Blogs from Algarve, Portugal, Europe - page 4

More than 2 weeks after my arrival, initially as a tourist (Residency Visa in process), I am starting this blog to help track my journey. My goal is to find an area I like well enough to make my home base to live or take other new adventures into Europe and perhaps Morocco. I left Sarasota on October 29, arrived October 30 in Faro the largest city in the Algarve District which is the entire southern coast. A travel note for any future visitors: Faro may be cheaper to fly into than Lisbon plus you either take a bus, train or car which is at least 3 1/2 hours best case plus all the time/$$ to get started. A mini-van shuttle is available (airport to nearest hotel only) for $14 Euros to Albufeira via "Best4U" orange ... read more

3 Day Bus Hop on Hop off 20 Km east to Vilamoura Marina E then back West to Salgados Beach 20 km West of Albufeira So for about 35 Euros you get 4 days on this double decker bus- (I used 3 as I was worn out) 2 routes 1 east and 1 west of Albufeira. Most cities in Portugal have this service CitySighseeing company. I will do this in Lisbon and maybe Seville Spain as a quick orientation-they give you earbuds to listen to a recorded tour Onward: East to villages of Oura, St Eulalia, and Olhos de Agua (Eyes of Water), then Falesia Beach and Pine Cliffs ( a Must see beach) , Vilamoura and the Marina Comments: - Falusia Beach accessible from Stop #6 on Red line, red=Vermelho "ver-may-L-yo" ; If you wanted ... read more

My friend, Amanda, and I met up in the Algarve in Portugal and climbed for a few days and took in some beach views. A few days later, we headed out to camp and climb in Marbella, Spain. The first night we set up a tent in the wilderness and started hearing loud snorting (as if from a large pig). After a quick Google search in our respective tents, we learned that WILD BOARS were hanging outside of our tents and would only attack if provoked. I'm Jewish, so with an inherent peace treaty, I feel into a deep sleep, but Amanda didn't sleep a wink. The next day, in search of better accommodation (read: less boars), I found a large area near our car that had a healing center. It was a group of people ... read more

Walking on the beach, looking over tall cliffs onto aqua colored crashing waves, and walking where the early explorers went to school...what more can you ask for in a day? Throw in some fishing boats, a lighthouse or two, and a fortress and that was our day. We started our exploration of the Algarve in Salema, walking on the beach, looking for shells and admiring the colorful cliffs. It felt great to walk barefoot on the sand. Unfortunately it was more overcast than predicted, but I'll take that when it comes with 55-60 degrees. From there we drove to the Fortress of Aljuzar, originally built in the 10th century by Muslims. It was high on a hill, not far from private homes. Only parts of the walls remain but it was a good photo op...truthfully, every ... read more

This morning, waiting in a sitting room at the train station, a young lady rushes in and says we have to leave the space as it is filling with billowing smoke from the train below us. Nothing like getting gassed first thing in the morning. On the way to Lagos, PORTUGAL, for three hours there are rows of cork trees, many of which have the cork stripped, and the trunk bearing a number, as harvest can only occur every nine years. This is a form of documentation. Finally there are animals; horses and cows in a beautiful white sand colour. The rich soil becomes a burnt orange, and tree branches droop bearing the fruit of large oranges. Estombar is the first retirement settlement along the way, and there are vineyards close by, as well as many ... read more