OUTSIDE.
The website pictures for the Pool & Terraces do not lie,all good,and then? 19 STEEP STEPS from car with luggage or - 2 x 6litres bottles of water is a real effort in strength & balance, oh yes there are also more steps to the Terraces & Kitchen. The punishment the car's clutch receives in getting to the property needs caution,the road is STEEP, the final turns are very tight and STEEPER,it's easy to stall the car! The first left turn is IMPOSSIBLE,pass on by,stop before the cliff,turn around on ANOTHER STEEP slope and attempt again!! turn into the property and imagine driving up a Helter Skelter.
THE KITCHEN.
Firstly, there are 9 steps from dining table to the kitchen. A smell of GAS from the stove was a concern,the Oven NEVER got to a required temperature and the under-sink cupboard had a Sanitation Odour! The Owner believes this to be natural for the area and that we have never lived abroad before!
Caution when using the sink,it is very easy to bang your head on the upper cupboards,(they also need alignment.) The Washing Machine is housed under the stairs where it should stay due to it's Rusty Body!
LOUNGE/DINING ROOM.
The 2 sideboards with cupboards were locked.The Writing Desk with Glass Cupboards above was also LOCKED but has the games,books,pliers and broken lock INSIDE!!
The Grundig Stereo is probably Antique,unplugged for L.P.'s & Cassettes only (if it ever works?) STEREO is quoted.
The 'Mitsai' Flat Screen T.V. was good connected to an array of Foreign Satellite Channels.
INTERNET or INTERNET ACCESS is only available at a further charge per day on a 'take-it-or-leave-it basis,we took it everywhere, as it's a Vodafone Hot-Spot,(handy)
The Dining Area light has 2 bulbs missing as does the lounge light (economy measures perhaps) The Dining Table opens out? (did not use)
BEDROOMS.
There are 4 further televisions in the house,all old shape,2 did not work,(perhaps a valve problem)
After climbing the 19 steep steps from the car it is a further 22 steps to the Master Suite which is large with a nice bathroom.Unfortunately for us the Mattress is HARD and the ants had to be 'gassed' the next day. To carry a 18kg suitcase to that bedroom took two people with 2 stops! We moved to the lower bedrooms with smaller,shorter beds with more tolerable mattresses,again light bulbs removed.
The sink plug in the lower bathroom NEVER closed.
THE TOWN.
Mesao Frio is compact, Saturday Market, 'Tasca do Zequinha' Restaurant highly recommended for price.