Quick trip to the Algarve

With the rain and grey skies closing in on Lisbon I decided to follow the sun spontaneously booking a bus ride to Faro for a couple of days.

Faro

All I did was run and eat.

Take my advice and don’t travel there on a Sunday. Portugal are still not up to date with the 21st century, everything pretty much closes on a Sunday, so it was like a ghost town.

There’s not a whole lot to do, but it was sunny and ‘mostly flat’ as described by google maps. Until you find a hill whilst running and you’re fuming about it: ‘Damn you google maps.’

Head: run, you’ll enjoy the views

Feet: find a different hobby please

Running around Faro (very slowly) with all of my Ironman gear on was quite embarrassing. If anyone recognised the logo they would have definitely been wondering if I actually competed in the races or just bought the clothes from the Expo!

Maybe I should return back in the peak season in summer, give it another chance, but I was ready to move on.

The sun was slowly disappearing & one guy kept me up for two nights as he sounded like my dog squealing in his sleep.. Sam is that you, I didn’t know you came travelling with me. I wish! 😦

With the beach calling my name having withdrawal symptoms and the sun moving in that direction I booked a bus to Albufeira.

Albufeira

Checking into my new hostel in Albufeira the women mentioned there was no one going to be in my room of 10 apart from me.

€8 for my own private room, my own bathroom, silence, a choice of which bed to sleep in and the ability to take as many pillows as I wanted was the best news ever.

I can finally dance and sing around the room and in the shower being my weird usual self again. Yay I’ve missed you!

Staying outside the centre I had a 3km walk to the beach. Along the way as I was passing a local school a ball flew over a rather tall fence. As the kids were looking at me thinking ‘how is she going to give us the ball back’, I casually kicked it straight over and received an applause. Yes that’s right boys, girls are more than capable of playing football to. We do just happen to have the same body part in which we use to kick a ball!

Once I got to the beach, via an escalator, strange I know! I went and ordered some fish and chips. (How very English of me) But I did feel at home with the fact this place was heaving with English tourists.

I haven’t come across anyone from England up until now, which I thought was quite unusual. But hey I’m happy about that..

Fuelled up I decided to trek for another 2 hours to reach a different beach that trip advisor recommended. A very long way but in the sun and along the coast it didn’t seem too much of a bad idea!

In fact the walk wasn’t all that bad as I saw a few different beaches on the way. But once I had reached my end destination, kind of in the middle of nowhere, all I could see was trees. Have I really just walked 2 hours to look at a tree!? Fortunately just round the corner I was hit with the most scenic view.

On one side I had a view of cliffs (and trees) leading to the sea. On the other, wow. I had a view of a golden sand beach that seemed to go on forever with red cliffs surrounding. Something that you would expect to see on a postcard.

Never mind a postcard. Has anyone ever had the pollo chicken pizza branded by Ristorante? Don’t know what I’m talking about.. can you see the resemblance in the picture below!?

Possibly had too many of these growing up. Or I just have a problem and perceive everything as food.. it’s just too good!

I was taking in this view for a good hour and a half waiting for the sun to set. (The cliff not the pizza). I couldn’t understand why I didn’t come across anybody else up at this view point. Then it occurred to me: Who else in the right mind would walk for two hours out of Albufeira just to get here! Yep definitely just me. Oh well, I’ll happily have this view to myself.

After already exceeding my step goal of 326% (I have no idea what this means either) it just sounds fancy. There was no chance I was walking back to the hostel. *Uber appreciation*

Although I’m loving the fact I have my own room maybe it would be nice if there was someone to speak to.

So I’m sat there reading a Qi book containing 2024 facts. I open it up on a random page and guess what is on there? A fact about Frankfurt.. I knew this book would become useful on my travels. Look at me all clued up about Germany now. I’d definitely be able to hold a conversation next time someone is talking about Germany, surely I can’t go wrong again!

I can imagine now, waking up to find 9 new German roomies. Well I’m very prepared, ‘Hi I’m Jos.. Frankfurt.. Berlin.. Oo and did you know that 2017…’

Yeah I don’t think I’d make friends that way either!

With my friend Molly landing in Lisbon, I headed back there as I had some tour guide duties to be getting on with.

By the way if anyone would like a free walking tour in any European city, please let me know. (Tips will be kindly accepted).

I highly recommend my tour services. I can sometimes read a map, I’m very knowledgable and have a lot of ‘fun’ facts up my sleeve.

Overall you’d have the best experience and so far I have a 5* rating.