 |
| First view of the beach from our balcony |
Return to the Algarve
Alan noticed that Ryanair was offering £10 flights to Faro Airport! Just out of interest, I looked at Booking.com and found really decent priced hotels. Before we knew it, here we are at Praia da Oura sitting in a darling hotel room that feels more like a condo at the beach! We arrived well after dark, but we can see and hear the waves crashing on the shore below. I can't wait to see what it looks like in daylight.
We have been in this location before! But it had to be 1994 because our daughter had just started primary school. I wish I could remember more details because it would have changed dramatically in those 25 years, but I think I was too busy keeping little kids entertained to notice or remember much. Too bad blogs had not been invented then.
In theory, this will be a “fly and flop” holiday, something we simply never do. Let’s see how successful we are!
We also decided to get full board, something I may regret since we are in the midst of amazing fishing villages and I feel certain the local restaurants would be incredible. But we chose lazy and having all meals at the same place while we do nothing sounds intriguing. Will decide if it was a good idea in a few days.
Waking up to sun and sand!
Both Alan and I could not sleep very well, I was simply too cold! There is a heating system, but no extra blankets and the duvets are only covered in what feel like normal bed sheet material. I ended up getting my coat to use as a blanket. Not sure why Alan struggled but he only had one pillow and we both prefer two. For the first time ever, I brought a pillow on the off chance there was only one, so I was ok!
 |
| there were a few other people enjoying sunrise too |
Since we were both up early, we decided to enjoy sunrise on the beach! I put on all the clothes I left Scotland in since it does get cold here at night, and then there would also be the offshore breeze. Sunrise was lovely and happened at exactly the time predicted - don’t you love it when that happens?
This is the first time either one of us has booked a hotel and taken the full board option. I dont’ think they offer this system in American hotels, but will ask..... Full board means all meals and alcohol are provided at no further charge! When you check in, you usually get a wrist band to indicate what you are permitted to do. For example,there is also Half Board - breakfast and dinner only and Bed & Breakfast - breakfast only. OH and of course, self catering! I prefer B&B since it is more fun to explore and experience the local area and enjoy the local food. But we made this decision because we remembered how steep this area is and it would not be fun to have trek up and downhills - one is famously referred to as Cardiac Hill. Plus, we wanted to try “fly and flop” with nothing to plan or do!
So we were a bit too early for breakfast, but it was the traditional English breakfast buffet! Complete with porridge! Nice way to start the day.
We decided to repeat the walk we did into Albufeira like last time. It is only 4.5 kilometres so should have been easy enough. It seemed we walked along the rocky coast the whole way last time. We started heading in the right direction, but it was impossible for us to get very far and we had to walk up a massive amount of steps just to find a place to walk. Then we walked and walked and walked and it was hot and hilly. Hit a few dead ends with hotels and things like that. It even looked like we could not get back to the beach. And nothing was open! I guess being off season, even the corner shops were taking a well earned break. After 45 minutes, we turned around.
Right at the top of Cardiac Hill as you leave this complex, there is a strip of shops and restaurants and activities. The funny thing is this area reminded both of us of the tackier part of Niagara Falls! Our memory of that is form 2007 so things could have changed there too! But these areas are necessary when dealing with huge numbers of tourists. We enjoyed a tiny bit of retail therapy and then headed down to our hotel since it was just about lunchtime.
It was a tough walk, and I am still suffering from my pulled Popliteus and Hamstring muscles! In fact, it was 3 months to the day that I hurt myself. The physio encouraged me to keep moving and treating these muscles as normal, but boy was it sore!
Back to talking about Full board. It feels very similar to being on a cruise, lovey buffets, lots of choices and the need to watch the time to not miss a meal!
After lunch, we just arranged our balcony furniture and sat out in the sun, something we never do! Alan even brought a book to read, by the way, I have not seen it out of the case yet! We lasted almost 2 hours out in the sun, then went down to the bar and got a few drinks, because we could!
Dinner was interesting, for me at least! I love fish and this area has lots of fishing villages. the buffet had a selection of fish and also Paella Mariso. Absolutely wonderful. There is also always a choice of meat dish so Alan will not go hungry!
Sunset at the beach,then I hate to admit, we watched the debate between Corbyn and Johnson. Ok, Alan watched it, I could not stay awake! I was also able to watch I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. I usually refuse to watch tv at all on holiday, but these are different times!
Good night!
Went to the beach again for sunrise. This time to the other side of the hotel where the lovely Golden Arches of the bits of cliff leftover after millions of years of the sea pounding them still sit. I remembered these from our trip here 25 years ago. They may not be the same, and they seem smaller than I remember, but I also cannot imagine the power of the sea over 25 years.
This hotel compound is not for the light hearted! Everything is built on cliffs so there are steps and stairs everywhere. I will try to keep a count of them as the day goes on...
So, going to the other side of the compound, there are 81 steps just to ground level. Then there are 36 steps on a boardwalk to actually get down to the beach. No wonder I was unable to to stay awake last night watching the last debate between Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson. (Maybe it was also a bit boring though)
This blog might be a bit jumpy since I seem to be writing it as we do things..So we went to breakfast at Jac’s restaurant. this is where all our Full board meals are served. It is just a big buffet and was rather nice yesterday, being Friday. Today, the whole place has filled up with lot so families who seem to be Spanish or Portuguese here for the weekend. Lots of kids, just lots of people!
Going to the other side of the complex to get to reception and Jac’s, there are 38 steps to that level, further down to the pools and down even further to the bar we are able to get our free alcohol.
but 38 first, then walk toward reception until you get to more steps and go up 21 steps for Jac’s. Like I said, this place is not for the faint hearted!
