All packed
and ready to go. Destination : Serra da Estrella National Park, Portugal.
My point of
departure, Geneva, Switzerland airport.
Easyjet
successfully shamed airport security by their efficient check-in, when we spent
40 minutes shuffling round the snake tape, only to be held on the runway for half an hour
whilst Easyjet tried to locate the flight’s Food and Drink wagon ! Holiday
makers’ spirits were lifted, when finally the capitain announced that we were
ready, and without further ado, we were skyborn. Due praise to Easyjet for
making up the lost time, so with a generous tailwind, we arrived on schedule at
14h25 local time.
Touchdown Oporto,
Portugal. Slow baggage reclaim and even slower Budget carhire staff, my driver comrade
and I finally left the airport at 6pm ; the time in which we had hoped to
arrive at our destination ! However, we were thankful ; no luggage had been
lost and more importantly our flying gear was all in tact.
Our route
took us out of the city on the main southern highway, then on to secondary roads
that became ever smaller as we approached our destination. The highlight was
watching the sun set whilst climbing from the searing 36°C valley villages to
the 1420m high plateau in the National Park at 1420m, where we turned off the
car’s aircon and wound down the windows to feel the 17°C altitude chill and
inhale dizzy perfumes of wild thyme, gorse and lush grass. Memories of
childhood landscapes flickered before my eyes and I smiled.
Arriving at
Sameiro, we were warmly greeted by our hosting Club, were fed a hearty dinner
accompanied by full-bodied ruby red wine from the local vinehard (and indeed
one of the competition’s sponsors), before turning out the light way past
midnight.
Life was
not so bad : friends, sunshine and paragliding.
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