PORTUGALIA-TRAVEL: The most up-to-date information for everyone who is going to Portugal. Lagos. A day of fantastic walking. Where are the best beaches in Lole or Albufeira?

Continuation of the journey. Home - http://www.turpravda.ua/pt/algarve/blog-153847.html

Relax on the Algarve coast and not visit the most legendary edge of the earth - the fortress Sagres (Sagres), we could not. The cape, stretching far into the ocean and blown by the winds, truly represents the end of the world. And the sheer sixty-meter cliffs, plunging into Atlantic Ocean, make a lasting impression.

Lighthouse

Sagres. Western side of the cape.

Among local population There is a legend that in the 15th century, Henry the Navigator, who organized many sea expeditions, at the expense of the Order of Christ, founded a navigation school in Sagres, in which Magellan, Vasco da Gama and Diaz gained experience. From here began the search for an ideal sea route to India. Several expeditions were sent from Sagres to the southern coast of Africa, supplying Portugal with gold and black slaves.

The earthquake of 1755 severely destroyed the fortress. And today little remains of the once majestic city. The ancient lighthouse and fortress walls - part of the 17th century fort - attract attention. with terraces. As well as the remains of a tiny 14th century chapel.

All that remains of the school itself is a stone platform with the remains of a 43-meter “wind rose”.

Sagres. Remains of a 14th century chapel

Sagres was chosen by surfers - because best waves in the country, fans of sport fishing - because the coolest places are nearby, and lovers of peace and quiet - because there are few tourists here, since the place is blown by all the winds.

Sagres.

Sagres. Western side of the cape.

Cape Sao Vicente (Cabo de Sao Vicente) is visible in the distance - the most southwestern point of mainland Europe. The cape has always served as a landmark for sailors. Now at its top there is a lighthouse with a range of 95 kilometers. Of all the existing lighthouses in Europe, this is the most powerful.

Sagres. Cape San Vincente

The most famous resort towns south coast Portugal - Lagos, Albufeira and Portimau. In any case, I most often came across these names on travel forums, especially Russian ones, when I was planning a trip. And because They are the most popular and also the most tourist-saturated.

Lagos- ancient sea town with more than two thousand years of history, dating back to the Carthaginians. The history of Lagos is inseparable from the history of the province, the city experienced the same events as other cities on the coast - for two and a half thousand years of its existence, Lagos was home to the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors .

Today Lagos - a picturesque city on the ocean, located around a beautiful harbor, and famous for its clean beaches, restaurants and hotels . IN along the coast stretches a wide promenade with spreading palm trees, souvenir kiosks and shopping tents, along which tourists eager for resort romance leisurely stroll. And on the other side, along the canal, yachts and boats are lined up, offering tourists exciting sea fun: inspection of bizarre grottoes and caves created in coastal rocks sea waves for many centuries.

All this attracts travelers and makes Lagos one of the most popular resorts.

We stopped in Lagos after Sagres, expecting to see the Church of St. Antonio, built in 1707 in the Baroque style. Behind the simple external façade of the church and asymmetrical bell towers lies a richly decorated interior with gold; it is also called the Golden Church. The ceiling of the church features the coat of arms of Portugal, the lower part of the walls is decorated with blue and white azulejos, and other parts of the walls are decorated with carved gilded and painted wood.

Lagos. Church of St. Antonio

(this photo is from the site http://www.lookportugal.com)

Unfortunately, the church was closed for restoration. And we had no choice but to walk through the streets of the city and go to one of the beaches for which Lagos is famous. Many interestingly shaped rocks, grottoes and small coves, most of which can only be reached by water, attract tourists from all over the world.

Lagos.

On the embankment there are remains of the wall that surrounded the city in antiquity, and the 17th-century fort of Ponta da Bandeira (Fortaleza Ponta da Bandeira), built to protect the harbor.

Lagos. Remains of the wall that surrounded the city in ancient times

At the end of the 17th century, the Algarve coast was very often attacked by pirates. Lagos, which was once the capital of the Algarve, also suffered from them, since it was a port city. And then the governor of the Algarve, Count Sarzedos, decided to build a fort near the port.

The fortress was built from 1679 to 1690, at a time when Portugal was fighting a war for its independence from Spain. It was possible to enter the fortress only through a drawbridge over a deep ditch dug in front of the entrance. The fort is built in the shape of a square, with watchtowers located at the corners of the fort. Inside the fort there is a chapel of St. Barbara, the walls of which are decorated with azulejos tiles from the late 18th century.

Lagos. Fort Ponta da Bandeira

Today, on the territory of the fort, the traditional Lagos festival is held - the midnight swimming festival: every year on August 29, people gather to swim at midnight and taste dishes local cuisine and listen to live music.

