Jo’s Monday walk : A back street tour of Tavira

Tavira’s new bridge

A change of pace today. I’ve managed to complete a circular walk around Calçadinha de Sáo Brás de Alportel , and also around the waterfall in my Christmas themed Loulé walk, in the last few weeks but restrictions have arrived. Having kept our head above water throughout most of the pandemic, numbers in Portugal rocketed after Christmas. So, for now, I’m back to local walks. It’s not a serious hardship. I took off one morning with a spring in my step, to check out a few nooks and crannies.

Gardens within the town are mostly of the patio variety, a simple courtyard with pots of colour. Here and there a bougainvillea creeps up a wall and a chair is strategically placed. Most often in the shade.

  • Just space for a table
  • New apartments in a grand setting
  • Up the hill, we look back down

Not everywhere is beautifully maintained. Tavira has its share of unloved and tumbledown. Cracks abound. But for every sad ruin there is a carefully nurtured home. And some of the doors are exquisite.

We’ve climbed to the oldest part of town now. The ancient water tower conceals a Camera Obscura within. A good way to observe the town in its entirety, it stands shoulder to shoulder with the Santa Maria church. Once both were enclosed by the town walls, whose remnants provide beautiful views across the salt marshes and out to sea.

A gentle descent, through a choice of back streets, will bring you to the Praca da Republica, the main square, overlooking the river. It’s unnaturally quiet here at the minute, used as I am to a friendly buzz of people sharing coffee, cake and life stories. I walk on through the riverside gardens, where even the terrapins in the bandstand pool seem to be avoiding me. The new bridge hasn’t yet had its unveiling but looks ready for action.

Fishing boats ride at anchor, the days’ catch waiting for takers. I approach the flyover, with its sweeping views. The river meanders out to meet the Ilha and I stop to watch the storks performing aerobatics. There are a couple in the nest and it’s fascinating to watch them glide through the air. I turn away discreetly when the noisy courtship begins.

It’s not a bad place to be marooned, is it? Hopefully the restrictions will be short-lived as numbers in the Algarve are already declining. We’ll beat this thing yet! And in the meantime, the bakers are still open. Naughty cake, anyone?

  • Raspberry and lemon cheesecake
  • Or chocolate Toblerone cake?
walking logo

A few shares this week, some of them looking very cold! I wish you could share the sunshine. Do visit, if you can! It’s nice to have a bit of company in these lonely times. Join me on Jo’s Monday walk whenever you like.

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Walk slowly to appreciate Inese’s wild Irish scenery! It’s in 2 parts :

Crotty’s Lake 1

Crotty’s Lake II

If you’ve never walked with Madhu you have a real treat in store :

Brussels – Exploring History Through Architecture

And just to remind us it’s Winter! Thanks, Rupali :

Weekend 113: A walk in fresh snow

Weekend 114: Winter settles in

Everyone knows the Canadians love snow, don’t they, Lynn?

Please come out & play

I love a coastal walk, but I do prefer blue skies, Anabel. I’m sure you do too :

Fife Coastal Path: Cellardyke to St. Monan’s

Fife Coastal Path: Cellardyke to Crail

Drake plays with nature and the wintery light :

Cool walk

Eunice has a love of street art. This is her latest collection :

Manchester street art 2020

For me, boats do it! Follow me to Norway with Cadyluck. It’s a bit cool though :

Haugesund, Norway: On the Waterfront

I’ll be back in a couple of weeks. Up north Spring is coming. It’s already here! Take care of each other, and keep walking!

120 comments

  1. Very nice sunshiney walk today! How could you not get out in that weather! I too think I could live there, so I would appreciate a photo of those new apartments up closer and all the details! Ha ha! Thanks for including Haugesund in your walks this morning!

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  7. I scrolled down looking for the tiles but found none. No tiles on one of your village walks? Are you sure you haven’t just missed one or two? But OK, I’ll settle for the cake and coffee. I remember how good Portuguese coffee was.

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  8. Loved having a peek at a few of those patios, they look so inviting. Looks like things are bursting into bloom. Would this be considered early spring there?

    Thanks for including my post in your walks today. We haven’t had much sunshine this past week but it has been very mild so good temperatures to get out & walk. Have a lovely day my friend 🤗😘

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    1. Spring starts in January here and the fields are full of Oxalis, Lynn. Like a floppy yellow buttercup. The almond blossom is coming out too and white broome down by the sea. We had a walk on the beach this morning. No way I can complain 🌞🌊💕

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    1. Will have to live on the memories for a few weeks, Frank. Gallivanting is curtailed but I doubt we’ll go hungry. Will get back to you later. Lots happening online at the moment 🤗🍰🍩💕

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  16. Thanks for this town walk, Jo. It’s good to see where you hang your hat in more detail. And why do ruins abroad always look so picturesque? Not so good to live in, but … I’ll be back later to go on the other walks.

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