We’re now back from two blissful weeks in the Algarve, Portugal, relieved to have brought the sunshine home with us, helping to ease away our holiday blues.
Staying at the beautiful Hotel Baia Grande close to the beach in a breathtaking residential area on the outskirts of Albufeira, far from commercialisation, it was a time for pure family fun, eating fresh fish daily, swimming in sparkling turquoise waters, sunbathing on golden sands, watching dolphins play and even dancing by candlelight.
It was truly touching to experience the new sunny surroundings through Oliver’s wide eyes and inquisitive questions, “They’re aren’t sharks in the pool are they Mama?” and the ease in which new friendships were formed abroad with other children and families and also in my case, two lovely ladies I ended up partying with on the beach on our last night away.
We also met dear old friends and former neighbours of ours from London who relocated to the Algarve, sharing clams and sardines over red checked tables and seaviews and I even managed to go dress shopping at the super chic Algarve Shopping Centre (well I couldn’t let my Mummysgotstyle readers down now could I!). A post on Portuguese style is coming soon!
Alexander was also quite the hit at the hotel renamed by guests as King Alexander. There was actually a queue of German, American and Dutch guests waiting to hug and wave him off as the shuttle bus took us to the airport; I’ve never known a baby to get so much attention. Forget the Royal Baby, Prince Alexander is here!
Playing in the shade and adoring the beach in particular, Oliver was always occupied with new friends and Alexander was happy to play, continue his pursuit to try and walk, eat everything Portuguese and nap in between cuddles from hotel staff and guests. Peter and I took it in turns to swim and we often had time to eat dinner together as both kids had siestas from all the fun, in prams beside us.
During our 15 days away, we travelled the island, spending a night in Carvoeiro and a day by the port in VilaMoura.
We adored where we stayed in Albufeira and found on a walk near the hotel that the President of Portugal’s summer house was on the same street (we were met with friendly guards at the entrance) and it was obvious why he’d chosen this part of the island with its white washed villas decorated with floral tiles close to secluded beaches and discreet hotels.
Sir Cliff also suprisingly adorned billboards advertising wine everywhere and it turns out he too has a holiday home nearby.
With its warm climate, delicious food and the most welcoming and kind people, Portugal really is an ideal destination for a family holiday.
I feel so lucky to have had such a lovely break. We’ve returned feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and freshly inspired with new perspective and greater clarity that only holidays and breaks away from the norm bring.
Portugal, we miss you already.
Here are some postcards of photographs my husband Peter Broadbent shot whiles we were away.
Beach time with my boys.
One chilled dude as the sun shines on. And on.
Pretty tiling on houses near our hotel.
Clams and the place they came from.
Vilamoura-by the port enjoying Moet& Chandon ice cream!
Where I had morning and late afternoon swims. Delicious.
The Baia Grande Hotel.
Alexander proudly grins 6 teeth and enjoys crawling around the hotel, lifting himself up to pose and enjoying a well deserved nap.
Oliver discovers his love of the sea and swimming.
Watching the dolphins (which moved me to tears) at the must see Zoomarine, Algarve.
Photos to treasure.
A Gymboree for Oliver to play in when the midday heat hit and cuddles by the pool.
Hotel Baia Grande by night.
A candlelit beach we stumbled upon on our last night. Playing on the sand with the boys as the sun set was the perfect end to the holiday…
And then when they both fell asleep, Peter encouraged me to return with lovely friends I’d made at the hotel to enjoy the beach party. Another perfect end to the holiday.
What a holiday!
