olhão in june - fachadas de azulejos

Monday 20th of June - a lazy in and around Casa Henriette

Because some of us, despite the good protection against the sun, still suffered from sunburn due to the treacherous wind on Ilha do Farol, we decided over breakfast to make it an easy day.

So we stayed in Olhão and Henk and I made a long city walk in the neighborhood and recognized some of the tiled facades from last year.

We both love the colorful and photogenic houses in the old town.

When we went to the train station to buy tickets for tomorrow's train trip, just then they were pruning the bougainvillea and we were allowed to take a few branches of the pruning waste for our casa.

The rest of the day we spent at the plunge pool and in the shade of the morrocan-like roof terrace.

In the evening we went out for dinner together and Liam-Novi enjoyed the cozy dinner just like us deserves an award for best baby to take out to dinner!

olhão in june - ilha do farol

Sunday 19th of June - father's day

The first coffee on the roof overlooking the 'medina' (this became a morning ritual)

And then to the bakery to surprise Henk & Joe with a father's day breakfast in the kitchen.

Packing beach gear to be right on time to take the ferry from half past 10 to Ilha do Farol.

Some among us found it quite a hassle to get to the beach by boat, but once we arrived they totally got it! Island life is so relaxed and the beaches amazingly beautiful and quiet. We spend a lovely day at the ocean together!

olhão in june - férias em família

Wouldn't it be wonderful to go back to Olhao and bring our family, we said to each other a year ago. And we have been dreaming of this vacation with our children & grandchild ever since.

So here we are in Olhão with the six of us!
We booked a charming mansion house in the old city center, with a patio and two terraces, one on the roof with a panoramic view over the 'medina' of Olhão.

Everyone is so excited about this week together in Ria Formosa. We went straight to the Saturday market to do the first fresh groceries and enjoyed lunch at a typical portuguese restaurant near the harbour.

Needless to say we gave a tour through the colorful streets and they all were impressed by the relaxed atmosphere, as if you are back in time...

And now back to Casa Henriette to chill at the plunge pool on the roof.

Henk & Minne provided dinner and we had a lovely family dinner at home on the first night.

Everyone was tired because we had been awake since sunrise, so after watching sunset on the roof Liam-Novi wasn't the only one who went to sleep.

Tomorrow after breakfast we will take the ferry to the first island!