Jo’s Monday walk : Christmas themed

I remember when rock was young….

‘Tis the season, and it wouldn’t be Christmas for me without the lights. Family, friends… we’re all scattered and in the wrong places this year. The UK are locking down ever tighter, and friends who made it back there are not sure how or when they will be able to return. For me, I’m still sad not to be with family. But moping won’t help anyone, so let me lead you through the back streets of Loulé. We’re in search of a waterfall.

‘A waterfall?’ I hear you say. ‘In the back streets of Loulé?’ Well, why not? If you believe in Santa… We just need to twist and turn a bit, head down this paved drive, a sharp left into a narrow alleyway and look! Steps lead steeply down. You can hear the sound of tumbling water. And there it is! Complete with stepping stones, maybe a touch precarious. We’ll just look, from here.

Who would have suspected, so close to these apartments? What a surprising view they must have from their balcony. A private garden with a small orchard and a waterwheel. Let’s follow the fonte to see where it goes.

Ponte dos Álamos, the Bridge of Poplars, was built on a secondary Roman road that connected the now ruins at Milreu, north of Faro, with Loulé. Made unstable by the action of the water, the bridge was reconstructed and widened to permit traffic in 2011. It feels strange to be so close to the town and yet on the edge of open countryside. Curiosity satisfied, and vowing to follow the stream on our next visit, it’s time to head back to the centre. The sun is going down and soon the Christmas lights will come on. Look! There’s Santa flying past the castle.

I think I’d prefer a sleigh. The huskies look keen but I’m not sure that those bears are friendly. Now here come the stars…

Loulé has a very attractive pedestrian shopping area and a market that resembles something from the Arabian Nights, especially when lit by fairy lights. Ceramic tiles, hand-beaten copper lamps and beautiful handwoven rugs are just some of the things you can purchase.

This year we have to find the magic of Christmas wherever we can. Come on, Santa- let’s rock!

Hope you enjoyed my Christmas story, and can find a little bit of magic this Christmas time, and a whole lot of love. That’s what it’s all about!

Lens-Artists Challenge #128

walking logo

Not sure that this is the best of times to be posting walks, when not everyone can get out to take them, but it’s nice to have something to look forward to, don’t you think? Merry Christmas, everybody!

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Looking at this beautiful post, it’s not hard to understand why Jude lives in Cornwall :

Looking for Camellias

Drake portrays the simple life, from his childhood home :

Vintage alive

Take a peek at the dazzling Duomo, with Rupali :

A for Alley(s) in Florence!

Share the festivities in Toronto, with Natalie :

Seeing the Lights

Or from Germany, with Lady Lee :

Second Advent

But it looks a bit miserable in Berlin :

Berlin Night Hike: Empty Covid City

Denzil can always find us a decent walk :

River Helle valley walk and Lake Eupen

And they don’t come more colourful than this, from Lookoom :

Colombia : Getsemani walking tour

I will be walking with a couple of friends on Boxing Day but my next Jo’s Monday walk will be in January. Take good care till then!

111 comments

  2. Pingback: Ups and downs | Le Drake Noir

  4. Very pretty and very festive, Jo! Christmas is a season of enjoying the simple things that make life beautiful. Despite the pandemic crisis, may you have great memories that will permanently touch your heart. I wish you so much joy during this season and all through to the New Year. Aiva 🙂 xxx

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    1. Thanks darlin! Another glorious day here today and I’m having an unChristmas lunch with friends. All the best to you for 2021 and maybe our paths will cross next time 😍🍰🍸💕

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  6. What a lot of fun in that place! Very original. It’s nice to see some differences to the usual reindeer etc. Thanks for the callout to my walk Jo; always appreciated. Best wishes to you for a happy as possible Christmas and may all your zoom conferences be truly blessed. Take care Sweetie! x

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  9. Merry Christmas Jo! This certainly has been a darn right difficult year that I’m happy to turn the page on yet a bit afraid of the coming months. Thanks for sending Jo every Monday. I hope to someday regain my desire and passion to blog yet words continue to escape me. Wishing you the best in 2021. 🙂

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  11. Wonderful….a waterfall. Please do a “we’re following the waterfall” post. A lovely Christmas decoration all through the town. Enjoy as best as possible Jo 🥰💕
    I thought you were going to add Jingle Bell Rock as the song to accompany the walk 😀

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    1. A small group of us plan to do just that in the New Year, Brian. At the moment it feels like a Day to get past, but it will be bright and clear and we’ll almost certainly have a wander on the beach after the video meet-ups. 🙂 🙂 You’ll be at K’s? Have a lovely one!

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  13. Very festive and pretty! This year will be hard but we’ll all get through. Even here we’ve been affected. Our daughter is stuck in Sydney, with her plans to come home for Christmas scuppered by an outbreak in Sydney. So disappointing but we understand why everything is closed again. I’d rather have her safe in her own home than travelling.

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  14. Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge # 128: And Here Comes the Holiday Season | Kanlaon

  17. A lovely and festive walk Jo. You’re right, we have to find Christmas where we can, even if only in our hearts. Hearing lots about the new strain in the UK. Hope its under control very soon. Scary world these days

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    1. I was set to fly to the UK today but my husband and son dissuaded me. We now have an Easter booking. Surely it will be under control by then, Tina? Sending Christmas love 🙂 🙂

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    1. Isn’t he great? I couldn’t stop smiling at him 🙂 🙂 I need to catch up on my emails and the panto stuff. I get worse the closer we get to Christmas because old friends get in touch and exchange news.

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