And by out here, it is literal! We are about 1700 Kms directly West of Lisbon. Terceira is a volcanic island about 19 Kms across. Settled around 1450 by a Flemish captain Jaome de Bruges, an associate of Prince Henry the Navigator who is still a big name throughout Spain and Portugal! It was an important base in both World Wars and continues to have a NATO and US presence. The main city, Angra do Heroismo, is busy with people, cars and business. I'm always struck by island life - here we are in this tiny place and everything is as it is everywhere else in the world.
We arrived last night after quite a day! We rally for breakfast at the hotel in Fisterre. Fisterre, the end of the world and the second official end of each Camino. We pile into the car and set off for Lisbon to catch the plane. Only two turn arounds to get us past Santiago and onto the Autopista 9 to Pontevedra. This is like two years ago when we drove back the entire 800 Kms in one day arriving at the airport with 5 minutes to spare! Today we only have about 6 hours of driving to reach Lisbon by 4:30. Dave is in his driving element as we whiz past the 120 signs which seem to be merely a suggestion to the locals who whiz by us!
Lots of familiar names go by - Caldas de Reis, Porrino, Tui, Ponte de Lima, Barcelos. We stop for lunch and we are back in Portugal - Dave's plate of veal comes with potatoes and rice!
The now A3 is a toll highway. Sometimes you throw money in the bucket and sometimes you get a ticket which you insert at the next booth. Now in Portugal, there is a lovely tempting lane with a green sign with a white check mark. Fine, we'll pay at the end. And we paid! Just after entering Lisbon - your ticket is no good, you must have another ticket - no, we don't have another ticket - I must charge you from the border, 42.50 euros please! I read the back of the ticket which tells me, if my ticket is lost or, if you are lazy and don't find out what the words meant under the white check mark which is actually a stylized V for a Via Verde pass, by law, they are allowed to charge you double! It's only money and we are contributing to the fine state of the Auopista!!
We arrive almost exactly at 4:30. The approach to the airport was simple and the self serve check in kiosk elicits none of the groans and frustration of the Calgary version. Off to the baggage drop.
The young man at the baggage drop points out that - for next time - there is a dedicated spot with no line ups for business class customers. Business class? Yes, your boarding pass is executive and you are welcome to wait at the lounge. You mean the gate? No, no the Blue Lounge on your left just before gate 7. Well, thank you RBC Rewards, I had no idea what I'd booked!
Laura and I head off to security where Dave suddenly realizes he has forgotten his Swiss army knife in his carry on. He's going back to the check in to see what can be done. The Blue Lounge is quiet and inviting! Laura's question is, We can just help ourselves to everything up there!? Why yes, go right ahead! Alcohol, snacks, water etc. I may have to book tickets with RBC Rewards online at 11:00 at night when the brain was shutting down more often! Dave arrives without his carry on - it has been checked through at no extra charge - hopefully, without incident to the precious cargo.
We are directed to the front of the boarding line; get settled in our seats and finally, the plane is off directly West over the Atlantic. All the usual announcements and the food service begins. A full meal with glassware and real cutlery (isn't this knife a weapon?) and warm rolls out of a basket! I could definitely get used to this and Laura will expect this kind of travel with her parents from now on!
Next on the agenda was a rental car. The VRBO owner has sent a taxi having not received our message about deciding to rent a car. Pay off the poor driver who has come all this way; get through all the paperwork and one of the rear signal lights does not work. OK, we'll change cars tomorrow. By this time, it is dark but we set off to the other side of the island. We get into the downtown area of Angra and cannot find the signs to Sao Mateus. Finally, I call Patrizia who sends someone, we still haven't clarified who he was, to come find us and lead us out to the house.
They are still in the process of making and serving pizza - that was the other sign we were to look for. We are well met with kisses and handshakes and Constantino insisting on sit, sit for wine. And you must have this pizza - it's light, you will sleep better. Fine, we give in to red wine from the box, white wine locally made and the best pizza we've had in a very long time! A wonderful end to a very long, full day.
Boa noite!
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