Along The Algarve.

PADERNE.

The lighthouse doesn't open to visitors until 10 so the area is very quiet when get ready to leave. We call at the InterMarche where Rosie discovers the port that she had in the small cafe in Braga. A bottle costs 7 euro. No wonder they only charge 1 euro for a glass.

Our first stop is at Lagos. Our view of Portugal is changing, there is more litter and rubble as we have travelled south. Lagos is also littered with dog dirt despite the presence of bags bearing the town's name. There is a parade of people and dogs in aid of adopting the dogs. The majority of the voices speak English. Pestered by the boat operators trying to sell tours.

From there we drive along the coast to Portimao, or accurately, Praia da Rocha. This is a much prettier place but the high rise building provide testimony to the holiday makers.

For clarity, I'm screwing my eyes up at the sun not the high rises. Lunch in the van then we move inland to Silves. The site is too busy for us. We walk to the castle which is surrounded by busy restaurants.

This may seem a strange photo but zoom in on the structure above the cars and you should see a pair of storks.

We drove to Sao Bartolomeu de Messine. The site is being renovated, vans are parked on the spare land next to it. We're not comfortable joining them so choose the next one along at Paderne. It's an old laundry site with a co-operative warehouse next door. Allegedly the town is a kilometre away but we walk for over half an hour and see no centre. On a narrow stretch of road we pass a car going very slowly. We ask the driver if she's seen the centre. Her response is that she is Norwegian. You'd think that even in Norway they would recognise a village!

Pre dinner drinks have to be the port purchased earlier, life is hard, isn't it?