Okay, we’re still here…. but hold with me, I can explain, honestly! So after I’d posted yesterday’s blog a guy we’d met for a brief get to know you on the roof terrace yesterday by the name of Paul (Polish virtual alco. shop owner) appeared in the kitchen. He’d been moped-ing around the Algarve all afternoon and was eager for a playmate to accompany him out in to the bright lights of Saturday’s Faro Town. We were just finished eating and I was ready to chill out, finish the picnic preparations for tomorrow, pack my rucksack in an organised fashion and go to bed. Liisa, having napped away the afternoon, was happy to join him. He had made contact with a fellow traveller via the Couchsurf hangout sector and invited him round to the apartment, a Dutch / South African /Yemen guy by the name of Aden.

The trio went out to party and I continued doing my domestic goddess duties before retiring to bed. I realised as soon as they left that Liisa had not taken the shared front door key but figured as she was with Paul, who was staying in the same place as us, she would be okay and get in with him. 

I woke at 6am to find the bed beside me had not been slept in. I felt a shiver of concern and then remembered that Liisa is 25 years old, strong and independent! She is probably living it up in Faro! I went back to sleep. I was awoken at 8:00 by a soft knock at the bedroom door and the animated face of Aden appeared. He told me the story of the night up until he had left Liisa. In brief, they had partied, Paul had filmed Liisa playing her music in a bar and then drunkenly sloped away with her phone still in his possession, the party had continued and Liisa had left to carry on partying with a Portuguese guy! Aden had already taken her guitar home and collected the key, climbing three storeys up the side of the house like a tree frog, or a lunatic, depending on your perspective, to gain access… He offered to walk her home and checked she was okay but Liisa was happy and having fun and had her own ideas!

Anyway, on hearing the story of the night, I realised that if and when Liisa re-appeared it was highly unlikely we were going to be walking anywhere today. Aden offered to buy us breakfast and a decent coffee out in the town, and off we went. Whilst out, Liisa called to say she was home, safe and sound, but very tired, and so she had booked and paid for another night for us… She was not fit for a 25km walk!:)

I’m writing this blog from the hippy community that is Tico. Aden and I wandered about Faro today. He is a fire spark of charisma and seems to open up every soul we encounter. We have met so many people today. There was the anti Brexit couple from Cumbria, Elaine, the 72 year old who was here to celebrate her daughter’s birthday, who shared her courageous story of helping her alcoholic son find his way to sanctuary, some Portuguese lawyers, a French couple, and a few shop / bar workers!

Aden is a well travelled guy. His family has some big transport business in Cape town and Holland and he tells me he grew in a very materialistic and religious family, but he has ‘transformed’ and found his own way. He is currently enjoying living in Tico, the hippy place, though he tells me his mother has actually paid for a suite some place in Faro for the week too! He is highly excitable, slightly erratic and lots of fun…

He has brought me to Tico. It is beautiful. The taxi driver was confused where to take us as he entered the off road routes of the national park. We jumped out early to enjoy the walk. It was early evening but the sun still shone bright and the forest was magical! Tico is a an eco community set up by a guy with a dream. He has rented some land and set it up as a hippy wonderland with a shared kitchen/social building, sandy beach bar, teepees, campers and caravans. There are solar showers and flushing toilets in the wooden huts, decorated with hand painted swirls and patterns.

Hammocks swing from trees and the terrain is landscaped with paths and clearings whilst retaining a wild feel, set within the forest tracks of the national park. Aden takes me to the highest point to see the sunset. The community has set up a chill out place here, where they can go to admire the spectacular views and watch the sinking sun… It really is a little paradise and I can see why Aden is so excited about staying here. He intends to buy a camper van on Tuesday and already has a huge tent set up. He’s got plans to travel around Portugal and then is off to India in April but will be using Tico as his base. 

Sun set set and we are off accompanied by the solar jam jar light, to walk through the forest tracks, about 5km, until we reach civilisation once more. We stop at a local bar for a vino tinto. The wine costs 1 euro 60 for 2 glasses, and the glasses are ridiculously large. This is way cheaper than the touristic bars of Faro. Aden buys 2 bottles and 2 pizzas o take out and we’re in a taxi and on our way back to Wellcome Backyard apartment. Liisa, Paul and Hans (Dutch guy) are in the kitchen and glad to see pizza and wine arrive. Then it’s off to bed… We have lost a day. Tomorrow we should have been waking in Quarteira and walking to Albufeira. The kind couch surfer, Umberto, who has offered to host us, will be waiting for us, so we may need to skip a stage and get ourselves there tomorrow… Maybe this walking adventure will start in Albufeira.

We will leave tomorrow! I promise! 🙂