Ericeira, Portugal 🇵🇹 2019 – Michael and Pam's Travels

Date: 24th August 2019

Travelled: 105 kms from Alcobaça to Ericeira both in the Province of Estremadura

Visited: Óbidos and Ericeira both in the Province of Estremadura

Stayed: Intermarché aire, free with services. N38.96691, W09.40879

Budget: 76 days @ €75 per day

It’s much cooler this morning as we finally get the Hymer ready and roll to the services point before saying goodbye to Alcobaça. The GPS is set for Óbidos about 45 kms to the south. Our guide book describes Óbidos in glowing terms, given it’s proximity to Lisbon and the season we expect it to be busy.

Map of Óbidos , the icon on our parking spot

On the southern side of Óbidos (next to the aire) is it’s impressive 3 km long aqueduct. We though it Roman but it was built in the 16th century. Like most ancient villages in Portugal it was once held by the Moors, who were chased out by the Visigoths, conquered by the Romans, then abandoned to the Spanish.

Inside the walls we continue up Rua Direita as it winds its way to the Castelo

Our guide book tells us Óbidos is a literary hub, often favoured by famous writers. It has book shops everywhere including St.James Church which is now a bookshop.

It seems wherever there are tourists you’ll find a Coomur Sardine Shop, this one with a literary theme !

Finally we walk the wall of the 13th century Castelo.

So our visit to Óbidos concludes, there is a motorhome aire here, but its a dusty, dirty sort of place so we set the GPS for Ericeira. An hour later we roll into the aire which is situated at the rear of a Intermarchë supermarket. It has all the services and some grass and a view of the town and ocean beyond.

Map of Ericeira, the icon on our overnight stop.

Ericeira is around 50 kms north-west of Lisbon, situated on a series of sandstone cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. Our neighbours in Alcobaça stayed here and caught a bus to Lisbon rather than driving the motorhome into the city. So we thought we would check it out and luckily enough we secure one of the four official parking spots.

There are a series of these beaches to the north and south. The water and sand look clean, the high vantage points make for some excellent vistas.

We wander a couple of the beaches getting to know the place.

We find a bar with a view and take in the early evening with a drink and a chat about today’s doings.

Michael and Pam

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