Return to the Algarve

My sweet, amazing, fantastic grandma is turning 75 this year, and to celebrate that my whole family and I went to beautiful Lagos, Algarve, Portugal again. Exactly 5 years ago we went for the same reason: back then my gran turned 70 and the trip was so memorable that we were all in for a do-over. Besides, the whole family kept bringing it up to gran about returning so it was also to just shut us up for a few more years.

As mentioned, this time we went to Lagos, which is about 1,5 hour from the Faro Airport. We only stayed in the Albufeira area last time so it was great to discover the more Western part of the Algarve. Gran wanted to go here specifically because then we could easily go to the most South Western part of Europe: Cabo da Roca.
Our trip was basically eating Pastel de Nata every singe day (seriously no exceptions), going to the gorgeous beach Porto de Mos and play in the huge waves (and getting sand EVERYWHERE), hiking either to see the sunrise or though the wild bushes in the burning sun and eating at our new favorite restaurant in Lagos called ‘the Garden’. Seriously recommend that one if you ever go there.
Oh, and playing card games every evening. That can get aggressive in our family, I tell you. We are all too competitive. Must be a family thing.

We had a great time. The weather was exceptional, we only had bad weather 2 days: when we arrived, so that was not too bad, and (of course) when we went to the waterpark in Portmao. That was very bad; never been so cold in my life. But we got through it and had a blast anyways.

I did not make too many pictures because I tried to just see the amazing views with my own eyes instead of through the lens of a camera for once. But here are some photos I randomly took.

Hiking yay

Olhos d’Agua, the town we stayed in 5 years ago. The weather was shit that day but I look happy cause holidays.

Biggest pizza EVER. Im serious. This one must be winning prizes in size. Was so tasty though, pizza Rucola is definetly my fave.

With the squad: my two cousins. We shared a car with the three of us. I cannot drive but my cousin let me drive in this RENTAL car for the FIRST time in my life. Long story short: I almost drove into a palmtree. (I wish I was joking)

With my little sister.

‘Ohh take a pic from me at this amazing wall, mom!’ *brother casually puts feet in frame and ruined it* Thankfully my awkward pose ruined it too. But the wall looks great.

Happy mom with nice view.

Cloudy but sunny.

This looks like a sunset picture with my gran but it is actually a picture of a long search to my uncle’s car keys that got taken into the sea by a massive wave. Lots went wrong with cars this holiday.

I can stare at this view alllll day.

My sister, looking at the view. I couldnt come closer to the view cause Im afraid of heights and the viewpoint was about 80 meters high and my grandma kept repeating that if you fall you cannot get out and just die in the sea.

 

Got up at 7:15 to hike 20 minutes to a viewpoint so we could see the sun come up. I open my windows: CLOUDS EVERYWHERE. But it was still pretty, this picture doesn’t do it justice.

 

 

PORTUGAL: family holidays in the algarvé

Hi people, I’m back! It is already February and the last time I posted it was still 2014. Time flies!

Yesterday I was scrolling through my photos of past holidays, which always makes me happy. Maybe the best holiday I’ve had in the past decade was our trip to beautiful Portugal, with my whole family. Portugal is definitely a country that won my heart, I love the food and the surroundings of the Algarve. Algarve is the most southern part of Portugal and as well the most sunny. In this part the famous party-destination Albufeira lies and I stayed in a close town near Albufeira, named Olhos d’Agua. This is the smallest seaside town, with small, stoned roads and tiny shops on the boulevard. If you want to go to Portugal and have a relaxed holiday without drunk teens, go here. Or, go in the fall to Albufeira. No party people there then, and I like it so much more.

Coffee and Pastéis de Nata, which are small, extremely rich custard tarts. They are so delicious.

Sunset at the beach. I think I love the giant rocks on the cost the most, you can walk on them and you can walk from Olhos d’Agua to Albufeira on the rocks.

More reasons why you should go to Portugal:

1. The food. The food. THE FOOD. They have much fish in their cuisine, which I personally love (fish are friends not food). Also, the pastries are yummy and the drinks like Galao, which I wrote about before I think, is delicious.
2. The language is beautiful. My grandma speaks Portugese fluently, and it always sounds so pretty. I would love to learn it one day.
3. The sea and the boulevards. If you like the sea, (of course you do) then you will love the Algarve.
4. For the alcoholics under us, Port (a type of wine) is from Portugal and it is very tasty.

Obrigada! (Thank you in Portugese, the only word I know in Portugese haha)