Further West to Alvor

Our first night wild camping in Portugal and it was great! We were up early this morning to the sound of the waves, to make an early start.  Well, when I say early it was 8.30am and an early start of 9.45am but when you’re retired that’s early!  We’ve travelled 53kms (33 miles) further round the sunny Algarve coast to a place called Alvor.  We are parked up on an aire (N37°07'30" W8°35'43") right next to the beach, which unfortunately is a bit wet and very sandy due to a downpour a couple of nights ago.  It’s only €4.50 a night for everything we need (€2.50 more if you want electric) and only a 30 second walk to the beach, so we’re not complaining!  Once again there is a variety of motorhomes and nationalities parked up near us (mostly Brits and French), including this bad boy - a 5^th wheel, owned by a Brit parked across from us. 

We strolled across the boardwalk and turned eastwards down to the beach 

Over the boardwalk to the sea

towards these amazing large rocky formations, known as Praia de Três Irmãos

then round to the pretty palm tree lined port, to sit a while and watch life go by.  As we walked down the port you start to get the lovely aroma of freshly barbecued fish – unfortunately we had already eaten a picnic on the beach earlier, prepared by Mel's own 'fair hands', otherwise we would have been tempted!

A short walk up a small hill brings you into the old town. The building that dominates is the 16th century Igreja Matriz.

Igreja Matriz, Alvor Old Town

The town is a maize of narrow cobbled streets and an abundance of restaurants and cafes, unfortunately, there were too many English type ones for our liking!  Actually,  everywhere we walked we heard English speaking people, I think most were parked on the aire we were on and had been here for weeks.  I know we’re retired but we still struggle to stay put in one place for too long, as there is too much to see and do!

A Stroll back via the boardwalk that has been built through the sand dunes, mudflats and lagoon with lookouts for the natural wildlife that gather here took us back to our aire.

Not sure where we will be tomorrow, but we will just go where the mood takes us!

Sally x