This evening we attended a big New Years Eve dinner at Aquarelle sponsored by Marite. There was a long table of her client friends with a five-course dinner and dancing after midnight. Very nice as usual.

We had breakfast and then drove to the Post Office in Almancil to pick up a registered letter for Marie before stopping for a light bulb at a lighting store. Then we visited Apolonia for more supplies. Since most of the restaurants are closed on Monday, we lunched at O Ribeiro. This place caters to workers as the daily special is a three-course meal including wine for 10€. I had a pepper steak and Marie had tiny clams with pork off the ala carte menu. Marie...

Drove to church this morning followed by lunch at Julia's. This time I had a serving of skate but it was different from the "skate wings" called Abalone Amandine at SYC. A beautiful view of the sea and a totally clear blue sky. We then went to a pharmacy in Quarteira and, returning home, drove again along the promenade. Today it was crowded with cars and people out for the warm sun.

This morning we decided to go for a walk. So we drove to Quarteira, parked and walked along the paved beachfront promenade. It was mild and sunny with a modest breeze. Some of the sidewalk cafés were open and we stopped at one for a coffee. On returning home we took lunch at Casavostra, the pizza place we went to last week. Very nice thin crust cheese pizza was delicious. Marie prepared a very nice dinner of veal medallions with a broccoli and cauliflower au g...

This morning we started out heading for the westernmost point of Europe and drove west through Lagos to Sagres. Then out across treeless land with only low shrubs to Cabo Saint Vincent and its dramatic lighthouse on the high steep cliffs. There were quite a few surfers there who found their way down the cliffs to the occasional sandy beach. On our return we stopped at Praia Da Rocha. This is very popular place for tourists with a very nice paved promenade along ...