Portimao & Alte - this is my 100th post!

The Century - I can't believe I have posted on the blog 100 times. Time flys past!

Tues 20^th

Calm overnight, so a good sleep was had by all.  We said our goodbyes to Dave & Sue and headed over to the Portimao aire as it was laundry day again. All of 20 mins drive and we had entered another world. The aire is huge with quite a number  of longtermers. We counted 157 vans!  It is not cramped and very close to the marina and nearby Praia De Rocha beach which is huge and has very fine sand. We trudged around to the marina laundry and loaded the 16kg machine. Apart from a late afternoon walk it was a day of “domestic duties”. We also cleaned and polished the van interior!

ooh, loving pose

moody sky

Ferragudo across the estuary

Weds 21^st

  

After filling with water we headed inland to Alte as recommended by Dave & Sue. What a gem of a place, a really nice hill town. We parked behind the cemetery along with 4 other vans. The views are great of the surrounding hills. After a wander around the narrow streets we made good use of the free wifi in the very modern and well equipped library.

modern marble sculpture

bar entrance!

As we sat and had tea in the by now very cosy van the sky blackened and down came the rain.

Thurs 22^nd

Cloudy and sunny so we decided to walk up to the 2 fonts just out of Alte. The old wash houses are still there and the whole area has been very nicely refurbed and made tourist friendly. Lots of character everywhere you look. At the Grande Font there is a set of terraces and steep steps up one side – not sure what this is all about?

tree hugger

After lunch we dragged ourselves out of the sun warmed van for a cycle up the Via Algarviana which is 300km route through the Algarve. No we didn’t do the whole route!  We cycled up for 2 miles to a great viewing point, then zoomed back down and along the river and had a play in a shallow ford. Big kids really  J

playing in the water

Alte is a very nice little town which is relaxed and has lots of character round every corner. We may be forced to stay longer!