More Spain (and a bit of Portugal).

After leaving the Pyrenees by way of a mind-blowing thirty odd km descent (had to slow down substantially about halfway due to a seriously long and spongy brake pedal), we ducked back into France for lunch. and then hit the Mediterranean coast of Spain-
where we found kilometre after kilometre of very tight and twisty roads! I can see a theme developing. We stopped for a couple of days in a fishing village called El Peurto Del something, where to be fair the food wasn´t great, but the views and two days on the beach was a fair compensation.




After that we moved on to Barcelona, which is a very, very big city, very busy, and not for the budget conscious. Our room cost 120 euros for two nights, while parking the car for the same time cost 80 euro! To make matters worse, there weren´t even towels or soap to steal from the car park.


We did find some amazing food though, above is a small sample of the tapas from a bar near our hotel, the pick of which was the fresh anchovies and tomato on bread, and the dish below, grilled blood sausage. Seriously good!


As we were leaving the bar, we wandered into a large protest of some sort, complete with about ten vans full of riot police, and best of all, riot ambos! Seriously, the ambos had ballistic vests on, and helmets on their laps. I don´t think Spanish emergency services are inclined to cock-about.


It naturally enough was a bit difficult to figure out the reason for the protest, although I think some were protesting Basil Fawlty´s treatment of Manuel. Until we saw the bloke below, and it became obvious they were protesting the state of the public transport system.
Or something.


Anyway we joined in for a bit, but I think Deena was not as committed to the cause as she could have been.


Meanwhile, I had to try and convince these two I was laughing with, not at. Another minute or so, and I may have needed the riot ambos, although by this stage I think they, like half the protesters, had pulled the pin and gone to a bar. So we did too.





Another light lunch. This time razor clams in garlic butter, mussels, and potatoes bravas.
Seafood is healthy and slimming right?

One of the great things about Spain is that there is always a bottle of really good olive oil around. Drizzled on the plate with the remnants of the meal, and mopped up with bread is my favourite way to enjoy, mind you it´s so good, if I thought I´d get away with it, I´d drink it straight!


After Barcelona, we drove two days to another fishing town, this time just out of Lisbon, in Portugal. Above is the famous Portugese chicken, marinated, roasted over coals, and served with spicy peri-peri sauce. Probably the best chicken and chips we´ve ever had. Even better than Legs and Breasts!


The cooking of said chicken. Don´t you think it smelt good in there!


Grilled mackerel and boiled potatoes with oil for lunch.
This was from a restaurant that was crammed full of about fifteen people when we first went by, there wouldn´t have been room to squeeze a cat in, much less a lump like me, so we went back for the second, or maybe third sitting, and rolled out an hour or so later.
We were sat down by the owner/cook, who told us what we were going to have, no choice, no alterations, from start to finish. Although we were allowed to choose the colour of our wine. And I have to say, when the food is this good, don´t argue!
A fair part of the rolling action on our departure was probably due to the wine and some sort of almond based spirit we were told to drink at the end with our coffee. If it is served in a small glass, and is clear and oily looking, it´s gonna kick. Very nice but, just strong. And the price? A little bit more than a macca´s lunch!


And this is a shot of the Atlantic, taken when we sobered up enough to go for a drive.

Adios, Dave.