Water makes me happy

Tina’s inviting us to choose our own subject this week, and I’m going with water. My star sign is Scorpio and, though I’ve never really seen the connection between that curly-tailed creature and water, I have to admit that I have a strong attraction to it. I’m never happier than when I’m on the beach, examining shells and listening to the sound of the waves. But if I’m not near the ocean, a river will do, flowing gently but with determination towards the sea. Or I can be calm and happy by the still waters of a lake.

In my Algarve home, in the south of Portugal, nothing lies between me and Africa but water. The sandbar islands that I love sit serenely offshore, lapped by the tide, each a world in miniature. The water flows out into the lagoon and beyond them to the ocean.

It’s no coincidence that I chose Tavira as my home. It’s supremely placed to take advantage of the water that laps its shores and runs through it. From across the water the offshore island beckons. It cast a spell on me from the very first time I saw it. The Rio Giláo flows softly out to meet it.

  • Water flowing under Ponte Romana
  • And out to sea

It’s a wonderful coastline, with plenty of places to play. I hope you enjoyed sharing it with me. Thank you, Tina, for giving me a choice.

Lens-Artists Challenge #125 – You Pick It!

138 comments

  3. Lovely post. I’d never thought about Africa being the nearest point to you across the water. Makes me see the Algarve in a whole new perspective. I remember sitting on sand dunes at Valentia (southern Ireland) as a child on holiday and looking across the ocean and being told that America was the next country. I couldn’t really take it in – I still can’t.

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  4. You have much to be happy about. I love being near water too, though I don’t make it to the beaches anywhere near as often as you do. Maybe if I had someone to drive me there I might make more of an effort. Love the scallop shell. I don’t find many shells at all on the north coast beaches, I wonder if the south coast has more?

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  5. Ahhhh …. Although not an official walk, I was strolling along in the sunshine, smelling the sea air, feeling the breeze on my face, and adoring the sights. 😀 …. OH … it’s been raining here for hours and the rain will be changing to snow over the next several hours. 😦

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  9. Jo, I’m not surprised you made this your home! The coastline looks stunning, breathtaking views of the sea … I feel my heart soothed seeing your photos. How wonderful to enjoy time by the water, lunches, cafe breaks – enjoy!

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      1. Have a lovely chat to your son, Johanna and see what he feels about Christmas. It is so hard being apart I understand but things are not great here in England… and it’s worrying with the lead up to Christmas. Take care xx

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  10. Beautiful sights of water, Jo. Sounds like you resonate with water and your star sign a lot – and Tavira seems perfect for you. I like how you said ‘plenty of places to play’ along the coastline. There’s many lovely walks for you. Hope you are having a good start to the week 🙂

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    1. It’s classic damp and dreary today, Mabel, belying all those photos 🙂 🙂 We’ve had a rather stormy week and hopefully the reservoirs are a bit fuller. We are under restrictions at weekends due to

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      1. Ooops! National holidays, I meant to say, but I do get out and about in the meantime. We have a lunch invitation today and by tomorrow it will be blue skies again. 🙂 🙂

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    1. Thanks, darlin! 🙂 🙂 It is lovely, isn’t it? I captioned all my photos and was a bit cross when they didn’t appear on the post. I tried 2 or 3 times to update but it made no difference. Can’t stay cross for long with views like this.

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    1. Thanks, Su! I’m giving it a miss today because it’s a grey, soggy one after a stormy night and we’re invited out to lunch. I fully expect to be up on the roof later though, admiring it from afar. 🙂 🙂

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  16. Lovely post and great photographs. I like your sentence: “, nothing lies between me and Africa but water.” I tend to see the water between two places more like an obstacle to overcome, wondering how to cross while the way you describe it makes is a mot more positive! Really like this way of thinking about the water! Marcella

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    1. Last day of November and it’s grey here too, Margaret. It’s been a higgledy piggledy month of emotions and I’m not there yet. 😦 Electrical storms again last night but it will start to clear later today. And whatever the weather, it’s always beautiful and it’s home. 🙂 :))

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  19. Beautiful post with gorgeous photos. I totally agree that living near the sea or another body of water is wonderful, relaxing and inspiring. Tavira is a great choice. I love living here in Dorset, just a short walk from the beach and even in the winter I love walking along the seafront.

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