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Oh wow Vicki it looks like the most wonderful location and the photographs are just stunning. Beautiful post, thank you so much for sharing #whatsthestory
Charly Dove recently posted…Living Arrows
@Charly my pleasure x
honestmum recently posted…Striking Summer Dresses
Oh, I love Portugal. I’ve spent many a wonderful holiday there x
@Sara fabulous place isn’t it! Haven’t been since I was a child! Will again though x
honestmum recently posted…Striking Summer Dresses
Absolutely gorgeous photos, especially the beach and blue skies. We have beautiful beaches and blue skies here in Canada, the only trouble is they are currently under a foot of snow! 🙁
Lou’s Lake Views recently posted…Magic Moments – Thirteen
Thanks, I really want to visit Canada, my husband has with work and adores it!
honestmum recently posted…Striking Summer Dresses
Your pictures are STUNNING!!! Your holiday looked fantastic. I am jealous. I just went but your pictures came out amazing, it made your holiday look better. hahahaha I am really impressed. Love your post. I am just learning photography, I take horrible pictures. Fingers crossed our next holiday looks like these.
jenny recently posted…Location, location, location.
@jenny thanks, Peter my husband takes incredible pictures, such a wonderful holiday x
honestmum recently posted…Striking Summer Dresses
What an amazing holiday and what fab pics! I missed reading your blog posts while you were away, but I’m glad you got a lovely family break x
@Franglaise Mummy thank you darling, missed you too. It was a wonderful break x
What an amazing spread of pics – you have so many for that gorgeous family album! Glad you had the best time. You absolutely deserved it! You needed a break and wow does it sound like you had a good one 🙂 xxx
@IAmIntoThis thank you, it was utterly fab, just wish it didn’t seem so long ago now! x
[…] now back from a fabulous holiday to the Algarve (which you can read all about here) and of course, I couldn’t let my Mummysgotstyle readers down so I made sure I bought some […]
Welcome back lovely! What gorgeous photos – that hotel looks awesome – might need to check it out for next year’s holiday list 🙂 By the way I love that panama style hat that you’re wearing in the pool – where’s it from? xxx
@Michelle @Bodfortea thanks darling, style post on Portugal coming tomorrow-hat from there after other one got too crumpled x
Incredible pictures! And that last pic of the sleeping boys – I feel like plucking them out of the screen and giving them both the biggest hug ever! x
@ebabee thanks sweetie, they are little darling when they’re asleep! hehe x
Gorgeous photos – it takes me right back to our Summer holiday last year in the Algarve. Ah memories!
@Mammasaurus, husband is amazing behind the camera-fab place to visit isn’t it!
Wow, really beautiful photos. The one of the sun is amazing. Your hotel looks so nice!
@Notmyyearoff husband took these beautiful shots…wish I was there now!
wow that looks amazing, what a gorgeous holiday. Glad you had a great time xx
@SusanMann thank you, it was x
Gorgeous pictures! Looks like you’ve had an absolute ball. Thanks so much for sharing them. x
P.S It’s good to have you back though 😉
@Katie/Pouting in Heels thanks darling, missed you too x
Stunnying photos as always, was missing you so much lovely xxx but glad you had an amazing time. We went to Algarve before having Olivia and loved it there. Your two boys are gorgeous, and cannot believe how much hair Alexander has!!!
@MirkaMoore aw and you darling, we need a proper catch up soon, BM seems so long ago now. Alexander was the hotel star and his hair is big like his Mama’s! x
Beautiful photographs. It looks like you had the most amazing time xx
@3yearsandhome thank you, we did x
Looks like you had an absolutely perfect holiday and how beautiful is the candle lit beach! Amazing! I’m only a little bit jealous! 🙂 So glad you had a wonderful time xx
@Franki/Little Luca & Me thanks sweetie, we really did and that candlelit beach was the perfect end to the holiday-memories to treasure. Excited to see you soon xx
Amazing holiday indeed!!! Wow. And those photos are spectacular, you should make an album dedicated to the holiday – truly stunning. So glad you had a wonderful relaxing time – we all need that break (and reality check) once in a while x
@Xandi thanks darling, Peter is going to print a lot of them for an album and to frame some of them too. Really is good to have a break and reality check-time for new work structure and greater balance x
awww welcome home, looks like you had a FABULOUS time! x
@Aimee thanks darling, it really was. Need to get back into life at home now!x
Looks absolutely divine! Nothing like some precious quality time away together en famille xxx
@MamaandMore it was lovely, family time really is the best thing ever and lots of sun…so need to move abroad x