Day 16 Lagos

Today we decided to see the rest of the south coast of Portugal by driving the last few Kilometers to Sagres, the most southwesterly point of continental Europe. It was here that prior to the 14th century people thought the world ended. Stops at Cabo de Sao Vicente and the old Fort at Ponta de Sagres produced some good pictures of the rugged headlands. After walking out to the old fort and getting caught in the rain, it also produced some more “lively discussion” centered on two questions: 1) what kind of idiot would say “Oh we won’t need an umbrella?” and, 2) why did Sylvia get soaked and I only got wet? (The exact same questions came up later in the day as we walked downtown.) The answer to the first question was easy (me), but the second I’m still trying to figure out. After drying out (at least I did), we drove over to Salema, the only true little fishing village we saw on the whole southeri coast. Salema’s a pretty little place on the beach with a few restaurants and two small hotels. It would be a great place to spend a few relaxing days. We decided to have lunch at a little beach restaurant called Café Atlantico. We ordered a Sea Bass big enough for the two of us. It was split in half (head and all) and grilled…excellent. Filled up, we drove back to Lagos and our hotel.

In the evening, we walked the town, and resumed our “lively discussion” after we got caught in the rain again. We had dinner at a rather large restaurant near the hotel called Adega da Mare. It was like a German hofbrau house with seafood (picture of menu). Sylvia had chicken and I had cuttlefish. Not bad and very inexpensive, with a liter of wine twenty two dollars. We ended the night at the hotel chatting with the clerk/bartender. We spent much time talking about the direction the Algarve is going and all the locals are disappearing and being replaced by the English, Dutch, and Germans. She said they’re buying everything up. She didn’t seem too upset with that, but still it’s sad