Chefprefers BLOG

Olhão is a coastal town in the southern point of Portugal. The streets are narrow in the old part where every building has similar features. It’s easy to get lost if trying to find a restaurant which you’ve seen before. There are daily markets selling produce and fish. They had to separate the fish vendors from the rest due to the odor and you can smell why when you enter the depot. Our mission today was to ferry out to Culatra Island, a barrier land mass which protects the local towns from the strong currents of the Atlantic Ocean. Once arrived, It was a beach day. With bathers and towels in hand, we trek over an elevated boardwalk to the Atlantic side of the island. Waiting for us was a line of structurally sound umbrellas and two layout chairs. All for 10€ for the day. Our group took up the chairs and lounged for the day. With beautiful weather and a calm ocean, I was able to dip into the Atlantic Ocean for the first time in 42 years. This being a Cape Cod trip I did at 15. The water temp back then must have been about 16 “unpleasant” but today it’s about 20. A nice dip.

Some went off towards the lighthouse 3k away on soft sand. “Not much to look at” was the ruling. We stayed put enjoying the sounds of the beach environment. I don’t know what it is but the sounds of the seas are calming, the fresh wind, the waves crashing on the shore and the crunching of you feet packing the sand. It truly is amazing.

We sat next to the American couple Mark and Morton, Morton makes a point of mentioning that there is an O in his name. Morton is the clown of the trip and originally from NYC. A load outspokenly retiree who continually mentions “You know back in America we …” and of course a Trump hater. And frankly he explains that America isn’t great again even though Trump campaigned it. His partner Mark pronounced Mork is 72 years old who started to play the trumpet again and loves it. He’s quite different to Morton, he’s quiet and pleasant to chat with. They live 20 miles outside of Albuquerque New Mexico.

Our ferry back to the mainland was leaving at 3:30, so we headed back over the boardwalk, noting why there was an elevated walk since it was high tide and the sandy marsh was covered with water. The ferry was packed and hard to find a good seat to view the passing sea. On the boat, I talked to a couple from Scotland, who were on a weeks vacation. Our talked was mostly about Australia and his interest in the southern land. Warmer weather, beach life, and friendly and a save environment. Our talk also covered the rugby and how Scotland were doing in the World Cup. I mentioned that we tried to get tickets to the South Africa and Scotland match in Marseille, since we were in Provence at the time, but of course there were none available. He said that Scotland has a big following and that it would have been difficult.

Anyway next up visiting, Seville and the southern most point of the Iberian peninsula, Tarifa.