We clambered aboard a white speedboat on Carvoeiro beach - just four us - Frances, Stew, Phoebe and I. There were four other English trippers, an elderly Canadian man and two young Portuguese men - one taking charge of the outboard motor and the other acting as a guide. I do not remember their names.
As I said before, that limestone coast is hollowed out with numerous caves and at the head of some of them there are beaches with natural "windows" that look up to the sky above. Our pilot must have taken us in to a dozen of these caves during our ninety minute voyage that ended at beautiful Marinha Beach before heading back to Carvoeiro. It was quite thrilling and we enjoyed it very much. You should have heard Phoebe laughing like a dervish on the bouncy return to base.
In the picture below, we are approaching Farol de Alfanzina. You can see the red top of the lighthouse peeping over the cliff and three sea cave entrances.
In one cave, the guide borrowed Frances's smartphone to capture the following image:-
And here is the author of this blog with his first and much loved grandchild...
Here she is again as we approach Praia da Marinha...
When we got back to Carvoeiro we treated ourselves to ice creams. Mine was rice pudding flavour as they didn't have Yorkshire Pudding. Phoebe had chocolate just like Peppa Pig but she wouldn't allow me to have even a single spoonful... "No! It's mine!"
Looks like you had a lovely time :)
ReplyDeleteYes we did Monica. Thanks.
DeleteLove your hat!
ReplyDeleteIt is very sun-faded. I bought it in Malta in 2012.
DeletePhoebe looks so happy there. Such a lovely big smile.
ReplyDeleteShe's generally very happy but occasionally has a dramatic tantrum - especially when she is tired.
DeleteWhat a lovely bunch! Looks like great fun!
ReplyDeleteIt was a great day out. Worth every penny.
DeleteWhat a great day trip. I love the hole to the sky and the beach inside a cave; very cool!
ReplyDeleteOf course those caves can collapse - but that is more likely to happen in stormy times.
DeleteSounds like Phoebe loves an adventure, just like her grandfather! A thousand watt smile :)
ReplyDeleteIt was her first time on a boat at sea.
DeleteAll that beauty? And ice-cream too? Fabulous.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry. Be happy.
DeleteHow precious that y'all got to have this special time that you never would have been able to have at home. Not that you can't have special times at home- of course you can. But this is different and it is lovely.
ReplyDeleteEven now it seems like a made-up story.
DeleteThose caves are amazing and beautiful. You all look like yu are having so much fun. If I have chocolate ice cream, I don't share either!
ReplyDeleteGreedy girl!
DeleteFor Phoebe this would be a first time boat ride so a very exciting experience for her.
ReplyDeleteYou are right Keith. First time at sea.
DeleteI have never heard a dervish laugh, but I can imagine Phoebe laughing on the bouncy way back. That entire holiday must have created many wonderful memories in her young mind.
ReplyDeleteThose caverns look fantastic! But the cliff path to the lighthouse you showed us yesterday appears even more dangerous now, knowing how much the coast is hollowed out underneath.
Beauty and danger may sleep together.
DeleteIt's a good family photo with rock hole above.
ReplyDeleteYour observation skills are astonishing!
DeleteThose caves are awe-inspiring, nature surpassed itself there. What a happy little girl Phoebe is.
ReplyDeleteSuch beauty with the sunlight streaming in.
DeleteCaroveiro is a lovely town and beach. I have visited it a few times and walked the cliff paths. I will never forget the ice plants growing wild like their cousins that we have in our Irish smallholding gardens.
ReplyDeleteI did not see any plants with ice hanging from them.
DeleteSuch fabulous photos of you and Phoebe together. Happy times.
ReplyDeleteShe is my darling even though she bashed me with her fishing net.
DeleteI can't believe you tried to take chocolate ice cream from a small child!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great time you had! The photos capture the mood
Thank you Kylie. I would even take vanilla ice cream from a small child!
DeleteWhat a fabulous trip - a day to remember and what wonderful memories Phoebe is storing up! She is becoming a very well travelled little girl.
ReplyDeleteShe has already been to seven countries: Canada, Scotland, France, Spain, Greece, Albania and now Portugal.
DeleteThat first photo is fantastic! Well, they all are, but that one in particular. What interesting geology. You all look like you're having fun!
ReplyDeleteWe weren't faking it Steve!
DeleteAnd now I want to visit Portugal, just to visit that beach in the first photo. Wow. Sounds like you all had a wonderful time and Phoebe's smile says it all.
ReplyDelete“Seeing the world through the eyes of a child is the purest joy that anyone can experience.”
— Constance Zimmer
Portugal is a great country. I have been to Porto, Lisbon and this was my fourth visit to The Algarve region.
DeleteWhat beautiful caves! Where I live, there are no such things unless you count the man made ones where the old farmers stored their root vegetables and canned goods.
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing that they dug their own caves to keep their produce cool.
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