Category: Uncategorized
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Festival das Amendoeiras em Flor do Algarve
The Algarve Festival of Almonds and Almond Flowers One of the joys of visiting the Algarve on an annual basis is the opportunity to take in the yearly seasonal events such as the Almond Festival held in Alta Mora in the eastern Algarve not far from Castro Marim. Over the years, it has grown in…
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Blue skies, sunshine, fresh air
Friday January 31 2025 It was a perfect day for a hike over the hills and through the verdant valleys surrounding Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo about a half hour drive from Estoi. Two of my neighbours in the Quinta, Harald and Guido, elected to participate in this hike organized by Kim. Perhaps you…
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Sun, Sand and Sea
Saturday January 25 2025 Having been here exactly one week, it seemed criminal that I had yet to make a pilgrimage to the beach. The weather gods were kind on Saturday, so headed off to the Ria Formosa Trail and Faro Beach. It was a beautiful, sunny, warm day but I wasn’t there at the…
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Barranco do Velho
Friday January 24 2025 The best laid plans…Woke up early on Friday with visions of a group hike in Barranco do Velho, about 18 km from Estoi, in my head. Here, at the Quinta, the overnight rain had eased off and the cloud cover was beginning to break. A good sign! After much discussion amongst…
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The clouds break
Thursday January 23 2025 There was a break in the cloud cover on Thursday morning and the rain stopped…temporarily. So, i took a quick stroll around town and visited some favourite spots. The most important was O Victor, a local lunchtime restaurant highly popular with local folks. The food is simply presented, plentiful portions and…
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THE RAIN IN SPAIN…DIDN’T STAY THERE
There’s hope on the horizon. Estoi Portugal Tuesday January 21 2024 This has been a wet beginning to my stay in Portugal. Not complaining, simply taking note. They need the rain here and in a few days everything will be bursting into bloom. Meanwhile, when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping! So, on…
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PORTUGAL: Algarve winter
Welcome back to Estoi: Sunday January 19, 2025 It’s more than half-past January and I have been in Estoi a total of 24 hours. It’s wonderful to be here again and renew acquaintances and begin revisiting old haunts and make plans to visit new sites. Quinta Pé da Cruz is once again my home for…
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Dublin & The Book of Kells Experience
Thursday August 15 2024 I saved The Book of Kells Experience for Thursday morning because there was rain in the forecast and I figured the exhibit would take several hours. Housed in the space under the Trinity College Long Room Library, the tour actually begins in the Library. Most of the books have been removed…
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Dublin: Castle, Cathedral, Literature & Poetry
Wednesday August 14 2024 Rising early wasn’t a problem and I was ambling around the courtyard of the Castle well before the 9:30 time advertised for the opening. My hope was to sign up for a guided tour . I was in luck, there was one available at 10. The Castle has literally been the…
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Dublin: a dark pool where rivers meet
Tuesday August 13 2024 My first full day in the city and it wasn’t raining! – yet! the River Liffey is a feature of the city that cannot be ignored. It divides the city contained within human made stonewalls with bridges at convenient points to cross the waters. It’s not the only rivet in town:…
Five Feet, Nine Inches Above Ground 