Last day of Carnival 2020 and Moncarapacho was making the most of it. My Dad loved a party! It would have been his birthday today and I’m smiling as I think of him, tapping his stick and nodding his head to the music.
Moncarapacho
Jo’s Monday walk : La Collina Verde to Moncarapacho
I don’t mind to watch a bit of golf on TV, especially if Tiger is in town, but I’ve never had the coordination or a serious desire to get involved in the game. Portugal is famed for its golf courses and it was inevitable that our paths would cross at some point. A couple of walking friends have a very nice villa on the small, countrified La Collina Verde course, in the Eastern Algarve. They very generously provided coffee for all as we gathered to start our walk. With the Strollers this time, it was a shortish, level walk at a gentle pace.
Skirting the golf course, we passed by pomegranate and orange groves, lush fruit dangling temptation on all sides. A very obliging local squeezed his cart to one side and posed for the camera, his animal in full regalia.
Hot pink blooms assaulted my senses, while shadows fell across a rusted wheel, and a once-loved cottage trailed its timbers in the dust.
We had soon reached our halfway point, Moncarapacho, for a coffee stop. It’s not a village that I know well. My last visit was on a rainy February day, dodging umbrellas to watch the lively Carnival parade. This time I was very taken with the old square, wedged between a couple of churches and a café or two. While the others sat and chatted, I couldn’t resist a wander, especially thrilled to find the church door ajar.
We lingered a while, in no hurry to leave a sunny and engaging spot. The locals gave us curious glances, till eventually someone got us all moving again. It’s quite a big group and you can saunter at will, exchanging dollops of information with whoever is your neighbour at the time. They’re a friendly bunch and conversation is always easy. I count myself lucky to have come across the group in my early days in the Algarve.
The contrast with extremely stylish elegance and the tumbledown never ceases to amaze me. Moncarapacho is well equipped with both. A right turn or two and we were back on country lanes. This is ‘nora’ territory and the wells abound, some still in working order but many just a legacy of times gone by. Polytunnels seem to proliferate now. I’m never sure what is being grown, but am simply grateful that this beautiful climate is being used to provide people with a livelihood.
We wended our way back to La Collina Verde. No golfers in evidence but the clubhouse had been opened to provide us with a splendid lunch. Should I leave you with a choice of dessert? Don’t ask me which has more calories. I haven’t a clue!
You can probably tell, I’m more than content with life just now. A certain person has hinted that I may grow fat and happy. With the miles we walk? Seriously! Besides which, I’m still running up and downstairs, finding homes for things. Perhaps some of them should have been left in the UK. I’ll know better if I ever move again. Or I’ll buy a bungalow.
I’m back in business, sharing walks again. If you have a favourite I’d love to hear about it. Join me any time, here on Jo’s Monday walk. You’ll always receive a warm welcome.
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Eunice kept up the walking while I was gone, so here you have a choice of two :
Preston Dock – some history, useless information and curiosities
Radcliffe Tower and Close Park
A whirlwind tour of Spain with Jackie. Stopping to eat, of course!
Jaspa revels in the cold. Rather him than me!
Old Town Montreal in the COLD!
I’m seeing a lot of cold water with Drake these days, but it’s very beautiful :
Us easterners have to stick together, don’t we Geoff?
Where The East Begins#capitalring#walking
I would never accuse Nadine of cheating! I’ve ridden that steam train but I simply couldn’t shoulder the backpack :
Absolutely on top of the world, with Irene :
I did pretty much this same walk last week. It’s a wonder I didn’t meet Becky!
And Cathy continues to astound with the most incredible landscapes and stories :
Canyon de Chelly: Antelope House, Mummy Cave and Massacre Cave overlooks
I’m currently walking Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with occasional time off for good behaviour. Or otherwise! Have a great week and I’ll see you back here on Monday.
restlessjo 
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