Another nice day

Today the weather promised to be sunny and warm. It was, but also a little windy.

We thought we would do the same walk as yesterday, but this time on top of the cliffs that you saw yesterday. It was quite windy as we struggled to reach the apex for some good pictures.

Most of the travellers that we met on the way were not up to the trek. They headed back as the wind was too strong. We continued on to get these pictures so we could put them in the blog.
Nothing is too difficult for the blog

These pictures are similiar to yesterday but from a much higher angle.

At this point we are heading back to the Sol e Mar hotel. Downhill, yay.

I could not resist a couple of street scenes on the way back. The streets are so interesting and also very narrow. Two way traffic on these streets.

Once back at the Sol e Mar, it was time to think of a place for dinner.
We decided on a restaurant that is quite close to us. After our lengthy walk in the early afternoon, we thought a short venture out for dinner was in order.

About 50 metres from our hotel is the Casa del Mar restaurant. Sounds like a plan we thought.

Bonnie had chicken parmigiana and I had steak roquefort. Both were excellent and with a bottle of wine and a beer, it was a great dinner.
This is us at the restaurant looking out over the sea.

After Chocolate Mousse for dessert and a complimentary port (very nice) we were on our way.

Until tomorrow.

On the waterfront

The weather is improving each day in Portugal. They advertise that the Algarve has more sun than anywhere else in the world. There is 300 days of sun each year. Well that means 65 days of none. I think we have seen quite a few of those days since we have been here.

However, things are on the upswing. The forecast is for sun and more sun over the next couple of weeks. Let's hope the forecasters are better in Albufeira than in Toronto.

Such a nice day we thought it was time for our 1st beach walk.
Off we went, heading west from our hotel.

Below are a number of pictures of the coastal area as we walked along the beach.

After our trek along the beach, for miles and miles, we finally returned to our base.
Time for a wee bit of refreshment at the Sunset Bar.

I am not sure if we showed any pictures of the Sunset Bar, where we spend many afternoons, when the sun is shining. If so, don't look at these, but if not here are a couple.

Today, as you know is Valentines Day. The hotel had a Valentines Day dinner that we decided not to attend.
We went to the Rainbow Bar around the time the festivities were starting. We sat at the bar and watched all the folks coming into the bar for a pre-arranged drink on their way to dinner.
Bonnie ordered a Harvey Wallbanger and I ordered a large beer.

The waiter asked us if we were going to the gala, and we said we were not. He offered us one of the signature drinks that everyone was getting. He told us what was in it, but there was too many things to remember. Although 2 of them were strawberries and Portuguese liquor.

Joe is holding our drinks.

Time to get back to our room. The Eastenders is on the tv.

See y'all tomorrow. The weather promises to be terrific.

That's a lot better

Once again we were up early (9:00 AM) to check the weather. Sun, glorious sun, was the order of the day.

Off to breakfast for fruit, poached eggs on toast, fried tomatoes and of course beans. Every english breakfast has fried tomatoes and beans. Well, you're not in England, you may say. Just go to the breakfast here, look at the food and listen to the conversation and you would think you were in Yorkshire, London or the Lake Country.

It was such a sunny day that we needed to go outside and walk around the streets of old Albufeira.

A couple of street scenes as we made our way to Fisherman's Beach.

Yes, cars do drive on these streets.

Bonnie and I on the street.

We passed a bar on the way that advertised various drinks. Bonnie insisted we go in and sample a couple of the drinks. Which ones do you think we picked?

We had an excellent lunch by the sea. Chicken Caeser for Joe, and Chicken Piri Piri for Bonnie.
The Piri Piri is quite hot so Bonnie actually had Chicken sans Piri Piri.

A couple of pictures of us from our hotel, looking west to old town.
You can see what a fantastic day it was today,

I almost forgot, but Bonnie did buy another Poncho.

I think our protest on the sand sculpture competition appears to be ending. They told us, if we go to a higher court here in Portugal, there is a good chance we may be kicked out of the country. I think they think we are American, even though I constantly wear my Canada flag pin.
Oh well, even though 1st prize was a bottle of Sangria, we had to back down.

The good news is, I bought a litre bottle of Sangria on the way home for 2 Euros.

Back to our hotel room, and I think it is time for some Sangria.

Clouds and Rain

As George would say, " it was an angry sea today, my friends" or words to that effect.
You can see by the pictures, that today is not one of the best. Where is that famous Portuguese sun?

Tomorrow promises more of the same, weather wise, as today. Oh well, England vs Wales in the 6 Nations Rugby Cup is on in a couple of hours.

