03/11/2024
Arrived in the Algarve 43 years on. And although externally it has changed significantly, like ourselves it feels, so very familiar.
After two train rides it is lovely to stay in a calming place which had been converted from a casino to a resort in 1989. A room so much more peaceful than the one with 24 hr traffic and noise of an intense city of Lisbon. Even though the room was tiny (stylish) in Lisbon (this room is about 4x the size) the location, breakfast and great reception staff were brilliant!
This feels like a traditional prestigious hotel, including dressing for dinner. I love how always surprise me with value for money and rooms to suit my quirky and functional taste.
I must say 'obrigada' for those wonderful people who assisted me today and made my travelling less anxious with lifts broken down and my aversion to long escalators with bags and challenging 'mind the gaps' at stations when you are feeling a bit under the weather!😁
Sometimes by the sea 🌊 in a place that feels like home is just perfect for an over - thinking sensitive traveller.
I have to tell you a funny story.
"Today a man picked all his bags and headed to the doors ready to get off.
He went back to his wife, who did not lift her eyes to from her phone or acknowledge what he had said "Ours is the next stop!"
The next minute I notice her running thru the carriage looking anxious as we left the train station. Alarmed he had got off without her! He hadnt. So she starts to order an Uber and Shh's him when he trys to suggest something to her, lol. He looks at me as I am prerparing to get off and says: "This looks like a nice town".🤣🤣🤣🤣
Lovers travel. Mark and I back in the day, when we arrived here all those years ago would have had a bit of "ding d**g screaming match" all the way to wherever we were staying!
Life is so much more fun as time goes by, as we learn to share space more respectfully. This has nothing to do with age as these people were in their 50s. It has much more to do with generosity of spirit and mindful behaviours.
Off to explore Vx