There are many schools open in Lagos where you can learn to surf, operate kayaks, canoes and other watercraft.

Lagos.

Albufeira.

A pleasant fishing town with snow-white houses on the ocean over time became tourist capital Algarve. The Romans also took a fancy to this place and built a castle here, which the Arabs later gave the name Al-Bukhar - “Castle on the Sea”. During the period of Arab rule, active trade developed here with North Africa. In the XIII century. The castle was captured by the Knights of the Order of Santiago, and the subsequent loss of trade links led to the decline of the city.

Most often people come to Albufeira for beautiful beaches, separated by high cliffs that stretch for many kilometers. One of the most famous beaches of the city is Peneco, or, as it is also called, Tunnel Beach (Praia do Tunel). It is located in the old part of the city, and to get there you need to go through a tunnel made right into the rocks.

Albufeira. Tunnel Beach

Albufeira has a lot entertainment centers and nightclubs, so life is in full swing around the clock. A large number of boutiques and shops where you can buy almost everything - from clothing from world brands to small souvenirs made by local craftsmen.

Portimao(Portimao) is one of the largest cities in the Algarve, and in my opinion, the largest. The huge multi-storey boxes of hotels (from inexpensive to luxury) that we saw from the bus window when we went to Sagres did not contribute to our sympathy for this resort. But it so happened that we had to live in this city for 2 incomplete days.

The history of Portimao, like all coastal towns, begins with the history of a small port where Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians once traded. Portimão is located at the mouth of the Arada River, which became a natural harbor for ships and was known in ancient times as a haven for corsairs and pirates. The river provided access to the sea and ancient capital Algarve - Silves, located upriver. Local goods were exported from the port of Portimão - figs, olives, wine, fish. Slaves and sugar were imported, mainly from African colonies and Brazil.

In the XVII - XVIII centuries. the development of the city slowed down significantly due to the weakening of trade and the devastating earthquake in 1755. Then it was destroyed main temple and 15 small chapels. Giant waves caused significant damage to the city walls and Fort Santa Catarina. At the same time, the Marquis of Pombal intended to turn Portimão into a bishopric, and raised the port to the rank of a city, but Queen Maria I vetoed his decision, and Portimão acquired the status of a city only in 1924.

Among most tourists, Portimão is famous for its huge Praia da Rocha beach, which stretches for several kilometers. Comfortable wooden paths completely encircle the beach, going down to the water; there are changing cabins, showers and a cafe. Like most Algarve resorts, Portimão is located on a rocky massif from which scenic view to the ocean, the resort itself and its surroundings.

When we went down to Praia da Rocha beach, having arrived in Portimão after lunch, we froze in amazement, shock and horror, and my hand instinctively reached for the camera - we had never seen SO many vacationers! :))

Portimao. Praia da Rocha beach

We had a hard time finding a small free beach area for our things not far from the water. True, the stormy ocean that day, with one of its longest waves, drove us away from there. :))) Hearing Russian-speaking vacationers nearby, we involuntarily started talking with them - these were residents of Moldova who came to visit their children and grandchildren living and working here in Portimau. It turned out that in Portugal there are not only many of our compatriots, but also many residents of Moldova who work as migrant workers.

The rest of the time we sunbathed and swam on a nearby beach, located behind one of the rocky ledges. This beach was small, there were no wooden paths, changing cabins or showers, but there were few people there, and several bizarre rocks with grottoes inside grew out of the water - where you could look at the sun through the crevice and take some nice photographs.

Portimao. Beach to the left of Praia da Rocha

Portimao.

As in any huge resort town, when the sun sets, life in Portimão does not stop; it noisily flows from the beach to bars, pubs, outdoor stages and discos. From May to October, Portimão hosts numerous concerts and festivals with local and international stars. A very popular sardine festival is held at the end of summer and lasts a whole week. Grilled sardines are everywhere, accompanied by live music and craft fairs.

And ahead of us were Lisbon, Sintra, Evora... And the sunset on Cabo da Roca - we became one of the last inhabitants of the continent to see the sun that day. :))

Cape Cabo da Roca. Sunset August 22, 2014

If you are a fan beach holiday, you should visit popular resort Albufeira (Portugal), which is located in southern region countries - Algarve. The town grew from a once quiet fishing village and over time became favorite place for tourists from different countries peace. The city itself is small - about 25 thousand residents live in it. But at the height of the season, this number increases ten times!

The resort is surrounded by beautiful beaches, orange trees and pine trees. All conditions have been created for vacationers: comfortable hotel accommodation, rich night life, restaurants, clubs, boutiques, discos. Any entertainment is available on the beaches: from windsurfing and diving to water skiing and jet skis.

