Day: March 17, 2012

Mini series holiday: Portugal – Faro, day 7

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Day 7 – our last day in Faro and we had nothing much to do… Sit around, eat the rest of our stuff, finish packing and sobered up from the night before, heheheh. We wanted to have a late check out, but the maids said we should ask reception (I’m sure I asked for a late check out!). Anyway, we ended up leaving the apartments a little bit early, left our luggage in reception, then went for a coffee at the snack-bar and then waited for the transfer to pick us up! 

Transfer was 20 minutes early. Yay, they found us! I forgot that the journey is about an hour-ish long from Pera to Faro Airport… It was an enjoyable ride, we kept seeing other vehicles just passing us when they saw a slow driver in front… Hahahahah.

Finally got to the airport, checked in (with someone’s overweight luggage – not mine, uh-hm!), had an expensive hamburger meal for €13.40! :-O Shocking!! Even McDonald’s is not thaaaaat expensive!!!!!!

After that we passed passport control and then the queuing started for boarding! So quick! As we were all queuing, some weirdo went down the escalator, then ran back up on the same escalator (when he could’ve got the stairs – OMG). PLONK. He fell over at the top of the escalator. LOL. More things started happening during boarding… There was a couple in front who held up the queue – the lady had two hand luggages (when you’re only supposed to have one – as with all flights). The reception staff tried to explain that it is the airlines policy that they must state how much hand luggage they have, and that you have to pay extra if you have more than one piece… Don’t these people read?!?! So in the end the couple had to pay and they got on the flight (without the police having to be there). I assume the couple will make a complaint! 

Finally got to London – then there was a VERY long queue at passport control – I didn’t realise that they’ve started using the new system where you can self checkout if you have the new UK passport. (UK is getting very stylish indeed).

Following 3 trains, we finally got to our stop. As we were about to exit the station, a guy flew down the escalator and just randomly took a picture of my stunned face, then walked down further, and took one of Miss Pinky… He got down to the end of the escalator and took another pic of a lady sitting in McD’s… Hahahahah. What kind of randomness is that!!

I finally got home after getting two buses! ^_^ Yipee. Home sweet home.

Didn’t take any pictures – sorry if I’ve bored you to death ^_^

Villas Barrocal – The Apartments Review

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When I booked this apartment from laterooms.com via easyJet hotels booking system, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Although the transfer was cheap it was a very long trip to Villas Barrocal (an hour more or less from the airport). The apartment itself cost €15 per night for two people, when I had booked it in December (what a DEAL!). 

The villa is situated in Pêra, which is in between Albuferia and Armação de Pêra. Make sure you have instructions ready for the driver (if you are taking a transfer or a taxi), because a lot of people don’t know the area or the place.

The apartment itself is beautiful. I think they need to correct their signs, because we couldn’t find the apartment at first. 

Inside the apartments
Local shops around the area are: a newsagents, cafes, Italian cafe, a vets.

You need to walk down further onto the left to find more shops and cafes. It looks like a run down area, but you will find that one street has everything – the local bank, post office, salon, graveyard and other stuff. 

If you are looking for public transport there are bus stops around but as every local had said to us – you need to prepare to wait around for the bus to come. Do some research on timetables before you go!! 

Don’t ever ask a local (or even a tourist) how long it will take you to walk to Amacao de Pera from the villa – people say it’s 15 minutes (probably if you run). It’s actually about an hour via the beach. I timed it.

Good points:
Quiet,  big apartments, they have everything – microwave, kettle, fridge, cooker and oven, cutlery, local TV stations, free wi-fi – all you need is food, drinks and yourselves ^^

Bad points:
Far from all the touristy places – but you would expect that if you’re staying in Faro!

Tips:
  • Rent a car or a bike – there is a local gas station Galp, which is just about a 20 minute walk (5 minutes by car).
  • Make sure you have enough Euro on you if you are not planning to bring a credit/debit card.
  • Some shops close for an hour or two for lunch – so watch out for that.
  • Be aware of pick-pockets! Always wear an across-body handbag.
  • Definitely bring sun tan lotion!!!!!!

Mini series holiday: Portugal – Faro, Day 6

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Our final full day in Faro, so we decided to go to the beach again. We found a lot of shortcuts this time. So from our villa, we went through Vila de Pedro, crossed the motor way, into the same farmland – this time we found a lot of pathways that we could cut through, onto the sandy beach and into the touristy town again – Armação de Pêra! That took an hour. Fast walking this time round. ^_^

Local shop

Local shop


When we were coming back, we decided to take the motor way route, but it seemed too long and endless, so again we cut through the fields. We got to the farmland’s bankside with a broken down bridge. Miss Pinky crossed it first… And Me, I just panicked! I didn’t want to cross it 😛 Eventually I did with the help of Miss Pinky.

Horrid Bridge!

Finally back on track. We got back to the motor way. There was another pathway across the road that we thought was a shortcut. Little did we know it was leading us to a shed. Two dogs were guarding the place. One was on a lead and the other came out and barked at us, so we moved back to the main road… Looks like no more shortcuts for us then!! Hehehehe.

As we were about to retire into the villa, we stopped off at the local snack-bar. This is run by a lovely couple who speak very good English! I had ice tea, my friend had a beer. As we were about to go, I asked what type of food they do… sandwiches, toasties, baguettes, fries and burgers… then he mentioned crab baguette!! I thought crab baguette. We don’t get that in London!! So we said we’ll come back after phoning the transfer company and getting our pick up time.

Lovely café / snack-bar!!

Lovely café / snack-bar!!

We went back out again and this is what we got….

Crab baguette ^^

I ate the whole thing!!

And Miss Pinky was addicted to this machine…

€0.50 to win a chocolate bar ^^

After that, we went back to the villa, we wanted to rest but John our neighbour started a barbie (that’s Australian for BBQ). Anyway, so we got our drinks, went next door and met another lovely Canadian couple from Ontario. We also met an Irish pair (not a couple)… Chat, chat, chat, eating and a lot of drinking (I had a lot of port that night!). It was eventually midnight… I was drunk as hell – I have never been like that before!

BBQ night with the neighbours

But all’s well that ends well ^_^