Pretty Portugal

The photo to the right is of a secluded beach on the Algarve.

The photo below is of the Arc that is at the entrance to the City of Lisbon.













On the southwestern tip of continental Europe, Portugal is an old school country.

While in this country i was fortunate enough to visit Lisbon, Lagos and the Algarve (mainly due to the size of the country, which is relatively small).

Lisbon:
Lisbon is the biggest city in Portugal and is located on the Atlantic coast in middle of the country. I've been to Lisbon once before, but only for a days. So far every time I've come away with the impression of elegance. Arriving by train, your first taste of Lisbon is when you walk out of the train station directly onto the shore of the harbor. As you look to the ocean, the name San Francisco immediately comes to mind. Mountains rise up on both sides of the mouth of the harbor and then there is the bridge. Running across the mouth of bay is a bridge that looks for all intensive purposes like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. I've never had a chance to research it, but there has to be a connection. As you walk into Lisbon, everything is clean and relaxed. There are walking only streets with cafes and garden areas. Bringing to mind peace and tranquillity, there are cable cars running though the center of the city though. I can't tell you why, but Lisbon is a very low stress city on both the mind and the wallet. Yep, it is cheap and a good destination for budget travelers.

Algarve:
The Algarve is the southwestern tip of Portugal and borders on both the Atlantic and Mediterranean oceans. This is an interpretation on my part as some feel the area only covers the beaches on the Mediterranean Ocean. Regardless, the Algarve is a collection of beach towns and is without a doubt the hub of the tourist trade in this country.Algarve is the most southern province of the eleven that Portugal has been divided into. Its variety in terrain which starts at the small town of Odeceixe on the west coast, nicely tucked into the Espinhaco do Cao mountain range bordering the coast and the brave Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its shoreline runs down through Aljezur, symbolic in the Portuguese history thanks to its castle which is one of the seven that appear on the flag of Portugal. Still enjoying the different shades that the fertile valleys offer, you continue along the shoreline to Alfambra, a walled in city and well-known as a fishing village and tourist attraction. To the most western tip is the Cape of Saint Vicent and to the town of Sagres where Henry the Navegator first started his navigation school. At this point, you have come into contact with the most attractive Algarve beaches. Long soft sandy stretches which enclose secret coves at the beginning where the outline of the coast is extremely flat around the towns of Lagos but after the city of Albufeira it turns into cliffs. Not leaving the hypnotizing view of the Atlantic, and continues on to Faro, the capital of this area after having taken this title away from the city of Silves in 1577. Here in Faro you have the main gateway into this southern region when arriving at this well-prepared international airport for your holiday stay. But there is still more beach towns like Tavira, a very historic medieval town and Castro Marim another city surrounded by a protective wall. From here, the journey northward following the Guadiana River, which is the natural border between Spain and Portugal. For me one of the highlights of the Algarve is Lagos.

Lagos:
If there was ever a place i would retire to in my life (not for many, many years yet) Lagos may be that destination. Lagos is a sleepy beach community with just about anything you could want in paradise. White sand beaches, private beaches, grotto's, wine growing, a lively nightlife, modern conveniences and just about the nicest people you have ever met in your life. You can stay in a hotel while in Lagos, but this is a mistake in my opinion. Instead, go to the train station and reserve a room with a family. Families in cities all over the world do this, but Lagos is different. The family you stay with more or less adopts you as one of their own. They will haul you all over town, introduce you to other locals and generally give you a true taste of Portugal. For true travelers, nothing could be better. I loved it so much, I wanted to stay.
(below is a picture off the coastline of Lagos)