Urban transport

The city is located on steep hills, so walking consists of serious ascents and descents. The life of tourists is made easier thanks to a special type of transport - a car with small trailers attached to it. This mini-train runs at intervals of 20 minutes. (summer) and 40 min. (in winter). The trip costs about 2.2 euros per person. Children under 6 years old do not require a ticket.

Five ride in the city bus routes, which will take you to all the main attractions of Albufeira in Portugal. They work from 7 am to ten pm. The fare is 1.3€.

For those who prefer to take a taxi, the prices are as follows: landing fee is 2.8 €, each kilometer of the journey costs 0.5 €. Uber also works.

Attractions

This place is famous not only for its beautiful beaches and ocean. Where to go for a walk and what to see in Albufeira is also not a question. There are many interesting sights and all kinds of entertainment here.

To help visitors, there are signs that will help you find all the attractions of Albufeira. Let's focus on the most significant objects.

Old city

This is the most picturesque part of Albufeira and its main attraction. The attention of tourists is attracted by the Moorish style of buildings - narrow streets bordered on both sides by white stone houses. Arab domination remains in the distant past, reminding of itself with the only surviving arch - a fragment of an ancient mosque. In its place now stands the first Christian church in the city.

Walking along the steep narrow streets leading down (up) you will feel the spirit of the ancient Moorish culture, which had a strong influence not only on the city, but on the whole of Portugal. The snow-white houses, built in the 18th century, were not damaged by earthquakes or wars.

Church of St. Anne

After walking through the streets of the Old Town, you can stop by a cafe and have a snack on fried seafood. After refreshing yourself, be sure to visit the main religious attraction of Albufeira - the Church of St. Anne. From the inside, it amazes with its splendor, ancient frescoes and exquisite decoration. Entrance to the temple is free.

The park is suitable place, where you can relax with children. It is located a few kilometers from Albufeira and covers an area of 8 hectares. The rich program is equally interesting for both children and adults. All shows and entertainment involve sea animals.

In the aquarium you can observe the aquatic and terrestrial life of its inhabitants. There are several species of sharks here. By visiting the 4D cinema, you will be on an educational journey across the ocean. The Albufeira Water Park has many swimming pools, attractions, recreation areas, shops and restaurants. Flights await you pirate ship, Ferris wheel ride, waterslides and many more interesting things. You can have a snack at any local restaurant or organize a picnic right on the green lawn of the park.

Additional Information

An entrance ticket including all attractions costs 29 €. The ticket price for children (5–10 years old) and pensioners (from 65 years old) is 21 €.
The park's opening hours are 10:00 - 18:00 (in summer 10:00 - 19:30). He starts working in March and ends in November.
You can get to the attraction from any resort on a special bus. You can buy a ticket at a kiosk or book online, and you will be given a transport schedule.

The best place to start exploring Albufeira is observation deck. You can get there by bus or walk. From above, the resort is clearly visible: wide beaches, endless ocean and snow-white Old Town. The most best photos Albufeiras are obtained from this site.

Once you go down the open escalator, you will immediately find yourself on the embankment, from where you can go to the beach or to the center to explore the local attractions.

Gale (Praia Gale)

Gale Beach is divided by a cliff into two parts: the western, bordering Salgados, and the eastern, resting on huge cliffs. The name Gale translates as shipwreck and is associated with the events of the Middle Ages. Due to the length of the coastline, covered with delicate golden sand, Gale is considered the longest among all the beaches of Albufeira.

All conditions have been created for vacationers: from free car parking to showers and rental of beach accessories. Those who like to conquer the waves can rent surfboards and use the services of an instructor.

You can get to Gale from Albufeira by bus number 74 or 75. They depart from the bus station at intervals of one hour. The journey takes 20 minutes and costs 1 €.

Praia dos Olhos de Água

Compared to others, this beach in Portugal is small - its length is just over 300 meters. Excellent infrastructure, red soft sand, but swimming here is not very comfortable due to the cool water (this is due to the underwater current). But here there is freedom for surfers.

The daily ebb and flow of the tides miraculously changes the landscape. At low tide you can admire the exposed rocks and algae, mineral springs gushing out from under the stones (the water tastes good).

Salgados (Praia dos Salgados)

This beach is located farthest from the city, so the majority of vacationers are staying in hotels in Salgados. It is clean and well-groomed, has fine sand and a comfortable, smooth entry into the water, so you can relax here with kids. Renting sunbeds and umbrellas costs 15 €. A wide variety of restaurants and cafes allow you to choose an establishment that suits your budget. There's even a Thai massage hut here.

