If you don’t know about the Algarve… let me introduce you!
The Algarve is the southernmost region of Portugal, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. It is Portugal's most popular holiday destination due to the approximately 200 km (125 miles) of clean beaches, the cool, unpolluted water, and the fact that it is relatively cheap, very safe, and overall welcoming.
After being in Scotland and the UK for a month (it’s snowing there now)…we are finally able to take our coats off in the Algarve! With an estimated 300 days of sunshine each year...it speaks to my solar powered soul! Don't get me wrong...I loved our time in the UK, with all it's history, beauty, greenery (from all the rain) and my family....and it is close enough to pop back and forth from the Algarve.
Our first week here was spent in the town of Tavira...woth it's winding cobblestone streets, hilltop castle, restaurants and cafe's where you can sit and watch the world go by. So many of the town’s residents gather in the main square, chatting, children playing and dogs happily sitting or walking by their owners side (off leash).
That's where we met a little dog, Lucas (on the left), that looked exactly like our Joey (on the right)…both supposedly mutt's, though from the looks of it, long lost cousins! We said our final goodbye to Joey almost exactly a year ago! What a wonderful memory as Lucas even had her same mannerisms! Pretty fun and memorable last day in Tavira.
Tavira is also where I was able to spread out and unpack the few art supplies I brought with me...a small handmade watercolor paper journal, a few pages of water color samples, and a glue stick. The rest of my art elements were collected along the way...throw away newsprint magazines, travel brochures, receipts... whatever I’ve collected on the trip.
I must say I did find it challenging at first...but once I got in the groove, things came together more intuitively and I was really having fun with it. I did mention last week that Ukrainian artist Kazimir Malevich had inspired me...and here are some of the results from that inspiration. A few of these might just make it onto larger canvases or clay work when I'm home and back in the studio.
While I’m mentioning art and papers…you may also remember I had set up a few YouTube posts before I left on this trip. If you like gelli papers and assemblage art, you might want to hit the button below and take a look at what I have goin’ on over on my channel.
This week we’ve moved west from Tavira to Faro, the capitol of The Algarve. Today it’s off to see Capela dis Ossos…also known as The Church of Our Lady of Mount…also know as “Bone Chapel”!
The chapel includes the bones and skulls of 1000 monks…apparently done in a most respectful way. I’ll let you know how that goes in my post next week.
Until then…
have a wonderful Thanksgiving day, week, life!
Be thankful everyday!
Any Portuguese town looks like bride’s finery ...
something old, something new, something borrowed,
and something blue
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