Tavira

Tavira is one of the prettiest, loveliest, quietest towns in the Algarve. There is not much noise and it smells like ocean and river. With nearly 40 churches, Tavira has its two parts linked by a roman bridge across Gilão. There are always cultural events taking place in the old town and not too many tourists, compared to Albufeira or Vilamoura, for instance. It has to be one of the most peaceful places to live here in Portugal. Walking around the cobbled streets at dusk is something I recommend, specially after a nice wine and a snack. There are so many picturesque restaurants and charming cafés, it feels quite cosy over there. There is also a pretty bandstand surrounded by trees and benches... How nice! Tavira was the last stop after my weekend road trip to Seville, on our way back, and it was certainly worth the visit. I have to come back for the best vegetarian bruschetta of my life (for once, I didn't eat meat... can you believe it?) !

Maps

I have always been fascinated with maps. Some of the old maps in these images are pure art - I would keenly hang them on the walls in order to fulfill my decoration standarts. More than History or Geography alone, there is something appealing about Cartography - it's an aesthetically interesting combination of science, technique and a concept of scale, realism and information that was not always accurate. Some maps are storytellers, others are a nightmarish display of ignorance, distorted by unknowledge and deformed by ridiculous geographical misconceptions... Still, can we all take a moment to appreciate such timeless gems?

Cacela Velha

Cacela Velha is a little village located in Eastern Algarve, situated on top of a hill overlooking Ria Formosa. It's quiet, pretty and traditional, with occasional street markets where you can find every sort of thing.