getting lost is the true beauty of travelling - by the rubatron (aka travbuddy 2win)

were all so quiet while ben was driving.  as we decided at lagos were going to drive up to save time for the long drive back to cedeira, spain as portugal is one hour less than spain (time zone) we have to be as early as possible.

we decided to camp somewhere in sines, portugal - were not sure of this place but can SAVE money for avoiding tolls. the drive from lagos to sines was excruciatingly painful. we drove through the mountains with zigzaggy roads, up, down and up again.  it was only allowed to drive 50 kms, there were lots of hidden cameras around. ben didnt knew - i tiold them they were hidden atop the stop lights - small ones as small as a child's fist.

as we drove through the mountains, there was a point that we had a big truck in front of us and it was so slow, ben all of a sudden overtook it. my heart was beating so fast after - i mean, what if a car was coming from the otherside?!!! lori was really scared because she was in a car accident before. after that - i began to laugh. hahahahahahahahahaha we almost cheated death in that point. escape artists.

the small 2 lane road - if it werent me or the guys were anxious, had magnifiecent views left and right - gorges on the left, rivers and mountains and to my window - old rustic houses, windmills and fields full of rapsöl (i dont know how to say it in english).

we passed a small town called odemira, from there to cercal and some other small villages which were very picturesque - old portugal as never seen by tourists. robbo at one point said that it looks like countryside mexico with people with traditional costumes, and hat just sitting on the benches and relaxing.

it was dark already when we entered the small city of sines.  it was strange and freaky...... it was dark and murky. we were gretted by big factory chimneys and bad smell. i was scared for the very first time in the trip but i didnt showed it. scared - because no one speaks either english nor spanish - let alone german in the places weve been to in portugal. 

when we entered the town - it was really dark and very quiet but there were lights from the distance. we followed the road going to the lights but it was closed because apparently theyre having a feast and we must detour - it was a juxtaposition of events - dark, sleepy and murky town but theyre celebrating a feast - from the looks of it - no one was there in the feast itself.

we tried to fnd "centro" again but it was detoured so we had to backtrack - we passed a small group of people eating outside in a restaurant. i was dreading this - to ask questions.  since were all both tired - the girls decided to sleep in a hotel. so i tried to communicate with the people - it was hard - really, i am tired, hungry and sleepy - my mind wasnt working anymore. i wished in that moment that i am back in germany. this situation happened to me in greece when i was in a small village - but it was only me that time - i can take care of myself - but if 5 people are depending on me - it was too much.

i asked directions for a hotel - all we did was body language and pointing fingers - so we went off with the car. suddenly only a few meters of driving, a car came up to us! the women i asked questions! they said to us to follow them because they would direct us to a hotel! U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E the height of portuguese hospitality!

when we got there - i told them the only portuguese word i knew in my entire life - OBREGADO (thank you).   since lori was so eager to find a hotel - she was willing to go - and since nobody can communicate well than me (im not pulling myself up - i just have a connection with the romanish language) lori and me decided to go. it was freaking chilly and windy - i dont have any warm clothes with me. we went to a hotel which looked farely 4 star (to be honest i dont have any money to pay for this). they were full already so no spaces left - good thing the staffs spoke english so lori asked them if they knew another hotel - the woman directed us - so me and lori kept walking and walking until we cannot find it. suddenly a man came up and lori asked him - he was staying in a 3 star hotel somewhere near us! so we went there - the man spoke perfect english and i let lori do the talking while i smoked outside (i needed it badly).

the rooms were perfect it was a very cheap. but i told lori i didnt need a room, i can sleep in the car - because i dont have money to pay anymore. when we got back - there was a unanimous decision - since its not a must for all of us to sleep in the hotel - we all decided to sleep in the car hahahahahaha - BUT we also decided to chip in money for a room in the hotel for ben. as a gift for him for depending our lives while he was driving, for his calmness while driving and leaving us still unscathed (hahahaha) its also a preparation for him, so he can sleep good because he will have  LONG DRIVE TOMORROW - from sines, portugal - cedeira spain will take 12 hours of driving.

we parked the car near the hotel, and all of us went there - the man was a bit suprised that all of us were there but only 1 guy is checking in! hahahahahahahaha it reminds me of my highschool days. ..  we dont have money and we go to mcdonalds.. all of us in the counter but were only ordering one big french fries with shared money and share with 5-6 people :) times had changed it will never be the same but the wonderful memories will remain.

the frontdesk guy was so hellpful to us he even let rubs and hannah use the hotel toilet and if ever any of us needs toilet in the morning all we have to do is go in there.

he told us that theres a town feast and we should go there! before we can even ask for directions - he already wrote it on paper! i was... i dont know whether to laugh or cry. i had never received this hospitality from stangers in europe all my life.

when we went down - since were at the top of a hill - were going to a street named "rua da vasco da gama" i just discovered that vasco da gama was born in sines. ...  i had goosebumps all over me, since my favorite subject is world history - he is well known in my history books in the golden age of european exploration where he discovered goa, india and lots of places in south africa. here i am standing in a small city where history took place - i am living my dream. i gave justice to my favorite subject in the world - history. i couldnt ask for more.

at the feast - everybody was looking at us! hahahhahahaha they were totally unexpecting strangers -  let alone NON PORTUGUESE - i was quite a bit embarassed because i am a low profile person and not used bein being watched with attention.

we all felt like celebrities there! a sleepy old town - then people from 5 different countries just invaded it! hahahahahahahahaha.

in the middle was an old school rock and roll band playing classic songs! amazing! we splitted up - the girls and the guys - so me, robbo and ben were really hungry and wandered off to find real food - we found a bbq stand with sausages, steaks, pork chops and more! amazing the guy can speak english! hallelujah! hahahahahahaha.

as we were waiting to pay - some random old man sneaked up behind robbo AND TOUCHED HIM in his waist and body and whispered somethign to him! hahahahahhahahahaahahahaah he was speechless and i was in shock!  hahaha i was the only one who saw it and i cant help laughing all the time! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahaha sorry alex - i cant stop laughing ifi remmber it! hahahahahahahahaha you were punkd! hahahaha

the girls found a bar with a guy from the uk was also working - all was in good mood! i had sausages and fries - but i didnt ate it - it was too salty - i think they marinated it in saltwater because it taste like the ocean! hahahahahah hahahah. we had our FIRST EVER SANGRIA and IN PORTUGAL NOT IN SPAIN! hahahahahahaaha it was flowing with sangria as robbo i think kept ordering! i didnt drank that much coz i dont wanna have a headache. then rubs eyes were wide open because i popped out burgers from mcdonalds in my bag! hahahahahahaha

everything was perfect - it was almost magical! there we were - got lost, tired, hungry, nowhere to go, tensions - this was the perfect way to break the cool ice.

we hanged out till 1 am as we listened to the great band who was playing! but ben must go to sleep, as we all planned to leave at 6 in the morning in portugal (7 am in spain). robbo, hannah, rubs and lori still went to the beach - me and ben went up - i want to sleep already in the car.

i brushed my teeth outside the car and gargled beside a house :D hahahahahahahahahahaha - i waited - till 2 am till the guys came back before i go to sleep because i have the car key.

i  slept with a smile on my face. we bonded all the 6 of us spitirually and emotionally - we overcame another challenge that has been set upon us.

we may not be in the best beaches of portugal, but definitely in sines, we experienced the culture, the hospitality and the heart of portugal.

"getting lost is the true beauty of travelling" - i quote you rubs.



lucky rubber duckie - you saved us again.