Trials and tribulations of travellers.

This morning we got up well before the crack of dawn. A taxi was coming at 5.15 to take us to Liverpool airport to catch a plane at just after 9.00. The wind seemed to have eased so we were hoping that there would be no delays in our plane taking off. 

The taxi arrived on time. We set off … in the rain! About 15 minutes into our journey the driver asked us did we mind he did a detour via his mosque as he needed to pray. It would only take him five minutes maximum. Well, okay! It has always seemed to me that if you need to pray then your god should hear you wherever you are. However, it must be a bit hard to concentrate on driving and make a good prayer at the same time. And it is Ramadan and for devout moslems it’s important to pray at the right time. So we took a small detour and went on our way.

It’s the first time I have had such a request though.

We had a rather inferior breakfast at the airport and eventually got on the plane and had an uneventful flight. 

Once arrived in Porto, our next challenge was to catch a bus to Ponte de Lima, where Phil will be playing chess. We already had information about which bus to catch and where from - the dame place where we always caught the bus to Vigo when we lived there. So we went out to the bus bay, where a bus was waiting but it was too early for our bus and besides it was the wrong bus company. Eventually we spotted someone wearing a  sweatshirt of the company we were looking for. Also, the driver was looking a bit impatient to be setting off and so I plucked up courage and asked the driver where he was going - Ponte de Lima! Had I not asked, the bus would have set off without us.

So there we were, on a bus to Ponte de Lima. And finally at the bus station in Ponte de Lima … and no idea how to get to our accommodation.   And there was no taxi rank. Once again I tried put my halting , hesitant Portuguese. Nobody knew the street we wanted to go to but they did  phone for a taxi for us.

And then we went walkabout, looking for supplies. Lots of tat shops but few shops selling food. 

So it goes. 

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!