On the Road to the Algarve

We had a long, but very interesting ride from Evora south to the Algarve. I haven’t tried to give you to pronunciation of other Portuguese place names (something hopeless for me), but “Algarve” is pronunced “Al–garve.” Photo: countryside seen on our drive.

On the Road to the Algarve

On the Road to the Algarve

I think Rui told us that these are dwarf olive trees, their oil used for a specific purpose.

On the Road to the Algarve

On the Road to the Algarve

Vineyard.

On the Road to the Algarve

On the Road to the Algarve

Windmill.

On the Road to the Algarve

On the Road to the Algarve

Grazing cows.

On the Road to the Algarve

On the Road to the Algarve

Past many fields of wildflowers.

On the Road to the Algarve

On the Road to the Algarve

More wildflowers.

On the Road to the Algarve

On the Road to the Algarve

And more wildflowers.

On the Road to the Algarve

On the Road to the Algarve

This was the only time that we stopped at a roadside cafe for lunch. Note the statues on the roadway.

On the Road to the Algarve

On the Road to the Algarve

Three of the statues on the roadway. I think they are directing traffic––see next photo.

On the Road to the Algarve

On the Road to the Algarve

Another one of the statues.

On the Road to the Algarve

On the Road to the Algarve

I was able to get a good photo of our driver, Manuel, here.

On the Road to the Algarve

On the Road to the Algarve

Seen on the road.

On the Road to the Algarve

On the Road to the Algarve

Also seen.

On the Road to the Algarve

Vilamoura

Arriving at Vilamoura, one of the resorts on the Algarve. The Algarve is the southern part of Portugal on the Atlantic Ocean, with 100 miles of coastline. One source I read said that Vilamoura is not only the largest resort on the Algarve, but also the largest resort in Europe. The main reason that I chose Globus over other tour companies with Portugal tours is that we were stopping at Vilamoura and not at another resort. My parents owned a house in Vilamoura in the early 1970s and I never got to visit it. My aunt and uncle also owned a house here from the early 1970s until into the 2000s, which I never saw either. I came here to see both houses, which I did the next day. But on the highway into the center of Vilamoura I did see a complex from the bus that looked like the development of my parents’ house but I wasn’t sure if it was the right one. When my parents lived in Vilamoura, there was just one hotel. Photo: some of the many, many hotels here now.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

Passing the Casino of Vilamoura.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

Our hotel: the Vilamoura Beach Hotel.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

The Vilamoura Beach Hotel lobby. The public areas of the hotel are very nice and the rooms are okay, but the hotel advertises itself as a 5–star hotel with 5–star hotel rates. The rooms are quite adequate while on a tour group, but people booking on their own have been quite disappointed with them as they expected 5–star rooms.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

The Vilamoura Beach Hotel is actually the closest hotel to the beach, where I took a walk to. I didn’t take many photos of the beach today as the sun was in the wrong position to get good photos of it.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

When my parents owned property in Vilamoura, this marina was not here. They sent me a photo of the beach with fishing boats on it––a cute small out–of–the way fishing village is how they described it. The fishermen’s boats have been replaced by these boats.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

More of the marina––it actually is quite huge.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

I took a walk around the marina––I was looking for a shop selling ceramics, which I didn’t find. The marina definitely had an international flavor as you will see from the photos that follow. Photo: cafe sign.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

Take–away.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

The marina may have an international flavor, but after staying at Vilamoura, I found that the resort catered to United Kingdom vacationers––hence, the choice of football games.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

The marina––Chinese restaurant.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

The marina––Pizza Hut, definitely an international flavor here.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

The marina––Indian food.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

The marina––a cow on a skateboard. I assume it is wearing a Portuguese football jersey.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

The marina––a creperie.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

The marina––Portuguese fresh sardines and chicken piri piri.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

The marina––gelato and pizza, real Italian style.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

The marina––English breakfast and Elvis.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

The marina––international beer.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

Behind the marina––the Irish Cabin Pub.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

Football offerings at the Irish Cabin Pub.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

Many, many, many real estate offices here. Ad for a farm house fixer–upper.

Vilamoura

Vilamoura

Ad for a very swanky villa.

Vilamoura

Quarteira

For our evening meal, Globus offered an optional “Dinner on the Algarve,” three courses with drinks included at a typical southern Portuguese restaurant. It was given at the Sol e Mar in Quarteira, a neighboring town.

Quarteira

Quarteira

These weren’t on our seafood menu but displayed at the restaurant: at the top are bernacles (barnacles) and the shells are whelks.

Quarteira

Quarteira

Close up of the bernacles (barnacles).

Quarteira

Quarteira

Close–up of the whelks.

Quarteira

Quarteira

My tour group at Sol e Mar. Our meal: corn meal with shrimp for an appetizer; fish or pork stew; dessert tray; white port to begin with; red, white, or rose wine for our meal; and almond liquor to finish up with. All very good. The end of another very good day.

Quarteira