One night in Portugal

While reflecting back on past holidays for these blog posts, I am starting to notice a trend - we do a lot of one or two nighters in Europe! I suppose while it is on our doorstep we may as well make the most of it, right?  {RIGHT!}

Oreo Love x

In March 2011 Hamish and I joined a few friends on a short trip to the Algarve in Portugal. We left bright and early on a cold winter Saturday morning, and started off the trip with what I consider to be the only way to start off a trip - an Oreo milkshake {even at 7 in the morning!}. Perhaps I do have a bit of a soft spot for these delicious drinks, but in my books, it is always Oreo milkshake time!  Anyway, I digress. Back to Portugal. We flew into Faro and hired a car to take us to the accommodation we had rented near Albufeira.  As it was out of season, the whole area was pretty much deserted, but we could definitely picture it as a bustling summer resort popular with tourists.  Thankfully, the weather was a lot warmer than back in London and we tried our best to make the most of the sunshine. 

Some highlights of the trip include eating a delicious Portuguese chicken and rice meal outside a cute little family restaurant, a lovely long walk along the beach,  a winding road trip along the coast to get a better feel for the area and simply enjoying our luxurious apartment which cost next to nothing since it was off peak season. Hamish and I enjoyed the weekend so much we considered changing our flights and taking a day off work to extend the break and maximise the holiday feeling, but unfortunately the cost of doing that meant it just wouldn't be worth our while.  

Fun Facts about the Algarve: 

• The Algarve is home to at least 20% of Portugal's hotels,  restaurants and travel agents. 
• The most western point of Europe's mainland is a cape in Portugal,  the Cape of Roca
• Nando's, the food franchise which was founded in South Africa, was created by two young men who missed Portuguese food, one of them was of Portuguese-Mozambique heritage, and the rest, as they say, is history. 
• The Algarve coastline stretches over 100 miles
• A pint of beer in Portugal costs £1.69 *

* Correct at time of publishing