Lourical, August 17 - 19

We both needed to rest somewhere quiet after the sensorial overload at Boom.
Our plan was to drive towards the coast, and camp for a few days by the sea before our scheduled return of the campervan.
On the way, it was heartening to note that the Portugese have chosen to remember Paco by building a memorial garden in his honour.


The scenery as we drove through the mountains was beautiful. We passed Eucalypt forests that almost looked like home, rolling hills of farmland, and a few pockets of wind turbines clustered along a mountain ridge.



Figueira da Foz, our chosen destination, ended up not being quite what we imagined. It was decided that we would move on towards the town of Lourical, where there is a small campsite that a friendly local had told us about.
It is a lovely spot run by a Dutch family, called Campsimo O Tamanco.
We found a place for our campervan with a beautiful view across a forested valley, looking through the pens of the Tamanco farm animals. From our little awning, we sat and watched kids come to feed the guinea pigs and goats.
Naomi made friends with the baby ones, thanks to some tasty grass stalks.


During one feeding session, Naomi was approached by two girls aged around three or four years old. One of them was the largest child we had ever seen, rivaling Naomi in size while she crouched on the ground. Although both of us felt for her and the difficulties she is bound to face in the future, we found ourselves stifling a giggle from time to time. With a sideways grin she happily munched away on the stale bread that was meant for the little creatures.
"One for me, one for you. Two for me, one for you..."


We had become quite accustomed to life in the campervan, and would cook up tasty meals on the tiny stove to eat together on a straw mat under the awning. It was nice to sit there watching the sun set as the fuzzy critters scampered about in their cages nearby.
Everything in the camper was tiny. The cupboards, the stove, the frying pan, the plates... but our appetites continued along at their regular size.


After the constant noise at the festival, we both enjoyed quiet mornings. Luxurious sleep-ins for Naomi, and fresh air and guinea pigs for me.

So, we spent a few idyllic days resting and reading in the sunshine, with the sounds of the forest around us. To be in such a peaceful place was just what we needed. The hosts were friendly and helpful, although we kept to ourselves most of the time.
The feeling of that first warm shower was really something.

For some reason, we left without any images of the surrounds. What we can show you, is the restaurant/common area... you can see that the owners have really gone to an effort to make the place homely and inviting.


Campismo o Tamanco was an ideal transition between the festival and our return to the Scandinavian countries. Time for the dreamers to wake up now...