Sunday 21 October 2012

Thermodynamics

Cascais Marina




The flight path  to Lisbon followed the Rio Tejo from its source in beautiful wooded hillsides, down over the agricultural floodplain to the estuary. Tristan had single handed Meriva from Peniche to Cascais Marina whilst I was visiting Mum in Derby.

I took the bus from the airport to Cais do Sodre train station absorbing the sites of Lisbon ....a beautiful  characterful city, mentally taking note of places to visit.
The train journey to Cascais followed the estuary of the Rio Tejo. It was aerial view to street vies in less than an hour. 




A welcome meal was awaiting from our fellow sailors, Rod and Julie on RoJo washed down with our current tipple, Mundos verde.

We spent two days walking around Cascais....very pretty but 'neat' and tidy exuding affluence. 


Expensive hotels and spa's and mainly restaurants in the town....an almost complete lack of Chinese plastic junk shops, which dominated Peniche's shopping area.






Yesterday was spent in Lisbon and Tristan's Vertigo was challenged going up the elevator of Santa Justa built in 1902. Panoramic views of Lisbon from the very top. It is a chilled out city with lovely squares and places to enjoy drinking coffee.






We were approached on a few occasions by well dressed men selling sunglasses. 
When we refused the sunglasses they offered us what was in their pockets! William S. Burroughs eat your heart out!



Tristan has fitted new boom clutches for reefing the sails and general maintenance jobs.....so as soon as the wind blows from a better direction we are heading further south.
The alternative will be to connect the heater!

Philip, a tough Darlington Pro-Kitesurfer who sailed down from Stockholm with his girlfriend has got his heater on already!

Huge waves are breaking over the breakwater which protects the marina, and as our German freind Ralph said, 'He's glad he's on the right side of the wall'. We first met Ralph in the middle of Biscay when he had a 'towel around his screw'.




We have been at Cascais for a week now and its time to move on and find some heat.
Next stop, Lagos. When? Whenever we are ready!