I was looking forward to seeing this little bakery praised by Lonely Planet, a few kilometres north of Vila Nova de Milfontes. It was hard to find. I followed the directions, but it wasn’t where I expected. I drove up several different driveways and had no luck. Then I asked two women on the side of the road and though they only spoke Portuguese (I pointed at the name of the bakery in the guidebook) they directed me up another long, laneway, and I found the bakery in a very out-of-the-way place. It was 1:15 in the afternoon and guess what? It was closed.
So next, I headed to the Riverside Pub , also recommended in the Lonely Planet Guidebook. The book said that there was great pub food and the setting was fabulous overlooking the river! I found the restaurant via roads that were so narrow I thought I might not squeeze through. I parked and walked up steps to the restaurant; it did have a great view! I guess that’s why it was full of people eating. I asked for the menu. It was buffet,not what I wanted or what was described!
Riverfront View
I left and went back into town to the centre, parked the car again just where I had the last time I was in the town. I went to the bank, to the ATM to withdraw money. My cards didn’t work! I went into the bank and had a staff member help me – same thing happened. I am running low on cash although I am using my credit card a good deal of the time. So I stopped into a little restaurant next-door and had comfort food, a lasagna. It was wonderful then I headed back to Zambujeira. Logging on to the bank website to see if I could correct what’s happening and hopefully tomorrow I should be able to get some cash. The bank increased my withdrawal limit just in case the exchange was making a difference. Not everywhere in this country do they take credit cards.
I spoke with my friends who were coming over this weekend and their first flight from Toronto to Dublin was cancelled with Air Canada. So my friend is scrambling to get other flights because she’s got the connecting one from Dublin to Lisbon with Air Portugal and she’s got a hotel booked in Lisbon for one night. Travelling can be so frustrating at times.
The German couple next-door have moved out. They only stayed four nights. They were supposed to leave tomorrow. I think I’m going to continue staying here on this side although I did threaten to move out. Luis said he’d return my money for the month but I don’t know how long that will take and I don’t want to spend more money and stress over getting a new place. I really do like this house at least the one I was in . The owner of the property (Luis) is giving me too much of a hassle about all his little four-day bookings, I am very disappointed in him not in the place. I don’t like to say this but I think because I’m on my own and a woman he treats me differently. Even though it’s his place, his mother does all the work, washing sheets and towels and cleaning the place. It’s really all a little odd , I’m trying not to think this way, but I really get the impression that when there is a couple with a man,he is much more respectful. Anyway, I was a bit of angry earlier and my friend who’s coming to visit calmed me down and said don’t fight. You are on holidays -relax and that’s what I have to remember to do. And I don’t need to be moving back and forth at Luis’ beck and call!
I love this Alentejo area. It is so very natural and it suits my curious mind.
