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Chris & Chris, Vila Maris Bungalow 21 (page 1)A Maio Visitors Journal - June 2009Click on image to view fullsize image. |
Thursday 4th June 2009
Well, here we are again making the arduous trip down to our favourite island. We started off from Ilfracombe Devon at 10.00 en route to terminal 2 at Heathrow. The new Sat. Nav. that we bought, because our old one went to the great atlas in the sky, took us off the M4 at junction 10 and back on at junction 4. I blame myself for falling asleep, leaving Christine to follow the commands. We both like to think that this hi-tech equipment was being clever enough to avoid a major hold up.
Anyway we got to the Heathrow parking which was pre-arranged and was sited off junction 3 and called "Courtland's". For the two week parking the cost was £78.44. They seemed very friendly and the parking was secure. We hopped onto their shuttle bus and we were driven straight outside the main entrance of Terminal 2.
After check-in, we wandered the many stores and I resisted the temptation to win a 'Ferrari', I think the one I've got is adequate, even though someone has put a Renault sign on the front.
When we went to our gate, a very noisy family were there and their two little girls could talk for Portugal and they wouldn't need a microphone. Wouldn't you know it, when we got onto the plane they were opposite use on the other side of the aisle. Needless to say, the little darlings didn't stop talking the whole flight.
After 2 hours and 40 minutes, we were approaching Lisbon, we removed our ear plugs, sorry i-pods, and made ready to disembark ready for our flight to Praia, which was due to depart within the hour. I have to say at this point that TAP were very good and they transferred our luggage without any intervention on our part.
The Praia flight took off on time without any hitches. Although we had a meal on the flight from Heathrow to Lisbon, we just couldn't say no to the excellent hospitality of the flight crew who wanted to give us our second meal and of course a couple of glasses of wine.
We landed in Praia at around 00.15 after a 4 hour flight. We filled in our visa application on the flight and decided to queue like every one else at passport control. This is a lesson we have learnt after out last visit when we pre-paid for the visa and was told that this would speed up the arrival procedure, which didn't happen. We now know that nothing will speed up the Cape Verde authorities.