03/7/18 – 04/07/18 – Lagos, Algarve
We had heard good things in chatting to various people about Lagos, so we arrived with relatively high expectations. Always looking for somewhere free or cheap to park up for the night, we found the football stadium via searchforsites for our overnight stop for €3 for the night plus €2 for water refill and €2 for use of the laundry facilities.
The stadium is approximately a 10 minute bike ride from the old part of the town, so after the heat of the afternoon had subsided, we set off to check out the town at around 17:00.
There are a few beaches in Lagos, small town beaches on the south side of the river, with a much larger beach on the marina side. We visited Praia Batata (Or at least looked down on it from the mirador above) and then after dinner when it was quiet enough to take Marley on the sand, Praia São Roque. By this time however, the wind had really started to pick up, so we spent just enough time for Marley to tire himself out.
The town itself, is similar to many other towns in the Algave, with pretty narrow street lined with old buildings, many of them tiled. Although this town felt very touristy, certainly in comparison to Taviia, Estoi or even Faro. It probably wasn’t helped by the fact that a World Cup game was on that night and the place was starting to feel particularly rowdy.
Avoiding the growing crowns outside the bars and Praca de Gil Eanes, we decided it would be a good time for me to have that delayed birthday steak at Restaurante O Charco – chosen largely because it looked busy and it was one of the few places that was still in the sun. My steak was OK, not the best but not the worst. Lorraine was left with little veggie option other than Pizza (something she is now tiring of.) It wouldn’t have been that bad, but it wasn’t a particularly good pizza…although that didn’t stop me helping her finish it off! 😉 – (According to Lorraine, I ate 3 slices!) All in all though, a steak, 2 beers and a pizza for €28
Overall, Lagos is definitely worth a visit. It might have been nicer had we timed it differently when there wasn’t a World Cup game on.
