Jo’s Monday walk : La Collina Verde to Moncarapacho

I don’t mind to watch a bit of golf on TV, especially if Tiger is in town, but I’ve never had the coordination or a serious desire to get involved in the game.  Portugal is famed for its golf courses and it was inevitable that our paths would cross at some point.  A couple of walking friends have a very nice villa on the small, countrified La Collina Verde course, in the Eastern Algarve.  They very generously provided coffee for all as we gathered to start our walk.  With the Strollers this time, it was a shortish, level walk at a gentle pace.

Skirting the golf course, we passed by pomegranate and orange groves, lush fruit dangling temptation on all sides.  A very obliging local squeezed his cart to one side and posed for the camera, his animal in full regalia.

Hot pink blooms assaulted my senses, while shadows fell across a rusted wheel, and a once-loved cottage trailed its timbers in the dust.

We had soon reached our halfway point, Moncarapacho, for a coffee stop.  It’s not a village that I know well.  My last visit was on a rainy February day, dodging umbrellas to watch the lively Carnival parade.  This time I was very taken with the old square, wedged between a couple of churches and a café or two.  While the others sat and chatted, I couldn’t resist a wander, especially thrilled to find the church door ajar.

We lingered a while, in no hurry to leave a sunny and engaging spot.  The locals gave us curious glances, till eventually someone got us all moving again.  It’s quite a big group and you can saunter at will, exchanging dollops of information with whoever is your neighbour at the time.  They’re a friendly bunch and conversation is always easy.  I count myself lucky to have come across the group in my early days in the Algarve.

The contrast with extremely stylish elegance and the tumbledown never ceases to amaze me.  Moncarapacho is well equipped with both.  A right turn or two and we were back on country lanes.  This is ‘nora’ territory and the wells abound, some still in working order but many just a legacy of times gone by.  Polytunnels seem to proliferate now.  I’m never sure what is being grown, but am simply grateful that this beautiful climate is being used to provide people with a livelihood.

We wended our way back to La Collina Verde.  No golfers in evidence but the clubhouse had been opened to provide us with a splendid lunch.  Should I leave you with a choice of dessert?  Don’t ask me which has more calories.  I haven’t a clue!

You can probably tell, I’m more than content with life just now.  A certain person has hinted that I may grow fat and happy.  With the miles we walk?  Seriously!  Besides which, I’m still running up and downstairs, finding homes for things.  Perhaps some of them should have been left in the UK.  I’ll know better if I ever move again.  Or I’ll buy a bungalow.

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I’m back in business, sharing walks again.  If you have a favourite I’d love to hear about it.  Join me any time, here on Jo’s Monday walk.  You’ll always receive a warm welcome.

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Eunice kept up the walking while I was gone, so here you have a choice of two :

Preston Dock – some history, useless information and curiosities

Radcliffe Tower and Close Park

A whirlwind tour of Spain with Jackie.  Stopping to eat, of course!

Spanish Tapas

Jaspa revels in the cold.  Rather him than me!

Old Town Montreal in the COLD!

I’m seeing a lot of cold water with Drake these days, but it’s very beautiful :

Water can be stiff

Us easterners have to stick together, don’t we Geoff?

Where The East Begins#capitalring#walking

I would never accuse Nadine of cheating!  I’ve ridden that steam train but I simply couldn’t shoulder the backpack :

Men in the hills and bulls in the field; day 5 on the Pennine Way, Haworth to Malham (with a train ride… 6 or 7 miles of walking)

Absolutely on top of the world, with Irene :

Top of a Rainforest

I did pretty much this same walk last week.  It’s a wonder I didn’t meet Becky!

Glorious views abound

And Cathy continues to astound with the most incredible landscapes and stories :

Canyon de Chelly: Antelope House, Mummy Cave and Massacre Cave overlooks

I’m currently walking Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with occasional time off for good behaviour.  Or otherwise!  Have a great week and I’ll see you back here on Monday.

