Portugal, Week 4

We caught the bus out of Seville loading at platform 13. Yes indeed, we thought this might be a forewarning of grave danger ahead. lol 

Low and behold our accommodation in Lagos was something of a disaster and our first unfortunate experience with Airbnb bookings. As picture indicates the outside of the building was under some major renovation. As a result our unit was very dusty, smelled of paint and even worse the scaffolding, netting and local labour force were right outside our window (making it uncomfortable to walk around in ones undies). Lucky for us we had met a lady at the arrivals area of the bus station in Lagos who had given glowing reviews of a great apartment where they had stayed; fortune smiled as this provided us an alternative location so desperately needed. 

View from our kitchen window

We are in historic Lagos, toured the museum and  Church of Santo Antonio rebuilt in the early 18th century, with gilded carvings covering the altar and sidewalls. No pics allowed, but as with most amazing views, impossible to capture with a camera.

Can you name the big eyed fish?

Start of our walk along cliffs surrounding the city

Although it looks like I'm on the beach, we are actually hundreds of feet above the ocean.

Interesting rock formations and grottoes.

In the far far distance, beyond the cliffs is the southwest tip of Europe, Cabo Sao Vincent, early Portuguese called "O Fim do Mundo" (the end of the world). From Cape St. Vincent you can see the cliff tops in Morocco. We didn't hike that far, just content to know it was so close.

The coastline has many beaches, small and private....but look at the steps, easy going down!!

We started the day in 8c temperature. We've been travelling in multiple layers to accommodate the changing weather so we were very happy to gradually remove 3 layers throughout the afternoon. Who can complain about 25c!

This week concludes on what appears to be the arrival of an early summer and as they say at Camp Granada...

"Wait a minute, its stopped raining. Guys are swimming, gals are sailing

Playing baseball, gee that's bettah.  Muddah, Faddah kindly disregard this letter!"

Portugal to Spain, 2 days into Week 4

We felt Spain deserved it's own mini blog.

Seville Spain was only a 4-1/2 hour bus ride from Tavira so we went on a 2 day adventure to explore this historic city. What a mistake! As the kids would say "we didn't like it.......we LOVED it". A week or even a month wouldn't be enough time to immerse oneself into the culture, beauty and upbeat vibe of Seville. ( would like to give that a try)  Greek myth has it that Hercules discovered the city over 3000 years ago. Lonely Planet said it best, "modern Seville has the ability to adapt and etch fresh new brush strokes onto an ancient canvas".

Our apartment bordered on Alameda de Hercules, a residential park surrounded by bars, pubs, restaurants, bakeries, everything to seduce our already over indulged gastronomic cravings.

With tourist map in hand, we headed south down narrow streets and walkways. The sights, sounds and overall experience would be impossible to describe so here are some pictures of a few sights. And yes brother Don, we visited a "🎶Barber of Seville,  Figaro Figaro Figaro 🎶".

Patio of our host who loves his Cacti!

Pedestrian parks were throughout the city

A romantic way to view the historic area

Going to the palace "to see the queen"!

I'd like to say we went shopping in this 5 floor department store, but nope, just on the way to the "bano" and saw a whole section of Flamenco costumes. Ole! 💃

Caught the 6:30am train, sun rise here 8:08. It was raining but we were still sorry to be leaving. Now on to the seaside town of Lagos, Portugal and completion of Week 4.

Portugal, Week 3 Algarve

Tavira is situated on the southern coast, 19km west of the Spanish border. Our suite is in the historic district and walking distance to the downtown area and lots of restaurants and shops. 

We met a 50's something couple, expats from Texas now living in the BVI's that are real world travelers.  On this latest excursion, they picked up a camper van in Sweden and have been driving for 2 months through Europe, pet husky in tow. They're off to Seville Spain and will drop the camper at the end of February in Madrid before flying home. Sounds like it could be our next adventure! Stay tuned for further details!?

The owner of our favourite Indian Restaurant in town goes by the name of Johnny and his helpers are Ricky and Nicky - authentic Indian names?? 🤔Lol They moved from India to Toronto, Brampton and then Vancouver. Speaking of nationalities, everyone, and I mean everyone, we have spoken to that is Portuguese has a relative somewhere in Ontario or BC.

Our back patio, great spot for enjoying morning coffee and custard tarts.Relaxing in our self contained unit. Clothes never seem to dry in the damp climate here.

Tavira is full of history and has over 30 churches dating from the 17th and 18th century. One on every corner just like Tim Horton's! Except they serve wine instead of coffee. Only problem is you have to confess your sins first and neither of us, quite frankly, had that much time.🍷🍷

After climbing the many stairs to the castle you are rewarded with a view of surrounding Tavira and a beautiful garden with exotic trees and plants. Although it is still winter here, there are fragrant orange blossoms and colourful blooms to admire, even daffodils and narcissus. This castle and protective walls date back to the 13th century.

I call this the "stairway to heaven". We aren't ready to sing that song for awhile!

It's a nice walk along the Rio Gilao on our way to the supermarket. Tavira was once a major port with ships full of imports and exports from Africa, India and Asia. Over time the silt and sand blocked the mouth of the river. What remains today is a big sea salt industry, a big tuna industry, and a big salted tuna industry! "Pass the salt, please!"

Cheesecake! 

This is on our walk to the ferry for a ride to the "island", which is really a sand spit, to view the ocean. Unfortunately, we didn't take pictures of salt pans that we could see in the distance. These are shallow pits that are filled with salt water. When the water evaporates large salt crystals remain and are then raked into piles, sorted and shipped all over the world. If you google "salt pans of Tavira" there are interesting videos to watch. 

