In the morning we all got up, and got ready to leave. I was originlly slated to pick up the car with Jared, and then drive back to Lisbon to pick eveyone up. However, Justin and Tina told me they'd pack up and go with us so I didn't have to drive back to Lisbon. Hooray! Lisbon roads are bumpy and small - I'm glad I didn't have to drive on them.
We all got to the metro and took it to the train station where Jared's mom Pat and Glenn were already waiting. We dropped J off at the train and then Justin, Tina, Jared and I went downstairs at the train station to eat. The train station was close to Jared's mom's hotel - a totally different part of Lisbon. This section of Lisbon was probably super hip looking in the 1980s. It wasn't as picturesque as the old town where we were staying, but it was interesting to see a different part of town - perhaps a part of town where more Lisboners lived and worked.
We got from the train station to the airport via metro and checked out the car. OK - I totally had a shameful meltdown at the airport picking up the car. There was a spot of bother with the reservation, and the girl kept trying to tell us we didn't have insurence, even though we booked the insurance and my cc had already been charged for it. Too many questions, too many worries, and I was getting freaked out about having to drive in a foreign country. At one point Jared said "I'm not answering anyore questions about the car" to me (since I kept trying to confer with him what I should do) and I lost it. I threw the papers I had been holding down at the ground and started crying. I said "I don't want to drive. He's making me" to the attendant who was helping us - I know - childish - but I was so stressed. I don't drive in Seattle, and I haven't had a car in 10 years so the prospects of driiving a pricey rental car in a foreign country was a bit overwhelming. Anyway, the attendant said to me, "Men can be pigs" and a gentleman in a suit next to me assured me that "Driving to Algarve isn't that bad. You'll be OK - really." So, they were nice and they did help calm me down. Jared was piiiiisssssseeeeedd. Mad. Mad. Mad. He didn't talk to me for the entire ride down to Algarve. The men-folk had already decided that Tina would navigate while I drove so they could rest in the back of the car. Tina is a fine and calm navigator - so no problems there. Anyway - getting the rental car was not my finest moment. I'm ashamed at the way I behaved but it could have been predicted that this sort of situation would have stressed the fuck out of me - especially considering both my mom and Glen told me that the Portugese are considered the worst drivers in Europe.
Anyway, we finally got the car. Tina had the seemingly impossible task of getting me out of Lisbon and onto one of the major highways. Granted, I did falter looking for the entrance to a highway, getting my speed down too low on a fast road while reading a sign (a total no-no), but other than that, I thought I did ok. I was corrected, however, by Justin. I didn't drive aggressivly enough and my slowing down that one time on the highway was a big fuck-up. Agreed.
In the 3.5 hour drive to Algarve there was one near disaster: I was going 137 in a 120 zone. I was speeding because everyone was speeding on the major highway and it seemed safer than going the speed limit. Nevertheless I noticed this guy coming up really fast on my bumper in the rear-view mirror. Too fast. I started honking my horn, and the guy driving the car behind me sort of jerked up in his seat. He had been sleeping with his foot too heavy on the gas pedal! I veered to my left, while he put on his brakes and veered to the right-hand shoulder. We averted a crash - barely. If I hadn't been over-vigilant at looking in my rear-view mirror for speeders, if there had been a car in the left hand lane, if he had woken up a few seconds later - there would have been a pretty bad crash. At least everyone in the car had their seatbelts on. Whew. Argh. Stress. I kept my eyes on the dude and sped away trying to get away from the sleepy driver. Tina and I noticed that he pulled off at the next rest stop. I bet he was as scared as we were at the whole situation.
We finally got to Fuzeta and opened up the beautiful, large villa we were staying at. Very nice - but as soon as we got in we needed to take the car to a town a few towns over, Faro, to pick up Mom, Glen, and J at the train station. Problem is - there are three train stations and we didn't know which one they were coming into! Well, we just picked one and Justin and I headed in that direction. When we left it was daylight. Thank god for small favors. We winged it - totally lost - guessing all the way - and actually did find those three. Hooray! We got them in the car and then stopped off at a super market on the way home to pick up groceries.
We got back to the villa, picked rooms, and then made a late supper. I made a big salad, and a caprese salad. Pretty good. Others made pasta and pork products. The pasta was yummie. We also bought some middle priced wine ($10) and cheapo wine at the store - both were good. We haven't had any bad wine since we got here - seriously. The wine is cheap and delicious.
After dinner, I don't know what we did, but I bet I stayed up late and slept in the next day. A pretty safe bet.
Day 2: Fuzeta
Late start
beach - water taxi - boogie board / rough side, smooth side
to the store. made dinner. burned skin. late night.
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Jared's Reflections
gonna have a field day responding to this one... stay tuned.
