Hand Luggage.

Photo tour

Photo tour – two little words that strike fear into my loved ones and frenzied joy into me!! Luckily for them I am more than happy to grab my camera and head out solo.

Here’s some snaps from a few of the sights we saw on a full day snap happy tour of the Algarve region .

Below is the futuristic looking sanctuary of Loule, perched high on a hill above the town.

The original Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy (aka Sanctuary of the Sovereign Mother) was built in 1553 while the super modern dome was a far later addition .

The next stop is Loule itself. It features a castle and a bustling market hall.

The castle used to boast a series of defensive walls approximately 940 m (0.58 miles) in length. Three towers, a turret and a stretch of ramparts with a walk way along the top define the defensive structure.

Inside it lies the – “alcaidaria” – where the commander of the castle lived – which was possibly built in the 14th century and was rebuilt in the 18th century

Above is a bronze statue of an elderly farmer selling her wares close to the central market.

The attractive arabian style market hall is home to lots of colourful stalls and I waltzed through it with unbridled delight!

Decorative shaped tomatoes, colourful sardine tins and fresh fish offer plenty of photo opportunities.

Look at the shiny, fresh, dead little fishes.

Or you can enjoy them in more sanitised, colourful packaging such as these little sardines.

We’ve still got lots of little villages to check out so come back soon!

Eastern Algarve tour

Another day, another tour of the delights of Portugal. This time it was a day exploring the eastern Algarve.

First up was a brief return to the capital of Faro before heading onto the port of Olhao. Sadly we had mere minutes to take a look at the market hall before speeding onwards.

Next up we briefly cross the border into Spain and the town of Ayamonte.

Again we had very little time to spare in the town so we just snapped some of the colourful tiles in the town centre.

Patterns galore and palm trees make the town a pleasant place to sit and watch the world go by.

Here’s a few more colourful painted tiles.

Next on our whistle stop tour is Vila Real de Santo Antonio.

This pretty town is easy to find your way around, because it’s laid out on a grid system. The town was designed that way by the Marquês de Pombal.

Vila Real has a large town square, ‘Praça Marquês de Pombal’, which is edged with orange trees and surrounded with white buildings, shops, cafes and restaurants. Its grey and white cobbles radiate out from a central obelisk.

There’s lots of lovely details scattered around the town. Including highly detailed tiles on many of the buildings.

Lots of the buildings are in a sad state of disrepair. Partly because anything over one hundred years old can’t be knocked down, only refurbished.

Here’s another of the decorative tiles.

Another of my favourite touches is that some of the houses are completely tiled from floor to ceiling. Whether this is purely decorative or whether it helps keeps them cool in summer I am not sure.

At the end of the 19th century the town was a major canning centre for sardines and tuna. There’s a museum dedicated to the business.

It includes lots of the surprisingly decorative packaging and tins.

There’s also an exhibit of lithography which was used for the print of the labels.

Finally we visited the lovely town of Taveria. Thanks to a cock up I have already posted about that though!!! Opps 🙂

Tavira

Tavira is a beautiful town with a river cutting through it. It’s in the eastern Algarve and feels a world away from the tourist hordes of the usual beach resorts.

Between the 8th and 13th centuries Tavira was under Arab rule until its conquest by the Knights of the Order of Santiago in 1242.

The gracious seven arch bridge, over the river Gilão, was believed to be Roman in origin for a while but is now thought to be Moorish, although its present appearance was acquired in the 17th century.

There are more than 20 churches in and around the town along with plenty of other sights.

The Moorish occupation of Tavira between the 8th and 13th centuries left its mark on the agriculture, architecture and culture of the area.

That Moorish influence can still be seen in Tavira today with its whitewashed buildings, Moorish style doors and rooftops.

Above is Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo, is a 13th-century Gothic Church, built on the site of a Moorish mosque but rebuilt by an Italian neoclassicist following earthquake damage 500 years later.

It’s next to the ruins of Tavira castle where you can make the climb onto the ramparts and enjoy the view across the pretty town.

It’s a far ole drop down! But the pay off is that from atop the walls views of whitewashed houses stretch into the distance.

It’s a beautiful place to while away a few hours, wandering the little back streets and just soaking up the atmosphere.

Silves and Mount Foia

The mother and I decided to take a half day trip to the town of Silves and then onward to the highest point of the Algarve – mount Foia.

The most prominent monument in Silves is Castelo de Silves, which is now the best preserved castle in the Algarve.

The castle and the Cathedral beside it are the first buildings you see as you approach Silves, as they sit on the hilltop above the town.

