Portugal and Spain - November 2007

PORTUGAL Vilamoura is a westward development of Quartiera, the Hotel Vilamoura Beach is situated between the two, backing onto the beach. The Vilamoura marina, which is surrounded by hotels, shops and restaurants, was about ten minutes stroll from the Vilamoura Beach Hotel.

The small town of Quartiera, which has a wide, flat promenade and fine beach, is situated about twenty minutes walk in the other direction. A short distance from the hotel, a bus is also available to Quartiera.

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On a tour of the Eastern Algarve a brief stop for refreshment was made at Olhao. Olhao, a fishing town to the east of Faro, has a large covered fruit, flower and vegetable market, together with substantial fish section.

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Then, over the Guadiana river bridge for a brief visit to Ayamonte, in Spain .....

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On the way back a stop was made for lunch, at Vila Real ( Portugal), a town built on the same lines as rebuilt Lisbon ( after the earthquake ).

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then on to Tavira ( LINK ) before returning to the Hotel Vilamoura.

At Silves, the once regional  capital, a visit was made to a local museum, to see a video and demonstration of how corks were originally made by hand. The region, known for the cork oak trees, used to make and supply most of the Portuguese corks. The industry is now mechanised and located further north in Portugal.

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The day trip continued to Monchique, the highest point in the region, from where one could see the coast towards Lagos and Portimao. Then on to the small village of Monchique, tucked in a valley, complete with an outside bread oven in the village square.

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One Saturday saw a visit to Loulé market ......

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before going on to the pretty hill village of Alte.

.......... Alte ..... visited on the village tour to see some of the inland living.

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Opinion - for SAGA travellers: Well placed hotel for walking out, day and night. Fair hotel entertainment, excellent swimming pools inside and out. Saga facilities very good. Food plenty - good, some excellent.. ( free bar a bit limited ). Joe ( Saga rep. who is shortly moving on to Spain - Port Denia ) was very good, also entertained singing. There is free broadband internet access on a hotel computer - or take your laptop ( wi fi )

SPAIN

Punta Umbria, near Huelva the regional capital, is a fast developing tourist region. It also caters for many city dweller Spanish, Portuguese and others, who have second homes in the area. The town lies between the estuary of the Tinto and Odiel rivers, and the sea coast. Originally it was also a recuperation area for workers at the Rio Tinto mines, not far away. There is evidence that the whole region was settled pre Roman times - but the earthquake in the 18th century destroyed much of this very flat region.

The Hotel Barcelo Punta Umbria is about twenty minutes walk ( or courtesy bus ) from town - about ten minutes from a large supermarket.

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The Hotel Barcelo stands right on the beach which stretches for five miles or more, with sand dunes behind. The area is also a nature park, popular with bird watchers. Walking the other way along the beach leads to Punta Umbria town. Barcelo is also developing other hotels and facilities nearby.

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Punta Umbria town - and dog walking / shopping, local style.

Looking up the wide estruary of the Odiel and Tinto rivers, which forms one boundary of Punta Umbria town.

One excursion went to Bullullos, to see a local bodega and wine production. Wine vinegar was also produced at the same establishment.

Then on to the Andalusian style town of Moguer. The wide dark doorways revealed very ornamental, shady interiors - for the hottest summer days.

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The Convent of St Clara ( Maria ) in Moguer, is is one of the more famous historical sites of the area, the convent being built on a Moorish mosque - with much of the architectural style being preserved - and from where the discovery of America was announced, and Columbus gave prayers of thanks.

A further excursion was to trace the Columbus connection at the Monastery of Santa Maria de La Rabida, near Huelva. The lower walls of the original monastery remained after the great 18th century earthquake and has been restored, the rest has been rebuilt, mostly in keeping with the old style.

An escorted tour of the monastery allowed viewing of many paintings and relics, and other exhibits. It also provided various interesting facts and theories about Columbus himself. It was from here that Columbus organised and financed his 'Discovery of America'  voyage, also using the good offices and connections of the monastery to royalty and the rich 'nuns' of the Convent of St Clara, at Moguer.

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Replicas of the Santa Maria and two other caravelles used by Columbus, were at a nearby exhibition, which also had a display of typical living at the time.

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........... The Santa Maria ( replica ) ................ ...... Typical bread oven of the time

Opinion - for SAGA travellers: Impressive hotel building, plenty of walking on beach and to town ( Courtesy bus runs in morning only ). Good  hotel entertainment, day and night ( it needs to be ) - at present no nearby walkable night entertainment. Saga facilities basic. Food - plenty, reasonable - free bar good. Expensive internet access - go to Punta  Umbria public library, for free wi fi access if you take your wi fi enabled laptop ( ask for key code ). Wi fi signal still available when closed.

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