Not Tavira

 Well, we were heading for Tavira... but when we arrived at the campsite it was closed, shut, gates bolted.. definitely not in operation... but no signs saying so...and there we were parked in the entrance. It explains why they didn't answer my email via the ACSI campsite app - which says nothing about it being closed. Sue chats to a site worker through the gate who chats to a site person on the phone who says it's open on the 1st October. Who shuts their site in the high season?? Mysterious.

Anyway, we reverse the 'van around and head to the next small town, Conceição, ten minutes away and pay for two small pitches to get everything on..,nice site though.

In the afternoon, we head back to Tavira, which is a truly attractive small city, well cared for with the remains of a castle, museums and churches, the historic buildings tastefully prepared for tourists. Might Uber in for an evening meal before we depart.

View from the belfry...

Now which one was this? Unusual though..

More exploring, visiting:

Olhão, with its extensive market - including a large market hall where it's possible to buy a vast array of locally caught fish (and fishy type things - apologies, not my strong point). There's a Roman bridge, twice rebuilt, a well stocked yacht harbour and the usual range of cafés and restaurants.

Faro, which is a bit of a revelation, with its old town, museums and great restaurants.

Passenger aircraft sink slowly over the cathedral as they land on the nearby runway of the small but very busy airport.

The cathedral houses this working organ, originally constructed in 1701 by Heinrich Hullenkamp. 

Arch of bones in the cathedral grounds 

Sunday 16th is Fathers' Day.....

....and who am I to argue? 😇

..... So, buoyed up by daughter contacts, we head off to have a look at the most easterly Portuguese town, Vila Real de Santa Antonio, which was erected at great speed (in two years by 1776) using the latest technologies, after a Royal decree (info)  Its layout is in symmetrical blocks, unlike othe Portuguese towns.

España gazes at us from the opposite bank of the wide Guadiana river. 

A Fathers' Day lunch in the town square completes the uplifting visit.

.....

It's time to work out our remaining stops as we turn Northward tomorrow, heading, finally, for a reunion with Alex, Jake and Dog in Calais.