D is for Doors, in traditional Algarve style

Since I did a post on this subject for Jake's Sunday Post back in May, I have taken a few more photos. I hope you like them.

And finally, here is a close-up of the "mãos de Fátima" knockers that most of these doors have.

Unusual, aren't they?

D is for Dam

Rainfall in Zimbabwe varies a lot. It is high in the Eastern Highlands and very low in the extreme south. Prolonged droughts are common. So storage dams are essential as reliable sources of water for domestic, industrial, agricultural and mining use.

 

There are many dams in Zimbabwe, Kariba being the largest.

 

Kariba Dam as seen from the South bank of the Zambezi River (photo released into the public domain by its author, Benbbb at the English Wikipedia project)

Kariba Dam is a hydroelectric dam in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi river basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is one of the largest dams in the world, standing 128 m (420 ft) tall and 579 m (1,900 ft) long.

It was built between 1955 and 1959 and created the largest man-made lake in the world. The first power station was built underground on the South Bank. Later, a second power station was built on the North Bank. This one was completed in 1976.

From 1960 to 1961, 'Operation Noah' rescued thousands of large animals and numerous small ones from the lake's rising waters and relocated them.

Driving Miss Mimosa

When a family member is ill your life revolves around their needs. 

It is the same when your pet is ill. Mimosa had her Vestibular Event 6 days' ago and I've only left her alone to go to work. Yesterday she finally started showing some appetite and her involuntary eye movements have almost stopped. She still sleeps most of the time and tends to move in circles. She tries to go faster now, so she bumps into things now and then. She hasn't barked since Friday.

Head tilting to the left... but moving on her own

This afternoon I wanted to drive into Portimão to take some photos along the beach. I decided to take Mimosa with me. She used to jump into the back of the hatchback as soon as I opened it; today I had to pick her up to get her in, of course. Before, she would jump over the back seat and try to get to the front passenger seat. Now she stays in the back.

And walking along the river...

I didn't actually go to the beach because  as I was driving across the Arade River, I thought I'd take some photos of the old bridge, so I stopped there and took a walk along the river instead. I didn't think Mimosa would be able to stand a long walk but I was surprised to find that she did very well. On the lead she almost managed to walk in a straight line!

Reading the title of the sculpture or checking out the smells?

The weather was fantastic and the views were fabulous.

Sculptures along the river and the old bridge in the background

Boats on the Arade River, Portimão

Top 5 unusual Algarve chimneys

Thursday post

Having photographed many Algarve chimneys, I consider some to have unusual or downright weird shapes.

Here is my selection of the top five in this category:

In fifth place...

Tall and thin!

In fourth place...

Mexican hat!

In third place...

Square and stocky!

In second place...

Mushroom?!

And in first place...

Gothic castle?!

Would you like one of these on your roof?

Salgados Lagoon - conserve it please!

Thursday post

Which do you prefer?

These are views of the Salgados Lagoon, pictures taken from viewpoints close to the Salgados Beach car park. Do you like what you see?

Unfortunately this may not be this beautiful for long because the Silves Town Council have announced they are getting ready to allow/encourage construction between Armação de Pêra and Praia Grande.

Do you like the idea of the land and dunes at the far end of the lagoon being destroyed to look like this?

This is part of the holiday resort on the other side of the car park I mentioned. It isn't completely finished yet and it's already run-down and going bankrupt. Construction workers have lost their jobs. The palm trees they planted to hide the ugly buildings are leaning already and many are dying because it seems there isn't even enough money to pay for the water they require.

Isn't it ridiculous to build another resort on the other side of the lagoon if this one is already surplus to requirements?

Just a few years ago, I used to walk from Salgados to Armação de Pêra with a friend on Sunday mornings. When we got to this roundabout (which wasn't here then) we could see the sea all the way to those white buildings in the background (in Armação de Pêra). Now all we see is the resort! 

Don't get me wrong - I am all for progress, when it makes sense!

For those who live in the Algarve and wish to help fight this construction mania, why not come to the Protest Meeting of the "Friends of Salgados Lagoon" on Oct 20th.

For more details, read this article at the algarvedailynews.com.

Something's got to give!

Thursday post

Then...

... and now...

Albufeira, from fishing village to beach resort.

My work schedule is such that I have to start cutting down on the time I dedicate to my blogs and to my blog reading and commenting. :(

Starting today, I'm doing a short post on Thursdays (twenty words or less) plus the Sunday posts prompted by Jake. I also hope to do the Garden Bloggers Bloom Day on the 15th of the month, inspired by Carol.