ALgarve April 2026

The Casa Rosa, Olhao, nr Faro on the Algarve

It's 6pm and we're sitting on the stunning roof top terrace of the Casa Rosa listening to Fado and enjoying a glass of Sagres Cerveja. It has been cloudy and cool all day but the sun has just come through and it is very warm.

All has gone amazingly well. Getting through Gatwick and flying to Faro was unusually smooth. On arrival however, we had to queue for nearly an hour to get through passport control. The delays seem to have been triggered by the introduction of the new EU biometrics checks but they were only looking at passports - not even a stamp! The taxi to Olhao was really quick (20E) and we knew we'd arrived in town when it started bouncing on the cobbled streets.

Casa Rosa allowed us to check in straight away which was a massive bonus. It is a sweet, quirky little place that has had a recent stylish makeover. A very well equipped kitchen & living room. On arrival, we found a small mercado and stocked up on supplies.

Then we wondered down to the harbour and found a friendly home cooking place for lunch. We shared gambas ajilo and battered squid with frites plus excellent bread and tasty olives washed down with 1/2 l white wine.

Back at Casa Rosa we consulted the maps and agreed some ride plans. Time for a siesta before the bikes were delivered promptly at 5.30. They are both good looking, well turned out Giant bikes. K has a gravel road bike and mine is a big heavy sit up and beg with full suspension that I promptly christened 'The Beast'.