Beautiful Portugal...we can hardly move....

We are finally in Portugal, actually for about 13 days... or what day is it today again... ???! Doesn't matter 😇

We entered Portugal from Seville via Huelva and down to the coast. By chance, I had read something about the entry and toll on Pinterest before, but when we arrived at a toll station right after crossing the border, we had to figure out how it all works. All foreign license plates were being checked in front of us and they asked at the police station. It made us nervous, but it turned out to be quite easy. Just get in the right lane, scan the license plate at the barrier, insert credit card, done. So far, we haven't driven any highways, so there won't be any surprises.... 😉 Of course, as usual, we didn't know where to go, so we looked for a place by the sea between Faro and Albufeira and spent the night there. Overnight stays are tolerated there, but the next morning we had visitors... luckily not from the GNR, but from a shepherd with his flock.... 😂 We were completely surrounded, but fortunately, it was no problem, he just continued with his herd and we could have a peaceful breakfast there. So we had to move on, then we decided for a campsite in a small bathing resort, in Armacao de Pêra, somewhere between Albufeira and Portimão. We just wanted to arrive and relax a bit, so far we have only been on the move and hardly had time to catch our breath. The weather finally also gave in and gave us warm temperatures and sun 😊 We spent two days at the beach, just reading, listening to music & chilling. Also nice for a change 😊

After that, we went to Praia do Benagil, supposed to be very beautiful, but the parking lot was already full & definitely not suitable for slightly higher vans, so we just drove a bit further to Cabo Cavoeiro. There we could park easily (and even for free) and from the lighthouse there was a hiking trail to Benagil. We took that one, in total we were on the way for about 3 hours. Once again, it was just beautiful, the landscape & the coves are simply amazing here. While walking the trail, we saw some campers up there in the rocks, so after we had also done some shopping, we looked for a place for us there and found a rather lonely spot on the cliffs. We also went to the beach, Praia do Carvalho (much nicer than Benagil!), which was only a few minutes' walk from our great spot. What great surf, we even jumped in, even though it was really cold... But those waves, what fun!!!

In the morning, the first hikers walked right past us while we were having breakfast... So we decided to drive a little further, even though almost every bay deserved to be stopped at. We stopped in Lagos and also explored the city, it was actually a very nice town, with narrow streets, a nice old town, many pubs, and somehow a lot of stranded Englishmen.... Why, no idea, we just noticed it. After that, we drove on to Ponte de Piedate, a beautiful bay with imposing rock formations. Of course, you're not alone at such a beautiful place... We arrived quite late in the afternoon, but apparently it's busy at any time of the day... Nevertheless, we looked at everything and it was really beautiful! After that, we also went to Praia do Camillo, which is right next door. But since it was too crowded everywhere, we decided not to stay overnight there. So we had chosen the campsite at Salema Beach as our destination, but unfortunately, it was closed due to construction work 🙈 By chance, while wandering around, we found a sign to a small camper stop, which turned out to be a hit again. Small place, quite a few Englishmen with all sorts of interesting vehicles, nicely overgrown, everything quite basic but clean and relaxed and nice people. In the end, we stayed here for 3 nights... 😉 It was windy again at that time, but during the day it was mostly fine, so we went to the beach here on 2 days as well. We also met a nice couple from Germany there, who are traveling with their T3 for a total of 6 months. Always nice to chat with like-minded people.

After the time at the camper stop, it was time for some solitude. But not before we had visited the southwesternmost point of Europe and had had the last bratwurst before America.... the full tourist program 😂🙈 After that, we drove to Bodeira Beach, which was really beautiful and supposedly many hippies live in their vans there, but apart from a few smaller vans and the typical modern and fancy campers, there was nothing.... Well then, move on! At Amaro Beach, a surfer beach where apparently Prince William learned to surf, we found a nice place for the night, sheltered behind the dune, because the wind was strong again... But here on the west coast, there are simply incredible sunsets that you HAVE to watch, no matter how windy it is..... The next day, we drove a bit further up the coast (even though it feels like we're not making any progress, it's just so beautiful here!) to Praia de Monte Clérigo, another surfer beach. A picturesque bay, on one side the small village with its colorful houses and on the other side, the cliffs. On the day we arrived, there was hardly anyone there, it was very windy and therefore cool. Good for us, because most of the few pitches on the cliffs where you're allowed to stay overnight were still free 😊 But in the evening, we were blown around quite a bit and it got really cold up there on the cliffs..... Oh well, this sunset!!!

The next day, the wind was almost gone and behold, more and more surfers and other people came to the beach. We ended up staying one more night because it was really beautiful and there was a very relaxed atmosphere in the little village as well. We felt comfortable, despite the lack of a shower and a real toilet only during the day.... But then we HAD to go back to civilization for a shower, dishes & laundry.... That's why we spent another 2 nights at a campsite in the town of Vila Nova de Milfontes. Also quite nice here, although almost everything in the town was still in winter sleep.... Good for us, it wasn't so crowded 😉

Next destination is Lisbon, so we had to make some progress and already crossed over to the Setúbal Peninsula by ferry. We could have driven around it, but that would have been about 100km detour. Besides, dolphins live in the estuary of the Sado, but unfortunately, they didn't show up... We then spent the night at another beautiful bay on the cliffs.

Sending greetings from Lisbon!