Beyond the wall
There are few places more special to me than the tiny village of Cacela Velha in the Algarve. Long before I ever came to Portugal I had read about it in the Rough Guide. A cobbled path surrounds the church, and on a day with even the merest hint of sunshine you can sit on a bench, with your back against the church wall, and gaze dreamily out to sea.
The occasional footfall disturbs and a visitor will appear, round the corner. Some will nod, “Bom dia!” with a trace of a smile. Others avert their eyes or focus on the view beyond the wall. There are two benches and sometimes the other is occupied. A bike might be propped against the wall. There is no transport into the village. The birds sing, and alight shyly on the wall. All is peace and tranquillity.
The lagoon stretches as far as the eye can see
The clouds bump and blend- endlessly fascinating
After a while I rise from the bench and walk round to the front of the church. The carvings around the door each tell their own story.
The village is Sunday quiet, but then, it’s like that most days! All of the activity centres on the cemetery and the bringing of fresh flowers. But I know that this village can erupt into life. I was there once for the Festival of Enchanted Nights. Hookahs, Turkish tea and dancing ladies! Can you imagine it?
Changes come, as they surely must, but I so hope that Cacela Velha hangs on to the integrity which, for me, makes it a very special place.
Wishing Paula a very special Thursday. It’s her birthday!
i love the carved details on the church door. What a heavenly place to be able to spend your retirement in. i would be in a hurry to pack my bags Jo 🙂
I often am, Madhu 🙂
You paint a beautiful canvas with your photos and words. Those white houses with the blue details … how picturesque. My favorite of this beautiful bunch … the last photo.
You’ll have to come visit some day, to check I’m not falsifying the evidence! 🙂
I like that one too, Vivi. Back from t’ai chi. Time for a teatime hug! (or a cup of coffee in my case, but that doesn’t sound so good 🙂 )
Lovely place & photos! Kudos~
It keeps dragging me back, Cindy 🙂
Would love to visit. Seems like a lovely place to recharge one’s batteries.
It is 🙂 It’s even lovely to revisit in your memories! (which is what I’m doing right now)
Your tranquil description and peaceful pictures really capture the serenity you must feel in this special place. Can’t imagine the shift to Turkish dancing, but I bet it’s fun to watch. Love the new look of your blog, Jo. 🙂
Thanks a lot, Lynne. 🙂 It still needs work, but I’m getting lots of helpful advice, so hopefully it’ll get better.
I have such a wonderful image in my head of the peaceful, beautiful little place filled with color and sound and celebratory energy. What a lovely post.
Thank you so much 🙂 I have some photos of the village during Enchanted Nights. Quite a change! They do like to have fun, the Portuguese 🙂
It does look very serene, Jo, and it’s hard to imagine the town filled with hookahs and Turkish dancing! I love the way you describe the scene. Lovely. Your pictures are looking good on this theme. I also like how some of them have black frames. Do you do this with a photo editing program? Hugs…. xxx
If we’d had more time, Cathy, you’d have been there for sure! 🙂
The black frames is a nifty little trick I picked up from Vicky. The borders are in Advanced Settings on WP so after you insert the photo you can click on Edit and put a frame in 🙂 I like it, too. I tried your suggestion about increasing size to the page edge. It works in Edit but then I was very disappointed to find that they don’t look any different in the published guide. I must be doing something wrong (as usual) How do you get yours to fill the screen, or is it just the theme you use? Hugs to you, too 🙂
I’m going to see if I can try the black frames in my post today on 17 mile drive. I don’t think you can increase the size in Edit; at least I’ve never figured out a way to do it. Try this: upload the pics to the media library. Before adding them to the post, go to the white column on the right, at the bottom, and you’ll see: Attachment display settings. You can choose left, center or right. Then at the botttom, click on the dropdown menu to full size. Maybe that will make a difference in the size as it appears on your post. Let me know how it works. (Or I’ll just see it in your post!). 🙂 xxx
This looks like a delightful little village Jo. I don’t know the Algarve well, so I’m looking forward to your posts. Thanks. ~James
I’m back in the grey old UK, James- daydreaming and sharing memories 🙂
Looks like a very special place, Jo. It looks like the sort of village where one could just meander endlessly, taking in the quiet and solitude. No traffic would be a huge plus for me. Just imagine, no pollution! I love the blue and white buildings. Just like Santorini, but without all the tourists.