In some ways, full board feels like being on a cruise, but without the 24 hour access to food! The meal times are set and there are no snacks! The bar where we are able to use, is the sports bar and it can be quite busy. You also can’t take drinks out of the bar, so yesterday we bought a bottle of Mateus to enjoy on our balcony in the sun!
We decided to take a taxi into old town Albufeira this morning. The taxi fare was under 7 Euro both times, well worth not getting lost or heatstroke! And it only took about 10 minutes to get there! We passed the bus stop where we decided to turn back yesterday. To our shame,it as about a 5 minute walk fro the top of Cardiac Hill! So we really did’t get far. We had take a wrong turn and that was all. However, the rolling and steep hills the taxi took us over made me very glad we gave up yesterday
Having grown up in a lovely beach town that is now poor copy of the Bahamas, I feel very sad to see the changes and loss of traditional lifestyles, and this was apparent here In Albufeira too. The darling fishing boats abandoned on the shore that we enjoyed seeing 25 years were gone, only a monument to their memory was standing in their place. But most people will not see that, whether they are in Florida or Portugal. They will just see sun, sand and Sangria, or another local cocktail!
We enjoyed a beer and coffee and brandy at a beach side cafe and our daughter called us while we were enjoying the experience. So nice to have such easy communication! I guess I just have to accept the good with the bad as time moves on!
Time was marching on and we needed to get back to our hotel for lunch. This is my main complaint about full board,
A lovely walk along the beach in the direction not yet taken. We discovered a big area all covered in cairns,
no idea why.
Then a drink at the bar waiting for sunset time. Alan went to the beach for sunset, my knee was too sore so I went back to the room.
Alan got up for sunrise....I am still resting my knee but did walk around our building to see some of it. Looks like another lovely day on the Algarve, but our taxi picks us up at 9am....so it is just breakfast and then a quick goodbye to this beautiful area.
So we were a bit too early for breakfast, but it was the traditional English breakfast buffet! Complete with porridge! Nice way to start the day.
Right at the top of Cardiac Hill as you leave this complex, there is a strip of shops and restaurants and activities. The funny thing is this area reminded both of us of the tackier part of Niagara Falls! Our memory of that is form 2007 so things could have changed there too! But these areas are necessary when dealing with huge numbers of tourists. We enjoyed a tiny bit of retail therapy and then headed down to our hotel since it was just about lunchtime.
It was a tough walk, and I am still suffering from my pulled Popliteus and Hamstring muscles! In fact, it was 3 months to the day that I hurt myself. The physio encouraged me to keep moving and treating these muscles as normal, but boy was it sore!
Back to talking about Full board. It feels very similar to being on a cruise, lovey buffets, lots of choices and the need to watch the time to not miss a meal!
After lunch, we just arranged our balcony furniture and sat out in the sun, something we never do! Alan even brought a book to read, by the way, I have not seen it out of the case yet! We lasted almost 2 hours out in the sun, then went down to the bar and got a few drinks, because we could!
Dinner was interesting, for me at least! I love fish and this area has lots of fishing villages. the buffet had a selection of fish and also Paella Mariso. Absolutely wonderful. There is also always a choice of meat dish so Alan will not go hungry!
Good night!
Taking a taxi so we actually find Albufeira this time!
 |
| I was fascinated by this lonely fisherman doing a dance with the waves. |
So, going to the other side of the compound, there are 81 steps just to ground level. Then there are 36 steps on a boardwalk to actually get down to the beach. No wonder I was unable to to stay awake last night watching the last debate between Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson. (Maybe it was also a bit boring though)
This blog might be a bit jumpy since I seem to be writing it as we do things..So we went to breakfast at Jac’s restaurant. this is where all our Full board meals are served. It is just a big buffet and was rather nice yesterday, being Friday. Today, the whole place has filled up with lot so families who seem to be Spanish or Portuguese here for the weekend. Lots of kids, just lots of people!
Going to the other side of the complex to get to reception and Jac’s, there are 38 steps to that level, further down to the pools and down even further to the bar we are able to get our free alcohol.
but 38 first, then walk toward reception until you get to more steps and go up 21 steps for Jac’s. Like I said, this place is not for the faint hearted!
In some ways, full board feels like being on a cruise, but without the 24 hour access to food! The meal times are set and there are no snacks! The bar where we are able to use, is the sports bar and it can be quite busy. You also can’t take drinks out of the bar, so yesterday we bought a bottle of Mateus to enjoy on our balcony in the sun!
 |
| Just in the centre of this photo, see the elevator to get to the beach at Albufiera easier? |
 |
| Old Town, off season |
 |
| to the best of our memory, this was where the traditional fishing boats were 25 years ago! |
Having grown up in a lovely beach town that is now poor copy of the Bahamas, I feel very sad to see the changes and loss of traditional lifestyles, and this was apparent here In Albufeira too. The darling fishing boats abandoned on the shore that we enjoyed seeing 25 years were gone, only a monument to their memory was standing in their place. But most people will not see that, whether they are in Florida or Portugal. They will just see sun, sand and Sangria, or another local cocktail!
 |
 |
| Christmas decoration at the beach bar |
 |
| Escalators down to beach level on the other side of town from the elevator! |
 |
| I was tempted to take the taxi back here to see the lights on.....but then was too lazy! |
A lovely walk along the beach in the direction not yet taken. We discovered a big area all covered in cairns,
no idea why.
 |
| Just a sample of the cairns at this beach |
Then a drink at the bar waiting for sunset time. Alan went to the beach for sunset, my knee was too sore so I went back to the room.
 |
Going home
Alan got up for sunrise....I am still resting my knee but did walk around our building to see some of it. Looks like another lovely day on the Algarve, but our taxi picks us up at 9am....so it is just breakfast and then a quick goodbye to this beautiful area.
No comments:
Post a Comment