Living in Portugal - Our Monthly Journal - July 2026
- Tony
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Summer has arrived in the Algarve! Temperatures are warm, the beaches are filled with visitors, and the festival schedules are in full swing across the region.
July was a month we chose to stay local to soak up the sun and enjoy the sights that draw so many visitors to the Algarve. It's also a month that most Europeans and North Americans take their holidays, crowding Europe's popular destinations and making travel a bit less enjoyable.
No doubt the summer travel season is in full swing with beaches, parking lots, and top destinations crowded. Luckily for us living here full time, we have come to know the spots where we can enjoy the Algarve without the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. July was a great month to enjoy the Algarve summer close to home.
Teresa's garden continues its amazing cycle, full of life. The tomato harvest is in full swing, although the crop seems a little smaller than previous years, and the eggplant, bell peppers, cucumber, pointed cabbage, and zucchini keep coming.
It's also fig season, and the three large trees on the property are full of delicious fruits. The two on the upper level are the traditional black figs; the one closest to us is a grafted combination of violet and white figs. Apples are just about ready, and the pears, peaches, pomegranates, and grapes will be ready 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.
We had an unexpected visitor early in the month. Snakes are a rare sight here, but this one made its way through the roof of our patio covering until seeing me and moving on. Google says it's a common horseshoe whip snake, similar to a gopher snake, harmless, non-venomous, and frequently inhabits patio roof structures in search of rodents and lizards. They are also very shy and will move on from places where there is human presence. Needless to say, we have been on the lookout, but there have been no further sightings or evidence of it hanging around.
Another 4th of July was celebrated in Portugal at our friends Revilee & Steve's home. Not only are American expats present to celebrate the 4th, but friends from many countries join in on the festivities. Steve grills All-American hot dogs, and everyone brings a dish to share, honoring the beginning of summer celebration.
Mary's brother Alex is Part of an elite rescue team, USA-2 International USAR, that is often called upon by the US Department of State to aid in disaster relief efforts where needed. This time the team was sent to Venezuela to assist with the search and rescue efforts following the devastating earthquake. We are so proud of Alex and his team, always heading toward danger to provide professional assistance to those in need. Thanks Alex
A few random photos from the Portimao river front.
The Lake/Alvor Estuary just behind our house on a sunny July morning
Walk along the Alvor boardwalk
A couple of cruise ships in port @ Portimao. One at the dock in the river, the other moored just off Praia de Rocha beach
Out on the boat, we came across a pod of Dolphins. The pictures are not great, but they were fun to watch and follow along the coast.
Out for a walk on a Thursday morning (10:30 am) in Praia de Rocha. This is what July and August look like at the popular beaches.
Contrast the scene @ Praia da Rocha with this morning walk near Caniço in Alvor
I spent the afternoon along the west coast of the Algarve in Carrapateira and the parish of Bordeira near Aljezur. A beautiful rustic coastline that tends to be slightly cooler than the South coast and offers scenic hiking trails and paths on the cliffs above the Atlantic.
There is a living museum that I discovered on this trip that includes a physical museum and site markers along the coast to explore the history and the architectural heritage of the area and enjoy the panoramas and the rich natural habitat along the way. https://pontaldacarrapateira.com/?l=en
Having been in this area several times, it was only on this trip that I discovered Porto da Zimbreirinha thanks to the site markers and a little curiosity. I stopped to photograph the fishermen's shacks perched along the cliffs, only to discover the amazing sight of the hanging fishing port precariously clinging to the rock cliff. The first two photos are what the port looks like today; the last photo is from a time when it was still in operation. You can read about this here https://pontaldacarrapateira.com/?l=en
A day out on the boat enjoying the sights and taking advantage of the cooler weather out on the sea. We never get tired of the amazing cliffs, secluded beaches, and natural caves.
As always, our post ends with the cats. Sonny and Barney continue to enjoy their indoor life while the neighborhood cats seem to find the best spots around the property to make themselves comfortable.
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As always, we hope everyone is doing well, healthy, happy, and thriving. We miss you and love you all...A lot!
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