Albufeira, Portugal.

New Year 2008/2009

(click on pictures for bigger versions. NB if the big picture looks grainy, use the zoom function in IE or Firefox to zoom in)

First day - coffee on the beach. Left to right, Suzie, Jane, Val (back to the camera as usual!), Vicky. This is the way to spend Christmas - sunshine, . . .	. . .sea, and miles of sand (and very few tourists at this time of year).
Another view of Galé beach.	Trimming the spagetti. Jane and Suzie cook dinner in the villa.
Suzie tucks into the fruits of her labours . . .	. . . as do we all - Jane, Suzie and Val (and mine's going cold while I take pictures)
Back on the beach. Vicky admires the view while Val can just be seen enjoying the sunshine.	A sand sculptor on Albufeira beach.
Shopping in Albufeira. Jane really had the holday spirit.	New Year's Eve on the beach really was amazing. 50,000 people, UB40 playing live, people swimming, and not a single unpleasant incident. Sadly many of the photos were spoilt by the flash reflecting off the sea mist (as can be seen). However, there is a video here that gives an idea of the atmosphere.
Suzie had been for paddle and hadn't quite rolled her jeans up high enough.	The whole gang bring in 2009 - Lynn, Val, Vicky, Julie, Suzy and Jane.
Jan1 2009. We still hadn't used the villa's pool, and Vicky is the first to pluck up the courage . . .	. . . and jolly cold it was too!
Villa Marguerida, the final day. A siesta on the terrace before the flight home.