Portugal – The Algarve – Cabanas - The weather is hot and sunny nearly all the time with just the odd cloudy spell thrown in to cool you down. The flat is situated just outside Cabanas and is one of hundreds on a large complex. The complex appears to be one of the construction projects that were coming to fruition when the recession hit as probably 66% remain unsold. As June is ‘out of season’ the occupiers of most of the other 33% are nowhere to be seen. The result is what appears to be a set for ‘life after people.’ This has its advantages but at times it is a little eerie. So in order have been to
Sat - Cabanas – Small pretty harbour on a bay so to get to the beach you need to take a ‘water taxi’ got bitten by mosquitoes tonight. Typical they head straight to me. Think they are going to be itchy.
Sun – Pool day. Wow other people and from Oldham too. Nice couple with a baby on the way very soon and staying in his father’s apartment. Got the impression despite it all that they wished they had not bought the apartment now as the prices had since fallen by 25% but it's a lovely spot and you cant put a price on all those holidays. Had to go to the chemist for some cream for the bites which have come up swollen and red.
Mon Tavira – Large town reached by train (10min) with a beach again only reachable by a water taxi. I bought a mobile internet stick for 29.99 which i thought had 10 days use on but it turns out there was only 1 hour. So need to go back at some point. Well Vodafone need I say any more.
Tue - Monte Gordo – A large town with high rise hotels which is unusual here. Planning laws must restrict the height of new developments to preserve the atmosphere of the place. This does however have a promenade and a beach.
Wed - Seville – Obviously in Andalucía, Spain. Took a day trip on a coach (2hrs) on Wednesday. Nice city with a huge gothic cathedral and lots of winding streets. Very hot place though and I was glad to get back on the coach again after a few hours. What was amazing was driving past acres of orange groves laid out in long straight lines and full of ripe Seville bitter oranges.
Walked into Cabanas after the coach dropped us off and saw 2 snakes in the stream by the path. Managed to get a photo of 1 of them.
Thur - back to Monte Gordo for some sunbathing. Unfortunately it didn’t work out as the beach was freezing. Then to Tavira for a 10 euro top up on the internet stick. Money has all but run out and there are still 3 days left to go so we are going to need some cheap entertainment till we leave.
Fri – Up early and at last the internet is working again. Although to be honest most of the time you look at crap to pass the time. Wonder how the dog is getting along at my brothers. Well will know Monday. I hope he is behaving himself and not being too much of a nuisance...he’s very boisterous. Spent the day on the beach and had pasta with a vegetable tomato sauce for dinner which Jennifer made...very nice.
Sat – Spent the day on Cabanas beach again – very hot. Really too hot for me even tough I brown off quite easily. I think my ideal temperature is about 22-24 degrees. Got a Frango (chicken) for dinner and had a full roast dinner as best we could – especially given the limited cooking facilities.
Sun – Last day today...nice here but I want to be home now among all the familiar things and see little dog. Not looking forward to work again though. I haven’t missed that one little bit. Think we are going to the local town of Tavira for lunch and then home to pack. It’s a hot day and a mosquito manages to bite my ear and make it swell up.
Mon – Ah and so back into Britain and the cool, cloudy weather. The first thing I notice is all the posters in the airport that tell me what I cannot do here. That sounds about right and head for home past the sniffer dog at customs. But I’m brown as a walnut, just as wrinkled and itchy...must have been a good holiday!
Pictures to follow