Dribs and Drabs

The weather here has continued to be extremely warm with blue skies and easy, lazy, days.   We’ve spent time wandering around Estoi, slowly getting Pat oriented to the fact that “all roads lead to Rome”.  Participated in her first Olhão market, and today, a festival in the mountains in the tiny village of Vaqueiros..  Feira do Pao Quente e Queijo Fresco…Festival of Hot Bread and Fresh Cheese.

Happy Campers enjoying the sunshine, the company and a lovely wander all around town.

More wonderful flora bursting into bloom

We bumped into Konrad and one of our neighbours in the market area.

The Olhão market was packed, almost a bit overwhelming.  I can’t imagine how congested it must be in the summer months.   Not for me.

A group of young women singing and entertaining in the market. Wonderful!

Many flowers available and these beautiful irises.

I loved this woman’s individualism.

The shoppers returning to the car.

We decided to head off to the beach and enjoyed a few hours in the sand at Faro.  The funny thing was, just as we were leaving, Pat, Gary, Andrea, and Warren were arriving! How amusing to bump into good friends in a foreign country….especially given we were invited to their place for dinner later that night!

Today’s festival, which we attended a couple of years ago, and were looking forward to this year, was such fun.  It turned out that only Pat M, Pat K, Laurie, and I ended up going.  The drive was wonderful, winding mountain roads, mountainside covered in wildflowers, dancing wildly in the breeze.  The sky, the deep gorgeous Portuguese blue that is truly unique to this part of the world.

As we got out of the car, one of the first things we saw, a field of dancing wild poppies.

The festival was well attended, which I loved to see.

WE bumped into Bonnie and Ken…..again, how wonderful to bump into friends in an unexpected place.

Fruit trees blossoming and looking lovely.

Beautiful blossoms.

I love |Mother Nature and her palate.

Many vendors, all offering a variety of handmade products from food to jewelry to furniture.

This fellow makes beautiful shoes and boots.

I love all the baskets.

Cheese, chorizo, desserts.

What a dessert table!!

The local church and the steps that shortly thereafter, were packed with people.

Patricia Anne and her glass of vino.

Miss Laurie and her glass of vino and chorizo bun.

Three happy women.

I took a long walk around the village and I took this shot from a distance. Can you spot those three happy women?

Look at the animation!!!!

This Dad was dancing with his little girl and she was giggling wildly.

This woman was dancing non-stop and loving it.

This fellow was baking all the chorizo buns…..a hot but very appreciated job

A lovely walk about town allowed me to discover some hidden gems.

A tiny little garden chock a block full of treasures.

I climbed to the top of the church tower.

Taken from the top of the church tower.

Freesia were everywhere today, you could smell them long before you could see them.

This was a piece of art to my eye.

Chimneys here always captivate me.

Look at the lushness and loveliness of this succulent.

Again, chimneys!!!

More freeshia…..I told Pat M that I wish I could bottle the scent and send it to JoAnn

Blue lupins were popping up along the hillside. I love them and look forward to seeing them each year.

We finished our wanderings, enjoyed our hot chorizo buns and fresh cheese on the church steps then decided to head off.  The questio…do we head home or do we head to Alcoutim?   Alcoutim won quickly.

Yellow lupins as far as the eye could see.

Spain, right across the river from Alcoutim. We sat and enjoyed a cold beverage on a patio overlooking this and simply enjoyed each others company, the sunshine and at least once spoke about how blessed our lives are.

Loved the blue door knockers.

What a grand and glorious few days it’s been.   Marc just walked into the room and told  he had sad news to share…..he’d just checked the forecast and it’s going to be in the mid 20’s for the next week or so!!!!!

And last but not least…..Pat M has made a few new friends.