Getting To Know You
Making new friends and renewing old friendships. This is what my
recent trip to Algarve seemed to be all about; consisting of
meet-ups with people I’d never met before but who I seemed to know
well from our communicating on CVO.COM forum and with another I’d
chatted regularly to on the chat room.
Then there was the reunion with old Algarve friends of different
nationalities that always make me feel welcome and 'at home' and who
I’m always so happy to see.
There was yet another ‘encounter’, which, on reflection, I wished,
hadn't taken place. One that left me feeling a little foolish and as
a woman travelling alone, rather vulnerable.
When I boarded the plane at Stansted I did so with some trepidation.
It was years since I'd travelled alone but though a little nervous
once we were airborne, nerves soon gave way to elation and also a
great feeling of independence! All my weeks of planning had come to
fruition and I was on my way to Portugal! Less than 3 hours later we
touched down at Faro airport and though an early April evening we
were greeted with the warm glow of setting sun in a clear blue sky.
Being a quiet period I was soon on my way wheeling my bag through to
arrivals, slightly nervous and shy at meeting my new friend Beverley
for the first time. We had never met before and became acquainted
through e-mails and just 2 phone calls. But then I realised that she
would be equally apprehensive. We were strangers and for the next 2
weeks I would be sharing her home along with schoolboy son Anton.
My eyes searched for the woman in my photo and when a voice suddenly
called "Ellie?" I turned to see Bev and Anton waiting for me. I was
greeted with warm, shy smiles and a kiss from each. A strong young
lad, Anton was soon lifting my heavy bag and stowing it in the boot
of the car and then we were on our way to Carvoeiro. Its very
strange and somewhat awkward meeting for a first time but in that
hour or so journey we found ourselves chatting away as if we'd known
each other for years! It remained so for the rest of my stay and I
couldn't have had nicer, kinder and more 'homely' people to holiday
with than Bev and Anton.
It had been a very long day so I was glad to be lazy the following
morning. Around midday I decided to walk into Carvoeiro. I enjoy
walking so it didn’t bother me. The weather was glorious and as the
sun shone down from a cloudless sky I once again experienced a
superb feeling of freedom; that I could go where I wanted, when I
wanted and only have myself to worry about. A very selfish feeling
but I revelled in it!
I did a lot of walking but at the end of those first 2 days I was in
trouble! An enormous blister, about 5 by 4cms were forming on my
right heel and very painful. I needed to buy antiseptic cream and a
dressing. The nearest Farmacia was in Carvoeiro and so once again I
did my walk into walk into town
It was Good Friday and I had arranged to meet Tricky (off the forum)
for a lunchtime drink at Colombos, so I didn't want to let her down.
We had become good friends on cvo.com and chat room and I was so
looking forward to meeting her. But before I left I found a large
plaster to cover my heel, put on some soft socks and my trainers
then started off on my trek to Carvoeiro.
The ground is very rough along the side of the main road and after a
few minutes my foot started to hurt quite badly. I stopped for a
rest then hobbled along as best I could my huge bag (containing all
the usual that a woman carries around with her including fancy
sandals to change into!) swung over my shoulder.
"Ola!"
I looked in direction of the voice. A man was leaning out the window
of a dark blue Renault that had pulled up across the road. He
smiled.
"You going to Carvoeiro? You want a lift?"
I didn’t know what to say. His manner was friendly. He seemed
genuine and I thought, he’s seen me walking badly and took pity on
me. I was hesitant at first but that’s because in England I wouldn't
dream of accepting a lift off a stranger. But then I thought this is
Portugal and when we were resident it was the done thing to accept
lifts; it was something I’d seen school kids do regularly. So over I
went.
As soon as we drove off he started to chat. Asked if I was on
holiday? Did I like it there? Where did I want dropping off? It was
nice and friendly and as we drove into Carvoeiro he pointed up to
some apartments above the shops, saying that was where he lived. I
asked him to drop me by the square; I wanted to go to the Farmacia
and also change my shoes before I met Tricky. As I thanked him for
the lift, the Portuguese guy, who was 40ish,turned to me telling me
his name and said he worked in a restaurant up the hill. Then he
said "I like you. Will you come and have a drink with me".
I said no thank-you. It was very nice of him but I had a lunch
appointment. I was meeting a friend. He persisted saying maybe I
could meet him later to have a drink or a coffee? Again I said no as
I had to get home afterwards. He repeated the question and I was a
bit surprised at his persistence. For a moment felt a bit
vulnerable. Anyway, I thanked him again, said no, smiled and left.
The Farmacia was closed. I’d forgotten it was a holiday and would
have to wait till the following day. So I changed into my sandals
and did the short walk over to Colombos. I was a bit early so stood
chatting to owner Eugenia and waitress Annette. I told them about
the lift. At first they just smiled but when I said the man wanted
to meet again and buy me a drink Annette said "Ellie. You must be
careful. He may have been okay but you cant be sure"
I asked them if I had done the wrong thing? Annette answered with
cool German logic,
"Well. Put it this way Ellie. Would you want your daughter to do
it?"
