Welcome to this week’s Photographic Friday, where we invite you in for your weekly peek at our travels through my camera lens. By way of developing my eye and photography skills, this weekly commitment helps me see more and hone my technique. At the same time hopefully you get a slightly different angle of our travel adventures.
This week we travel from Alvor on Portugal’s Algarve coast, up to the west coast towards Alejzur, across the Algarvian mountains to Alferce and its infamous Boardwalk and back down to the coast again to Burgau. So if you are ready, hop on in.

1. Alvor
Despite what has been one of Portugal’s worst winters, we have had some patches of good weather that has allowed a bit of exploring, walking and sightseeing. And what better a place to show off than Alvor sandwiched between Portimǎo and Lagos.
I have taken so many photographs of this area, although it seems that every tide, every weather pattern provides a slightly different context or light to the same subject. So I took advantage of poor light to take a few shots and convert them into black and white. Whilst the rocks and cliffs at Alvor have such tremendous colours, sometimes the monochrome just gives a new dimension. What do you think? Colour or Black and White?
Oh and if you spot him on zoom, do excuse my entry for the Yoga Master of the Year down at the water’s edge. As many Portuguese do, being naked is definitely a thing. Although to see him doing a plank really didn’t leave very much to the imagination. I’ll leave that thought with you.








What I wonder were the fishermen at Alvor talking about? They were clearly putting the world to rights.
2. The Eucalyptus forests of Alejzur
With the Aire at Alvor closing for good, we took a hasty retreat from it and the weather that yet again had a tempestuous front arriving toute suite. We found a lovely little campsite in the middle of nowhere just north of Sagres and south of Alejzur. With not much to do and nor the weather to do it, I grabbed a small window of calm for a walk around the owner’s forests. In that moment the faint scent from the Bermuda Buttercups teased my senses and they danced not only in the winds that blew, also from the weight of the busy little bees. I could have watched them for hours. This is also wild boar territory, so I was on alert, until I saw a small holding with a handful of pigs that were behind electric fences. So I was safe to take a few shots of these inquisitive animals. Walking back through the forest, I noticed what I thought was horse poo on the ground. On closer inspection they were actually a fungus and a friend informed me that it is called the Horse Dung Fungus. That’s a school day for me.






3. Passadiços Barranco do Demo Alferce
With rumours of some sunshine, we left in heavy rain and low cloud across the Algarvian mountains towards Monchique. I’m sure the views were amazing, not that we could see much beyond the bonnet of the van. Our destination was Alferce, that has an Aire which is part of the Rota Serrana Aire scheme for inland Portugal. Sadly the Aire is finished and gorgeous, just not yet open. We hoped for a rendezvous with my mum and her partner to do the Boardwalk hike that we had heard so much about. Alas yet again with only 9 degrees and 30 mph gusts, we decided that a 90 minute journey was not a great idea. So we took a quick peek at the Passadiços ready for another visit. I was expecting something far longer than the 500m Boardwalk, however with a 240m descent, a suspension bridge to navigate and 250m up the other side of the mountain, Myles decided it wasn’t for him, given his acriphobia.
I did give it a go and it certainly challenged me. I was, in hindsight really glad that mum and Bob didn’t come all this way: I really did think the walk was longer. I have done a little video of it, if you’ve not already seen it. Just click here.
The light was not conducive for good photography. There was full light at the northern side and shadow on the south, so I have had to do a fair bit of editing to get it half decent. Not my finest photographic hour, although I did want to show you the area.


4. Burgau and Luz
Heading back south through some gorgeous untouched Portuguese countryside, we took shelter from the latest incoming storm at Burgau, sandwiched between Lagos and Sagres. This is an undiscovered part of the Algarve for us, so we really hoped for enough sunshine to do it justice. Here are just a few of my shots from the small fishing village of Burgau and the walk to Praia de Luz. You may remember this place from the media a few decades ago with the disappearance of Madeline McCann.




I wondered what this lady’s story was. Who was she filming? She made a great context for my shot at Burgau beach.
5. Some abstract images
As always, the final section of my week’s photography are some abract pictures that caught my eye. Part of photography for me, at least with my big Bertha Sony RX10 is seeing the unusual that either captures life or encapsulates a moment in time. Sometimes it‘s people, other times it’s objects that grab my attention. Here’s this week’s collection. I love this first one and the caption that must sure be, ‘Come on Deidre, we’ve walked miles, we deserve a drink.’








So that’s it folks. The last week in January’s edition of Photographic Friday. I would love to hear if you are enjoying this feature and if there is anything else you would value from my weekly post. Until next week, when we hope the sun will come out to play and the storms will be just a distant memory. Kx
Very well done! Beautiful shots with a story behind every one. I love the western Algarve, more nature, less people and stronger winds 🙂 The sun arrived yesterday here, but it´s freezing.. our avocado trees are struggling. xx
Thanks so much. That’s lovely of you to say. I’m starting to do more themed Fridays now so I can stretch my photography further. Kx
Loved all of it!
Bless you thank you. More coming soon. Kx