Sé de Silves (Cathedral of Silves) is one of the Algarve’s few remaining gothic monuments with ancient tombs.

It sits alongside the castle and a network of narrow, cobbled streets weaves away from it, taking you down into the town.

Inside the cathedral are the usual gilded delights and religious icons, while outside colourful walls and flowers add vivid spots in a grey day.

Silves sits on the banks of the Arade River (“Rio Arade”). There is history everywhere you look in Silves, reminding you of its affluent past as a Moorish capital (“Xelb”).

Below the cathedral, whitewashed streets meander back towards the main town.

From pretty planters to art work adorning the walls, there is something everywhere to catch the eye.

Naturally I had to take a few (hundred) snaps of some of the details that I spotted along the way.

As it is springtime the town is full of blossom and none is more gorgeous than the vivid purple of the Jacaranda tree.

Here’s mum in the pretty central square, Praça do Municipio, full of palms and flowers.

After a trot around Silves we head to the highest point in the Algarve – Mount Foia. It has an elevation of 902 metres (2,959 ft)

Fóia is the highest mountain of the Algarve and is part of the Serra de Monchique range. It usually offers stunning views of the surrounding area . . . usually.

Ha! It was like visiting North Wales in the middle of a wet winter day . . . howling winds, creeping fog and drizzle . . . oh well, can’t win them all!!!

Faro and bones

Faro, the capital of the Algarve, is often overlooked by the hoardes of tourists who disembark at the airport and head straight for their beach resorts.

However it has a wealth of beautiful buildings, a quaint old town and some macabre secrets to share with anyone who takes the time to explore it.

I hopped on a local bus from Praia D’Oura but I must have picked a route that literally went around the houses as it took nearly two hours for me to arrive!

First up I headed for the main square in the old town. This peaceful, orange tree lined open space is also home to Faro cathedral.

The cathedral, with its family of storks nesting on the roof, has a wealth of ornate details waiting to be uncovered. From gilded cherubs to the ubiquitous white and blue tiling that is a feature of the region.

You can also get a marvellous panoramic view over the old town and out towards the marsh flats from the roof top of this venerable old building.

The old town itself is a maze of whitewashed houses, punctuated with vivid splashes of colour from Bougainvillea and ornate tiling.

Grafitti, deep red walls and endless tiles all via for my attention.

However the main attraction of Faro for me is to be found behind this facade of the Baroque Igreja do Carmo.

The Igreja do Carmo originally dates from 1719 with the money for its construction financed with Brazilian gold from Portugal’s colony in South America.

It has some wonderful features including these serene figures of Jesus and Mary. However, they are not the reason I am visiting.

The reason is a little more macabre . . . it is the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones) set within a small walled garden within the church grounds.

The bones and skulls that can be seen are those of over 1200 Carmelite monks that were exhumed from the nearby church cemetery when the ossuary was built in 1816.

An inscription over the entrance reads: “Stop here and consider the fate that will befall you.” A fitting thought as you examine the skulls and femurs that “decorate” the interior.

It’s not the first bone chapel I have visited. The Capuchin bone crypt, a larger, multi roomed, version can be found in Rome, complete with chandeliers made from pelvic bones!

But each one is a fascinating way of emphasising the brevity of human existence and giving us pause to consider our own mortality in the empty eye sockets of those that have gone before us.

I personally found it very serene and peaceful, not at all creepy. Indeed I think it shows a healthy respect for, and embracing of, death.

Back amongst the living, out on the streets there’s always time to pause and appreciate some street art before heading back to the bus station to head for home.

Next we’ve taking a trip to the pretty town of Silves and the highest point of the Algarve!

Albuferia old town

On the hunt for peeling paint and ornate stuff, I head to Albuferia old town.

While it is quite small I still managed to find some details to snap away at. From the ornate tiles that are found on most houses, to beautiful doors and colourful paintwork.

In Roman times Albufeira was known as Baltum and then re-named Al-Buhera by the Moorish settlers in the 8th Century.

It was finally taken from the Moors in the middle of the 13th Century by the ‘Knights of the Order of Santiago’

Albufeira was a small fishing village until the arrival of tourism in the 1960s. Substantial developments since then have turned it into a major holiday resort

Even with all of the developments, some of Albufeira Old Town still retains the essence of the village it once was, with narrow cobbled streets winding up and around the hillsides.

Next up I’m grabbing a local bus to the capital city of Faro. Somewhat overlooked by tourists in the main who head straight from its airport to their beach resorts.

