January had many days like this one… With some guests and friends I took late afternoon walks on Faro’s beach or Vale de Lobo’s. When the tide was low in Faro island, we got to see flamingos feeding from yummy little beings that lie on the Ria Formosa Natural Reserve.

These pictures are from Vale de Lobo – the terracotta cliffs beach. When I was growing up, it used to be completely wild, packed with pine trees alone all the way up to the verge of the cliff. Now, unfortunately, it’s not quite like that anymore – “progress” happened – but there’s still plenty pretty nice landscapes to enjoy. This area became a high-end villas’ complex with lakes and golf courses all around. It’s not an unpleasant place at all, but if you’re looking for local people with ordinary lives, ask Lília (Casa aOrta’s host) how to avoid all the tourists or insanely wealthy people that stroll in the neighborhood. She knows just the way to go 😉

Pictures of the flamingos (and Praia de Faro) will come soon…