The Algarves, April 11 to 19

We had the best 2 days ever! First it was a glorious day on the beach at Praia de Rocha. White sand, warm (enough!) water. A beautiful beach with huge rocks all spread across. A bit of nostalgia as it reminded us of the 12 apostles. Much more apostles, a bit shorter and thicker but there are on the sand and form part of the beach...superb! We did our habitual run, drink mate, sunbake, play paleta, walk, had homemade fish and broccoli....it was a true holiday day! The day after we took our bikes. All along the cliffs there is this amazing walk/bike track... more walking than biking in this part as we had to carried our bikes for long stretches at a time. The view was really breathtaking, this enormous rocks forming caves and the water green....After a very long trip we ended in another long beach among dunes and boardwalks coming out everywhere...continue our adventure to find an almost hidden lagoon and on the other side the cutest, quiet village of Alvor. The simple church in white and yellow and the 3 street overcrowded with bars and restaurants....but it is April and is the best time to be around!!!

Back to Faro as our fridge refused to work....will need to wait for a week maybe for parts to arrive....

In the meantime, while we wait for the fridge parts we ended up at Quarteira- Vilamoura. We did our usual run, and some shopping in preparation for our daughter wedding. A beautiful marina surrounded by restaurants but all a bit too "touristic" for us. We have become so enchanted by the small and peaceful villages that anytime we go into a "city" (more than 10,00 people!) all we want to run away!

....and so we did and slept on the edge of the water, overlooking Ferragudo a very cute fisherman village with castle included!

Portugal certainly has not disappointed us. The nature is very raw, untouched. Huge cliffs and long beaches, the greenery and  to colourful flowers, the easiness of the country, the simple churches, the slow pace, the white houses with colour frame in doors and windows, the really small cobblestones. We visited "Fortaleza de Sagres", the south west end of Europe and the intensity of all really hit home. Night was spent at the "end of the world"!!

Arriving at Carrapateira we found a gem, A huge area, big sand dunes and spectacular cliff walks. It was like a paradise specially because it was only a few motorhomes there.

Continuing the cost road, we so many "ahhh" and "ohh" as the flowers of spring adorned every place we go. We stopped at Porto Covo and we like it so much that we stayed 2 full days spending on walking/running a very long track around the cliffs and on the beach finishing on a castle and a great bike ride on a dirty track to  the next village.