One day on our Portugal trip to Monte Gordo we did a day trip to Tavira, another small town about half way between the airport in Faro and Monte Gordo, facing the Atlantic Ocean.

We decided to take the local bus, which we often do when we’re out traveling, because that is an excellent way to see the real life at the location. Very often you get to see people on their way to or from their work.

This time we were the only tourists at the bus stop at the church. I loved that there was one man in the bus, keeping a cage in his knee and inside the cage were a hen! I love those kind of surprises. I can’t remember the fee, but it was really cheap. The bus was rather full, because it was market day in Tavira.

Tavira was once under Moorish occupation, which traces still can been seen today in it’s whitewashed houses with their Moorish styled doors and the interesting seven arched bridge which could fool you to believe that it is Roman.

There are 37 churches in this little town and these are just a few photos from there. I really regret that we didn’t go into one to see how they were on the inside.

The town were destroyed by the major Lisbon earthquake in 1755 (magnitude 9 on the Richter scale). All the Algarve area was damaged by shockwaves, fires and tsunamis. Because it was the first earthquake that were studied scientifically for its effects and over such a large area, it’s believed that it led to the birth of today’s seismology.

Of course it has all been rebuilt very nice again with buildings from the 18th Century. A bridge links the two parts of the town across the River Gilão.

Both Mr Lifecruiser and I love to study architecture where ever we go. There are so many interesting and also beautiful buildings around the world. Such a variety. I particularly find the architecture in these small towns around both Portugal and Spain very interesting, with all the mosaic work.

We also did go up on the hill above Tavira, more by accident and found the wonderful Castelo de Tavira (the castle in Tavira), which probably is dated back to the 11th century. There was the remains of two square towers, one octagonal tower plus the walls on three sides. There is also a small garden. You can climb up on the walls and in the towers, which we did - or rather tried to.

See the stairs? It doesn’t look so dangerous does it? I didn’t thought so either at first and that’s why went up there. Only problem was that when you got up to the last steps it really was narrow and much higher than it looks. I suddenly did freeze totally because I’m afraid of heights…

At once I thought: how on earth am I going to be able to go down these narrow steps without any handrail to hold on to? It felt very dangerous. What about if I slipped? I was shivering of fear and couldn’t really enjoy the view from up there, all I was thinking about was how to get down!

I had big problems moving around up there, walking (more like staggering) on around up on the walls. I was, at one stage, thinking that I’ll never come down from here, they have to come and get me some other way…. I simply can’t go down that stairs! Silly me! *giggles*

Of course I realized that I couldn’t stay up there for ever, I just had to get down. So, Mr Lifecruiser, as the pure gentleman he is, went down one step in the time before me, ready to catch me if I stepped wrong.

I went down backwards, holding on to the step before - with my butt in the air! It must have been a hilarious sight! *giggles*

Well, I’ll remember Castelo de Tavira for ever, that’s for sure!

Lifecruiser Tavira photos in a slideshow.