Five Feet, Nine Inches Above Ground

Tuesday January 13, 2026

And then there was rain! That’s the only way to begin because that’s how today began. After a lovely three days of sunshine and warm weather. Saturday, as you know dear readers, is market day in Olhão and this was one I didn’t want to miss. It’s a great place to shop indoors and out plus people watch while sipping a bica and chattering amiably with longtime friends and new acquaintances. And that’s pretty much what happened!

Olhão is also an important waterfront city with watercraft of all descriptions moored along the waterfront. Gulls were everywhere, of course, and a pair of them joined a human couple for breakfast on the break water.

A few vendors set up canopies in the adjacent park – I suspect there will be more later in the year. There was the usual local band of musicians drumming up funds as they worked their way through the crowd.

By noon, the vendors and consumers were beginning to disperse so the intrepid trio of Randy, Marc and James went in search of lunch. It being Saturday afternoon, many of the usual were closed. An obligingly open eatery provided us with morsels of succulent roasted chicken with tomato and onion and lettuce salad accompanied with delicious fries. There was a piece of carob cake to top it off!

The first Sunday of the month is market day in Estoi. Another shopping opportunity not to be missed. I was out the door in good time and off down the hill through the village to the fairgrounds where the stalls are set up very early in the morning. Everything you could possibly think of and more is on offer from fresh fruit and vegetables, plants, poultry, clothing, pottery, … and Marc and Randy! We had a grand time.

And the band from Sunday!

As I trudged uphill with my carefully chosen purchases, I came across one of the many carefree cats in the village basking in the winter sunlight. It paid absolutely zero attention to me. Further on, there was a lovely floral greeting in the quinta almond grove: the almond trees are beginning to bloom!

Monday was a bright and sunny day and I headed off to meet up with Marc and Randy for a trip to the eastern part of the Algarve, the beautiful beaches and boardwalks near Monte Gordo. That’s where the huge heart is and thanks to Randy, I have a photo of me for the blog! A posing opportunity not to be missed.

The beaches and boardwalk are well maintained although i elected to spend most of my time on the beach. The actions of the waves as they create drifts of shells across the sand in mystical lines and curves, writing a message that will be erased before it is discerned.

My short promenade on the boardwalk yielded the following flora photos:

In a few days, the abundant Bridal veil broom will cover the area in willowy white blossoms. A good reason to return!

Meanwhile, back on the beach…

The shifting light and patterns, the rhythm of the waves, the ebb and flow of the water constant in its continual change. Footprints in the sand could be a sign of the times: “Oh be kind to your web footed friends, for a duck may be somebody’s mother…”

And then it was time to go in search of a late lunch! It turned out to be a gastronomic delight of wild boar stew for my two compatriots and cod done in the oven with potato, egg, and olives.

Along the way, at one point, we peaked over a gate and saw this wonderful dog guarding the vineyard:

On my way home to Estoi from Randy and Marc’s, I made some detours along some roads I hadn’t travelled before and found this Paperflower / Bougainvillea glabra in full blossom:

The day came to a quiet close in the almond/olive grove of the quinta where much to my delight I found that hundreds of Friar’s cowl flowers had popped up seemingly overnight!

Until next time!