LAGOS

After a beautiful bus ride down the coast of Portugal, we found ourselves in paradise. Despite a confusing walk through winding cobblestone streets, once we found ourselves in our Lagos apartment we knew this place was going to be special. We spent the first few days here getting some work done and watching both Shrek and Shrek 2 while consuming an absurd amount of Portuguese pastry.

One afternoon we decided to take a break from working and walk down to the beach, and we were blown away by what was one of the most beautiful beaches we had ever seen. The Lagos beaches are surrounded by stunning cliff faces, and the cliffs naturally create small coves that felt like private beaches. We even had to go through little archways and mini caves to get through each side. Even just walking along the sand felt incredible! Despite the January weather, we dipped our toes in the water and soaked up the Portuguese sun. From this point forward, we were totally sold on Lagos and have already talked about coming back in the summer for a real Portuguese beach trip.

We spent the next few days exploring the quaint town of Lagos. We walked along and under the city walls, saw some beautiful tile buildings, and found the most amazing Japanese restaurant. For only 10 euros we got all you can eat of some incredible sushi, the best were the braised salmon rolls. We then visited the Forte Ponta da Bandeira, a fortress right on the waters of Lagos. Inside was a beautiful chapel, fascinating art and history of Lagos, and on the roof we had the most amazing views of the water and the coast. We had a blast finding all the hidden nooks and crannies in the fortress. There were slitted windows for shooting arrows, lookout points, and some very interesting wired sculptures that moved with the wind.

Our final day in Lagos we spent on a beautiful hike along the coast. We timed it perfectly so that we would reach Ponta da Piedade at sunset and see the beautiful sandstone cliffs. We had a blast! Pictures don’t do it justice, but the views were some of the best we have ever seen.

We ended our time in Lagos with a delightful seafood dinner that night and said goodbye to the picturesque cobblestone streets, the ocean air, and the amazing pastries. Lagos was a refuge for us on a whirlwind trip, and though it was a more low-key experience, it is one of our most cherished memories. On to Spain!!