Our week in the Algarve

It's our day of arrival in the sunny Algarve on September 28th and.... it's pouring rain!  In fact, the region experienced a torrential downpour, accompanied by constant lightning, for a total of 36 hours. The locals (we were told that the Portuguese detest the rain) were quite horrified and we witnessed the construction of several arks. Thankfully, the weather turned perfect after this first day and we enjoyed sun and warm temperatures for the remainder of the week.

We can't complain because, while we've had only a few sprinkles in the last month, and we haven't had the type of rainy day that keeps you indoors. 

We are staying in Alvor which is just outside of Lagos (the western end of the resort strip in the Algarve).  The condo is beautiful - it's brand new and spacious with expanses of stainless steel and granite. There is a large private terrace, a few steps away from a shared swimming pool.  We didn't know what to expect (you can never really tell from the pictures online), so we are very pleased that the place turned out.

After arriving we did some grocery shopping (can't wait to  make a large green salad) and sussed-out the local cafe/pastelaria, which happens to be a mere 50 metres from our door.  They have fresh bread in the morning!

So far, I can sum up much of my jaunt across Europe in search of two things:  the nearest washroom, and a good cup of cafe con leche/cafe au lait/cafe latte/cafe com leite (take your pick!)  When I do come across a latte that hits the spot, I order two as I never know when I will next come across a good one.  Marcus, needless to say, loves the coffee here - hasn't had a bad cup yet and has only thought longingly of a large Tim Hortons once or twice (usually while driving).

There is really nothing exciting to report about our week in the Algarve, unless you can find anything riveting about lying on the beach and by the pool soaking up the sun.  

It was a refreshing break from eating in restaurants, and we made good use of the local grocery store and our kitchen to make our own simple meals. We did go out for one dinner, but quickly realized our mistake in accepting a restaurant recommendation from Brits. They actually like overcooked fish and veggies. Sigh.

We did hike up to the highest point in the Algarve - a place called Foia (902 metres above sea level).  Our way up was a constant uphill two-hour walk in full sun.  I was thinking I felt a little light-headed from the heat, but it may have been the 25 communication towers that greeted us at the top scrambling my brain.  We stopped for our packed lunch and enjoyed the view out to the ocean.  Although too hazy for a good photo, it was impressive nonetheless.  

Unfortunately,  I made a tactical map reading error so we spent the next hour and a half trying to find the second half of the trail (which required going downhill and then retracing our steps uphill AGAIN!).  I take total blame.  But......... in my defense, I was interpreting a map that covered the entire region.  In other words, the trail was only about the size of a quarter on the map.  Detailed it was not!  After consulting some obviously lost German hikers, we did, in the end, find the right path back and had a nice downhill trot back to Monchique, where we stopped for a well-earned coffee and beer. We then hopped into the car and bought some pottery from a roadside stand as a reminder of the area.

This is a picture of a cork tree - the reddish area is where the cork has been harvested.  We passed many cork and eucalyptus groves in Portugal, which appear to be a significant agricultural commodity in Portugal. You can smell the eucalyptus as you drive by, which might be handy if you have a cold.