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Published: November 7th 2007
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Lunch with a view
Hilda takes in the view at Cabo St. Vincent while enjoying a picnic lunch at the very south western tip of Portugal. Bom Dia Bo & Dud,
How we love Portugal - 4 hours travelling south from Evora and we’re at the seaside again. Before we set out on our Great Adventure, we bought a comprehensive map of Europe and asked family, friends and colleagues to write on post-it-notes places we should not miss, and stick them in the book. We didn’t fancy the ‘touristy’ bit of the Algarve and a note from my colleague Roger Wilkinson pointed us towards Sagres (this is the most south westerly place in Europe). We found a site which comes highly recommended and settled for this week to the west of Lagos, just a couple of kilometres outside a small bay - Praia da Luz.
Now, you know when something sounds familiar? It was not until we walked around Praia da Luz we realised why - this is where Madeline McCann disappeared from. It is the most beautiful bay; no building stands more than a couple of stories high, narrow winding streets, one supermarket, one bank, a pharmacy, a few bars and restaurants - the perfect place for a family holiday. Such paradise for such an awful happening. We have walked around the village and talked
Walking off lunch
An amazing view of the Atlantic Ocean. about the incident - but, it really does beggar belief how a small child just disappeared. And ….. no sign of a picture or poster - infact no sign that there was a significant happening here at all.
We’ve also just heard that 3 British holidaymakers and 1 German have been drowned while trying to rescue their children from the sea at a bay near to Sagres. We were only there a couple of days ago absorbing the beauty of the area and looking out to sea where Henry the Navigator (remember him from Lisbon) and Columbus took their last views of land before setting out on their adventures. The beaches around here are advertised as being the best surfing conditions in the Algarve; you’ve not got to be here long to realise why - huge rollers cascade from the Atlantic. There are so many calm and beautiful bays around this area, so why let children swim here, especially when the signs (in English) explain that the beaches do not have cover at this time of year. More disaster in paradise.
Lagos is the local town and has everything you could wish for. The marina is a very
The fisherman of Cabo St. Vincent
This man was really casting into the sea some 300 ft below. While we were there he actually caught a fish. exciting place to spend time - I think we need to look at the distribution of wealth here; how can so many people have so much money? Some of the boats moored here look as though they cost enough to feed a small nation for an entire lifetime. The town centre is a good place to stop for coffee - excellent for people watching and entertainment. One day while we were there we had a group of North American Indian’s performing (glad it wasn’t a rain dance) and a couple of mime artists - a great way to spend an hour or so. The coffee here was also very good - we’ve supped some crap this last couple of months. Northern Spain in particular serves something we think was made with ground acorns - we’ve tried one of the local products ‘Bonka’ - says it all I think!!
It’s been an extremely hot week - tropical was how one of the waiters described it to us; and so we’ve had a little rest. Driving around the south west coast line is just beautiful (thank you Roger), calm, friendly and relaxing. We met a couple on site - Del &
Carol who are spending their 3rd year over-wintering in Portugal. They were a mine of useful information and even told us where we could buy ‘real’ Cornish Pasties - sad I know, but it’s got to be done in the name of research. They were ‘real’ and they were delicious; only problem was, as Howard said ‘he could have done with two’ - Oh! those ever expanding waist lines.
The other happening while we’ve been here is a new addition to the H & H travel support system …… we’ve bought another satellite dish and it is HUGE!!! We knew that the one we had bought would be okay for some parts of Europe but as Howard said, ‘there are going to be some long nights in Spain’ - I didn’t know whether to take this as a threat or a promise so I promptly agreed to its purchase. The dish is 1.3 metres in diameter and it is fastened to the ground with a girder!!! I am expecting a visit from air traffic control and … I am worried that we may have interfered with the signal from Emily Moor - apologies if your TV’s gone funny over
Praia da Luz
The beautiful beach at Praia da Luz the last week.
And … finally … they have a Lidl supermarket here, so we had a pop in, like you do. Vino de Mesa - 59cents per litre - (equivalent to 33p per bottle) - bloody marvellous.
We shall be sorry to leave Portugal. Onward ever onward - heading towards Seville next week with one or two exciting ‘things’ to see.
love + hugs + kisses
H & H x
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