You can come here by bus or rent a car. Parking is free.

It is also called Golden Beach due to its fine golden sand. The place is especially popular among local residents. The entrance to the water is smooth, without stones, which is clearly visible during low tides. Like other places in the Algarve region of Portugal, there are many small coves surrounded by steep cliffs.

Praia da Oura is equipped with everything you need for relaxation, beach and water activities. Locals and some tourists sunbathe directly on the sand, laying down a mat or beach towel, saving on the fee for renting a sunbed (15 €). The steep descent to the beach will be a problem for people with foot problems.

Where is the best place to stay?

Hotel Santa Eulalia Praia

Although the resort is small, there are no problems with tourists staying. Here you can find any accommodation: from a luxurious room in a fashionable hotel to a room in an inexpensive guest house. The most popular are three- and four-star hotels.

They are equipped free Wi-Fi, cable TV, air conditioning. Some rooms have a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. The hotels are equipped with swimming pools for children and adults, playgrounds, etc.

Velamar Sun&Beach Hotel

The farther from the center, the lower the prices, and the service is no worse. For example, in the Velamar Sun&Beach Hotel, located in the suburbs, you can use a number of useful services: bicycle rental, free transfer to historical Center Albufeira.

A double room in a 3-4 star hotel costs from 90€ per night in high season. The price of the same room in an elite hotel is 180–220 €. Hotels on the coast will cost more: 120 (three-star) and 300 € (five-star).

The most affordable option is hostels. A minimum bed costs 40 euros per day.

Find out PRICES or book any accommodation using this form

Weather

Albufeira is located in the south of Portugal and is the most sunny place. The mountains protect Albufeira from cold winds, while a warm wind blows from the south. average temperature air in winter time+16 degrees, and in summer +27. It rains during the October-March season, so it is better to come here in the summer.

The hottest months are July and August. This period refers to the high season when most tourists arrive. The temperature rises to +30 degrees. The most heat water in Albufeira occurs in August (up to +24 degrees).

In September, the heat drops by a couple of degrees, but the sea has time to warm up. This is a good time to relax with children. The beach season in this part of Portugal ends towards the end of October.

Nutrition

There are plenty of places in Albufeira where you can eat deliciously and inexpensively. Of course, the most expensive establishments are located in the Old Town and on the embankment. National cuisine consists mainly of dishes prepared from seafood and fish. Potatoes are usually served as a side dish in different variations.

Restaurante Vivaldo's

Restaurants and cafes in the mid-price category have quite affordable prices.

Dinner for two people (with wine) costs approximately 32 euros.
The same dinner in the city center will cost 40–50 euros. The establishments serve (by our standards) quite large portions, so you can order half of the dish.
Lunch for one inexpensive restaurant will cost 10-11 €. Often for this price you can get a 3-course “menu of the day”, which includes a first, main course and a salad or dessert of your choice.

How to get to Albufeira

Albufeira does not have its own airport, so it is best to fly from Russia and other CIS countries to Lisbon or to the city of Faro, where there is also international Airport. And from there you can get to the resort.

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By train from Lisbon

The distance from Lisbon to Albufeira is approximately 250 km. You can get there in any way: by bus, train or rent a car. The most common option is the Lisbon – Albufeira train.

Departure point: central Train Station Lisboa Oriente.

You can get from Lisbon to Albufeira by train in three hours. Ticket costs from 20.6 euros. Prices depend on the train and carriage class.

Check the website for current train schedules and ticket prices. railway Portugal - www.cp.pt.

Look current schedule and you can purchase tickets online at www.rede-expressos.pt

By bus from Faro

From Faro to Albufeira 45 km. The most convenient way to get there is by bus. They travel both from the airport building and from the city bus station in Faro. Flights operate from 6:30 to 20:00.

Travel time is 55 minutes, ticket price is 5 euros.

Prices on the page are for June 2018.

Going on a trip on such famous resort, like Albufeira (Portugal), it is best to plan your trip well in advance, purchase tickets and book accommodation in advance. Then nothing will spoil your holiday.

Faro and Albufeira are behind me, on my way to Lagos

We passed through some clay towns, and finally, it was Lagos. Looks great. The bus station is right next to the marina. The evening sun, and in its rays magical yachts and ships shimmer with special shades of white. Wonderful promenade. But I don't live here. The hostel advised me to take a taxi, like it would take half an hour to walk. At first I refused, but then I decided that I could easily afford 4 euros. But here’s another quest – find a taxi. There weren't any at the station, so I went to the city center. So what? Flip flops are comfortable shoes.

