beaches

Jo’s Monday walk : Falesia beach

Falesia Beach has its share of plant life

Reach for the skies!

Back to the beach this week!  Well, we are in the Algarve, aren’t we?  It would be rude not to.

Falesia Beach is quite central to the Algarve and runs from Vilamoura, with its huge array of yachts, to Olhos d’Agua, a smaller resort on the run up to Albufeira.  It won’t really require me to say much, as the photos pretty much speak for themselves.  I should warn you though that if you intend to do much of the clifftop you will require the agility of a mountain goat.  But we can worry about that part later, or simply stay on the beach.

There is ample parking at the western end of Vilamoura, beyond the enormous marina.  At the eastern end of the resort, hotels back on to the shoreline, but to the west the red cliffs begin a steady ascent.  A bridge carries you from the car park across a canal and onto the boardwalk. From here you can see for miles.

A path runs along the back of the beach

A path runs along the back of the beach

Aloe Vera grow freely too

Aloe Vera grow freely

I am mesmerised by the shapes and colours

I am mesmerised by the shapes and colours

At intervals there are steps up to the cliffs

At intervals there are steps up to the cliffs

Those leggy trees that I love poke through the grasses

Those leggy trees that I love poke through the grasses

And the cliffs grow ever steeper

And the cliffs grow ever steeper

Can you see anyone on the tops?

Can you see anyone on the tops?

From time to time a couple of people will appear up there, peer down and then disappear from sight.  I’m quite keen to follow some of the cliff top trail, but I know that it is a little rugged in places. (I once attempted part of it in flipflops- not a good idea!)

There are lots of ups and downs

There are lots of ups and downs!

You might have been wondering about the beach?  I’m sorry!  I do tend to get engrossed in the patterns on the cliff face.

Here it is!

Here it is!

Often the blue skies are deceptive but this particular Winter’s day in the Algarve was balmy. Before climbing up the cliff, I sat for a while, just absorbing the sun’s rays.

A sheltered spot to relax

A sheltered spot to relax

Directly from the beach a flight of not very steep steps led up to a hotel complex, nestled among pines.  From here it was easy to head back towards Vilamoura, along the cliff top.

You may remember my saying that the cliffs were fit only for goats.  There are some stretches that are fairly level and you can choose to descend to the beach if the going gets too rough. A couple of flights of steps lead down.

Just one last look!

Just one last look!

And then it’s safely back to earth.  I hope you agree it was worth a little bit of climbing for those views.  And when you get back to Vilamoura there are plenty of places to eat and relax.

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I’d love it if you could join me with a walk of your own.  It can be long, short, or in between- I really don’t mind.  For details just click on my logo, or go to my Jo’s Monday walk page. It’s time to say a big thank you to my contributors again this week.  Let’s put the kettle on, sit back and enjoy!

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The last of Jude’s Australian walks.  Oh NO!

Oasis in the Suburbs

A trip to the loo, with Esther?  And a poem to make you smile :

A walk in the dark

A tour of Old Montreal, for history and culture lovers.  Thanks, Ana!

Walking tour of Old Montreal

Or an eating frenzy in Vegas with drums and Boba tea?

Chinese New Year at China Town in Las Vegas

These salt fields look very like those in the Algarve, but Kampot is totally different :

Kampot : Colonial town and salt fields

Back to Suffolk with Geoff now.  Hope you don’t mind a drop of rain?

Wet, wet, wet- You’ll never walk alone part 2

A little damp on the streets of Strasbourg too, but we can take the trolley!

Walk right In

And finally, Pauline (and Jack) take us to a pretty rural village :

March 1st and a walk through Tyalgum

You can’t beat that for variety, can you?  So glad you could join me.  I hope you have a happy week and some great walks.  You might need to wrap up warm!

Six word Saturday

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Could a week be more different?

Halloween, Algarve style

Halloween, Algarve style

You might wonder what a random bunch of Algarve kids are doing in my Six word Saturday. Lovely Colline in Toronto was kind enough to link a Halloween walk to my Monday walks feature. When I said I’d seen some small ‘trick or treaters’ whilst out walking in the Algarve, Colline, who is a teacher, said that she’d love to see them.  I thought that you might too.

The skyline that I love

The skyline that I love

Truthfully, it’s not been much of a week.  I’ve sniffled and snuffled my way through it, looking out of the window hopefully for blue skies, of which there have been few.  To be fair, we are clinging on to random bursts of Autumn colour, which I witnessed yesterday at t’ai chi, after a day of miserable rain.  The sun burst forth at teatime, just in time to set, and this morning a soupy grey fog is pushing up against the windowsill.  Soon I shall determinedly make my way out into it.  I’m tired of being cooped up.

