Some of This and Some of That

The days of late seem to be bleeding into each other and I’ve lost track of time, just a little, which, in my mind is not a bad thing. This happens every year with the “changing of the guard”, folks leaving, others arriving, and time running out for others, which means we try and squeeze in a little socializing where and when we can. Please don’t take this as a complaint because it truly isn’t, we love it!!

This Great Tit has been entertaining us for a few days now. He sits outside the window in the morning, and on and off through the day, entertaining us with is song. We both love the birds, and were quite take with this fellow……that is, until this next fellow showed up….

He’s a relative of the other, a Blue Tit, and oh my goodness, what a gorgeous vocal exercise he displays each day, not to mention a wonderful curiosity, He tips his head from side to side and checks me out as I try to get a better look. I can now officially say I’m surrounded by tits! (I know……bad bad bad but I couldn’t let it go).

We’ve had a few folks in for meals, cinq-à-sept, or just a quick visit and we’ve dined out with a few others. It’s all enjoyable, but at the same time, a bit exhausting, which is why I headed off on my own today and gave Marc the ‘day off”!

A lovely display of bridal veil and osteospermum that Marc prepared to titivate the room!

On one of our country drives into Tavira we were bebopping around, exploring a few (as of yet) unexplored roads stopping here and there for photos. We had one little adventure when we were driving down this small paved road to find the pavement suddenly disappeared, the road turned to gravel and then, without warning, turned into little more than a cow path and even more suddenly, in front of us, crossing the road, a river!!!! Luckily there was a small clearing close to me and I ended up doing a 10 point turn to get us out of there and back to safety. Good for a giggle or two.

This morning I headed off with Kate, Sandy, and James for a day trip to Silves, with a short stop in Alte on the way home. A great way to wile away a beautiful warm sunny day.

I popped in one store and was tickled by the whimsy of much of the “art” that was on display. In particular these two modern versions of the Nativity caught my eye and made me smile. What do you think?

The four of us enjoyed a lovely wander through Silves, up and down we went with stops from time to time to simply catch our breath and people watch, a delightful pastime. I was struck today with just how many tourists there were wandering around. Hoards of them.

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the same restaurant we had eaten on our last visit to Silves, Mosaika. Nobody was disappointed. Here is my fabulous lulas (squid) that I had been craving since the last visit.

More wandering after lunch, just to digest a little before getting back in the car.

As I was taking the backroads home, I suggested a stop, and walk about, in Alte. Sandy opted to stay in the car but the rest of us wandered around, and though the town, popping in and out of stores etc.. The intense sun was so wonderful that it lulled us into moving slowly.

On the way back through the highway, as we passed through Benefim, I had made note to stop and check out something I had seen in my peripheral vision the last time I drove through there. Turned out to be in a picnic area with a large stone monument, a lovely Portuguese “poem” and is a tribute to a monumental holm oak tree. Lovely.

And this is how life has been unfolding for us this past few days. We remain, two happy Canadian Boys in our Portuguese paradise.