Algarve - Day 5, the next beach.

 This morning I set an alarm and went to swim with Aimee at 7am. It was a lovely way to start the day and also lovely to have the pool to ourselves - to do laps and aquarobics.

We then went to the grocery store, we are being very European, shopping almost daily. We wanted stuff for a picnic. There was a flea market going on in front of the Mercado Municipal, basically a garage sale spread out on sheets.

We packed up our bags with towels, books and lunch, walked down to the beach and then up the steps to the lookout at the east end.

We then started down the sandy path to the next beach over.

Down on to the beach and we had to negotiate tumbles of rocks

staying clear of the cliffs

and peering in the rock pools.

A Sea Cucumber in one.

The tide was out, but coming in, and in various places we saw the springs bubbling up through the sand and the water running down to the sea. They do look like eyes.

Sunday, and there were people walking on the long, sandy beach,

fishing

and a few brave souls were swimming.

Aimee continued walking down the beach

and I settled, lying in the soft sand, to read.

When Aimee returned she had discovered that we did not have to return the way we had come, before the tide came back in, as there was a road further on. Picnic was a vegetable pastry, apple and cookies.

Now it was Aimee's turn to read, sunbath and nap.

When the breeze cooled and the clouds obscured the sun occasionally, we walked up this dirt road, not quite sure where it would take us.

There were various flowers

scattered along the banks.

At the top of the road, the cliff top was fringed with hotels and gated apartment blocks. The opposite side of the road was not yet developed and this field was full of wild flowers.

Next, a freshly mowed orchard

of citrus trees.

This picture was taken for Nicola and for Rick - even without a car I find myself going down a dirt road with just a vague sense of heading in the right direction.

Back at the hotel pool, the drinks came with fish crackers

and a visiting seagull.

Later, on our balcony, we served them with olives and pickled onions.