On the good side, it seems that the glorious sun will be back on Monday, and will last for at least a week.

Not a lot to say today, so I will sign off until the weather improves.

Everything depends on the weather

When you live in a small hotel room, your day is quite dependent on the weather.
Our plan each day, is to spend as much time outdoors, exploring the area. There are numerous shops, restaurants and beaches to explore. So you can see how the weather is the 1st thing we check each morning.

The last couple of days have been excellent weather and we took advantage by spending most of the day outside.

I tried to capture the sunrise one morning. Not my best picture, but at least we could tell the sun was rising that day.

One of the ways to get to the shops and restaurants is down our elevator to level 0, and through the tunnel. A very short and easy walk.

A 10 or 15 minute walk from there and you reach fisherman's beach.
Bonnie had a strawberry daiquiri on the upper level of Flavours restaurant.

Same view looking west toward our hotel, the Sol e Mar.

Just an update on our sand sculpture protest. It seems we were rejected by a vote of 3 to 2.
However, just like Donald Trump, we will appeal the decision, all the way to the supreme court if need be.

A couple of updates on earlier activities, that I cannot remember if I included them in the blog earlier. (senior moment I guess)

When we had the rental car, we stopped at the Lidl store to pick up a few essentials (wine!!) before we got to the hotel and turned in the car. Lidl stores are grocery stores that carry most everything.
For the 1st time since we had the car, I locked it with the FOB.
Into the store we go, collect what we need, and head to the car.
Bonnie tried to open the door, but it would not open. I was clicking the FOB and nothing was happening on my side either. I put the bag on the hood of the car and wrestled with door to no avail.
I thought, "does this have anything to do with me using the FOB to lock the car instead of the lock on the door"
Suddenly Bonnie said. Is this our car? Whoops, we were trying to get into the wrong car. Ours was next to it. Lucky the owner didn't come out while we were attempting to break into his car.

In the hotel, all the packages like soap, shampoo, shower gel etc are all in Portuguese.
I went in for a shower, opened up a pack of what I thought was shower gel, showered, came out of the shower to discover I had washed with hair shampoo. Oh well, it seemed to do the job and my hair looked real good.

Today, Friday Feb 10th, the weather is overcast, cool and some rain. Luckily Father Brown is on the TV. Until next time.

Hotel Sol e Mar

Shorter post today we may become boring to y'all writing about the warm weather and sunshine.

By the way, we protested our loss in the sand sculpture competition. I told them that DeClara was as Portuguese as Christopher Columbus, who sailed under the Portuguese flag to the new world.
The decision will come in the next couple of days.

We have not told y'all too much about our hotel that we are in for 27 days.

This hotel has 6 levels. They are 0 to 5.

Level 1 to 4 are the rooms. We are on level 2

Level 0 is the beach level and includes the sunset restaurant, bar, ice cream bar and indoor pool.

These are pictures of that area including the comfy chairs and the restaurant area on level 0.
The 3rd picture has Bonnie on the far right with her strawberry daiquiri.

Up to level 5 where we find the Rainbow bar and the Sunrise restaurant.

Down the hall is the pool table and a number of card tables. Further on is the Sunrise restaurant.

Back to our room and Bonnie is deeply involved in a scrabble game on the computer with either Jackie, Doreen or Sue.

The weather today was a mix of sun and cloud, but warm enough that we spent most of the daytime, either in old Albufeira, or on the comfy chairs at the Sunrise restaurant area.
Tomorrow, the weather is all sun and 17C, so we will again be out most of the day.

Sun, Sun, Sun

Up again today at the crack of dawn (9:00 AM) and off to breakfast.

Today is the best day, weather wise, since we have been here.
As Irving Berlin said, and Ella Fitzgerald, Willie Nelson, and probably every other singer except me sang "nothin but blue skies do I see".

What a wonderful day.

Once again we decided to go into the old town.
The picture below shows one of narrow streets in Albufeira. There are shops and restaurants all along the pathway.

Bonnie bought a poncho at one of the shops.

In the centre of the old town area is a square that includes lots of restaurants and a couple of bands playing music.

This is a picture of our hotel, the Sol e Mar. That big open area is our balcony.

Actually this is a picture of our hotel from the beach in front of the hotel. Our balcony is on level 2, 4th from the right.

This picture is from the same area at the beach, but looking slightly to the East.

For those of you who were wondering how we did in the sand sculpture competition, we actually placed first but were disqualified as we were not Portuguese. Oh well, first prize was only a free Litre of Sangria.

See y'all tomorrow.