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God is a biker

23rd September 2025 funtime65

How do you know God is a biker, well, The Lord was with Joshua and his Triumph was heard throughout the land.

An old fave which has no doubt been doing the rounds, at the Blessings of the Helmets at the Marian pilgrimage in Fatima.

Now in its tenth year, some 180,000 bikers descended on the Northern Portuguese city.

To have their helmets blessed.

And to raise money and awareness for the 9,900 bikers in accidents in the country and victims of the country’s forest fires.

Pilgrims make their way to Fatima by planes, trains and automobiles, and we’d recommend Jose Madomis’s guided tour.

Which we would have seen for ourselves if only we had visited a couple of weeks later.

Our calling

It was less God’s calling, we think, rather than just space in the work calendar, which meant we visited one early September.

And met the niece of one of the Three Little Shepherds.

On her own porch and joined in the Lord’s Prayer.

This little light of mine

Now if the Lord moves in mysterious ways then pilgrims to Fatima do as well.

All with the same aim to make their own way to the main altar.

Which is what one senior citizen, and we dare say not the only one.

On her hands and her knees in supplication to Our Lady and Our Lord.

And to get the best slot for the Night-time Candle Procession.

Only the blessings are shared equally around.

Whether a Little Shepherd, a Little Biker or a Little Old Woman.

Pilgrims arrive in Fatima, as we say, by all modes of transport but we flew in with Ryanair to Lisbon.

And why not check out Portugal Centro too which Jose, our Special One, has been specially endowed with God’s favours and blessings.

Countries, Europe

The cover shot for Portugal’s award-winning beaches

28th November 202428th November 2024 funtime65

I think you’d agree we could be the cover shot for Portugal‘s award-winning beaches.

Now we’ve walked hand in hand and barefoot on beaches at home and abroad, all for work purposes obvs.

And count the Iberian peninsula, and Portugal in particular, as some of the best experiences.

And perhaps gloss over the shattered glass bottles on the sand on a beach near the Spanish border, which was probably us.

One foot in the Algarve

Preferring, of course, to flag up the Algarve which has been awarded The World’s Leading Beach Destination for the third time at the 2024 World Travel Awards.

The region boasts 100 beaches spread across its 200km coastline on its southern and western shores.

There are 86 Blue Flag beaches which are assessed by the quality of the water, safety, cleanliness and the diversity of the services on offer.

Of them 13 are classed as Zero Pollution, according to the sustainability association ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável.

And there are also 47 accessible beaches.

Praia prize

It has been a good year for the region with Albufeira’s Praia da Falésia hailed the best beach in the world in the 2024 edition of Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards.

President of the Algarve Tourism Bureau André Gomes glowed: ‘This really is an incredible honour.

‘We have won Europe’s Leading Beach Destination ten times.

‘But to win the World’s Leading Beach is another level altogether when you consider the number of countries that have great beaches.’

Our Algarvian pals have pointed us in the direction of Praia de Cacela Velha.

It is a secluded beach with a shallow gradient that’s good for long walks and birding and marine spots.

While Seven Valleys Hanging Trail is a scenic trail that runs from Praia da Marinha to Praia de Vale Centeanes.

The trail offers panoramic views and you can stop at Praia da Marinha to see the stone arches and clear waters.

And Alvor is a long, blue flag beach with calm parts for families and on-shore breezes for kite-surfers.

Now while we always love to share the charms of the Algarve, there is a Portugal beyond its shores.

Sands of Portugal

And our old amigo and guide Jose Madomis would never allow us to pass without pushing the attractions of his beloved Coimbra and Portugal Centro.

So for those who are wondering then your young romantic couple here are pushing our case.

For the cover shot for Portugal’s award-winning beaches.

Well it’s awesome Avor. Check it out and…

MEET YOU ON THE BEACHES

Countries, Europe, Sustainable Tourism

Get smart bikes and boats in Green Aveiro

23rd October 202423rd October 2024 funtime65

And because we know you, and our European travel commissars, love sustainability. Get smart bikes and boats in Green Aveiro.

Aveiro, the Venice of Portugal Centro, may be known best for its boats.

And its fishermen’s bawdy celebration of womenfolk on the side of their vessels.

But it’s got on its bike here to draw the attention of the European Commission.

Green for go

And it has only been shortlisted for the Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism.

Along with Baltics beauts Jurmala and Liepāja (Latvia) and Panevéžys (Lithuania), Bulgaria’s brightest Sliven and Greece’s epic Nea Propontida.

And Spanish hotspot Benidorm.

To succeed the Italian city of Grosseto.

Now all of these presentations are being made to the powers that be and we wish them all well.

