It was our second attempt to visit Faro by train. We tried a couple of weeks ago, and hadn’t realised there was a train strike on. We got to the train station early, and ended up waiting about 45 minutes, until the other passengers waiting for the same train started to drift away. One of them told us they’d phoned the train company and it was confirmed there was a one day strike.
We waited a week and tried again. By this time I’d found the webpage that provides details of interruptions to the train schedule, and had our fingers crossed we’d be able to get there.
From Cabanas de Tavira it takes about an hour to reach Faro (Euro 3.45) – this journey is still a novelty to us, so rather than getting my sketch materials out, I looked out the window at the passing landscape.
We spent time wandering around the old town, and then made our way to Decathlon, a well-stocked sporting goods store that we used to visit in Turkey, and were happy to see that they had one in Portugal too. We went for silicon ear plugs for swimming (sold out), and a beach shade canopy (sold out). Moral of the story: the time to shop for these items is before the height of summer.
Nowadays when I visit a new destination I’m drawn to interesting architecture and street scenes. It was way to hot to sit and do some urban sketching, and we really didn’t have time for that. So I took photos of some buildings that would make a good sketch when I get home.
I did an exploratory sketch of this view in my sketchbook, with the intent to doing a better-quality sketch on a larger bit of paper.
I like doing these preliminary sketches as they help solidify decisions about composition and colours. Not sure if I want to start sketching Faro – when there’s so many more buildings locally that have inspired me. So jury’s still out on that…
What an interesting collection of buildings. I didn’t realize that parts of Faro we so photogenic LOL
We were surprised too. I think if you stick to old town, there’s plenty of buildings with personality, that are screaming to be sketched!
Roving Jay recently posted..5 pens go sketching in Coimbra
How do you decide to do warped perspectives? So much more interesting than straight on and straight walls.
It’s actually how I take the photos. I get down low to the ground, and the walls immediately get that warped look, and that’s how I sketch them. I think they look more dramatic, that a straight-on building with straight walls etc.
Roving Jay recently posted..Street Scene – Conceicao