Rio Apartments Algarve Vilamoura

... I talk briefly with a receptionist in a Best Western hotel. She's actually quite interested to hear my story, and takes my email in case she knows anyone that needs a bit of work done in exchange for room and board. This is the only beacon of hope, in an otherwise very bleak situation.

I eventually find the Youth Hostel, and thoroughly abuse their complimentary internet service. We'll see what tomorrow holds.

... the kingdom of Dom Manuel I, the headland already had a beacon kept lit all night by the Capuchin friars. With a range of 95 kilometers, the present-day lighthouse is one of the most powerful in Europe. From the fortress of Sagres a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean is unforgettable.

Night show at Hotel Algarve Casino was spectacular. The dancers and the light show were truly unforgettable.

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 ...

The kiting in Alvor is supposedly one of the best spots in Portugal, because of a huge shallow lagoon, however the wind was in the opposite direction so we ended up kiting on the sea side in the waves. Exhausting, but very fun to launch off the waves. We met a wicked ...

The west and south coast of Portugal is pretty much a long stretch of beaches surrounded and separated by huge red cliffs and you can get from one beach to another by crawling through caves in the cliffs (I also think that's where the bums sleep at night...) We did some surfing at a small secluded beach that I had been to 4 years ago with my family. We’re ...

... to sit with them.

That's all behind us now (including being last through customs in Faro - but we got plenty of travel advice and tips). The hotel we are calling home in teh Algarve over the next 5 days is called Monte do Casal and it is fabulous! Notwithstanding that they upgraded us to a Suite with our own private terrace with views to the ocean. Will upload some photos of the hotel (where no kids are allowed), but before we do that, some welcomed sleep is needed.

... to make the (rather optimistic) 1km from the station seem like 5km. Finally we reached the end of a dusty road were our 4 star, 2 pool, 2 bar, 55 Euro bargain sat in all its air-conditioned glory. Whilst not exactly oozing charm, it was certainly good value. We're only here for the sea sand and Sagres afterall.

Tavira, a resort town, with a certain charm, a hint of Spanish chav and a short boat ride to the beach to dissuade the properly ...

Bussed to Faro, a small seaside town with not a hell of a lot really!!

Our room had no window, but faked the appearance by having a curtain anyway... nothing like a little bit of closet sleeping!!

Went for a swim at the beach/lagoon with our 1.60 euro bottle of red ...

... senkrechten klippen eingebettet. herrlich !
am abend wurden wir mit einem leckeren selbstgekochten nachtessen begrüsst. super fein! am anderen abend in einem herzigen restaurant direkt an einer lauschigen bucht und gutem fisch. Dazu üppige Zmorgenessen mit allem was man sich wünscht....das alles tat eben doch auch gut :-) (ah ja,und sogar nachrichten auf SF1 im tv schauen.hapimag ist ja ...

... So we sit at a table and take everything out. Everything seemed to come out okay. the phone still worked, ditto for the camera. And everything made it back into the bag and back home, vitamins, cigarettes, nail polish. Except one thing. And what do you think went missing? Kathy's passport haha. "I TOLD you not to still that damn jug" said stacy. "But did you listen?" Anyways to make a long story short, the passport was retrieved, a good samaritan found it and ...