Finally, a taxi was found. I quickly explained in melodious Portuguese where I needed to go, and we went. Right along this wonderful promenade, past ancient cathedrals illuminated by the sun, past monuments and pine parks. We arrived surprisingly quickly. Not all taxi drivers are scammers. When I sat down, they told me 5. When we arrived, it turned out to be 4.15. They gave me change down to a penny, although I didn’t really count on it and had already mentally said goodbye to 5 euros.
They were waiting for me at the hostel, there’s even a swimming pool. But why do I need a pool if there is a sea!

I immediately found out everything I needed. But I couldn’t decide whether I should go to Cape San Vincent tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. It all depended on the weather, they promised rain. In the rain it is better on the cape than on the beach. In general, I decided not to bother myself, but to see how it goes.
And so it went - I went to explore the city center.

The main lesson today is don't ask directions from people who look local but speak English. At the first fork, the map couldn’t tell me exactly where I was, so I asked a man with a dog for directions. With a dog!!! So, local.
But no, he showed me the way in English and then a new quest began. The streets I walked along were pleasant, wide and snow-white with luxury villas and expensive condominiums on both sides. But bad luck - they weren’t on the map.

On the side in the distance I saw the sea, and it seemed to me that the path led somewhere to where I needed to go. But when the road sharply climbed towards new luxury villas and snow-white condominiums, I saw two teenagers. Let me ask, there are no other people on the streets. The answer was basically expected. No, this street will never lead you to the center. Clear. I thought so. Don't trust people with dogs who speak English.

I didn’t lose anything, of course, but in the end I came to the center, albeit not after as much time as I had planned.
What is a center? It is a collection of streets, churches, monuments, restaurants and souvenir shops surrounded by a fortress wall.

I was terribly thirsty, and I saw these magic letters - batido de banana. And a dear old lady sold them. She explained to me that 4 euros is very cheap. Hmmm. Okay, I'll make a discount on a huge glass and the city center. But it's never cheap. But it’s very tasty.
Meanwhile, the sun sets even lower, and now the yachts take on new shades. Very nice place. And there are few people. As usual, everything is in the city center stores. I don’t understand this topic, they sell anything from plastic crap to gold and the stores are full. Is it really necessary to bring gold back from vacation???

In general, I couldn’t understand this, so I wandered around the alleys for a bit according to the “away from the crowd” principle, admired the beautiful snow-white houses and left the fortress wall. There is a good restaurant here. Or rather, it seemed to me that it should be quite good, and I was not mistaken.

Inexpensive, they don’t serve cubierto, there is Wi-Fi, it’s quite crowded (which means it’s good). I’ll sit here for a while, taste the octopus salad and meat!!! There were no ribs, oh sadness. But it turned out to be just a pig. I guess I haven’t eaten meat for a long time, so go ahead. I learned a new word in Portuguese – fork (garfo). Nothing to do with the Spanish tenedor. I chatted with a friend who sells boat trips in a mixture of all languages. But I still need to practice the local dialect. I’m training, I’m getting better every day. If I think in simple phrases, I can easily find the right words in my brain and construct wonderful phrases. But, of course, I won’t support a conversation about Navalny in Portuguese.

The road home was easier than the road from home. I’m already getting my bearings and avoiding questions addressed to obscure people with dogs. But I was also caught on the street by motorists asking how to get there. I already knew the answer, so I was happy to help!
The day is over, there are only Germans in the hostel. My neighbor is a very friendly young lady. I told her everything I remember from German lessons at school. Well, about Lenin. And of course, everything I knew about Frankfurt. But I knew the most basic thing about it – the airport.
I need to plan out my further movements a little, otherwise I don’t know what I’ll do tomorrow. Detailed Excel spreadsheets with schedules and detailed plans are a thing of the past. Now pure impromptu.

However, I thought of a couple of options “between Lisbon and Porto”. It turned out that I had an extra 2 days, which I spent, I don’t remember what for. It's great - more flexibility, more options, more options. And what’s noteworthy is that I bought Madeira on pseudo-random dates. It seemed to me that on the selected days there would be a plus minus correctly. And I was not mistaken, we could have moved the schedule here or there by a day, but overall the timing was perfect. Well, for the second time in Portugal everything works out as it should. Compensation for spring hepatitis).

The place here is very peaceful. No noise, no parties. Home guest. Like a family. It's time to sleep. Tomorrow new experiences await me, either the beach or the cape. We'll see.

