Captivating? He was very cute. Desperately eager to get through the fence to us but, when he did, a little shy. On a warm and cloudy afternoon, a couple of weeks ago, we decided to leave the car at home and explore our back lanes.
We live on the northern edge of Tavira, and beyond us the countryside sweeps gently away to the Algarve hills. It’s about half an hour’s walk to a rather nice pottery and garden centre, with an exceedingly nice café. This was our destination, but by a rather more roundabout route. You wouldn’t want to get to the cake too quickly, now would you?
Such a moody sky! Almost a collector’s item with the boundless blue we have experienced lately. Capelinha! That’s the name of the area, and a rather lovely farmhouse still bears the name. We turn down a path edged by stone walls and the journey of discovery begins.
The almond blossom is long gone, but firm pods of almond are ripening everywhere. We puzzle over a creeper with unusual blooms, the leaves well-chewed in places. Did you spot the culprit? Vibrant loquats vie for our attention, while the Hottentot fig escapes gracefully over a garden wall.
Rows of orange trees march off into the distance, trailing fragrance behind them. We cross a river bed and find, among the dry bamboo shoots, lilies glowing like pallid candles. A young man and his lady, pushing their bikes up the hill, pause for breath and smile.
A meadow opens out before us, a sweet symphony in green, orchestrated with notes of pink and lemon. A butterfly flits ecstatically from one to another and I wait, and wait, for that moment when the wings are still enough to capture. I almost make it!
I could have played all afternoon with that butterfly, but there were other distractions. A soft haze of pink, with a tiny snail. A zing of cornflower blue. More orange trees- mature this time. I have to restrain myself from reaching out for a handful of luscious figs, temptingly close.
The leaves are such interesting shapes. Then a dense orange flower, heralding pomegranates in the autumn, and a ladybird astride a wall.
A cluster of houses, and a bike or two. A potato vine, prettier than its name would suggest. And a flamboyant blossom. Pretty rural scenes.
In such agricultural country a paddock full of horses and a donkey is no surprise. Nor is the tinkling of bells and the sheepdog herding his flock home. But one sight did make me look twice. What a fierce-looking captain!
Tina talks this week about what constitutes Harmony. Nature provides it effortlessly, don’t you think? Perhaps someone should tell Mr. Billy Goat!
Doing my best to restore harmony. Well, everyone likes cake, don’t they? Feel free to indulge because I won’t be around to walk with you next week. I have some lovely friends arriving from Newcastle. I suspect we’ll be eating lots of cake!
Meantime, please do read and share! And thanks to all of you for your continued support. It wouldn’t be Jo’s Monday walk without you!
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Jackie managed to be first this week, and so, of course, …
A choice of 3 from Natalie- and all beautiful!
I absolutely love these windows, so thanks, Debs!
Serious, full-on walking with George! I could only gaze in admiration. Don’t miss it!
Janet enriched my life with a little ‘forest bathing’ this week :
It sounds a bit like a sitcom, but you will be charmed. Thanks, Susanne :
And there are few sights more beautiful than this! Thanks for sharing, Sandra!
Tiptoeing through the Tulips – #MtVernon, WA
Although Jude is offering lots of temptation this week. And we’re not talking cake!
And funnily enough, so is Rupali, though they are many miles apart :
More Camino with Cathy, though she’s actually in Tuscany right now. Lucky girl!
(Camino day 15) Santo Domingo de la Calzada to Villamayor del Rio
Nice to welcome Lady Lee back :
May will be very low key on the blog while I have company but I should be walking with you again on 20th. At the end of the month I’m off to the Azores- a long held dream- and I most definitely will not be around. Take good care till then!
restlessjo 
Wow, so much to see Jo! Thanks for recording your observations in such lovely photos. I wouldn’t get far on a back lane walk with so much to spot and photograph (and attempt to identify) around every corner.
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Thanks for taking the time to accompany me, Denzil. I was pretty surprised at the diversity myself. We caught it at a good time, too, as things are starting to look very dry now. 🙂
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Lovely post, Jo! That goat is adorable and your cake looks delicious. 🙂 🙂
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Another lovely day, Patti 🙂 🙂 Thanks, darlin!
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I love goats!!
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Cute little ones! 😄💕
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RJo – Happy May to you. I hope the upcoming trip to the Azores is wonderful. I enjoyed this little ‘local’ walk with you, and am amazed that at the end of all the rural-ness is a nice cafe. What luck – Happy and safe travels – Susan
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Hiya darlin! I was at that cafe again yesterday with my friends from the UK on their last day here. So hot! Right now I’m sitting by the river catching the breeze. Lovely to hear from you. Sending smiles your way 😎🌊🐚🐳🐠🍨💕
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Oh,Oh. I remember sitting along that river and having a lovely meal. Red umbrellas to combat the sun? Hope the breeze is always soft and comforting 😉
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Mostly cool and white. 🙂 🙂 Funnily enough, it was a wild one last night. Almost ripped the chimneys off! It’s been unseasonably warm(35C) and it was as if the wind just lost it’s temper with it all?
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Breezes and wind are completely different things. Winds make me lose my temper!:) Hope it’s settled down.
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Back on my patio after a fun day at an Islamic Festival. Do you know Mertola in the Alentejo? It’s a lovely place 😍💕
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wow! Nature is truly amazing..
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It’s certainly a beautiful world. 🙂 🙂
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Very delightful discoveries and pleasant walk! Beautiful photos, Jo. 🙂
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Thanks darlin! Made it up to the roof top finally. It’s been a hot one here today 😎🍨🍰💕
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What a lovely walk, Jo. Whenever I visit you, it seems like you’re living in paradise, cake and all. 😅
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It does sometimes feel that way, Ad. I have to pinch myself! 🙂 🙂
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Don’t pinch too hard. Bruises take so long to go away. 😳
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I love that cute little goat, and the caterpillar on that oddly-shaped creeper. Also the paddock of horses. What wonderful things to discover on your walk. It’s so picturesque when people decorate bicycles with flowers and set them up in front of their homes and businesses. We saw that all through Italy. Looks like spring is in full bloom there. Have fun with your friends from Newcastle. 🙂
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I promised them a relaxed day today. Just t’ai chi and a nice lunch out 😇🍸💕
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That sounds perfect. I hope it was fun. 🙂
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What a cute little fella Jo, not so sure about the captain though. A lovely walk today, thanks for sharing and for all the little details which make it extra lovely 🙂 Hope you’re well?
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Great thanks, Suze. Got company at the moment so extra busy 😍🍸🍰🍦💕
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Such a delightful walk. Lucky you with so much to explore.
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It’s another cloudy day, Pauline, but it’s warm and it was freezing in Newcastle so our friends are quite happy. 😍🍰🍦💕
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As promised some days ago here is my short walk in Poland, it seems the pingback has not worked, so here is the link to the strange story about the crooked forest in Western Pomerania:
https://urbansimulator.wordpress.com/2019/05/09/crooked-forest/
Cheers!
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Pingbacks don’t seem to be working well at present. Thanks for coming back to me! 🙂
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