutes we doze off in the warm sun. It is just so nice spending the days relaxing on the beach, waking up after each afternoon nap, browner than before.
After our lovely afternoon at the beach we head home to have dinner and get ready for a night out on the town! As we walk in the door, dinner smells amazing! We are seated at the table and dinner is served. I look down at what smells so amazing-and it stares back at me! A whole fish, looking at me! ummmmmmmm. My facial expression instantly gives my thoughts away and they all crack up laughing. fabianas mother takes the fish away and cuts the flesh into small - managable chunks that no longer stare at me. After a lot of laughs and the lovely meal we thank her mum and go to the room to get changed. Showers, perfume and a lot of product to control my poor, beach swept hair we are ready to go. We head into town and by fabis lead, check out the popular clubs in Lagos. Along the way we run into the beach boys (fabis work mates) and they join us for some drinks. The beautiful cobblestone streets are my stilletoes arch nemises as I stagger along the streets - doing my best to look elegant and failing miserably!
After a great night out of dancing, delicious cocktails and socialising, we return home at a decent hour and manage to get 4 hours rest.
Again, the following morning is spent on the beach, but this afternoon I am booked in to get my hair done with fabianas mum. Around 12pm I say goodbye to everyone and wander down the serene beach. The water laps cooly over my feet, the warm breeze blows my salt encrusted hair wildly around my face as I wander down the the river. There is a small boat waiting and the charming driver greets me as princess, offers me his hand as he helps me on the the boat. a minute later I am across the river and ascending the stairs to the village side. I wander down the streets and stop by a few markets searching for gifts and souvineers. I walk past a small cafe and their window catches my eye. Big, juicy, perfect looking strawberries on skewers covered in thick layers of home made chocolate! The lady in the window offers me a sample-I wont say no! I try all three kinds and decide to buy the white chocolate version. I sit down to listen to a local street performer and indulge in the amazing creation in my hands.
After I am fed and depleted of a few more euros I locate the salon and head inside. I am greeted warmly and introduced to everyone. I sit down in the chair and one of the ladies takes to my eyebrows with tweezers. Im a little nervous as I never let anyone touch my eyebrows, but after a relaxing 10 minutes of plucking and sculpting I am very pleased with the perfected result. Next, my hair is dyed, cut and blow dried. I feel like a new person!! After the past few months travelling, swimming in the ocean, sun and sweat - my hair was in desperate need!
Tonight we decide to go out for a few drinks with fabianas friends.
A little old lady greets me and hands me a large old key. She then shows me down the hall way, to an old elevator. up two floors and here I am. The room is very small and contains two single beds. I thank the lady and close the door as she leaves. After I place my bag down, I decide to get some food. Its been a big few days and I am very hungry and tired. I head out and go to cross the street. The little old lady calls out to me and signals for me to come back. She tells me the place across the road is very dirty and tells me to go down the street as there is much cleaner places. Hmmm good start. I find a pizzeria and order pizza, pasta and a bottle of coke-nice balanced meal.
Ten minutes later I pay and take my food back to the dungeon where I am sleeping. After the intense carb/fat attack of my dinner, I lie back to try and decipher Portuguese television. This lasts about 5 minutes and I am off to sleep. My alarm set to wake me nice and early to catch my next flight . . . Paris, here I come!
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ReplyDeleteWonderful story! A paradise on earth? :-)
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