Jo’s Monday walk : Todos a Caminhar!

Something a bit different this week.  We’ve often remarked that we seldom see Portuguese people out walking, as we stride around the countryside.  Maybe they don’t regard it as a leisure pastime, or are simply too busy earning a living and looking after their families.  It obviously hasn’t gone unnoticed because, a few months ago, we came across an initiative called ‘Todos a caminhar’- walking for everyone!  Sponsored by local councils, it aims at promoting better health in the community.

Each Sunday morning, at 10.00, a different venue across the Algarve hosts the walk.  A couple of Sundays ago we turned up for the one at Castro Marim, a beautiful village right by the River Guadiana.  I had visions of tramping through the salt pans with flamingos wings beating the air all around me, but it was not to be.  Coaches had arrived from all across the Algarve and, there in front of the sports pavilion, a sea of people did variations on a ‘warm up’.  Unphased, we joined them, and off we all surged, on the road out of the village, but nowhere near the salt pans.

Almost immediately we were in open countryside, in an area unfamiliar to us, and surrounded by chattering groups of Portuguese.  Determined older ladies and their gents, who were keen to show they still had what it takes, groups of giggling teens, singles striding away, everyone using up those calories so they could enjoy a really good, late Sunday lunch.

A right turn took us up a hill, in the direction of Vista Real, and so it was, a royal vista.  Once we’d gained height, far across the fields I could just make out the outline of the mighty castle at Castro Marim, with the Guadiana beyond.  As the hill dipped again there was an option to collect a free orange and a bottle of water, and complete a shorter circuit of 3.5km.  Fitter individuals could tackle the longer 10km course.  Well, what do you think?  In for a penny…

It was a blustery day, with rain threatened, the scudding clouds encouraging us to pick up the pace.  The group was well spread by now and we were keen not to be last.  There were arrows marking every junction and cheerful helpers riding back and forth, ensuring no-one had come to grief.  After another steep climb, with views of the salt pans, there was a second opportunity for water and an orange.

A couple of horses, probably bored with the sparse grazing, took an interest in us motley passersby.  The route climbed through the village of Monte Francisco, a few characterful older properties and a sequence of mostly new villas.  Locals nodded a polite ‘Bom dia’.

The best views of all were afforded to the Castro Marim Country Golf Club, a swish establishment with as extensive and beautifully laid out golf links as any I’ve seen.  However, nothing surpassed my first sighting this year of a cistus in flower.

Smiling down the home strait, the blossom twirling in the breeze, I enjoyed the placid cows and the ruin.  Soon we’d come full circle, and finally I sighted my first flamingo.  And where there’s one, there’s often another, isn’t there?  Not quite as I’d hoped.

It took us about an hour and a half to complete the 10km.  We marvelled at the scale of the operation.  Not all are as big as this one.  There were ambulances on hand, in case anyone over exerted themselves, and everywhere, smiling, happy faces.  Best of all, the rain held off, the clouds blew away and afterwards we treated ourselves to delicious tapas on a lovely sunny corner in nearby Vila Real de S. Antonio.  Life could surely be worse!

So much variety, here in the Algarve!  I hope you enjoy sharing it with me.  Come back next week because I have something rather wonderful to share.  Meantime, thank you very much for your company, and if you have a walk you’d like to share with me, please feel free.  Details, as always, are on my Jo’s Monday walk page.  Please do visit as many of these walks as you can.

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Mosaics, history and emerging Spring in Israel from Lisa this week :

Shoham Forest

Meg takes us time traveling through the twists and turns of her beloved Australian landscape :

Aragannu

Let Amanda take you back in time with the amazing Pergamon Museum in Berlin :

Finding Heine and Treasures in Berlin

Still shivering with Irene in the Midwest!

Chilly Reflections

And heavens, Janet almost disappears in the snow!

Monday walk… winter walk

How about some warming stew with Jackie?

El Guisado Stew

And you can usually rely on sunshine from Lady Lee :

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

My good Danish friend is giving us an easy option this week.  Thanks so much, Drake!

Walk the easy way

But Cathy doesn’t know the meaning of easy.  Go along with her and Mike, and just enjoy yourself!

Prague, Czech Republic : exploring Mala Strana

This one won’t take long.  You have to love Tobias’ sense of humour!

A tour of the Academy

Thanks again to you all for spending time with me.  I have another busy, but sometimes lazy, Algarve week ahead.  Take good care!

137 comments

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  3. Haha, love the flamingo at the end. Gorgeous scenery along the walk Jo, you take such lovely pics I always feel like I’m there with you. Oh and it looked like a pretty good work out too. 🙂

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    1. It’s definitely a companionable walk, Elaine. We are very lucky as we belong to a couple of walking groups as well as the venturing forth on our own and getting lost option. 🙂 🙂

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      1. Oh, I’m so envious. It’s going to be 23C here today, a rare thing in February, so I’m going out for a 5 mile walk. At least you can do a beach walk; I just have to walk through the woods and the suburbs. Not nearly as beautiful. By the way, I was looking back at my old posts of when I came to Tavira. Such a fun time that was, Jo! Cheers to your Sangria time! I just had breakfast!

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      2. We were over on the Ilha and there was a bit of a breeze, Cathy. Our Sunshine Bar hasn’t reopened yet for the season so we had quite a walk for our drink. Serve us right for lunchtime drinking 🙂 🙂

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  8. I’m intrigued with your original observation that you rarely noticed the Portuguese outdoors walking. I’m so curious about that, probably because I enjoy walking anywhere, but were I to have those gorgeous views in my daily experience I’d never be indoors! 🙂 It would appear to me that this organized walk was a success, and perhaps will lead to many more! I very much enjoyed walking with you, Jo!

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    1. You see the youngsters jogging and cycling, Debbie, and the old folks sitting on a bench and watching life, but there doesn’t seem to be much in between (which is where expats have always filled the gap, and organised their own events). Like most places, Portugal is becoming more health aware, and it’s a good initiative. Most weeks it’s a much smaller, local walk and we’ve been along on a couple, just to get the feel of it, and to try to mix more with the Portuguese. We nod and smile a lot but conversation is difficult. 🙂 🙂

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  16. France – or the deep south anyway – is rather keen on these multi-walks. I found them fun and met interesting people, but I wouldn’t want to do them every week. Too busy! But yours sounds a great day out.

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  17. Goodness Jo, you must have been going at a fair pace to walk that distance in an hour and a half. What a lovely experience though, to meet up with so many like-minded others. Did you make any new friends along the way?

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      1. Lol don’t take any notice of me, I’m just jealous of your fitness. I walk .8 of a mile to work in 14-15 minutes on a good day, but wouldn’t keep it up for long 🙂

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