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!

Sneak preview of new bedrooms at top Algarve hotel

 

 

The Falesia Hotel in Acoteias, Portugal, is one of my favourite hotels ever.  Here's why...

1. The staff are SO nice. Previous blog posts mention Armen the barman, a great character at the hotel, but there are many others who are equally kind and welcoming. In my opinion, the staff deliver five-star service in every way. Last time we were there, Carlos,  the manager, made such a fuss of us we were gobsmacked.  My partner told him: 'You make me feel like the king of Portugal.'  He replied: 'You are the king of Portugal.' If a hotel makes you feel like royalty, it's got to be good. Meet Ilidio, below, one of many great staff...

2. The gardens are beautiful. It's like stepping into the Garden of Eden. A water feature with pools, waterfalls and bridges meanders down, filled with fish. There is bags of shade and space under exotic trees. Birds fly, dragonflies hover, fish glide and very shy frogs make themselves heard, though you rarely see one. On a sunny day, it is quite simply heaven on earth.

 

 3. The hotel is having a huge revamp this winter so will be even better. All bedrooms are being modernised and the WiFi (free, by the way) will be updated. We liked the old rooms, though admit the bathrooms were tired. A handful of rooms were modernised in advance to allow customers to choose their favourite. The new rooms have superb bathrooms, better lighting and more power points. Here is a sneak preview followed by a picture of an old room with a tradional Portuguese feel.

 

4. Facilities are good. Believe it or not, the sun does not always shine in Portugal so it is good to have an indoor pool, a spa where you can book a massage, TV and reading lounge.

 

5. The food choice is huge, though you do feel fit to burst after two or three days! There is low calorie and gluten-free options if you're more disciplined than me!

DRAWBACKS: I have to mention a few things that may put some people off this hotel. Firstly, it is adults only (sorry folks with kids). You have to be 16 or over. I just qualify!
That means it is very peaceful but the clientele is generally older. If you're ageist or think you're 18-30 material, it's not for you. The hotel is only around 20 minutes by taxi from FARO Airport but it is a little tucked  away.
There are bars nearby, places to eat and a couple of supermarkets but some people find it too quiet. It takes about 25 minutes to walk to the nearest village, Olhos, and about 15-20 minutes to reach the beach. However, there is a free bus to the beach.
Finally, it's a Thomson Gold hotel which means, from May to October, it has an entertainment programme. We avoid it as it dominates the main show bar and it's not our bag. But you may like that sort of thing. Finally, if you do fancy trying this hotel be careful to book the right one. Falesia is the name of the nearby beach and lots of hotels and apartments have it in their name. Shop around for the best deals and find out more about the hotel at www.falesia.com.

 

 

The world's first cat selfie? Meet Cat Kardashian...

Cat selfies are all the rage in Portugal. I blame the Kardashians. Here is Cat Kardashian, a Portuguese cat who just loves pouting for the camera.

 

 

This feisty little tiger came running up to me in the street and just couldn't keep her paws off my Samsung.... here are the results....

 

 

But, the fact is, like all cats, all she actually wanted was a bit of fuss...

And while on the subject of cats, mystery still surrounds the disappearance of famous feral street cat Mr No Ears who vanished from Albufeira.... Mr No Ears has more than 23,000 followers on Facebook campaigning for his return. They fear he has been kidnapped by people trying to obtain money for vet fees. It's all rather depressing if true. For the full story, visit Mr No Ears' Facebook page. Incidentally, cats often lose their ears in hot countries like Portugal because the delicate skin of the ear cannot contend with the strong sunlight. Here is the majestic Mr No Ears...