PORTUGAL

Location - South west Europe; Capital - Lisbon; Population - 10.2 million; Currency - Euro MORE PORTUGAL

I criss-crossed haphazardly across the Algarve, the aim being to stay close to the shortest route back north. So next up were more superb beaches in Lagos to the west, before swinging back east to Faro for the shorter journey north to Evora and the overland trip home - October 2020.

A recent version of the 10 Euro note

Great to see the marina and neighbouring cafes on exiting the train station - Lagos

If you head in the opposite direction from the train station you'll arrive at the main beach, Meia Praia - Lagos

It's a very wide stretch of sand separated from the main resort by the River Bensafrim - Lagos

Street art in the derelict/industrial area between station and beach - Lagos

These two figures are tagged Tona, a Germany-based artist - Lagos

Back in the other direction, past the train station and marina again, then over the River Bensafrim to the town centre - Lagos

With some superb street art on the way.. - Lagos

Colourful water jets at Praca do Infante Dom Henrique - Lagos

The main tourist drag is the pedestrianised Rua 25 de Abril - Lagos

If it wasn't for COVID this would be a lively place, though some bars and restaurants were still doing well. There were enough people around, just too many places to choose from! - Lagos

The entrance to The Garden, a bar-restaurant centred around a, erm, a garden of course - Lagos

A lazy Sunday afternoon centred on one of the squares of Lagos

Sao Goncalo Gate is one of the old city gates located next to the castle - Lagos

The 17th century Ponta da Bandeira Fort lies next to a small beach which offers kayaks for hire - Lagos

Over the break wall from the fort is Praia da Batata, a good central beach - Lagos

But the real beauties are a little further south, particularly this one, Praia de Dona Ana - Lagos

The sandstone cliffs and rocky outcrops give this beach a stunning setting - Lagos

Praia de Dona Ana on a hazy, misty morning - Lagos

It was popular in October but still with plenty of space - Lagos

Over another break wall is Baia dos Segredos followed by Praia do Pinhao - Lagos

Head further south via the road or clifftop trail to gorgeous scenery at Praia do Camilo - Lagos

Rocky pinnacles prove very popular with the kayak tours - Lagos

Not sure if it was high tide but the width of sand didn't lend itself to spacious sunbathing - Lagos

Take a tunnel to another stretch of sand at Praia do Camilo - Lagos

A kayak on calm waters at Praia do Camilo - Lagos

Keep heading south to the end of the line at the peninsular Ponta da Piedade - Lagos

Spot a photographer waiting for sunset, plus someone's somehow managed to clamber between the two peaks - Lagos

Lone boat on shimmering waters. Plus it's a brilliant view - Lagos

Looking back at the lighthouse (farol) on Ponta da Piedade - Lagos

A couple more inviting beaches - the far one, mostly out of picture, is Praia la Luz, while the near one is Praia de Porto de Mos - Lagos

A mural on a decaying wall, as I take a wrong turn on the land surrounding Ponta da Piedade - Lagos

All the way back east to Faro, the main city of the Algarve and where international flights arrive

Between Faro and the Atlantic Ocean are the protective islands and calm waterways of the Ria Formosa Natural Park - Faro

Just out of picture, planes glide over the lagoon as they land at Faro airport - Faro

Characters opposite the train station - Faro

The Capela dos Ossos, or Chapel of Bones, is something I've never come across before - Faro

The skulls and bones of over 1,000 monks are embedded in the walls of the 19th century chapel - Faro

Spooky, but wait until you see the even spookier one in Evora (further below, on this page) - Faro

I am some art, a slogan repeated more than once in Faro

The pedestrianised centre of Faro offers plenty of dining options coupled with boutique shops

The area west of Rua 1 de Maio has several cool bars, though when I was there it was very quiet until the weekend - Faro

Another reference to George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement - Faro

A pretty run down street in the cidade velha (old town) - Faro

Playing with a porthole. Like it - Faro

A storm was in full swing on one of my days in Faro, and I'm amazed more things didn't fly away, as far bigger trees than this one did. At times I just couldn't walk against the gale, seeking refuge behind walls and trees (a good idea?!)

