After uneventful flights, the tired pilgrim from Santiago de Compostella and the relaxed artist in residence of downtown Olhao in the gloriously sunny Algarve met up at Marid airport. Wow! People everywhere and Madrid seemed to be jumping.
Not much on with just Bruce Springstein and his band plus some European soccer final between the Barcelona and Seville teams. We have an extra 2000 security types on duty and designated gathering points for supporters. Helicopters drifting overhead checking out the scene. Madrid is in party mode and the ambiance, despite numbers, is relaxed. And things will jump up further by next weekend when the two Madrid teams line up for the European Cup League final in Milan. But we will be long gone by then. We even thought we saw the Real Madrid coach just wandering along like any other tourist in town.
As far as the walk is concerned, the second half involved longer days/distances and things were more complicated as Randall picked up a cold along the way. Despite that, all went well and the group thoroughly enjoyed almost all of it. One or two meals not up to scratch and one hostel hostess who would do Hitler proud. But nothing could detract from the simple pleasure of walking an ancient trail following where people have been tramping for over 1000 years. As the group got closer to Santiago de Compostella they met more and more fellow travellers and had some interesting conversations as they went along.
Meanwhile in the heavenly south of Portugal the artist in residence operated in a completely different space.
After a 7 hour train trip Yvonne finally arrived in Olhao. A not so small fishing village, but away from the tourist scene. Her room was on the rooftop of the Art School with views over the rooftops of the town and a swimming pool outside the door, which she was not likely to use.
Yvonne was quickly able to find her way out to the sea front from the lodgings and she wandered around the town, up and down alley ways and one way little streets. The town is very old and many vacant and neglected buildings around. Deciding to return home, it took her an hour to find the way through the maze of alley ways.
Yvonne had arrived two days early so she met the art group finishing their week with a fantastic Irish artist, and was invited to join them. They were a mixed group of Irish, American, English, Mauritis and South African. Lovely people who had had a week of rain and more rain, so only brief trips outdoors.
Yvonne's group was luckier as after three days the weather settled down and they were able to go out to sketch and paint on the Armona Island, the Ria Formosa national park and the market.
There is a permanent fruit and vegetable and fish markets in Olhoa, but on Saturday the travelling market comes to town and so does most of Portugal. It was impossible to get good photographs for all the people, never mind sitting and sketching and painting. However the seafood market is just amazing. She had never seen such an array of fish and shell fish.
The lead artist was English and therefore all English students. An interesting group of people with sons, daughters and other family living in Australia and South Africa. The group dined in for the week except on the weekend when the young hostess was given the time off. The seafood menu in restaurants was very extensive. They thoroughly enjoyed a huge fish between 6 one night.
With many outdoor sketches, more knowledge and five paintings completed, Yvonne's course ended. She had an extra two days to fill in and so she visited Vila Real Santo Antonio on the Portuguese/Spanish border and Tavira. By the end our new resident artist was feeling like a local and very at home.
So as we write this in Madrid we have re-visited the Prado and Thyssen galleries whilst enjoying life in central Madrid. For reasons we did not understand but could enjoy, there were seriously good artists painting away in the gardens whilst a period military drum and whistle band marched up and down to entertain passers by like us
But in reality these last few days are all about making sure we are on the ball again and ready for Morocco and a new and different experience.
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