Greetings from the Algarve

 That's the sunset from my patio overlooking the ocean.  (It's the Atlantic, not the Mediterranean. Although I'm on the Southern coast of Portugal, it's Atlantic until you get to Gibraltar.). My travel to get here took a full 24 hours during which I took 3 flights, had 2 layovers that were long enough to change planes and get a lobster roll in Boston airport, but not so long that I didn't worry about having to change terminals and re-clear security in Boston and change terminals in Dublin.  If you think you don't get a lot of walking in on a day when you fly, just add a few terminal changes and leave your weighted vest at home since you've got that nice heavy carryon to lug around.  Faro Airport is smaller and a lot less busy than Lisbon, but they still manage to get several laps-worth of walking to get through passport control and then over to rental car pickup.  Anyway, when I arrived and picked up my rental car, I was glad that I could stay awake long enough to get to my apartment and collapse.  (This was in contrast to last time when I had a direct-to-Lisbon flight but then had to drive 2 1/2 hours while dead tired.  Hmmm)  

People hiking the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail, which goes past my patio, were out in sleeveless tops and shorts.  No small contrast to the cold driving rain I left behind at home!

The view is spectacular at midday, too!

I was last in this apartment 3 years ago, and the furniture has been updated, so there's going to be a new series of "sun-sails" photos.  The photos from 3 years ago, looking at the sunset as it lit up the apartment wall  in the shape of sailboat sails (it was the curtain opening) between 5:00 pm and 5:40, are hung at home and bring me great joy.  Being here and having a new configuration of furniture and light is fun!   I felt last time that photos said it all, but this year I'm looking at this wondering if paint is going to make an appearance.  The shape of the light and the shape of the decorative basket are pretty interesting to me.

All I have on the agenda tomorrow is getting over jet lag and going to lunch at O Pescador in Benagil.  I had an unforgettable lunch there 3 years ago and that's all the ambition I've got for now.