Lagos, Portugal, Part 2

Group selfie, Ryan's long arms come in handy for this...

On another news front, closer to “home in Lagos" https://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL5N21Y4ZV We did a lot of things Tuesday but firstly we noticed long line ups or queues at the gas stations on the way out of town. Coming back into town they were even longer Angela found out there was a truckers strike which is causing shortages for groceries and fuel deliveries, even dried out gas station tanks, causing the stations to close. I read this isn’t just a Portugal problem but world wide over this latter week, causing shortages at airports as well, well timed from the trucker’s point of view over the Easter holidays with so many travelling for the break. I had totally forgotten how much fuel costs to fill up a tank, a wake up call for me, at close to 60 Euros for about half a tank. Update, the strike ended Thursday morning but it took a while for all stations to get filled again.

Okay, to start Tuesday over from the beginning, we had an extremely large breakfast at Lazy Jacks at the marina. We could have ordered two with food left over for three. The waiter was from Moldova, which for those who don’t know, is between Ukraine and Romania, we had to look it up. Friendly fellow who spoke five languages.  

Centre of town

Just loved this sign.

We then walked all over Lagos, among the tatty tourist shops mixed with shops for locals and surfing shops. They make purses, belts and others from cork which is prevalent here. My guess is they need to find new uses of it since many wineries are moving to screw cap closure on wine bottles. 

One of the most photographed buildings in Lagos, magnificent!

What I noticed is that they use a lot of tile on the outside of buildings where Sevilla uses it on the inside.

Just a door but what character! 

Former station where sailors unloaded their wares and paid the duty on them.

Art gallery we didn't go in, next to the former slave market, now a fish and vegetable one which was disappointing with lack of choice we thought.

Next we went to one of Ryan’s favourite villages outside Lagos by about 20 minutes called Carvoeiro, beachside opening from arched cliffs with buildings, tiny town, very pretty and geared to tourists. 

Working fishing village, also big on tourism.

I did a bit of beach combing, left the two shells for the landlord's kids. This is my crazy sun hat which saved my head that day.

Had a drink at a sandwich place on the beach, I had a British cider, treat since I hadn’t had one in a long while, but then moved on to an authentic Portuguese restaurant when things and food got interesting. 

www.restaurantoasis.com This restaurant showcases Algarve dishes, well prepared and great service. 

Alicia flaming Chorizo sausage next to the table.

Our waitress, Alicia, is from Northern Germany hired because she caters to the tourists with her excellently well spoken English and German. She made the meal an experience mostly due to Ryan and Angela’s banter with her, and she gave it right back. Portions again were huge but very tasty! 

That was Tuesday, with all the pictures Ryan and I have taken I think this series of posts will be per day in Lagos and surrounds. 

This is a link to a youtube video I couldn't upload properly but it shows the fantastic views from hiking and kayaking vantage points of the area. Copy and paste if interested, there are many more videos I've discovered so do a search.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPi-O02TNIE

Cheers, Bev and Lexi Cat who didn't come on the side trips.

Happy Easter and I'm in Lagos, Portugal!

Lagos marina, note the tiled boardwalk, view from my rental flat.

Happy Easter to you my friends from Lexi Cat and I!

I was booked to go back to Freiburg on April 17 and woke up one morning a week prior and asked myself why not stay in Sevilla a bit longer? Angela and Ryan planned their annual (avoid Semana Santa) trip to Lagos, Portugal to visit friends and since train service there is sketchy I asked if I could tag along, basically invited myself. Bruce and I had been to the beaches and spectacular cliffs at Lagos (pronounced Lagosh) but hadn’t lingered to really see much of the town and it was an opportunity for me to do that. 

Driving down the spring flowers were out, yellow and purple on bushes, the earth is a coral almost dark orange tone that stands out from the green, just beautiful. Portugal is on regular European time one hour behind Spain’s. That is where I am writing this from now, in a studio apartment across from the marina. 

First off upon reaching town we went to see their good friends Anya and Paul to get the keys for the flat Angela and Ryan are renting from them in town. They live in a very small town, Odiaxere, outside Lagos with their collection of old rescue dogs, the stories they tell about each one’s escape from hell are horrifying. But those dogs have these two humans in their corner and they all looked happy, healthy and free living with Anya and Paul.

One of them, like the ears!

Another, this one likes scraps from the table, we were warned not to feed him.

Anya and Paul put out a spread of lovely munchies which included one of the best guacamole I’ve ever had (secret is cumin). Anya grows a fantastic cacti garden.

Came into town to get Lexi and I settled meeting Daniel to get the keys. Angela and Ryan got themselves settled, then a large grocery store run to buy a few basics like coffee!!! for the mornings at Intermarche, the very large, new grocers. Dinner at a high class but casual Italian restaurant across the marina called Portofino’s where they were short staffed and very busy so we gave up our table to sit outside after eating very tasty pasta. They appreciated our move so much they comped us a drink. Food and service was excellent with a view over the marina. P.S. Happy Hour exists here, there are many British expats along the Algarve and I expect it is a custom from them.

This is the first post of more to come, we've been busy here exploring the town, and the Algarve, it's been wonderful!

Happy Easter to you! Cheers Bev and Lexi Cat