(posted by ange re: March 1)
As usual, Dave and I began our day lounging poolside. It seems we have a ritual now. Rise. Cup of tea/coffee. Hour or two by the pool. Lunch. Let the day begin. I’m not sure what I’m going to do when I get home. I am either going to have or find an apartment that has a pool or go down to the Aquatic Centre every morning t o lounge around. But neither of those options really work because the WARM sun and tanning are sort of key to the whole ritual. Rituals can be hard to break so there is a good possibility I may not be able to return home until June. But I digress.
Today we were off to a quick stop at the Tourismo Office to get a bit of information about trains, buses, cars, travel agents, Fado, restaurants, you know, that sort of thing. Then it was down to the beach. OMG!!!! Did you hear me? OMG!!!! I can’t even begin to describe how beautiful it is. It stretches for what seems like miles. The sand is so soft and warm. The huge waves crash onto the shore in a thunderous fury. And the sea goes on forever. Nothing between us and Africa. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that! The entire beach is “lined” (for lack of a better word) with cliffs and rock formations formed by rocks that are 8 to 25 million years old! These structures are called algares. I wonder if that is where Algarve gets its name. I really have no idea, but they do sound the same. Anyways, there’s a little geology for you.
We entered at Fisherman’s Beach through a tunnel from the old town and were literally at one end of this beach. With each a camera in hand, we proceeded to walk to the other end, taking our time playing photographers. It was impossible to stop taking pictures and by the end of the day, we had taken 83 and 82 photos respectively. Dave, of course, is more the pro, as you will see when we get home and you see said photos. I’m on a photography course mission, and am snapping away, trying to take both beautiful scenic shots and some more “arty” shots. I think I might have one or two of those so far. Anyway, we lollygag our way down the beach and it feels like we’ve gone a long way. Like, a really long way. It’s nearing 5:00, time for a drink, and as luck would have it as we are almost at the end of the beach, and an oasis of umbrellas and bright yellow chairs awaits us. I am wondering how far we’ve come. We’ve walked for about 2 hours. I say to Dave “I wonder if we’re actually in another town now?” Dave says he doesn’t think so. I am still wondering.
We enjoy a pizza and a pitcher of the BEST sangria I have ever had. I am talking it blows La Bodega out of the water the BEST sangria I’ve ever had. I mean, I really wanted to just stay there and drink more sangria, if only the sun hadn’t been setting and us having a very long hike home. As we are getting ready to leave, I ask the bartender the quickest way back to Hotel Cerro Mar. He tells me “Walk 15 minutes down the beach to Fisherman’s Beach, where you go up to the old town and then you are there shortly.” And I thought I was in another town???!!! (Totally shaking my head at myself). Dave and I laughed our asses off at ourselves (well, more at me). Apparently if you stop and take 83 photos, it is longer than a 15 minute walk from one end of the beach to the other! Have another glass of sangria. Ha. Ha. Ha.
As usual, Dave and I began our day lounging poolside. It seems we have a ritual now. Rise. Cup of tea/coffee. Hour or two by the pool. Lunch. Let the day begin. I’m not sure what I’m going to do when I get home. I am either going to have or find an apartment that has a pool or go down to the Aquatic Centre every morning t o lounge around. But neither of those options really work because the WARM sun and tanning are sort of key to the whole ritual. Rituals can be hard to break so there is a good possibility I may not be able to return home until June. But I digress.
Today we were off to a quick stop at the Tourismo Office to get a bit of information about trains, buses, cars, travel agents, Fado, restaurants, you know, that sort of thing. Then it was down to the beach. OMG!!!! Did you hear me? OMG!!!! I can’t even begin to describe how beautiful it is. It stretches for what seems like miles. The sand is so soft and warm. The huge waves crash onto the shore in a thunderous fury. And the sea goes on forever. Nothing between us and Africa. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that! The entire beach is “lined” (for lack of a better word) with cliffs and rock formations formed by rocks that are 8 to 25 million years old! These structures are called algares. I wonder if that is where Algarve gets its name. I really have no idea, but they do sound the same. Anyways, there’s a little geology for you.
We entered at Fisherman’s Beach through a tunnel from the old town and were literally at one end of this beach. With each a camera in hand, we proceeded to walk to the other end, taking our time playing photographers. It was impossible to stop taking pictures and by the end of the day, we had taken 83 and 82 photos respectively. Dave, of course, is more the pro, as you will see when we get home and you see said photos. I’m on a photography course mission, and am snapping away, trying to take both beautiful scenic shots and some more “arty” shots. I think I might have one or two of those so far. Anyway, we lollygag our way down the beach and it feels like we’ve gone a long way. Like, a really long way. It’s nearing 5:00, time for a drink, and as luck would have it as we are almost at the end of the beach, and an oasis of umbrellas and bright yellow chairs awaits us. I am wondering how far we’ve come. We’ve walked for about 2 hours. I say to Dave “I wonder if we’re actually in another town now?” Dave says he doesn’t think so. I am still wondering.
We enjoy a pizza and a pitcher of the BEST sangria I have ever had. I am talking it blows La Bodega out of the water the BEST sangria I’ve ever had. I mean, I really wanted to just stay there and drink more sangria, if only the sun hadn’t been setting and us having a very long hike home. As we are getting ready to leave, I ask the bartender the quickest way back to Hotel Cerro Mar. He tells me “Walk 15 minutes down the beach to Fisherman’s Beach, where you go up to the old town and then you are there shortly.” And I thought I was in another town???!!! (Totally shaking my head at myself). Dave and I laughed our asses off at ourselves (well, more at me). Apparently if you stop and take 83 photos, it is longer than a 15 minute walk from one end of the beach to the other! Have another glass of sangria. Ha. Ha. Ha.
2 comments:
Hmmmm, kind of sounds like me at a Costco............so much to see, so little time.
Nice!! Glad to hear that you folks are having a swell time! Please feel free to consume a beverage or 5 for me. Markus says to say "Da Bakin' Machine"??
Post a Comment