Page 6 - Demo

Monday 18th September - TaviraHot and sunny. After a big breakfast in the hotel, we walked into the old town across the river through many white buildings in need of some repair. Tavira is one of the last coastal towns of the Algarve untouched by rampant tourism, so it was a sleepy little place. Even so, you could see the European Union money being put to good use. Everywhere there was restoration, construction, and repaving of all the cobblestone roads. Thankfully it was all tastefully done. Watched all the old men of the village sitting in the sun, drinking coffee, etc. Visited all the shops in the main streets, and walked along the river. In the afternoon after Louise and Teia had had a midday snooze, we all sat around the pool. Had a small lunch - too hot for much - and lots of cold drinks. Swam and rested until dinner time. Walked back into town to a restaurant on the water we had checked out earlier. Steve had Algarve style mussels and a fish and shellfish stew. Louise had a Portuguese steak that Gail had recommended. All local dishes washed down with local wine. The waiter got the bill wrong - we got someone else%u2019s - so we got some complimentary liqueurs as a nice nightcap. Ambled back to the hotel noting the big tide change in the river - all the boats now high and dry on sand beds, and the locals out crabbing (we think).