Killing Time

Given we are trying to social distance and in some ways, isolate ourselves, we have been taking advantage of the availability to the great outdoors and enjoying walks, hikes, and spending time with our friends here who are in exactly the same boat.  Combine that with packing,  both boxes that will remain behind and suitcases to go home, and the hours are disappearing throughout the day with little effort.

Yesterday, Thursday, Laurie and myself headed into the Faro Beach to enjoy a lengthy walk along the shoreline and zigzagged our way back through the tiny fishing village towards the car.

First the shoes came off…then the jacket….then the sweater.

You can see how empty the beach was despite the heat of the day.

The opposite direction, equally empty

Marching along in the sand enjoying the free exfoliation!!

This beautifully coloured shell was still connected whereas most are in pieces.

Now what kind of shell is this we wondered!!!! An entire head of broccoli simply sitting on the shoreline in the sand….this was quite a way down the beach, not at all near any populated section.

As is always the reality, there are flowers blooming everywhere, even in the sand dunes.

I love the name of this plant….Hottentot Fig.

This is called Astericus Maritimus….grows anywhere near the coast

Paronychia capitata…..this is very tiny and grows in abundance in the lowland areas and especially along the dunes. It almost shimmers with a lovely translucence

I couldn’t find this one in my book or my online search. Feel free to help me out. It’s quite small, only about 2 inches tall and was growing all along a very sandy embankment.

We both enjoyed the walk so much we literally forgot all about the current situation in the world.   Wonderful.   One of my favourite shots of our jaunt.

Our friends who, like us, have not been able to leave here yet, have all done exactly what we are doing in terms of isolating.  Given this, our friend Diane called us all up and proposed to prepare a spaghetti dinner for all of us and to serve it at our place given we have space.  Delighted to have another diversion and a visit with our friends Marc jumped on board and prepared two desserts to accompany the meal.  What a fun evening it was and what great food.

Diane preparing our feast.

Marc, happy to be a marmiton (the chef’s helper)

André enjoying a “stiff” gin and tonic prepared by yours truly

No caption required!!!

Gary, happy to have a break from his current jigsaw puzzle and to spend time with friends.

Today was looking a bit gray but the prediction was 19 degrees and a slight chance of preception which gave us the confidence to head off an enjoy a hike up São Miguel.  A quick email to Pat and Gary, a confirmation from them then the arrival of André, Laurie and myself hopped in the car and off we went.  Marc has been dismantling all his art in order to get it home and was close to finishing so opted to stay at home and get that done.

Our hike was the upper sign and the final stint up São Miguel. Happily, we did not get rained on.

Wild glaioli and a geranium.

Wild glads dancing in the very slight breeze. They were thriving all up and down the entire hike

Part of our trail.

About two minutes after this photo all the jackets came off.

Literally hundreds of these gorgeous Peruvian lilies in various stages of blooming kept us company along the entire hike. I never will tire of looking at them and seeing the minute details.

We rounded a bend in the path and there, on the embankment, a tall single wild peony in all it’s gorgeous glory.

Just take a moment and admire the work of Mother Nature.

My happy comrades.

The old terracing is still evident up the side of the hills

Another section of the path that demands single file and paying attention to your footing.

I am always happy to see this, tiny heart shaped buds that will become cistus.

More of the old terracing up the mountain side.

Etruscan Honeysuckle.

These are tiny wild tulips.

More wild tulips…..again, these were growing in great proliferation all up the side of the mountain.

Patricia, André, and Laurie celebrating reaching the top

André, Randy, and Laurie

These looked a bit like artichokes but were the texture of dried flowers.

I know this is a type of orchid but I can’t find the name. I think it’s called Pale-flowered Orchid.

Another,  and likely our last, fabulous hike together.  I think one of the things that really gave me pleasure today, besides being together with friends, was to stumble on two tiny orchids that I thought were done for the season.  Patricia spotted the first one and me the second.

Woodcock Ophrys

Yellow Ophrys

And as another day settles into evening for us here in the Algarve we all remain grateful for this wonderful opportunity to be “distracted” in such a wonderful place, to be able to say that all of our loved ones remain healthy and to know that (whether we want to or not) we will all soon be home on native soil.  Keep well everyone.