Jo’s Monday walk : Chocolate time in Loulé

I’m feeling a bit naughty this week.  You’re always encouraging me to eat cake, so I thought I’d take you along with me to the annual, Algarve Chocolate Fair, in Loulé.  Any volunteers to help with the tasting?  I bet I can guess whose hand went up!

Pause for breath?  Please excuse the overload, but it was planned as a Valentine’s Day treat.  We’d better walk slowly now, while you nibble your chocolate.  (I did succumb to a very delicious dark chocolate bar, nibbed with crispy almonds, but I’m keeping that one to myself)

Loulé makes for very easy wandering, unless you happen to time it for Carnaval.  The main street was already being festooned with garlands, in readiness for the event in two weeks time.  We’ve been on numerous occasions, and my husband loves the political satire and the sparingly clothed dancing girls.  Me, not so much!  But it’s good fun and the youngsters love to get dressed up and join in.

I’m more interested in the beautiful, tiny church, tucked around the corner from the castle, Ermida de Nossa Senhora de Conceição.  The kind lady inside happily points out the main features of the azulejos, telling the story of Mary and Joseph and their special baby.  Just within the doorway, remnants of the town walls gaze dimly upwards, through a clear glass panel.

Downhill, past the castle and around silent Igreja Matriz, a small park looks out onto battered rooftops, and across town to the futuristic dome of Nossa Senhora da Piedade.  An elderly chap gazes quietly into space from his bench, while above a small boy gleefully climbs an ancient olive.

We’ve loitered in Loulé often before.  A gate through the old town wall leads out to a busy back street, rumbling with traffic.  Beside the gateway scowls an ancient pump, the surrounding streets an enigma of beautiful tilework, graffiti and skilled craftsmanship.  Ceramics and cork shops flourish and, from an open doorway, the sound of mallet tapping brass rings out.  I stop to admire a gleaming, burnished lampshade.

I was a little disappointed to find that no art was on display in the former Convento de Santo Antonio.   Hopefully restoration will continue and a further exhibition be set up for summer.  One last port of call.  I rarely visit Loulé without ascending to the heights, but this time we drove up the hill to Nossa Senhora da Piedade.  I hope to be there to see her carried from her sanctuary this Easter.

It’s a strange church, but I was quite taken with my last image- a reflection of the Sanctuarium on the window of the House of Candles.

The walks keep rolling in, so thanks to all who’ve contributed, and to those of you who take the time to read them.  Join me, whenever you can, here on Jo’s Monday walk.  I try to keep it lighthearted!

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Did you think we’d lost Meg?  Can’t keep a good woman down!  Showcasing a hodge podge of Australian architecture, in her own inimitable style :

Warwick heritage walk

‘My’ bit of the Coast to Coast walk, with Geoff and his Dad.  Great memories, beautifully written :

Walking With The Wind At My Back: Part Five #coasttocoast #walking

Natalie continues her adventures in Central America :

Boat trip on Lake Atitlan and Santiago Village

Pure delight for the eyes, this one from Susan :

Winter Walk Around Bodnant Garden in Wales

A quick zap of colour from Jackie this week :

Monday Mural

‘Sunshine, food and medicine for the soul’.  Irresistible, don’t you think?

Flower of the Day – Hellebores

A casual day out, enjoying the warmth, with Alice :

Skidaway Island Nature Trail

Irene is determined to make me shiver!

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While Elaine has captured the most beautiful dragonfly shot, despite very murky weather :

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Architecturally beautiful, and sunny!  Debbie’s post couldn’t be more different :

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Ever been to Queens, New York City?  Let Lisa show you around :

Jo’s Monday Walk

Iceland is on most people’s wish list, isn’t it?  You might know Drake had made it!

Reykjavik, up north

The Algarve, not so much, but it certainly suits me and Becky :

A meander through Faro

Carol shares a wonderfully atmospheric snippet of Toronto’s history :

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While Jude revives a memory or two of her own, in Ludlow :

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And Eunice takes us back through Bolton’s history, in 3 parts.  Know about the elephant connection?

Visiting the museum (1) – Elephants & Egypt

Finally, Cathy shares a garden that Jude would just love to be let loose in!  And I’d love to join her :

A stroll around Moab

Worn out, again?  Must be all that chocolate.  It was good fun though, wasn’t it?  Have a great week and see you next time!

166 comments

  2. Oh My Sweet Lord … a chocolate festival!! My mouth is drooling at just the thought!

    So many wonderful photos and visual treats. You had me at “remnants of the town walls”. I always envy the European immersion into SO MUCH history!

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  3. What fabulous artwork, Jo. The inside of the little church is really a special environment. I think you’d never exhaust the possibilities for enjoying the architecture and colors of the Algarve. But the chocolate? Now that really was naughty! I don’t have any in the house with which to indulge and you’ve set my mouth to watering. I’ll have to be content with a feast to the eyes. 🙂

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  6. Oh, my! Chocolate! I’m sold on the Chocolate Festival. I would probably overdo it because I’m a sucker for that particular product but I could resist the cake as I’m not a great fan of choccy cake. You managed to walk off a few calories I guess but not a lot at strolling pace, or did you eventually stride out. Your tile images are beautiful and you have a lovely set there, but it’s really unfair of me to single out these as all your pictures are terrific – as always.

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    1. We were in Loule with a friend, Mari, and it was more social than exercise but I thought it made a fun post. This evening I’m at Portuguese class. Not so much fun but probably better for me 🍫🍬🍰🌹🍹💕

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  11. This is the most delightfully interesting village Jo. I could linger there and definitely worth many visits especially with all that chocolate to keep up the energy and I look forward to visiting with you at carnival time.

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    1. Hi Pauline ☺. It’s a cultural centre and there’s always something going on there. Spent a lovely morning walking in the hills and am now watching the sun sink up on our roof terrace. Chocolate all eaten 😕🍫🍬🍰🌹💕 xx

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  13. The chocolates look superb Jo – I’m partial to really dark chocolate myself but they all look delicious 🙂 Beautiful walk through Loulé too – the tiles inside the church are magnificent and you’ve captured such a pretty set of photos of the town. Hope you have a lovely rest of the week too 🙂

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    1. Thanks, hon! 🙂 🙂 Sitting here with a cuppa, thinking about getting ready for the walk today. It’s up in the hills, and looks like we could be lucky because it poured all day yesterday. I should have got lots done indoors but somehow the day got away from me. 🙂 I still have 2 boxes of ‘memories’ under the bed.

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      1. I still have several boxes of “memories” Jo and we’ve lived in our present house for nearly 18 years!! Hope the weather fines up and you can do your walk in the hills 🙂

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  15. I so enjoyed your Monday walk, from the chocolates to the House of Candles. I wouldn’t have been able to resist sampling one or two of those chocolate treats.

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