And so My Birthday Month Begins!!!!!!!!

We continue to recuperate in this house.  I can’t wait till I wake up and feel like myself again.  I swear I’ll be doing a naked happy dance on the front lawn!!!  that said, despite illness, we continue to enjoy each day as best we can and we still muster up the energy for the occasional trip.

Our fabulous baked rigatoni with turkey meatballs compliments of Patricia and Marc.

What the inside looks like. Delicious!!

Good hearty comfort food is always good when you aren’t feeling well.  Right?  Well, there is no shortage of that here with three of us loving the kitchen.   It’s never a power struggle, or a competition, we all seem to have things we want to do and we work well supporting each other.  The great thing is…all four of us love to eat!!!  We have to keep up our energy to get well.

Yesterday we decided to head off to Vila Real de Santo Antonio and Ayamonte…….just in the event the shoe sale we went to a few weeks ago was still on…and perhaps/maybe…they would have something that Patricia might just love!!!  It was a fun day and unlike our trip with Gwen and James a few weeks ago, it did not rain but was sunny and much warmer.

Just boarded the boat to head off.

A few beautiful egrets were hovering near the shore line and I was lucky enough to catch this fellow.

On the upper deck catching the rays and watching the distant landscape.

I love this shot of Patricia and Gary.

The ferry ride is only 14 minutes across the Guadiana River but as soon as you arrive it’s completely different in so many ways, from Portugal.  The architecture, tile work, streets lined with decorative orange trees, and of course, the language.  It may be a small touristy town but, it’s a great way to wile away a few hours and experience a slightly different culture, and food.

This is our first view as we disembark and walk towards the main square. Very pretty with the decorative Seville orange trees.

I quite love this door……..it always makes me smile. I’m certain I’ve taken the photo before but what do I care!!

We bought some of these wonderful Spanish olives. Such wonderful flavour.

As well we bought a quantity of these…..you can never have too many olives!!

The local pharmacy is beautiful with the decorative tiles.

Palm trees make me happy!

Through an open doorway we got to appreciate the tiled stairs.

These beautiful tiled religious shrines are all throughout the town, on street corners, private buildings, churches, parks etc.. They are usually quite detailed and brilliantly coloured.

Another wall shrine

I loved the reflection in the door and tiles in this open doorway to a private home

This decorates, quite high up, the four corners of an old house.

A tranquil space to sit and relax in a quaint neighbourhood

We may not be in Portugal but the cock still remains prevalent!!

Religious shrine

Religious shrine

OK…so…..this huge abandoned boat, gone to decay, looks as if it has given birth to this tiny, shiny new boat!!! I know, my imagination is warped!

This statue pays homage to the Spanish women who worked in the canning industry.

Marc had no idea this little bird……as well as me……were checking him out.

We had a great time………Pat and Gary enjoyed seafood paella for lunch while Marc and I opted for the famous Spanish porc…….all good and we forgot to take photos!!   We headed back to Vila Real de Santo Antonio, put our purchases in the trunk then headed into the pedestrian area of Vial Real to browse and continue to enjoy the sunshine.

Imagine, mosquitoes in Portugal in January!!!

My handsome fellow…..blue is most definitely his colour…

And did I mention he is a little devil at times???

Today we headed to Estoi to enjoy the marvellous prato do dia at Snack Bar com Tradições,  Carne de porco à portuguesa

Before……..

After…….

Before eating however, we enjoyed a lovely stroll in Estoi and a walk through at the gardens of the Pousada…..

It’s so sad we don’t like each other and we don’t get along!!!!!

Taken from the gardens back towards the pousada. I see new things each time I go there.

Love this bust in the garden……too bad my camera focused more on the palm leaf!!

The FOUR Graces!!

I know, it’s cheesy but I asked him to do it. The hole was there…I knew his head would fit……..it just called out to me!!!

Some people will do anything to impress their grandchildren!!!!!

Love this wall decoration.

For those of you that keep demanding it…finally a few desserts were devoured……..

Ana’s homemade panna cotta…….Patricia literally licked her plate clean.

Coffee mousse….made lovingly by Elsa.

Anas very special homemade rice pudding………hints of orange and gorgeous rich Portuguese cinnamon……and yes, there is a difference.

We headed towards home and Marc, who was anxious to put paintbrush to canvas, opted to stay there while Patricia, Gary and myself headed off to walk the salt flats at Fuzeta.  The sun simply demanded we stay outside and burn off our colds.  What a delight it was to walk the flats and take in the variety of seabirds, the smell of the sea and get to enjoy a stroll around this tiny we town we all love so much.

A large flock of flamingos enjoying a feast in the salt flats. There were several flocks of them today.

I think this little boat has seen better days and maybe it’s last trip out to sea!

These three were amused and captivated by something……what you ask……see next photo

This huge monstrosity had slowly made it’s way up the tiny Fuzeta harbour…..thank goodness it was high tide……and had just set anchor. I think the locals were amused.

Wonderful day………….and it’s not over as a wonderful pot of homemade vegetable bean soup sits simmering on the stove top.    Oh……I know that some of you are probably wondering so……….YES, Patricia got new shoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!