http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Portugal en-us Thu, 12 Nov 09 11:47:42 +0000 Thu, 12 Nov 09 11:47:42 +0000 We got out of Porto much faster than we got in. It's amazing you can get around really quickly when you're on the right road. We headed South on the Autovia Portugal's version of the Autobahn. The official speed limit is 120 kilometers per hour about 72 mph but after observing the BMWs travelling at 160180 I decided that 140 approx. 84 mph was not likely to attract the attention of the Po http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Alentejo/-vora/blog-452521.html after doing all the touristic stuffs of lisbon we were wondering what we could do for the next few days. we didnt have much time coz soon we were heading to valencia once again for la tomatina and thats when i thought how stupid we were staying here doing nothing when we could have gone to south spain wich is quite cheap to get from here. but anyway we kept talking and when we realised we wer http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Lisboa/blog-451223.html Hey peopleI decided to finanly update all my travels on travelblog of the last year 20082009. So in the coming weeks I hope to spam you with all my adventures and prictures just to keep a good log of all my trips.Portugal was my summerholiday in 2008 just after coming back from my worldtrip Together with Renate I mostly relaxed on the beach and enjoyed the nightlife in Albufeira. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Algarve/Albufeira/blog-450011.html The weather is perfect sunlight with a light breeze and just looking around you think you might have walked into a period film as your feet traipse on the uneven cobblestone. Some classmates and I decided to jet on to Lisbon for a long weekend and were very impressed. Lisbon is beautiful and very affordable. Almost the entire city seems virtually unaltered from when it was constructed centuri http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Lisboa/blog-449706.html Life in Lisbon is lovely. I rolled in at about 2 pm with even less of a plan or a clue than usual. I had no map no hostel res no cash and no idea how to say even 'thanks' in Portuguese. I was a sorry case. But after an ATM an espresso and a borderline sexual harassment by some crazy lady at the bus station I was REALLY sad not to know how to say 'thanks' then I felt like I was turning http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Lisboa/blog-448954.html PortugalLisbon What can I say about the land of sea fearing explorers cork port beautiful Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts hill top town and villages warm and sunny weatherhellipIt is charming full of character old pleasant very nice and friendly peoplehellipI would love to come back to it and explore the northern parts.Flying over Lisbon it felt familiar probably because of i http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Lisboa/blog-446458.html Lagos to the Island of Porto Santo 450 nautical miles. We spent our last day at the Sopromar Boat Yard getting the boat readied and the last few glitches with the windows being sorted out at last. Final provisioning was done for what we had anticipated was going to be about a four day passage. Debs has been very busy cooking up lots of individual meals that we just have to slip into the oven a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Madeira/Porto-Santo/blog-445062.html My journey has taken an unexpected detour in Lagos. I've been here now for...let me see what day is it At which time I google calendar and look up the date lol...12 days At first it was great...lying on a beach all day long having tonnes of fun and meeting lots of new friends. I was having a blast But 12 days later I'm starting to realize that just maybe these activities aren't exactly th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Algarve/Lagos/blog-444320.html OlaWell my friend Rebecca was going to Lisbon with her mother Pat for a weekend as part of her travels before heading back home so when she asked if I wanted to join her I jumped at the chance. After an early start getting up at 3am to catch flights is never fun especially since I am a procrastinator and end up going to bed at midnight as I will find something to do rather than pack my bags http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Lisboa/blog-443856.html I had one day to explore Lisbon so I bought a ticket for the day tour of the city. I recommend this tour especially if you are short on time. It was very informative and you could hop on and off at anytime. I then wandered up to the castle on my own. It wasn't far from my hostel. The views were amazing Lisbon is a beautiful city. It comes alive at night. There are musicians artists chestnut http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Lisbon/blog-443393.html I took a bus from Mostar to Dubrovnik Croatia. I flew from Dubrovnik to Barcelona and from Barcelona to Lisbon. It was a very long day. Once I was in Lisbon I wandered aimlessly around the city. I had bought a bus ticket to Porto for the following day. I had planned on going to Porto Lagos and spending a couple days in Lisbon before I headed off to Morocco. Here are some random photos of my http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Lisbon/blog-443391.html I arrived in Lagos in the afternoon and was unable to find a taxi anywhere. A local saw me and walked me to the door of my hostel. she was so kind. I spent a week in Lagos. I absolutely loved it. It is amazingly beautiful and so peaceful here. I came perfect time of year. During the summer Lagos is crazy with tourists. In October it was filled with locals and festivals. I went the culture fest an http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Algarve/Lagos/blog-443384.html I love Porto As you can see its absolutely beautiful. I took a two day tour bus of the city. I wandered around the seaside. There are amazing views from all over the city. I also went to a wine tatsing at the Calmel Winery. The oldest winery in existence in Porto. Porto is a very quaint town as you can see. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Northern/Porto/blog-443381.html Chegamos em Lisboa nesta segundafeira quando encontramos novamente com o Joo que agora um pobre semteto que emprestou seu quarto para mim e para a Clarice coitado E eu tinha dito que no me importaria de dormir na banheira falando nisso ele tem uma cortina de chuveiro que muito fofa cheia de desenhinhos.Eu j conhecia a cidade mas a Clarice est aqui pela primeira vez. Na noite em http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Lisboa/blog-443049.html SUNBOY IS HEADING HOMEWell after getting the boat tied up and sorted Willem and I headed off to one of the local bars that has wi fi to check emails. The very exciting news we received is that Sunboy is now an official starter in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers 2009 along with 225 other cruising and racing yachts. Wahoooo.Our elation was soon quashed when the technicians told us that Hanse had s http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Algarve/Lagos/blog-442973.html Lisbon Oeiras Sines Sagres Lagos LATE BREAKING NEWSWe tied up in Oeiras Marina smack bang next to a boat called Solitude a very large and beautiful looking Hanse 54. Small Nest was a couple of boats away and as usual saw a few other boats we had shared marinas with since we struck Portugal a few of them being British and Northern European Yachts heading south to make the Canary Isl http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Algarve/Lagos/blog-442965.html The first official ISA excursion is completed and I have to admit it was nice getting out of Sevilla for awhile and though Irsquom starting to appreciate the benefits of going to see the sights of a place in an organized mass of people I still prefer traveling in a smaller group. Two people is best.Day one After the sleepy bus ride to Portugal where Connie and I had plenty of time to bond http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/blog-442590.html Coimbra September 1415From Salamanca we caught another bus to Portugal where we were staying in the Portugese university town of Coimbra. Our accommodation had a terrace on the roof that looked out over Coimbra affording great views of the houses and university that was built into hillside. The streets were hilly in parts but this is the norm in so many towns that I think I will miss my daily http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Central/Coimbra/blog-442295.html I arrived in Lagos on Thursday and it's incredible here It's a small town in the Algarve the southern part of Portugal of about 20000 and it's basically just a beach town with lots of bars and restaurants and tiny winding streets like all of Portugal. The beaches are incredible though. They have these enormous cliffs and make you feel like a tiny little ant when you're up next to them Th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Algarve/Lagos/blog-441775.html Leaving behind Lisboa and the broad Tagus River the same one flowing in smaller form through Toledo we headed northward. North of Lisboa are rolling hills and small mountains often forested with pines of various sorts and the overtaking eucalyptus. As is thus far always the case in Spain and Portugal you are never far from olives trees and vineyards. Our first stop was in Fatima site of the f http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Northern/Porto/blog-441541.html