Grilling two evenings ago.

A grill with a pan and skewers of meat and vegetables is set up outdoors on a grassy area with chairs in the background.

A large egg has appeared outside of our front door.

A large stone sphere sits on a landscaped area with dark gravel, concrete pathways, and greenery in the background.

Cadaqués, Spain by day and by night.

A collage of two views of Cadaqués, Spain. On the left by day, on the right by night. Both are looking across the bay towards Cadaqués with boats in the bay and the town, backed by a church spreading around the bay and up the hill. Green Mountains surround the town.

Nautical scene, Cadaqués, north eastern Spain.

A metallic “L” shaped object standing upright on the water’s edge. Behind is an ocean bay with an old sail boat anchored off shore

The Bullring in Alcácer do Sal. I believe that there are very few bullfights there, maybe two or three a year. One was due to take place just after we left Alcácer mid-June.

A black and white photograph of a bullring from the public park next door. In the foreground is a lawn and flowers. Then a fence and the circular wall of the bulging with cars parked in front.
Bullring, Alcácer do Sal

I find myself disagreeing with the idea of a bullfight. I don’t know what the majority feeling is in Portugal and specifically in Alcácer, though I have heard that one of the best bullfighters in the country comes from/came from the town? We were told by a friend in Alcácer that the bull is not killed in bullfighting in Portugal, though I don’t know when a fight is deemed to be over?

My wife and I discussed whether we would have attended if we had still been in Alcácer when the fight took place. I went from not at all to only if I could sit on a seat near to an exit should I choose to leave early. I started to feel that if I lived in Alcácer I had to understand the people and the culture better before offering my opinion.

My repulsion towards bullfighting comes from my sense that it is simply cruel to bulls and in this day and age does not have a place. I have a similar feeling towards fox hunting in the UK which is now outlawed. However, while I come from the UK and use to have fox hunts pass where I lived in South Wales and so had some experiential sense of that activity, I hesitate to call it a ‘sport’, I have not seen a bullfight. Could I critique that which I have not seen - yes, no, maybe? I felt better that I see it. That time will have to wait though.

Back in the land of the rainbows. Here is this morning’s. If you look closely, it is possible to make out a faint second one above the first. 🌈

A rainbow against a blue sky and above green hill, in the foreground is a bed of various shrubs and a lawn

The air, the landscape was so still and quiet this morning. You’ll probably have to turn up the volume to hear the bird song in the recording below.

Blue sky and clouds capturing the orange light of a rising sun, above the silhouette of a long bush and tree

Out walking, pounding the streets of Barcelona.

The shadow of two people walking on hard sandy coloured surface. A foot of each person is visible.

Moon rise this evening near to Cadaqués.

A neat full moon rising over a small island with a building on it that include a turret. Small craft boast dot in the calm water. In the foreground is a smooth dirt road with two trees and two chairs at the water’s edge.

Outdoor spaces at Salvador Dali’s house in Portlligat, Spain.

A collage of six outside shots of the outdoor space of Salvador Dali’s house, including a statute of a monk, a swimming pool, a Michelin Man, a pink lips couch, a white building with pitch forks coming out of it, a paved area with trees and steps up to another area.

This morning’s view.

The view out of a window of a dusty road, two benches one with towels drying on it, two young trees, the ocean and a small island just off shore with a house which in part is made up of a turret

The Caixa Forum, Madrid.

A black and white photo showing a couple walking under a low roof made up of shapes, in the sun away from the building people walk around.

When I was younger and my grandfather came to visit he use to give me the empty end of an ice cream cone. I never knew the reason why, and asking my mother she does not know why either? My wife and I were eating at this very good Gelato place in Possanco, Comporta called Gulato, and I was reminded of my grandfather’s gifts as I bit down towards the end of my cone.

By the way, I can’t say enough good things about Gulato. It is a bit off the beaten track but still not far away from everything else in the area. Hunt it down. Lovely staff, the owner trained in making Gelato in Italy. Delicious gelato all made on the property. A beautiful location.

A hand holding the empty end of an ice cream cone. The hand rests on a table on which is a napkin holder potted plant and a pair of glasses. Blurry in the distance can be made out vegetation and a road.

Some friends in Alcácer very kindly arranged a sunset boat ride for us along the Sado River yesterday evening. This was completely unexpected and a lovely gift. The boat was solar powered and so there was no noise of an engine or exhaust fumes. There was just the sound of water lapping against the boat as we sailed forward along the river, of fish jumping, of the wind blowing through the grasses at the river’s edge. This made for a very relaxing trip.

Drinks and snacks were provided for the ride. The boat’s captain, Manual, shared with us the history of the Sado River, once a busy trade route through the Alentejo area of Portugal and further afield. Earlier that day a new Alcácer acquaintance shared the trade that use to take place between Alcácer do Sal and Cornwall, England. Cornwall had tin and this was used for making steel in Portugal. With the history of human settlement in the Alcácer do Sal area going back 40,000 years, the river has been an important trade route for a long time.

Chatting, eating, drinking, watching, listening, laughing.

If you find yourself in Alcácer do Sal, look up Sunrice boat trips. A good host, great company. We had a wonderful evening.

A composite of photos from a sunset boat ride along the Sado River. Including a table of food on the boat, the sun setting, buildings beside the river, grasses beside the river.
Views along the Sado River at sunset.

Heavy skies over the beach at Carvalhal yesterday while we were out walking. That said it was warm when the sun broke through, and some people were I the water. The threatening clouds came to nothing.

Dark stormy looking clouds over a large expanse of beach with the Atlantic Ocean reflecting the dark colour.

Pine trees to distant rice fields.

Looking through a thin group of Pine trees, yellow scrub beneath, to distant light green rice fields. A small White House is on the right.

Shall I, shan’t I? …. I did.

I walked past this gentleman a handful of times as l was running errands in Lisbon. He appeared totally engrossed in reading his newspaper. Something I rarely see these days. Phones yes, I’m on mine now, newspapers no.

As unobtrusively as possible, I took the shot.

A man sits on a small wall reading his newspaper. He is wearing a red t-shirt which covers a bulging belly. He wears glasses,has a mustache, blue denim shorts and sandals. Beside him is a fruit stand.

These two donkeys lived in the hotel grounds that we stayed in while down in the Algarve over the weekend. They were not always in their corral, but sometimes were wandering the grounds. On our return one afternoon, the older one greeted us with some loud braying as we got out of the car and walked towards him.

Two donkeys stick their heads through a corral that they are housed in

Fresh fruit. Young grapes on the vine growing above us, and providing shade from the sun.

Fresh grapes growing on the vine, the vine acting as a shade above from the sun

Ciao!

A green neon sign spelling out CIAO hanging on a white wall. Below is a simple chair with a green back and green seat.