I should be writing about the stunning walk we completed, walking from Praia de Luz along the coastal path across the cliff tops to Lagos.
I should be reporting about the fantastic company we held yesterday with Ray, Anne, Lesley and John. See photograph. A real pleasure to have caught up with them over the last 2 days. I look forward to casually bumping into them in 10 years time once again. 
I should be reporting with great pride about how the children managed to walk in the baking heat for that stunning 9/10km coastal walk, and how they seemlessley and comfortably immersed themselves in long conversations with the above adult company. 
I should be writing about the amazing rocks and caves and beaches at Portimao (sadly in our opinion, ruined by the towering blocks of apartments, British pubs, clubs etc)
However, I am going to write about our evening with Gert and Mark. Upon arrival at our next destination, we first geared the van around the camping grounds in search for the perfect spot. We are getting better at this having observed many a van bimble around camping grounds at ultra slow speed, passing not just the once, but occasionally two or three times. I digress though, upon finding the magic spot which was vacant, we turned in. We then both had a little moment as two Belgians were waving at us. We happily waved back and rapidly began searching our brains for the point of recognition and from where and when that was. Once the brains kicked in, we realised that Aveiro was the point in Northern Portugal. We only had a 10 minute fleeting moment in Aveiro chatting to them before the rains came in, and like the dutiful weather people, retired to our respective vans. And that was it!
Until now.
We set camp (we are quite slick at it at the moment), and I took the children off for a play whilst Clare cooked some tea. Along our way, we stopped off to have a proper chat with our neighbours. And again that was it.
After tea and the children going to bed, there was a gentle tapping on our door. Opening the door, our neighbours had very kindly constructed a list of the best places in Barcelona to take the children. Rather than just say thankyou, I picked up my glass, picked up a chair and (I'm not sure who invited who?) went to join them under their awning for an evening glass of wine. After the formal introductions, Gerd and Marc showed great kindness and openness to give us a lovely evening. They are hugely accomplished travellers, so for us novices (or are we at an intermediate level now?), they provided lots of useful tips. Once again, as with Jose and Maria, our map came out and was circled with some fantastic things. Whether or not we can achieve them all is another point in question, but the rich tapestry of life is ever growing.
And so that really was it. Wine was drunk, maps were perused, super conversation was had, and lovely friends made. We were also joined by Steffie, one of their German friends who is on the look out for work in Portugal so she can stay. We don't blame her!
Our second post midnight moderate drinking session this week has been another delight. Complete strangers to us initially are being so open and welcome with their time....and wine!
It is all so much appreciated.
A super evening!
Ed
Ps. So there we were thinking that we'll never see people who we met again. I was living a naive happiness that if we offended anyone, or embarrassed ourselves at all on any of this trip, either with language or whatever, then we would never see any of the people again. I need to amend my thinking!
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