Loule and Alte

 

[caption id="attachment_2634" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Good Morning! Towards the end of the day yesterday we grew increasingly disappointed with the Algarve....we had pictured miles and miles of empty, golden sandy beaches, but as we left Tavira and approached Faro and beyond the beaches were firstly obliterated by large apartment buildings and then miles and miles of golf resorts.....great for the golf lovers but not for us travellers who want to see the real Portugal! So we have decided to travel inland a little today to a town called Loule.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2635" align="aligncenter" width="640"] What a gem of a town Loule is....we both absolutely love it. It is full of character, has a real community feel about it, arty, colourful and a place you feel instantly at home! This is one of the many hand painted, tiled street signs.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2636" align="aligncenter" width="640"] One of the many old gates to the town.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2637" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Loule has a fantastic town walking guide where one follows footprints on the pathway or on signposts, and at each place of interest is a board with a description of the building you are looking at and a gorgeous drawing of the structure....this one is of the town gate....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2638" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The church....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2640" align="aligncenter" width="427"] One of the many gorgeous windy streets....we found an amazing craft shop here that sold items that have been handmade in Portugal....we spent a long time in here, it was incredibly inspiring.[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_2642" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The theatre[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2643" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The market hall[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2644" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Just because it's lovely!!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2645" align="aligncenter" width="640"] A little further into the hills beyond Loule is a tiny village called Alte. We were informed, by some very helpful ladies at the tourist information in Loule, that at this village there is a place called Fonte Grande where you are allowed to swim....in beautiful, clear mountain water...so, as we are always looking for somewhere to have a good clean up, we decided to go there and give it a go....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2646" align="aligncenter" width="427"] A fountain at Alte[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2647" align="aligncenter" width="640"] ...innovative seating in a shady spot...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2648" align="aligncenter" width="427"] ...this is the Grande Fonte....there is barely an inch of water in it and there is a big sign saying 'No swimming'!....it is beautiful even though! Just so you know, we found a public swimming baths in Loule to go and have a shower....we paid for a swim, but, once inside I realised that all the women were wearing swimming costumes and I only had my bikini...I asked a young girl if it was ok and her reply was..."it's a bit small...!!!" ,so I decided that I had better just shower and move on. I have to say...it was worth every cent of the two euros!!! BT had previously been suggesting that we shower at one of the taps, by the roadside, outside a house.......hmmmmm!!!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2649" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Beautiful terracotta tiles on the roof of a tiny town house in Alte.[/caption]

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]

 

Cadiz

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September 23rd 2014

[caption id="attachment_2608" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Another morning stroll along the beach and another stormy sky....fortunately we narrowly missed getting drenched![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2609" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Just love the moodiness of this...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2610" align="aligncenter" width="640"] We thought this was just so lovely...a local fisherman in the harbour at Cadiz dealing with his catch, and cooling his feet at the same time...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2611" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Looking out to sea from part of the old city walls...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2612" align="aligncenter" width="480"] As we wandered the streets of Cadiz many of the doors were open revealing the most beautiful hallways....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2613" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Cathedral square[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2614" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The Cathedral[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2615" align="aligncenter" width="480"] The city has many merchants houses....easily spotted because they are so very tall...These were owned by wealthy merchants who wanted to be the first to spot the ships coming in from the sea...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2616" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Fantastic streetlamp[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2617" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Another gorgeous hallway[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2618" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Love, love, love...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2619" align="aligncenter" width="640"] One last look at the harbour[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2620" align="aligncenter" width="640"] We found this beautiful place by the beach for to I gut...but the village seems to have got stuck in time....lots of horse and cart transport, a dirt road through the middle and thick rope "sleeping policemen"![/caption]



 

Cape Trafalgar

September 22nd 2014

[caption id="attachment_2600" align="aligncenter" width="640"] This morning we set out to walk along the beach to the lighthouse at Cape Trafalgar....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2601" align="aligncenter" width="640"] This looks like a great way to traverse the beach...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2602" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Looking back along the beach from the lighthouse[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2603" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Enjoying the waves...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2604" align="aligncenter" width="640"] I wish we could add sound to this picture...it was fantastic....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2605" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Believe it or not, it was looking like rain ahead and we just happened on this beach bar that was open.....well...we had walked a LONG way![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2606" align="aligncenter" width="640"] You'll have to believe me when I say that the birds are a flock of flamingoes....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2607" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Flamingoes lighting up a dark stormy sky...just like a string of fairy lights![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2597" align="aligncenter" width="640"] We spent a long day driving, getting some miles under our belts....there still seems to be so much to do and so little time!!! We found this empty 1000 space car park next to the beach just outside of Cadiz, to stay in for the night....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2598" align="aligncenter" width="640"] ...only to have this camper turn up, in the empty 1000 space car park...and camp 2' away from us!!!!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2599" align="aligncenter" width="640"] But...we had the most awesome sunset![/caption]

Moving North

September 21st 2014

[caption id="attachment_2594" align="aligncenter" width="640"] We had an early morning walk along the beach....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2595" align="aligncenter" width="640"] ...followed by coffee and toast at this lovely beach bar...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2683" align="aligncenter" width="640"] We returned to the town this morning for a last mooch in the surf and kite shops, only to come across a shop selling a range called Urban Beach.....BT's son works for the company who imports and distributes this range...so we had to have a photo .... [/caption]

We spent the rest of the day making our way towards Cape Trafalgar. We camped at El Palmar for the night.....

More Tarifa

September 20th continued.....

Firstly, I have to apologise for the lack of written information in the next few posts...the truth is that I spent hours writing all the stories and info, ready to be uploaded, only for Simon's mac to finally give up before I had a chance to share it all with you. I am utterly disappointed, but, if and when we manage to get it fixed I will update the posts with the information....but that won't be until we arrive home. :(  ( some of you will be sighing with relief....always too much to read!!!)

so...in the meantime, here is a potted photographic story of our last couple of weeks.....

Tarifa.......

[caption id="attachment_2680" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Happy pair....Africa in the background...yes..really!!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2677" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Looking back towards the town. We did enjoy Tarifa...it is a big surf spot, so a very cool place to be...hanging out with lots of surf dudes!!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2686" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Sunset.....[/caption]