Revision as of 20:21, 27 May 2017

Trip to Algarve (May 2017)

The Algarve, from Arabic الغرب‎‎ al-Gharb, "the West", that is, the west of Al-Andalus, is a mythical part of Europe, where the old continent turns into California, with flamboyant red coast crumbling under the weight of the Ocean to form a cathedral of sandy rocks, and where Portugal turns into water. It is a territory so remote from its land that Alfonso III called himself King of Portugal and the Algarve and that the Portuguese empire was called the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. Even as of today, it is a place that looks out of its place and out of its time.

The Algarve is to Portugal what Andalusia is to Spain.

Faro

Faro is the capital of the Algarve. It has a small airport, ridiculously close to the city, with planes glazing over the city in a painful constant reminder of the exaggeratedly touristic attendance of the area.

This is how you enter the old city centre, through the Arco da Vila, that still hosts Muslim walls and roofs, the best way to slip between two worlds.
The Arco da Vila from behind, with its cegonhas. Note the Portuguese guitar adorning the building.
Camilo on top, on his way to meet the stork.
João Cuña, playing the Portuguese guitar in duo with himself.
Julia captivated by this strange performance.
Now walking by the Ria Formosa, with the movil de botones in hands.
The streets of old Faro.
Portugal as you imagine it.
Relaxing on the hotel (Faro)'s terrace.
Portuguese gastronomy: starters.
Fish and Elena's peculiar saffron dish, which she didn't like so we had to swap.
Extra-muros.
In the Cathedral, detail of a statue.
Details of a retable, a cheeky angel.
Beautiful carved scene, I believe on ivory.
The roofs of Faro, here the municipal museum.
The new city and its marina on the other side of the medieval walls...
that also keep outside the Ria Formosa.

Culatra island

View from the lighthouse. Right is the ocean, left is the Ria.
Trying to fish the Atlantic.
An island of fishermen.

The Coast

The way Portugal ends, in the Cabo de São Vicente: cliffs opening to the ocean.
Julia holding tight.
Safer view in mummy's arms and from the lighthouse complex.
Where there is a giant chair.
The vegetation of the places that mix rocks and the ocean.
Camilo and clouds.
Julia and the Pedra das Gaivotas.
On the beach.
Cold waters.
The heavenly Praia da Figueira.
The colours of the Algarve.
Looking for a way through.
A river in the sand.
Camilo in company of loneliness.
The fort of Lagos.
Benagil.
The coastal path here is very "Algarvy".
With beaches in between.
A rock forgotten in the sea.
Elena on the rim.
The Alfanzina lighthouse.
Typical topography of the area, where the water carves rocks like a spoon the rusk.
Here it teamed with rainwater to carve a whole hole through.
Julia not doing much walking on account of her young age.
Camilo trodding on a gigantic cave.
This time in a man-made window opened in the cliff.
Typical beach of the Algarve.

On the Spanish side of Faro

The church of Santa Maria do Castelo.
Two years spent by Tavira's river.
Cacela Veha.
A quiet village close to the Spanish frontier.
With a reduced version of the Ria.
Here he ocean is licking the coast almost directly.

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 = <span style="background-color: rgba(54, 25, 25, .5); color: white;">Trip to Algarve (May 2017)</span> =
 <span style="background-color: rgba(54, 25, 25, .5); color: white;">
-The ''Algarve'', from Arabic الغرب‎‎ al-Gharb, "the West", that is, the west of Al-Andalus, is a mythical part of Europe, where the old continent turns into California, with flamboyant red coast crumbling under the weight of the Ocean to form a cathedral of sandy rocks, and where Portugal turns into water. It is a territory so remote from its land that Alfonso III called himself ''King of Portugal and the Algarve'' and that the Portuguese empire was called ''the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves''.
+The ''Algarve'', from Arabic الغرب‎‎ al-Gharb, "the West", that is, the west of Al-Andalus, is a mythical part of Europe, where the old continent turns into California, with flamboyant red coast crumbling under the weight of the Ocean to form a cathedral of sandy rocks, and where Portugal turns into water. It is a territory so remote from its land that Alfonso III called himself ''King of Portugal and the Algarve'' and that the Portuguese empire was called ''the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves''. Even as of today, it is a place that looks out of its place and out of its time.
 </span>
 </div>
 <div style="position:relative;
-left:-20px;top:-120px;margin-bottom:-120px;z-index:10;">[[File:roof-of-Faro.jpg|link=|778px]]</div>
+left:-20px;top:-140px;margin-bottom:-140px;z-index:10;">[[File:roof-of-Faro.jpg|link=|778px]]</div>
 The ''Algarve'' is to [[Portugal]] what [[Andalusia]] is to [[Spain]].