Sunday, 1st December and 1st Advent. And I’m still sitting in the cockpit at 7 o’clock in the morning with my first coffee, barefoot and wearing shorts! Not that we want to make you jealous. But we’re just really pleased that our plan to spend the winter in the Algarve has worked so well so far. While Axel has a tinkering day on board today, I use the new eBike and continue exploring the area. I head towards Faro. I wind my way through Quarteira past numerous onlookers. The Christmas winter wonderland is ceremoniously opened with a parade and Father Christmas competition. I continue past the golf courses of Vale de Lobo. Chic villas line my route – I’d rather not know the property prices. I end up almost at Faro airport and enjoy the dune landscape, which is easy to cycle or hike through on the wooden boardwalks. It’s just a shame that all the beach bars are closed for the winter break. On the way back, despite the electric assistance, I realise that I haven’t cycled much in recent years – evil tongues say not at all. Phew, my bum and legs hurt in the end.
The first week of December brings more boat projects and excursions. Neighbours Nico and Harald, as well as Melanie and Werner, come to visit and we enjoy tapas together in the cockpit. The new on-board grill is fitted with a different holder so that I have storage space under the grill. Axel prints a cover for the new microwave oven. What did we ever do without a 3D printer on board? And finally we get to play golf again. We play a nice 9-hole round on the nearby Pine Cliffs golf course in glorious weather. Beautiful again! As the name suggests, the campsite runs through beautiful pine trees and directly along the cliffs. The view is incredible and we immediately fall in love with the beautiful course. It doesn’t really matter whether you play well or badly here. The view from the tee at „The Devil’s Parlour“ hole is simply fantastic! A quick and tasty club sandwich in the club restaurant and we are happy. Mimi the kitten takes the opportunity and settles down on my lap. It is difficult to remove her again, but there is no need for a second cat on board La Ola for the time being. Although? But no, as soon as we leave, Mimi is already lying on the lap of the next guest.
To our great delight, the Marieke also arrives in Vilamoura with Jens and now also his wife Aneta on board. We continue our favourite traditions, such as eating pizza, and spend some pleasant hours together. We also meet Leo from the sailing yacht Sindbad, who at the age of 21 is already travelling the world.
Of course, it is also getting more and more Christmassy in Vilamoura and the surrounding area. Christmas lights have been installed on every corner, every nook and cranny and every roundabout, brightening up the dark evenings. There are even Christmas markets! However, they are relatively kitschy for our taste and don’t add much to the festive atmosphere. We like the trip to the market hall in Loulé better. The building in neo-Moorish Art Nouveo style catches the eye from afar and offers a marvellous selection of fresh produce inside. There are also many stalls set up around the market hall and we stock up on ingredients for Cuban tuna salad and asparagus risotto with prawns for the weekend.
La Ola is constantly being refined in terms of cooking technology. We are removing the existing gas oven and hob. We have the new oven-microwave combination as a replacement for the oven. We have ordered a new induction hob for the cooker. This will allow us to cook purely electrically without gas in future. On the one hand, this is safer, as gas on board always harbours a latent risk of explosion. Secondly, it is more environmentally friendly, as the electricity required can be generated by our solar panels.
Unfortunately, the delivery of the induction hob is not easy. The manufacturer, GN Espace, is based in the UK, so customs and import taxes are payable. Shipping via Fedex therefore takes quite a long time and is very expensive. Unfortunately, the hob is also the only on-board induction hob that fits into our kitchen without too much conversion work and is easy to use with on-board battery capacity. After a long time, the hob finally arrives in Vilamoura shortly before Christmas and could actually be installed. However, we realise that the hob has not been installed correctly and one of the glued joints has already come loose. Nice sh…..!!! So the installation is cancelled and the manufacturer is informed. They respond promptly with the message that they will take care of it. We are excited! Unfortunately, the new hob won’t be available this year for the time being.Unfortunately, the delivery of the induction hob is not easy. The manufacturer, GN Espace, is based in the UK, so customs and import taxes are payable. Shipping via Fedex therefore takes quite a long time and is very expensive. Unfortunately, the hob is also the only on-board induction hob that fits into our kitchen without too much conversion work and is easy to use with on-board battery capacity. After a long time, the hob finally arrives in Vilamoura shortly before Christmas and could actually be installed. However, we realise that the hob has not been installed correctly and one of the glued joints has already come loose. Nice sh…..!!! So the installation is cancelled and the manufacturer is informed. They respond promptly with the message that they will take care of it. We are excited! Unfortunately, the new hob won’t be available this year for the time being.
Well then, let’s go golfing again first. This time we’re going to the Benamor course near Tavira. A nice course without any major challenges. But not really spectacular either. But it was still fun in the glorious sunshine and fresh wind.
The installation of the additional solar panels continues to take shape successfully. Stainless steel specialist Sergio Rilho welds a frame and mounts three additional solar panels behind the existing ones. We now have 2,445 watts of solar power at our disposal and can use it to cook self-sufficiently and even operate the air conditioning system in the owner’s cabin, which is yet to be installed. Well, at least as long as the sun is shining. Otherwise you have to use the generator or – as is currently the case – shore power.
Well, and then, surprisingly, it’s already Christmas!
Even though we are of course missing family and friends, we are celebrating this year very happily, very cosily and in pleasant temperatures. Of course, there will be lots of delicious food over the next few days! The ravioli from Bremen that Andrea and Pit brought us. Queen pâté with homemade ragout fin. Grilled langoustine with aioli and grilled potatoes. Confit duck with wintery couscous. We are simply doing well! We hope you feel the same and wish you happy holidays!
