Portugal

After flying back to Gatwick on 6th January, I flew straight out to Faro for a week in friends, Mary and Terry's apartment. I met up with mum and my sister, Sue on Monday. We stayed at the Alto Country Club in Alvor and spent the time driving around in the morning and then sunbathing on the balcony. Evenings were a little cold, even with the heating and I was glad of my ski anorak. Met up with friends Steve and Angela in Silves for a coffee on the only cool day with rain of the week. I didn't think there was much of the Algarve left which was not timeshared or a golf course. A little remains in villages like Luz and Salerme and we spent a morning at the Rio Formosa nature reserve by Faro airport.

There were building works everywhere but I suspect a lot will end up not sold.


Cats and Westies have to be photographed. This one looks like a 'Prince' (look at the label behind him)

Slave market in Lagos.

The remains of Alvor castle.

This stuff belonged to the workers mending the street.

Alvor church

Alvor street.

fish skins drying - not sure what they are.

Statues in Silves

A warbler. Also spotted but very fuzzy in the photo was a black redstart which we thought at first was a pipit and I saw what I think was a Sardinian Warbler, identified by red eye. Nothing rare though.

I took a load of photos of these cute Sanderlings. This one seemed to want to wash his tidbit but without getting wet!

Taken while having coffee at Luz.

The only dragon I was able to find.

Sunset from the balcony without tripod looking towards Lagos.

The longest pedestrian bridge in Europe, apparently.

Redshank reflection

The only black and white stilt we saw and I was in the wrong place re the sun!

Salt lake at Rio Formosa nature reserve.

Stork taken while having coffee at the harbour in Faro.




I did a double take as I was passing this wine shop. Not the real Cliff but a cardboard cutout selling his wine. Seems like the vodka salesperson won the best place in the shop though.

Club Med at Tignes

I was invited to join a group from Australia to ski at Club Med. The group was organised by Jane whom I met at Alpine Bridge last year. Also in the group, Lisa (another ex Alpine Bridge guest), Steve and Sandie, Sandra and Ray and two South Africans, Terry and his cousin Karin who flew over from Los Angelos. A very good value week with ski lessons and we managed to play bridge some afternoons. A few snaps of the people in the ski group for lessons.

A photo session, while we waited for our ski instructor, Rene and Roger to catch up with us.
Above is from the left, Steve, Joke, Sandra and Umi (apologies for misspelling names)
Below, Sandra, Umi, Terry (taking a photo), Ray, Jane and the other Steve (from UK)

William, Steve, Joke, Sandra, Umi, Terry and Ray



Sandra with Joke and Umi, two ladies from Holland, who were our bridge partners in the afternoon.

Jane



A photo of me by Rene.



The needle rock.

A view from the 'wow' chair.