Algarve

Algarve

Our final place we visited in Portugal was Algarve - a coastal city facing the Atlantic sea. This was the sort of Portugal that I had imagined in my mind - golden sands, clear blue sea and cute coastal worn buildings. Sadly a bit cold yet for swimming - though Josh decided to brave it once after he saw some young men diving in for a quick plunge. Ha- he couldn't be bested!

We parked up for 2 euro each night in a massive sandy parking lot at the edge of the boulevard. There we nestled in the corner for three nights - being able to hear the popping of the crabs and fish in the esturary behind us. In the morning we woke to the glorious sound of the seagulls and waves crashing onto the beach. Each of us said how much we had missed the sea. It's not such a familiar feeling when we live in New Zealand to be so far from the sea.
We've nick-named our camper 'Pupae' after the word that we kept seeing in the supermarket meaning 'special' (like 'it's on special') cause she is and also cause she's a little - well - stinky at times...

Josh took down the bikes from the roof of the camper (no mean feat !) and then we were all able to go off and explore the boulevard.

The next day we rode up the coast and then walked around for another half hour up on the cliffs to a little cove where we spent the afternoon reading our books and playing beach ball. There were many lovely shells on the beach and the girls soon found a way to create little palaces and spa rooms and kitchens using sand, foliage and shells in the rocky cliff wall.

Noa on our walk back from the cove. In the far distance is where we parked up.

Fern



It started to feel pretty chilly and when we looked at our watch we realized it was already almost 7:30. There were many families on the beach still and we have noticed all throughout this southern part of Europe how late everyone - including little children stay out. The sun doesn't go down till about 10:30 and people really make the most of it - not stopping their shopping and having dinner till very late. We have certainly joined in with this as most evenings all of us are only just climbing into our bed at 10:30 -11pm. And then the cycle starts over again with us not being able to wake up till 9am or so.

Josh took Fern and Noa on an adventure in the kayaks one day all the way aroun to the headland that you can see in the distance in this photo (below). They came back happy and cold with tales of being thrown onto the shore by the big waves. This is a popular spot for surfers too.


While they were out Esmae and Phoebe were doing some school work in the camper so I went for a very peaceful walk by myself to the beach and sat and listened to my audio book while the tide came in. I loved it! I don't get many of those moments presently so when they come it is so great!
My view at the beach. (Yes it looks a little stormy right! But the weather changed fairly quickly again and we got some of our first days of sun down here.)


Esmae took this photo of Josh and I in the morning on our way to Algarve. We stopped here to have breakfast and find the public toilet. It was a very cute and tiny town and where we sat was the local square where the water pump was. It was surrounded by cafes and the locals were all out there having their morning coffee. We had cornflakes and yogurt. :)

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