Jo’s Monday walk : a fishy tale!

I like a fishy story.  Don’t you?  Truth to tell this one isn’t much of a story at all, and it’s not what I had intended to post.  But if you can’t be spontaneous in your own space… well, it’s a poor show!  It all started with a seahorse…

‘Let’s go to Olhão!’, I said.  ‘There’s a new seahorse sculpture and some net things up in the streets’.  What more of an invitation do you need?  The Ria Formosa, just offshore from Olhão, is known for its seahorses, and you can take a very delightful trip over to the sandbars to hunt for them.  Stuff of dreams?  A little less exciting, the sculpture, looking out to sea.

But Olhão is one of those ‘love it, hate it’ places.  Full of character, if you want to be polite.  Desperately shabby in the back streets, but in the process of acquiring a shiny new waterfront for the visitors.  The marina is always a treat, as you watch the boats to and fro-ing to the islands, but the riverside gardens are currently being torn up and replaced.  Hopefully they will retain some of their character, and the wonderful azulejo benches.  So uncomfortable to sit on, but beautiful to behold.  But we’ve not come to sit, invitingly though the icecream van flutters its eyelids at the tables beside the water.  The Arab quarter is always beguiling, so long as you don’t mind getting a little lost in the narrow tumble of streets.  Spot the whale on the roof?  No, I didn’t see it either at first.

I’m heading for the pedestrianised shopping area- not to shop, but this is where I think I might catch a fish or two.  And certainly some street art!

Olhão has a fair claim to being the street art capital of the Algarve.  The work depicting the fishing industry is among my favourites anywhere.  But finally I find what I’m looking for, and yet it still comes as a surprise.  Fish cavort above my head, darting through nets and flipping their tails.  ‘Linda‘ says the sign over the shop- beautiful- and I have to agree.

I wander along, snapping and exclaiming, until I come to the main church square, where an exhibition catches my eye.  I read the text and take a pic or two, and then I notice that the other half is staring skywards.  He’s spotted the storks.  Attention completely diverted.

I circle around the building, happy to find so many at home.  Did you notice the time on the clock?  I did, simply because at 3 on a Saturday afternoon I usually attend a Zoom meeting with some lovely ladies.  Some of you will know that Becky spends most winters here in the Algarve, and that Olhão is her home of choice.  I wondered if she might like to share the moment.

Back we wandered to a favourite café, with a ringside view of the leaping life above our heads.  All was quiet in the heat of the afternoon.  At weekends in summer the Portuguese go to the beach, leaving the towns strangely empty.  Though empty in these days is not so strange!  We settle at a table, with a refreshing wine, and I make the call.  ‘Would you like to come for a walk?’  And so I retrace my steps, waving my phone at the sky in the hope that they might see the fish, and maybe a stork or two.

I did promise you a fishy story.  I hope you weren’t disappointed?

walking logo

And now some shares!  A lucky dip into my ‘likes’ introduced me to Helen.  Please stop by and say hello?

Quarantine Walks: The Bulford Kiwi

 

Drake has his own individual take on life, and he always makes me smile :

Away from home

As times go by

I always like to share stunning photos, and these from Mercedes are beautiful :

Hiking in green Appenzell

Rupali shows us the beauty of her world :

Daily Walk

Weekend 98: Moments from the Wilderness

And Indra takes me to a city I’ve always wanted to visit :

Hong Kong… An Eclectic Mix

Anabel is rightly proud of her heritage, despite ‘dreich’ weather :

Port Glasgow Heritage Walk

A daunder round Dundee

While Margaret juggles with words :

Six Words?  Twelve Words?  All nonsense

And Natalie joins in with my fishy theme :

Life and Fish-Themed Art

Becky and I share a love for the same places :

Where the Douro flows into the Atlantic

A bit of an aberration with the print in the shares!  Made me rather late publishing today.  Apologies if I’ve missed anybody.  It’s not so easy keeping track right now.  Too many distractions.  I won’t be walking with you next week.  It’s seriously hot!  Enjoy your summer/winter/life!  See you soon.

147 comments

  5. Pingback: Monday walk…castle walk | This, that and the other thing

  6. jo, you once again found some lovely steet art and I really enjoyed the netting that seems to be everywhere. Nice spotting of the stork by your other/better? half. 🙂 The parts you shared are attractive but many cities/towns have grungy parts. Nice of you to share your walk with your friends, too. I’m taking you to a castle today, but a very different one from the ones you see in Europe. I think you’ll enjoy it, though. Enjoy taking time off next week. It’s going to be quite hot here as well, as high as 111+F for two or three days.

    https://sustainabilitea.wordpress.com/2020/06/22/monday-walk-castle-walk/

    janet

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    1. I agree, Janet, very many cities do. I think you have to see Olhão to be aware of the real problems, and I don’t think the town planners are helping. Becky is very fond of it and it’s a place I always like to visit, even if only for access to the islands. The storks are everywhere at the moment. They seem to be better at handling the heat than me. Perhaps if I could spread my wings and soar 🤣. Thanks darlin. I shall spend this evening catching up with walks 💕💕

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  9. What an interesting little spot to explore & looks like it isn’t too far from Tavira? I wonder if they ever have issues with birds getting caught in all the overhead netting.🤔

    Wishing you a wonderful day💕

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    1. It’s about half hour by car, along the E125, or by train, Lynn. We used to go there every week for Portuguese lessons. A great jumping off point for the islands of Armona and Culatra too.
      Good question! Melting quietly on the roof 😎💕💕

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    1. We often sit there, Brian. Sometimes with a toastie, but always a wine. It was lovely to have Becky’s company. 🥰 Running very late this week but I’ll get over to yours eventually 😎💕

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  11. I can’t see anything to hate about this place Jo. I just LOVE it. As you know me I love anywhere that has so much street art and the sea horse sculpture is beautiful. Zoom is a great thing that social isolating hs brought to the world. The magic of technology. Stay cool if possible…🥵

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    1. I have to admit I haven’t shown the really grungy ugly side, Pauline, but trust me, it’s there. Olhão does have a lot of beautiful old buildings and the street art is a redeeming feature, but it’s not a place I could easily live. Health warnings are out to stay out of the sun from 11 till 5 today. Maybe an evening beach walk 😎💕💕

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  13. Wow, fantastic photos, Joe! One can never get enough of Portugese architecture as it is always executed with grate care and detail. Thanks for sharing and have a lovely day 😀 Aiva

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    1. I love the summer themes, Aiva. It’s Sao Joao on Wednesday. Usually a huge party, especially in Lisbon and Porto. This year will be more subdued but at least they’re trying to make the place cheerful. 🤣💕

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  14. Just wow! Love everything about today’s walk! The seahorse is stunning, tempting ice cream – the storks n the whale perched high up… and all the fishy art… those fishing nets with fish floating in mid air are very intriguing! Love the details 😃

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    1. Last year the streets were decorated with upside down umbrellas, Rita. I didn’t know if they would be the same or left bare this year. It’s a lot of effort and I really like it. 😍💕

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  20. Fab photos as always Jo – I loved everything about this one, especially the seahorse sculpture, and that doorway – shabby but beautiful in its own way 🙂

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    1. I didn’t post the more ugly shots, Eunice. Poetic license or what you will. Olhão doesn’t lack for beautiful old buildings. It’s just the bits that join them up 😍💕

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