Seriously, each day I pause and have to ask myself the question, where am I? It has been a whirlwind year and today was the first time I was really by myself and took a vacation from the adventure. I also realized today, that it has been a long time that I spent time really alone without a list of things to do or see. I feel "my cup is full" again. The day came together perfectly.
I woke to a perfectly sunny sky, haven't had to many of those these last 3+ weeks. After a bite to eat outside near the pool, I walked over to the Marina nearby to rent a bike. The shop wasn't open and someone directed me to a free tourist bike rental. Why not? Tourism is the number one industry in Portugal and this is just another reminder that they are trying to create a great experience for tourists here. They pointed me through a town park. The park was so lovely. Well swept dirt paths winded past an old tiled church, a children's library, tiled arches and small ponds dotted with turtles sunning themselves on rocks. Peacocks made haunting calls, perched on top of stone arches and warming themselves in the sun. There were roosters crowing wandering around the grassy areas and through the park's small rose gardens. It was really idyllic. I found the bike place right next to the park, he asked to see my ID and then gave me a bike free of charge for the day. It was a well worn red bike with fenders and a sturdy basket. I meandered through this small fishing village/beach town and found the little town squares and narrow windy roads and then made my way along a stone boardwalk which lined the beach.I biked to over a dozen different beaches.
It was the start of summer and huge groups of kids were at the beach all excited and playing beach games. There was such a great atmosphere that literally screamed summer and reminded me that no matter where you are, people love the beach. I scoped out which beach I was going to settle into later and then decided I wanted to ride more and went the other direction, farther west along the coast along a smooth designated bike path that went towards the kite surfing beach. Along the way there were little tourist stops and a small handicraft market which I stopped at and peaked around.
It was so relaxing to just ride and look out at the beach. On my way back into town I stopped at my hotel and grabbed my swimsuit, a towel and water bottle. As I was getting the towel there was a collection of books that guests could borrow. I glanced through and one of the only one's in English was A Night on the Orient Express. I grabbed it and my hat then went to find a bike lock. The guys at the marina let me take one for a couple euro. I made my way over to my spot, which was on the far end of a large beach where I could also rent paddle boards. It was the same beach that the Albatross Hotel, which would be a great place to stay, but it was booked. I rented a chair and umbrella and hardly left my spot for 6 hours. The book was a perfect vacation read and I enjoyed the sun, and the people watching, a turn on the paddle board and a little bite to eat from the cafe on the boardwalk. It couldn't have been a more perfect afternoon. I came to understand, the Portuguese like their sun. It was really amazing, everyone just layed there without book or often companion and just soaked in the sun. These were my people. I love the sun, to soak it in, to feel it on my face and my skin get a little crispy and tight from the salt and sun.
When I returned the bike lock I picked up a proper bike at the shop so that I could do more cruising tomorrow morning. When I returned to the hotel, "valet parked" my bike, I found myself a warm spot by the pool and read for a couple more hours until around 8 pm when the sun fell behind the palms. #heaven 12 hours of sun and I went up to my room, opened the doors to my balcony and enjoyed the ocean view as I finished my book. What a perfect day! It is almost 9:30 p.m. here and it is still light and the Portuguese eat late, so will wander into town and grab a little bite possibly before bed. I know this is a dream day, my whole year has been a dream year. I am so eternally grateful for this gift and that I had the guts to take it and then to be able to enjoy it and have this time with my son. I feel immensely blessed and not sure how I can repay the Lord or my family for this opportunity and the means to do it. So thankful.
Loved this little park
My wheels for the day
Portuguese architecture... so unique
Turtles sunning themselves in the park
Little chapel in the park- so uniquely Portuguese with the tile on the outside
Beautiful old estate on my walking town for dinner. Love that I can get dinner at 10:30 p.m.
Just before midnight a full firework display went off right outside my window infront of where I was sitting... perfect end to a perfect day
My date for the day... haven't sat down and read a leisure book for a while, polished this one off today
I woke to a perfectly sunny sky, haven't had to many of those these last 3+ weeks. After a bite to eat outside near the pool, I walked over to the Marina nearby to rent a bike. The shop wasn't open and someone directed me to a free tourist bike rental. Why not? Tourism is the number one industry in Portugal and this is just another reminder that they are trying to create a great experience for tourists here. They pointed me through a town park. The park was so lovely. Well swept dirt paths winded past an old tiled church, a children's library, tiled arches and small ponds dotted with turtles sunning themselves on rocks. Peacocks made haunting calls, perched on top of stone arches and warming themselves in the sun. There were roosters crowing wandering around the grassy areas and through the park's small rose gardens. It was really idyllic. I found the bike place right next to the park, he asked to see my ID and then gave me a bike free of charge for the day. It was a well worn red bike with fenders and a sturdy basket. I meandered through this small fishing village/beach town and found the little town squares and narrow windy roads and then made my way along a stone boardwalk which lined the beach.I biked to over a dozen different beaches.
It was the start of summer and huge groups of kids were at the beach all excited and playing beach games. There was such a great atmosphere that literally screamed summer and reminded me that no matter where you are, people love the beach. I scoped out which beach I was going to settle into later and then decided I wanted to ride more and went the other direction, farther west along the coast along a smooth designated bike path that went towards the kite surfing beach. Along the way there were little tourist stops and a small handicraft market which I stopped at and peaked around.
It was so relaxing to just ride and look out at the beach. On my way back into town I stopped at my hotel and grabbed my swimsuit, a towel and water bottle. As I was getting the towel there was a collection of books that guests could borrow. I glanced through and one of the only one's in English was A Night on the Orient Express. I grabbed it and my hat then went to find a bike lock. The guys at the marina let me take one for a couple euro. I made my way over to my spot, which was on the far end of a large beach where I could also rent paddle boards. It was the same beach that the Albatross Hotel, which would be a great place to stay, but it was booked. I rented a chair and umbrella and hardly left my spot for 6 hours. The book was a perfect vacation read and I enjoyed the sun, and the people watching, a turn on the paddle board and a little bite to eat from the cafe on the boardwalk. It couldn't have been a more perfect afternoon. I came to understand, the Portuguese like their sun. It was really amazing, everyone just layed there without book or often companion and just soaked in the sun. These were my people. I love the sun, to soak it in, to feel it on my face and my skin get a little crispy and tight from the salt and sun.
When I returned the bike lock I picked up a proper bike at the shop so that I could do more cruising tomorrow morning. When I returned to the hotel, "valet parked" my bike, I found myself a warm spot by the pool and read for a couple more hours until around 8 pm when the sun fell behind the palms. #heaven 12 hours of sun and I went up to my room, opened the doors to my balcony and enjoyed the ocean view as I finished my book. What a perfect day! It is almost 9:30 p.m. here and it is still light and the Portuguese eat late, so will wander into town and grab a little bite possibly before bed. I know this is a dream day, my whole year has been a dream year. I am so eternally grateful for this gift and that I had the guts to take it and then to be able to enjoy it and have this time with my son. I feel immensely blessed and not sure how I can repay the Lord or my family for this opportunity and the means to do it. So thankful.
Where I parked myself today on the beach.
Bike riding selfie along the limestone cobblestones throughout Portugal
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