Eastern Algarve: Whistle stop tour of old haunts and new places

We have holidayed in this area many times but not in the last six years and this is the first time we have visited in May, rather than in school holidays.  We found the weather to be sunny and hot and the parking easy.

Monte Gordo, a seaside town with a casino and popular with Portuguese and Spanish families, was our base.  

 A wooden walkway runs the length of the beach

 Walkway over dunes to beautiful, quiet beach

Nearby Castro Marim has a medieval castle strategically sited on a hilltop overlooking the Guadiana River which marks the boundary between Portugal and Spain. 

 

There is a nature reserve with salt works where we saw ducks, herons and storks and their untidy, high nests

Another place of interest is the town of Tavira, where we  wandered around admiring the architecture, flowers, bridges over the Rivers Gilao and Sequa and saw turtles swimming in a pond in the park.

We took the tourist train, which was quite uncomfortable over the often cobbles streets, to the sand marshes and up to church St Ana where there is a camera obscura, gardens and a wonderful view.

 

 

On the way back to the hotel we stopped at the small resort of Cabanas where a public transport boat takes you to the main beach for 1.5 Euros.  

The picturesque village of Cacela Velha with its remains of an 18^th century fort, restaurant and church is delightful.   

  

The town of Vila Real de Santo Antonio is sited on the Rio Guadiana. 

 Formerly an important centre for canning tuna and sardines, the pedestrianised town centre boasts some fabulous architecture. Founded after the 1755 earthquake to defend the region from Spain, it operates a busy ferry route to the spanish town of Ayamonte.

  The whole town, including customs house, town hall, barracks and church was built all at the same time on a grid system after the earthqualke  of 1755.

 From Ayamonte, we took the bus to Isla Canela, had lunch at the beach bar (chiringuito) Playa Alta and walked a few miles along the extremely long promenade
 

The last day came far too soon.  First stop was Olhao, famed for its  fish market and weekly mixed market then left the madding crowds for Faro beach, a tranquil area with bars and restaurants. 

 

 

 And last but certainly not least, the Palacio de Estoi.  We first came across this fabulous 19th century building many years ago, but only had access to the charming but overgrown garden with its fountains and statues.   It has been restored as a Pousada and now an opulent hotel with Spa but anyone can stroll in enjoy the garden and have a drink in a wonderful setting.  The garden has lost some of its grandeur but is still an attractive area. 

 

We hope to return to the area and continue our explorations.

Six on Saturday - Spring Bank holiday

We have had some lovely weather recently to show Britain's gardens and countryside at its best.
I have been out and about recently and here are my six:

 1.  Laburnum Arch at Temple Newsam.  There are four of these which flank an arrangement of box topiary.  Worth a visit to see the beautiful Rhododendrons and all for free.

 2.  Bird of Paradise in Temple Newsam hothouse

 3.  Climbing Pelagoniums, again in the hothouse

4.  Cactus (prickly pear), Eastern Algarve

 5.  Just made my heart sing, Eastern Algarve

 6.  More Pelagoniums, Beningborough Hall, Yorkshire.  I can never get mine to grow so large and showy.

 The Propagator generously hosts Six on Saturday.  Click on the link to his blog to see what he and his followers are growing and doing in their gardens this week.

Six on Saturday Mid-May

As always, wonderful to see what everyone is up to this week.
Here are my six:
Number One:  Years ago, I grew these Aqualegia William Guinness from seed.  Prettier when they look up in the sunshine.

 Number Two:  Three different types of Strawberry and Nasturtium in a hanging basket

 Number Three:  These cheap and cheerful Pansies have graced my front step since October.

 Number Four:  These Forget-Me_Knots cleverly self seeded in a redundant trough although when I attempt to establish them in a certain spot they don't oblige. 

 Number Five:  (My neighbour's) Ceanothus

 Number Six:  I love this Potentilla shrub but it's really woody at the base.  Dare I prune it hard in Autumn or Spring?

The Propagator generously hosts Six on Saturday.  Click on the link to his blog to see what he and his followers are growing and doing in their gardens this week.

 

Six on Saturday May the Fourth be with you

I do enjoy reading all your Sixes on Saturday. Thanks to the Propagator for facilitating this, allowing me to find new ideas, gain gardening tips and experience garden envy. 
Here are my six for today:

 Common or garden Holly but after 30+ years looks like it has decided to bear berries

 Three Euphorbias:  L - R Tasmanian Tiger, Polychroma and Fireglow just about to bloom

 Lots of Apple Blossom

 This is the Dye Border at East Riddlesden Hall, Keighley

Do visit others who have submitted their Six on Saturday courtesy of our host at

https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/

Faith and Friendship

Launched in 2015, Nisa-Nashim is a network of Muslim and Jewish women across the UK.  The organization Nisa-Nashim, the Urdu word and Hebrew word for women, was formed to bring the Jewish and Muslim communities in Britain closer together.  In the words of co-founder Laura Marks

“Our message has always been reducing hatred and reducing ignorance that leads to hatred, but our primary focus is on Islamophobia and antisemitism.”  

Here in Leeds we have one of the more than 24 groups that exist in the UK.  Our mission is to bring our communities together and promote ways in which Jewish and Muslim women can understand that their similarities are greater than their differences.   Nisa-Nashim are now working towards setting up student groups too.

Members of our local group has visited each other’s places of worship, stood side-by-side at Holocaust remembrance services, celebrated each other’s festivals, built personal friendships and held discussions and picnics.  Naturally, all activities involve delicious, vegetarian foods. 

Nisa-Nashim ensure their voices are heard through the media.  At this year’s Nisa-Nashim conference held in April, Faith and Friendship: Shaping the Future Together, high profile representatives from politics, the police and the media spoke, as well as Muslim and Jewish women who have found success in their field and can be instrumental in empowering others.

As you would expect from an all-female gathering, the atmosphere at our meetings is lively and loud.  However, we are like-minded people who are comfortable to learn about and celebrate each other’s cultures.  Perhaps there is a need for Nisa-Nashim to widen its audience to reduce ignorance and hatred in society but, if anyone can do it, women can.