Albufeira, Portugal — Chris Moore

Beautiful beaches, wonderful climate. I didn't want to leave.

Saturday, June 18: Drive from Seville to Albufeira

This was a short drive at only two hours. We weren't in a big hurry but still managed to show up late to our next Airbnb. Oops!

We stopped in Huelva, Spain on the way. Huelva is where Christopher Columbus set sail from on his trip to India. They have replicas of the ships and a little museum you can explore. A fun little stop.

Deck and rigging of a replica sailing ship

Child exploring barrels in a ship's hold

Recreated ship's kitchen with hanging provisions

We made it to the next Airbnb about an hour late. Unfortunately for us, we missed our host. He was letting someone else in to another unit. We went ahead and grabbed groceries and came back to meet him later. We took a risk and booked a brand new listing with no reviews. It paid off this time. It was a wonderful location. The management company had quite a few listings so I figured it was a pretty safe bet.

Bright white living room in our holiday apartment

Bedroom with white bedding and a balcony door

Relaxing on a sunny terrace beside white walls

Sunday, June 19: Father's Day (US) and the beach

We explored one of the most popular beaches in the Algarve area: São Rafael. I love the rocky coastline here. We walked the old town area with two of the kids. Explored the shops, had a drink and a snack. Later, Katharine and I had another solo dinner waterfront.

Shaded terrace overlooking the sea at sunset

Monday, June 20: More beach

Today we drove a little farther to another beach: Praia de Galé Oeste. This one was a more typical beach: long, wide sand. Lots of cool rock formations on the East end though.

Orange rock overhang framing the beach and sea

Sandy passage between coastal rock formations

Tuesday, June 21: Albufeira Old Town

More exploring in the old town area. This place is great. Always something to do, tons of restaurants, bars, nightlife. It's basically Myrtle Beach for England.

Child in a tunnel carved through orange rock

Wednesday, June 22: The End of the World

In the old days, Sagres was known as the end of the world. It was the last land before the Atlantic. Today, it is full of amazing views and an old fort.

Steep cliff dropping into turquoise water

Child beside a wooden railing on the cliffs

Just across the inlet from Sagres is a little food truck called The Last Bratwurst Before America. If you visit, they'll give you a little certificate 😆🌭.

Decorative certificate printed in Portuguese

Lighthouse buildings above the ocean cliffs

Lighthouse on a rocky headland beneath gray clouds

That's all from Albufeira and the Algarve. Tomorrow we're heading back up North to Santarém.