111 comments

  1. It looks idyllic Jo – such beautiful blue skies and gorgeous colours even in cooler months. So fortunate that you discovered the walkers’ group too as it is obviously a great way to wander round the countryside and discover all these charming villages. You must have a not too dissimilar climate to Perth though we had a lot of rain last winter!! Hope all the festive preparations are going well! xx 🙂

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    1. November/December has had amazing weather so far, Rosemay, but there’s a seriously cold snap in England right now and we can expect a bit of a dip in temperatures. The good news is it’s almost the shortest day! And we still sat outside at a restaurant yesterday lunchtime. Wishing you all the very best this Christmas 🙂 🙂

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      1. That’s pretty impressive to be sitting outside in December Jo! Yes it’s gone very cold in Yorkshire – my dad was expecting snow and freezing rain in Harrogate yesterday so hopefully you’ve kept all your heavy woollies and cold weather gear!! Thanks – wishing you a wonderful Christmas too and all the very best for the New Year 🙂 🙂

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      3. I’m so sorry Jo because it is very upsetting news 😦 Joy obviously loved travelling so I thought the best way to write a tribute was to dedicate this post to her. Banff is a beautiful place and the scenery is on such a grand scale that it evokes all sorts of emotions at the best of times. I was really upset when I read her husband and son’s post earlier this week. It’s taken me a few days to know what I wanted to write. Anyway sending you hugs and so sorry again for being the bearer of sad news xx

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  2. Love it! Your views are so different from mine and I could do with those pops of colour. 🙂 My favourites were the deep red flowers and tiled walls. Thanks for taking me on this wonderful walk. For a moment, I thought I could feel the warmth of the sun. xoxo

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  5. I was surprised with the beautiful church and that pink house with the Arab influence architecture.
    It’s difficult to say no to Portuguese pastries, they are all so yummi!
    Once again lovely walk 🙂

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    1. Even the smallest places have lovely churches here, Sami. We did another walk from Moncarapacho this week and it was a completely different route, up into the hills and very lovely. 🙂 🙂

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  9. Oozing content, you are. Sounds as if you’re in absolutely the right place – warmth,donkeys, waterwheels, glorious pink buildings and a congenial group to stroll with. Oh, and food. You fat? You’ll have to work extraordinarily hard!!!

    I too am moving stuff around but not so much ups and down stairs. With all bedrooms occupied there’s nowhere to dump stuff – except Joe’s – and my Queensland three are coming next week for a month – pull out the pool table and the barbecue. Hugo’s taking care of downstairs. And I have company on the deck – a very bloated python who can’t stir to disappear – there since Monday. Want a photo???

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    1. Hello darlin 🙂 🙂 Funny, I’d just put the laptop on and thought to myself, email Meg before you forget again, and here you are… I’m sure you must be psychic. Always such a warm feeling to have you near, Meg. I’m trying not to ooze too much smugness and get up people’s nose, but it’s not easy 🙂 No thanks, dear- let the python be! Sounds like a lovely Christmas for you. Oz style, of course!

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  10. Pingback: Life at No.22 – Photo Walks – Papamoa Hills – Global Housesitter x2

      2. January/February it can get down to about 12C. Much depends on wind chill. We’ll take whatever we can get, Sam. It’s almost always 10 degrees warmer than ‘home’. 🙂 🙂 And Spring arrives in February with all the almond blossom. Fabulous!

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  15. How lovely to be part of a walking group whose members don’t want to barrel on at a frantic pace and prefer to wander and chat. And it’s lucky they all enjoy a nice lunch with dessert too. I’d say you are all kindred spirits, Jo.

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    1. The Striders are all about fitness, Carol, and I try to keep up with them, but the Strollers are very easy company. It’s a great combination. 🙂 🙂 And then there are the Sunday walks, organised by the local council.

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  16. You are like the cat with the cream Jo – so very content. And so many walking days too! You’ll soon be running out of new places to explore at this rate! Sadly the rain continues to pour here – not enticing us to go out for a walk at all – plus we are still full of colds and coughs 😦
    On the positive side, the bungalow is almost empty. Charity shop hopefully collecting what is left next week and I am trying to organise a cleaning company to come in as I really can’t face cleaning. I just feel so tired all the time!

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      6. I’ve never experienced it, Jude. I think dampness in the sense of moist air can be a problem in the winter months. And the wind can be biting cold. But not this week. 🙂 🙂 One week at a time!

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  19. Sue, how gorgeous are those blue skies? So lovely to have a nice group of ramblers to explore the beautiful Algarve with. All this walking will certainly keep you very fit Sue. What is the weather like there in January and February? Does it get very cold?

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