Close season holiday reports..?

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Just to keep the rest of us poverty stricken ones informed, how's about a "Holiday Report!" from wherever...?

Old Colner can kick us off with a report from the Algarve?

[Altobelli]

Always wanted to go to Portugal but not got there yet, the Daughter in law has gone their for the last 2 years in a beautiful apartment, but this year the price has doubled so she's not going, folk are saying that people are flocking there as there (as yet) have not been any Terrorist action and they are cashing in big time which unfortunately will stop families returning and in the long run they will have killed their golden goose.

Had my main holiday in South Africa in February, taking 3 weeks in September on my regular jaunt to Turkey at my friends lavish Villa, not forgetting the weekend at Barry Island in August

[Balanbam00]

Holidays , there you go

https://www.israel21c.org/69-fabulou...e-love-israel/

and

https://youtu.be/pO5o454q7eY (Top 28 The most beautiful Israeli women )

[oldcolner]

Just to keep the rest of us poverty stricken ones informed, how's about a "Holiday Report!" from wherever...?

Old Colner can kick us off with a report from the Algarve?

We are actually going to the Spanish side of Faro rather than the Algarve as it's very Portuguese, it's not very touristy apart from Portuguese who come for holidays, but has some great 5 star apartments with swimming pools on the roof with sea views and cheap boats to local islands with deserted beaches, great local markets to buy your meals and lots of cheap good quality restaurants too.
The Ria Formosa near Faro is a National Park with lots of wildlife and usually has flocks of flamingos, lots of storks, waders, hoopoes.
Apart from more than 200 species of birds that visit the park regularly, there are over 300 species of molluscs, 11 amphibians and 15 reptiles, including the endangered and extremely localised Chameleon. (Not seen them yet!)

Having said all that the promised sunshine and 27degrees looks to have changed to cloud in today's forecasts.

[Balanbam00]

Chameleon's, there you go .

[oldcolner]

Thanks Balam

Not seen any yet, but then don't they change colour to blend into their surroundings?

Don't know if any of you are holidaying using Ryanair, but if so and you want a car, they have twice come up trumps for me at Faro. Last year I got a convertible golf brand new for £10 a day and this year a brand new Renault Captur for the same price. (Includes two drivers)

[sinkov]

We've been to Tavira twice OC, we really like it there. First time was about 15 years ago, then we went back last year. It's changed a bit over the years, more touristy, the old fish market has gone, modern shops and restaurants in the market hall now. Still like it better than the west side of Faro though, much quieter. The Nature Reserve just outside Olhao is well worth a visit if you haven't been before, it's a bugger to find though and we never saw any signs for it.

Have a good holiday.

[alfinyalcabo]

Obrigado

[oldcolner]

We've been to Tavira twice OC, we really like it there. First time was about 15 years ago, then we went back last year. It's changed a bit over the years, more touristy, the old fish market has gone, modern shops and restaurants in the market hall now. Still like it better than the west side of Faro though, much quieter. The Nature Reserve just outside Olhao is well worth a visit if you haven't been before, it's a bugger to find though and we never saw any signs for it.

Have a good holiday.

Obrigado Alf

Sinkov
We are actually in Olhao and have been to Tavira a few times The Rio Formosa Park covers around 20 km South of the coastline from Tavira to the East of Faro so you see some of it when you land at the airport. Islands run parallel to coast for this distance creating a lagoon. At low tide it's mud flats and islands like Armona Farol Culatra and Deserta which have great beaches you can take a boat trip Olhao is still a fishing and market town and Tavira is a bit more touristy. The salt flats here often have a flock of hundred flamingos in them though they keep well away from us.

Here's some more about it if you fancy coming back. It's our fourth time here.

The Ria Formosa Natural Park is one of the most amazing places of the Algarve, not only for its variety of landscapes but also because of its unique location. Recently elected as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal, this is one of three protected areas not to be missed during your holidays in the Algarve. This is a unique coastal lagoon which is constantly changing due to the continuous movement of winds, currents and tides.

Classified as a Natural Park in 1987, the Ria Formosa encompasses an area of about 18 000 hectares, and is protected from the sea by 5 barrier-islands and 2 peninsulas: the Peninsula of Ancão that the locals call island of Faro, the Barreta Island also known as Ilha Deserta, the Culatra Island (where the lighthouse of Santa Maria is located), the Island of Armona, the Island of Tavira, Cabanas Island and, finally, the Peninsula of Cacela. This awesome area extends along the leeward coast of the Algarve through the municipalities of Loulé, Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António.

Due to these natural features and its geographical location it was included in the list of wetlands of world-wide interest defined by the Ramsar Convention. In this protected area you may witness many different habitas such as barrier-islands, marshes, tidal flats, islets, dunes, saltpans, fresh water lagoons, agricultural areas and woodlands which hold a an impressive diversity of flora and fauna.

A paradise for birdwatchers, the Ria Formosa is considered an important bird area (IBA) and is part of the Natura 2000 Network. This is one of the most important areas for aquatic birds in Portugal, hosting on a regular basis more than 20,000 birds during the wintering period. The area is also very important as stop-over point in the migration routes between Europe and Africa and it provides shelter for rare species in Portugal such as the Purple Swamphen, the symbol of this Natural Park and for other emblematic species like the colorful flamingos.

On this Nature Park we can find other endangered species such as the chameleon - a reptile that only exists in the south of Portugal and the seahorse, where we have one of the largest populations of seahorses in the world.

The Ria Formosa is also known for the Portuguese Water Dog, a breed native from the Algarve and almost threatened with extinction some decades ago.

[outwoodclaret]

Just arrived New York and staying not far from the NY Mets stadium. Hoping to explore into Manhattan tomorrow and then meet up next week with family for my aunt's 100th birthday party. She left our shores by ship from Liverpool in 1929 and has been back once to England in 1966. Am going to see if I can get her a belated birthday telegram from the Queen.