DAY TRIP TO CULATRA, PORTUGAL

 WINTER RECESS IN FAROL

THURSDAY 5TH DECEMBER 2013

Ilha da Culatra is a sand island, a short ferry ride from the dock at Olhao. It's a bustling, working fishing village at it's core with a holiday house section at Farol, the lighthouse end of the island.

It's stunningly gorgeous and cast somewhere back in time. It also has the cheapest espresso in Europe. We spent a day on the island including walking the eight kilometres return from the ocean side up the beach to Farol and back to the ferry wharf. ('Farol' meaning 'lighthouse' in Portuguese)

The island is 6 kilometres long with no roads or vehicles save for tractors on the beach. It's interlaced with walkways and there are about 1,000 inhabitants on the island year round.

We managed to mistime our return walk from Farol by about five minutes and missed our ferry which suited me fine though I'm not sure Anne was too impressed. We waited another hour forty five for the next one which gave me time to enjoy a beer, take a walk, take some more pics and get to know the local tough as nails pussy cat. I first saw him walking in a circle on the sand before I realised he was pretty much blind. Chewed off ears, bashed up and decidedly lean, he fends for himself and keeps the local dogs at bay which must happen every day of his life.

CULATRA FISHING PORT

ON THE BOARDWALK ACROSS TO THE OCEAN SIDE

SUMMER SHADE PLATFORM, FAROL

SELFIE NUMBER 627

NO IDEA WHETHER THEY ARE REALLY THERE FOR BIRDS OR SEASIDE-NESS

FAROL HOLIDAY HOUSE MAIN DRAG

3.4 METER TIDES GIVES A BIG TIDAL RUN

LOOKING NORTHEAST DOWN THE ISLAND

ALL EMPTY, WAITING FOR SUMMER

LOW PROFILE HOUSING

EMPTY FAROL STREET IN WINTER

NAVY STILL BOBBING ABOUT WHILE THE CREW DO CIRCLE WORK IN THE RIB

FAROL ARCHITECTURE

SANDPIPER? ON WAY BACK TO MISSING OUR FERRY

FISHING BOATS WITH GOOD SIZE OUTBOARDS

TRAKKY DAKS IS THE REGULATION UNIFORM TO WORK ON THESE BOATS

THE TOUGH OLD CAT OF CULATRA

STANDING HIS GROUND

STILL CRUISING

STILL FENDING OFF THE SAME DOG

THE FISHING VILLAGE OF CULATRA

GEAR SHACKS

CULATRA TILES

ANNE PONDERS WHETHER IT'S BIN NIGHT

WAITING FOR THE NEXT FERRY

CULATRA WORKING BEACH FRONT

FINALLY BACK ON THE FERRY TO OLHAO WITH FAROL LIGHTHOUSE FLASH