When you travel and reach the western end of the Eurasian continent, what would you expect from the beaches and the small towns on the country side ? Well , as they say, expect the unexpected, the Algarve region gives you one of the very magnificent experiences. Out of the gamut of options in the region, we chose the city apart from the mainstream Lagos and Faro, the Albufeira city. Albufeira is situated in the central part of Algarve region with its stunning coastlines and exquisite cuisine.
The Bus ride to the countryside
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal which has the historic architecture still in place like some the most beautiful cities in Europe. It is a city full of vibrant colors and the hub of transport connectivity.
We started off from Lisbon early in the morning when the city was still asleep from the Sete Rios Bus station, the main bus station of the capital.
Renex and Rede expressos are the main operators in this region and the journey takes about 4 hours to South Portugal. Even though you are sleepy and the buses are so comfortable you tend to stay awake and ogle at the countryside views on the way.
Cost for a Bus ride : An average return ticket for an adult costs from around 35 to 40 Euros
After reaching the Albufeira central bus station, we walked till our destination , Praia dos Pescadores. A white town by the beach full of chiller vibes. We reached the beach in about 20 mins and dived straight into the sea. The weather on that day was not clear and had a dense cloud cover.
Enjoying the White Praia dos Pescadores
The weather actually made the ocean go wild and it was much more fun while going in to take a dip in the waters. We started walking on the beach exploring and corners from the West. And it was surprising to find the people on the beach to be less in number as opposed to the crowded European beaches. Towards the eastern end of the beach there were a variety of restaurants which had the local fish and seafood delicacies.
We reached the end of the beach soon which gave way to its unique bushes and rocky patches. The ocean waves were crashing on the surface of the rocks.
The Local Delicacies
After a good afternoon spent on the beach we headed towards the town area to explore and experience the local food. When you come out of the beach from the eastern end the very first restaurant caught our eye. Thus we had our lunch in Panacee Restaurante, ordered some brandy and rum to warm ourselves. We had Piri Piri Chicken with fries and one local fish delicacy.
Cost of lunch : 10-20 Euros per person
Walking down the calm roads
After the lunch we walked around the town and soaked in the vibe of the place. The houses were pretty and had blue shades apart from the largely white paint.
We came across the fisherman statue on the road and a small toy train to span the beach from one end to another. But we preferred walking.
It was a mesmerizing experience with not many people crowding the area and the town having a calm vibe to itself. The locals were happy and talked respectfully.
The total cost per person was easily under 100 Euros even after buying a couple of souvenirs and some extra beers while chilling on the beach. I would certainly like to go back there and explore the other beaches in the Algarve region.
Peace. Keep travelling, Responsibly.