Despite the very early bedtime, it was not possible to get up early. And I was also lamenting that breakfast only starts at 9, and who eats breakfast so late? It must be from 7 am. And then I barely got up at 9.
Breakfast amazed me again. Included in a bed for 10 euros is surreal. Cakes, sausages, hams, cheeses - some kind of holiday. Tomorrow I need to borrow some breakfast for lunch).
So. It's decided. As long as there is sunshine, I will go to the beach. Sagres and the Cape will be tomorrow!
A walk to the beach again turned out to be a quest; my friendship with Portuguese maps is not going well. But when the sea is visible ahead, it’s easier to walk.
I've arrived.

And just with my arrival the sun went away. However, this small problem did not stop me from spending 2 hours on this marvelous beach, surrounded by majestic cliffs. The map shows a route for mini-trekking along all the beaches. So I’ll go there, just lie down for a bit. There are few people, the wind is quite warm, and the sun sometimes still appears. Pure pleasure. The sound of the sea soothed and caressed my sand-filled ears that I didn’t dare turn on the player. Only sounds of nature today!

So, I'll go trekking. It is absolutely unclear from the map what it should look like. There is a path along the cliff along the shore, and people even walk along it, but it is difficult to understand whether it is this or whether this is the territory of luxury condos. I got lost again, and when I felt in my gut that I was walking along a road that was moving me away from what I wanted, I nevertheless returned to the beach and behind the cafe I found this inconspicuous entrance to the path.
What pleased me was that the entire area along the sea is private and fenced off, but the path and a couple of meters from the edge are shared. There is a path there that anyone can follow. Still, they comply with water protection rules. And that's great, because I would be upset if I couldn't see what I saw because of the legal status of the land.

So here it is. At the beginning, I saw the first beach from above, and then something unimaginable for me began. These are exactly the landscapes that I dreamed of seeing. Yes, there is no sun, but the wind and waves, it seems to me, suited this picture even more. It was something. Every meter you could stop and stick. Can't convey. For my simple taste it was simply fantastic. Harsh rocks, waves crashing on the shore, endless expanses, heavy skies, flying birds, incredibly bright bushes, many paths, strong wind. Element! I was delighted.

At one point we had to climb down an almost sheer cliff. I was wearing flip-flops, I'm afraid of heights, and there were no railings. I frantically grabbed the bushes and tried to control my breathing and take every step with extreme caution. I understood the main thing: flip-flops are not for trekking. But I don’t regret that those 5 minutes of horror were in my life. After this, the views became more and more unreal.

A true journey is only possible alone. What they say is true. I walked and enjoyed not only the wonders of nature, but also the solitude. There is no need to support idle chatter or simply nod sadly out of politeness. You can just be alone in the whole universe. It may be for a moment, but it is a very pleasant moment.
Looking ahead, I will say that I highly recommend this walk. I think it should be super beautiful in any weather. Here on my map it is marked with a yellow line. Wear sandals!

So in this part of the trekking, which before the ponta de piedrade there was almost no one. Rare couples, rare singles. It's like you're alone in parallel world, there is no civilization at all. Even the condominiums are somehow seamlessly built into the landscape.

Small beaches appear below from time to time, but when I saw people in wetsuits rising from one of them, I felt sick. One was stuck and could neither forward nor backward. Poor fellow, as I understand him. It made me sick to look at it. And I remember that terrible feeling, like on the way from Machu Picchu, when you can’t take a step forward or back. After a nervous 30 km a day on rails without stopping over the final abyss, I lost my courage. I took one step forward and froze. Then I simply didn’t see an option for myself to lift the second one and move it to the first one, or to remove the first one back to the second one. In words it seems simple. But in reality.... My calves were shaking, drops of sweat appeared on my forehead, it was dark, scary and it seemed like there was nowhere to wait for help. But we are designed in such a way that often after moments of horror everything remains in the past. So here too, the guy gathered his strength and overcame that critical section for him.
I watched this with alarm. And I realized that, of course, I wouldn’t go there. Even if I was wearing sandals. However, the further path was no less picturesque. I wanted to fly like the seagulls screaming nearby, jump, sing, or even just spread my arms to the sides, exposing my face to the headwind.

A great place for a walk. Simply fantastic!

Finally I reached the lighthouse. My verdict: the “before the lighthouse” part is much cooler than the “after the lighthouse” part. There is a tour bus stop here, which means you won’t be able to be at one with nature here. But you will get unity with tourists, of whom there are a lot here.

It turned out to be a wonderful route, yesterday I didn’t think about going along it, I wanted to limit myself to this viewpoint near the lighthouse. But now I see that the scenery along the way from the distant beach to the lighthouse, combined with the desolation of the place and harmony with the natural elements, is a much more impressive experience.
I continue on my way. Something is no longer the case here. The scenery is spoiled by the ugly hotel buildings, however, the rock formations sticking out of the water like irrepressible erect phalluses also excited my eyes. There are boat tours of the grottoes here, but I guess I’ll make do. I will not defile a day of fantastic trekking with vulgar tourist attractions.
Someone didn't reach the final point

The weather begins to deteriorate, although even in the absence of the sun some areas of the water look transparent turquoise, or, as it is fashionable to say, turquoise.

