The Meanderthals: April 2022

ARMACAO de PERA

As Anthony has already told you four Meanderthals have just been to Portugal where we stayed at the HOLIDAY INN at the aforementioned town.

I (John) also have a few photos to share with you.

Mike and his wife Kath.

Martin and Anthony

but where's John ? He's in his room.

Down this corridor and turn right

Down this bit and turn left.

Down this bit and turn right.

And there it is at the far end of this corridor !!!!!!

Go to bed early and you get there late !

We did go for other walks.

And not just on beach walkways.

On our way to visit Albufeira we stopped to gawp at Cliff Richards "bijou" residence and Vineyard.

We even managed to get a shot of the "Shadows".

We stopped just outside Albufeira to walk down to a "Platform" giving us great views of the coast

Here there was a delightful sculpture of - presumably - young lovers in "perforated" stainless steel.

Actually closer inspection of the lady's profile might suggest that YOUNG lovers might not be the best description.

I always like the way some people have fun with their advertising.

Here a fish restaurant shows us a gentleman catching a colourful fish

Whilst in the restaurant a colourful gentleman is cooking it.

We don't always walk alone. Other SAGA folk are often with us. Here, two delightful ladies, Lily and Elvira, pose for a photo as we walk past and admire photos of local scenes and activities stretched along the wall of the prom.

....and here, in the sun filled town square, are Lily and Elvira again. Posing with John and Kath from our group

Back in ARMACAO the long ( and mostly sunny) promenade was a constant invitation to stroll along.........

Elizabeth , Grace and Mary

........ or simply sit in the warm sunshine......

........ with a refreshing drink.

At the end of the Prom. was a tiny white church.

which everyone, in this case John, felt impelled to visit.

Can't remember it's name but the panel behind the alter would suggest it could be "Our Lady of the Sea".

and the baptismal font made from a giant clam shell would seem to support that.

Our next visit was to the pretty town of SILVES. We stopped some distance outside the town to take photos of the Cathedral and the Castle on a hill, high above the town.

And took advantage of all four Meanderthals being outside together at the same time.

Mike Martin John Anthony

Whilst we were in Portugal the compulsary wearing of masks was ended .... except on public transport. John still has his in his hand.

On parking the coach some of the group stayed by the river whilst others set off to climb up to the castle.

The statue of the jogger encouraged us to set off at a brisk pace (see Mike). We soon slowed down.

The narrow lanes soon became STEEP.

About half way up we stopped to look at this post which was were villains were hanged. (Why was someone encouraging us to stand beneath it ?)

There was room for four of course.

"Onwards and upwards" says our guide Luis.

On arriving at the Castle walls our Philistine group rejected the chance to explore the Mediaeval castle and opted for a cafe instead.

Sorry Martin you got "Pillared" out.

On the return journey to ARMACAO we stopped briefly to visit the "MADONNA of the ROCKS" (It would appear that Jesus' mother , like all ladies, is a skilful multitasker.)