Beach Walk mid February

A month in Tavira and I thought it may be time to see the beach. Mid February didn’t deter me at all and a quick check showed the usual sunny sky and  temperature edging close to 18 at ten am. So I  grabbed my water bottle,  an apple, suntan lotion and since the ferry service is almost outside my door I ambled over to the ticket booth and purchased a return ticket for 2.20€ . This time of the year, there is only one boat per hour and the last ferry returns to Tavira at 4:15  So at exactly 10:40 as scheduled, we backed away from the dock, then turning mid river, the captain headed for the sea.
Today’s beach haul
The Gilao river is quite narrow so a really pleasant ferry boat ride where you can see all the on-shore sights as well. The boat was filled with about 50 passengers and the journey down stream takes about 15 minutes with one stop. A good strong swimmer could probably beat that time!  We unloaded quickly and walked through a pathway and soon came to a few beach restaurants.  As I faced the Mediterranean, all I could see was white sand in both directions...the tourist ads weren’t exaggerating, 11 km of the best beach on the Algarve -certainly the best beach I had ever seen.  

                                    

 Surprisingly there wasn’t any seaweed, lots of small shells and the waves were gentle. My sandals were off in seconds, I rolled up my pant legs and waded along. The water was cool, not like the Atlantic back home in July but I understood why there were no swimmers in sight.  There were a few plastic bottles here and there, but this was one clean beach. I headed off and soon totally lost track of time, stopping every few feet to pick up another interesting shell. I could see someone sitting, chin to the sun in the far distance and I set that as my turn around marker, for I had already walked close to an hour. As I approached the sunbather, I could see it was a lady...but what I couldn’t see was any stitch of bathing suit, just a cover up thrown on the sand beside her. I nonchalantly walked behind her and decided I better get another turn-around marker. Not sure whether I was more shocked by her bronze birthday suit or the fact that it was February 16th and she was sitting there in a lotus pose as if it was July16th. 
My apt is in 3rd bldg on left
Other activities include daily visits to a couple of storks close by who are about to become parents. These big birds are usually 3 to 5 ft tall, mate for life and return from Africa to the same nest each year.

The Algarve 160 km cross country cycling race was held here last weekend with much fanfare, cheering crowds and 900 tight bodes covered in mud and often scratches, when they returned after a gruelling days workout. 

 
And still enjoying music concerts in the various churches on Sat nights. Fado, lute playing, flutist all excellent and well worth 6€







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