MATURE FLÂNEUR

A Moment of Bliss on a Portuguese Beach

Portimão, the Algarve

The cliffs and beaches of Portimão, with our guest house, the brilliant white Casa Trés Palmeiras in the upper left. Note the natural limestone arch on the right. All photos by Tim Ward.

Oh, it is hard to get away from American politics these days, even while traveling through sunny Portugal. He-who-shall-not-be-named all too easily infiltrates our thoughts, our conversations, our mealtimes. Teresa (my beloved spouse) and I recently made a pact not to talk about politics while eating. We broke that pact this morning at breakfast, and we broke it again at lunch.

I believe we have to stay informed, but also that we have to take care of ourselves, and not let the soul-crushing weight of what is happening in the USA overwhelm us. That does nobody any good. In short, we need to get very good at taking mental breaks.

So this afternoon, I went for a walk on the beach. And oh, what a beach this is! Fair to say, the south coast of Portugal — the Algarve — has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. In Portimão, the town where we are staying, the beach is fronted by limestone cliffs shot with yellow, red and orange ochre. They create breathtaking patterns on the ever-eroding rock.