“Sometimes, the most productive thing that you can do is to step outside and do nothing… relax and enjoy nature.”

Take a holiday so long, you forget all of your passwords!

Alvor was founded in 436 B.C. by the Carthaginian General Aníbal Barca as a commercial port, which he named Portus Hannibalis. The settlement grew around the sea, near the place called Vila Velha, where a Celtic castro dominated the river mouth during the Iron Age.

The history of Alvor is long, possibly dating back as far as the 4th century BC. During the Roman occupation of Iberia it was a prosperous port and later became the Moorish town of Al-bur. However, the village’s greatest claim to fame is as the place where King João II died in 1495. In more recent years still, it cemented its place in the history books as the venue for the negotiations which brought about the independence of the former Portuguese territory of Angola.

Five days in to this little holiday and I have lost track of time. How? Why? It’s only when you come away from your regular routines and haunts that you realise the rut you’re in. I’ve not missed the morning paper, the garden or the allotment,nor the never ending televised sporting events I am usually guilty of having on,even if only half watching. I have not missed walking because I have done plenty of that since being here.I have not missed the tedium of “royal” events either.

The Mercardo was very quiet,too.

In the mornings, nothing much opened before 10 am – not a single punter down this popular alleyway.

A walk back down towards the River ALVOR Estuary

Brummies will brag about their “ Floozie in the Jacuzzi”; here in Alvor they have their” Mermaid on the Esplanade”

It was time to take the Boardwalk trail.

It’s a wide network of boardwalks that connects Alvor Beach with the river banks. The total distance of the boardwalks is about 6 km. Following the boardwalk you can appreciate two different sides of Alvor; its wide sandy beach and the freshwater marshes that are home to dozens of species of birds.

On either side you can see the estuary, the dunes,marshes and all manner of boats.

Based a mile and a half or so up from ALVOR Town and not wanting the hassle of a hire car – bus trips €0.70 and taxis very reasonable – mastering the bus timetables are important. You can obtain a prepaid card to show on the bus – the amount is dependent on how often you anticipate using a bus. Tomorrow we envisage using it to get to Portimao for the day.

The VAI E VEM bus service .

I shall finish this Blog with some photos of the local flora,many of which are found around the pool and grounds of the apartment.

A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking.