Portugal

A little late here with this blog so just a quick report will suffice but loads of photos. The Algarve, a wonderful area of Portugal especially if you stay away from the resorts and strips, unless of course you want to drink yourself into a stupor, get ripped off for food and drinks, want to be viewed as a ruby red/sore Brit oh!. and generally have a stonking time. Ahem! not for me…………

This trip was for just 6 days, that’s 5 nights a couple of rounds of golf and some pleasant food and company.  Just drive a few kilometres inland to any one of the hundreds of small villages and towns to find life as the locals live it. A slow pace with nice cafes and bars offering excellent food and drinks for a fraction of the cost paid at the resorts.

Fabulous scenery and quaint old buildings are in abundance, travel to the west coast anywhere around Carrapateira or Cordoama where the Atlantic Ocean rolls into the land spectacularly, secluded beaches, towering cliffs and friendly coves are a joy to behold. Not a vast number of tourists seem to journey here and those that do seem to be hikers, surfers and nature lovers.

Enjoy the photos…………………….

A Winters Day

Yesterday was a pretty warm day in Sussex for late February. The day started with a temperature of 7*C. The land was shrouded in early morning mist, unusually it seemed to have no top to it as I ventured up Cissbury Ring and no clear sky or sunshine was in evidence. The mist cleared and the temperature rose around lunchtime allowing me to take to the countryside and start clicking.

The Road to Somewhere, well actually its between Fulking and Poynings at the back of the South Downs.

The hill above Fulking looking towards the Dyke

Next, down to Worthing, a stroll along the promenade and onto the Pier to observe and capture the natives. Fairly bright light but the wind/breeze was still a bit chilly.

A bit of fun and frolics on the beach near the pier.

Worthing Dome and two of the locals.

 

 

A Few More Images – USA 2016

Just getting down to sorting out the vast amount of photo’s taken on the trip to the South Western States of the USA. I have discovered a few gems that I missed when uploading from the hotel room after a day’s travelling and cavorting about with the camera’s. Easily done as sometimes having to balance the laptop on strange surfaces and use very slow  and unpredictable wifi services.

Out in the Desert at sundown – White Sands, New Mexico

Silver City, New Mexico – The valley that is now the site of Silver City once served as an Apache campsite. With the arrival of the Spaniards, the area became known for its copper mining. After the American Civil War, a settlement developed and became known as la Ciénega de San Vicente (the Marsh of St. Vincent).

At Butterworth on the road to Silver City, New Mexico

Sentinel Peak (Arizona) Sentinel Peak is a 2,897 ft (883 m) peak in the Tucson Mountains southwest of downtown Tucson, Arizona. The valley’s first inhabitants grew crops at the mountain’s base, along the Santa Cruz River. … The peak is part of a 272-acre park, the largest natural resource park in the City of Tucson.

Tucson, Arizona from halfway up Sentinel Peak, a Native Indian watching and signalling point.

 

USA 2016 Photo’s

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A simple slideshow which you can stop and start. Includes some of the photo’s from this years road trip to 5 US States.  California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Florida. More photo’s to follow……………watch this space

Farewell – Naples

Last evening the sunset from the beach area over the Gulf of Mexico was stunning, hundred’s of tourists camped out for an hour or so as they do almost every day to watch the spectacle. Naples is  known for high-end shopping and golf courses. Naples Pier, first erected in 1888, is the city’s symbol and a popular fishing and dolphin-spotting destination. It’s flanked by miles of beaches with calm waters and fine white “sugar” sand, including those at Clam Pass Park and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park.

Looking out over the Gulf of Mexico from the beach at Naples, Florida.

Pelicans in the sunset, a truly tropical scene.

 

Southwest Florida

The Historic area of downtown Fort Myers is a fascinating mismatch of new and old architecture with street cafes, shops and bars. A place where you can wander around for hours just taking in the sights and sounds of a bustling business district with extras such as a boat trip up the Caloosahatchee river or just sit and watch the water birds that mass on it’s shores.

Our new friends – Ibis on the banks of the Caloosahatchee

Fort Myers historic district

An Indian parked outside a street cafe

Lovers Key – Tree with Rain out in the Gulf

 

 

Fort Myers – Florida

Travelled down from Tampa to Fort Myers via Sarasota, a pleasant drive in the November sunshine of around 3 hours with stops for coffee and a look around. Temp today reached a balmy 85* but with relatively low humidity it was bearable. This evening went to Fort Myers Beach for a relax and wander on the fishing pier. It was a great sunset, just a few clouds makes all the difference, the area around the pier was packed with tourists watching the sun setting over the Gulf of Mexico. Thanksgiving tomorrow and all the trees and boulevards have christmas lighting, a pretty experience.

Christmas lights and Fort Myers Beach clock

The sun setting over the Gulf of Mexico

A very lifelike stone turtle in the playarea on Fort Myers Beach

Fort Myers Beach, late afternoon