Faro, capital of Algarve, Portugal, is of the dirty-pretty-poor kind. Think Cuba with newer cars. I did escape winter, as planned: it’s not exactly warm, but there’s a certain mildness in the air I associate with April. Bringing my bathing suit and sandals might have been a tad optimistic. Orange trees – with oranges – in the town square.
Whereas in Belgium most people are small (relatively speaking), here everyone is tiny. I get the blond giant feeling I usually experience when traveling in Asian countries.
So far the traveling alone has worked out: striking up interesting conversations with people I’ll never meet again – the retired couple coming to spend the rest of the winter here, people from Minesota escaping their harsh winter (-15C), the french party girl, the South Corean loner.
Portuguese people are really warm and friendly so far – refreshing after the strenuous belgian attitude to service. Almost a shame Portuguese men are so small (height-wise, before anyone says something smart).
They also seem to be living outside (the men) – group of older men talking on benches, playing at what looks to be a card game. Groups of young men looking bored.
I indulged in my favourite passtime when on holiday: getting lost. This is something I have a natural talent for – but proved to be pretty hard in this small coastal town. I pretty much criss-crossed the whole place in 3 or 4 hours.
There are no tourists, the town is dead. The old city (vila adentro) is cute and well-kept, bright colors and azulejo’s, but the rest of the town is on the wrong side of dingy. Discussions with fellow hostel guest revealed that Faro is really a place where people land, but don’t stay in. The hostel itself is half-empty, and the receptionist laughed when I asked if i could book friday night.
So tomorrow (today at the time of posting) i take the train to Lagos (“Lagosh”). Lagos has lots of beaches, and is close to Cabo Sao Vicente, the west-southernmost point of Europe.
Lagos is a bit of a strange town, full of high-rise suburban resorts for all classes. I didn’t really like it, it’s spoiled and didn’t really breath atmosphere but that’s me….
The eastern side of Faro is much less dense in terms of “holiday organisation”. I liked Tavira, which had really loooooong beaches. Weren’t you suppose to go to the islands
Lagos itself is nothing special, but the nature around it is worth it, i think.
So far none of the towns I’ve seen have impressed me – Portimao, Faro, Sagres, …
The islands fell through after i realized my passport has expired
To have it renewed quickly would have doubled the price of my holiday.
I dunno if you’re gonna have time for that but you may want to go as well to Ayamonte in Huelva (Spain) –exactly in the other direction– I know the area and is a good pick too.
Nope, I’m already going back tomorrow … thanks for the tip, i’ll try to go some other time.