Feira do Pão Quente e Queijo Fresco in Vaqueiros

Another gorgeous Algarvian day and one of my favourite festivals of our stay.  The fair of Hot Bread and Fresh Cheese in Vaqueiros, which is a very tiny village tucked away in one of the many valleys in the mountains near Alcoutim, about an hour or so northeast of us.

My companions for the day were Sandy and André.  Marc is just over his vertigo and didn’t want to risk the winding narrow mountain roads and Diane is recovering from a horrible bout of sciatica and was aware that this sort of long sitting trip might flare it up again.

I love this area and this particular festival for its authenticity and simplicity.  We agreed that the trip there was going to be a stop-start kind of event as it wasn’t simply about the destination.  What a fun time we enjoyed together.

A roadside stop became necessary when I noticed a huge patch of wildly dancing gladiolus. I take great pleasure in finding them each year and this years “crop” is substantial. .

A close up of the gladiola.

I’m not entirely certain what this will turn out to be but the blossom is about the size of a thumb nail!

Sandy telling me not to take her photo!!!

André laughing at the two of us.

Lots of chatter throughout the trip and many laughs.

This poppy was standing tall and totally alone on the side of the road.

This lavender was heavily scented and again, right on the side of the road.

Happily, when we arrived in Vaqueiros we didn’t have to park as far away from the core of the town as we usually do.  Sadly, it was an indication that, although well attended, it wasn’t as busy as it has been other years.

Hand made straw hats…..sadly neither of them managed a good fit!

André claimed he had a smaller head than Sandy…….so many possible comebacks but I let them all pass.

Many food stalls, of all kinds.

We wandered from the bottom of the town to the old church square at the top checking out all the vendors then eventually we settled on hot, freshly out of the oven chorizo buns and a cold Sagres (coke for Sandy) enjoyed in the sunshine on the church steps.

Fresh hot from the oven chorizo buns.

A lovely old chimney.

Calla lilies were growing all along several of the fences.

I chuckled seeing a payphone in the middle of the old square.

The top of the old church.

This choir entertained us with several “tunes”.

Many folks were dancing and enjoying the local music.

The happy shoppers. Sandy, homemade shoes and André, olive oil.

I gotta get me an outfit just like this one!!!!

A better look at my new dream apparel!

We were there, very much enjoying it all, for about two hours or so then decided to leave to head home.  I had two willing companions for exploring and we headed off on routes unknown, and very little indication of where exactly we might be heading.  It was in the general direction of the sea and we knew that unless we drove into the Guadiana River, we were still in Portugal and I was confident I could get us home!  It turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable route with several stops along the way.

Star of Bethlehem growing all along the mountainside roads

Acres and Acres of yellow lupin. I walked through part of the field in my glory!h

Such a beautiful flower and I love how they grown in such abundance here in March.

Porco Preto…..the Black Pig. He grunted at me and flapped his ears. I’m not exactly certain what he said but I don’t think it was complimentary!!

These two babies were cavorting all along this rocky terrain.

A cluster of wild marjoram, in full flower, with a patch of aeonium arboreum (the yellow flowers) mixed in.

Barbary Nut, which was growing all along the embankment for quite some distance. It’s small and hugs the ground.

This old windmill was actually working.

I loved this roadside ornament. I love that somebody took the time to make it and install it.

Don Quixote’s faithful steed??

Another shot of the windmill.

These two paintings are inside the roadside bus stop. Made me think of Three Pines and as I am currently reading Louise Penney’s most recent book I though that was appropriate.

A patio of an old house lovingly painted.

Again, just off the side of the road. An invitation to relax and breath it all in.

Poppies are starting to pop up in abundance.

I love that somebody made this and installed it in the middle of a very rural roundabout.

No idea what this is but it was gorgeous.

And finally, as we drove through the blink and you miss it town of Furnazinhas, these two lovely handpainted tiles adorning a wall on the main street.

A grand day filled with fun and laughter and now, a bunch of new memories.  What a life!