Algarve Local Custom Tips by Bwana_Brown

As we left Cabo de Sao Vicente, we noticed some fishermen standing on the edge of the 60-m (200-ft.) cliffs with their lines cast way down into the ocean. The wind was very gusty and I was careful not to get too close to the edge - I have since seen reports that a few of these guys are lost each year!! In fact, there was a plaque at the lighthouse (in the background) dedicated to the memory of a young German man who had died there not long ago, presumably due to a fall (I could not read the German text). The ground leading out to this fishing location was very rough, with small sharp rocky ledges. I actually left the car at the side of the road and walked out here rather than subject the tires to that terrain!

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On our drive back inland from our afternoon on the southern beaches of the Algarve, we climbed in height as we approached the little town of Monchique located in the mountains of Serra de Monchique. The highways between there and Silva are quite picturesque with forests growing beside the twisting road. At the little hamlet of Nave, we stopped to admire the view out over the river valley and were pleased to be approached by this old man and his donkey. He had been sitting under the shade of the trees nearby, so we took advantage of his offer of a photo opportunity! I gave him E2 for his efforts.

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Everywhere we went in Portugal, we saw examples of the beautiful painted ceramic tiles called 'azulejos'. They are a carry-over of the Moorish conquest period of about 1000 years ago and are used to decorate the interior and exterior of buildings as well as for outside displays. In this case, we were on top of Mt. Foia, the highest mountain in the Algarve at 902 meters (almost 3000 ft). The plaque gives information on the importance of Mt. Foia to ancient sailors, with its treeless green summit providing a very helpful navigational aid!

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