Category: Vacation

The sun returned for our day in Loulé! We explored the local market, Loulé Castle, and Igreja Matriz de São Clemente. For our last evening in Portugal, Derek and I enjoyed a tasting dinner at Gusto by Heinz Beck—which was quite the experience, made particularly memorable by the custom “Happy Anniversary” petit four plate. Delicioso! 

On an adventurous Jeep tour—adventurous because I’m pretty sure the Jeep didn’t have air bags, barely had seat belts, and the back roads were one lane with oncoming traffic, LOL!—Derek and I visited the ruins of Castelo de Paderne, climbed inside Moinho do Leitão (a working wind mill), and hiked down to Queda do Vigário…

The cliffs and vast ocean sprays were spectacular at Sagres Fortress and Cabo de Sao Vincente Lighthouse. After a long (and chilly!) afternoon taking photos, we enjoyed the local cuisine at Miam Burgau. Best meal yet!! Derek tried their pork ribs, and I devoured the lamb meatballs with sweet and regular potatoes, yogurt sauce, and…

Island hopping on our “private” four-hour boat tour was amazing. (Private because we suspect that other passengers cancelled under the threat of rain… but we lucked out!) We learned about local bird life on Armona Island, strolled along Deserta Island’s beaches, and enjoyed lunch at A Da Nelia on Culatra Island. Back on land, we…

Hiking Ponte da Piedade was a breath-taking, three-mile round trip (for us) filled with cliffs, gorgeous rock formations and hidden beaches. Afterward, dinner at Casa do Prego in Lagos was delicious, nestled in Old Town’s historic charm. Five-star experience all around!!

Derek and I had a blast visiting the Benagil Caves—by land and by sea! We admired them from below on a splish and slash ride posing as a boat tour (thank you choppy water!) but the view from above was even better. Some people were braver than us while wandering off the Carvoeiro Boardwalk… but…

After a day and a half of traveling (in style!) Derek and I finally arrived at our final destination… Pine Cliffs Hotel & Resort in Algarve, Portugal!