Algarve, Day 9 - Boat Tour, Part 1, Dolphins

We both swam and then, after breakfast, went across the street for a little souvenir shopping.

 

While there we discovered that, what we had taken for a cafe, was actually a pasteleria, with some fabulous looking cakes. We tried a selection. A huge meringue, a different looking custard tart (turned out to be lemon) and some chocolates that looked like berries.

The shuttle we had booked picked us up just before noon and took us to Albufeira Marina where we checked in with our boat trip company. 

It is a perfect harbour with a very narrow entrance and a big lagoon for the pleasure and tour boats. Surrounded by brightly coloured apartments and houses.

The boat's captain was very specific as to where we all sat, so, unfortunately, Aimee and I both ended up on the centre aisle.

Aimee gets seasick but we had chosen a day with low wind and the boat was fast and stable so she was fine. Unlike some of the other passengers, we had dressed warmly and were very comfortable.

This is not the best time of year for dolphin sighting and Jack (on the jeep tour) had been out and not seen any) but we were in luck.

The helmsman kept the pod of 5 on the port side of the boat and the captain directed those on the right to move over to the rail at the front and the back.

Aimee, because of her height got to be right at the rail

while I was trying to take pictures over 2 peoples heads.

We, and another boat, stayed with this pod

and we could see another pod

way off in the distance.

I spent about half of the time just watching them. One was doing some jumping and some were coming up out of the water as they swam. The other half of the time I was trying to take pictures but often just got the swirls they left in the sea.

Aimee was taking pictures with her phone and the photos that follow are hers.

In her shots you can clearly see the white side

indicative of the Common Dolphin.

The boat tour did not end when we left the Dolphins but I will save the other pictures for the next blog post.

Meanwhile Christine has sent me pictures of a couple of Cigi's milestone moments:

First Subway sandwich and

First Costco visit.