The Algarve Portugal

We really enjoyed our 5 days on the Algarve Coast.  The Algarve is a popular tourist destination and it is easy to see why with its beautiful, clean sandy beaches, spectacular scenery, mild climate, friendly locals and laid back lifestyle.  Fortunately we were there in the off season so we got a fantastic deal on an upmarket apartment and avoided all the crowds, which at the height of the season can be notoriously rowdy. 

View of the Lagos bay

Typical Algarve town

We took the bus from Seville to Lagos, Portugal, an easy 4 hour trip.  Lagos has a big marina that we wanted to check out.  We ducked onto the docks, started chatting with some of the residents and found out there were two Oyster 39 yachts just like Songster at the marina.  Not that many of these boats are still around so it was a real treat to see two in one spot.  The owners were on board one of the Oysters and we ended up having a long cuppa with them comparing notes and getting ideas for modifications and improvements.  I am always amazed at how easily new friends are made in the yachting community.

A sister for Songster

We checked out the small town museum, took long walks on the beach, inspected the harbour entrance and chatted with some dinghy sailors who turned out to be members of the British Olympic sailing team in Portugal for training.  

Steam punk sculptured wind vanes at the town museum

Shells on the beach

Surfers (in February!) and the British Olympic team practicing

Rough Harbour entrance

One morning we heard a lot of music coming from the town square.  I looked out our windows and saw lots of children dressed in all different costumes gathering below.  It was children's day in Portugal and all the schools come together in the town square.  It was fantastic.  The kids were so cute and the teachers, also in costumes, looked like they were enjoying themselves as much as the kids.  

School groups gathering for Children's Day

Lots of Zorros and swords

Deck of cards

Playing with streamers

Robin Hoods

All over bar the clean up

We decided to check out some other marinas in nearby Portimão, a 40 minute ride on a local bus.  The marinas were a bit basic and far from town, but the town itself was lovely.  .  An excellent museum on the waterfront was a little gem and a great find.  Portimão had a thriving sardine fishing industry.  Their exhibit of the history of the fishing industry was so well done.  The museum had acquired all the machinery and stock from the canning factory and had fantastic displays and videos of the entire process from catching the sardines to the finished tinned product.  The canning factory shut down in the 1980’s and now the area seems to survive on basic agriculture and tourism.

Bringing in the catch

Processing the fish

Packing the cans

The end product

The whole area of the Algarve is definitely one we want to return to on Songster.

An interesting nesting site for storks