The Algarve, Portugal

1st - 17th Sept 2019

Wow!  Portugal's Algarve coastline is beautiful.  We stop off in Portimao for a couple of days on route to Faro.  The anchorage is just inside the entrance to Portimao.  Here we bump into Float On, Amy & Martin who have recently purchased a Beneteau name Olli and have a Youtube channel, but most importantly they have a lovely dog called BamBam.

We had a wonder around the town and visited the marina to find out the price of a berth for the winter.  The town had an amazing collection of sculptures along the waters-edge but the town did not have a lot going for it.

We decide after a couple of nights to head for Faro but know we are going to have to do an overnight stop.  This had to be the worst night we have ever had on board.  We had a swell that swung the boat so hard over that we had a job to stand up.  We hardly slept and our stomaches ached from clenching each time the boat rolled again so firs thing the following morning we set off for Culartra.

We arrived in Liha Da Culartra early Sept and celebrated Steve's 56th birthday in style at a restaurant.  This is not something we normally do.  We may have a coffee during the day and maybe a snack for lunch but we never go out in the evening.  It was a real treat haha!
Culartra is beautiful.  Its like stepping back in time where there are no cars or roads, only single rise houses, lagoons, sand dunes and stunning beaches where the sand is like icing sugar.

There are a couple of small shops, an ATM and about 6 bars/restaurants.  The men hang around the harbour either readying themselves to go out and fish or sit and gossip in the shade.  The women are nowhere to be seen apart from first thing in the morning when they all catch the early ferry to Olhao with their shopping trolleys to bring back the fruit, veg & provisions they need.