If these are lazy days, why do my feet hurt?

Jim says we’ve all lost a half inch in height from pounding the cobblestone pavement. Yesterday we hiked to the beach, missed a turn and ended up going way out of our way to a much further beach—D’Ana. The only way back was up hill and then by the Bombeiros (fire station) we could go down. Going up we ran into a couple who urged us not to give up, they were in our place the day before and were able to tell us how to get back to the town center.  

The beach was spectacular, gorgeous blue-green water, white sail boats, pale skinned humans on the beach hoping to turn into bronzed beauties. The cliffs are striped with yellow, rust, orange, and dotted with lime green and avocado colored shrubs. Our intrepid navigator, Dennis climbed the stairs to the top of the path to see if it would get us out and onto the top of the cliffs. From the top he waved us up. Slowly, one step at a time we made it to the top, entered the patio of the cliff top hotel and had Sagres beers to quench our thirst.

Dennis, the Navigator 

After the climb down to the center of the town we stopped at Mama Mia’s for a “normal“ pizza and a carafe of ... finally back to the apartment and a quiet night of Farkle.

Today we decided to take the Tourist Train but it isn’t running so we took the regular bus to Burgau, a little town up the coast from Lagos. Once there we walked down to the ocean, turned around and found a little tavern with a patio on the ocean. A nice respite from our stressful day and back UP the hill to the bus stop.

At the bus stop with Pat’s new friend Alfonso who wants to sign her up for “Portuguese in an hour,” with a money back guarantee.  

After riding a bit further than necessary we figured out where to get off so that we could pick up a few necessities at Intermarche.  A short walk home, wine time with Chef Dennis making sangria, and down a whole 1/2 block to O Brito our favorite restaurant.

 

We are the only foreigners in the place and we love the atmosphere and the food! And now we are stuffed and too full to write more. Tomorrow the “boys” will be fishing and bring home the bacon (dinner).

The Gospel According to Dennis:
We’re getting very familiar with the town of Lagos. We arrived here on February 1st. We walk into town and no longer get lost. How’s that for progress? Yesterday after breakfast we decided to attempt public transportation—the local bus. We boarded bus #3 in the town square and rode it along the coast south to a pretty little village called Burgau.  The ride took about 50 minutes and the scenery along the coast through other little towns was breath taking. Local residents, including school kids got on and off the bus.  The ride gave us a little feel for what it’s like to live and work in southern Portugal.  As we bumped along, the sky was crystal blue, the Atlantic calm and smooth as marble with a soft breeze, the sun burned brightly and the temperature was comfortable, in the low 70’s.  This is how I like to travel. Some days are planned around an activity like a tour through a winery or a visit to a special spot that is important to the community or possibly a food tour to sample foods Never tried before. But mostly, time is spent leisurely enjoying the area, talking to people about their lives with no planned agenda. Yep, that ‘s how I love to travel.

We bounced and bumped our way back on the bus after enjoying a bottle of wine on the beach in Burgau. We returned to the old walled city of Lagos and home. Today, Jim and I are going bottom fishing with Captain Luis for four hours in the afternoon while Pat and Cindy shop. We’re so confident of catching fish, we’ve bought lemon, garlic, potatoes to bake and butter that Pat will use to  prepare our catch. How’s that for putting the cart before horse? 😉

Yep, my kind of travel—slow, easy, relaxed, a glass of wine or two, meeting and talking and living with old and new friends.  Tomorrow? Well, I’ll let you know tomorrow...