Laid back in Lagos

I don't know where the time's gone since my last entry almost two weeks ago.  Since then, we've moved from Manta Rota and following a couple of nights in Portimão, we're now in Lagos.


So, to back track, we ended up spending a week in Manta Rota as we were so taken by the place.  However, time stands still for no one and we had places to go and people to see; namely Mand and Ash, who we were hoping to meet up with in Lagos.

We set off from Manta Rota on Tuesday 10 March with the intention of driving to underrated (according to Lonely Planet) Faro.  Unfortunately we only got as far as the car park, at which point we were approached by a shady looking bloke who said if we gave him money, he'd watch our van.  We were concerned about what would happen if we didn't, so not wanting to be held to ransom and give a random stranger money to 'guard' Dora, we left.  Faro will have to wait another time and next time, I think we'll stay in a campsite so we don't need to park in town.

Next up, we tried our luck at Albufeira.  Unfortunately, the camper stop we'd chosen wasn't very big and was very full.  We finally decided to see if there was anything in Portimão.  The camperstop book indicated that the aire there was huge, so we hoped that we'd have a reasonable chance of actually getting in.  On arrival, we weren't disappointed and finally found somewhere to park for the night.  At 2.50 euros per night, it was considerably cheaper than the stop at Albufeira, so they actually did us a favour.

The view from our rooflight in Portimao / Praia da Rocha

We're both in awe of the beaches around here.  They really are stunning and Praia da Rocha is no different.

Praia da Rocha

The beach is only a 5 minute walk from the aire and a further 5 minutes takes you to the main 'strip' of Praia da Rocha, which was our destination for our first meal out in Portugal.  The restaurant, called Safari, appeared, despite the misleading name and decor to match (an engraved turtle shell was hanging on the wall, in addition to a few other African inspired artefacts!), to be a traditional Portuguese restaurant.  There were only two other occupied tables, both of whom appeared to be Portuguese (which for us, always seems to be a good sign!).  The waiter, after initially speaking to us in Portuguese (he thought we were!), spoke perfect English and was only too happy to help me with a few useful Portuguese words.  We both ordered piri piri chicken; something we've since discovered appears to be on practically every Portuguese restaurant menu.  It was delicious though, so I'm not surprised.  The bill came to a very reasonable 29 euros and included garlic bread, two mains, half a bottle of red, a pint and two coffees.  We left a tip and still had change from 40 euros!

As luck would have it, a few bars had opened while we were in the restaurant.  One of the was an Irish bar with free wifi, so we decided it would be positively criminal not to go in.  It was the first Irish bar we've been to that was actually full of Irish people...

We stayed for a couple of drinks and made use of the free wifi before heading back Dora to release the 'hound'.

After a couple of relaxing days, it was soon time to say farewell to Portimão until next time.  We decided it's likely to be a winter stopover for next year as it's so lovely.

On Wednesday 11 March, we made the 20 odd mile journey across to Lagos to meet up with Mand and Ash.  After a stupidly early start and some more terrible roads, we arrived managed to beat the crowds and got a spot right next to them and the loos and very close to the wifi spot.  It's the best wifi we've had in weeks, including the campsite at Ronda!

We started off on Thursday with Mash (as they are now jointly known to us!) giving us a mini tour of Lagos and the surrounding areas, before we had a celebratory reunion beer and a relatively early night.  Pete also picked up a wetsuit in the hope of being able to have a go at surfing.  He's wanted to learn for so long, he was really quite excited about it.

On Friday, Mand very kindly let Pete borrow her board, so that he could see how he got on.  We went to a few beaches and Pete tried out some surfing with Ash.  Unfortunately, as much as he's been dying to learn to surf for ages, it's still too early for him to be able to do what he needs to on a surf board.  Despite being stupidly impatient and really gutted about not being able to go surfing, he's decided for now, to take the sensible approach - to leave it for a few weeks and then get lessons.  I have a feeling we may be in Portugal for a while...

Praia do Porto do Mos

Praia do Beliche

After the beaches, we headed to the Hangout, a cafe bar in Sagres, for a late lunch (veal burgers, nom!), before heading back to Lagos to catch happy hour in one of the marina bars.  We were back around 1.30am after a thoroughly good catch up and paying a super cheap bar bill totalling 34 euros for the 4 of us!!!

On Saturday, some of us feeling  little more delicate than others, we went for a head clearing wander into town.  En route back, Ash spotted a full English in one of the marina cafes and after Pete had doubled back to give it further inspection, we indulged in breakfast all round.  Feeling much perkier after the traditional English pick me up, we all headed off in Ida to some of the local surf beaches.  I'd felt fine all day, but lack of sleep finally caught me up at around 6pm and the rest of the night was spent in bed!

On Sunday, we went in convoy to Beliche praia near Sagres.  Unable to surf, Pete went snorkelling while Ash surfed and Mand, Powell and I relaxed on the beautiful beach.

Chilling on Zavial Praia

LEGS!!!

Later, we went to Cabo de São Vicente, the southwestern most point in Portugal.  The beautiful, rugged coastline reminded me of Cornwall.

Backfisch at Cabo de São Vicente - not a sign we expected to see in Portugal!

A giant chair at Cabo de São Vicente - strangely makes me look bigger...!

We headed back to the aire late afternoon and ended up meeting another Brit couple who had parked next to Dora.  Oonagh and Andy, also travelling long term, joined us for drinks and the six of us had a lovely, if chilly evening chatting and putting the world to rights.

Having finished off a bottle of Whiskey between them, the boys were a little worse for wear on Monday, but we managed a wander into town with Mash, where we had some lunch and I invested in a couple of summer tops.  I needn't have bothered as it's been raining on and off since Tuesday morning!!

It's now Wednesday and after a fairly tame St Patrick's night out with Mash, Oonagh and Andy, Pete, Powell and I headed into the old town for a mooch around and to take some pics this morning while the guys were away surfing.  We came back to Dora for lunch and it's been raining intermittently since then, so we've had a relaxed afternoon.  We're off out later for Ash's birthday and Pete is snoozing in preparation, so I leave you with some of our pictures from today...