I'm missing my empty beaches

I’m missing my empty beaches

 

But it’s not all doom and gloom.  I finally managed to activate my new smartphone last night and am looking forward to playing with Instagram (don’t hold your breath!).  Maybe my old friend will be waiting for me on that shoreline, refreshed from it’s swim.  Time will tell!

I'll look forward to next year's 'trick or treaters'

Meanwhile I’ll look forward to next year’s ‘trick or treaters’

Happy weekend to you all!  Don’t forget to visit Cate at Show My Face to share your Six word Saturday. I’ll be cosied up watching ‘Strictly’.  See you on Monday, for my walk!

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Jo’s Monday walk : Algar Seco

Algar Seco

Algar Seco

Going back to places isn’t always such a good idea, but in this instance it definitely paid off.  It must be 10 years since I first set foot in Carvoeiro. The location, possessively hugging a small cove, fishing boats pulled up on shore for safety, was always idyllic.  Unfortunately too many people had discovered its charms.  Parking was something of a nightmare, and the overall impression was definitely ‘tacky’.

I’m not one to give up on a place so easily, and I felt I owed it a second chance.  As it happened, it provided the perfect location for my November birthday.  Crowds weren’t an issue and some of the parking problems appeared to have been solved.  The ‘tacky’ aspect is still there, but  the spectacular scenery of the surrounding coast is justifiably a magnet.  ‘High end’ villas and smart restaurants have moved in.  Best of all, a beautiful new boardwalk has been installed along the cliff top east of town, making a walk to Algar Seco pure exhilaration.

The boardwalk, heading towards Carvoeira

The boardwalk, heading towards Carvoeiro

Magnificent, isn’t it?  I was totally unprepared for the sight, but so often it seems to me that the Algarve ‘gets it right’.  The cliff tops are subject to erosion and the boardwalk helps to protect them from the curious, while enabling safe and easy access to their dramatic beauty.

You can see the frailty of the rocks

You can see the frailty of the rocks

Algar Seco is the name given to a rock formation carved into the cliffs by erosion and the action of the waves.  Steps lead down into a natural amphitheatre, where the fit and sure-footed can view at close quarters how the sea seductively sculpts the shore.

I am not known for my affinity with goats, and wearing smart sandals was perhaps a mistake.  A squidgy yellow puddle wasn’t exactly what they were designed for, but they survived.  Wet wipes are a wonderful invention, aren’t they?

The scenery was worth it!

I thought the scenery was worth it!

Especially from inside the caves

Especially from inside the caves

Amazing to be so close to nature

Amazing to be so close to nature

Even if a little scary

Safer on the boardwalk!

But much safer up on the boardwalk!

Now let’s follow the boardwalk towards Carvoeiro.  It isn’t very far and the views will keep you enthralled.  There are benches set in at intervals if you want to simply sit and feast your eyes. Looking back you have the beach of Marinha, with Benagil’s tiny cove beyond.  Ahead , an extravaganza of coast!  Soon you arrive at Capela da Nossa Senhora da Encarnacao’s so pretty chapel.

The church square

The church square

With a pretty roof

With a pretty roof

Affording calm views to sea

Affording calm views to sea

Beyond this, the road starts to dip into the cove which is Praia da Carvoeiro. The sea wall is planted with hardy flowers but the chances are you won’t be able to take your eyes off the bay.

Determined to bloom in the salt air

Determined to bloom in the salt air!

Just a hint at the beach below you

Just a hint at the beach below you

Invariably there will be a couple of boats, drawn up well away from the clutches of the sea.  And a burst of colour in the houses at shoreline.

Happy to be stranded!

Happy to be stranded!

How about this for 'beachfront'?

How about this for ‘beachfront’?

But you know that what will always lure me on is the thrash of the waves on the shore.  I cannot wait to get close!  Just a quick paddle!

Too close, sometimes!

Too close, sometimes!

But water like this is hard to resist!

But water like this is hard to resist!

After a play on the beach (yes, the wet bum incident, but the camera was safe!) and a few more shell shots, I opted to climb Rua da Paraiso.  I just had to see what ‘Paradise Beach’ offered.  The views down into the bay are equally lovely and you can complete a circuit which brings you back into the centre.  There are only two main streets, side by side, leading to the beach (and away, if you’re a driver).  Algar Seco is clearly signed, along the coast road and within the town, if you have left your car at the eastern end, as we did.

Thank you all for your patience.  I’ve struggled mightily this weekend but, in the week ahead, hope to get ‘back on track’.  As always I have some wonderful shares for you, so let’s get that kettle on and go armchair walking!

