{"id":2418,"date":"2022-02-06T18:31:53","date_gmt":"2022-02-06T18:31:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deasydoesit.co.uk\/?p=2418"},"modified":"2022-03-05T14:37:33","modified_gmt":"2022-03-05T14:37:33","slug":"christopher-columbus-ships-playa-de-mata-negra-and-crossing-the-border-to-portugal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deasydoesit.co.uk\/?p=2418","title":{"rendered":"Christopher Columbus ships, Playa de Mata Negra and crossing the border to Portugal"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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We have been in Spain for nearly 3 months so it was time to head for the border and cross into Portugal.\u00a0 But first a stop off to see where Christopher Columbus set sail in 1492 on his journey to discover America.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Rather than take the motorway we drove along a road that took us through the Do\u00f1ana National Park, this has to be the prettiest route we have taken so far.\u00a0 The roads were a bit bumpy but the views of the trees were amazing, it was such a peaceful journey with hardly any other cars on the road.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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At Palos de la Frontera there is the Muelle de la Carabelas, that has reproduced the three ships used by Christopher Columbus, the “Santa Mar\u00eda”, the “Pinta” and the “Ni\u00f1a”.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

We walked around each of the ships marvelling at how brave the men were who sailed in them, they were tiny!\u00a0 We both agreed that we would not want to be on the sea in any of them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The park was quite large with monuments, a monastery and a botanical garden.\u00a0 We spent the afternoon wandering around in the sunshine.<\/p>

We had planned on staying here the night as there was a large carpark with a few other vans parked up. However, it seemed that it would be quite noisy.\u00a0 The forecast for the next few days was sunny so we decided to head off to the beach.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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It was Sunday evening and we arrived at Playa de Mata Negra just as the day visitors were leaving.\u00a0 Just as well as I don’t think we would have been able to park if we had got here any earlier.<\/p>

The park up was a large layby right next to the beach.\u00a0 There were a few vans already here so we felt quite happy about staying.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The sky was incredibly clear with the most fantastic sunsets and sun rises.\u00a0 As the sun went down the moon came out, it was so clear we could even see the craters.<\/p>

The beach stretched for miles in both directions.\u00a0 There were little caf\u00e9s either side of the layby, although we didn’t use them this time.\u00a0 \u00a0We stayed here for 3 very peaceful days and night.\u00a0 Eventually we dragged ourselves away to cross the border to Portugal. The COVID-19 PCR test requirement for entry to Portugal had just been lifted so we were ready to go.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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As we crossed the bridge into Portugal there was a large sign saying ‘Foreigners’ to the right.\u00a0 We pulled into that lane and found ourselves at an ‘Easy toll’ booth. We weren’t expecting this so were a bit confused.\u00a0 Weren’t sure if it was compulsory or not (it is not).\u00a0 After trying a few different payment cards we finally got our toll ticket.\u00a0 Turns out it is an automatic payment system if you use their toll roads, taken from the card registered at the booth against the vehicle registration number.\u00a0<\/p>

That completed we were on our way to the next chapter on our journey.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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El Rocio to Muelle de las Carabelas<\/p>

Mileage 124<\/p>

Route E-5 and A-49<\/p>

Free but didn’t stay overnight<\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Playa de Mata Negra to Playa de Mata Negra<\/p>

Mileage 19<\/p>

Route H-30 and A-497<\/p>

Free car park right next to the beach<\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We have been in Spain for nearly 3 months so it was time to head for the border and cross into Portugal.\u00a0 But first a stop off to see where Christopher Columbus set sail in 1492 on his journey to discover America.\u00a0\u00a0 Rather than take the motorway we drove along a road that took us 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