Living in Portugal - Our Monthly Journal - August 2026
Another busy month in the Algarve with plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures. We are blessed to live in an area that so many choose to enjoy for their holidays - the place where we live and enjoy year-round. We can put up with the influx of seasonal visitors during the summer months, knowing that the rest of the year it's ours to enjoy.
The first half of the month we spent time hosting the Palominos, Mary's brother and his family, who were able to carve out some time from their busy schedules to visit us. With Valerie starting at Cal Berkley in August, Jaden returning to Santa Clara University to start his third year in September, Kenia working full time while coordinating the family schedules and needs, and Alex doing his good work as a fire fighter and US Urban Search & Rescue team member, its an honor that they used the little free time they have to take the long journey from California to Portugal to visit us.
We miss seeing Teresa tending to the garden as much as she used to. With Luis experiencing health problems, she is spending more time caring for him and less in her happy place of the garden. We help where we can, but we don't have the endless energy or time to garden as much as she does. A few crops miss her attention and are producing less this year, but the majority continues to flourish under the Algarve sun. The tomatoes and bell peppers were few this year, but the tree fruits remain in abundance. The neighborhood is currently benefiting from the many fig trees on the property, and the peach tree near her house has given a record crop this year. We continue to benefit from this robust harvest.
Speaking of the tree fruits, there are several on the property, but right now the peaches are done; figs are prolific and being harvested almost daily; the pears and apples will be ready in the next few weeks. Not far behind the pomegranates, guava, and multiple varieties of citrus fruit will be ready to enjoy in the next month or so.
The flowers are still the main event in our garden. The Dahlias are taller than both of us with beautiful blooms, and the plumeria flowers add a sweet perfume to the front of the house.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, we had the privilege of hosting Mary's brother and his family in the Algarve this month. I picked them up in Lisbon after a long flight from Los Angeles and brought them to our home in the Algarve. Their arrival day also happened to be Jaden's birthday, so once they were settled in, we ventured out to Alvor to celebrate with a dinner at Casa do Rio, complete with an Alvor sunset, a walk through the village, a gelato stop along the way, then back to our house for birthday treats.
We spent two great days out on the water during their stay, one day to the east to view the caves, cliffs, and the ever-popular Benagil cave. The other day was to the west for kayaking below the limestone cliffs and caves, and a little relaxation under the sun.
Off to the cart track for Jaden and Alex
Exploring Portimao
Nice day for a hike on the cliffs and through the pines around Ponta João de Arens, and submarine rock.
A visit to Portimao in August would not be complete without going to the annual sardine festival.
Lunch along the river with views of Silves and the castle @ Club Nautico Silves "Xaranga"
Alex and Kenia feeling very European out on the scooter.
August is prime festival season, so we're off to our next one, the Silves Medieval Festival
A trip to the west side of the Algarve today, visiting the Fortaleza de Sagres. Founded in 1443 as the Vila do Infante by Prince Henry the Navigator, the site initially served as a training ground for early navigators as they planned their 15th-century explorations into the vast unknown. It also served a military purpose, providing protection from invaders, with the 60-meter-high cliffs replacing the traditional stone walls of the time. Only a single, imposing defensive wall exists, blocking landward access across the peninsula.
After lunch in Sagres, we ventured north to the rugged cliffs and beaches of Carrapateira
We spent the last few days of the visit exploring Lisbon. We took one of the regularly scheduled buses, popular in Portugal, for efficient travel from Portimao to Lisbon.
Our rustic apartment in the old center of Lisbon was like a stay at a Portuguese grandma's house, old-world style and a creepy little stuffed gremlin.
Tuk-tuk tour of Lisbon covering Alfama, Bairro Alto, and Chiado districts
Today we spent time in Belem visiting the Church of Saint Mary of Bethlehem, the tomb of the great explorer Vasco Da Gama, and the Maritime Museum. We wanted to see the Jerónimos Monastery, but tickets were sold out for the day.
A stop for Pastel de Nata is a must when in Lisbon. They are just as good as I remember.
Photos from the streets of Lisbon and a stop at Time Out Market.
Our last day in Lisbon happened to coincide with an eclipse, so we gathered along the riverfront with our special glasses in hand to witness the disappearance of the sun in the late afternoon.
The Palominos are off on the long flight back to California. It was a special time for us to have them all visit our new home and get a taste of what it's like living here. We are sad to see them go but hold out hope that they will return soon.
An early evening beach walk along Meia Praia in Lagos
At the reservoir/estuary near our home, the Flamingos have returned to the Algarve as part of their annual migration. They aren't as pink as the Caribbean versions, with only a little color under their wings, but they are equally spectacular to watch.
Friday night at the Portimao Food Trucks
A special night raising money for the Portimao Soup Kitchen. We've been wanting to experience dinner at Loki, a local restaurant as hard to get into as many Michelin-starred restaurants due to the creative offerings of chef João Marreiros and the fact that the restaurant only seats 12 guests. Chef João donated his culinary expertise to a fabulous evening set above the Arvad vineyards and Arade River
Beach day with friends Scott & Sarah in Ferragudo
The last week of August provided favorable wind and sea conditions, making days out on the boat perfect for us fair-weather boaters.
Out for a Sunday morning mountain bike adventure with the Biker dudes.
As always, our post ends with the cats. Sonny and Barney continue to enjoy their life in Portugal. Especially when the Palominos come to visit.
...While the neighborhood cats seem to find the best spots around the property to make themselves comfortable.
Thanks for reading this edition of Living in Portugal - our monthly journal. Enter your email address below and hit the Subscribe now button to receive future posts.
As always, we hope everyone is doing well, healthy, happy, and thriving. We miss you and love you all...A lot!
Comments