One of the things that are plentiful here is nature walks. You can have them as challenging or easy you like. We had a change of plans yesterday morning and at the last moment decided to head off and enjoy another opportunity at the Fonte Benémola. The pictures say it all so no point in my mindless ramblings.
Leaving our place to head off. Marc was exploring our patio and the flowers.
This thistle was right beside the car park and I thought it was quite beautiful. There were actually six of the, about three feet high, in a cluster.
This looked very much like an apple tree. Wild and abandoned property.
These tiny, inch high, lupin looking flowers. They peppered this area of the mountain path.
Marc enjoying the sound of the birds, the rumbling of the river, which was quite full. And the sunshine.
The mountains were alive with the wild flowers. Colours in every direction.
I love the cisitus, especially this variety with the burgundy tear drop pattern inside each bloom.
I’m not certain if you can appreciate the magnitude of these plants all up and down the mountains but I thought I’d include a photo in hopes you can stretch your imagination.
My happy fella.
Came across this abandoned property with a wild rose bush starting to bloom.
A cluster of these, each standing about four feet tall.
With all the rains the river is full. Last time we were here, in January, it was totally dry!
Doesn’t he look as if he’s just been caught up to no good???
This tall tree was filled with these feathery soft blooms.
A look back down the stream, which we had just crossed.
We do have a good time together exploring these places.
Rustic and from a time not so far away,
I captured three different kinds of orchids on this walk. The love the limestone which is abundant in the soil around this particular area.
Lovely wispy iris’s
Another orchid
And yet another
Getting towards the end of the loop. I’m way back searching for orchids and when I looked up I could see Marc meandering slowly along the trail obviously listening to the birds.
These were everywhere today…..all along the sides of the road or path but never up in the foliage.
We had hiked on that side of the ravine and I thought this looked great when looking across at it
Took this so you could have a sense of the mountain area we were hiking in.
Today we headed off to Tavira to spend the morning with friends who had arrived recently………had a marvelous visit with Eileen (my friend Jame’s sister) and her friend, Kim. They both recently became “women of a certain age” and this was their birthday present to themselves. What a great thing.
Kim, Marc and Eileen.
Kim, Randy and Eileen.
The bougainvillea is starting to come into full flower again. They were in their fullness when we arrived last November.
On the way home we stopped by a place we had seen advertised a few times. Quinta da Marco…..how could we not…….finally!!
Monsieur Marco in the grasses!!
So very appropriate. for mon mari!
The gates were closed but that was ok, it showed off the wonderfully stylized cistus they had created as part of their logo.
Wonderful days, each and evey one. And I want to end with a funny story………..
Marc and I were commenting today that it is rare to see a lemon tree not on private property. This is disappointing to us as we use a lot of lemons and the trees are laden with them, they simply fall on the ground and that’s that. As we drive along this mountain road we suddenly see, right beside the small highway, an abandoned house and three laden lemon trees!!!!! How extraordinary.
We stopped the car, Marc grabbed a bag from the trunk and started picking. I scurried into the bushes to take a pee and when I finished I grabbed the camera and was just setting up to take a photo of Marc collecting the lemons when suddenly, the window to this presumably abandoned house flew open, right behind Marc and a very old woman starting screaming at us!!!! I tried in my best Portuguese to apologize and explain that we thought it was abandoned etc.. She was having no part of it. Then it dawned on me that perhaps she had also seen me peeing!!!!!!! Needless to say, we took off with our tails between our legs, Embarrassed but at the same time, giggling like two school boys.
This I captured JUST as she threw open the window and startled us with her bellowing.
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Marc and Randys Travel Adventures 
Great pics today! I really loved the doors & minature orchids! The lemon story gave me a great laugh & Marc looks really caught in the act. I hope you escaped with a few lemons & I’m sure you had a few laughs..ha!
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We are still feeling guilty. We almost stopped on the way home to offer some money for the lemons we too but decided to leave well enough alone.
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LOLOL That’s a funny story. I hope you managed to get a good bag full before you got caught. LOL
I love the two doors at the top of the page.
The walk you had today seems like the kind of walk I’d like. I couldn’t do anything fast paced or rough, just a nice meandering while taking in everything around me, the birds, the flowers.
I love the old stone bench in the woods with the wild rose bush growing beside it. It speaks of peacefulness to me.
Was Marc soaking his feet in the water in that ‘guilty’ looking photo? LOL
I too love the cistus, they look like fragile, crumpled paper.
Looks like you had a beautiful day.
xoxoxoxoxox
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Yes, I think you would enjoy that particular walk. It is uphill for a tiny bit but, we did it backwards and got the hill out of the way right at the start. That said, so many beautiful flowers and vistas you are over the hill before you even realize you’ve climbed it.
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Common thieves, you are! Don’t worry, your lemon theft will only count as a venial sin and you may receive some leniency for making good use of your stolen goods! LOL! Great story!
Really loved your blog today…just the carefree spirit of wandering and enjoying Nature’s gifts. I really liked the flowers of course but the photos showing expanse of the terrain gave an insight into Portugal’s diverse landscape. So beautiful! Fonte Benemola is on my list!
Marco’s name being advertised made me laugh…at least it wasn’t on a ‘Wanted’ poster! Ha! Ha!
xoxo
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Will take you there for sure. It’s one of my favourite walks that I love to do a few times while here. Each time it is totally different because of the wildflowers.
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