Algarve, Portugal

I barely took my blackberry out of my bag during my trip to Portugal. It just didn’t seem right to be checking email and messages in such a tranquil, peaceful spot. Even at the airport, people are relaxed as they wait for tourists and visitors at the terrace café drinking a mid day glass of wine or a morning coffee. Travelling to Portugal had been a friend’s idea and I had rightly imagined a full on hedonistic party holiday for the 7 days of our stay. However, I don’t think any of us had imagined how captivating the Algarve could be, enveloping you in its ‘back in time’ atmosphere that slowed you down and made you appreciate the winding cobbled streets littered with small shops and the ever present cafes and restaurants which always seemed to feature an old local man sipping his coffee.

We stayed in a small village called Guia in an apartment at the top of a hill located in the popular region of Albufeira. Guia is outside of the tourist trap and a ten minute walk saw us supping the local beer, Sagres (named after its origin of the region, Sagres) with the locals on our first night. This, combined with pool-lounging could have been a fantastic if not limited vacation in itself, but after a couple of days, we had recouped enough energy to explore.

Our little Fiat Uno, which we had hired at the airport, successfully managed to accommodate three girls, three bags, and a map around much of the coast of the Algarve. A relatively new main road (A22) cuts driving time down between towns but we decided to take the smaller roads on route to nearby towns such as Loule, Lagos, and perhaps the highlight of the trip, the most south-western point of Europe , Cape St. Vincent.

Even in September, which is considered off peak season, there were a handful of tourists who had come to experience the pinnacle of the Algarve, Cape St.Vincent or better known as ‘Fim do Mundo’ – the end of the world. And as you stand on the edge of the cliffs and look down into the clear blue sea below, you can imagine the historical stories that have occurred over the ages of Christopher Colombus and Sir Francis Drake in their quest for exploration and conquest guided by the lighthouse that still exists today. Sellers take advantage, selling their wares of trinkets, postcards, and locally made glass jewelry. There’s a lot more to see around the area including the fort of Ponta da Sagres, the small fishing village of Baleeira and the many beautiful beaches. The natural but dramatic coastline is a must for any budding photographer and the views are a dreamer’s paradise.

Each place we visited had something unique to offer and the historical aspect was ever-present with signs pointing to the historical centre. Lagos offered the chance to wander around a lively town watching the street performers and artists capture the heads of people walking by. With a busy marina, the promenade is perfect for an after lunch stroll before continuing on to explore the many other alcoves and secrets of the coast.

While the Algarve is no Ibiza, terraced restaurants, night market stalls, and funky bars still gave us a good reason to don our stilettos and dance the night away until the early hours. And for early morning dancing, a trip to the KISS nightclub is a definite must. Make sure you grab a hotdog from the cart outside the club – it’s the perfect nightcap.

The Algarve is one of those places that offers something for everyone but whether your interest is shopping, history or night-clubbing, no one will be able to escape the charm that makes you want to live your life in a slightly different way.