Welcoming Water, Whirling Wind

This was our last full day in Portugal.  We had few plans for the day, except to make it from Point A (Lagos) to Point B (Alcacer do Sal). Unlike every other day on this trip, we had not preplanned any stops on our route, but with our Eyewitness book to guide us, and a little bit of luck, we filled the day nicely.

Praia do Pinhao

As has been our practice this trip, we spent the morning exploring the town in which we were staying. Lagos is a vibrant, and attractive place. There is a lot going on here. During our morning tour, we met some young Irishmen here to train for karate and mixed martial arts. Later, we saw a children’s carousel in the centre of town. Clearly this place attracts all ages.

Lagos harbour

We were impressed by some of the views we were able to see in and near the town. Not far from our hotel, there was a rise looking aver a beach – Praia do Pinhao; descending from there, the town harbour was visible from a distance. Later, I climbed the tower of Igreja Sao Sebastian to look down over the rooftops.

One of the things that sets Lagos apart from other places is its slave market building. Here, the first slaves were sold to Europeans – a dubious claim to fame indeed. We also visited the Mercado, two churches, the town square and several shops along the way.

Slave market building in Lagos

Praia do Camilo - our beach from above

The weather this morning was glorious, so we took advantage of it for a trip to a local beach and a swim in the Atlantic – something we were not able to manage yesterday. We chose Praia de Camilo, a sheltered cove with dramatic rocks close to the shoreline. Both Bob and I enjoyed the refreshing waters of the Atlantic and the beauty of the surroundings. We were reluctant to leave, but by 1:00, it was time to go. Unfortunately for others, just after we left, the weather changed, with clouds and wind altering the setting significantly.

We headed north. We stopped for lunch in a small town called Odemira. This place had no sights listed in the guidebook, so in no time, we were back on the road. Vila Nova de Milfontes was next. This resort on the West Coast of Portugal has beautiful beaches along an estuary, and a castle in the old town. Today, however, it also had a lot of wind. As I posed for the shot you see below, I was getting a my hair styled at the same time.

Buffeted by the wind in Vila Nova de Milfontes

Not far from this resort is the city of Sines, an industrial hub on the Atlantic. Its historical claim to fame is that it is the birthplace of Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama. Apparently, as the son of the mayor, de Gama was born in the local castle. There is an interactive museum there (mainly in Portuguese) that we visited. Outside, a large statue of this Portuguese hero looks out over the sea that drew him to so many places. I wonder if he would have ventured out on such a windy day as this.

Above the castle/museum in Sines where Vasco de Gama was born. Below, a statue of the man himself looking out to sea

Finally, we arrived at the Pousada in Alcacer do Sal, (D. Alphonso II),  in which we have chosen to stay.  Like de Gama, we are living in a castle – at least for this, our last night. It is medieval looking on the outside but it has been updated for comfort on the inside. Along with a large group of British tourists, we enjoyed dinner here as well, trying the local cuisine. As we got ready for bed, we heard the whistling of the wind outside. No rain yet, but we heard it was coming tomorrow.

Old meets new at the Parador D. Alphonso 11.

Cloister at the Parador