Tag: travel
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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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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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Of tiny roads and sheep
Tuesday August 06 2024 It was road trip day, again. The destination being Galway City with a major detour into the Dingle Peninsula and the town of the same name. I knew it would be a drive filled with dramatic views and roadside vistas. What I was unprepared for was an accidental left hand turn…
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Ouvane Falls and Ilnacullin/Garinish Island
Sunday August 04 & Monday August 05 2024 Having followed a somewhat circuitous route after the turn mishap near Cork, I arrived at the Ouvane Falls Hotel not far from Bantry. It was yet daylight and I was hoping the kitchen would still be open. I had phoned to let them know I would be…
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Blarney Stone, Castle and gardens
Sunday August 04 2024 The first weekend in August is a bank holiday meaning most everyone get’s a three day weekend. So. everyone and their next door neighbour were out and about. I was up early with an evening destination of the Ouvane Falls Hotel near Bantry. So, I decided to stop at Blarney castle…
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Waterford: a city of history and crystal
An unfinished Waterford Crystal reproduction of the Brian Boru harp Saturday, August 03, 2024 There’s lots to see and do on a sunny summer Saturday in Waterford. In fact, the city was in the midst of holding an outdoor interactive science fair in the central part of town. The crowds were beginning to gather as…
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My Ireland adventure continues…
New Ross: Dunbrody Famine ship The time has come to catch-up on what has been happening on this great Irish adventure. One thing is for certain: access to the internet can be rather feeble in places especially when advertised as free! I’m currently in Northern Ireland in a town called Strabane situated south of Derry…
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There were two cats of Kilkenny..
Saturday July 27 2024 As the old song goes … there were two cats too many…and the one left has taken up residence in the garden of the school. The cats and Kilkenny has a current reference to the local hurlers and their fans: they are known as the Kilkenny cats. And they’re very proud…
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Kilkenny: a city of Irish charm
Friday July 26, 2024 Jet lag was definitely affecting me on Friday. I was awake before the birds but managed to hang out at the hotel until the sky brightened. I had noticed the evening before something on a map entitled The Canal Walk. It appeared to be an urban walk that encircled the castle…
Five Feet, Nine Inches Above Ground 