A is for Alva, the River Alva

January 10, 2012 by Julie Dawn Fox

Look downhill from my balcony and you’ll see the U-bend of the River Alva flowing past our house before it curls back around the village. The water froths and tumbles over the rocks beneath the tiny weir, providing a constant soundtrack to life in Moura Morta. I hardly notice it these days but on hot summer nights, when the bedroom window is open, its constant dull roar is quite soothing.

The chameleon qualities of the Alva fascinate me. Its water is usually clear, and appears dark from above, but when the sun’s at the right level, it’s transformed into a patchy silver snake. Occasionally, diamonds of light flash on the surface like fireflies providing a mini light show below the balcony. At other times, the sunlight turns the pebbles into golden coins. After heavy rains, the water turns to a swirling, churning caramel milkshake or a cloudy pea soup.

Down by the ruined mill on misty mornings, I can’t help humming Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water and conjuring up images from the Heart of Darkness as whorls of steam rise from the dark liquid. On clearer days, the mimosa trees and clumps of reeds are mirrored back from the still, glassy surface. Until Daisy decides to go for a swim, that is.

No matter how hot it gets, I’m not joining her though. I’ve done it once and that’s enough, thank you. The Alva starts way up in the Serra da Estrela and retains that icy feel all year round in Moura Morta. Which is a shame, because it’s a perfect spot for a river beach. It would be quite handy to just stroll down the hill for a dip in the summer; instead we end up driving to other river beaches where the water temperature is bearable.

I might not like the cold water but trout seem to. We’re more likely to see fishermen in waders than bikini-clad bathers as there are several spots along this part of the river that are used for fly fishing competitions.

Where’s your favourite watery place?

This post is the first in the A Personal A-Z of Portugal series. There’s more to come – at least another 25!

Here are some more ‘A is for…’ posts from other bloggers who’ve joined the challenge.

Algarve Blog - A is for the Algarve

The Hand Family in Portugal - A is for Anniversary

RestlessJo - A is for Alte

Sami’s Colourful World – A is for Australia

Fancy joining us? Find out how here.

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Posted in A is for..., A personal A to Z of Portugal, Moura Morta, Portugal | Tagged a to z, fishing, portugal, postaday, river alva, river beach | 29 Comments

29 Responses

on February 20, 2012 at 3:33 pm | Reply K is for Kiwi Fruit « Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal

[...] A is for Alva [...]
on February 18, 2012 at 7:20 pm | Reply K is for Kissing in Portugal « Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal

[...] A is for Alva [...]
on February 13, 2012 at 7:37 pm | Reply Mónica

Great pictures Julie XD Congrats!
on February 13, 2012 at 2:12 pm | Reply H is for Handkerchiefs of Love; a Romantic Portuguese Tradition « Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal

[...] A is for Alva [...]
on February 9, 2012 at 6:06 pm | Reply M is for Mimosa « Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal

[...] A is for Alva [...]
on February 2, 2012 at 4:44 pm | Reply F is for Fado « Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal

[...] A is for Alva [...]
on January 21, 2012 at 6:10 pm | Reply Fergiemoto

Great idea to do this a-z!
on January 20, 2012 at 9:59 pm | Reply E is for Eucalyptus Trees « Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal

[...] A is for Alva, B is for Beirão, C is for Cabbages, D is for Daisy [...]
on January 19, 2012 at 4:31 pm | Reply B is for Beirão, Licor Beirão « Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal

[...] This post forms part of my personal A-Z of Portugal. In case you missed it, here’s the first one, A is for Alva. [...]
on January 19, 2012 at 8:20 am | Reply D is for Daisy, our adopted dog « Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal

[...] posts: A is for Alva, B is for Beirão, C is for [...]
on January 18, 2012 at 11:59 pm | Reply C is for Cabbages « Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal

[...] A is for Alva and B is for Beirão [...]
on January 12, 2012 at 1:53 pm | Reply sami

