My first few days of “work” consisted of going on excursions for no reason at all.  The hotel wasn’t open yet so I couldn’t crack on and get work done but it was on my mind. 

Loule market – Starting with a gypsy market I managed to buy two bags.  One for 5 Euros and another was originally 45 Euros and after a conversation that looked something like this...

-            - “Ola, this bag is 45 Euros”

“That’s too much, I’ll only buy it for 10 Euros”

-         - “No!  That’s so low!  Ok, ok, ok, 35 Euros” (She puts the bag in a plastic bag)

“No thanks, I’m only going to pay 10 Euros, goodbye” (Starts to walk away)

-         - “Ok, ok, ok, 30 Euros” (She puts the bag back in the plastic bag which she had just thrown bag in the box)

“No, really, only 10 Euros”

-         -“Ok, ok, ok, 25 Euros” (Out comes the plastic bag to wrap another bag in, not sure of her logic)

In the end I agreed at 12 Euros but I didn’t get the luxury of the plastic bag to carry my perfectly fine bag in.  She tricked me there. 

I then walked up through Loule town and it was ever so pretty.  Lovely boutiques and flowers everywhere.  Then I went to the local market with the fresh fish and vegetables and local produce, figs and nuts and olives.  It was wonderful.  Very nice day out.

Guadiana River Cruise – Not a fan of long coach journeys or boats in general but the ride up the river was pleasant enough I guess.  I spent the journey picking off my nail varnish so I was happy. The “scenic views” were nowhere to be seen.  It was all a bit dirty and boring.  Then we reach the restaurant.  Oh the restaurant.  The food was fab with fresh salad and bread, grilled sardines (can’t get the courage to eat them yet but people say good things about them), chicken piri-piri and fresh oranges to finish.  In between each course we received a musical treat.  A man with an accordion, a man with a big drum and then a man handing out various other instruments as a massive group of people do a massive musical conga around the room.  I was picked on of course and got given this weird contraption where you hold a pole and on top is a load of little wooden people and bottle caps and when you push the pole up the people bend over and the bottle caps make their delightful scratchy sound.  My table enjoyed my performance.

It was nice to do these things for free but really I want to start work now please!