Saturday thoughts

You may recall last November I had hoped we would be back in January but for one reason then another that plan didn’t quite come to fruition. There was then a vague idea of popping across in the spring, but that hasn’t happened either! And then there was COVID-19, which has scuppered everyone’s travel plans.

DSCN5478

So we are now staying safe at home in England, and thinking of family and friends everywhere as we all come to terms with the crisis. Hopefully by the autumn things will have returned to normal, what ever that will be, and we will have returned to our beloved Portugal. 

The main reason for posting today, apart from updating you on where we are, is to share with you a summary of the FCO advice for Portugal in light of coronavirus.

Portugal declared a state of emergency on 18 March, and everyone has been instructed to remain at home unless they need to carry out one of the following activities:

  • to buy food or other essential items
  • to go to work if unable to work from home
  • to go to hospital or health centres
  • to carry out caring or similar duties or in case of real need
  • to return to their primary residence
  • to exercise outdoors or walk pets, for short periods (ie not the walk below!) and never in groups

For the latest information, visit the Portuguese Ministry of Health website (available in English by clicking on the green globe symbol). If you are feeling unwell and need assistance, call the Ministry’s helplines on:

  • Mainland Portugal: (+351) 808 24 24 24, press 5 for English.
  • Madeira, call (+351) 800 24 24 20.
  • Azores, call (+351) 808 24 60 24.

Walks in the Algarve

Stay safe everyone, and be kind. I hope to follow this post with another one in a few days, and maybe even share with you the full tale behind all these photographs. They were taken on a lovely walk we did on this day last year, I hope they bring a smile to your face.

Author: BeckyB

It had been a good life walking, cooking, photographing, volunteering, blogging, and best of all spending time with MrB, family, & friends. Sadly it is no longer what it was, as suddenly and unexpectedly I became a widow.

41 thoughts

  1. Rumour has it that you have a birthday today, so I’m just joining in with the many good wishes from your friends. Your name keeps cropping up in various Posts so I feel I almost know you. Happy Birthday. Mari

    1. Hello Mari, and thank you so very much for coming to say hello. It is indeed my Bday, and it is being made such a special day by all the lovely messages from everyone. I am so very fortunate

  2. Pingback: Rambling in the Algarvian hills – Becky in Portugal

  4. Bom Dia,from a very showery Algarve.
    The occasional rumble of the sewage pumpinghouse cleaner vehicles reminds us that there is mechanised transport still operational in Olhao.
    the dog walkers,the joggers,family groups going clamming,or walking the salinas keep the paths occupied,and now the hourly police 4×4 sweep past indicate that the is a difference in the life style of the residents.
    We had the empty shelf syndrome for a couple of days but polce/security guards regulating the flow of shoppers waiting at the supermarket entrances,distance regulated,and in some cases painted squares help maintain this discipline.
    Mainly own brands have disappeared but otherwise no probs,other than the hill produce is no more,with the closure of all open mkts,but oddly the covered ones are open?!
    Despite the human scacity,we have had 3 large flamingo flocks arrive on different days,over a hundred in total,few spoonbills,the black winged stilts came investigated and largely moved elsewhere.
    The swallows have been with us since jan 31,now the house martins,but swifts are scarce for the moment.
    Your crooked chimney storks have established their home,while the pair of kestrels are feeding on the edge of the salinas but nesting somewhere different,as yet unknown.
    Covid continues with
    todays total of confirmed cases still below 150 in the Algarve with the vast majority brought in from european origins,including today 2 PORTUGESE RETURNED FROM LONDON,
    Much to ones surprise,order is apparently the thing here,in difficult times,other than the influx of camper vans,still roaming but using the derilict land behind the hotel, apparently unrestricted….
    Keep safe.

    1. Thank you so very much for the detailed and interesting update. Wonderful to hear about the storks and other birdlife . . . but that’s just bizarre about the camper vans and covered markets. Makes no sense.

      Glad you are okay. Stay safe x

  7. Beautiful poppies. I’m wondering how different things are going to be once we can travel again. Prices will no doubt rise and there will be a mad rush to book flights and hotels.

    1. Going to be very strange indeed, and of course we don’t know how many airlines are going to survive. Good for environment but not so good for individuals

      1. Less planes, higher prices, but probably more seats crammed together. I much preferred flying when we had more room.

Comments are closed.