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Algarve, Portugal March 2025
ALGARVE WEST – CARVOEIRO
We are spending a week in the Algarve and choose the lovely small town of Caveiro as our home base, located to the east of Faro. We opt to rent a car from Lisbon and drive down. Very easy drive on main highway. I found this small apartment on Airbnb that has a beautiful rooftop terrace facing west and overlooking the small beach.
On our first day, with the weather on our side, we book a boat tour of the coats right on the beach. We explore the coast from the water between Carvoeiro and Miranda – a must: caves, caves and more caves.
The Seven hanging Valley trail – 11km hike up and down cliffs and along the coast – tested Chuck’s fear of heights. Spectacular cliffs, so many stairs and dirt trails. From Miranda to Celiantes and back.
Silves: With the high winds and rain on and off, we decided to drive 20 minutes north to the city of Silves to visit the moorish castle ruins. It is a lovely town to stroll through with many narrow cobblestone street and cafe. First we visited the museum of archeology which did a great job at demonstrating the evolution of the area and reproducing some of the architecture from fragments they found.
Next we walked to the castle. The structure was very impressive and we could still walk along the higher palissades. Too high and narrow for Chuck’s liking 🙂
There was great views of the surrounding area.
We also visited the chapel which we built over a mosque. It was particular in the fact that there were very little gold adornments, which is unusual compared to all the churches we visited in Europe. The ceiling was very high but made of wood. The “chemin de la croix” was special in that each station was made of a ceramic display. Very lovely.
We had a lemonade at the Cafe Rosa at the main square, opposite a cute fountain and a building with rose tiles covering the walls.
The next day we finally hike the Carvoeiro boardwalk which is right out of our front door – more cliffs and beautiful rock formations.
Another day, another hike! We hiked the Ponte De deidade boardwalk in Lagos : spectacular views, cliffs and rock formations. Another 6.5km.
We experience many very windy days during our stay which precluded us using that beautiful terrace but we still enjoyed the weather.
Grand Beach Finale: Praia Felasia – absolutely spectacular! The combination of cliffs/beach/sea is really special. The cliffs are unlike the other ones we have seen, like sculptures. We can hike the top and down the long stairs and up at the other end. Just wow!!
I go on my own exploring the city which is very hilly.
Carvoeiro beach, view from our terrace and the wind!!
Final day, we drive back to Lisbon to spend a day there. It is one of my favorite city, beautiful city to stroll up and down staircases in the street and listening to outdoor singers.
A lovely lunch at Taberna which is reknowned for local food. No reservation and no coming inside until they have a table for you.
Madeira, Portugal March 2025
MADEIRA 2025 – short recap
We finally arrive in Madeira after many years having it on our bucket list. We decided to make Funchal our home base and book an apartment on the main street close to the water on airbnb and booked day trips with local organisations. Our first one was to the west and south west of the island with Nature connections which was a jeep tour with maximum of 4 people. That works well for us.
Our guide is great, local and very knowledgeable. We discover that this island was discovered and colonized by Portuguese. There were no people living here before.
We were very happy that we were not driving ourselves!
Cabo de Giroa – Camara de Lobo glass viewpoint. We had the bad luck to arrive at the same time as the buses from the cruises. The guide tells us that it is really becoming a problem here as they invade for a few hours but do not really spend here or contribute to the economy. Because we are on a small tour, we have the luxury to wait until they leave and then I convinced Chuck to walk on the glass floor. He is becoming very brave. The view is beautiful!
We then make our way through the forest basically on dirt road. It is very crazy!
to Seixal and the natural Pool and black sand beach – reminiscing of Maui’s black beach but much softer sand.
Off road in the forest with Ricardo and his antique 4×4 popemobile – the eucalyptus trees that are taking over the forest. Huge trees!
We also drive on small roads with a big cliff on one side and through waterfall!
We finally reach the magical and mystical Fanal forest where star wars was filmed. The fog is very dense and the trees really magical.
Porto Moniz and its natural pools – beautiful intricate rocks formation.
Ponta del sol: “coup de cœur” – beautiful small town with and arch bridge and a gorgeous beach and view to the sea.
His comments about how the cruises are negative to to the island were interesting. Massive boats come and takes over the island and do not contribute to the economy. They don’t eat or stay or spend anything other than on trinkets.
FUNCHAL
We enjoyed a nice dinner and Chuck chose those popular meet on stand up skewers.
The next day, we take the cable car up to the midway.
We visit the tropical garden with the history of important people told with tiles and walk by the Charles Murray’s fountain!
Then down the street in the wicker basket which recreates how people used to bring produces and materials up and down those big hills.
Walked 10km up and down hills in the town from Monde to the Lido promenade and treat ourselves to a nice lunch at The Ritz outdoor terrace.
We do a lot of walking in Funchal to discover the city and also visit the famous market where farmers and fishmonger sell their wares.
Norway – Oslo
Back last winter 2023, when Dominique was visiting us, we chatted about turning 60 next year.
Somehow the subject came to how we both wanted to visit Norway and Scandinavia and I floated the idea of going together with my husband Chuck, Dominique having just recently lost her wonderful husband Alain.
A few weeks later, we were still messaging about it and the idea took root.
Here we are now, landing in Oslo for a 3 weeks tour of Norway – all 3 of us very excited!
On our first leg, we were spending two nights in Oslo so only had one full day and made the best of it.
We did a self guided city walking tour and walked by several beautiful buildings.
We walked the Norsk Folkemuseum, where we observed multiple reproductions of houses and buildings hundreds of years old. We learned they were all made of pine and were untreated, yet survived beautifully the years.
We visited an amazing exposition of the Polar Ship at the Fram museum. We were able to descend deep into the hull to really understand how the men on ship lived.
Arctic expeditions and exploration is a topic very dear to Chuck so this was a real treat.
We all decided to walk up the beautiful opera house. What a spectacular building!
The Nobel museum was really impactful. It focused mainly on the Peace prize recipients and we were able to read about the many amazing change makers over the years.
The display of the medal as well as the stand/picture/description of each winner was very eye opening.
There was a large display on the art of listening to each other that particularly resonated with me. Something I’m working on.
We also learned that the artist who designed the Nobel medal is the same who built the amazing sculpture on Human Relations in a local park – Gustav Vigeland.
So many amazing depiction of human interactions!
We walked up to the Royal Palace
Tomorrow we embark on our train journey across the land and to Fråm and beautiful fjords!
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