In need of a rest after the stresses of her daughter’s GCSE’s, Gill Fisher arrived at Faro Airport in the Algarve and set off with her family for the coastal town of Carvoeiro. Our villa matched our criteria perfectly. We were expecting various additional visitors during the course of our two-week stay, so with the flexibility of 4 bedrooms, all en-suite, a spacious, comfortable living area and a well-equipped kitchen, it was ideal. A big chest beside the large pool was crammed with enough inflatables for all. Also available for our use were golf clubs, tennis and badminton rackets, board games, puzzles, books and three shelves of videos and DVD’s for all tastes. At one end of the pool area was a covered pergola, inside which was a typical blue-tiled table and seating, and beside this was a built-in BBQ. We also had the added bonus of a second dining area and BBQ in a separate courtyard, surrounded on three sides by the house, which in turn led up to a roof terrace with stunning views out to see in one direction and over the golf course in the other. Many villas in the Algarve are similar to the one we stayed in and offer various types of accommodation. Ours was located on the periphery of the Vale de Milho Golf Course, a 9-hole course but with full-sized greens and bunkers and water hazards, it was challenging enough for all standards of players, with special deals on green fees during July & August.	Our pool area ... ... and at night
The town of Carvoeiro was 2 kms away, a mere five minutes in the car (40 or so on foot as the route undulates) and the town offered plenty of bars, restaurants and shops, all efficiently run by friendly locals, and exceptionally good value. About 10 minutes away in Lagoa the well-stocked Intermarche supermarket met all our requirements. Although our intention was to BBQ at home most evenings, we did sample a few local restaurants, all of which I’d recommend: Fernando’s Stone-Steak in Monte Carvoeiro, specialising in meat (believe it or not) brought to the table raw where you cook it yourself on a sizzling hot square stone, A Marisqueira, an informal fish restaurant at the top of the town on Estrada do Farol, Villa Medici for pizza and pasta, located opposite A Marisqueira, and A Rede, a few doors down, for all manner of Portuguese specialities. The average cost of an evening meal was between £12 and £15 per person, including two (and sometimes three!) courses, wine and soft drinks and cover. Numerous bars and restaurants line Estrada do Farol, the main street, and spill out into the main square at the bottom of the hill, and this was where it all happened after dark. With a taxi rank close by, charging less than 5 euros back to the villa, we were never obliged to pick up our teenagers late at night, nor worry that they wouldn’t get back safely. Note: the legal drinking age is 16, although at no time did we ~ or they ~ ever encounter rowdy youngsters. Unfortunately Portugal is suffering its worst drought for decades, and during our stay the temperature steadily climbed from the high-20’s up towards the mid-30’s, however humidity was low, so it was pleasant enough to walk round during the heat of the day.	Monte Carvoeiro, bars and restaurants Sunset on the way up to Monte Carvoeiro
Most of our days were spent lazing by the pool, but one day we took a trip to Tavira, eastwards towards Spain, to visit some friends who have a villa there. Tavira is a quiet town with cobbled streets and little boutiques, and roadside cafes overlooking the port. On other days, my husband and I ventured out to visit one or two other places that had been recommended ~ we had a superb lunch in Lagos in a restaurant on Avenida dos Descombrimentos, right next door to the Fish Market – no question whether the squid and fish stew we tucked into was fresh! We browsed in trendy boutiques and upmarket shops, with everything on sale from bags, shoes, clothes and accessories, to tasteful souvenirs, usually painted plates and other items, and of course, Azulejos (the painted tiles for which Portugal is noted). Along the front were offers of excursions to visit the little caves and bays otherwise inaccessible from land, dolphin viewing and fishing trips.	In Tavira
Another day’s excursion was taken to Sagres, Cabo de Sao Vincente (the most westerly point of mainland Europe), and a little way into the Alentejo and then through the mountains towards the hill-town of Monchique. On the way you can see the countryside dying of thirst, with the red dirt and the trees gasping for water, but nevertheless the views across the landscape were spectacular. We ambled around Monchique looking at the painted houses and enjoyed an ice-cream whilst taking in the serenity of the water garden and colourful tile designs on the walls.	Painted houses in Monchique Cabo de Sao Vincente
On our way back to Faro airport, we stopped off in the morning and let Lindsey & Tom loose on the Karting Track at Almancil and we also spent an hour or two at the Forum Algarve, the biggest shopping mall in the region. The Algarve offers plenty to do … water theme parks, a zoo, walking trails, markets and an array of beautiful beaches, not to mention the golf. And of course, browsing for souvenirs ... I couldn’t resist buying some of the beautiful painted pottery at Olaria in Porches. A splendid holiday, just what we needed. Thank you, Jim (you know who you are) for giving us a superb base from which to enjoy a wonderful holiday. I promise, we will be back! Gill visited the Algarve late July/early August, 2005	My daughter, Lindsey, and her friends

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