Howling at the Wolf Moon

We’ve been a household of sickies for a few days now!!!!!   I came down with it first then kindly shared it with Marc who in turn, passed it along to James.  Sometimes the hacking and coughing is almost in harmony!!!!  I do believe the worse of it is behind us now and life will start to resemble something a bit more normal.   That said, we haven’t really been sitting around all day and whining………..well for the most part we haven’t!!!!  We have done a few things close to home…….we can’t have James going home saying all he did was sit in the house and drink……….but that’s for another story.

James and I enjoyed a marvelous afternoon at the Ria Formosa Natural Park near Olhão.  We walked for a few hours checking out the flora, the birds and simply enjoying the scents throughout the forest and sea paths.  It helped clear the head.

This is an old mill right on the edge of the sea. We wandered inside, climbed on the top and eventually walked out to the point behind the mill.

Sea birds were in abundance.

WE even saw a couple of flamingos feeding in one of the tributaries.

There are a couple of bird blinds where you can quietly check out the various ducks and other birds without frightening them off.

These egrets seemed to be sleeping.

This old building was abandoned and windows sealed over.

On the way home we stopped in Estoi in hopes that we might have success in securing a prato do dia at Ana’s and Simão’s and as luck would have it, they had enough left for us…..one of my very favourites and Simão’s was stellar……Bochechas de Porco, pigs cheeks.

We were two very happy campers,and by the time we left there, stuffed.  Once home we discovered Marc preparing a beautiful tourtiere for dinner later that night.  It was a day of amazing food for certain.

Last night was the full moon and so at dusk the three of us headed over to the salt flats where we officially howled and danced under the new moon, the Wolf Moon, the first of the new year.  We understand this now secures us a wonderful 2018!!!

Today the sun was beaming and throbbing………..calling or pushing us to the Faro Beach.  We had promised James a beach day and this seemed to be the perfect opportunity.  We sent out a note to Harald and Bela, knowing they too love this beach and go often, and hoped today would be one of those days for them…….and happily, it was.

This is what a happy man looks like when he gets to walk on the beach in Portugal on January 3rd!

Marc was looking forward to a lengthy visit with Bela while the rest of us walked. He wasn’t disappointed.

And of course me. I am more than happy to have my naked toes buried in the sand while walking. Harald and I walked for almost two hours.

Bela arriving at the beach. Very happy to be in one of her favourite spots.

And then along came Harald, my wonderful walking companion for the day. We covered much turf and both revived with the lovely sound and smell of the sea.

James meandered at his own pace and smiled widely the entire time.

I see these fellows in roughly the same spot each time tending to their nets.

A makeshift wind turbine display on the beach.

This shell caught my eye. Lovely colours and design. Thank you Mother Nature.

All that walking and talking stirred up the hunger and the patio at Wax was our destination of choice.

My pizza

James’s pizza

Harald’s amazing seafood dish

Bela and Marc both ordered a caesar salad with frango.

Look at that happy man!!

We sat for a couple of hours relaxing and chatting.  Good food, great company, perfect weather.  It’s so easy to simply fall into this wonderful rhythm and forget the rest of the world is out there.  I wish all my family and friends could experience this.

And then time to call it quits and head for home……….

James, Marc, Harald and Bela

James, Marc, Bela and moi!

Now this fellow has it right. I might join him next time.

I think Marc would have happily stayed.

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Si vous avez suivi le blog vous savez déjà que nous aimons beaucoup aller à la plage de Faro, “Praia de Faro”. Elle est toujours différente à cause des marées bien sûr mais également à cause de son affluence et sa proximité à l’aéroport. Les longues marches sur son sable doux et or relève presque du rêve. Celui-là est éveillé bien sûr et ce n’est pas un cauchemar. Nous nous étions donné rendez-vous avec Bela et Harald vers la fin de l’avant-midi. James, Randy et moi-même à la rencontre de nos amis Allemands afin de faire une promenade sur ce sable doré pour certains et de relaxer et discuté de tout et de rien pour les autres. La terrasse du restaurant Wax nous a accueillis tout le monde vers 13H pour un lunch fort agréable. Pizza pour certains, pâtes pour d’autres et salade pour d’autres conversations et joie de vivre et esprit pour tout le monde.

Le chemin du retour nous amena dans les montagnes autour de Moncarapacho question de faire un peu de tourisme pour le bénéfice de James. Les vieilles montagnes ont des centaines de chemins où les points de vus sont souvent à couper le souffle, les vallées parsemées de domaines ou de fermettes, de troupeaux de moutons ou de chèvres, la joie, le bonheur.

Maintenant, rendu sains et saufs à la maison, le crane rempli de soleil et fous rires la soirée risque d’être tranquille.

A la prochaine

Quoi dire de plus?

Voici Harald, le vaillant marcheur bien contant de sa randonnée sur la plage avec mon mari.

Notra amie Bela tout a fait dans son element , au soleil sur le bord de la mer.

Voici ce qu’a l’air un lézard a tête humaine. Celui-ci a des lunettes de soleil et porte le nom de Randy.