I got up really late, recovering from my sleep from the night before. There where some very loud bangs yesterday and last night. I think they are the Guarda Civil firing guns, as their base is very close to the campsite. I decide to drive to Portugal, and I might stop at a couple of places in Spain for last day Tapas.
I drive south and pass through Pontevedra at lunchtime. I notice that there are lots of easy parking spaces, so I decide to stop. I park and walk into town. It is hard to work out where the old town and new town meet. I see some great shops but everything has closed. This is the worst case of ‘siesta shutdown’ I have seen. I find a café in a lovely shady leafy square. The waitress and I struggle for a moment with the order, until she brings a menu, and then it is much easier. I have fried chicken and tortilla, which is great. I wander back through town but everything is still closed.
I drive over to the Carrefour supermarket, which is a big one, as I need to stock up. I find a non-underground car park for the van. I walk in and it feels very strange. Everything is turned off or closed. The escalators are motionless. I walk up stairs where it is the same. I follow the sign for the supermarket. I hear and see people at a restaurant. I go back downstairs, and then upstairs again. It seems very odd, like something out of a Stephen King movie, all of the people have disappeared. I find the supermarket, but it’s all closed up, siesta!
I head out of town and drive south to Portugal. I notice the border sign this time, which I missed when entering Spain. I’m only in Portugal for seconds before I have to turn off. I drive down some poor quality main roads to get to the town of Vila Praia de Ancora. I’ts not a bad looking town. I follow the campsite signs to a closed campsite. I decide to head towards the beach. I miss a turning and pass a massive campsite that looks open. I head back and check in. It is very cheap. I find it hard to find somewhere to park as there are so many resident caravans here, but they are empty.
I chatted to some guys from Devon for ages, and I’m going over for a beer with them now.