New friends in Portimau

After Lynnes birthday we had a lazy week exploring Portimau. We got to know another British couple on another small steel boat on their way around the world. A circumnavigation is something you either want to do or you don't. I am firmly in the latter category, its such a long way. In my youth I was afflicted with a burning need to circumnavigate islands, Iceland in the 80s cured me of that particular affliction, although I still occasionally display symptoms. We wish Deborah and Guy fair winds and lots of luck in the next few years.
We decided to visit Portimao`s small museum because it was a free day as it was the anniversary of the museums opening,

It is housed in  a smart new conversion of an old fish processing factory. Owned by the Feu brothers. Their brand (on the sardine cans ) was the Rose.

Fish are a big part of both Portimaos history and the museum exhibit's although there is a good bit of archeology as well.

A nice touch is that many of the exibits are not hidden behind glass and it is possible to observe them closely (and even try a surreptitious touch or two, but it isn't encouraged )

Full size figures in a rather ghostly white reproduce the production lines of the fish factory.

The factory floor is immaculately clean, which isn't my remembrance of a fish processing plant and although sound effects were piped through to enhance the effect thankfully they avoided reproducing the smell.

The sardines were delivered from the boats to the factory floor by a system of baskets that were attached to hooks on a moving overhead rail. Lynne was less interested in the mechanics and more enamoured of the mannequins....
Below the factory floor was a surprise, an underground cistern had been converted to an approximation of a submarine and its claustrophobic and convoluted passages led to an exhibition space about the undersea world.

It has a control panel and interactive screen, unfortunately a lot of the information was in Portuguese but we struggled through.

Each of the portholes gives a view to a different exhibit, its really quite well done.

Outside in the open air we were quite relieved to be back on the surface and we......well me, could have a close look at the sardine delivery system.

Lynne was more interested in the breeding Storks on the factory chimney, it was the first time she had heard their characteristic clacking of their bills, a very distinctive noise.

It was a very busy weekend, there was a royal wedding in the U.K. it was also the FA cup final and in Portimau it was the F1 powerboat world championship Grand Prix. Lynne began by listening to the royal wedding on radio 4. I must admit I was not particularly interested in this notable event but was happy to watch the practise laps later of the fearsomely quick and very noisy F1 Powerboats as they rehearsed the race course.
This had been set up as a short and very tight course in the river opposite the town quay. As well as F1 there were F4 races scheduled over the weekend.

We watched the little boats being craned in to the water from the works encampments on the quay.

Reliability seemed a problem as several boats finished up being towed back into the pit lane by jet skis.

They were certainly impressive in full flow and their ability to turn very tightly around the marks was astonishing.

We carried on walking around the harbour to the opposite side of the river as we had been invited to tea at a facebook friends villa. I had done my yacht master exam with a lovely bloke and legendary ocean rower Leven Brown.

This is the man himself ....

His mum Hermione was living just over the water from us near Ferragudo and we had arranged to meet outside the restaurant that was the normal water taxi stop. However due to the disruption of the Grand Prix we chose to walk which led to us discovering a quirky little arts and crafts place.

Hidden away through a beautifully carved (but oddly sized ) door was an artists workshop called Studio Bongard. Full of interesting and humerous sculptures and ceramics.

It is a place that photos cant really capture so if you ever get the chance go visit.

It feels as though nature has invaded and taken over a traditional Portuguese house and there are surprises round every corner.

The roof has a great view back across the river to the marina and again is full of ceramic chickens insects and other forms of life.

Sea life is a speciality it seems.

After a delightful interlude we wandered into Ferragudo and looked to see if we could find a bar to catch a glimpse of the FA cup. Ferragudo has a much more relaxed feel than the other side of the river which can be a bit too brash for us!

The town itself wanders back along the banks of a small creek from the fishing harbour and is a beautiful spot to sit and relax. We found a bar and were surprised by the number of ex-pats who turned up to catch the match. In retrospect we shouldn't have been surprised however we were still getting used to the number of English people who chose to live on the Algarve. Who can blame them? it really is a fabulous spot with a wonderful climate, particularly at this time of year.

We met up with Hermione who whisked us off into the hills to her stunning villa. We enjoyed a garden tour and drinks by the pool and were treated royally. It was lovely to finally meet Hermione in person after being online acquaintances for so long.

Hermione's husband Mick kept our glasses full while cooking a chicken in the Barbecue, it was utterly delicious.

We watched the last of the FA cup match and watched Manchester go down to a crushing defeat at the hands of Chelsea, but on the bright side Lynne got to see "the dress" from the Royal wedding so that was some compensation.

We dined on the terrace and had a wonderful evening which we will long remember, it isn't often we get invited into someone else's lives and welcomed so well. We will visit again hopefully the next time we pass this way.