Christmas in Portugal

We spent Christmas in Foz do Arelho – a nice town next to a huge calm lagoon that opens into the sea but with a huge stretch of beach that stretched for miles before you got to the sea. This place is very popular for water sports in the summer and it had a large Aire looking right onto the lagoon. We were lucky to get the last spot with electric that looked onto the lagoon.

We arrived on 23^rd December and liked the feel of the town and the Aire – it looked clean, friendly and no barking dogs plus the weather for the next 24hrs at least was warm and sunny. We had been to the supermarket and filled up on goodies so we set up camp for two plus nights.

We woke up on Christmas Eve with the sun shining and I set off with George for a long coastal walk – it started off as a board walk but once that ran out there were plenty of trails to follow along the coastal cliffs. One of the nicest walks I have done so far, as the views were amazing the terrain was a little challenging with inclines and rocks to traverse but it is so interesting to walk here as the flora is quite different to what you see in the UK. Great expanses of succulents that have turned red in the winter instead of the purple and pink heather and bracken that we are used to seeing. Bob stayed behind to comb the beach for treasure.

That evening was glorious as we watched the sunsetting on the lagoon – we made the most of the weather with an evening drink and walk as the forecast for Christmas Day was looking very miserable.

True to form on Christmas Day we had rain almost the entire day, we did venture out for an hour to take a walk around the town and got drenched before coming back for our Christmas meal – not a traditional roast but a tasty home cooked meal followed by Portuguese Christmas cake. We had saved a bottle of Moet from the summer anniversary parties and toasted all family and friends.

We spoke to most of our family and had a zoom call with our children which was the high light of the day. It made me realise  that although I haven’t missed any of the build-up for Christmas at all – it has been quite nice not to have the stress of Christmas but I have missed the feeling of nostalgia, warmth and joy that you have when you are with family and friends at Christmas.  We spent a nice day together in our van, we made a special meal, I put on a frock and we listened to Christmas songs and I even watched a Christmas movie whilst Bob went fishing in the lagoon in a break in the rain. But we missed our family and knew that it was ok to do it this year but next year want to be back in the bosom of our family.

I hope that wherever you spent Christmas – be it with family or friends that you shared joy, warmth and nostalgia and send you all good wishes for 2023.