Trip coming to an end

Lazy day on Saturday, when the weather was again mixed.  Sunday we took a ride up to Silves, the ancient capital of the Moorish Algarve.  The town is dominated by a red sandstone castle of ancient origins, but what we see today dates largely from the 1940s, when it was rebuilt following damage from numerous earthquakes.  

We stopped at the viewpoint in the outskirts (v. supra) where Martyn noticed some large black and white birds.  Storks: they used to migrate to Africa in winter, but with plentiful food to be had hereabouts, they are tending to stay here year round.  (One commentator suggests adding McDonalds to their usual diet of small vertebrates, fish and large insects.). Looking down from the castle, many chimneys have nests on them, and the clacking of the storks’ bills was clearly to be heard.  At one point, several dozen took to the air and gave us a nice little display.  In the castle (where lethal drops from barrier-free parapets abound) an archery competition was in progress with scant attention to ‘elf’n syfety.  The archers - long- and crossbows - were done up in period costumes, so we were well entertained.

Anyway, Silves joins the long list of Portuguese towns we’ve got lost in: Faro, Albufeira, Lagos, Pêra and all the rest.  The map we got at the motorway rest stop challenges the chocolate teapot for the uselessness championship title.  Memo to self: take Dotty next time.  But Silves is modestly attractive for being authentic, and not devoted to the tourism industry.  There is a lot of modern development in the outskirts, but the centre is cobbled and labyrinthine.

After getting lost (yet again) down by the coast, we elected to return to familiar ground, and had lunch at the Pedras Amarelas at the Praia de Galé Leste, where we’d gone on Martyn’s birthday.  Excellent lunch, and the somewhat more lively sea provided good views as we dined.  The surfers appreciated it too, and some experts were out there showing off to the entertainment of all.

We have the joys of Faro and Gatwick airports tomorrow, plus a ride in another 21-year-old A320.  I’ll reflect on the overall experience once we’re safely installed at Forges-l’Evêque.