Thursday’s Special

A palace in warm sunshine

Restored to glory- the fountains at Estoi Palace

One of my treats to myself on my visit to the Algarve was the Garden Fair, being held at Estoi Palace for the first time this November. When I came here 10 years ago, the palace was a down-at-heel ruin, but with enchanting grounds that cast their own spell. The past was cupped in the chipped and empty fountains, and breathed through the azulejos adorning the walls.

I was half delighted, but half concerned to hear of a proposed restoration that would turn the palace into a pousada, one of Portugal’s elite hotels. The transformation took many long years but, when the hotel finally opened its doors, I was hugely impressed. The grand salon was grace and elegance, with incredible ceilings, and the gardens had been given a modern twist, yet retained the features that had made them so beautiful. The new ‘add on’ for the hotel guest rooms was not so pleasing, but I was simply grateful that this lovely ruin had been given a life.

At this stage there was still much to do, and the ongoing work on the fountains and flights of stairs had placed them ‘out of bounds’. I remembered wistfully when I had been able to wander at will, conjuring with dreams. So it was, with a flutter of excitement, that I returned to Estoi for the Garden Fair.

The side gate to the palace- the lion is genially on guard

I didn’t expect that tiny Estoi would be playing host to so many people that day, but as the sun beamed with unseasonable heat, it became clear that this was to be a popular event. I was glad that I had arrived promptly for the 11am opening. As one of the wardens pointed out to me, this is the Algarve’s only historic garden.

What else to enjoy the sunshine but cacti?

What better to enjoy the sunshine than cacti?

Almost edible in their lushness

Full of flounces!

And delicate blooms

But with a hint of malice in the spikes

A swirl of colour caught my eye

And multi-hued chillis!

No idea what this beauty is!

But this is definitely a grapefruit!

I can never ignore a hot red!

I have to admit that I didn’t linger as long as I might, delightful though it all was. I could not wait to move on from the plant stalls and into the gardens. The former coach house had been transformed into a magnificent exhibition space, with gleaming floors and chandelier embellishments. Air plants nestled amongst the crafts, with potions made from herbs, and exquisite mosaics. I eased myself past temptation and out into the garden.

Dappled shade led to the grand staircase

The azulejos were as beautiful as I remembered

The azulejos as beautiful as I remembered

The details quite beguiling

Looking back at my photos I don’t think I did the palace gardens justice, but you will have a general impression which I hope might tempt you to go there some day. The palace itself is beautiful. Perhaps I might take afternoon tea there one day and show you inside.

The palace and parterres

The fountains are trickling again

Alongside nymphs and ladies

Living a beautiful life!

In graceful harmony

A flight of fantasy!

The mosaics were beautiful too

Complementing the blue and white

The horses galloping with gay abandon

And the maidens hiding in their grottoe

It may not reflect quite the type of warmth that Paula was thinking of, but I think this post might sit nicely on her Thursday’s Special. Come with me and admire.

Joy is… a beach and a blue sky!

Joy is… the wide blue horizon

An empty beach

The retreating tide

The roll of the waves

Reflections in the sand

A fisherman or two

A few puffs of cloud

Patterns in the wet sand

Buried treasure?

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.

1 Day 1 World Project : 11.00- 12.00

Crimdon beach

Thursday is usually my Nordic walking day. Sometimes there are just a few of us, like the happy band above. The others missed a treat last week because, for a short while, the sun beamed and winked in the puddles left by the retreating tide.

Don’t you love the ruggedness of this landscape?

And the murky reflections that it creates

The strange shapes of the cliffs

The rocks below

In their seaweed frocks

With slightly crooked seams!

I thought I had a good subject here for Lisa’s 1 Day 1 World Project. We start walking around 10.30am, and I intended to use the photos in last week’s 10.00- 11.00 time slot. When I uploaded them, I realised I hadn’t started taking the shots till after 11.00! Too busy Nordic walking, and talking. (naturally!) Well, I guess that’s what we’re there for.

It’s sad to see this project come to an end. Even though I haven’t managed to take part each week, I’ve followed it’s progress. Lisa promises one last round up next week, and as a grand finale I really have to have one more play with Lunapic. Don’t I?

And because Thursday’s Special, and Paula’s home, I’m linking up there too. She has the most delicious night time shot and if you have some spare time you can even enrol in her Portuguese classes too- for free!

Thursday could be special

An evening’s reflection

I love a bit of drama, and I rather think Paula does too, so I thought I’d post a couple of night time/evening shots from my recent Algarve visit. Every day is special in its own way, isn’t it?

