ALGARVE - ALL GARVE

DIFFICULT TO FIND BETTER - PART TWO - AUGUST 2007

Last year I posted on a 2005 Summer Break. I was two years late in posting. This post is only one year late, and revives in 2007 the 2004 Difficult to find better from two years ago! Algarve, Allgarve, difficult to find better for a summer break or a beach vacation...



"ALVOR BEACH - Once again"


"DOM JOÃO II VILLAGE"


"SEA WATCHING"


"LAGOS BAY"


"RESTINGA BAR & RESTAURANT - The Alvor Beach at nine p.m."


"BLUES & GREENS at the Penina Golf Hotel"



"SUITE"



"WITH A VIEW"


"POOL"


"GOLF"


"BAR"


"LAGOS CHURCH"


"REIS - A nice restaurant in Lagos; great grilled fresh fish..."


"ALVOR CHURCH"


"HOMAGE TO THE FISHERMAN - A sculpture by Joao Cutileiro in Alvor"

SUMMER BREAK

ALGARVE - AUGUST 2005

There are many places to go on holidays; but everything considered, if you want to have a nice time on the beach or if you love golf and don't want to run the risk of the rain ruining your swing, the place to go is the Algarve. Peaceful (notwithstanding the presence of some more «energetic» July/August tourists), good food, sunny skies, no hurricanes, typhoons or whatever, calm and refreshing waters, it's definitely Difficult to find better.


"PENINA HOTEL - The Penina is a nice hotel, close to the village of Alvor, and a golfer's paradise"




"GOLF - In the estate of roughly 1.5 square km there are three courses: the Championship, the Academy and the Resort, all of which were designed by the late Sir Henry Cotton. Within very easy driving distance there is a choice of another seven courses. If you're not fond of golf, there are six tennis courts, a FIFA-sized football field, a jogging circuit, and an Olympic size swimming pool..."




"SWIMMING POOL - Should you prefer water sports, the swimming pool is quite impressive"



"ALVOR BEACH - When tired of exploring the 360 acre estate, take the shuttle and set off to the beach: one of the best in the Algarve!"

DIFFICULT TO FIND BETTER

ALVOR - ALGARVE - PORTUGAL - SUMMER 2004


"DOM JOÃO II - A hotel on the beach. Open the back door and a fabulous beach is in front of you"



"A GARDEN also on the beach..."


"RESTINGA - A very nice restaurant, on the beach!"



"SEA WATCHING"


"ALVOR BEACH: golden sand, blue sky, nice sun and fresh water, as needed"


"LAGOS BAY: an extraordinary place to exercise my favourite sport - sea watching! And further: the best grilled fish on Earth, out of this world white Portuguese wine, chilled, beautiful people... Need something else?”

BALAIA, ALGARVE

BLUE SKIES, BLUE SEA, SUNNY DAYS, REFRESHING NIGHTS, AND BRAZIL WON THE WORLD FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - JULY 2002



"DA BALAIA HOTEL - One of the best hotels in the Algarve of the late sixties, was sold to Club Med to become one of its most prestigious locations. The views from the rooms are magnificent"



"HOTEL AND TOWER - The tower was added, but the swimming pool was already there. No need, anyhow; just go downstairs, and the beach is much better than any swimming pool..."




"MARIA LUISA BEACH - Beautiful as ever, though a bit crowded now in August"


"SEA WATCHING - My favourite sport"


"BORIS VIAN - Manuel de St. Germain des Prés!"


"LOBBY"


"FLOWERS"

TRÁS-OS-MONTES, PORTUGAL

ALMOST AS FAR AS MADRID - MARCH 2002

BRAGANÇA

Capital of the Bragança District, got its city rights from King Sancho, the First, in 1187!


"NEW CATEDRAL"


"DOMUS MUNICIPALIS - A unique building in the Iberian Peninsula of Roman architecture, constructed in 11th century. With the form of an irregular pentagon, has a subterranean, with a vaulted cistern. Later was adapted to a City Hall"


"ALMOND TREE - When they flower, it looks like the snow that is missing"


"CASTLE - Constructed in the 12th century by order of King Dinis, shows some magnificent towers"



"MARIA RITA, Romeu- A fabulous restaurant in the Portuguese countryside"


"DOURO - Where the true Port wine grapes grow!"