Rocha da Pena Walk
Yesterday Father’s Day was celebrated in fine style by a few of us along the Algarve. Not really a thing here, but I was nicely hosted by Annemarie all day and I even had face to face chats with each of our kids. Lovely!
I picked a quiet day to stay in town with a nice walk to discover the area. We were doing fine until we took a set of stairs up from a beach that took us into a very posh resort.
Unbelievably we needed google maps to eventually find our way out to the main gate and onto the street. However, all the many staff we met as we tried to nonchalantly find our way out of the complex were all very nice to us, thinking we must be guests. Watching other guests getting driven around the huge facility and to and from their rooms, I’m amazed that the penny never dropped. I’m sure that no one walks here, except the hired help and of course a couple of interlopers who should have been there in the first place! However, we did see a part of town that we hadn’t expected to see and in the process managed to find out how the 1% seem to live.
We also found a modest, but nice restaurant for Father’s Day dinner. I finally had a full cod dinner!
Things were pretty loud in the restaurant, but when a large group departed I settled in with a nice glass of port and we could chat in peace.
A very nice day!
Today we had made plans to head eastward along the coast and then head inland to try and find the Rocha da Pena, a circular route that we’d read about that has a nice climb and some history as well. On the way inland we stopped at the small village of Alta where the dogs sleep in the streets. We also found some really good tartas! Look closely and you’ll see the dog:)
We arrived, put on our boots and set off climbing immediately. It wasn’t Everest, but in the heat it kept us engaged.
There is a huge wall along the ridge that was built during the Iron Age and shows no specific plan.
It was later used by the Moors as during the Reformation to defend themselves from the Christian army. The Moors hid in some limestone caves up top and were saved.
The wall with a panorama view.
Looking down at the white village of Pena.
I’m always amazed when I find flowers where it’s hot and dry.
Pena.
Very cool chimney. There are similar chimneys in southeastern Spain in the Puebla blanco area of the high Serras Mountains.
Looking back up to where we’d crossed along the cliff edge.
This is a Moorish well from the Middle Ages. Seemingly a tree grows out of it now. We’d parked our car here, and having completed the circuit...
...we drove back towards the coast in an effort to find the Sao Lorençao church. It only opens at 15:00 on Mondays,
So we went in search of a sandwich for lunch.
Back at the church we were allowed in with a fee, but no photos are allowed, though we saw quite a few shooting away, only to get in trouble. It was so high school! I decided not to play and we left after just taking it in.
After we finished in the church we went to find a supermecado to buy some food for dinner. One of the best things in Portugal is the passion for sardines. Talk about a case lot sale.
Returned to our temp home and jumped in the cold water. Felt great!
So many things to comment on! I will choose the wall. How strange--it looks like a pile of loose stones but it has survived so long. Similar walls I've seen in the UK are covered in grass and earth now. Or maybe they always were earthen? I don't know!
ReplyDeleteThe cod looked pretty good. Or should one say bacalau? I don't know how it's spelled in Portuguese but it must be something like that.
It's a warm sunny day here, but I'm in the studio, thinking about walking and reading instead.
Cheers,
Ken
Funny, that was my exact same thought when we walked out onto the wall. I wondered how it could possibly look like it did all those years later? No moss or dirt or anything. A real puzzle. Quite unusual as I’ve seen some of those walls in England as well. I guess then you just have to think about Stonehenge and the rock piles in Ireland.
DeleteYes, I think you have the cod spelling correct. That was the grilled method. The boiled method is pretty good too!
Hope the reading goes well. I know you want to be walking. Your time will come soon enough.
PS. Ken, I added one last photo. I laughed when I saw this in one of the white villages today, together with the small putt, putt below🙂
DeleteHe could be riding that thing--whatever they're called.
DeleteI finished a book. Now to assemble my notes. Then on to something else. But first: the garden must be weeded!
Ken
Glad you had a nice glass of port after your Father's Day dinner. It's inclined to grow on your taste if you work on it long enough but the sampling can be expensive as you go up the scale - for now just enjoy the moments ...... It does sound as though you and Annemarie have found a nice alternative to the northern walking trails in the warm, sunny south. Beware of the rules of the road in The Algarve where the largest unit has the " right of way" particularly when you are not expecting
ReplyDeleteAll is well in Parksville - the weather is warm and sunny and the weekend arrivals have returned home again. Maybe a little cooler tomorrow..
The longest day of the year is quickly approaching and the nights are very short now and the daylight last until well after 10 PM. Very beautiful looking out across the Gulf of Georgia as I sit here tonight.
Look after each other.
Love. Mom and Dad
Loved that old door, Geoff, and those views of the countryside. It sounds like this couple of weeks of wandering is a freeing with you both. It's pretty cold here at present. Shortest day here today (longest for you over there). I was walking into Oliveroa this time last year - after rising from that gut wrenching bug. Glad you enjoyed your cod lunch. Cheers, Neil
ReplyDelete