Tom's Place – a sort of blog by a British resident of Albufeira
Photos and words mainly on Albufeira and the Algarve, and more.
A nice sunny day, 23º. Just a few pictures taken while out on a walk.
Oceanville – work continues in the three blocks being rebuilt. Mostly inside now, but some outside painting also.
Behind the great wall, some more million euro properties are under construction. The little park is still locked, but it is being maintained. It is a big mystery why it has been kept shut for years now. Elsewhere, there is an air of general desolation and many weeds. The fortnightly market is held here, but that’s the only real activity.
A cold evening, these pictures were taken at about 1900hrs. Sun loungers are now appearing. A little optimistic perhaps, given the weather forecast? It is supposed to be getting warmer soon.
Various felines spotted over the past few days. I have some more somewhere.
Spring is sprung, with flowers and bushes bursting out into colour. I don’t like plants as such because they give me hay fever, which has been pretty bad this past few days. But the colours are nice if I can ignore the itchy eyes!
I have been very busy this week, but I thought it would still be nice to publish some pictures taken down at the beach on Sunday 14th April. It was very hot that afternoon, 27ºC.
Diverting away from pictures of wet and windy England, I was involved in a house clearance with friends while there. Among many books retrieved was a small book published in December 1974 which has some pictures of the Algarve from 50 years ago (yes, it is that long ago!) in which regular visitors especially will be interested. Firstly, credit where credit is due to the publisher Luis de Almeida D’Eça of Loures. Loures is the north of Lisbon.
First, Albufeira and the Sol e Mar Hotel. Not much has changed except that the beach is much wider. the cliffs have been coated and stabilised and the Nivea balloon blew away many years ago to be replaced by a restaurant!
The village of Alte, a popular destination for coach parties on sightseeing trips, then and now.
The Hotel da Balaia, now Club Med Balaia. The area behind is now the Balaia Golf Resort.
Penina Golf. The area behind the building as far as the straight road is now part of the complex, with a football pitch and second golf course.
This is the area known as Praia dos Tres Castelos.
The building on the right with the balconies is the Dom João II Hotel. There are a lot more buildings around it now.
This has changed at lot! The complex at the bottom with the square and round pools is the Hotel Apartmento do Golfe.
And something you don’t see now.
The saga continues. Work is busily under way on several of the apartment blocks. These pictures were taken on Saturday afternoon 23rd March. Most of the jungle has now been cleared away. Painters were working on the exteriors. No-one is quite sure what the idea is behind all this. The other half of the apartment blocks plus the hotel are not being touched.
Don’t wish to confuse you! Another nice sunny day, 23º. It’s a long time since I have been to Lagos, so bus and train ride was the order of the day. Buses to and from Albufeira station included in my monthly pass. Senior citizen’s rate on the train Albufeira to Lagos and back €5,20. Everything was on time, a very efficient journey.
Lagos is known for its riverside setting. The marina is a busy area. Click or tap a picture to see it in a larger size.
Lagos has its fair share of well preserved buildings, including the little fort at the mouth of the river and the town walls. Bits of the town wall stick out everywhere, with more modern buildings often incorporating the old works.
I chanced across this old aerial picture in display, taken long before the Esplanada was built in the 1960’s. You can see that the river was much wider and came right up to the buildings now 50 to 100 metres back.
Another good picture, taken by the looks of it not long after completion and before the marina was built.
There is a fascinating archive of old pictures and postcards of Lagos, Praia da Luz and Sagres at https://xrx.pt/foto-arquivo/ which includes this superb aerial view, dated 1947. You might not recognise the places you know.
Then there are the tourist parts!
Unfortunately, this type of urban blight is all too common in the Algarve. Lazy builders dump their rubble anywhere rather than bother taking it to an official tip.
Across the bay, a distant view of Alvor and Torralta, about 7km or about 4 and half miles.
The trains and Lagos railway station were busy. Backpacking types descending, long queues in the ticket office trying to buy tickets for the next train – and I thought everything had to be done via apps these days!
Along the tracks are the masts already installed, to support the overhead power lines. Work is supposed to be complete in September, but I cannot see that happening!
Nice sunny day at last! On the way to the Arte Bar quiz mid afternoon.
The to this! Not the best bit of pouring I have ever done!
And as the sun was going down later. Still plenty of people on the sand.
Tom's Place - a sort of blog by a British resident of Albufeira 