Can you feel the warmth?

Of the setting sun

Gently captured in the windows

Or the patterns on the wall

While the boats lie stranded on the river bed

I hope your Thursday is special too. You have the power to make it so. Paula thinks every Thursday’s Special. Visit her to see why.

Thursday’s Special : St. Mary’s Lighthouse

Looking down into reception

You might have thought I’d gone to Paris, but I couldn’t resist one more Thursday’s Special before I go. Much earlier in the year I paid an evening visit to St. Mary’s Lighthouse and I’ve been itching to go back ever since. Saturday afternoon, warm and sunny at home, seemed to present the perfect opportunity. I could have lingered in the garden, but that lighthouse was beckoning.

All too often my north east coast fools me. As we turned down the coast road to Whitley Bay, the skies darkened. The beach was shrouded in mist, and none too warm. The planned saunter became a scurry up the lighthouse steps, to keep warm! As I approached the causeway I was rather surprised to see a wedding car coming towards me. What a spot for wedding photos! Alas, I was a little late for the photo shoot, but I did get to see the bride.

Here comes the bridal car!

The tide is well out

Creating lots of rock pools

The wedding reception was to be upstairs

Hand in hand! No- this isn't the bride and groom

Hand in hand on the rocks- no, this isn’t the bride and groom!

It looks a little bleak today

But it’s a good-looking lighthouse

With some interesting outbuildings

The last time I had been inside was with a school party when my son was about 6 years old. I was curious to see what, if anything, had changed in those 18 years.

From the peeling condition of the walls, not a lot has changed!

I wondered for a moment about the safety of climbing the stairs

I wondered for a moment about the safety of climbing those stairs

But there was only one way to find out!

And I made it!

It all looked in working order

So far as I could tell

And it didn’t look too inviting outside

But I’ve got to go. Someone’s waiting for me on the stairs

There’s something about a lighthouse, isn’t there? Even though it’s not in the very best condition, I love that it still sits there in its incredible position. The opening times necessarily vary, according to the tide, but in general it is open every day from May to September, and at weekends and school holidays in the winter.

Various events take place throughout the year. The Ghost Stories Halloween Special on 31st October sounds like it will be a lot of fun. In addition to weddings, you can have a birthday party at St. Mary’s or even a Stranding Party at high tide! I don’t know anybody who’s done that. This link to their Facebook page will keep you up to date.

Let’s share a bit of poetry, shall we?

And one last warm image!

I hope your Thursday is special, too! Many thanks to Paula, our lovely hostess. Come with me and see what she’s been up to this week. A bientôt!

Thursday’s Special again!

Fire and water don’t mix, do they? Which is a real shame because I wanted to submit this for Thursday’s Special and you never saw a hotter image of Paula!

Clever effect, isn’t it? Visit Lunapic to see how it’s done. Many thanks to Amanda for helping to increase my wisdom.

A curious Thursday’s Special

What are you up to?

Most unusual for me- a one photo post. I can be enigmatic, you know!

More will be revealed later. Meantime, Thursday’s Special, and so is Paula.

Niedzica- a castle and a legend

A haunted castle?

In broad daylight, with the sun beaming down, I was not at all aware that I was approaching a haunted castle. Yet the setting for Niedzica Castle was well nigh perfect.

Perched high on a cliff above the Dunajec River, for centuries this castle was a border post with Hungary. Erected around 1325, the castle changed hands numerous times but the owners remained Hungarian right up to the middle of World War II. In 1412 it was the venue for a loan from Hungary to the Polish king, using 16 Spis (towns in the region of Slovakia) as collateral. The towns had to be returned once the loan was repaid. The last Hungarian countess left with her children in 1943, just two years before the arrival of the Red Army.

The castle on its lofty promontory

The courtyard clock

Curves in the courtyard

Climbing the stairs to the battlements

Looking down on the curvaceous roofs

They are quite fascinating, these roofs, aren’t they, and I have been trying to establish their exact purpose. My husband insists that they are built that way to prevent snow lingering on them, and he may well be correct. His basis for thinking so is a programme we watched about Yellowstone, where roofs had to be cleared by hand to remove the weight of the snow. I haven’t been able to find evidence, so I’ll just say that he’s usually right.

A little history!

A family crest

And another

A third!

A fourth!

And one more

Furnishings bring the castle to life

With warm drapes around the bed

The chapel feels strange and full of shadows

And another colourful history

The faded lithograph looks creepy indeed!

