Jo’s Monday walk : Vaqueiros, Cheese fest & the choir

Back in January, before our Iives were seriously upended, I took you on a walk from Vaqueiros.  The blossom was out then.  It seems such a long time ago.  A different, more carefree life.  But I want to take you back, to the beginning of March, for one last outing with the wonderful choir, Ossonoba, before all our boundaries diminished.

We were meeting at the crossroads of a country lane, close to the village of Malfrades, a little uncertain of what was to follow.  What we were sure of was a warm welcome, and smiles of recognition from the choir.

As usual, we had an experienced guide to lead the walk and answer any questions we might have about flora and fauna.  In Portuguese, of course, but if we looked too perplexed there was a member of Almargem on hand to explain.  This organisation had liaised with the choir to promote the Via Algarviana, and we were engaged in conversation several times with a charming young woman, anxious that we enjoy our experience.  And enjoy it we did!  The wonderful, big-faced white rock cistus were just getting into their stride too.

We were at one of the highest points of the Eastern Algarve, and as if that were not enough, were all set to climb a disused viewing tower for panoramic views of our surrounds.  You might have wondered about my leading photo.  We’ve reached the top!

The less confident might have opted for a seat with a view, but even it didn’t look very secure.  We followed the gently rolling trail down to the lake, with one more surprise in store.  Beside the path, winking silently in the sunlight, mysterious wild bee orchids.

The village of Vaqueiros, our destination, is just ahead, for the choir are to perform there, one last time for the season.  In January the village had been completely deserted, so we were astounded to find the main street lined with stalls.  Smoke from several bread ovens drifted into the air, with lingering delicious smells.  Local cheeses, sausages and bread were on sale, alongside beautiful hand crafts.

We made our way to the top of the village.  The choir were assembling on the church steps, those who had walked with us slipping away to change.  It was hot there in the open and I looked around for shade.  A dog lay in a lazy stupor.  The choir shuffled.

Finally they were ready, and the sounds, so familiar to me now, filled the air.  Pure joy in singing, and in each other’s company, is what makes this choir very special to me.  After the concert we were invited to follow them to a nearby restaurant.  They ate, and drank, and sang…A Capela, as they do.  A day to remember.

I’m sure they will have carried on singing, even though their plans for travel have been disrupted.  I hope to join them again in the autumn, but there’s a certain indefatiguable lady whose #SquareTops I’ll be joining even sooner.

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A bumper collection of walks this week.  Good to know you’ve still been out and about, enjoying our world, whatever the restrictions.

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Starting with a stunner from Jude :

The George V Walk in Lockdown

Always nice to welcome a newcomer.  Especially one with a sense of humour.  Meet Geanie!

Duck Takes a Walk (During COVID 19)

Joseph has a great fondness for moss.  Why not let him show you?

A Daily Walk

I had no idea that South Korea was such a beautiful country till I followed Cheryl :

A Walk in Daewangam Park & Ilsan Beach

Not just a walk along a lovely beach, but dolphins too, from Alice!

Dolphin Watch

And some spectacular sculptures, courtesy of Natalie :

5 Circular Art Works To See

Lush forest to sooth the soul, with Susanne :

Green River, Rain or Shine!  And Steelhead sighting!

Andrew, being interesting on his home patch :

Village Walks – Blow Wells and Watercress Beds

Drake, a little sentimental?

Broken eggs

Margaret, being resourceful on her doorstep :

Walking Every Single Day During Lockdown

And Janet, keeping it even closer to home :

Monday walk…in my room

Nor has Eunice strayed very far :

Smithills Hall and Moss Bank Park

While Ann Christine shares her beautiful Swedish homeland :

Thursday Thoughts – A Spring Hike

It’s a real honour and a privilege to be joined by Cee this week.  Come and see her garden!

Jo’s Monday Walk & Lens-Artists Photo #94 – Walk in My Front Yard

And Pauline takes the next step, with a video link into hers :

Come with me for a video walk in the garden…

But Cathy simply carries me off into a beautiful bubble from the past :

Lucca to Florence, Italy

Fabulous, all of them!  Thank you so much for your company.  I take much pleasure in our virtual world.  Stay safe!

113 comments

  1. Just got back from my morning walk and was greeted with all this beauty. The rock cistus is beautiful and showy and what a view! I think not sitting on the chair was a good choice. The market looks wonderful. Such lovely crafts and, of course, food. 🙂 I haven’t eaten yet, but first a shower so I’m off. 21 lemons today, BTW, but I noticed the tree doesn’t have nearly as many now, so I’m guessing soon there won’t be the same windfall to glean. I’ll gather lemons while I may.

    https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/monday-walk-le-grand-ballon/

    janet

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  10. What a lovely walk that was to look back on Jo. It had everything. Views, good company, markets, nibbles and that beautiful choir. I was fascinated with those bee orchids, they really did look insect like. You will be looking forward to your next get together. Thank you for the link. Now I’m going to have a stroll around the world.