Julie, I have now written my post on the A-Z of Australia
http://sami-colourfulworld.blogspot.com/2012/01/to-z-of-australia-is-for-australia.html
- on January 12, 2012 at 2:05 pm | Reply Julie Dawn Fox
  
  Great, I’ve linked to it from the post explaining the A-Zs
on January 12, 2012 at 12:56 pm | Reply Personal A-Z of Portugal. A is for Anniversary! « The Hand Family in Portugal

[...] originator! http://juliedawnfox.com/2012/01/10/a-is-for-alva-the-river-alva/ 37.108739 -8.670055 Advertisement GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", [...]
on January 12, 2012 at 9:38 am | Reply A is for the Algarve | Algarve Blog

[...] A is for Alva [...]
on January 12, 2012 at 8:51 am | Reply sami

Lovely spot Julie, we lived about 1h south of you – Carregal do Sal, between Coimbra and Viseu. That central area of Portugal has some lovely villages.
on January 12, 2012 at 12:34 am | Reply My A ~ Z of Portugal | The Blog Farm - A Growing Blog Community

[...] The title of each post will be the letter and what it means. For example, Julie’s first post is “A is for Alva”. Feel free to use a letter more than [...]
on January 11, 2012 at 11:48 pm | Reply My A ~ Z of Portugal | Piglet in Portugal

[...] The title of each post will be the letter and what it means. For example, Julie’s first post is “A is for Alva”. Feel free to use a letter more than once. My A~Z of [...]
on January 11, 2012 at 9:38 pm | Reply Piglet in Portugal

You could always wear a wetsuit The pictures look lovely
on January 11, 2012 at 8:11 pm | Reply A personal A ~ Z of Portugal | Algarve Blog

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on January 10, 2012 at 10:33 pm | Reply ferragudofan

what a fantastic photo of the light on the water – no wonder you like living there!
I couldn’t possibly choose my favourite beach down here in the Algarve – every time I think I’ve found it – we find another one! But Ferragudo still has my heart!
Great post – lovely descriptions and I am enjoying the new series of posts already!
- on January 11, 2012 at 9:42 am | Reply Julie Dawn Fox
  
  I haven’t spent much time in the Algarve yet but I can see how it would be difficult to choose. I’m planning to check out Ferragudo in April after everything you’ve said about it
  - on January 11, 2012 at 6:17 pm | Reply ferragudofan
    
    then give us a shout if you are coming our way – happy to put the kettle on for you!
    - on January 12, 2012 at 10:08 am | Reply Julie Dawn Fox
      
      I may very well do that! It’d be nice to meet face to face
on January 10, 2012 at 8:21 pm | Reply restlessjo

Certainly looks a lovely spot Julie- how did you pick it? Expect that’s the subject of another blog. Love that “smoke on the water” shot- it’s a stunner.

And you know where my favourite watery place is, don’t you?
Looking forward to B.
- on January 10, 2012 at 8:49 pm | Reply Julie Dawn Fox
  
  I assume that’s Tavira?
  
  Funnily enough, I didn’t pick the spot. It came with my husband. He’d bought the house the year before we met and although we considered moving a bit closer to Coimbra, there’s a lot to be said for where we live so we decided to stay.
on January 10, 2012 at 6:04 pm | Reply jackietravels

So pretty! I’ve only been in Portugal for about a week (and just in Lisbon…heading down to Faro tomorrow), but it’s been enough time to fall in love with the beautiful coast and to wish I lived by a river full time.
- on January 10, 2012 at 6:11 pm | Reply Julie Dawn Fox
  
  Thanks. Glad you’re enjoying Portugal, it really is beautiful. I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time in the Algarve.
on January 10, 2012 at 12:31 pm | Reply A personal A-Z of Portugal « Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal

[...] « Saturday afternoons 6WS A is for Alva, the River Alva [...]