In July 2019, we decide to take a week and check out the Algarve region of southern Portugal. This is a well-known tourist destination, that we had gone to about 30 yrs ago, and had little recollection of it, except for 2 things:
- We had driven from Lisbon to Algarve, and our destination was Faro. I remember we came to a fork in the road halfway, and there were signposts for each fork of the road. Both signposts said Faro for each fork of the road 🙂 . We ended up asking a local nearby how to get to Faro and he guided us.
- We had stayed at a boutique hotel in Faro, with a pool, and my son, Imran, who was 2 at the time, kept throwing his shoes into the pool. Strange what your brain decides to keep in memory 🙂
We flew into Lisbon, and rented a car at the airport. I had always wanted to rent the classic old Fiat 500 (below)
but instead, had to settle for the newer version; bigger, but still nice to drive. The model demonstrating the cars stayed the same.
We started driving south towards Setubal and onto Santiago do Cacém and Sines. Some views along the way below
When we arrived in the Algarve region, we started looking for a good B&B to stay at. To our surprise, there were very few places with vacancy, and they were all charging a lot of money. It was then that it hit us, that this was full on tourist season here. So after more research, we decided to stay at the Marriott Pine Cliffs Resort, on points. So off we drove to this rather nice and fancy place in Albufeira and checked in. This is a nice resort on the beach.
Next day, we started exploring the Algarve region, and drove off to check out Lagos. We parked at a busy touristy beach, and took a short boat ride to check out some remote places and the rocky coastline with sandy coves
More interesting landscapes
Street entertainment in Lagos
Drove back to the hotel for sundowner on the beach at the Resort
We spent the next few days checking out various towns along the southern coastline in Algarve, including Luz, Lagos, Portimao, Guia, Albufera, Quarteira, Loule, Faro & beaches in-between. Below are some scenes from these places
In Faro, we came across a Festival (Festa da Rio Formosa; a celebration of seafood), with lots of eating, drinking and music. Some scenes below
Everyone enjoying the concert & the seafood
Different entertainment in the old town of Faro
An interesting trip. Food (esp seafood) and service were excellent everywhere. However, this area is quite touristy and so be prepared for that. I normally don’t like to frequent touristy places, but Dilshad wanted to go back and visit the Algarve since neither of us could remember much from our last visit here 30+ years ago.
Ali,
Really enjoyed reading your blog again. We are planning to be there in late spring.
Going to check out the other towns you wrote about…again so I can refresh my memory.
My sister Nailla loves your blog.
Ali,
Really enjoyed reading your blog again. We are planning to be there in late spring.
Going to check out the other towns you wrote about…again so I can refresh my memory.
My sister Nailla loves your blog.
Hope to see you and Dilshad again one day as we saw you last in Toronto.
Thanks Arzina, Glad you enjoyed the blog and are finding it useful.
I get nice feedback from Nailla as well; did not know you guys were connected.
Small world 🙂
Your photos are amazing, the seafood festival is on our bucket list for next year. But the fiat 500 really brought back some happy memories, we see so many wonderful cars that still look like new.
Thanks so much for your nice comments. I too love those well restored older cars 🙂
Thank you for that informative blog. Had fun reading it.
Thanks Iman, glad you enjoyed it.
Brilliant! Ali …THANKS!
We visited Algarve (unplanned!) last Nov.’19 and it’s fantastic!
Great weather through the Year and right on our UK door step!
In fact going over this Xmas time again !
Must explore more around the Armacao de Pera area
– Great unspoilt beachs and Alfresco sea food dinning!
… Cheers! S a M
Hi Salim, Glad you like the blog. You guys are lucky lving in the UK, so close to Portugal. I will have to check out the Armacao de Pera area next time around. THanks for the tip and enjoy 🙂
Hi Ali – As usual I enjoyed the blog. Good write up and description. The pictures brought back memories of Nairobi somehow. The red Fiat in the first picture remined me of the Baby Fiat an aunt of mine drove in Nairobi. The car looks so tiny now!! The voyages planned and done by Henry the Navigator and Vasco da Gama we studied about in the primary school there. Bougainvillea flowers ‘s were also very common in Nairobi gardens. Anyway thanks for this and take care.
