This is a piccy of Lagos borrowed from the library of Off Exploring but we were just there this morning and did take some very similar piccies so we don´t feel so bad about this one not being a DK special.

We´ve stopped at an internet cafe in Silves and to be honest there is little else to do here. The Rough Guide to Portugal has a lot to answer for, it´s had us turning up in all sorts of weird and wonderful places sold to us as ´quaint´, ´rustic´ (DK´s favourite), ´cute little place´, ´fortress town´. Such language has conjured up in us some amazing sites and hopes and we´ve fallen for it each time. So feeling is that Hoff has had a hand in this when he handed us the guide book, suspicions are rife. No more though.... tomorrow off to Quinta do Lago, a very unrustic, unfortress type of town/resort, where we plan to lie by the pool and sleep in a real bed that is there all day rather than having an alternative life as a campervan sofa. Ma and Pa and Sara, Rob and kids are all meeting us there and we are looking forward to some alternative company, good food, fine wine and chat.

We have been incredibly lucky with the weather here in Portugal and still the sun shines on. The beaches are beautiful and I do believe that they are the main reason for anyone to come here. The rest of the country needs some serious cash injections although Lisbon and Porto were pretty well developed and cosmopolitan.

Hope everyone is well and that autumn hasn´t quite yet started at home. I mean that sincerely, although I´m quite sure most of you are cursing us right now.