By the way, I recently made a hack in which the beaches were praised, supposedly marked blue flag. I couldn’t understand what the hell this blue flag was. I know, red means either communism or you can’t swim. And here it is blue. It turned out that my beaches here are also marked with it. So this is apparently cool.
I like Portugal. Here you can drink tap water. Fill the bottle and off you go. To balance with expensive cigarettes, I guess. And here you can walk without a bra. It's even more than pleasant. I love the summer dress code.

The weather continues to deteriorate, and I begin to feel slightly tired in my legs. In the first part of the trekking there was a mental reboot. I was simply overwhelmed with emotions and delight, but the second one went more smoothly. Well, how could it be otherwise? Where there are people and infrastructure, there is less space for spiritual flight.

I made it to Santa Ana Beach, and then the rain changed its tactics. Instead of light refreshing drops, a downpour began. Not strong, but the bag began to get wet. Well, everything turned out great as always. I enjoyed trekking at that perfect time. Neither cold nor hot. Optimal.
And as soon as it was over, the rain began to fall. I didn’t have time to get to the very last beach, but judging by the prospect opening before my eyes, I wouldn’t have seen anything very new there.
We have to wait out the rain. I bought a chocolate bar, sat down under the canopy of the store and began to wait. The elderly cashier asked about my life, whether I was sad. No, I say, this is me sitting after a walk, thinking, resting, waiting for the end of the rain.
He was pleased with my answer and after 5 minutes he closed the store and offered to take me where I needed to go. Where should I go? I’ll go to yesterday’s tavern to drink tea and watch the rain. Thank you, senior.

Half the people in the tavern are the same. Some tea, a sandwich. 2.3 euros. Quite so. Nearby are young Russian guys. But what topics are being discussed? Religion, politics, universal values. And very young. And without swearing. I was pleasantly surprised, but did not find out where they were from, so as not to inadvertently start a conversation for a couple of hours.
The rain has stopped, it's time for me to go to my place.

Sagres will be tomorrow. The “walk” exercise I learned in meditation helps me. I’m walking along luxury condos and don’t see anything under my nose. And then I focus my attention, and now right in front of me I notice a snail, rapidly heading towards a tree on which something very similar to a persimmon is ripening.

Of course, according to the famous law of the sandwich, as soon as I got home half-wet, the sun immediately came out). But it's not scary. I am very pleased with today's walk. It was incredibly beautiful.
Before going to bed, I went up to the hostel terrace and saw an unusual sunset. A thin strip of sky illuminated by the setting sun between the dark earth below and the stormy sky above. Very beautiful. This strip of light seems to cut through the dark picture. And the evening ocean itself appeared to me in such a light purple glow. Every moment of life is unique. They say the truth.

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Lagos and Albufeira

Why did you combine two cities in one story? - It seemed to me that they were somewhat similar, but at the same time different. They are similar with their narrow streets paved with slippery cobblestones, Moorish-style architecture and endless white houses with patterned chimneys. And it’s equally hot everywhere.

Lagos

Lagos - largest resort Algarve.

You can get to Lagos quickly along the A22 highway, or a little slower on the N125/

On the horizon are the Monchique mountains, but more on that in another article.

We didn’t have any specific purpose for visiting the city of Lagos; we decided to just take a walk. And in order to have at least some goal, we decided to find a church named after someone there, I don’t remember who.

An attempt to find parking in the city center was unsuccessful and we left the car in a large free parking near the ruins of an old fortress.

There was almost nothing left of the fortress, so it was not of particular interest.

The town of Lagos itself made a favorable impression on me. Despite the heat, if you move along the shady side of the street, your walk will not end in heatstroke.

There is no vegetation on the streets at all; perhaps there is some in the courtyards.

Many apartments offer their services.

Lagos has a large pedestrian street that runs from the old fortress to the city center, but it is crossed by streets where cars drive - be careful. The street is paved with very slippery stones, which also requires attention.

A house whose walls are completely tiled.

Along the pedestrian street we got to large area, V different sides from which diverged streets with a bunch of cafes, shops and souvenir shops.

On central square there is a monument with a Maltese cross and the inscription Lagos, xxxxx xxxxxxx (we never learned to read Portuguese).

The streets are also mostly pedestrian.

The rooster, the symbol of Portugal, can be found everywhere.

