My first visit to the Algarve was a far cry from what you'd normally expect from an Englishman abroad! Rather than endless rounds of golf punctuated by tourist-orientated surroundings, I felt I had not only had a relaxing holiday, but also had a thoroughly Portuguese experience. The town of Monchique itself, and the surrounding area, has a rustic and serene atmosphere, seemingly more at home in fiction than in reality! When wandering around town (normally to buy some pork from the local butchers or enjoy a casual drink in a cafe in our case!) you get the feeling you're experiencing the genuine side of being a tourist in Portugal. Those who aren't content with the standard package holiday, touristy, sort of holiday will be right at home in Monchique. The south coast is also only an hour's drive, so easily accessible
As for the house itself, you'd ordinarily be forgiven for taking online descriptions of properties with a pinch of salt, but in this case you'd be making a huge mistake! The trip to the house is a series of small winding roads leading up a mountain absolutely heaving with all manner of plant-life, particularly eucalyptus. The location couldn't possibly be any more tucked away - it was entirely up to us whether we wanted to venture out of our bubble of relaxation, as opposed to being disturbed by other rowdy tourists! The entrance to the farmhouse itself is shaded by an impressive vine, which also provides the perfect lunch spot where you can sit at the table and gaze out towards the south coast. The pool is also a perfect spot to relax, both offering some shade to sit and read and also fresh, clean water to take a dip in.
The interior seemed to me to be very faithful to the culture of the surrounding area - it felt somewhat like we were borrowing a local's family home and that they would be back to look after it in a couple of weeks! One difficulty I normally have in warm climates is feeling overheated at night, but because of its mountain location it tended to get cool enough in the evenings to sleep. Another thing that should be mentioned are the geckos, which can be a slight surprise at first, especially when you're used to holidaying in less rural areas. But in fact, I found they never really bother you and are actually really handy at keeping mosquitos, flies and all manner of bugs away from you in the evenings. After a couple of nights I learned that they're definitely friends, not foes!
I couldn't have had a better holiday overall