January 2008 - moving on very soon!

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Travel blog 11
A very Happy New Year to all the followers of the Blog.... all our family and friends. We miss you all. Our thoughts
are with those who are struggling with their health, Winnie, Allan, May and Dave and Barbara's son, Paul.
We think of you all and support you in our prayers.

Not going to bore everyone with daily life here at Armacao but just to report briefly on December.
Enjoyed lovely few days with Alexia and Stuart who joined us early in the month and played Santa
by bringing us lots of lovely goodies for the festive season. It was a very different Christmas and
despite missing our family more than we can say, we had a nice time here. The carol service, Christmas
Eve, was an emotional time. Christmas Day was lovely. Spent day visiting people on site and then back to
motorhome for champagne and nibbles. Then wondered down to town for our lunch at a restaurant with Patricia
and Ian, a lovely couple, originally from Bristol. Enjoyed grilled prawns, followed by sole and salmon parcels served
with carrots, potatoes and broccoli, then the turkey with roast potatoes, onions and red cabbage (altho we took
our own stuffing, chipolata sausages) then we had crepes with chocolate sauce and cream, coffee, brandy and mints.
All for 32 euros, about £23 and included the wine! Father Christmas, alias Alexia and Stuart bought us a video camera,
so we are now armed (and dangerous) and ready for filming our travels. We were quite overwhelmed when we opened gift and thank them sincerely.
New Years Eve we also ate out with Dutch friends, Koos and Geesje. Actually, meal was awful, but evening good. We ended up
at midnight on sea front with champagne and sparklers and watched fireworks all along the Algarve.Many friends were there
and there was a good atmosphere as we mixed with locals too. Wandered back to site, stopping
at Dutch bar, where there were unusual Dutch delicacies to eat, ending up on camp site, singing and dancing until
2.30 am when soup was served. Bit of a raucous time was had by all with the Brits doing the Gay Gordons up the
path at 3 in the morning. Our European friends were slightly bemused, but joined in the fun.

Since then have had a good time. Shared the hire of a car with Geoff, next door for ten days, so got out and about.Andy and
Geoff went to Alcoutim, which overlooks the river Guadiana towards Spain. Did two organised walks over Christmas. One on boxing day which
was 3 hour walk in the mountains and 2nd on New Years Eve, a 2 hour walk along river bed. Weather hot that day and it was really enjoyable.
Been down to the lagoon which has now filled with water as we have had a few days when it has rained all day. Saw Friday, 14th. Delighted to see the famous
purple gallinule, an amazingly coloured relative of the moorhen, with a red head, red eyes and red legs and an illuminescent purple/green/blue body. Amazing.
Also saw black winged stilts, red crested pochards, golden plover, kentish plover and the lovely pink flamingos. I could have stayed all day.

Plan for 5th January was the Dakar rally whose first stop was in Portimao. Had planned days around that and organised hire of car. Were totally
shocked and so disappointed that it was cancelled! How did the participants feel; obviously much worse than us and a lot poorer!
However, ready to move on. Will be sad to say goodbye to the many nice people we have met over last few months, but new sights and scenes
are calling us and we are keen for Tuesday, 8th.

Weather is mixed now. We have had a few days of solid rain and one with strong winds, causing damage in the area. Currently two cloudy days
in a row, although temperature still about 18 C. Strange that days are pulling out already and it is now still light by 6, although temperature drops
by 4pm. Today, 6th birds singing early in the morning and at dusk, making it feel very spring like. Easter lilies already out and trees and flowers budding and
some flowering already. Lovely!

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Photos

Christmas at the Clipper
Christmas Day lunch with Ian and Patricia

Armacao Beach
Winter in the Algarve

Bridge to the Lagoon
Singing in the rain

Lagoon at Armacao
Troll hunting in the Lagoon!