Holiday in the sun


We have just returned from a fantastic weeks holiday, somewhere that had blue sea and sky and warm temperatures, can you guess where we went?



As the plane was coming into land we flew over a number of islands and saw our accomodation from the window, my husband even managed to spot a  swallowtail butterfly on the airfield.


Our holiday destination was a short ferry ride from four beautiful car-free islands. The sand on these islands stretched for miles and it was lovely to see so many colourful plants and wildlife that enjoyed these conditions.





One of the main occupations apart from tourism is fishing,  we watched trawlers going out in the evening and bringing back fresh fish in the morning. It especially tasted so good cooked simply by the fishermen's family in a local cafe. It is always interesting to make comparisons, we discovered that just like here the younger generation aren't keen on taking up fishing as an occupation.



Salted white fish is used in a number of local dishes,this display we found in one of the supermarkets. Salting fish was originally carried out on the huge number of fish caught off the Great Bank off Newfoundland in previous centuries.  There was a triangular trade fishermen from Bridport would travel out in the Spring to Newfoundland, catch and salt the fish, and sell it along the East coast of America and then travel back to Europe where the fish was again sold. The boats would then be filled with salt that was bought back here ready for the following year's fishing season.

We visited this country nine years ago, and bought some local salt and vowed we would return before the salt ran out, as time went by we used the salt very sparingly and only had a few grains left!


It was wonderful to see oranges growing in the trees and have fresh squeezed fruit juice for breakfast.


At the farmers market the tables were piled high with fresh produce from plants that are just developing back at home.


 There are superb views to be had, whether they are over the rooftops or out of the window,


or from the balcony of our apartment....



Each evening a flock of flamingos would return to the salt pans. while on the church roof storks were looking after their young.


The cockerel is one of the symbols of this country, have you guessed where we have been?


The answer is Portugal , we stayed in Olhao which is in the Algarve region. Have you ever visited this country, if so what was your impression?


We have found it feels so cold since returning home. I could easily get used to swoping jeans for shorts and never wearing a coat!

It was so good to just have time to relax, do lots of reading and just chill out in the warmth! Life has been so busy again since returning home. I keep doing extra work in the evening instead of visiting blogs. I have wondered whether to stop blogging for a while, but I am suspect it won't be so easy to restart, so apologies if I am not  a frequent visitor to your blogs. Thanks for still taking the trouble to visit me! Hope you enjoyed the change of scene too.

Sarah

Comments

  1. I would have never guessed had you not told us. It is beautiful and I know next to nothing about it. Thanks for showing us. I was thinking Sardinia or Sicily.

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  2. I grew up on the east coast of Newfoundland where the Portuguese White fleet called to port in stormy weather. It was always impressive to see all of those fishing vessels.

    We visited Portugal a few years ago and loved the colours, the heat, the language and the people.

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    1. That's all the things we love about Portugal too, the people are always so friendly.

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  3. Beautiful place for a vacation and thank you for sharing. Nice a sunny. Here we are having our May Grey weather. We may see some sun by the end of next week. Take care. Blessings

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  4. I had been thinking Greece, as there was so much blue and white in the first pix! I'm glad you had such a great time ~

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  5. We've been to Mallorca 3 times and always stayed in the 'out of the way' villages away from towns. We haven't been abroad since '06. I'd like to visit Portugal or mainland Spain sometime in the future. Your photos are beautiful, better than in those glossy magazines! :) x

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    1. Thank you , it was so difficult to capture the colours although I can feel the heat just looking at the pictures. Sarah x

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  6. Oh, it looks wonderful. I've never been, but a friend's parents live there and absolutely love it. I can certainly see why. Glad you had such a good time, a break was very well deserved I think, you've been working very hard. Re-entry is always a tricky thing isn't it. Please don't apologise for not doing any blog visiting. As far as I'm concerned, it really isn't expected. I'm just happy to read your post and say hello here. CJ xx

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  7. That looks glorious Sarah, I can feel the warmth coming through the photographs!

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  8. Anywhere by the sea, that's a vacation for me!

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  9. This has been on my "list" for a long time; so so beautiful.

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  10. That sounds lovely! A well deserved break for you! I've felt much the same about blogging myself lately, it's hard to find the energy for reading and commenting but at the same time, I don't really want to give up my blog so I just do what I can when I can now :)

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  11. Fabulous photos of a gorgeous place. Glad you had a lovely break. We visited Portugal about twenty years ago when the boys were small. It was a beautiful coastal region just above obidos. Although lots of mossies if I remember. It felt very much a third world country although the villa we stayed in was very first world. Away from the motorways the roads were apalling! B xx

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  12. One niece has a Portuguese husband, another is currently working in Lisbon for two weeks. Small world.
    (It is time for me to get back to dedicated gardening, we have rain, my blogging will come as and when)

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  13. Oh to be on a sunny island where you can walk everywhere, relax, and read books! In busy times there is no need to keep up with blogs ... I enjoy you blog posts whenever you have time for them.

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  14. Never been in Portugal but I would like to. Your photos are amazing!

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  15. I went to Portugal many years ago when it was quite undeveloped, I have good memories of long white sandy beaches and hearing a fado singer in Lisbon.

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  16. That looks to have been a lovely holiday Sarah - I have been to Lisbon which I think is a great city for a visit, and also to another area of Portugal which was quite close to the Spanish border.
    I hope that you have returned home feeling greatly refreshed after your energetic few weeks before you left.

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  17. We spent time in Portugal one winter while living in Paris and loved it! Especially loved the small Sintra very close to Lisbon. I was thinking maybe Greece from the pictures until I saw the flamingos. But the fishing, the oranges, the strong sun and white beaches. Glad you found some warmth and fun!

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  18. I have somewhat distant relatives from Porto, Portugal. Your photos are beautiful. It sounds like a lovely vacation.

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  19. I couldn't guess where you were but I loved your photos. Your fish dinner looked wonderful!

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  20. Gosh what a wonderful holiday - I could feel myself relaxing just looking at your photos! White sands, blue skies and friendly community. Idyllic. xx

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