Waves and Caves

The past 2 weeks in Portugal has been quite a treat, especially being with family. When my parents and I left Lisbon for the south coast RobO was supposed to be on his way home, but due to pilot illness he ended up having a bonus 24 hours in Lisbon without us. It was a blessing in disguise as he missed the big snowstorm and flight disasters that day in Calgary.

We arrived at our timeshare resort in Albufeira, a city in the Algarve area on the south coast. It’s the kind of place that makes me wish I liked swimming (or getting wet at all!). Despite the beautiful pool and beach my swimsuit has stayed tucked away in my backpack. Every day the forecast is 23 and not a cloud in the sky, though in the sun it must be more like 28. The condo is a 1 bedroom, but it also has a skinny little bunk bed in the hallway where a closet would fit. I’ve been calling it my ‘Harry Potter bed’.

We took a boat trip along the coastline and into the famous Benagil cave. We were so lucky as it was a calm day without a breath of wind so our catamaran could get really deep inside the cave. I had read reviews that said that in rough waters some tours could not even attempt to enter. The coastline along the way had lots of beautiful views.

The famous cave as we got closer, then into it:

My dad rented a car which has been really handy to explore the towns along the coast each day.

We started with the pretty town of Lagos and the westernmost point on the continent.

We enjoyed the winding drive up to the inland town of Monchique, right beside the highest point in Portugal. There is a monastery that was destroyed in an earthquake in the 1700s.

My favorite day was the day that we hiked along the coastline. A well maintained trail hugs the coastline along the cliffs and reveals beautiful (and nearly private at this time of year) beaches. It makes my ‘best hikes I’ve done in the world’ list.

As you would expect we have been eating our fill of fresh seafood. One day my mom and I splurged on a fresh red snapper that we picked from the cooler.

Our farewell dinner was the local specialty of Cataplana, which is basically a big pot of fish and seafood. Yum.

Now it’s time for my parents to fly solo, armed with their well practiced map app and all further transportation booked. They have another week here, then Spain for 2 weeks, Italy for 1, and a Mediterranean cruise finale. Too bad they don’t have a travel blog! As for me, I’m headed back up to Lisbon to start walking the Camino Portuguese.