Iberotel Alvor

14 Nov<br>we awoke early and decided to go for a stroll along the river bank to the point where it met the ocean (NOTE AT TIME OF WRITING, we have an entry for Odeceixe to insert). En route we had a quick wash using water that was effectively run off from the hillside. Proceeding on at the beach, we were greeted by two sea otters, happily frolicking in the surf; a wonderful pre breakfast feast for the eyes. As the tide was running very low, surfing ...

... hostel in town, and B) located next door to the other hostel. The choice was obvious, and I quickly ditched the kiwis to join Kirsten next door.<br><br>By another random coincidence, I ran into an older American traveler who was staying at the hostel in Faro with us, and who I had talked to earlier that morning. Over breakfast I had made an effort to score a free ride with him to Lagos, but had been unsuccessful. He was just ...

... from this chef. Daniella laughs, she is the chef. She obviously finds it more amusing than I.<br><br>Dinner is also a simple affair here. Daniella leaves to take a shower before dinner. I'm given no directions as to how I should finish the meal, but it is obvious that I am expected to. I have no idea how long the meat has been in the oven, and to be honest I don't really care. A quick count on vegetables and dessert portions and it becomes obvious that not enough food has been ...

... pleased, and am reminded of a favourite quote <br> "I have done so much, for so long, with so little, that I am now certified to do anything with nothing." <br> Melissa and Matthias are both suitably impressed, and I'm even tempted to take a photo.<br><br>Melissa and Matthias serve the food while I putter around the kitchen, feeling good. Heck, a plate of food like ...

<br>An excursion to Lagos&#8217;s Marina followed by a boat trip to Ponta de Sagres (The most western point of Europe, from where the Portuguese sailors started the discovery of new worlds) will allow to enjoy the<br>natural beauty of the rocks, especially the famous and most impressive caves of Ponta da Piedade, wild beaches and the sea waves on the cliffs along the coast and also some of the &#8216;highlights ...

... of the freezer was fava beans, covered in black spots and frozen into bricks by the last "melt - freeze" cycle. Aside from a bucket of ice cream and several pounds of butter, everything seemed unfit for human consumption- but who am I to throw it out? I emptied it entirely, scraped the ice lining the walls and gathered it along with the random bits of Styrofoam, bread pieces and seafood lingering in the bottom. I took them to the garbage and ...

In Albufeira, we went to a Portugese bullfight, not the real deal as in they don't kill the bull, rather they stab them in the back with a bunch of arrows. I thought it was mean, especially the first bull because it was pretty much still a baby and looked scared instead of angry. Jon ...

... tons of mussels on the bottom, also not fun. The road to get to this lagoon was really sketchy, there's a video in the link below so you can see for yourself.<br><br>http://picasaweb.googl e.com/Jonny.D.Lawrence/20091012Alvor?au thkey=Gv1sRgCN_Jy47QxsiTwAE&amp;feat=di rectlink

... not "surfers" but we we&#8217;re much less scared of getting tossed by the big waves this time. We also came to the conclusion that it maybe wasn&#8217;t us that, but that it&#8217;s the size of the board that was hindering our performance....<br> <br>http://picasaweb.google.com/Jonny.D .Lawrence/20091011Sagres?authkey=Gv1sRg CMmMtI7egbGKvAE&amp;feat=directlink

... adds an unfinished feel but quite appealing border to the structure. Liked it a lot even though I'd be well out of place inside. We reached Sagres itself a little later and was immediately confronted by another couple of traditions. First was the house next to the cafe - blindingly white-washed, sporting sexily curved walls and also spouting ...