Life is a Highway - it’s the journey, not the destination

Slightly sunnier this time though

Had a nice time in the Algarve, we were there for 12 days and managed pretty much fantastic weather for 11 and a half of those. On arrival there were a few showers, but not much. The thing that made it ‘only nice and not a great holiday’ was the distance we were from everywhere. The hotel was another of my mum and dad’s timeshare deals so didn’t cost us anything but it was really set up for people who had hired a car (we wanted to but as we don’t have a credit card were having problems). It was nowhere near *anywhere*. The first day we figured we ought to try and walk to the shop and it took us over an hour. There were no taxis anywhere and if James hadn’t flagged one down luckily we’d have had an hour walk back. It just made life very difficult there as we were constantly worrying about food and when we’d get more. Couldn’t even treat the kids to an ice cream either and we certainly couldn’t afford the restaurant there so didn’t try it!

There was a couple of trips out due to the courtesy bus the hotel did have. We managed to go to Albufiera and Vilamoura and although touristy, it was so what we needed - life!! (and ice creams ) Managed to do a couple of supermarket trips with this too which helped, but I was still stressing about food!

Kids loved swimming in the pool. At the start of the holiday it was a little cold outside in the pool, but warmed up after a few days. There was an indoor pool too and both kids really improved in their swimming. A is without armbands now!

Mostly we spent time around the pool and at the beach which was a shorter walk than the shop thankfuly. It was a very relaxing holiday with not much to report, but I do wish it had been different. I hardly felt we were in Portugal, we could have been anywhere really. We would love to come back and do it justuce, although as James and I are hating flying more with each trip we might drive!!!

Photo’s will follow once flickr uploads them, I pruned them heavily as James was in charge of the camera mostly and there are just loads of the kids on various beaches!

Oh and before I forget, I must mention that James met Kate Garraway from GMTV at the airport on the way back. She’d been out to do a report for the Madeleine anniversary and we’d seen her on telly on the morning. He asked her for an autograph for his dad which just really makes me chuckle!!!

Photos:

A few of my favourites, rest are on flickr

Marcus just loves the sea. He really is just like a different kid, he;s so at home there. More fuel for me to go and live by the sea!!

and finally, I don’t really like this one as the sun was in our eyes, but it’s the only one of all of us together.