This part of Portugal has some fantastic beaches and seascapes; I have based myself in Albufeira for a few days but have managed to visit several other places from here. It really is “Pay you money and take your pick” I am told that in high season you cannot get onto the beach for the crowds and that the smell of suntan lotion can be smelled for miles around! “The Strip” in central Albufeira is lined with bars and clubs and is a real tourist rip off. I had the most expensive coffee here at over £3!!!
The coast from Albufeira changes dramatically from the sandy dunes of the East to higher and higher towering cliffs to the west. These cliffs culminate in 70metre precipices at Sagres and Cape St Vincente. These Cliffs are riddled with blow holes, it was a calm day, but, the noise of the air escaping was tremendous, one local lad told me that in a real good storm sea water is blasted into the air from 70mts. below.
This cape is the most South Westerly point of mainland EU and is the longest diagonal distance I will travel with it being over 2600 mile from last year’s trip to Finland.
I have put in several photos of fishermen on the cliffs at Sagres, these guys are working on the edge some 70mts or over 200ft above the sea the guy in Red had no luck as his catch turned out to be a Cormorant, as he hauled it in, the other fishermen were quacking at him. I gather it is quite a common occurrence. For the 10minutes or so that I watched there must have been 10 or 15 fish brought up so I suppose it does give them a living but at what price?