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    1. We definitely ended on a high, Pauline. The choir are such lovely people. Bad times for the little turismo rurals who rely on walkers for their livelihood. Slowly today people are getting back to normal but tourism is a long way off. 🙄💕

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  12. It really was a day to remember wasn’t it? Looks so strange now to see a crowd of people all together doesn’t it? Hopefully those times will return soon.

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    1. I think we can have groups of up to 10 with the latest instructions, Jonno, but it certainly won’t feel natural for a while. We may start walking in 4’s or 6’s soon, and a good friend has returned to playing croquet today- socially distanced, of course! All a bit tricky 🙂 🙂

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      1. It’s going to take a while but it won;t be too long before people can congregate in small groups again. Sounds like you are further forward than here currently too.

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  14. What a wonderful walk, Jo. You must miss these badly – both the views and the company. I hope you are talking to yourself in Portuguese to keep the language going 😉
    And it’s not a Bank Holiday here either – it has moved to Friday for VE Day. So I must get on with some work now, but walking with you gave me a good start to my day.
    And I have finally written up one of my walks, it has been a while. And still in Portugal, so you should be able to enjoy it without breaking the borders 🙂

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    1. Oh, thanks for that, Debs- didn’t know about the Bank Hol. The things that happen when my back is turned! 🙂 🙂 Speaking of which, I did link to you with my cup of coffee and a book but forgot to put it in the comments. The longer this goes on, the more of a recluse I start to feel. I’m not naturally gregarious, despite the patter. 🙂 Many thanks, hon!

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  15. Pingback: Walking the banks of the Rio Tejo – Travel with Intent

  16. Oh, that looks so much fun, and definitely my kind of choir. Back in England, we’re going to attempt a Zoom rehearsal this week. Hmmm. We’ll see … And a lovely selection of walks this week too. I loved being transported back to South Korea, where we enjoyed such wonderful walks.

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    1. South Korea looks fabulous, Margaret, and not really somewhere I’d thought much about till I came across Cheryl. I think Ossonoba will have been doing something similar with Zoom. I know they planned to go to France in July but that will be off. But they’ll keep rolling on, singing all the way 🙂 🙂

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      1. We only went to SK because Emily was working there. I’m so glad we did. It’s not touristy, but so many people speak (American) English that we had few problems. Remember to ask for the ‘elevator’, not the ‘lift’!

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  17. What a lovely walk, and with cheese and a choir at the end. I love the colourful bowls on the stall and the views from the tower are fabulous, I would have been straight up to the top if I’d been there 🙂 Thanks for the link up, I’ll read some of the others later 🙂

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    1. The bread smelt fabulous, Carole, but we resisted because we knew we were going for dinner. I always have cheeses at home but I try not to drool over them when we’re out, because Mick can’t eat them. 😦

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  19. Another lovely stroll in your part of the world. Did you go up the observation tower then? 🙄 Rain here tomorrow so if I am to capture the bluebells then I must go looking for them today!

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    1. Yes, I did. Felt a bit precarious though, and the views were hardly different than at ground level. 🙂 🙂 Off you go then, lass! We need to go to the reopening library (not a Bank Hol here today 🙂 ) and return some books!

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      1. Not a bank holiday here either, as Margaret informed me, it is on Friday. Fat lot of difference it will make. VE Day celebrations apparently. Wish our library would reopen, though I am struggling to read at the moment 😕

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      4. No initiative, some people! You have a brolly, don’t you? All those pretty little droplets in a blue haze 🤣. Library trip didn’t work out. It was shut! But we bought Mick a mask so he doesn’t have to use his bandana 💕

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      6. Of course I have! Tricky but you can do close ups 🤣. From today all the small shops can open and for their protection they’ve made them mandatory. Can’t really have one rule for them and another for the big guys. A lot of people were wearing them in the supermarkets before but I hate them so never have. Did you get your bluebells? 🤔💕

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      7. I hate them too, make me feel claustrophobic. Only seen the odd person wearing one in the supermarket, including one member of staff. And yes I have got the bluebells, but it’s awfully windy so I suspect no great close ups.

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  20. oh Jo this is so lovely. Wonderful post, and fabulous to see the choir. Wish we could hear them too, instead I am going to go and drool over all that cheese, and then afterwards go for a few strolls!

    Thank you so very much for the lovely link up xx

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    1. It seems such a long time ago, Becky! 8th March. I got sidetracked and wasn’t sure whether to post about this, but it seemed appropriate to return to it now, and I already had ‘suares’ I intended to use last month. 🙂 🙂 The library is reopening today so we will be wandering over there to see what the set up is, and return books!

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      2. I think today’s legislation states that we have to, in all public spaces, including supermarkets. We haven’t, so far, but I have the tea towel ready to practise with. 🙂 The library doesn’t open till this afternoon, so there’s time. Done a lot of walking lately but we will probably just amble into town and scope out some handmade masks. Not crazy about the idea, but… 😦

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