Biking & Beaching - Sept. 21

We had SUCH an action packed day, yesterday (the 21st), that I was too tired to write a post! This morning, the sun is shining, once again, breakfast has been eaten, the kitchen cleaned up and now I am freshened up enough,  to capture the 'full monty' of yesterday's activities!! :)

We, all, had rented bikes, for the day!! Donning helmets and sunscreen, we headed out, by bike,  to the quaint  fishing village of Santa Luzia (which happens to be the Polvo [octopus] capital of Portugal)! 

Brian, who says, he has not ridden a bike, since his teens,  was amazing in his speed, endurance, coordination and dexterity! He plans to get sponsorship to ride in biking marathon, as soon as he gets home!! :)

We stopped at a wonderful sidewalk cafe in Santa Luzia where We enjoyed iced coffees, Pastel de natas and a piece of walnut pie! Mmmmm!! (Thank you, Joan and Duff for finding this place and treating us to the sweet treats!)

Santa Luzia has a very laid back, small town charm to it.....the fishing boats are moored along the water and the pace is quiet, slow and peaceful!

 

We rode through to a marshy, scrub- land path, which, along with a short walking bridge,  connects Santa Luzia to Praia de Barril on Ilha de Tavira.  Here we locked our bikes and walked (there was a little train you could take, if you chose),  through,  to the one of the most AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL beaches in the world!!! 

Miles and miles of soft sandy beach, along the magnificent Atlantic Ocean!!! Together, we had a lot of fun walking the beach and playing in the water!!!

After our fun time in sun, sand and surf, we cycled back to Tavira (about 4 km) and stopped in at the Tavira lounge for a drink...girls had freshly squeezed orange juice; boys had Super Bock beer! We devoured the salty snacks!!!

 Onward we cycled, along the river, out of town, along a country road, adorned by orchards, that Lawrence and I had cycled on, many times, during our time here, 3 yrs ago! It is just as beautiful, now, as it was then!! 

We saw oranges, limes, olives, figs plums and pomegranates growing along the way! We stopped to pick some pomegranates, which were delicious, right off the tree!!.....

Unfortunately on our ride back home, just a few blocks from our apartment, Delilah hit a pole with her bike....thankfully she did not get hurt but her bike basket & light got bent up a bit! 

We all got showered and gussied up to go out for sangria (at Tavira Lounge, once again) and supper at one of Lawrence and my, favourite restaurants in Tavira....the Restaurante Castelo....owned by the awesome young couple from Brazil, who I mentioned in my last travel blog, 3 yrs ago. 

We had a REALLY delicious meal and a very fun time! Junior and Georgia (the owners) actually remembered Lawrence & I, so although they were VERY, VERY Busy, they made some special time for us, brought their adorable son, Gabriel, out to see us and they gifted us with a whole bottle of port, after our meal! 

We, then, ended our very fun (and BUSY!!) day with a late night walk around BEAUTIFUL Tavira, meeting some folks, along the way!

And.......finding 'romance'  in the gentle breezes along the streets of Tavira.....I have pictures to capture this, but some of these magical, special things need only be imagined!! :).......

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A Peaceful Easy Feeling.....

Tavira is a very interesting place because,  somehow, it has been able to retain its slow-paced, fishing village charm, while 'hosting' tourists from around the world!! It is a place where life slows down, yet,  at the same time, there is a 'buzz' or 'pulse' of international energy!! 

We remember, so well, from our month spent living here, that Sunday's are an especially peaceful day! It is a day of rest, where families/individuals gather in the Garden Square to visit, read, 

people-watch (or in some cases, have a nap)......it is a day to walk slowly about, stopping for ice cream or a drink! 

Our crew got right into the 'peaceful, easy feeling' of Sunday in Tavira! We all slept in, to whatever hour we were comfortable with. Joan and Duff headed out on their bikes for a day of cycling, exploration and beach. Brian, Delilah, Lawrence and I hung out closer to home. We, all, enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and while B & D took an unintended LONG walk to buy a few groceries (they got lost :-)), L and I hung out in the Garden Square reading our books! 

The temperature was a high of 28 degrees, yet, in the square, which is along the fiver, there was a cooling breeze and benches with shade.....making it a WONDERFUL place to sit and watch the world of Tavira! 

We joined B & D for a very tasty lunch at our apartment and then the four of us headed back to the square for an ice cream cone and the cooler ambiance for some outdoor reading!

We adopted the Portuguese system of 'having a siesta' in the early afternoon, and went home for a nap! 

Brian and Delilah were our supper 'hosts' today and they prepared a delicious meal of bar-b-qued pork tenderloin, tinfoil grilled potatoes, corn on the cob,  fresh, crispy salad and some accents of apple and peppers! Our dessert was a selection of local baking! 

Once again, our terrace was transformed into an amazing al fresco dining space with romantic candle lighting, a beautifully set table and James Taylor tunes! The wine and conversation flowed freely, contributing to another really great evening! 

After supper, we went out walking ...... The temperature was 20 degrees....the town's ambient lighting, along with the friendly buzz of people out and about (eating, drinking, walking, sitting in parks or along the river), we were enveloped by the evening magic of BEAUTIFUL Tavira and the peaceful, easy feeling of this Sunday night!!