At the top of the cidade velha's cathedral - Faro

Fine views of the Ria Formosa and some of its distant islands - Faro

The following morning was the quiet after the storm on Ria Formosa - Faro

I took a boat to Ilha da Barreta in the Ria Formasa Natural Park - Faro

The boat leaves behind Faro's old town

The shores of Ilha da Barreta

Speedboats to Ilha da Barreta, also known as Ilha Deserta, only take 15min whereas the ferry takes around 45min

The storm of the previous day may have passed but the Atlantic was having other thoughts. A fishing trawler waited as it rode several waves, then went full throttle into dock - Ilha da Barreta

The island is about 7km long and the beach pretty much stretches the whole way - Ilha da Barreta

Along the beach is Cabo de Santa Maria, signifying the southernmost point of continental Portugal - Ilha da Barreta

A boardwalk trail covers the eastern section of the narrow barrier island - Ilha da Barreta

As you'd expect the island's lagoon-facing coast is tranquil - Ilha da Barreta

I'm guessing this guy (left) is one of several cockle pickers along the Ria Formosa - Ilha da Barreta

Aside from O Estamine restaurant and a few fishermen's huts, the island is deserted, hence the alternative name of Ilha Deserta - Ilha da Barreta

However directly opposite, Ilha da Culatra looks quite built up

Surfboard in tow, there's definitely waves out there! I could just catch a glimpse of the island's beach which looks impressive - Ilha da Culatra

Even though this is called Faro beach it's a taxi ride from the city, past the airport and on to the coast - Faro

The Atlantic waves have serious energy but on the other side is a protected lagoon, I guess another part of Ria Formosa - Faro

Unsurprisingly all the boats are moored on the lagoon rather than the sea - Faro

Faro beach is around 10km from Faro itself, and with the Atlantic lined with bars and restaurants it's a popular place to get away from the city - Faro

More salt mounds in Ria Formosa - Faro

After an afternoon on Albufeira beach, I returned north to catch the night bus to Madrid from Evora

Evora has an inviting central square, Praca do Giraldo, with outdoor drinking and dining

Another cathedral where you can climb the tower - Evora

Panoramic views of the lively university town - Evora

Peer down at the cloister from the cathedral roof - Evora

On the southern edge of the old town overlooking the walls are the public gardens, which includes an outdoor cafe, these pictured ruins and lots of room for a stroll - Evora

Just outside the 14th century walls near the garden is the bullring - Evora

Above the entrance to the Chapel of Bones (Capela dos Ossos) it states 'We bones are here, waiting for yours' - Evora

Not visible but on the far right are two corpses in glass display cases - Evora

After the exhumation of bodies from overflowing cemeteries, Franciscan monks used around 5,000 corpses to decorate the walls and pillars of the late 16th century chapel - Evora

I hoped these people had chosen this, but alas it sounds not; the monks' thought process was to highlight the transience of life - Evora

Extraordinary and eerie, I'd never seen anything like this until I visited a similar chapel in Faro just a few days earlier - Evora

These keyhole locks were everywhere, inscribed 'servico de aguas' so I guess something to do with domestic water supply - Evora

I'd say yes - Evora

The quiet old town backstreets - Evora

Must be laundry day at that house - Evora

Just behind Praca do Giraldo is a pedestrian street that comes to life in the evening, awash with outdoor restaurant tables. I say come to life but covid meant it was quieter than normal and drinks were only available with a meal - Evora

Homes are built within the arches of the 16th century Agua de Prata Aqueduct, which transferred water to the town - Evora

The 1st-3rd century Roman ruins of the Templo Romano is often called the Temple of Diana - Evora

Close to the forum, walk through the Art & Culture Centre to the Casas Pintadas, a set of quirky 16th century paintings - Evora

A COVID-19 State of Calamity notice outside a restaurant - Evora

Below Praca do Giraldo is the former Jewish quarter, a series of residential side streets - Evora

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LINKS

www.algarve-tourist.com - a guide to the Algarve

www.cp.pt - buy train tickets online

Rede Expressos is a nationwide bus company, though as I write their website's not working. Google it

www.visitportugal.com - Portugal tourism website

I am not responsible for the content of external websites.