Friday March 29, 2019

Two weeks from today we will be home. Kelly is very excited and ask a couple of times a day when we will be home. She is very concerned about her puppies. Both Trish and I have bad colds which we believe we caught on the bus to Gibraltar. Fortunately we brought some Emergency with us.

I do not have anything to report so I will just send some more pictures of Gibraltar.

Moorish Castle

Approaching Gibraltar

More Gibraltar The St Michael's Caves

The St. Michael’s Caves are one of the busiest tourist attractions in Gibraltar with over 1,000,000 visits a year. The rock is limestone and is worn away by rainwater. This forms caves with stalactites and stalagmites. Stalactites are attached to the ceiling and stalagmites are attached to the floor.

I remember seeing these on one of our trips to Florida as a child. It has always stayed in my memory, but this may be only the second time I have seen them. The cave is lit with coloured lights making photography difficult. I did my best and will show them to you, but please don't expect much. It was really good when you are actually there.

The caves are at the top of the rock about 300 metres above sea level.

This is a video which I did. Once again it is not very good but I thought I would show it to you anyway.

Gibraltar

After seeing the monkeys there is not a lot to see in Gibraltar. This is especially true on a cloudy or overcast day when you cannot see Africa. Trish, Kelly and I would all say you must go to the island, but once may be enough. We walked around after lunch and were reminded of the shopping on the cruise ship we were on 6 years ago. Small liquor and jewelry stores selling watches and diamonds to tourists.

I had no intention to buy anything but did try to see if items were cheaper. Bottle of Grey Goose vodka was 26.50 Gibraltar pounds. This translates to about $47 Canadian dollars. A bottle of Grey Goose costs A bottle in Toronto is $49.95. It may be a third larger, but not much of a saving.

We had lunch in at a restaurant in the square

This was a working British phone booth

Bird of Paradise found around downtown

We all are enjoying the sun and relatively warm weather. I just heard that Nice France just set a record having a month and a half without rain. It is just over two weeks now and we are missing all of you and Toronto.

Gibraltar and their monkeys

Yesterday we went to Gibraltar to see both the rock and the monkeys. We were up at 5:45 and out front waiting for the bus at 6:30. At first we thought the bus was waiting for us, but this turned out to be the wrong bus.

Kelly and Nana in front of the bus.

Kelly and Nana in front of our bus.

At the boarder we got into a large bus that was full.

The various buses got us to Gibraltar by 1:15. Our guide gave us a running commentary concerning Cristobal Colon the man we know as Christopher Columbus. He explained the Christopher was not Italian but Portuguese. This explanation took about one third of the trip down. The first third was quiet time for those trying to sleep. Some of the people on the second bus were picked up at 4:30.

The final third was about Gibraltar. The talk did serve to shorten the journey. 

There will be more about the rock but first to the monkeys. I have prepared a video which you can see below.

Video of Cabanas Boardwalk

Good morning

Yesterday I bowled in the 10th Anniversary of Pedras Bowls Club. Charlie, Paul and I bowled well but lost the first game and were thus moved off the podium. Following the tournament we all went to The Sunday Roast Trish and Kelly joined us.

Today is shopping then tomorrow we go to Gibraltar. In the mean time here is a little video I took while LKS where here.

Alcoutim and The Contraband Festival

Yesterday we went off to Alcoutim. Next weekend they will hold their Contraband Festival in conjunction with Sanlúcar de Guadiana Spain. To join the towns the connect boats so as you can cross the Guadiana River.
We were told we should go and still might, but parking and access would be a problem. There is very little parking and a narrow rode in and out. They have a castle and a lot of boats anchored in the river. Portugal has a number of small villages where ever you travel. Both Trish and I wondered how the people in the town made a living. There seemed to be on industry, fishing or room for any number of tourists. We visited the castle and got some pictures. You may notice that the sun is out once again. By the way as I write this on Friday morning the sun is shining. At the end I have included a picture go the Supper Moon.

The tide is out as we look across The Guadiana to Spain

Wild Poppies

Archeology work on Caste 

Kelly came down these very steep stairs

The white light is The Moon

Our company have gone home

Yesterday Laughlin, Katie and Sophia flew home from Faro. I understand they had another good flight leaving early and arriving early. I have no pictures due to complications as they departed. LKS wanted us to drive to Faro so as we could let the girls off at the airport and I could drive Laughlin back from the rental company which is not right at the airport. They have a bus but thought it best I drive. The result was I never got to say good bye to Sophia and Katie and no pictures. It is ok because we got a lot of pictures during the visit.

Tuesday night we went to dinner at Porto di Mare which tripAdvisor's number 1 restaurant in Cabanas. I was also advised to go by Sean and Jo Tighe one of the Irish bowlers. We had a very good dinner and lottos company. First Ron (golfing partner) and his wife Norma came and sat next to us. Then Sean and Jo came in.

Today we think we will go to Alcoutim. I have been told we should go to their festival at the end of the month. There is a castle so hopefully tomorrow we will have pictures. Here are some pictures from dinner.

Norma Austin arriving

My attempt at a selfie At the end of the table are Norma and Ron

Desert #1

Desert#2

The desert

Sophia in charge

You never know

After the pottery shops we went to Vilamoura for lunch at The 19th hole. As it happened Ireland was playing Wales in rugby. Most of the fans were from Wales and were letting everyone know who they supported. Wales won I do not think Ireland scored.

19th Hole

After lunch I walked down the docks and took some pictures of the boats.

As I was walking back to catch up to TKLKS a man sitting on the back of one of the yachts yelled out "Do you speak English", "Yes", "Come on board and have a drink". I explained that I was searching for my family. He said go get them and you should all come aboard. It took me a while to find TKLKS because instead of going back to the cars as arrange they had wandered off.

Everyone agreed we should go. Laughlin said they would be right there Katie was just finishing changing Sophia. TK& myself headed off looking back from time to time. We went to the boat no LKS. We introduced ourselves to Aden (we never got his last name) and I went to find LKS. Ten minutes later I went back to the boat. Aden is coming to Toronto July 2nd and promised to email us with his itinerary hopping we could tell him if he was going to the right places. After a while we decided it was time to leave, still no word from LKS. They were sitting in the car because Sophia had gotten sick.

By the way Aden is from Belfast and use to be in the hotel business. He is married and owns a home in Portugal. His yacht is 75 feet long, 10 years old and looks brand new. This is so far the extent of our knowledge while we wait for his email.

Aden is in the middle his two friends

Still in the middle

Benagil Caves and other places

On Saturday we went to the Caves of Benagil. After we found a parking place for both cars on top of the hill we walked down to the beach. There were boat rides and a wonderful beach, but the tide was in so you could not walk to the caves. The boats moored themselves by hitting the beach at a high speed. It looked like the baby could get hurt so we did not take the boat.

This boat was visiting from Portimao

After Benagil we went to the pottery shops. The first Porches Pottery was on the highway at Benigil the other Studio Bongard was in Ferragula across the river from Portimao. At the first Laughlin, Katie and and Sophia bought us a very nice tray at the second LKS bought themselves a Turtle.

The First Shop

The second shop

The other side of the road at the second shop looking across to Portimao

Kelly in the doorway of the second shop