Visitors from the US

Debra's long-time friend from the Midwest, Sue, and her husband, Jim, spent a week in Tavira and got a sampling of our lives in the Algarve.  

Highlights in Portugal

We showed Sue and Jim many sites in and around our hometown of Tavira.  From wineries to restaurants to historic buildings, they got to experience the charm of the Algarve. 

The highlight of our sightseeing was a boat trip off the Algarvian coast, where we darted into many navigable caverns and marveled at the beautiful beaches and limestone spires.  In 2019, Mark hiked the top of this coastline, along the famous the Seven Hanging Valleys trail.  (It's the opening picture on this blog site.)

Benagil Cave, an immense cavern with its own sunlit opening to the sky, was truly a marvel.

Marinha Beach, with its limestone spires and long expanses of open sand, is rated as one of the top 10 beaches in all of Europe.

Overnight Trip to Seville

Being so close to the border, we wanted to show Sue and Jim a little bit of Spain.  The city of Seville is about a two-hour drive from Tavira, and it was in the midst of its "April Fair" which runs for a week and has lots of people in flamenco costumes riding in horse-drawn carriages.  

The most significant site in Seville is the Alcázar.  It began to take its present form in the 1300s under the Christian king, Peter of Castile.  It was built on the site of former Muslim fortress, and its architecture combines Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance structural elements.  Today, it is an actual royal palace, where the Spanish King and Queen reside when visiting Seville.  

We are always happy to host visitors and would welcome seeing friends and family.  Next up is a childhood friend of Mark's and his wife, who will visit in late May and early June.  Make your travel plans today!