16 September 2010

Algarve

Coastal view just a hundred yards from our apartment

Shirley and I last visited The Algarve region of Portugal in 1983. We tootled all over in our little green Mini rental car - from Cabo de San Vicente in the far west to Vila Real de Santa Antonio in the east where we gazed across the Guadiana River into Spain. It was a wonderful holiday, before the children came along, when our bones never ached and grey hairs were impossible.

This time we were more sedentary - like sea-lions basking on a sunny beach or by the lovely swimming pool which our apartment overlooked. It was the very first holiday I have ever taken in the month of September. We were just outside the resort of Albufeira in the quite splendid Alfegar holiday village. It was a last minute booking. Some readers will remember why this was so. (More of that in another post)

One day we hired a car - a nippy Renault Clio - and headed for the hills - places we had missed in 1983 like the ancient former Moorish capital of the region - Silves and the mountain spa village of Monchique. We also ventured to the far western township of Aljezur and a spectacular beach at Arrifana, returning to Aljezur for a delicious traditional evening meal taken al fresco by a cobbled square. Then it was back along an empty motorway that had not even been dreamed of when we last visited to see a troupe of traditional Algarvian dancers in our holiday village.

Here's a small sample of the photographs I snapped:-

Silves - The twelfth century Moorish castle walls

Amazing sand sculptures in Albufeira

Old lady in a Monchique window

The fabulous beach at Arrifana

View from our apartment

5 comments:

  1. I have never visited Portugal but your photos are certainly an encouragement to do so, as if I needed one!

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  2. How do you manage to find the most beautiful places in the world to visit? Or is it just that you are the world's most incredible amateur photographer?

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  3. JENNY Another point in Portugal's favour is that it is entirely spider-free.
    RHYMES WITH... I am going to take that as a compliment which I accept graciously. Digital photography creates so many more possibilities for capturing worthwhile images. I try my best.

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  4. The last time I was in Albufeira was in the mid-1970s, not long after the carnation revolution. I used to have some fine Portuguese Communist Party badges that I bought from a veteran who laid them out on a blanket for sale each Sunday. I suspect that things might have changed somewhat!

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  5. Delightful. It looks just like a tiny series of windows into a magical holiday you both had.

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