HI Zahir, Yes, I can relate to the Nairobi experiences. Glad you enjoyed the blogpost. And thanks for the feedback always
Beautiful pics.. We were in Lisbon during Diamond Jubilee – we really had fun in Lagos street entertainment. I loved the older model fiat. OMG seafood looks so sooo good and also paella. Very interesting and excellent blog.
Thanks for sharing.
Take care.
Best regards,
Shamim
Thanks Shamim, so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for the feedback.
Nice!
Thanks Zahir
Nice Ali!
🙂 Thanks Shelina
Hello dear Ali,
I just enjoyed your pics 🙂 and a little bit I envy you 🙂 amazing view amazing place,
I wish I will visit this place one day InshaAllah
May whatever you are wishing about will come true!!!
Best regards
Rangina
Hi Rangina, one day, you will definitely visit this place and many others.
Thanks for your wonderful wishes for us, and for the feedback
Thank you for sharing your travel experience with us
THanks Nick
Hello, beautiful pictures, I love how they put the cloths in the sun. Now they are encouraging us to do that and save energy.
Sending Lots of Love, Joy and Light your way.
Naz.
HI Naz, thanks for the feedback. Glad you enjoyed it.
Hi Ali
As usual,a beautiful summary. I find the fallen roof cave amazing.the festival’s sounded like a lot if fun.
I love Portugal.
Take care buddy,
Mahamud
Thanks Mahamud; we like Portugal too 🙂
Read your blog and agree how beautiful the Algarve is although I prefer Alentejo and north. Algarve, which we knew long time ago was so beautiful but has been spoilt by tourism.
HI Nazmu, thanks for the feedback.
Looks like we will need to extend our Bucket list to include Alentejo 🙂
We love the Algarve and own a place close to Faro. Have visited in different seasons and it’s beautiful any time of the year. Albufeira and Lagos are more touristy. We like the smaller, quaint towns around Faro and towards the Spanish border. Food is awesome and reasonable everywhere!
Wow, seems like you are sold on Faro (literally) 🙂
I know you guys will enjoy it.
Amazing pictures. You are the best. Thanks for sharing
Thank you Mr. Nick 🙂
BEAUTIFUL and very Interesting! Thanks for Sharing. I felt I was there with you guys. 😊
Thanks Naz; glad you enjoyed the ride with us 🙂
Very nice! Beautiful place. Loving the scenery and the seafood pictures; the food looks delicious!
THanks Aliyah; so glad you enjoyed my blogpost. Appreciate the feedback.
OMG, your blog is awesome as always. Thank you for sharing. Love all the pics…Dilshad looking great!
Thanks Shama; for the kind feedback. So glad you are enjoying my blogs
Can you please tell me where the jamat khana in the algarve is. Zeeenat
Lovely pics. We were there during Diamond Jubilee on an organized trip so couldn’t get off if we found something interesting. But we had lunch in Lagos of a fish cooked wonderfully. I even ate the head. We stayed at a resort in Albuferia. We visited most of the places you mentioned. Also did a boat trip of the coastline. The cliffs were lovely. The minaret chimneys on the houses were interesting. During a time when Muslim settlers were forced to change religion to Catholicism. The put minaret chimneys in their house and prayed at home.
Hi Naila, thanks for sharing your experiences. I completely missed the minaret chimneys and will have to keep that in mind if we ever go back again. I don’t think we will go; as my bucket list is still too long 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful trip! Pictures are awesome especially the beaches. I’ve been to the Algarve 20 years ago and I remember its beauty. After reading your blog, I really want to visit the small towns you’ve mentioned.
Hi Tamiza, yes it was wonderful and definitely worth it. But try and avoid the high tourist season; else you may only see tourists everywhere 🙂