And of course I said "No!"
As we talked I saw a small brunette out of the corner of my eye.
"Ellie?"
It was Tricky. She was just like her photo and as we kissed and said
"Hello" we laughed, feeling quite at ease with each other and I knew
we would get on fine. Which we did. We sat at an outside table and
chatted and chatted. Drank shandy and ordered a salad each which we
hardly touched as we were so engrossed in conversation. Good
company, lovely sunny day, Carvoeiro's ambience. Can you beat it?
Don't think so! After lunch we sat on the bench by the taxi rank,
still chatting and with Carlos the cab driver joining in the fun.
Then we went over to 'pose' in front of webcam! When Tricky finally
had to leave and walk back to Vila Nova I felt a little sad. She is
a natural friendly caring young woman with bubbly sense of humour
and as she walked away I felt suddenly quite alone.
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| Anton & Ellie |
Tricky &
Ellie |
Carlos &
Tricky |
Saturday morning and I was going with Bev and Anton to visit her
friend Jean, an elderly English lady in an old folks home. Bev
visited her each Saturday for a few hours often taking her out for a
ride which she enjoyed very much. Today we were going to pick her up
and go for lunch at Monte Carvoeiro.
A horn sounded outside the cottage. It was the bakers van and Anton
went out to buy fresh cakes. Then he made some tea and we all
enjoyed a cake and a 'cuppa' for breakfast!
It was a lovely drive. The residential home is set in a quiet rural
area; the surrounding countryside filled with wild flowers. When I
was introduced to Jean I felt a lump in my throat. A frail little
lady but friendly and talkative, she reminded me of my own dear
mother who passed away 3 years ago. We had a nice drive back to
Monte Carvoeiro where Bev took us to 'McCafes' restaurant. It was
only just mid-day so we opted for a 'brunch' meal. Jean really
enjoyed her 'Hawaian Burger', Anton his 'Tosta mixta'. For Bev and
me it was a light chicken salad.
It was nice chatting to Jean. Being from England we had quite a bit
in common and talked of places we both knew. After lunch Bev was
taking Jean to her beautician friend to have her nails done. It was
nice to see a lady of her age and who wasn’t always in good health
taking a pride in her appearance. We got on to talking about hair
and I said that I needed a haircut. Then I noticed Jean looking very
closely at my hair. She was quiet for a moment, then she said
"What’s that colour called and where do you have it done?"
Bev and I laughed at Jean's straightforward manner as I replied,
"Its my own colour. I was born with it!"
I enjoyed my time with Jean; she was good company and fun. But then
I said my farewells to them as they made their way to the beauty
parlour and mine down to Carvoeiro town.
On my way down I stopped off at the cliff tops. It was a windy day
but very sunny and for a while I sat on a flat piece of stone
admiring the colourful mixture of wildflowers that bloom there, now
and then staring out at the exhilarating sweep of wide blue
Atlantic. It was a wonderfully serene half an hour, before carrying
on with my downhill walk.
The Farmacia was closed for lunch, so I decided to spend some time
sunbathing on the praia. Armed with newspaper, water and a small
chocolate bar I made my way onto the beach. Making myself
comfortable on the stone ledge just below the wall, I settled down
to read my paper.
The early lunch and warm sunshine had a soporific effect and I was
about to doze off over the paper when a movement at the side had me
looking up. A dark-haired man was standing looking down at me. I
immediately recognised the man who had given me a lift the previous
day. He smiled saying,
"Ola! I was looking for you. I thought I would see you walking
again".
For a moment I was at a loss for words, then found myself explaining
that my friend had given me a lift. He nodded then sat down
alongside of me. I felt a little alarmed at this and didn’t know
quite how to play it. I was also slightly annoyed. I was just
relaxing, enjoying the sun and sound of the sea and just wanted to
be alone. He kept looking at me then spoke,
"I want to take you for a drink. I like you"
I thanked him and said I was fine. That I’d had my lunch and didn’t
want anything else.
"How about a coffee then. We could go to my place?"
Again I declined. Although by now I was getting irritated at being
harassed I tried to stay polite saying I really didn’t want
anything. He still sat there and persisted with; "Lets go and have a
drink then. We could go to a bar. I would like to buy you a drink"
This went on for about half an hour. Then he was silent. He still
sat there and I was beginning to panic a little. What should I do? I
reached into my bag for my mobile and started to press the numbers.
"Excuse me while I text my husband. Meu marido?"
He sat there for another few minutes, then stood up.
"I have to go now. May be I see you another day and we have a
drink?"
I simply nodded, gave a weak smile and said "Adeus!"
