Hello people, let us introduce you to our trip.
This time we decided to tour in Portugal, to discover and live the nature in all its beauty, from the hills to the beaches.
It will be divided in 8 posts:
- From Faro to Albufeira;
- From Albufeira to Lagos;
- From Lagos to Vila do Bispo, via Sagres;
- From Vila do Bispo to Odeceixe;
- From Odeceixe to Vila Nova De Milfontes;
- From Vila Nova De Milfontes to Vila Nova de Santo Andrè
- From Vila Nova De Santo Andrè to Tròia;
- From Tròia to Lisbon.
DAY 1
Let the music play: Start the journey!
Early, early in the morning, but very very early morning.
No, not this time.
REWIND
Late, late in the evening, we started our journey.
the previous days were very weird. Anxiety, joy, skirt, enthusiasm.
It was the first time that we bring our bikes and you know, first time is always the first time. 🙂
Our flight was at 7.25 a.m. but due to the distance from our houses and the necessity to arrive at the airport at least 2.30 h before we decided to sleep there.
Airports at night are something special. Very few people sleeping, other people reads, someone is smoking and someone else talks with a stranger.
How many stories, how many destinies and destination.
For what it concern us we met a friend of Arthur and we spent the night helping him to choose photos for a work and trying to place his hammock.
Yes, an hammock in a airport! Can you believe it?
Look at the photo down here! 🙂
The best thing happened that night was at the wake up. A stranger left a piece of toilet paper on which he wrote that he left a bag full of snacks under the hammock!
Breakfast assured 🙂
Faro, take care of us!
Time to start the journey, plane takes us to Portugal!
The flight was very easy, not as it’s happened at the return (we will talk about this, oh yes!).
We arrived in Faro on time and after ONLY two hours we finished to assemble all the parts. Please have a cup of tea, it was the FIRST TIME 😛
We really appreciated that the airport was equipped with 3 “bike stations”, very useful for assembling/disassembling bicycles.
All good! The sun was shining and legs were ready! We were so excited, all went good and we were on the bikes with our yellow bags full of clothes and useless things! Useless like the blue jeans of Arthur’s father. He says that don’t know how is happened… Useful as the pair of Bruno’s jeans in excess!
Destination Algarve: The wild nature
5 kms from the airport and we were already deep in the Algarve Region. This region is very wild and the nature is simply incredible: pines, palms and dirty roads!
kinda esotic!
To reach Albufeira is really easy, it’s just 35 kms from the airport and you can chose between different roads. If you have a mountain bike or a gravel with good tires you can take the dirty roads and enjoy the wild surroundings, otherwise you can follow the normal road.
We decided to follow both. The first part in the wild passing through the salinas and the second part on the normal road BECAUSE WE WERE DYING! Jocking 🙂
The first thing you will notice following the main road is
that is full of golf resorts. Miles and miles of green fields and people driving golf cars. We will think about this when we retire! 🙂
Jokes aside, this is a renowed region for Golf!
The first day was very easy and before noon we were in the white Albufeira.
Albufeira: Fortress of the sea
Albufeira is a well known town in the Algarve.
The city was founded by the Arabs in order to be a fortress on the sea. His names literally means “Fortress of the sea”.
Born as a fortress, during the centuries it became a little fishing village and now, in the last 50 years, it has become one of the most touristic place in the south of Portugal.
This city is a little white pearl, full of narrow street, beautiful views, amazing beaches and its famous nightlife.
It’s a little bit difficult to visit it by bike because is built on a hill.
Up & Down, Up & Down, Up & Down…:D
The Main place to visit are the clock tower “Torre do Rologio“, the symbol of the city, and “Torre Sineira“, a beautiful tower with 8 bells.
Despite this town is full of churches and monuments we didn’t have enough time to visit them, so we decided to do a little tour of the city and then relax a little bit at “Praio di Peneco“.
We enjoyed the sunset at the beach and then we went to the hotel.
Welcome to the São Rafael Atlântico Hotel!
Once arrived at the hotel we had the possibility to leave our bikes safe in a little storeroom behind the reception desk.
The whole staff was very friendly and once in the room they brought us a tasty dish with strawberry, chocolate, meringue and orange juices! NICE SURPRISE!
Look at its smile! 😀
We were happy, so happy that Arthur created a funny dance to celebrate the moment. We jealously guard the video, make an offer and we’ll let you know. 😛
The room was really beautiful, a room of a refined elegance and almost big as our houses!
And what about the view from the balcony?
After 2 days without sleeping on a bed it was like being in paradise! Oh, it’s a paradise even if you have slept normally the day before. Trust us.
If you need to relax and fully recover your strength, we strongly recommend this hotel for your stay in Albufeira.
Here you can find the link to book your stay, visit their website or learn more about the hotel: https://www.saorafaelatlantico.com
We suggest you to take a look to the photo tour on their website. You will not regret it!
After a good shower we were really hungry so we decided to have a walk outside. PLEASE DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE WE DID!
We stopped in a restaurant that was rated 4 stars on Trip Advisor.
As good italian boys we decided to order two pizzas, also because the chef reassured us that pizza was one of his specialities.
We’re still shaken by that experience that we don’t even want to mention the name of the restaurant. :’D
The tiredness accumulated from travelling by plane and bicycle was so much that once back in the room we fainted on the beds and we woke up directly in the morning.
Someone said morning?!
What’s better than a good breakfast?
What’s better than a continental breakfast?
The buffet was so big that you can lose yourself in it.
It’s weird because when we are at home we eat just a croissant or some biscuits with a tea/coffee, while here we ate like there was no tomorrow! 😀
Too bad we stayed here only for a night .. 😥
It was time to leave Albufeira, morning stretching, a last look to the city and we headed to our next destination: Lagos.
Thanks for your time,
Arthur & Bruno – BikesPhilosophy
