Portugal...at last!

 

September 25th 2014

[caption id="attachment_2627" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Finally we have arrived in Portugal...we came over the river Guadiana at Ayamonte....this is a really pretty looking town, but we felt we really couldn't give it the time it deserved so decided just to get on into the Algarve...yay![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2628" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The first town we visited was Villa Real de Santo Antonio. This is a pretty looking town, but we felt it had no real heart to it. It may be due to the fact that the whole town was totally destroyed by a tsunami that was as a result of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. It was rebuilt in 1776 on a grid system which the same architect used to rebuild Lisbon. Maybe it's the fact that it's a relatively new town or the fact that this grid system doesn't allow for little meandering streets that makes it feel all wrong....however, it is a pretty place to visit and the waterfront in lovely![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2629" align="aligncenter" width="427"] More interesting architecture in Villa Real de Santo Antonio[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2630" align="aligncenter" width="427"] I just love the tiling that is used to cover many of the houses here.....another arty project might be inspired from these I think![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2631" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Our first view of the sea on the Algarve....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2632" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Tavira was our next stop. We really loved this town. It had many meandering streets, beautiful parks, a gorgeous waterfront, plazas and 36 churches. We visited one of the churches...it was absolutely amazing! Unfortunately photography was not allowed or I would have taken some pics to show you. The walls were covered in a floor to ceiling, individually hand painted blue and white tiles detecting many Bible stories....just fabulous![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2633" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Our final stop for the night. On top of a cliff, overlooking the sea, just outside of Quarteira. Once it was dark we could see hundreds of small fishing boats out at sea...all with bright lights on...hoping for a large catch of Sardines.[/caption]