As we do the candidates for the European Capital of Smart Tourism…

Brussels, Genoa, Konya (Turkiye), Lahti (Finland), Lviv (Ukraine) and another Portuguese pearl Porto.

All towns and regions which present a challenge to even the most travelled of us who visit.

The special one

The same, of course, could be said of Aveiro, until, of course, you come across super guide Jose Madomis.

With proud native of Portugal Centro Jose swearing that every major movement in the country’s history sprung from here.

He’s right about Aveiro too which we found out for ourselves while meandering through its canals, so it has a sustainable start on many of its rivals.

Of course our Portuguese pals don’t rest of their laurels and their burghers have caught the attention of the European sustainable overseers.

With the European Commission bigging them up with these observations.

The city has launched the BUGA shared bicycle system, which offers a wider network and new models of bikes with GPS for use around the city.

And boast Portugal’s first fully electric ferry, electric moliceiros (boats), and electric buses, all helping to reduce the city’s CO2 emissions.

The future is green

They also highlight the town’s waste management scheme, where residents can earn points for correct waste disposal.

Redeemable for discounts or an exchange of items they no longer need.

While as the first Portuguese Capital of Culture in 2024.

Aveiro has had a year-round cultural programme promoting its local heritage.

And it’s not just for this year either with a Municipal Climate Action Plan planned, with a direct target of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

In addition, the city is focused on monitoring air quality, providing real-time data on air quality and noise levels through an Urban Platform.

Now, not wanting to influence our European commissars but we’d advise them to get smart bikes and boats in Green Aveiro.

Europe

Portugal’s Carnation Revolution

6th February 20246th February 2024 funtime65

Now we all love our home cities but my old mucker and guide Jose Madomis takes civic pride to a whole new level and we just know he’ll be flagging up his people’s part in Portugal’s Carnation Revolution.

Jose, as you’ll discover, as we did, on a first meeting will need no invitation to talk about his beloved Coimbra in Portugal Centro.

Which he rightly credits with being the birthplace of the Portugal Revolution fifty years ago this year…

And hence our indulgence here.

As our friends gathered again in our second home of Dublin to mark the April 25 uprising early (but who needs an excuse) we reflect on our Portuguese peregrinations…

From then until now.

Port in a storm

A pup back then I could still feel a tension around the house as we readied ourselves for what was still a very exciting trip.

Into the unknown to a Portugal which was bubbling with rebellion.

And we probably didn’t help ourselves when my brother smashed the skylight in the villa in which we were staying with a football.

It was probably as violent as Portugal got that year with the changeover of power.

From the Salazar Fado, Football and Fatima social catholicism autocracy to a modern society.

The Carnation nation

With the uprising christened the Carnation Revolution on account of the flowers a restaurateur gave to the soldiers which were then put in the muzzles of guns.

More than this, of course, as Jose informed us was the part Coimbra played in the events.

With the local football club Academica de Coimbra and its fans who had turned the 1969 Portuguese Cup final into a showpiece political protest against the regime.

Coimbra and Portugal Centro is as its name signifies the heartland of Portugal, south of the quirky and popular Porto, west of legendary Lisbon and north of the Algarve hotspots.

Raise a glass of Vinho Verde

All of which will be worth visiting and which we have enjoyed.

And who have hosted us as only the Portuguese can.

There will, of course, be celebrations across Portugal this year.

To mark the Carnation Revolution.

And the brave and radical students of Coimbra who have gone on to greater things, though we can’t imagine much greater than this, will proudly take their plaudits.

We’ll certainly be raising a glass of Vinho Verde to Portugal’s Carnation Revolution and all those who stood up to oppression.

Canada, Caribbean, Countries, Europe, Ireland, Oceania, UK

Car hire and higher

21st July 202221st July 2022 funtime65

Off on a road trip, well it’ll cost you because it’s getting car hire and higher out there.

And nowhere more so than my spiritual home Ireland where in some counties they’re a must.

My old mum would oft refer to her homestead of Donegal in north-west Ireland as the ‘forgotten county’.

And it didn’t help when they ripped up the rail tracks in 1959.

Donegal driving

So now if you want to get about you need to either have a car, rent a car…

Or your hotel or B&B can get Eileen to ask Aoife who knows Niamh is passing and can get you halfway.

Where Bladhana can get you to Sorcha, but make sure you’re ready or they’ll leave without you.

By the end of it all, of course, you’ll feel one of the family.

Of course, many of us prefer our independence, but alas that comes at an increasingly greater price.

With DiscoverCars.com revealing the average cost of hiring a car in 2022 rose by 267% on the previous year.

Their data highlights an average increase of 47% worldwide.

With the average cost of a one-day car hire rising from £43 to £67.

So to get on the road in Ireland you’ll shell out £155 (yes, we know they’re in the Euro), up from £42.

