Jo’s Monday walk : A Faro interlude

I feel a bit like that White Rabbit today, and if I had a pocket watch I’m sure I’d be consulting it and shaking my head. Whose ever idea was it to make my Monday walks a fortnightly event? Oh- mine! Well, not the brightest idea I ever had, because it’s too easy to forget which Monday my walk is due. If I can’t keep count, how can I expect you to? So, yes, I’m late! Having gleefully published a bevy of greens this morning, I then realised that I had a pressing engagement with my walking friends. I do apologise! But it’s still Monday in my part of the world so, shall we go?

We probably need a word or two of explanation here. Our neighbour and close friend needed to be at Faro hospital one day last week, and we agreed to take her. We are still expected to remain at home, but with certain exceptions and this was a necessary journey. Not sure how long the appointment would take, we set off to wander the streets of Faro, to see what changes had been wrought by the pandemic. All was eerily calm- no blaring traffic horns, and most of the shops closed. Like many a city centre, and especially here in Portugal, the streets are a total melange of architecture. New rubs shoulders with old and care worn, if not completely derelict, while some old and stately residences have been beautifully preserved. Street art has become commonplace.

The railway runs along the front at Faro and just beyond the railway station stands an imposing but not pretty building. A former flour mill, starting in May it’s set to be turned into an apartment block, so I was glad that I had an opportunity to inspect the artwork. Normally I would turn right from the railway, passing the bus station and head towards the marina and old town. The hub of the city, the cafés are usually busy and the shiny red fire engines on standby for duty.

Sturdy walls enclose much of the old town and vendors ply their trade beneath them, selling trips to the barrier islands and to observe birds and dolphins. Across a vast expanse of water lies the airport, and planes normally roar overhead at regular intervals. But not today! All is silent, until the train trundles along the tracks to discharge its pitiful cargo.

The kiosks are shuttered and the former fishermen’s huts stand forlorn. The occasional passerby passes, masked like ourselves, usually with averted gaze. The gaiety has gone from our lives, leaving behind suspicion and mistrust.

A sign of life, and even laughter, comes from a bizarrely painted shop in the city walls, and beyond that, the strange mournful sound of a didgeridoo. I recognise the sound before I see the performer, a young man in a beanie, sitting propped against the wall, playing for himself alone.

We’re happy to return to the hospital, past the empty car park, and pick up our friend. Faro, like many another, no longer feels like the city we love. But finishing on a positive note, life is set to return to the Algarve when current restrictions start to ease after Easter. And in the meantime, I’m sure Sami will be happy to add this to her collection of murals.

Sami’s Colourful World

walking logo

A great collection of walks to share this week. Apologies again and I will endeavour to stick to my schedule in future. Always happy if you can join me on Jo’s Monday walk.

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Say hello to Linda? She’s not the only one!

I was late to the party…

I had no idea what Cady had in store when she said ‘come back on Monday’ :

Jo’s Monday Walk: The Cemetery

Backtrackin’

What’s a little rain when the world is this beautiful? Let Sarah be your guide :

Where the Gods descended: Kamikochi

Carol has a wonderful surprise for us this week. And then you meet the kings of the canyon!

On the inside

Where Kings Grow

I was very wrong to think that Alice was taking us to a home for cats!

Oldest Tabby Structure in South Carolina

Meanwhile Cee’s waiting for those tulips to bloom. Not long now!

Jo’s Monday Walk: Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

And Drake’s enjoying the change of season :

Time for change

Joanne was tempted out into the sunshine, and Charlie enjoyed his walk :

Jo’s Monday walk

Janet’s an early riser. See what she found in March!

Monday walk…Marching into Spring

While Lady Lee’s been doing jigsaws in lockdown :

Puzzle number 19 – Asian lanterns

Never too late for a walk! Karen takes a closer look at her surrounds :

My Monday walk, too late all round

Jude’s a busy bee at present. Nowhere she’d rather be than in a beautiful garden :

Meteorological spring

Wishing you all a happy week. Get out walking, if you can? See you soon!

