The mother church at Estoi
Do you remember the lovely palace gardens at Estoi in the Algarve? I was there last November for a Garden Fair. Always on the lookout for somewhere new to walk, I sat up and took notice when, advertised in the ‘Portugal News’, I spotted a guided walk in the countryside surrounding Estoi.
The village of Estoi makes a pleasant enough wander in itself, and so, one surprisingly warm April Saturday, I joined up with the group of walkers. A young man called Chris was our walk leader. After gathering up his flock by the church steps in the main square, he set off, at a fair pace. A little too fair, in all probability, for someone who loves the distraction of wild flowers. But I managed to keep up… mostly!
The sky patterns were bewitching that day!
I was really taken with the views
In no time we’d turned down a trail that threaded round behind the village. I chatted companionably with several of the walkers, eager as always to exchange titbits of information. And then I became hopelessly distracted by the flowers. The red soil appeared quite dry, but from beneath every rock there peeped a smudge of colour.
Growing wild and free
The occasional farmhouse appeared, with its noisy dogs, and we passed by a field of melons. I don’t recall ever seeing melons grow, but was assured that this was a melon crop. A wild iris stretched shyly in the gentlest breeze. But the stars of the show for me, the gaily abandoned hot pink of the small rock cistus.
Who can ignore these?
Profusely growing wild sage, lavender (both green and lilac shades), not to mention the less flamboyant white cistus- each had found a place. An Algarve Spring has a wealth of treasures.
Click any photo in the gallery to walk with me
I continued to chat whenever I fell in step with someone. Hearing interesting stories. We were nearing the end of the walk when my then companion said ‘ah, I remember this!’ A group of the walkers had gathered to look through a high wire fence. What was the attraction? Unfortunately, by the time I got there the creatures had turned their back, and I didn’t manage much of a photo.
Who’d have expected an ostrich farm in the Algarve?
I hope you enjoyed my walk around Estoi this week. ‘Let’s walk’ advertises in the Portugal News. It cost 5 euros to join the walk, which lasted about 2 and a half hours. See Portugal Walks website for details. The walks cease in the hot summer months.
Many thanks again for your company. I hope you’ve got the kettle on for a good read!
For details of how to join in with Jo’s Monday walk, please click on the logo to go to my page. Thanks to everyone for all your wonderful contributions.
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First of all, Drake takes us back to the time when he was a baby duck!
Memory walk through the village
Then Meg meets a friend and shows us around Poznan, in Poland :
It’s years since I was in our Lake District, but Anabel’s posts make me want to go back!
Lake District walks : Silver How
Every now and then I let someone ‘cheat’. Especially when the alternative is very wet!
Sometimes the beauty of our landscape just takes my breath away. See what I mean, with Amy :
Monday walk : Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Jude, meanwhile, is ‘at home’ in Cornwall. Or hopes she soon will be!
And in Scotland’s beautiful capital, Geoff climbs Calton Hill :
Finally, say hello to a newcomer, Ruth :
Yet again I’m scheduling this walk because when you read it I should be returning from the Norfolk Broads (no rest for the wicked!). I should be back in time to chat with you on Monday evening. Take care till then.
restlessjo 
Between looking up at that sky and watching my step on those cobbles, I’m not sure I would have caught much else!
My walk this week is posted here
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It was definitely tricky, but great fun 🙂 And thanks, Violet!
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Oh, shoot, Jo, I started to post my comment and before I could finish writing it, the comment actually posted! Don’t know what happened there. Anyway, I love today’s walk, especially those “bewitching” skies and that church and all the spring flowers. Now that’s a walk I would have liked to take with you! Also, I’d love catching the snippets of conversation. Hope you had tea and cakes somewhere to make it all perfect. 🙂
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Cathy, when will I ever catch up??? I think I’d better stay put for a week or two 😦 This walk was back in April and it feels like a lifetime ago. We don’t have another Algarve trip planned yet- tragedy! Hope you enjoyed your weekend? And I know you’re busy marking those darn papers. Will come and spend some time with you as soon as I can 🙂 Hugs, darlin’.