Now we would never let a small thing like expense put us off a destination… we’re just giving you the road manual.

On the road again

Obrigado: With the Scary One in Portugal Centro

The world’s second biggest country takes some getting around.

And that no doubt is the spiel for a spike of 264%.

Full reveal here on the third biggest mover here, Portugal-Azore Islands.

Because when we toured Hidden Portugal, Portugal Centro, we had the services of a driver/guide/historian and Coimbra’s most famous son.

Jose Madomis of Madomis Tours.

Now we’ve availed too of the services of our own fellow Britons, ninth with an 85% rise, but still cheaper than the trains.

With Katarina in Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic, fifth at 131% but again with a history lesson thrown in… and Becherovka and salty age-defying water.

While Greece is tenth at 81% which may persuade you to do a Pheidippides and run the 26 miles or so from Athens to Marathon.

There’s no rhyme nor reason why the other countries on the list should have seen such hikes.

But Israel, Iceland and Albania are countries where you need wheels because donkeys correctly have rights now.

Slowly does it

Of course with everything on the rise sometimes the best we can hope for are small increases.

And the Canary Islands at just 2% leads the way here.

Though if you do hire a car (at only £25 the cheapest on the list) then why not walk some of the way.

With CanariaWays where you’ll experience the many Tenerife eco-systems before refuelling at the Franco-theme Bar in Afur.

Fly drive

Now for many of us getting behind the wheel of a car in a foreign country requires a deep breath.

And my only attempt, in a Fiat 500 in Cannes, and it’s dashboard gearstick, never got out of the car park.

Although I kept that quiet from the organisers of the Florida Keys road trip.

Alas, but fortunately for other road users, it got cancelled by Covid.

Cut-price cars

Rocky mountain high: Colorado Rockies baseball team

Unbowed, I’ll be back though to the Sunshine State and you will too particularly with a 23% decrease in the hire of a car.

Bookended in the top four is America’s Playground, Colorado.

That’s when you’re not roped into their abseiling, freestyle rock climbing, white water rafting or roadside skiing.

Who is squeezed in between the two, why Guadeloupe and Australia… let’s go Outback.

And let’s not be put off when we see the car hire and higher.

Countries, Europe, Sport, UK

Anyone for tennis and Andy Murray?

2nd July 20212nd July 2021 funtime65

Do you have a battle for the remote between the Euros and Wimbledon? Anyone for tennis and Andy Murray?

The Bionic Man of tennis returns to the Centre Court to play Canadian Denis Shapovalov this afternoon.

And Mum Judy will be watching.

Mixed Doubles

It’s reassuring to think that the supercoach who honed my forehand in Portugal does the same for her wee boy.

Judy put me and my international party through our paces at The Campus resort in Quinta do Lago.

Without giving away any of Judy’s trade secrets she starts with the basics and short tennis before building up to full courts.

Easy Ryder

With my pal John pitching for a Ryder Cup spot

If you haven’t a lifetime to become one of the world’s elite athletes then this sportified corner of the Algarve is where to go.

You’ll be the envy of the park with your drop shot and sliced backhand.

While you can prepare for this month’s renewal of The Open by visiting Quinta’s Paul McGinley Academy.

In the swing of it

Paul’s pals will dissect your swing, let you practise it on the range and then let you on the course.

And yes, the clubs are in the bag, of course, ready for The Open at Royal St George’s Kent on the south coast of England.

An aside here from a previous life when I ran a newspaper sports desk.

And I had asked the secretary to arrange accommodation for our golf writer for that year’s Open.

Not easy but she was excited to find accommodation within a 20 mile radius.

The French name of the guest house ought to have given it away.

Back to Portugal and we’re all hoping for a clear run at it without the switching of traffic light colours.

Portugal’s delights

Portugal is of course The Algarve but it is so much more, Lisbon, Porto, our old tour guide pal Jose Madomis’s home town, Coimbra….

And his hero Cristiano Ronaldo’s island, Madeira.

Cristiano has left the building at the Euros and we trust Our Andy won’t go the same way in London.

If he does, of course, football-daft Andy will have more time to watch the Euros.

When asked this time whether he’d support England now his beloved Scotland are out, he blocked it as if at the net.

Andy had playfully worn the jersey of England’s then opponents Croatia at a previous Euros in his youth,

But this time the Surrey-based national treasure wished them well.

Andy’s castle

Otherwise he’d be taking refuge in his newly-acquired hotel, Cromlix, near his home town of Dunblane, back in Scotland.

Which is where your favourite blogger’s Travel journey began with his first trip 30-odd year ago.

Now myself and The Scary One could form a Mixed Doubles team against my old mate Judy and Andy.

Anyone for tennis and Andy Murray? Or Jimmy Murty?