Before I get into todays adventures, I simply had to share a photo of our wonderful homemade pizzas from last night. One of our “go tos” curry paste/thinly sliced parsnips/ and cheddar cheese. Simply diviine
The second, a base of curry sauce and yoghurt/sliced tomatoes/caramelized onions/ and feta cheese….it’s going to be repeated.
This morning, another gorgeous day, another twenty four hours of possibilities, and a very short discussion with an immediate decision taken. Let’s go to Tavira. Unbeknownst to Marc and I, Joanne had not had the opportunity to really explore this lovely gem of a town and it was such fun to “show it off” to her. It is one of our favourite towns in the eastern Algarve and our first time visiting it this trip.
I took a circuitous and somewhat zigzag route to get us there, intentionally. I figured I might as well have a look at some of my old haunts from years gone by, which included the first place I stayed when I started coming to the Algarve. We always find something to photograph and the rule is, “you see something you want to see more of, simply say STOP”.
Once in Tavira we parked and started wandering. It wasn’t very congested at that hour and with the warm sun caressing our faces, it was easy to simply stroll and wind our way to a couple of our favourite stops. There is a tiny shop in town where the daughter makes all these wonderful handmade/painted ceramic pieces and over the years I’ve purchased a few to use as Christmas decorations. Last year she was not opened at all during any of our attempts to go but today, happily, she was literally just unlocking the door when we arrived at 11h00.
Joanne had never been up to the castle, pousada, or adjoining gardens and Marc wanted to stop in a small local gallery close to those things which meant we meandered through the maze of tiny winding streets till we arrived at the gallery. A good visit for Marc with the owner, whom he befriended a couple of years ago, then onward.
The small garden at the old castle was quite busy and as always, full of gorgeous colour.
As happens, wandering makes one hungry and we hopped that our favourite, Zeca da Bica, was open and it was. A warm greeting with an apology that our favourite table in the window was occupied. Made us laugh….it sounded as if we were there all the time instead of a few times every six months or so! We loved being acknowledged. The food…..let’s just say that plates were totally empty once we were done.
Happily stuffed we headed back to the car with the intention of stopping at the grocery store to pick up a few things with a stop at Kozi, s clothing store that we knew Joanne would love….which she did. I left them there and wandered off to try and find the location of an apartment that our friends Claudette and Lil have rented for March……I had luck.
And that was our day……Mais ou menos!!! I took the mountain route home which on a sunny warm day like today is hypnotizing and lovely. Not much traffic at the time which permitted me to go slowly, a welcomed thing for those in the back seat. And once home, groceries put away…..a lovely surprise.
Marc and I do not “do gifts”, it was something we agreed on shortly after meeting. When I say “do gifts” I mean for Christmas, birthday, etc. We do, from time to time, see something that we would like to get for the other and so we do. Well given it is my birthday month and I joke (sort of) about celebrating it in some way every day of February….Marc took advantage of my not being in the store with him and Joanne to surprise me with something that spoke to him of me. How lucky am I today!!!
Marc and Randys Travel Adventures 
Look at that beautiful rosy face. Mine is red from snow squalls pelting my face.
Gorgeous pictures.
Looks so captivating where you are. I can understand that you just stop and take in your surroundings. Enjoy my friend
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Thank you mon amie. We are always so happy and content being here. What a great thing retirement has turned out to be for me. Big Hugs from the sunny Algarve
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Bless you for giving me a little feeling of warmth and colour on this whiteout, minus something degree day …it really did lift my spirits😘
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And your wonderful little note lifts mine! Hugs
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Quelle belle petite ville Tavira! Randy I think Jean-Claude is happy I wasn’t with you in the shop with painted hand-made ceramic pieces. I am in a spending mood and I love that type of artisan work!
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When you finally give in and come, I will take you there!!
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I am not the one that has to give in! Though I guess I could go by myself… or maybe threaten to??
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Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Wonderful blues! I’m certainly gonna try the pizza recipes. Most of all, loved the smiles the 3 of you shared. Happiness is……. Enjoyed my day in the Algarve via you. Thank you again.
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Merci mon amie……I love that you follow along and get enjoyment from our wanderings. Happy campers we all are.
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Forgot to comment on the food! Pizzas look wonderful, especially the second one with caramelized onions, tomatoes and feta, could easily be my favourite. And the porks cheeks and those fries look so much better than those we had at Gezellig’s yesterday. That scarf looks so sophisticated!
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Merci encore.
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I walked with you every step of the day and daydreamed about being in Tavira again. It looks (in your photos) just as beautiful as I remember it. And I have a pretty good guess at the art gallery that Marc went to. Thank you, friends.
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How lovely…..it’s funny because your names came up yesterday in terms of wondering if you might be coming back. We love that town and have determined that in 2025 we will spend our entire time there, I’ve already started looking for a place. Hugs
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Love the scarf….love the colours…did me the world of good on this very cold day here in Ottawa….I really love those orange doors too…and what are the yellow flowers behind you in the photos? Enjoy the weekend…hugs from me.
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Those yellow flowers are Aeonium Arboreum, which can grow up to 80cm high. The are native to Morocco but have naturalized along roads and walls here. I love them. Hugs back at you, soon you’ll be in warmer climes yourself.
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Love the scarf (and the poser) lovely photos
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Thanks Margaret…..it was a lovely surprise, which I know shows on my face!
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Those pizzas had me salivating as did your lunches! I love Tavira and have so many memories that really warm my heart in these frigid temps! The colours always make me smile in the flowers, food, doors and that scarf is so you! Love it! I need to come back to pose in that yellow doorway! Thanks for the lovely St. A…!
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Now what makes you think St A was for you??? LOL
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The pizzas look so yummy…will be trying those soon! I love joining you on your adventures. The squid looks so good as well as the pork dish. Looking forward to our (your) next adventure. Love the scarf!!!!
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Thanks Pauline. You’d love it here……the sun especially is so warm and enveloping!!!
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Marco in Bica is wonderful, isn’t he? We were there with friends yesterday lunchtime, after the Children’s Carnival parade. It’s a lovely place to call home.
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Yes he is, one of our favourite spots in Tavira. I’ve been going there since 2014 when I first started wintering here from Canada
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We bought here in 2004 and moved from the UK permanently 4 years ago.
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