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Published: March 29th 2017
SAO DIMINGOS
1st night AlbufeiraWell had forgotten what a flight that is to get to Europe. Around 30 hours door to door, left home 7.30p.m. for a 10.30pm flight and arrived at our hotel down in Albufeira 30 hours later. Flight delayed one hour from Melbourne, 15 hours to Dubai, including being in a 1 hour holding pattern over Dubai before landing due to congestion, then another hour late leaving Dubai because of other planes being late and their passengers joining us on the flight down to Lisbon, so all in all two hours late to Lisbon and then getting our hire car and a two and a half hour drive down to Albufeira, thank god it was Sunday in Lisbon, two brain dead people in heavy traffic would have been a nightmare....light traffic what a sigh of relief! Raining in Dubai, raining in Lisbon and all the way down the coast to Albufeira. Both ready for bed but after a shower and clean clothes....another burst of energy...so off out for dinner....had picked Sao Domingos before we left home and were not disappointed...the most warm welcome from this family run restaurant and a lovely bottle of red and we were set for a couple of
hours...we had the best ever Chateaubriand we have ever had....it literally just melted in your mouth...served with lovely herb butter, grilled and steamed veges...yummo!
Monday 27/3 awoke to the sun shining and we are set for a day of exploring. Our resort is a little out of Albufeira but walking distance and our lovely studio apartment is just what we envisaged. Set off to Docaria Almeixar, a beaut pasticceria and breaky place about 1km from our accom, we loved our breaky and the cakes were to die for! Fuelled for the day we set off to Albufeira old town, too hard to park, so drove back outside the old town and walked which turned out to be fantastic. Were able to walk and walk and soak up the atmosphere around the old town, very narrow winding streets up and down the cliffs of Albufeira. Lots of poms holidaying here I guess like a Bali to us, cheap and easy, close to them in England. Lovely beaches around Albufeira, blue water and white sandy beaches, so so pretty. Stopped for a beer at JC Bar and had two pints of beer with tapas for about $7 in total, so very
VILA GALE ATLANTICO
Our resort for a week 300mt to the beach cheap if you go to the right places. Ran into a Canadian couple who asked for directions and ended up spending quite some time with them chatting, they love coming to Portugal but only a few hours flight for them from Montreal. Then off to find a tourist information centre, not like ours, just a lady with a map to give directions, no tours etc. Anyway will do that online as want to book a boat trip to the coastal caves of Benagil. Off to the local gourmet supermarket for some goodies then home to our apartment for some wine and nibbles before heading out of Bella Vita (yes Italian) not far from our hotel overlooking the sea and sunset, lovely place with really lovely authentic Italian food, thoroughly enjoyed it.
Tuesday 28/3... took a walk along the coast in the area we are staying Gale, was a great walk including mountain goat climbing and walks along the small beaches along the way, there are lots of lovely walks to do here. In the afternoon took a 3 hour boat along the Algarve Coast from the Albufeira Marina...that was pretty spectacular....the coastline is so beautiful and the Benegil Caves
ALUFEIRA
JC BAR for a cleansing ale are quite unique with lots of small and large villages along the way...with some pretty big mansions too! Great day had by all but early dinner and bed as still feeling a bit jetlagged but you have to pack it in the small amount of time we have here. Went back to Sao Domingos where we went first night....now like old friends..such lovely people run this place...this time we shared the Seafood capalan which is like a big seafood stew....absolutely stunning, such a lot of seafood and....so delicious!
Wednesday 29/3...Up fairly early to have a walk down to the beach and breaky, then we had a 11.00a.m. wine tour, tasting and tapas booked....great little winery up in the hills about 30 minute drive from our apartment..owned by a french pathologist who has migrated down here...great set up and he has won some awards for his wines...only bottles about 35,000 bottles so quite small and unique. Tania was a breath of fresh air and told us all the ins and outs of the winery. Not like we needed lunch after this but had already planned a lunch place high up in the hills above the winery another 20 minute drive
further on....but OMG....scary roads...like the Amalfi...the guys that were with us in Italy will remember Vico Equense....but we did make it without wiping out any cars and OH was it worth it...fantastic lunch at Luar Da Foia...lots of regional produce wild boar, rabbit, black pork and the list goes on! Sat here for a couple of hours with a lovely bottle of house red....yes like Italy where the house red is just soo, soo good! We are finding Portugal kind of like Italy in some ways...the people are so passionate about their food and wine and very friendly and accommodating.
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Rhonda
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Hi
Although a big trip to get there....looks worth it!!!!!! Love the photos.....and parts do remind me of the Amalfi. You better bring back some of those bottles of Red for the Hart pub :) :) :) See you soon xxxxxxx