Around the headland

Having sat on the beach for all of half an hour I was predictably getting itchy explorer feet so decided to strike out for the headland and see what was around the bend!

I knew that the beach of old town Albuferia could be found via a cliff top walk and it was apparently was only twenty minutes away.

So off I trotted, just me and my trusty camera.

While it wasn’t exactly a gentle stroll (more a a scramble and hike) I got to experience some of the stunning, rugged coast line that the Algarve is famous for.

As it was just me and my camera you get treated to a rare glimpse of me (as the usual photographic human subject AKA the other half, wasn’t on hols with me!)

Dramatic ochre cliffs crumble and tumble into the deep blue waters below. The sunny April day was a perfect temperature for the climb.

Along the way I spotted secluded little coves without a tourist in site, eroded rocks created bridges and pools while the sandy cliff path kept on winding its way ahead of me.

It really was a beautiful walk.

I barely passed a soul as I trekked along the cliff top. It felt like I had the Algarve to myself.

It got a bit hairy in some places where the path had literally dropped into the sea, leaving just a tiny section to inch your way along.

But before long I had sight of the populated Albuferia town beach. A huge stretch of sand that is accessed via a tunnel from the old town. Here’s the steps down from the cliff I had just crossed.

It was back to civilisation and goodbye to the empty rugged glories of the lonely cliff top.

My destination was the old town of Albuferia.

On the look out for my favourite snaps of peeling paint, old doors and architecture. The town perches on top of the cliff, all white cubes and parasols.

Next up, some snaps from the old town!

Algarve memories

Fresh from a week’s break with family in Albuferia, a bustling part of Portugal’s Algarve. Ten of us rocked up to the very swish Villa Bosque with its own private pool and spacious living quarters.

Set down a quiet residential street it is just minutes from the main drag of Praia d’Oura with all its restaurants, supermarkets and “The Strip” the long street of bars.

It was ideally placed for the beach too, about 15 minutes walk. Perfect!!

With tiny nippers in tow it was ideal for youngsters with a heated pool and lots of garden space to whizz around in.

Here is a rare glimpse of my younger sister taking to the water!!

Meanwhile I take it easy and put my feet up! (Fear not, it was only for arrival day – I was soon on the touring rampage, camera in hand)

We took a stroll down to Praia D’Oura beach, a pleasant crescent of sand with some of the Algarve’s trade mark yellow ochre cliffs tumbling down to the sea.

Later on in the holiday I take a hike around the cliff headland in the distance to Albuferia old town and its huge beach.

But just for the first day we take a well earned rest (or I do – grandma has her hands full!)

Beautiful Brixham

Our cosy caravan home from home was situated just above the lovely little town of Brixham.

It is thought that the name ‘Brixham’ came from Brioc’s village. ‘Brioc’ was an old English or Brythonic personal name and ‘-ham’ is an ancient term for village.

The sunshine came out in force for our trot around the little village. Flotilla’s of boats bobbed on the water and my favourite little turnstones were flocking around looking for easy snacks.

In the Middle Ages, Brixham was the largest fishing port in the south west of England. Known as the ‘Mother of Deep-Sea Fisheries’, its boats helped to establish the fishing industries of Hull, Grimsby and Lowestoft.

According to random fact manufacturer Wikipedia, in the 1890s, there were about 300 trawling vessels in Brixham, most of which were individually owned.

Its harbour is still a bustling place with plenty of activity.

One of the main tourist attractions is the replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship the Golden Hind that is permanently moored there.

You can take a little tour around the ship if you fancy yourself as a bit of a mariner.

Alternatively you can just take a stroll along the habour and enjoy the fishing tackle, or take a ferry over to Torquay for the day.

That’s it for Devon folks. Next up I’ll be detailing my latest trip, a family holiday to the sunny Algarve.

Teignmouth

On route back to the caravan we took in the sights of pretty Teignmouth. The first record of Teignmouth, Tengemuða, meaning mouth of the stream, was in 1044 (according to Wikipedia!! – warning most of the “facts” in this post are mainly nicked from it as I am in hurry!!)

There were originally two villages, East and West Teignmouth, separated by a stream called the Tame, which emptied into the Teign through marshland by the current fish quay

During the 17th century, in common with other Channel ports, Teignmouth ships suffered from raids from Dunkirkers which operated as privateers from Flemish ports.

It is possible that smuggling was the town’s most significant trade at this time, though cod fishing in Newfoundland was also of great importance.

Short and sweet post! Catch you later readers!