Albufeira

The next couple of posts will deal with the mundane - first, something about the town where we are staying. Someone asked us what we do here for a month so, in the next posting, a bit about what we do to pass the time here when we are not on a trip to Spain, for example.

Albufeira was once a fishing village but is now essentially a seaside tourist area with a winter population of about 20,000 people and a summer population of perhaps 100,000. Tourist related development is rampant in the area but there are still lovely beaches backed by low level cliffs and the scenic old town spreading up the hillside. And in March the beaches are definitely not crowded. They say that the name Albufeira derives from the Arabic al-buhera meaning castle by the sea, but in Portuguese it means "lagoon" or "dam".

Visitors, especially at this time of year, are predominantly from the UK but there are many from Holland, Germany and Canada. The "old town" retains some of the character of the old village with narrow winding streets, low white buildings, fisherman's beach (a couple of years ago there were colourful Portuguese fishing boats pulled up on the beach, but unfortunately, no longer - they are now hidden in an area enclosed by man made breakwaters) and some excellent walkways and restaurants overlooking the ocean. We have also learned that there are some charming bed and breakfast places to be discovered in unexpected places along the narrow streets on the hillside above the town square. The businesses in the old area are essentially eating places, bars and stores pretty much geared to the tourists.

The photos are:
1. Old town square. On all sides are shops, restaurants, bars and, on the far side of this photo, a very nice little art gallery.
2. Old town, including the square, from a balcony of a charming bed and breakfast place we looked at.
3. Ruth and John on a characteristic narrow street bound for a restaurant for a drink.
4. One of my favorite gates to a Mediterranean style house overlooking the ocean.
5. Characteristic tile roof tops.