109 comments

  1. Yes Jo you have summed up the current situation in public places very succinctly. We are all keeping our heads down. Hoping that it improves. Let’s not lose that hope.

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    1. I just read headlines of a further outbreak in Italy, Denzil. Keeping the virus at bay has come at an enormous cost to this area. As always there will be people who do very well out of this. Building is going ahead at a steady rate. But there are many who struggle to make ends meet.

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      1. I’m sure it is. So many places are. Last summer it was difficult to see Niagara-on-the-lake devoid of tourists. During the summer there is a huge influx of tourists, which can be uncomfortable for locals, but also much needed for the local economy.
        Must be strange to see in Portugal too.

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  3. Pingback: Puzzle number 21 – Birds – Ladyleemanila

  5. Such interesting places! I hope all will soon be back to normal as vaccine distribution success (we hope) releases people from the isolation.

    be safe… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  6. Ah, I was going to post a walk for you today, but having only just seen this I shall schedule it for tomorrow now. Just need to shuffle another post out of the way 😁 I can’t say that the artwork impresses me much, it all looks a little old and I hate it when others tag and stuff all over a mural. I hadn’t realised that Faro was on the coast, for some reason I thought it was inland. I can’t even think when I last visited a town. Penzance probably back in late October when restaurants were still open. St Ives looked dead when we drove through in February to visit the GP. Though Hayle always seems quite busy. Hope your friend is okay. Of course it was a ‘reasonable excuse’ for you to tag along to keep the driver company 😂

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    1. I felt guilty at being so pleased with the outing, but it wasn’t a bad outcome for her and treatment is ongoing. She did need the company and was very happy to have us along. 🙂 🙂
      You’re a late bird! 12.46 it says on here? That flour mill is an eyesore but it will soon be transformed into something more trendy so I was glad to get a look. Lots of street art here! Some of it stunning, but it’s really not my thing. Faro is a strange capital in many respects. I love the proximity to the water, but if you approach by road you might never go there. The old town is really beautiful. Thanks for the walk, hon! My face must have been a picture yesterday morning when I realised what I’d done. I was cursing green 🙂

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  8. Somehow, Faro is one place that I can’t recall although I know I spent a couple of days there in the sixties when we used to drive there. I wonder why? I love the street art, you seem to find a lot of it in your area and it’s all good. Sad to see deserted streets but I’ve become used to them. We expect to be overrun shortly when tourists are allowed to move about again but who knows. Some people may have lost the urge to travel out of their district and be happy just to visit nearby towns and wander in and out of shops. Me? I’ll be more than happy to get to my hairdresser (booked for opening day) have my hair cut, and when I feel, and look, more human, then can I begin to think about where to go. I suspect I’ll head to London for a few days. I crave a gallery and a walk along the Thames! Will you come back to visit your family or will they go to you? I don’t dare make plans like that yet, we just don’t know any more, do we?

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    1. It’s a strange capital in many respects, Mari, but it has boatloads of character and I love the proximity to the water. The old town is really lovely. I don’t know for sure how things are going to go. Flights keep being cancelled but many friends have plans for later in the year. At the moment James will be coming to us in late July. The rest is unwritten, sadly 😦 :(.

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  10. I reckon just do Monday walks when you can, Jo. You know we’re not a fussy bunch. If we miss a week or even do it on a different day we won’t mind. Having said that, your post today is very interesting with all that unusual street art. Good to know your restrictions will soon ease. Does that mean things are improving in Portugal?

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    1. Faro really has a little of everything, Sling. Some very beautiful architecture, and some not 🙂 I have lots of photos I didn’t use because the post would be too long (and I hate the new gallery format 🙂 )

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      3. I can’t deny that bit, phones are great with their multipurpose functions and clarity in megapixels but I do love cameras and some DSLRs are so amazing but I can’t deny I do like digicams and how handy they are! 🙂

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