Very different, Ad, but stunning in its own way.
I had a terrible thought. What if all that piano practising and adrenalin was keeping you thin? (ha! ha! Keep up the good work 🙂 )
Oh, good gracious! I need some more stress, so I can fit into my Valentine’s dress. 🙂
That’s my girl! 🙂
I wouldn’t hate sitting on that bench. Maybe we should give more thought to Portugal. Have you learned the language Jo?
I started to, but then Polish became more of a necessity. I now speak fluent Gibberish 🙂
This is so beautiful and serene Jo !
It’s that kind of place, Kathryn. An oasis of calm.
We all should have one 🙂
I need one badly!
I’ve been feeling a little bit bogged down in work and impatient for summer today. The thought that I could jump on my moped and be at this very place in 20 mins makes me feel very thankful!
I know, Ben. A bit sickening sometimes when I’m in the UK. 🙂 But I have a brisk north-eastern beach I have to make do with.
What an enjoyable walk in the peaceful village. Thank you for taking us there! Love these photos, especially the last one. 🙂
I seem to be in a calm and serene phase at the moment, Amy 🙂 Don’t think it’ll last!
Love the Algarve region of Portugal – and the people too!
Me too! 🙂 Thanks for commenting.
You have given me SOOO many places to add on my bucket list…I don’t know how I will ever get to do it all…lol.
It’s easy, Laurie. 🙂 Start at the eastern end of Portugal and work your way along.
Beautiful photos. I feel more peaceful for just having looked at tHem let alone been there.
Thanks, Sue. It really is a rather special place (the same as the windows post) 🙂
What a lovely little place…
The same as the windows post, Sue 🙂 I could live there (but I don’t know what they do for shopping! Don’t think they have Tesco delivery service)
😀 😀
What an amazing place! Your photos are spectacular, Jo!
I imagine you can see why I love it, thanks Jill. It really is a special place and whenever I go, I think to myself,” please don’t have changed” 🙂
I love the buildings framed in blue.
That is the traditional Algarve style, Colline, and so pretty. 🙂 It comes in pastel shades too.
So beautiful and truly unique.
I was planning to work through my lunch but your post tempted me and now I am grateful. I apsorbed every image of promised tranquility. I have so many questions: when did you discover Algavre for the first time, how many months a year do you spend there…. Obriada pela tua atencao, Jo. O lugar e uma beleza. Abracos…. 🙂 xx
So funny! I was doing my “tranquil” post and you crept into my mind. I was going to post it this evening because I already posted some windows from the cemetery in Cacela Velha this morning. Then I came to link to your post and saw that it was your birthday, and couldn’t resist going straight ahead. Shame to have to work but I hope maybe you are going out for supper this evening. My very best wishes to you, Paula.
10 years ago last October I saw Cacela Velha for the first time, on a week’s holiday in the Algarve. We had never been to Portugal till then. By the following January we had bought our house. The rest… you know 🙂 We are only ever there for a few weeks, sadly, till we retire.
I hope you will retire soon then 🙂 Thank you very much Jo for sharing this haven of yours with me today 🙂
You’re very welcome 🙂 This morning I was walking on a freezing north east England beach. Healthy! Stay well, Paula.
We looked at a house to rent here for a holiday but it was fully booked (unsurprisingly)!
It’s tiny so I’m not surprised at all 🙂 Another time!
it looks so peaceful Jo, you have discovered a special place on that coast!
I can hardly believe that it has changed so little in 10 years, Christine. There are a few modern touches, but not many 🙂
Beautiful place. And, amazing photos.
*Mridubala*
If you like, please drop at my short story (kids’ genre) here :
http://yourstoryclub.com/short-stories-for-kids/children-short-story-little-goldie/
You can see why I love it, Mridubala 🙂 I’ll stop by later.
Sure…It would be great if you could drop at my story FOREVER, if you don’t mind.
I did! 🙂
Very special – would love to be there right now.
And me, Robin 🙂 Thanks!
Is that the cute little place on the coast as you head up from Spain towards Olhão? Looks like it’s lost in the past? Quiet, tranquil etc, or at least it used to be!
You might be thinking of Fuseta? Cacela Velha is off the coast road before you reach Tavira, coming from Spain. but, yes- it’s still perfect! 🙂