And so we come to the ghost story. One of the castle’s many owners, Sebastian Berzeviczy, travelled to the New World in the 18th century. Legend has it that he fell in love with an Inca princess. Their daughter, Umina, married one of the Incan rebels who was subsequently executed by the Spanish. Umina fled to Niedzica with her son and father, allegedly taking with them some sacred scrolls and Inca treasure. Umina was later murdered outside the castle, presumably by a treasure hunter. She now roams the castle as the “White Lady” to protect her gold. The castle has 35 suites so, if you fancy a little ghost hunting, it could be a good place to stay.

Time to get out on the battlements for a little fresh air!

The views are breathtaking

Looking down on a forest of chimneys

And out across Lake Czorsztyn

In 1994 the lake was dammed downstream of the castle, creating an artificial reservoir, Lake Czorsztyn. The castle now stands approximately 30 metres above the upper water level. Stalls alongside the dam sell grilled smoked cheese for a snack, or to take away, with local honey and crafts. The smells are so appetising!

Looking out across the dam

Can you see the snowy peaks in the distance?

Beside the lake all is calm, with the ruins of Czorsztyn over the water

You may remember that I was across the lake at Czorsztyn Castle in my Tatry Mountains post.

The fortress was renovated almost every time it changed hands, but the final reconstruction was completed by the Polish Ministry of Culture in 1963. It has served as a historical museum ever since.

So, what did you think of Niedzica? Will you be checking in any time soon? I know that my friend Paula loves the mountain scenery and I would like to share this on her Thursday’s Special. I hope she’ll approve. I’m off there next to see what’s special about Thursday this week. Come with me, won’t you?

Remember those clouds?

The heavens descend to Hartlepool marina!

They landed in Hartlepool marina!

So much of photography is being in the right place at the right time, isn’t it? I’ve done a lot of walking in the past few days because it’s been too nice to be indoors. I was wearily heading home on Saturday teatime as the sun dipped in the sky. Looking for the shortest possible route, I headed through Hartlepool marina, and this was my reward.

A handful of clouds were swimming

The boats reflected sharply in the sea of clouds. I simply stood and stared.

An ordinary view, blessed with sky magic

I felt like this majestic pair, totally at peace.

A smile on my face, I carried on towards home. If you didn’t see it, I was chasing clouds on the horizon earlier in the week. I seem to have shepherded them to our marina.

I’m linking this post to Paula’s Thursday’s Special. So is Paula. Go take a look.

Thursday’s Special in Cacela Velha

Beyond the wall

There are few places more special to me than the tiny village of Cacela Velha in the Algarve. Long before I ever came to Portugal I had read about it in the Rough Guide. A cobbled path surrounds the church, and on a day with even the merest hint of sunshine you can sit on a bench, with your back against the church wall, and gaze dreamily out to sea.

The occasional footfall disturbs and a visitor will appear, round the corner. Some will nod, “Bom dia!” with a trace of a smile. Others avert their eyes or focus on the view beyond the wall. There are two benches and sometimes the other is occupied. A bike might be propped against the wall. There is no transport into the village. The birds sing, and alight shyly on the wall. All is peace and tranquillity.

The lagoon stretches as far as the eye can see

The clouds bump and blend- endlessly fascinating

After a while I rise from the bench and walk round to the front of the church. The carvings around the door each tell their own story.

The church doorway, in Manuelline style

A noble head

And another

A knight of yore?

And a bull

Weaponry

Decoration

and the harvest.

The village is Sunday quiet, but then, it’s like that most days! All of the activity centres on the cemetery and the bringing of fresh flowers. But I know that this village can erupt into life. I was there once for the Festival of Enchanted Nights. Hookahs, Turkish tea and dancing ladies! Can you imagine it?

There is really only one “wind around” street

The houses are all traditional style

Many with colour trim

The church is closed but the cemetery open

The well or “nora” is still central to village life

Changes come, as they surely must, but I so hope that Cacela Velha hangs on to the integrity which, for me, makes it a very special place.

Wishing Paula a very special Thursday. It’s her birthday!

restlessjo

Roaming, at home and abroad

Thursday’s Special

A palace in warm sunshine

Joy is… a beach and a blue sky!

1 Day 1 World Project : 11.00- 12.00

Thursday could be special

Thursday’s Special : St. Mary’s Lighthouse

Thursday’s Special again!

A curious Thursday’s Special

Niedzica- a castle and a legend

Remember those clouds?

Thursday’s Special in Cacela Velha

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