There were some minor difficulties in finding the church. I concluded that the majority of Portuguese are atheists and do not go to church at all and do not even know where it is. We asked several locals where the church of someone was located, everyone pointed in different directions, probably everyone had their own, one favorite. Even the address we knew didn’t help. Finally, one old lady explained it to us more or less clearly and we went along the given route.

It was siesta time, but most restaurants and shops continued to work.

We found her!! But like all previous and subsequent churches, it was closed. Yes, it is difficult to be a believer in the Algarve.

The church housed a local history museum, which, of course, was also closed.

The square and embankment near the temple.

In the square there is a monument to Enrique the Navigator. This Enrique is a completely mysterious character to me. From history lessons, I know a sufficient number of Portuguese sailors and travelers: Vasco de Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, Bartolomeo Dias, Eshcobar Peru and even Tristana da Cunho. But I knew nothing about Enric the Navigator, who, according to the Alarguians, was practically the only one who explored all the seas and oceans and drew the most accurate map of the world. Although, judging by the dates on the monument, Enrique’s friend lived for about 500 years and during this time, you can definitely accomplish a lot.

We walked around the church - it was definitely closed.

Not far from the church there is a small shop with wine and port. I liked the selection and the prices did not seem very high; the sellers tried to help in choosing. We bought several bottles of port. As it turned out - not bad.

After wandering around a bit, we came out onto a long pedestrian street and headed to the car. I definitely liked the town and it deserves one whole day. Especially if it's not very hot. When you arrive in Lagos, be sure to visit Dona Ana Beach and Cape da Piedade.

But I’ll tell you a little about the cape here.

Cape da Piedade, Algarve.

If you drive through Lagos and continue driving along the coast, you will come across a small lighthouse. There is a fairly large parking lot near the lighthouse. Leave your car in the parking lot and continue on to Cape da Piedade.

There's a lot on the cape observation platforms, from where beautiful views open up.

Unfortunately, the photographs do not convey the scale of what we saw.

There are many boats with tourists floating between the large rocks.

You can go down a long staircase to the very bottom. As I understand it, you can buy a boat excursion there.

A few more photos, nothing to tell, you need to see it.

We return back to the car. In the parking lot there is a toilet, which is amazingly clean, and a cafe where we bought ice cream and ate it with pleasure. I'm not a big ice cream fan, but I thought the Portuguese ice cream from OLA (hello) was delicious.

Albufeira.

As it is written in the guidebook, Albufeira is an ancient fishing village, which, to please tourists, has been turned into a beach holiday center and built up with many hotels.

The descent to the beaches in Albufeira is easier than in Lagos, and the beaches themselves stretch along the entire coast, moving from one to another.

We couldn't find a free parking space near the central part of the city and left the car on a small one-way street, squeezed between two local cars.

The goal was to eat and take a walk.

The central part of the city is not at all large and you can walk around it at a leisurely pace in less than an hour.

The rest of the city is not of much interest.

The central square of the city of Albufeira, as in Lagos, there are small streets running from it in different directions, where almost every house has a restaurant or cafe.

Despite the large selection of places to eat, we didn’t like anything, everything was somehow completely for tourists.

Turned a little to the side main street and found a more or less interesting establishment.

The photo showed the owner of the establishment, he was having lunch at the next table, and the cook who fed us. We were pleased with lunch.

Still, a village is just a village and there’s nothing special to see there, or we didn’t find anything.

We walked a little more and went to the car. Albufeira did not leave a big mark on my soul. Lagos is much larger, more interesting and prettier.

Since we are talking about coastal cities, we will briefly dwell on another city - Portimao.

Portimao

Portimao - Big City, located at the mouth of the Arade River in the center of the Algarve.

There is such a wonderful cable-stayed bridge across the Arade River.

Portimao is different from other cities in the Algarve. The city looks modern and fashionable. There are several large ones in the city shopping centers. There is McDonald's, which, believe me, is important if you have children (I know - it's harmful). IN

The tunnel leads to the coast.

Beach de Roca is large and beautiful beach in Portimão, signs for it can be found before reaching the city.

The streets in Portimão are wide and mostly straight.

Modern houses do not evoke any desire to walk around the city.

Closer to the center you can find the ubiquitous small houses in the Moorish style, but they are lost against the background of modern buildings.

At the mouth of the Arade River there is a parking lot for boats and yachts; on the other side of the river is Ferragudo. You can cross the bridge.

Portimao made a positive impression on us, but I wouldn’t want to vacation there. This is already a city in all its senses.

I planned to talk about other cities on the Algarve coast, but I realized that there was no point: small towns and the villages of the Algarve coast are very similar to each other and there is nothing to tell about them.