praia.coelha

praia coelha, a beach just next to where you lodged, you tried to walk there but without success. so at the end you drove your rented car there, arriving just before noon,

 the rock formation, your firm foundation! the weather is cloudy but the temperature is rather warm,and you almost had the whole beach for yourselves.

and it's actually warm enough for a dip or rather for a splash by the wave.  so you ran to the edge and had a cold splash. it's nice and cold... refreshing per say!

today (25th april 2015)  is a very special, special because you've spent approximately 4562 days together. and you picked up this shell as a remembrance of your time here for the 12.5 wedding anniversary.

restarant.with.a.view

 your first dinner in algarve.  you wanted to try sardines so you suggest to go to this restaurant just at the next beach.  you arrived in the evening when the sun is almost set.

 to your disappointment there's no sardine, perhaps it's really not the season of sardine (which normally starts in may to october), and while there's a chalkboard with the price of the seafood (honest in one way) but the seafood is overpriced.

 you could have walk away, but you're too hungry to locate another restaurant, so you opt for one jumbo prawn and he opt for piri-piri chicken

 while the grilled jumbo shrimp taste great, it's just pricey

 and the piri-priri chicken portion is too teeny.

the outlook from the restaurant is awesome, you hear the sea wave sweeping to the coast, the sound of wave knocking the rock.  it's atlantic ocean and it's enchanting. but in reality, you're probably paying for this view and the lesson learned is to dine at local places and not at the beach or by the seaside.

albufeira.old.town

while you loved praia de pescadores, you actually dislike the old town.

at a glance, the beach at this time of the year is deserted, quiet and serene.

the shells are lying on the beach silently waiting to be picked up or toss away when the tide come again....

and he is enjoying his brief moment with the sea, while you actually quite like it here listening to the gentle swaying of the sea wave, almost crystal blue water and a little warm up temperature, pleasant enough to be out there and not sweating...

and then the nightmare started as you approaching the old town, the most happening place...  algarve has been the playground for the german and the brits.  and certainly this place is gear up toward that market with all the food they served in the restaurant and the kind of beverages they offer. everybody speak (almost perfect) english here.

you woke up from your serenity moments when bunches of drunken brits and russians shouting and walking around in the daylight.  there're plenty of bachelor parties or hen parties group here too wearing weird costume.

despite that, you do find some charming and photogenic moments in the old town

if not that you're constantly confronted by the drunken tourists and the restaurants that trying to lure you to their restaurant.

you've a mixed feeling on this place and silently you made a mental note that you will not visit the old town again for the rest of your trip.

::pastelaria::

 because you started early so by mid afternoon you're hungry again.  since portugal is famous for its pastel de nata, so you're in the quest for it.  you quickly locate a pastelaria in the new town and drove over.

 the array of sweet display is definitely not disappointing

 in fact, you're spoil with choices

 and at the end you settle for these, the chosen four based...

 pastel de nata with chocolate paste, while the crust is super flaky and crispy, the custard is way too sweet to your liking

your favorite is in fact the dried fig decorated with almond, simple, nutrient and not overly sweet.  the coconut cake and the pate roll was his choice.
it's satisfying and from here you walk to albufeira old town...

early start to the sea

it's an early start for your anniversary trip.  you woke up at 3am to catch your flight at 5am and by 7am you already arrived at faro airport, totally distorted, tired as if you just stepped out from a long haul flight.

after a short procedure at the rental car office, you set off to your final destination, a resort city some 40km west of faro. despite the tiredness, you're well received and checked in to your room with a view and even then it's just 10am. the day is long when you woke up at 3am.

it's a cloudy day and in fact rather chilled.  but nothing stop you from checking out the beach just in front of your hotel.

 you're amazed by the rock formation, cliff like edge and then a sandy beach...

 you're in awe and despite of the weather, you're thoroughly relaxed and wander around the beach

and stare at the rock formation.  it's awesome and in moment like this you know, these are wonderful creation of God and you're thankful to be able to witness them and enjoy the outlook in front of you.

 you had your early lunch at the beach side cafe/restaurant. you're hungry anyway. the food is not particularly great, the fried calamari has a rubbery taste, but you fall in love with the green wine, vinho verde, local young white wine that taste fresh and crisp and perfect to pair with seafood.

you certainly had the whole restaurant for yourselves and the outlook of a very quiet beach at that time of the day.
the view itself already worth the early start and the tiring body and mind.  and you're going to enjoy it to the fullest the next few days for sure.

::tulips::anniversary::

over the course of the decade, you have paid many visits to the tulip fields at least once a year. as you dig into your photo archive, you compiled the photos that you took over years at the tulip fields.  it's such a memorable thing to do and to see the time lapse in both of you.  one thing for sure, both of you have grown old graciously. you also see the change of your appearance where you put on a lot of weight in 2006 and eventually fall back to the healthy zone in recent years.

you have decided to make it low profile for your 12.5 wedding anniversary, not calling for a big celebration but opt for a trip to the sun, sea and sand, where you can spend sometime just between the two of you, not under the daily routine or mandates. 

this painting captured the moment you spent in the tulip fields in 2010, this is painted by your talented girlfriend who is a artist by nature and by profession, you thought it would be a good idea to commission a painting of both of you in the tulip fields for this special occasion. when you contacted her, she quickly agreed and  got the painting done in less than two weeks.

the marriage journey has never been like the fairy tale, happily ever after or living in a bed of roses. one thing for sure, it's Jesus that pulls both of you stronger ever together as a couple.

it's has been many springs, and you are counting for more spring to come where you can spend your moments in the tulip fields!

under.magnolia.tree

you have to collect a painting from your friend, and with such a good weather, you both venture out to check a tea house.

it's nicely decorated with spring flower and farm utensils

 a wooden tea house with rustic farm decoration and dutch charm...

you chose your table in the garden compound

ordered a two tier etage to share, food is alright, dutch thorough fare nothing to shout about...

 you had a aperol spritz to toast for the good weather and the fact that you could sit comfortably and dine under the april sky is already a bliss

perhaps it's the weather, both of you had good appetite and two pieces of cake follow by cappuccino. the cake is good both red velvet and the blueberry white chocolate cake are great and not overly sweet.

you had a great day, and fully inspired by the spring weather and really want to pick up painting (again).  hopefully it will happen soon in a near future where you will sit  and do water color on the dutch nature still life.

loving the spring blue sky, such an inspiring color and colorful season.

::hundertwasserhaus::

from hundertwasser village, you walk to hundertwasserhaus.  this is the vienna art museum, you stopped by briefly to appreciate the architecture and visit the toilet.  you didn't have the time to visit the museum,  despite your brief moments here, you do appreciate the quietness as there's obviously less tourist compare to your earlier visit to the hundertwasser appartment block.  right here you can enjoy your moment of solitue, sitting in the courtyard overlooking the quirky and funky one of a kind design.

::hundertwasser::

back to your travel tale!
you missed this place during your first visit to vienna, this trip you're determined to drop by for a visit, yet the public transportation was against you during the first 3 days of your stay in vienna, it's till the last day, you finally figured out the right station to get here.
you love the architecture, such a playful design with bright colors and nonstructural structure.  plenty of tourists at the hundertwasser village, despite that you enjoyed your every moment here, you take in the architecture and design slowly. hundertwasser is kind of spanish gaudi yet not exactly the same style.
you bought a postcard and send it to yourself.  you received it two days after you return home.