The Sahara Sands are back!

We’ve been experiencing the sand of the Sahara, or sometimes called “clay rain”, for the last few days. It’s supposed to be ending tonight, and we’ve certainly seen it worse in “former times” but it does impact on outdoor activity as it compromises breathing and vision. Consequently activities of the last couple of days have seen limited outdoor time.

Yesterday morning I headed off with the garbage, my camera in tow, and I clearly upset the local livestock as they started squawking and screeching as soon as they sensed me and wouldn’t let up till I was well away from them. The peacocks in particular were quite perturbed and if you’ve never heard them screeching, go online and check it out.

I got a chuckle as there are four peacocks, two not visible here but, if you look between them you see part of a huge rooster that had gotten into the pen and was perched on the railing between them.

I’m enjoying very much the wildflowers showing up and was surprised to find these next three, literally side by side along the road. I swear they were not there three days ago. I’m continually amazing to find all the calla lilies in bloom in the middle of what feels like nowhere.

In the afternoon Marc and I headed off (with Sandy and Kate) for a drive into the mountains with our destination being Tia Bia for a leisurely lunch. What fun and what great food. I must say, the laugher was a bit loud at time, I thought they might ask us to leave!!!

Migas, which translates to “crumbs,” is a traditional Portuguese dish that repurposes stale bread, making it a sustainable and economical meal. It is particularly popular in the Alentejo region, where it is often prepared with rustic wheat bread or cornbread, depending on the area. The dish can be served as a side or a main course, and it is known for its comforting flavors and versatility. Sandy had the “migas de caça” (hunter) which had boar, deer, pheasant, and partridge while I had the other with codfish and shrimp. What a feast and what fun.

On the way home I spotted a “naked man orchid” cluster on the side of the road so stopped to show Sandy and Kate and while looking at it I noticed a small cluster of bee orchids. Again, I love these finds, they delight me to no end.

This morning I felt the desire to move, or perhaps it’s better to say I felt like being on the move, and with Marc immersed in this current project, I thought it best to be out of his way which motivated me to hop in the car and simply head off. I ended up driving two different “turismo rural” routes, which are usually, and this was true today, small, narrow, winding routes, that take you through small, almost ghost like, villages, with occasional large farmland hidden off in the distance growing grapes, olive trees, fruit groves etc.. I thoroughly enjoyed it, stopped a few times just to enjoy a scene, or simply listen to the birds, and breath it all in.

I walked along this stream for a bit, listening to the water and the birds. The cistus were alive with the drone of bees although it’s rare you see them despite how loud they sound.

I eventually ended up near Tavira, although from a route I’d never taken before, and decided to drive into the main area, park, and let myself wander.

I must say, it was very gratifying to simply be wandering without thinking and in the end I managed to get just over 10,000 steps and 8,3 kms. I call that a good day of exercise, especially with the compromised air.

As I headed back towards the car I came across a small recessed fountain that was painted on all three sides. I truly don’t recall seeing it before yet it didn’t look new! I’m thinking I’ve just forgotten it, in any case, here it is.

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Another grand day here in our adopted paradise. We’re invited out for dinner tonight, a lovely treat, which means I can spend my next two hours immersed in my book……….yeahahahaha