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Jo, don’t worry about catching up. I get hopelessly further behind with each passing day. One reason is because WordPress is so slow to open here (VPN issues!) and everything takes so much time. Plus I’m now in the throes of marking final papers, which are handed in in stages on a staggered schedule so it will be a lot of marking from now till the first week on July. I’ll be on a plane to Seoul and then to LA on July 15. Luckily I get to visit my sister in LA for nearly a week on my way home. I also traveled the last 3 weekends, which put me even further behind. I hope you’ll get your next Algarve trip planned soon! Hugs! xxx
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It’s no time away now, Cathy! So many memories stored away- good and bad. Bet you can’t wait for home. Hugs, darlin’. All things must pass… (even bloody final papers 🙂 )
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What a fantastic walk, Jo
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Did you see the beautiful Pousada in Estoi? We will blog about it soon!
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There’s a link at the beginning of the post (Estoi) which takes you to my visit to the garden fair, which was beautiful, and I’ve been there several times, both before and since the renovation. It’s a wonderful place 🙂
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Ostriches are the most ridiculous birds aren’t they? 🙂
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Very strange, Gilly, and not a bit sociable 🙂
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What unexpected fun to find ostriches on your walk!
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The last thing I expected! 🙂
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Isn’t this the nicest sky! Thank you for sharing, Jo!
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It was really lovely, Paula! Wisps and tendrils everywhere 🙂
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How is your day today?
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A long time spent on a bus then much ironing 😦 Just starting catch up now 🙂
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You were in Nottingham again. Rest well, Jo.
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No- Norfolk with Polish family 🙂 Everything seems to happen at once. Nothing planned now til August. Thanks, hon. You ok?
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I am fine, Jo 🙂
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Beautiful walk, Jo. That sky is incredible!
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I was quite smitten with it too, Jill 🙂
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I just cannot help but fall in love with the sky colours and clouds in relation to the buildings. great walk Jo….
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They were a perfect combination, Gerry! Thanks a lot 🙂
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Spring abroad does bring forth the best of everything doesn’t it Jo … we really appreciate the brightness skies and flowers like this . Plus walks without woolly pullies 🙂
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I’m probably being premature, Poppy, but I had the distinct impression that summer was here when I was down in Norfolk. 🙂 Not quite so convinced now 😦
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I love the first photo. Churches are my favorite. I can see it is summer with these flowers all around you
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Spring in the Algarve is my favourite time, Ineke 🙂 So much lovely colour, everywhere you look. 🙂
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I believe you. Spring is a very good time to be out and about too!
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This is a lovely walk, Jo – the flowers, the sky, the atmosphere, all so fresh in every way.
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Thanks, Tish 🙂 Yes, it’s one I thoroughly enjoyed. Though I’m familiar with the place I’d never walked in the area and it was a great time of year for the walk.
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A really delightful walk, Jo. Those flowers are so pretty. Have a great week. 🙂 xx
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Brings back lovely warm memories, Ad (it was warm in Norfolk too, but not quite the same 🙂 ) Hope to catch up with you soon.
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Lovely place, Jo 🙂
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Estoi is wonderfully ‘old world’, Sue 🙂 And the pousada is a bit special too. Happy memories! All good with you? Will be slow to catch up this week. Lots going on!
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Estonia sounds like my kind of place! I’m itching to get away again, but rather fatigued at the moment…I have little bursts of creativity then fall back exhausted. Slowly does it!
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What a beautiful place, Jo. You did well to take the photos and keep up with the walk.
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Nearly forgot – here is my walk for the week – only short but plenty to see. http://travelwithintent.com/2015/06/08/walking-the-east-side-gallery-berlin-wall/
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I hate that feeling when I look up and there’s no-one in sight, Debs! Often happens 🙂 Some of my shots were blurred because I had to rush but I caught a few decent ones.
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Amazing, really a wonderful walk – yeah an abandoned home, but still with beautiful flowers in it – an ostrich farm oh so large eggs too large for breakfast… 😀
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Not sure about the flavour, Drake! Have you tried the eggs of these large cousins of yours? 🙂
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No I haven’t tried and I don’t think I will… 😀
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Just incredible – I enjoyed my visit, such rich history. Thank you for sharing!
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Estoi is a typical Algarve village, Mihran, but with the loveliest palace (now a hotel 🙂 ) at its centre. Glad you could visit with me. I enjoyed your company 🙂
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I remember what the tour guide told to us:
Estoi is a village and parish in the municipality of Faro, a rural zone that extends from the fertile fields of Campina de Faro, until the peaks of Serra do Monte Figo (Cerros de São Miguel, Azinheiro, Malhão, Bemposta, Monteiro and Guelhim), that have been, since antiquity, beacons for navigation and natural outlooks along the coast of the Algarvian Riviera.
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That’s a great memory 🙂 🙂
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