Two years ago

On this day in 2022 Robert and I headed out to our favourite place for lunch in Olhão, Vai e Volta. The owners became our friends over the years, and we wanted to see them before we returned to England plus have a fantastic lunch of fish. Little did any of us know this would be the last time they would see Robert.

Unusually for me, I stopped to take a few photographs of the streets we were walking along. It had become such a familiar route for us over the years, that I rarely took any photographs any more. I recall though I wanted to capture a little bit of Olhão before we left as I wasn’t sure when we would next return.

It wasn’t that I had any inkling of what was going to happen within the next ten days, but Robert and I had been discussing finding a new base for our Portuguese sojourns. We were finding that the gentrification of Olhão was beginning to take away much of its character, and for us the biggest challenge also increasing its popularity. Neither of us are great with crowds of tourists! So we had been pondering a new base in south Alentejo.

We would still visit Olhão regularly but it wouldn’t be our main base. As always though no decisions had been made, it was all just thoughts. Even so on this day two years ago I experienced a sudden urge to take a few photographs. It is a great place for urban photography. Olhão is like no other town in the Algarve. You can learn more about its narrow streets and cubist architecture here.

Now the reason for this post was not just to share random thoughts, it is also to update you on my plans for this travel blog. The good news is that it is going to stay live. Portugal was such an important of our life I cannot take it down, and Robert loved my posts. He even wrote a few of his own. What is though changing is the frequency of posts. There are multitude of reasons why but the main one is that I have not yet returned to Portugal! I do though still have plenty of photographs from our last visit, and over the coming year I plan to share some of those stories. I also hope next year to return to this fabulous country, not for a long visit, but enough time to create a few posts. So watch this space . . . .

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.

20 thoughts

  1. Hey Becky. Like everyone else, I too am glad you have shared these memories and that you feel that you might return to Portugal one day. I look forward to seeing more photos when you’re ready 🥰 Always thinking of you.

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  2. Dear Becky, I think I am where you are with my blog – your post is from the heart. Please return to Portugal, but don’t stop writing and remembering. Stay well and peace.

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    1. Just about. Some photographs I still cannot easily look at, but it definitely feels like there has been a tiny change which I’m glad about. I so want to share the stories 🙂

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  5. I lost the love of my life very suddenly nine years ago and it still hits me at unexpected moments. Thank you for the photos and sharing your memories, I hope you do return to Portugal sometime soon 🙂

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    1. Sending virtual hugs 🫂 it is so hard, isn’t it. I couldn’t work out yesterday why the grief was bubbling beneath the surface until I was looking at these photographs. As it was only then I realised the significance of the date. Our penultimate day in Portugal 🇵🇹

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  6. Alison is right. I’m glad you have shared these last memories you had together. And that you feel that you might return to Portugal one day. I had a bit of a wobble today. Sometimes it just hits you.

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    1. Thanks, Jude, and sending you huge hugs. It really does blindside you sometimes, and the wobbles never stop. They are hard, but I remind myself they are a sign of the enormity of the love we had for them, and they for us.

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  8. I’m glad you’ve decided you can return to Portugal in the future. I’m sure you can make so many more discoveries to add to the special memories you already have.

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