July 2010 20:57
subjectRE: Casa Adega 10-24th July
mailed-bybtconnect.com

hide details 20:57 (21 hours ago)

Hi Russell and Kim

We got back okay and all wish we were still in Portugal!!  Having just finished this email I realise I have rabbitted on a bit!! - Just an indication of how much we enjoyed ourselves I think but you can use any or all of our thoughts as you like!!

We had a lovely time staying at Casa Adega so thank you for providing so completely for us.  The accommodation was perfect because the young people had their own space whilst Mark and I had the peace and quiet we needed!!

We loved the area as we felt it was very naturally Portuguese and we were living among the local people.  We especially enjoyed the coast as the lagoon provides a warm and safe place to swim and yet just over the sand dunes you have the turbulent waves of the Atlantic to listen to and watch.  We particularly enjoyed a beer or ice cream on the last bar on the beach called (sorry can't remember name!) where we sat more than once watching the sun go down over the ocean ... beautiful!!

We found we spent a lot of time at the watersports centre on the lagoon where we learned to windsurf, had a go at water skiing and enjoyed watching others - young and old - sailing and kite surfing.  The lagoon lends itself perfectly to these sports as the water is warm, shallow and yet you still have the Atlantic breeze coming in off the ocean - perfect!  The staff there were exceptional - professional and friendly.  We fully intend to return when some of the more fit members of our family plan to learn to kite surf.

The local supermarkets more than adequate for our daily needs, and we would recommend the local butcher's quality pork and beef steaks for the BBQ.  We also ate out at numerous restaurants but found ourselves going back to ?Praia Casa? located on the beach and which Russell had recommended.  The staff were friendly, food was great and prices were reasonable.  We also ate out twice in 'Central Bar' located just beside the supermarket - a family restaurant, full of local people and a very reasonably priced menu.

On days out, we visited Peniche where our son tested the waters to develop his surfing skills - very popular surfing beach with beginners and more advanced all riding the waves together.  We also visited Araia Blanca (south of Peniche) - a beautiful white sandy beach and went north to Sao Martinho de Porto enjoying the beach there and a wander around the old town accessed via ascensor within the tourist information building - interesting!

Obidos was a highlight for a photographer - around midday the old narrow cobbled streets of this fortified town are ablaze with brightly painted doorways and alleys decorated with flowering climbers and potted plants - hard to take a bad photo really!  Wonderful town for a wander, lunch followed by an icecream, and ample choice for take home presents.  We were lucky to be visiting during the Medieval festival when the evenings entertainment included many costumed plays, musical attractions and jousting!  Great fun for us all!

Ok - I've convinced myself that we'll have to visit you again!!

Wishing you both the very best

Karen