Wayfaring Wanderers

To think we’ve already been here for over a month is a bit surreal for us to get our heads around.  It truly feels as if we’ve just arrived yet when I look back at my blog posts it’s amazing how much we’ve been doing.  As always!

We had determined we would enjoy a lazy relaxing day around the Quinta but at 10h15 we suddenly changed our minds, jumped in the car, and headed into Olhão.  It was the right decision as the sunshine on the water, the scent of the high tide, the market energy, all helped to energize us and motivated us to wander some of the back streets of  Olhão.  Always a wonderful experience.

The “boys” solving the problems of the world while the women do the weekly shopping or, with any luck, are enjoying a glass of vinho on a patio.

My smiling decoy to allow me to take the last shot! We have it down to an art.

Steaming baskets of hot baked batata doce (sweet potatoes). In Portugal sweet potato is a common snack eaten in Autumn and Winter, alongside with chestnuts.

Tiny Scotch Bonnet peppers. They provide quite a wallop to any dish.

I’ve mentioned before, this is outlined with tiny white lights and at night, during the holidays, it’s simply gorgeous. Goes great with a gin and tonic on any of the nearby patios!!

Music was all around at the market again today. It was quite busy, almost a bit too much.

We bought fresh bread, local leeks, a large basket of wild blackberries, green beans, all for a total of 5 euros!!  Given we didn’t need anything other than bread, it was ok!  We then headed off to wander some of the back streets.

I love the fact somebody decided to paint the water covers two different colours as they are on two different houses. They did a good job of complimenting I think.

I liked this knocker. It reminds me of a bull.

Santa has started to show up on various balconies.

We decided to head home and enjoy lunch in the square.  Dropped our purchases at home then walked the short distance and found our friend Gus sitting there alone.  Poor Susie has a cold (hugs Susie).  Marion and David showed up and a good time was had by all.   Today was the owner’s birthday and she was happy to show off her new footwear!!

Look closely!!!

Sylvia and Elsa coming to show off the new footware.

We had a plate of hot pastel de natas delivered to our table to celebrate the birthday.  A lovely gesture.  Sadly I can’t eat them but somebody at the table got to enjoy two of them!!!

The morning exercise, the sun, the food, and the beer finally got the best of us.  Marc and I headed home and found sunny spots on the upstairs terrace, he to paint, me to lay back and get my intake of vitamin D and both of us enjoying new music.   Not a bad day given we weren’t going to do anything!

I love the intense blue of the Portuguese sky especially as a background for something like this.

The four o’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa) were in flower today. Such vibrancy.

I took this the other day……….the nespera (loquat) blossom. The flowers have a rich, sweet scent and are quite delicate.   I loved both the busy bee and the snail in this shot.  Mother Nature doing what she does best.