Another Page is Turned

Since our return from our trip the weather has been phenomenal.   It hit 32 degrees at one point yesterday but for the most part, it’s been in the mid 20’s.  Glorious sunshine, blue skies and beach wanderings.

On Tuesday we headed to Faro beach and low and behold, I forgot my camera!!  The devastation to the beach area from the tornado a couple of weeks ago was shocking to see.  Chunks of shoreline gone and damage to most of the boardwalk and various platforms along the dunes.  The work has started on repairs and hopefully it will return to a new normal soon enough.

Yesterday, Wednesday, Marc opted for a car free day while Patricia, Gary, Laurie and I headed for Barril Beach.  Parts of it are closed for repairs but much of it is open.  We enjoyed a more than glorious walk.

Look at all the naked toes in the sand!!!! How happy they were to feel the heat from the sand caressing their toes.

Absorbing every ray of sunshine and the sound and scent of the sea on their second to last day in the Algarve……for this year!

Miss Laurie, happy to be carrying and not wearing her sandals.

Yak yak yak yak

Gorgeous colours in the sea shells lining the beach.

A beautiful completely intact scallop shell.

Succulents are starting to plump up and spread throughout the dunes.

I love this parasitic plant that grows along the shoreline at this time of the year. Such a vibrant yellow.

We walked for a couple of hours then crossed the dunes back to the car and on to Fuzeta to enjoy a drink on a patio near the sea.  How could Pat and Gary leave without one final goodbye to Fuzeta.

Today, Thursday, was packing day for most of us.  Pat and Gary were catching the 14h00 train from Faro to Lisboa.  Laurie, Marc and I are moving to the quinta in Estoi Saturday morning……….we all started organizing for these next phases.  It was a welcomed distraction from Pat’s and Gary’s imminent departure.  We started the morning however with a community breakfast on the patio with Patricia’s homemade French toast.  Delicious.

From there we headed into Estoi…..where else would they enjoy their last Algarvian lunch?  We enjoyed the company of Gwen, Ken and Bonnie…….our big extended family here in the Algarve this year.

I don’t want to go….pout pout pout!!

Ken with his perpetual smile. A man of much mischief me thinks!

The arrival of Gwen, Laurie and Marc…..they had stopped by the quinta to drop off some of our “stuff” for our move this weekend. We’ll be neighbours with Gwen.

Laurie and Gwen…..delighted to find their wine had been preordered and delivered just as they sat!!!

Laurie of the Jasmine!!

Our crew minus Bonnie who had a rendezvous.

Another shot of our crew.

Patricia, Ana and Gary………slightly before the goodbye hugs and watery eyes.

Our delicious prato do dia….frango al olahanese…chicken and clams.

How could Patricia go home without one final panna cotta?

The lovely Elsa and Patricia……now the question….did she make that design with her finger or her tongue???

Bonnie and her new “do”. Looking great Missy.

We love this group of people……Elsa,Simão, Ana and Johana

Simão and Ana.

Simão and his beautiful daughter, Johana.

And so, Patricia and Gary are safely on route to Lisbon…..Laurie, Marc and I are home enjoying the sunshine, music and soon (for me)…..a glass of vino.  There will be the inevitable adjustment of settling into a new routine now that Pat and Gary have gone……I already miss them………but, we are moving in a couple of days and that helps move things along.  The good thing is, Pat and Gary will be back here again next year and of course, we will hopefully get to see them in Canada.  In the meantime…….we have until May 13 before we have to head home so from here till then…….forward looking only.