So what do you do when you had enough of relaxing by the pool? Try to discover the surroundings. We didn’t really do anything touristy, didn’t even come up with a “must do, must see” list during my morning cappuccino. I handed over control to the boys. If they wanted to stay by the pool, then be it. But we still managed to walk around a bit, trying to get a feel for Algarve. Only took us a few minutes by car and we were walking on the streets, checking out the small street restaurants, coffee shops. Had ice cream, only one scoop but it was huge . Honestly every 3rd or 4th shop was an ice cream parlour or a place that sold ice cream. The sun was setting, so the view was gorgeous, the beach was still quite full of people. After walking around aimlessly for about an hour or two we headed back.

On our last day we visited Albufeira. Within 5 minutes of getting out of our taxi A. “rescued” a scared sales girl from a gigantic cockroach . She was too afraid to catch it, so he offered his services. What a gentleman! Needless to say, that we did not buy anything from her.

Walked down to the beach, than up on an escalator (very weird) to admire the view. It was fantastic, but hot. Very hot.

To tell the truth I didn’t really like Albufeira, wasn’t green, was just full of tourists.But it is only my opinion. If I don’t like a place, then no need to waste time on being there, time to move on.

“Luckily” my son realised that we are leaving the following day and he hasn’t been to the Aqua world. After some negotiations with his Dad, we went back to the hotel to change and off we went to Slide and Splash. Paradise for him. Not for me. I don’t like these places. But the things you do for your kids. He absolutely enjoyed it, though standing in line for 45 minutes to use one of the slides -I think it was the corkscrew – is way too much.

Quick dash to the pool back in the hotel, fooling around in the water till our lunch was ready. Don’t like to go anywhere when it is so hot. Back to laziness.

Must return to Algarve in late February (early spring there) to see the “snowy fields”, covered by the blossoms of the thousands of almond trees. And the story goes….

There was a King, whose beautiful Nordic Princess was crying a lot because she was missing the snow she was so used to see. He tried everything, till finally he came up with the idea of planting thousands of almond trees. When the blossoms fell to the ground coating the earth like snow, the Princess became happy again.

Such beautiful story.

Kept thinking about it while I went for my last walk on the beach and on top of the cliffs. The sun was setting, and I brushed my hand against the wild thyme that was almost done flowering. Later, as I went through the gate and entered the hotel’s garden the scent of honeysuckle enveloped me.

Thyme and honeysuckle, that is Algarve for me.