Day 2 - Albufeira and Portimao

The Quay, Portimao
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Today we drive through the Algarve and up to the capital of Portugal, Lisbon. Along the way we pass an incredible number of roundabouts. They all seem to be decorated with remarkable sculptures, the best of which can be found in Albufeira. I’m not sure what they are supposed to signify, but what fun would they be if there was a sensible explanation. The most notable examples are two giant Swatch watches; a pair of entwined worms the size of the Loch Ness Monster and a group of dolphins defying gravity and leaping straight out of the ground!

The beach at Albufeira
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Our whole reason for coming to Albufeira is for a frustrating photo opportunity. We stand at the top of a cliff and look down onto the most beautiful sandy beach. Not only that but it is completely empty, presumably because it is so early on a Sunday morning. Unfortunately we don’t have time to wander off, all we can do is photograph it. I pick out a suitable victim and get him to take my picture. He looked like an expert with a ton of photographic equipment hanging round his neck. However he didn’t seem to sure about my little point and click camera.

Paul McCartney ... apparently wrote “Yesterday” here.

Our Cafe, Portimao
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Our tour guide, Stellen, tells us that Albufeira has been a very popular resort since the 1960s. It was visited by Paul McCartney who apparently wrote “Yesterday” here. The main difference I imagine is that the town has now spread over a much wider area. Like much of the Algarve, it has grown as more and more British tourist flock here. Still the sun is bright, it’s lovely and warm and I may just be in love with the Algarve!

After a very short drive we make our second stop of the morning. This time it’s Portimao for coffee. Whilst Stellen shepherds most of the group into a nearby café, I choose to wander up and down the quay instead. My one and only concern so far is finding a bottle of water, which I finally manage just round the corner from the café. When I’m away I always seem to cling to water bottles like a child does to a blanket. Presumably it’s a survival instinct; I can cope with anything as long as I have something to drink!