Lots of hikes - and goodbye to Lagos I've written about some of our day trips and time spent in Lagos, but there's just a few more "stories" to tell - so before I end this part of our trip, here they are:- Our first day trip with Lynn and Richard was to Sagres and Cabo de Sao Vicente - a windswept area, which we'd wanted to visit, but had always postponed due to the long bus trip needed to get there - and the problems of making sure there was enough t...

PORTO - Part 1 We arrived in Porto about 7 hours after leaving Lagos. It was an early morning train and we only had to change once. Despite it being a long day, it's the most economical and efficient way to get there (apart from driving). Actually a bus is cheaper, but having discovered that the discount given to seniors on trains in Portugal (50%) is still available in 1st class, it was a no-brainer to pay CAD$100 for the two of us! After 5 weeks in the laid...

DAY TRIP TO FARO Faro is a place that's often skipped, overlooked and thought of as merely a place for arrival and departure…but to this traveller, that's something of a mistake. There's certainly plenty to see and do across all parts of the Algarve and Faro is no exception. Just on the edge of town is the "Forum" - a modern shopping centre with a central, open-air square where tired shoppers can rest and refresh at the many cafés. In ...

A DAY TRIP TO SILVESWe enjoyed another fun day out with Lynn and Richard…this time to Silves - a small city that's an easy drive from Lagos - that is if you have a car! We were lucky enough to be invited along to join our friends, who'd rented one. Alternatively there's the bus - but it makes frequent stops along the way. There's a boat cruise - but that depends on the tides, due to the river Arade being quite shallow in town. There's also a train stat...

AN AMAZING BOAT TRIP Ponta da Piedade (Point of Mercy) has often been described as "The treasure of the Algarve," and rightly so. This aptly named natural wonder can be reached by car, local bus or a bone-rattling tourist trolley - which having done once, we would never repeat or recommend! Parking is available, but in high season it can get crowded, with cars backed up along the narrow road leading in and out. There's also a wide range of boat tours...