I accidentally took a photo of paradise on earth...

 

 

Portugal is as close to paradise on earth as it gets. Don't believe me? well, just look at the pictures below, captured in October in the Algarve. We all know the beaches are something special but, the world's most average snappers (me!) suddenly morph into expert photographers. Without even trying. Just turn and point your camera and the lens is filled with nature's beauty.

I don't have the best camera on the world, or fancy lenses, and I have taken many beach pictures before but some of the shots I took on a recent break took my breath away. They have NOT been photoshopped or tweaked in any way. They are genuine, authentic, perfect.

This picture is so beautiful it is like a painting. I liken it to the best holiday brochure picture you could ever imagine but better because this image has true integrity. It not been staged or set up in any way. It was just a quick snap by me with the sun glaring into my eyes. I never realised how special it was until I processed it.

 

 

Here's another gem from the same batch. An Autumnal Falesia beach with the tide out. Stunning. I love the feeling of peace and isolation.

 

 

 

 

 

I especially love this fishing shot too. The fishermen were nearby, having a laugh and a joke when something was clearly tugging on the line. I shot into the setting sun in the late afternoon.

 

If you have any wonderful Portugal beach shots to share I would love to see them. It's eye therapy!

Portugal cliff collapse destroys my favourite beach viewpoint

This sight greeted my eyes in Olhos de Agua, Portugal, in October, 2015....

My favourite beach view bench was almost no more. The wind and rain had taken its toll on the cliff sending huge chunks of sandy rumble tumbling to the ground, closely followed by a few fence panels..... This is how it used to look....

 

Here is the end of the bench you can see in the top picture. I was lying on it on December 31, 2014, sunning myself in  the gentle winter heat.  I used to love climbing up here to take in the glorious views and catch a few rays of winter sunshine.... This is what I could see either side...

 

 

 

This is another shot of the collapse....

 

 

The Algarve suffered some terrible floods and rain in the autumn and this photo was taken BEFORE the worst of the weather. I felt so sad when I saw this. A reminder of nature's might.

But I'll find another perfect vantage point, just you wait and see....

 

JILL

 

5 THINGS I miss about Portugal (but there are many more)

1. THE PEOPLE... laid back, charming, friendly, witty, kind. Obviously you meet the odd grumpy bod but, by and large, they're just great.... Meet Bruno (in the specs)  his parents run the Galleon Bar

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in Olhos. He  claims to  rarely sleep in the summer months when the bar stays open until the last customer leaves. He is at university but works at his parents' bar whenever he can.
He   says: "I work til maybe 4 in the morning, then I go to a party in Vilamoura, then have a nap in my car, then start work again. I go on the beach and maybe later have a swim. Then it's back to work til 4 in the morning again."

He was a stranger to me until the mighty Burton Albion FC had an important cup game and I asked him to find the match on his sports TV. Which he did, despite being dead on his feet through tiredness, and  stumbling about like a sleeping  man while setting up the café for the day. It is always good to see him and his family.

2. For all these reasons, and more, I miss the GALLEON BAR in Olhos de Agua  because it's in a great little spot, right by the sea. Nice cappuccinos. ....

3.  THE CLIMATE.... no explanation needed....

 4. PADDLING in the sea....

5. The PALM TREES.... and landscape....

 

 

Algarve addicts unite....

WHAT'S THE ALGARVE'S WINNING FORMULA?

 

Well, how about oodles of laid-back charm. This is February in Ohlos de Agua. It should be easy to see why it was love at first sight.  I escaped a grey and depressing British winter and found myself here, and the holiday for three came in at less than £500 (flights and B&B). Pretty impressive, I'd say...

 

My sons loved it too. I thought it would be too quiet for them. But no. They thought it was great. They were 12 and 15 respectively when they first went to Portugal.

How about that for a beach.... to yourself? Unless you're sun-tanned obsessed go out of season and enjoy long beach walks. Natural springs rise out of the sand in  Olhos de Agua, which means eyes of water.  When the tide is out you can walk for miles. We walked from Ohlos to Vilamoura once but I don't recommend it unless you're bursting with energy!! Or a bit crazy, like me! It took much longer than we anticipated .... I felt like I was wandering through the Sahara!

 

The start of my Portugal love story....

August 25, 2015
Hello to anyone good enough to read this. Either you love Portugal as much as me or you're interested in visiting the country. Either way, I hope my experiences will help you.
 I first went to Portugal many years ago and hated it! I went on a package deal, ended up in crummy accommodation in a chavvy spot,  my mate was mourning another failed relationship and the country really didn't gel with me. All I recalled was the magnificence of the beach.
Fast forward 20 years and I was desperately trying to find a low priced family holiday for me and my two sons. Thanks to TripAdvisor, I hit upon the Velamar Hotel in Olhos de Agua four years ago and I've been back to the same area 10 times since.
That's unreal for me. I love discovering different places and always vowed never to return to the same resort. But something hooked me, captured my heart and soul. I always warn people, if they follow in my footsteps they may fall in  love.... with a country. Oh, and they may also find perfect contentment along with... new Portuguese friends, a passion for Super Bock lager, bags  of sunshine, mind-blowing beaches and a laid-back vibe.
This blog is just for fun and pure pleasure for me. I'll be sharing pictures, anecdotes and recommendations.
 I can write for England but a picture is worth a thousand words so let's start with some early beach shots. Just in case you didn't believe me.  The first and last images shown here were taken in February. Yes, really. The dusk shot of me on the beach was snapped in October.
Top tip and lesson number one, unless you are obsessed with sunbathing, go out of season and get these magnificent beaches to yourself.