Roaming the Algarve

Posted byolePosted inAlgarve 22

Okay, one more day in the Algarve before my conference starts, and so it’s time to explore! Here’s some maps to set the stage:

Portugal – the little blue suitcase is the Vila Vita Parc in Porches, where I am staying…
the Algarve – Southern Coast of Portugal – again I am the blue suitcase
Note to the far right is Faro, the “nearest ‘big city'”, where I flew in
and now just the Western part of the Algarve, Porches is on the far right
on the left Sagres and Cape Vincent

I decided a car trip out to Sagres and Cape Vincent were in order, out to the Southwestern tip of Europe, and seeing the sites along the way. Whee.

Benagil – vacation home mecca
well this is nice

It’s obvious immediately that the Algarve is a vacation destination; you have the places the locals live, and the places (along the water) where the visitors from Northern Europe come and hang out.

in Praia de Vale Covo – do not try to park a car here 🙂

Carvoeiro has a beautiful boardwalk along the cliffs, and some incredible caves and rock formations. And yes I explored.

keyhole rock

Onward … to the harbor town of Portimao.

(can I just say, the pano feature of late-model iPhones is amazing.)

some nice old ships, and some nice new ones too

On to Lagos!

beautiful fountains everywhere
the estuary of Lagos
founding saint of Lagos

And finally after a lot of driving through back roads … Sagres. The tip of Europe, so to speak…

driving to the Fort at the point
well, fortified 🙂
pretty little chapel, with Cape St Vincent in the background
rugged coastline to Cape St Vincent – calm today, but not always; this can have some huge surf sometimes
the lighthouse of Sagres
interesting little maze – with a shrine at the center
the very point – gazing out into the Atlantic at America
looking back at Sagres town

A beautiful excursion along the Algarve … on a beautiful day. How did I get here? And now … on to the reception for the conference!