Jo’s Monday walk : Remember Culatra?

Some weeks I have no idea where to take you.  After all, there are only so many hills I can drag you up and down in search of cake, aren’t there?  So, I thought we’d take it fairly easy this week and hop on a boat.  Always my default setting.  You might recognise the marina at  Olhão, above.

With 20 minutes of smooth calm sailing, you just about have time to say goodbye to the mainland before you’re approaching Culatra, one of the Algarve’s barrier islands.  You can leap off at the first stop, or continue along the shoreline towards the lean white lighthouse at Farol.  There’s a small village at either end of the island and, after a meander through the cluster of villas and shacks, you can slip off your shoes for a paddle.

It looks like somebody’s been shipwrecked here!  Still, with a ferry every couple of hours, rescue is pretty certain.  It’s a long swim to Fuzeta!

Paddling done it’s time to cross over the boardwalk and pootle about with boats.  I’ll not spend time lingering among the narrow alleyways, charming though they are.  If you remember, we had a good look around last time I brought you here.  A lot of work is going on, laying new paths on the island, so maybe change is afoot.  Hopefully nothing too drastic!

It doesn’t always pay to nose around.  I almost fell foul of this little creature.  He was sitting innocently beside a boat, when I unwittingly invaded his territory.  Leaping and snarling, he made quite sure that I wasn’t up to no good.  I beat a hasty retreat, making what I hoped were soothing noises.

The seagulls were completely indifferent but a couple of small boys playing football were highly amused.  I raised a cheer when I lobbed their ball back to them, over a fence.  Kids here lead a simple life.  In warmer weather they become water babies, diving off the pier again and again, to the cheers of their mates, and swimming like gleeful fish.

On board again, we chug back across the water.  Entertainment is provided by some fellow passengers feeding the gulls, which swoop and perform aerobatics to snatch the bread.  In no time we’re ashore and strolling along the quayside, seeking refreshment.

We find it down an inviting passageway.  Such a nice reward for a minimum of effort.  Healthy, too?  I hope you enjoyed sharing.

More great walks this week.  Do find time to read them, please.  You might make some new friends.  And if you can, join me next week on Jo’s Monday walk?  You know I like a bit of company.

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Cathy honoured me with a link to her Camino walk last week, but I missed it.  Please don’t!

(Camino: day 4) Zubiri to Pamplona

And sometimes she takes me places I’ve never even heard of!  Who says blogging isn’t educational?

Great Sand Dunes National Park

I’m always in awe of her photography, and jealous of the places she’s been.  Thanks so much, Debs!

Victoria Harbour walk

You can share anything on my walks… and Drake often does!  🙂

Equipment

Denzil is right on my wavelength.  A peaceful riverside walk with a castle or two  :

Walking around Westerlo: river, castles and an abbey!

When she’s not eating, she’s shopping!  Always good fun with Jackie :

Market Fresh

All the way to Guatemala next, with Natalie :

Postcard from Antigua, Guatemala

Lisa’s taking us on one of her favourite walks, by the Hudson river :

Jo’s Monday Walk

A short walk with a stroller sometimes suits Alice :

The Welcome Station City

While Irene cheers us with ice blue (and a warm coat and scarf!) :

Sunshine and Blue Skies

Snow can look so pretty, but I’m keeping a safe distance!  🙂  Thanks, Eunice :

A snowy walk to Smithills Hall

Ending with Susan, and some fascinating memories of her time in the Peace Corps, and a very different world  :

Walking Bogota, Colombia

Have a great week, everybody!  Me?  I have another week of walking, t’ai chi, stuttering along in Portuguese and hopefully more lovely sunrises.

168 comments

  1. Pingback: A meander through Faro – Becky in Portugal

  3. It is nice to see the beaches in the North. I can see why you like it so much! Your blog had dropped off my reader so I looked you up to see if you were still “walking” on Mondays Jo. I am pleased to see you are, and would love to join in next time. Cheers,
    Amanda

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      1. So you are there permanently, Jo? Wondeful. I remember we were sellingsellingmovingvup and moving around the same time. We have just purchased land near the water and will build a new home. Hopefully more of the slower life for us too. Are you retired now, may I ask? Or working in Portugal?

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      3. Isn’t it funny how we think there is going to be oodles of time and ‘plan to do that when we retire ‘ – yet we seem to just get busier and busier. Sounds like a subject I might ut to the brains trust on Sunday Sayings next week for discussion.

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  5. Such serene views Jo – I can almost hear the waters gently lapping about. Glad you managed to escape the dog though- he doesn’t look too friendly! A lovely glimpse into your new life in the Algarve – can see why you love it so much! 🙂

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  6. I didn’t think it possible you’d ever run out of hills and valleys, marinas and bluffs, seaside villages and gorgeous vistas…cake or no cake. 🙂 I think you’re always going to walk just a bit further or go around another corner, Jo. You’re the intrepid explorer. I love the photo of the “shipwreck.” I’m late to the party here, Jo. It’s already the weekend, and i hope you have “delicious” plans.

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    1. Hiya darlin 🙂 🙂 No such thing as late to my party, Debbie! T’ai chi in the park this morning, while my poor man finishes decorating the lounge, then putting the house ‘back to rights’ this afternoon, but a lovely day out in prospect, across the border, tomorrow. I may just find time to write about it 🙂 Have a lovely week ahead!

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  8. Ahh..to just hop on a boat and chug away to a nearby island! Jo, this is beautiful, remote and hearkens back to another era. So peaceful and languid! And you had the perfect treat to finish the walk part of the day. Hope the sun is still shining for you! 😀🌺

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    1. Hiya darlin! I’m balanced precariously on our roof patio wall-it’s a story -trying to do some Portuguese homework, while Mick paints the lounge. Apart from everything else, ir’s too warm to concentrate! 😎🍹🍍💕 xx

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  9. I have no recollection of Culatra even though I saw your earlier post, I think I’m losing it! I’m glad you linked back and glad to see there doesn’t seem to be any major changes to the island. It’s so beautiful and if it isn’t too manicured that’s even better. What a great place to bring kids up.
    Happy days darling Gxx

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    1. Hiya Gilly 🙂 🙂 Well, of 990+ posts (not that I’m counting 🙂 ) I can’t expect you to remember them all. I don’t think I could live on the islands. Winter nights would be so cold! But I love being over there and the naturalness of it. Hope the week’s going well, hon. Sending hugs!

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  11. Pingback: Left Behind in the Snow – Heaven's Sunshine

    1. That may very well prove to be the case, Draco, given a short-sighted local council and ever vigilant developers. It would be a wicked shame, wouldn’t it? And people’s livelihoods too!

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  16. Pingback: Welcome to 1867! | The Eternal Traveller

  18. It’s nice to know I can count on you for a little ocean fix every once in a while! I’m off to visit my island-living parents next week, and your mention of seagulls, boats, fishing nets and more gave me a little shiver of anticipation.

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      1. The live on St Simons Island, in the Atlantic off the coast of Georgia and very near northern Florida. It’s a small and charming little place that they’ve called home for the last few decades.

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