As he walked away, I breathed a sigh of relief. For the first time
in years I hadn’t known what to do, how to handle the situation.
That moment I vowed never again to accept a lift from a stranger.
By then I'd had enough of the beach. It was getting really hot so I
walked over to sit on a shaded bench outside Colombos. As I sat
reading the Resident newspaper I found myself looking up now and
then expecting the Portuguese guy to be hovering around somewhere.
It had affected me and I still felt quite anxious. Then I felt a
movement behind me and then 2 hands suddenly clamped around my eyes.
I gasped and quickly put my hands up to pull them away! Then there
was a girlish laugh and Tricky ran round to sit next to me.
I was surprised and relieved to see it was her and I told her about
the incident on the beach. Like the good friend she is, she told me
to be careful and to make sure that I got home before it was dark.
As we spoke her husband Brian and twin sons came along. They were
very disappointed at not being able to find a restaurant where a
football game was showing. So Brian took the boys home. Tricky went
shopping while I phoned Hub. Then we met up at Colombos again to
have a parting drink. They were off home in the morning so we made
the most of that hour before Brian came to pick her up.
The lady at the Farmacia gave me cream and sterile dressings for my
blister and after an early dinner at Colombos I made a slow trek
home. I had a surprise waiting for me as Anton handed me a gift
wrapped parcel. On opening it I saw a large box of Galaxy chocs,
"Happy Easter Ellie" and he gave me a kiss!
I said how lovely but it was too much really. I’d only bought him a
small chocolate egg. But we finished the evening with lemon tea and
chocolates all round! A nice end to the day!
Easter Sunday and we were up quite early, had breakfast and was
ready to leave at 10.30 a.m. We were going to the church (Lagoa
Fellowship) up at Carvoeiro Clube. I hadn't been to church for years
and felt totally out of practise! As we drove along Bev mentioned
the pastor 'Greg Ekland'. I said I knew of him and that Id seen him
perform on stage in CVO's square last September.
We arrived a little early for the service so went through to the
small cafe at the rear of the hall. It was quite hot so we sat and
enjoyed a cold drink each. Then before we went into the service Bev
introduced me to Greg and his wife and I told them what a great
evening it was in the square and how much we'd enjoyed their music.
The Easter service was really something; everyone was so friendly
and Greg gave a rousing sermon and the music was so inspiring that I
found myself joining in with all the songs. The children put on a
little Easter play for us then one young girl sang solo; a pretty
tuneful voice and afterwards I felt my spirits lifting. An enjoyable
and different Sunday morning for me!
It was Thursday and late afternoon. I had arranged booking for our
trip to Lisbon for the following day and now I was sitting on the
beach feeling a bit unsure of myself. I had agreed to meet-up with
e.Richard and maybe a few others off the forum. It was fixed for 6pm
and it was almost that now but I was beginning to feel a little
nervous about meeting up with those, who beforehand I’d only met
'online'! Would we get on? Would they like me? Would they recognise
me?!
As I approached the entrance to Colombos a man in blue jacket and
silvery hair stood up waving to me,
"Ellie!"
It was Richard and he invited me to his table asking what I would
like to drink?
We sat for about half hour chatting and laughing and I found myself
feeling quite relaxed. Then he told me that Kteee, Ellen and husband
John maybe coming along; also Trazie. I found myself a little
anxious as I thought of all the writing I’d done on the forum, some
of which I knew had been provoking, also bit cheeky. But I needn’t
have worried for as soon as these nice folk arrived and we spoke I
felt quite at ease.
We moved to a bigger table and as we did so Trazie arrived. Before
we knew it were all talking very amiably, laughing, joking. Then
Nick, Kteee's husband arrived. A very friendly 'easy to get on with'
chap. The next hour or two just flew (as it usually does when you’re
enjoying yourself) and then reluctantly I had to leave. I had to be
up early for Lisbon trip the next morning. Trazie had to get back to
Lagos and kindly offered me a lift. When I went in to pay Annette
she remarked on us having a good time saying '"How long have you
been friends?"
She was astonished when I told her we'd only just met!
The following Monday I had a lunch date with Ellen and Kteee at
Smilers. Ellen brought along some Algarve gardening magazines for me
and once more we had a good old chin wag while we enjoyed our
toasted sandwiches and coffee.
I felt a little sad at leaving these 2 warm, friendly ladies. The
last 2 weeks I had really begun to feel a part of that special CVO
community and as I told Ellen, I wished I could have stayed!
The following morning I was up early, ready for Carlos to take me to
Faro airport. Once again I was sad at saying goodbye to Bev and
Anton. After only 2 weeks I had begun to feel a part of the family
and although looking forward to seeing Hub and Jamie again I would
love to have stayed longer!
But there’s always a 'next time' and so I look forward to September
not only to renew old friendships but hopefully to make new ones!
Meanwhile, I had a 'wedding' to look forward to… |
