Richard's and Trish's Birthday party

Yesterday we all went up to Marie and Richard's home for a birthday party. It as to be Richard's but when they found out it was Trish's birthday it became a joint party. Louisa a friend of Maria who works at Pedras was also there.

We sang Happy Birthday in English, French and Portuguese, but my camera had a malfunction and I did not get it. I did get Richard and Trish blowing out the candles.

Louisa, Marie and Richard

Richard and Trish

The three of us Trish lighting the candles

Trish's flower a present from R & M

Trish's Birthday

Today is Trish's birthday. We are going to Marie Christine's and Richard's for a birthday party. It started out as Richard's party and then became his and Trish's. Yesterday I went to church and tomorrow I am playing golf so we went out to dinner for her birthday on Friday.

We went to a restaurant which just opened Valentine's Day. Yesterday was the best day yet. It got into the low 70's or about 21c. We decided to go out for lunch. The restaurants where about the same, but lunch was more expensive then dinner. As I type this I am looking out on another beautiful day. It has not been hot, but it has been very sunny.

The three Brennan's at lunch

Lunch outside

Dinner

More dinner

Oranges and more oranges

Yesterday Almeida Pires the manager of Pedras de Rainha delivered a large bag of oranges. They were not large they were huge. Trish immediately cut one into pieces and we ate it. I can tell you I have never had a juicier orange. The pulp melted in your mouth. Clearly The Algarve produces the best Oranges in the world.

It is not just oranges. This morning a farmer who comes around about once a week sold Trish a box of the largest, redest and juiciest strawberries any of us have had. I guess that The Algarve also produces the best strawberries in the world.

I have a couple of pictures of oranges on trees, but it is hard to show just how many orange trees there are. The orchards are literally everywhere. All the orchards are well fenced so no picking your own.

The Brennan's would like to thank Almeida for his thoughtful gift and urge all who are reading this to come to The Algarve and test out my premise concerning the best oranges/strawberries in the world for yourself.

Good morning

I have nothing to report, but did not want you to think I had forgotten about you. Yesterday I hit some ball at the driving range then practiced hitting from the sand trap at the practice area which anyone can use anytime. I was hitting the ball very well so I stopped thinking I was only using up my good shots. After lunch I bowled. My bowling is improving even though we lost the game.

As I think I have mentioned we get little Trump news. There is simply is not room with all the Brexit news. There seems to be no way out. May and her group want no inspections between Northern Ireland and Britain, while Northern Ireland Southern Ireland and the EU are insisting on no boarder between the two Irelands. It looks like Britain will leave because May is concerned about loosing her job if she does anything but leave. With no deal nobody knows exactly what will happen beyond disaster. I heard yesterday that it is taking months to get a passport in Ireland due to all the British applying for one before the split.

Tonight we are having Marie Christine and Richard along with their friend Louisa in for a drink. They are the couple from Montreal who have owned a place here for 26 years. That's all for now as I said nothing new.

Lunch in Tavira

After bowling on Tuesday we went into Tavira for lunch. We ended up in the same place as last week, just by the "Roman Bridge". I put Roman Bridge in quotes because the guide books say it is a Roman Bridge while I understand it is actually a Moorish Bridge.

I took a couple of pictures during lunch. One of the three of us and one of my lunch. I apologize that I took the picture after I had eaten some.

Nana, Kelly and Papa

My first Tapas lunch

After lunch we went back to the car where I realized that just across the road was an entrance to The Castle of Tavira. We walked up about 100 old steps and found what remained of the castle.

The streets are not getting any wider

A Saturday Trip To Olhao

Saturday we went to Olhao to visit the church Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Rosário e Capela de Nosso Senhor dos Aflitos. This is the name I got off the internet but I do not know   how much is the name and how much is a description.

While there we walked past the harbour, market and more tiny streets. Some of the streets where so small they had no cars. WE stopped for lunch and tried to go into the church. The church was closed for lunch or perhaps siesta. Being Saturday everything was busy.

The church

The market inside

The market outside

Florrpes

The explanation of the statue

Here are some pictures for the family.

Check out the street pavement

Lunch

Finally a picture of Papa, yes I did travel to Portugal

Thursday February 14th

As you have seen we had a busy day on Thursday. Our final stop was Vilamoura. It was one of the places I thought we might stay. Both Trish and I agreed Cabanas was a better choice. Vilamoura is very nice but much more developed, busy and expensive.

You can see from the harbour pictures the yachts are larger and newer. We did not find the bowling green, but did drive by a couple of the courses I thought I would golf at. When we left we let Mapme guide the way. I wish I had a video of our trip. The roads got hillier and hillier. As this happened they also got narrower and narrower. As we twisted around Mapme said turn left, but there was no left the road was all dug up and closed. We followed Mapme and finally were headed to Tavira and shopping. I had to get a Valentine's present for Kelly.

I have some pictures of the harbour.

Parking at the Gran Plaza

Albufeira Harbour

On the way to Vilamoura from Silves we stopped at Albufeira. As a matter of course we went to the harbour. I go to the harbour as a place to go. Some may go to the post office or city hall, I go to the boats. When we got there we found quite a harbour. In 2003 it was enlarged and made into a real hurricane hole. The inter harbour holds over 400 boats up to 32 meters. The surrounding area is being developed in hotels and condominiums.

This is a man made harbour The channel was cutout in 2003

It was quite windy so I took a video showing you the harbour.

Silves Moorish Castle

I do not want to plagiarize So rather then writing any thing out I will give you a website for the castle.

https://www.portugalist.com/silves-castle/

It was Thursday so we decided to go on a road trip. We selected Silves. There is a large castle built about 1000 years ago. Went we got to Silves we first drove up winding walking paths or as they say in Portugal main arteries. Luckily we found a place to park and hiked the remaining 60 or 70 foot climb. The following are some pictures I took of the castle. It was not a complete as you may thing from pictures of the outside, but certainly forth the money.

Statue of King Sancho I of Portugal at the entrance to Silves Castle, Silves, Algarve, Portugal

This picture was taken as we approached the castle

Work being done at the castle

Entrance

The wall and the back of the coffee shop

Golfing in Spain

On Monday Ron Austin and I went to Spain and played Golf. We played at Costa Esuri. It was to be a development of over 2000 houses on the bank of the Guadiana river. There was to be shopping, homes, Swimming pools and 2 golf courses. When the depression of 2008 came it all fell apart.

There are several home completed and lived in. Along side are hundreds of partially completed homed and commercial properties. One of the golf courses was never built. The completed course is very nice with a driving range and club house. I walked and Ron rode in a cart.

I drove the ball really well, but nothing else worked. Ron also played very well but could not sink a put. I beat him, but we do not know by how much. Neither of us had the nerve to add up our scores. We have agreed to play again and I agreed to play with him in a St. Patricks Day Tournament at 

Benamor.

I also saw two sailboats cruising on the river.

Ron Austin

Finally a video

On Saturday Kelly and I walked over to the Bowling Green to watch a little of the league play. It was Pedras against another bowling group. I decided to take a video to give you all a better look at how close things are.

Yesterday we said good bye to our visitors

I have some pictures of our visitors both at dinner and leaving. Both Sam and Katie where having a wonderful time and where both looking forward to their adventure in Poland and Germany.