Surf Paradise

On Thursday I hooked up with 6 of my fellow hostel mates and headed to the south-west coast of Portugal. Two of the girls had rented a car and offered to take us to this awesome beach. So if you can imagine 7 people, 1 small 4 door hatchback, assorted towels, water bottles, and picnic gear trundling along a bumpy Portuguese highway. It was a complete clown car. Best of all was when a police truck came up behind us. People were squished down, covered with towels and we all did our best to look non-plussed by the fact that 5 young fit people could cause a car to ride so impossibly low. Luckily they had something else in mind and didn't pay any attention.

The beach was incredible! Surrounded by tawny red gold sandstone hills, pounding crystal clear surf, and the bluest sky I've seen in ages, it was impossible not to fall in love with this place. The fact that it was filled with goregous hard bodied surfers didn't hurt either. ;)

Yesterday I headed out with a couple guys and we scrambled along some of the paths on the sandstone cliffs in search of a secluded beach to call our own. After a good trek we found it. Only problem was we had to scramble down a pretty steep slope. Me being more than a little spooked by a certain previous brush with falling, was pretty nervous. But the guys were more than helpful and managed to find a rope to use to help getting down. Again, this beach was goregous! And because of the steep climb we had it all to ourselves. Well mostly... most of the boats that tour the grottoes stopped by this beach. And for awhile we became tourist attractions as all wanted to know how the hell we got to that beach. Was kinda neat.

Lagos, the home base for these beachy excursions, is rediculously touristy. It's a crass unabashed resort town and backpacker piss-up spot. You're either white haired and retired or in your twenties and a scruffy backpacker. There is no in-between. Still, it's a beautiful spot to chill out. A piece of a normal vacation to break up the travelling.