April 27 Back to Faro

 I was in this same region of Portugal in February of 2020 - just before the world shut down from Covid with daughter Alexis and family.  Being in the Algarve with Michael we have avoided a lot of the places that I went to in 2020.  But Faro is so close and is quite interesting so that I won't mind a second visit.  

There were definitely more tourists in Faro than some of the other small towns we have visited.  This is the first time we have encountered large tour groups.  I can only imagine how crowded it must get during high season.

We headed for the old city and soon entered through the Porta Arco Da Vila or city gate.

This plaque was just before the gate.  The blue tile in the style of the region. 

And through the gate and into the old city.

The entrance to the Municipal Museum.  We went in later.

Statue of Alfonzo the First.

The Faro Cathedral - side view.

The entrance to the cathedral - that tourists are not allowed to enter.

One of the many chapels in the Cathredral.

The main chapel rebuilt between 1630 and 1640.

We took the steps up to the choir loft - I really liked the views.

And we are right at the level of the organ.  We did not hear it play (sadly), but it was very interesting.  The designs are Chinese.

I liked how the pipes were placed.

A close up of one of the panels.

Then we walked down the steps to see a couple of more chapels.  The story is that the cemetery was full, so they built another chapel using the skulls and all the bones.

Then on to the bell tower.  Michael and I had to really think about this.  There are a whole lot of stairs and they are uneven and way too steep.  My memories are that the climb is awful for someone our age - but the views are worth it.  What do you think?

I am sure the rooster is not that old!

After that we back track to the Museum.  This is what you see inside.  The exhibits are spaced around the two stories.  There was space for many temporary exhibits - none of which were now open.

Love this hallway.

Inside the Roman exhibit - sorry I did not change the light settings - so it is green.

This is a close up (well as close as I could get) of the man in the motifs below.

Then back out into the light and there is this very modern sculpture in white.

By then we were very hungry and found the best star rated place.  It is pub food.  Michael had a beef dish and I had sausage.  Both were served with bread.  He had one pickled cauliflower with his.

Wandering around old town.

Boat houses.  

The train station - outside of the old city.