For me its when I get to the crossroads at Lagoa, just after the Fatacil.
I know I'm on the home run to Carvoeiro (actually on a bad day in the Uk, I dream of that crossroads, how sad?)

When you get to the split between the in and the out roads, does it every time for me.

when i place my foot on the steps coming down from the plane.....smelling the fresh Algarve air, seeing the mountains, hearing the mistral whistling by my ears.

When I see the little people looking up at the sky from the roundabout at Faro airport
- all the hassle of flying and getting the hire car is over and I feel totally relaxed

The minute I step out of the airport at Faro..............

When we see Jose Neves smiling face in the arrival area at Faro

Nice one Shanagarry - you are referring to Jose the most cordial and pleasant Taxi driver on this planet - aren't you

Shshh - don't tell everybody

On the road leading to the Maria statuette!... counting down till 14th March.

Tricks love, for me its when I go to my old home Lagoa...I sit in the park of the 'Nossa Senhora'(Our Lady) and look up at our old apartment...I then know Im 'home' and get a wonderful sense of belonging....I like the Portuguese people & feel totally at home with them!
Hope it won't be long before Im there again

When I turn off the main road (don't do road numbers) by the international School to Marinha, Benagil etc

I'm with you CEH - the main road is the EN125, by the way.

ceh wrote:When I turn off the main road (don't do road numbers) by the international School to Marinha, Benagil etc

That is when I get excited about being 'home' (you go past the end of our road)

It has to be when I turn off the N125 at the Carvoeiro sign! then our anticipation builds up until we see the "welcome to Carvoeiro" and we turn up the hill towards Solferias. Opening the front door we always say "its like weve never been away" then we really start to relax!

The Carvoeiro sign does it for me every time, can't wait to see it at 11.30pm next Thursday night. Only a flying visit, but managed to make it over at least once a month every month last year and hope to do the same again this year. Can someone persuade my wife to make a permanent move?