Our first stop is the beach town of Praia da Rocha. I last came here in 1998. I noticed that the main strip does not resemble that time. It is now full of karaoke bars and shops selling tourist ware, apart from the classical Bella Vista Hotel and Spa.  We spent our first two nights at the HOTEL DA ROCHA    Four Stars Avenida Tomás Cabreira, 8500-802 Praia da Rocha, Portimão +351 282 424 081 www.hoteldarocha.com It is a nice, clean hotel with friendly staff. The swimming pool

LES PRÈS D'EUGÉNIE Three Michelin Stars On this occasion we took a trip over the Spanish border from San Sebastián (some 175 km) into France to the wonderful Les Prés d'Eugénie. Michel Guérard opened Les Prés d'Eugénie in the tiny commune of Eugénie-les-Bains in 1974, and the restaurant gained a third Michelin star in 1977, only three years later. He has retained 40 years of 3-star status and now has the longest such continuous run, since the recent death of Bocuse, who g