Speaking of Google, take a tour around Tavira with google map. This is a pass by our front door looking down the street.

Looking up the street!

The warmest day to date.There is a European Blue Flag (rated for cleanliness and quality) nudist beach somewhere on this island... we had a look around but no nudies to be found 👙👣

It's a small world after all. I spotted these lovely ladies resting on a bench in town, soaking up the sun. They are sisters-in-law and go to my excercise class in Oakville. They've been driving up and down the coast for 3 weeks exploring all the sights. After all the walking we've all done we should be in great shape to start classes again in April. 

Well that's wrap for this week. Special Thanks to my assistant reporter and editor.

Happy Valentines Day everyone and enjoy your time tomorrow with family and friends.

Portugal, Week 2 Azores

Touring the many museums and churches can be both invigorating for the mind and tiring for the feet. So far we are still able to walk up and down the hilly streets with much gusto. This artistic shot was taken in Sete Cidade, direct translation- seven cities......but it's only a single village!

Bill - environmental photographer of the east using iPhone 4S. Take that Ansel Adams.

Sete Cidade is in the center of a volcano and has 2 lakes that are connected by a narrow passage. These are shots taken from the same spot on a narrow bridge. One lake is blue and the other lake is green. Legend has it a prince with blue eyes fell in love with a green eyed village girl, a love which was forbidden by the king. The two cried enough tears to make 2 lakes. Hmmmm 🤔! 

There are no barns on the island and the cows graze all year long in open pasture. Mobile milking machines (tractors) are used in the fields and transported by truck or when the meadows are muddy... the old fashion way. - horse and cart

Our wonderful B&B hostess and her friend Ze drove us around the island with a stop in Furnas where we viewed boiling sulphur water springs. Here you can make a stew, put it into a pot, lower the pot into a hole in the ground and in 6 hours your meal is cooked. We didn't have 6 hours so we went to a bakery for Portuguese custard tarts, warm out of the oven....now that's to die for!

We were sad to leave the wonderful people we met and the fun restaurants at this amazing destination. Particularly tapas and our waiter Paulo at Taberna, the best vegetarian restaurant on the island, Ropa and many laughs for 3 evenings with waiter Leandro-Willer. 

Fun facts in Sao Miguel - garbage is left every evening by your front door (which is only a couple feet from the street) and is picked up between 9 and 10pm. There are no dogs, rats, mice or adorable raccoons, not even squirrels, chipmunks or scavenger birds around to rip the bags open.

The chefs at the veggie restaurant are meat eaters and the tour guides at the only 2 cathedrals we visited were both atheists. We even heard a school teacher confess "I hate kids!"

Monday morning we left this amazing island and flew into Lisbon arriving at 6pm local time. We climbed 90 stairs to a hostel style apartment in the historic area. 4 rooms with 2 persons per room and our room sharing a wall with the only working bathroom. I thought only seniors got up in the middle of the night! Every-one takes a pee at 3pm. -We hardly slept. 💤

Catching the early train Monday to Faro then transferring to Tavira.

It looks like we are the only people on the train, but we were just the first passengers to board.

The trains are comfortable and roomy, so the 5-1/2 hour trip to Faro, the southern tip of Portugal, was relaxing. There wasn't a lot to see but cows, sheep and pelethera of orange groves.

Arrived at our destination to start week 3. Happy pancake day on Tuesday everyone, and Happy Birthday to my sister-in-law, Marilyn 🎉🎈🎂

Portugal, Week 1, Sao Miguel Azores

"Ola" - Arrived without a hitch on Saturday morning, 7:30 Azores time while most of you were sleeping at 3:30 back in Ontario. As Canadians, we love to talk about the weather, so let's start there. Days are 16c and it feels cool and damp unless the sun is shining and then it's quite comfortable. Evenings are 12c, cool but residents, stores, restaurants all leave the windows and doors open to let in the fresh air. The Portuguese are a hearty lot, no heaters or furnaces. Thank goodness we packed thermal underwear!

We are spending our first week on the largest island in the Azores archipelago, in the city of Ponta Delgada, home of the only 2 shopping malls on the 9 volcanic islands. Talk about luck eh! 

We are staying in a home in the historical area where the streets are mostly 1 lane, so to avoid being side-swiped parking is safer on the sidewalks which are about 30" wide. As a pedestrian you have to be concerned about getting struck by a side view mirror on the small import cars zipping along the lava cobblestone streets. 

Most buildings, fences and roads have been built using lava rock with modern architecture using blocks cut from these rocks to give a more refined and uniformed construction.

The market is open every day selling locally grown pineapples, oranges and vegetables. Separate enclosed stalls sell beef, pork and fresh fish.

Restaurants won't allow you to bring in your own wine, and really with the price of an exceptional bottle selling for approximately $6.50Cd. there is no need, but there are establishments where you can bring in your own fish and they will cook it for you! 

There are about 94,000 dairy cows on this island that is only 213km in circumference and Sao Miguel is known for their wonderful cheese, wines and well...what else do you need?

On Monday, we road on a local bus line 15km from the south shore of the island to Ribeira Grande on the north shore, the widest width of the island. We watched surfers and because of the Gulf Stream, the water is warm enough for swimming. We've not seen the long sandy beaches we love, but hey, it beats the snow.

Today we toured the Chapel of SantaBarbara that was a convent in the 1800's. It was originally built by the Jesuits before they were banished from the island forever. Pictures are not allowed to be taken inside, but warm, beautiful smiles were permitted outside.

"Obrigado" for reading our 1st weeks' adventure.

(Oh-Bree-gah-doe)