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First we’re off to Otatara Beach in New Zealand, with Jill  :

All Soul’s Day wander at Otatara PA

Then flying straight on to the States and the Hudson River :

Fort Lee Historic Park

A truly delightful Halloween walk next, with Colline.  I found some little ‘trick or treaters’ in the Algarve too.  Must show you sometime!

A Halloween Walk

Lamb burger anybody?  Then you can walk it off, with Yvette  :

Burger, Bach and a walk

Lovely Noe showed me another little piece of village life in South Sulawesi.  Don’t miss it!

The old village of Bitombang

Tobias is here from Hamburg!  A place I know little of, and am enjoying through his eyes  :

The steep approach to Baumwall

Of course, there’d be no Monday walk without Drake!  He always manages to stir nostalgia in me  :

Whistle down the Wind

And when there’s a walk from Tish Farrell, you know you’re in for a treat  :

Rambling Tales, My Little Pony, windmills, Olympian dreams

If Pauline ever invites you for a walk in her garden, say ‘yes’ immediately.  It’s fabulous!  :

Come walk with me in the garden

Nurturing and looking after swans sounds like a grand job, doesn’t it?  Sherri is at a swannery this week  :

A walk with swans

No Jude, you might have noticed?  She has her hands full of grandson in Australia.  Happy days!  I owe so many thanks to my contributors.  You have made my Mondays very special.  I hope I haven’t missed anybody this week?  Happy walking!

Joy is… a beach and a blue sky!

Joy is... the wide blue horizon

Joy is… the wide blue horizon

An empty beach

An empty beach

The retreating tide

The retreating tide

The roll of the waves

The roll of the waves

Reflections in the sand

Reflections in the sand

A couple of fishermen

A fisherman or two

Just a puff of cloud

A few puffs of cloud

Patterns in the sand

Patterns in the wet sand

Buried treasure?

Buried treasure?

Even the clouds don't trouble me

Even the gathering clouds can’t dim my joy

For many weeks I’ve been meaning to join Kan on her lovely series Joy is…  This week she charmed me with her preparations for Diwali.  I knew it was time to share with her what joy is for me.  I know that she likes the simple things in life, and I hope that she loves beaches.  This is my local one- the simple life for me.

Please do visit her at Kan Walk Will Travel.  It’s a beautiful and joyous place.  And looking back at this post, I think it might well qualify for Paula’s Thursday’s Special, in which she visits Lake Czorsztyn in Poland.  I’ve been there so I know that it’s pretty special.

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Figueira beach

Figuera beach

Figueira beach

I’m back in the business of lifting spirits this morning.  My own as well as yours, I hope.  It’s what Christine would have wanted, isn’t it?  She loved beaches, too.

Do you remember that I took a walk at Barragem de Bravura, forgetting to take water with me? Stupid, I know!  Back in the car, the plan was to head for the village of Figueira, just 15 minutes away.  The attraction was a short walk to an unfamiliar beach.  I can never resist checking out a ‘new’ one.

The village was very small.  Not wanting to walk too far, when my husband spotted the ‘praia’ sign he turned into the narrow lane that led to the beach.  I couldn’t fault the logic.  If only there might be the tiniest of beach bars!  But I had that sinking feeling as we left the car, far from the village, to follow a winding trail.

Will there be a beach bar? I don't think so!

Will there be a beach bar? I don’t think so!

But there were some interesting looking ruins up on the top

But there were some interesting looking ruins up on the top

And some beautiful rock formations

And some beautiful rock formations

And a man fishing from the rocks

And a man, fishing from the rocks

And water, everywhere!

And water, everywhere!

But you know very well that there wasn’t a beach bar, don’t you?  It just wasn’t that kind of beach. It was undeniably beautiful though, and I had remembered towels!  Michael slumped down against the rocks and closed his eyes.  Are you feeling sorry for him, yet?

I raced off to paddle.  Blissful, cool water between my toes!

I had all those interesting rock formations to explore

Then I explored all those interesting rock formations

Sculpted by the sea

Sculpted by the sea

And dramatic in their beauty

And dramatic in their beauty

Looking back across the beach

Looking back across the beach

And up at the cliffs

And up at the cliffs

This is my kind of beach!

This is definitely my kind of beach!

Yes, I did eventually run out of steam, and slump down beside Michael.  But not for too long.  The need for water was becoming more urgent.  Reluctantly we turned our back on the beach.

You’ll be happy to know that at our next stop, we did find liquid refreshment.  But that’s a story for next Monday’s walk.

It’s July 4th and American Independence Day today, so some of you might be going to the beach. Have a great time, won’t you, but please don’t forget the water!