Around Tavira (3) The Castelo de Tavira

Is there such a thing as Blogger's Block? If so I've just had it but hopefully we'll get back to normal now (and maybe a little more frequently to catch up)!

The remains of the castle in Tavira aren't huge but the views are amazing.

You can also spot pieces of the medieval walls around the town

Same gate, from the other side!

Helen, Mo et moi just outside the castle entrance

Mo taking a break from walking up the steps...

...and possibly enjoying this view.

Tine & your faithful blogger within the castle grounds...

...with its beautiful bushes...

...and old urns.

There are a couple of turrets to explore...

...sometimes occupied...

...but always with a wonderful view.

Around Tavira (2) The old bridge and the Igreja de Santiago de Tavira

Who doesn’t like exploring new places? We found Tavira to be a fascinating town with much to see.

This painting was on display at our Airbnb…

…and the real thing was just as impressive at low tide…

…and high.

Mo climbing to investigate the Igreja de Santiago de Tavira, sensibly keeping to the shade

It’s a very imposing building…

…with typical Catholic grandeur.

Around Tavira (1)

We were very surprised when Helen contacted us whilst we were in Gran Canaria: would we like to join them in Southern Portugal a few weeks later? After a brief second’s thought the answer was yes, of course!
We two in La Tranche isolating with Covid, and Helen & Mo back in Bingley scoured the internet to find a destination and an Airbnb, and between us we came up trumps.

Our flight was from Nantes and we had a great view of the ring-road bridge over the Loire

A couple of hours later we were flying over the lagoons to the east of Faro…

…not realising that I took a photo of our destination, Tavira!

Three out of four ain’t bad, having apéritifs outside our apartment. Notice the fleeces: it wasn’t so hot on our arrival.

There were blue skies though…

…two views from the balcony.

Next morning a shop at the market just round the corner. Notice the masks: compulsory in all enclosed public places.

I think Tine was smitten by the hand-made footwear shops…

…but we gave this octopus restaurant a miss!

Time for a garden update

We had two cubic metres of topsoil delivered a short while ago as our garden produce has not been as great this last couple of years. Many back-and-forth wheelbarrow trips later fingers crossed for this year’s crops.

We bought this year’s tomato plants from our favourite stall on the market. The raised bed behind has French beans, salad & radishes.

 

Look what’s peaking its head above its leaves again…

…and it would seem another creature is happy too.

Our first strawberries haven’t very long to go now

25th April and our ‘ratte’ potatoes are looking healthy (that’s the rest of our topsoil piled up to the left)

A couple of weeks later and from a different viewpoint, watering from the well has paid off

New for 2022 a pyramid of colour by the front gate…

…and our ‘claret & amber’ lily that flowers each year around the anniversary of the Bradford City fire in 1985.

Also new for 2022 (no, not Tine) a lovely garden seating set

Let’s not forget our little pool, the heat pump raising the temperature to 26ºC today so not far to go!

An Odds & Ends post between holidays

We enjoyed our holiday on Gran Canaria but it made us realise that all-inclusive is not for us, great as it sounds. Despite that we brought back many happy memories AND Covid! Yes we both tested positive on our return and were confined to barracks for a week, neither of us too ill thankfully.

Once clear Tine managed a few days back in the UK, and what a surprise: lovely weather and outdoor eating chez Nadine!

Back in La Tranche your faithful blogger was well-looked after by Jean & Monique, but notice, no blue skies!

This is what we had, sand-laden clouds all the way from the Sahara

There was a weird yellow glow for a few days and the car was desperate to be washed

Eventually no queue at the car wash: happy car & blogger!

In other news there have been some good findings on the beach recently.

No whales though