By Cathy Winston. I love planning travel, researching destinations, finding out about the latest things to see and do β but after an unexpectedly hectic few months, the idea of handing over the responsibility of arranging the perfect holiday to someone else was distinctly tempting.
Unlike the surprise holidays that abounded pre-pandemic, where you paid your money and found out where you were going 48 hours beforehand, this time the destination is no shock. Before the trip, my daughter and I filled out a questionnaire with our likes and dislikes, and received a packing list of essentials in return. Appropriately for the Algarve, we started off with a round of golf; happily mini golf rather than the real thing, as I barely know a birdie from an eagle, although this set of nine holes was based on championship golf courses from around the world.
Rory McIlroy has nothing to fear though β we spent half our time laughing as the ball rolled inexorably into the imitation water hazard.
With the final score tied and the holiday starting with a smile, it was time for our second activity of the trip, Movies in the Park. During the summer, late-night movies show outdoors on selected dates β some you can watch from the pool at the Magnolia hotel, projected onto the hotel wall, with others are on the huge outdoor screen by the golf course. With a picnic rug and blankets included, along with more popcorn than two people could hope to eat, I ordered a glass of vinho verde, we picked up some food and settled back to enjoy the live music before the film started.
I decided the latter sounded the most relaxed way to explore, with only a few birds for company. Having paddled our way around, eyeing up the various expansive houses and villas and trying to decide which one we liked most answer: any would be fine, thanks , our watersports session involved a pair of sunloungers under an parasol, where I happily lounged until my daughter persuaded me to try one final lake activity. The water obstacle course. The string of slippery inflatables includes slides and slopes, trampolines and other floating pads that seemed designed to fling me into the water every five minutes.
