Faro and Driving the Algarve
Took a late flight to Faro in the south of Portugal and picked up a car rental. I'm so happy I did.
I will admit I was a little worried about what driving would be like here in Portugal . Then when I got to Lisbon I was almost terrified. I could not imagine making it through Lisbon or Porto by car.
But down south it's not as metropolitan so it wasn't too crazy. Thanks to google maps. So many roads are not labeled well and without turn by turn directions I would be going crazy.
I slept at a small but nice hotel in Faro for a few hours then left in the morning to ride west. I passed through a few towns and the ocean along the way and was able to stop where ever I wanted, turn around if I saw something, and rock out to my own tunes. A bus would not have been the same. Conveniently I got a new phone case with a cover at the airport before my flight because it was cheap and had an old map on it. When I got to the car I realized it had a useful function. I stuck the cover in the CD player and was able to see the directions without having to hold the phone the whole time!
When I rock out in the car and people look at me funny or stare I think- "I'm having more fun than you. Ha ha"
Noticing fig trees and more citrus and olives along the way Put my feet in the ocean today and spent a few moments at some beaches.
Gas is even more expensive than I thought, and I knew to expect pricey. Still worth the price.
I live on one of the most beautiful coasts in the world, but that didn't lessen my appreciation for Albfueira, the water was so blue, and the scenery was great.
Then I stopped in Portimao. Had lunch at a nice seafood spot on the water (grilled octopus was yummy)
Then onto Cape Sagres. This is the southwest corner of the continent. It's where Henry the navigator had a sailing school and where Christopher Columbus left in search of India.
Pulling up to the cape was exciting in and of itself. Water on all sides. Majestic cliffs. Then I checked into my room and remembered I booked a room with a terrace and a view. When I got there it was better than I could have anticipated. I got the corner room on the top floor directly overlooking the coast! Nice room with a tub. I couldn't wait to explore so I bundled up (it was a little overcast and windy) grabbed my headphones and went for a hike on the cliffs. The view was so epic I had to have a soundtrack, and old Genesis was the perfect choice. I really think it only added to the experience - certainly didn't hurt. And there's hardly any tourists here so I had a lot of space to myself. So I sang, loudly, often. The wind got so heavy at times, which just added to the ... the ... "epic-ness" I found myself extending my arms hoping to get lifted away. Screw Leo, I was the king of the world.
The rocks where awesome, wildflowers, wild garlic, succulents, flowering cacti, little black birds with yellow bellies were doing skydives around me, the sun would beam through the clouds, bright bluewater on every side, Genesis on the headphones, surfers on the beach- I was yelling at the sky I was so happy. There was an observation building towards the end of the cape but they were closed when i got there.
After a little relaxing at the hotel I drove a half hour back east. Why?
Dinner. I wanted to eat at his British owned farm to table spot in Luz on my way to Sagres for lunch but they were closed. Since they were open for dinner I decided to go check it out. Again I am blown away. The owner is Chicca, a bubbly Brit diehard animal lover with a menu that changes daily based on what's fresh. She also has a crew of 6 or 7 stray cats which she feeds leftovers to (only the cat friendly leftovers) Outside and down the block. Even though it's offseason I had to wait for 20 or so. That's how good and well known they are. I was happy to wait.
They offer lots of gluten free and vegan options. This was the healthiest meal I've had in weeks. I really loved the foods in Lisbon, but so much was fried, and very potato heavy. I honestly wish this dinner would never end. I hugged Chicca at the end, thanked her for the amazing meal and promised either I would return of at least do my best to send others her way.
Warm herb bread. Avo, lentil salad with pistachios and balsamic dressing - so good. Then duck confit. With 9 side salads! Roasted carrots that taste like the were cooked with maple syrup and ginger. Coleslaw. Potato salad with peas. Indian rice. olives. Eggplant prepared to perfection. Yum yum yum.
What a powerful day. And now, after 12 days of mayhem I have my own room to sleep in. One more time - WINNING! Oh, And Bernie won Michigan.
Ciao. Tomorrow I head to Seville in Spain.
