Portugal - First steps | FindPenguins

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Trip start
December 9, 2017
Portugal - First steps Traveler
Beauty at the atlantic ocean
December 9, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
I wanted to travel, but I had nobody to go with me. So I decided to travel on my own. But this was completely new. I've never travelled without my parents. As I just started my training as a travel agent in November, I thought, this would be just the right challenge for me. So I took off with Air Berlin to go to Albufeira, Portugal. I had a nice hotel directly at the beach with breakfast and a balcony room. I left my luggage in my room and went out to explore. Immediately, I met a British guy to exchange experiences with. Quite a nice little chat. When I entered the city centre of Albufeira, there weren't a lot of tourists around. I mean, who else would take their holidays right before Xmas? Therefore, I had the city pretty much to myself and could enjoy an extra-long chat with two guys at a restaurant. They started talking to me when I was just walking down the street, inviting me into the restaurant. I didn't end up going inside, but it was a nice chat anyway.Read more
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Portugal - First steps Traveler
The hinterland of the Algarve
December 10, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
The next day, I've booked myself on a tour around the hinterland of the Algarve region. They picked me up at the hotel and off we went to Alte and the surrounding villages. We've learned a lot about basket weaving, cork making processes and the sheer beauty of the wilderness that not so many tourists laid their hands on. After getting back, I strolled around the beach and enjoyed it all by myself.Read more
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Portugal - First steps Traveler
The Most South-Western Point of Europe
December 11, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Today I have booked myself on a tour to Lagos, Portimao, Ponta da Piedade and the most south-western point of Europe - Sagres.
The city of Lagos had a nice little market to buy fruits, fish and meat as well as clothes. I bought myself a red camel-hair poncho (which I would have only used twice up till 2023) and was quite happy when we exited the city and went in to nature. The Ponta da Piedade is a rock formation looking like a high heel and is quite pleasing to look at. After a quick stop there, our tour went on to Sagres, a little village we didn't really get to see because we were hunting the most south-western part of Europe. Arriving there, it was very windy, cold and the spray of the waves hundreds of feet below, covered me in saltwater.Read more
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Portugal - First steps Traveler
A sickening Cruise
December 12, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
The harbour of Albufeira is small but lovely and has boats starting to the West from there. I entered one of them, wanting to see the famous coastline of the Algarve. It was so windy that over 50% of the passengers on board got sick, and we had to turn around early. The whole time, I felt like throwing up as well, but somehow managed to contain myself. The reward was that I got my money for the cruise back (as an apology from the owners). I was very much pleased with this, as I have learned one vital thing on that cruise: Cristiano Ronaldo used to own a villa in Benagil... :DRead more
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Portugal - First steps Traveler
To the Border of Spain
December 13, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Today I was on a tour through Faro, Olhao, Tavira, Cacela Velha and Vila Real de Santo António. In Faro were loads of orange trees. In Olhao was a nice little fair. In Tavira I took great pics of boats. In Vila Real de Santo António could I throw a stone across the river to Spain and listened to Nico Santos. But my favourite place of the whole of Portugal would be Cacela Velha. This tiny village on top of the hill had something so eerily calming to it, that I don't understand it. There was a church as small as the village, radiating from calmness. It was the most adorable place I've ever been to.Read more
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Portugal - First steps Traveler
Midnight stars
December 14, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Remember the two guys from the first night, at the restaurant? I went there again and chatted about 2hrs with them. One of the guys became to like me and asked me if I would like to meet him. Naive as I was, I said yes, and so he picked me up the next night. We drove into the hinterland of Albufeira and my mind was churning. Was it really a good idea to leave my safe hotel room for a stranger? In a country I don't know? In the night? However, here I was, and I was determined to only think the best of him. As he stopped the car, we were in the middle of nowhere, and he asked me to climb with him through bushes and rocks. I did so and my innocent heart didn't get disappointed. I found myself at a small beach, surrounded by three walls of coastal rocks and the midnight blue sky and sea in front and above me. It was amazing. He offered me a seat on his towel and we had a nice time up until he wanted me from me than just words. I tried to let him down gently, afraid that he'd leave me in the middle of nowhere. But he was quite the Gentleman, accepted my No and drove me safely back to my hotel. I'll never forget how much fear I felt in these moments and how good it was, to only think good of people.Read more
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Portugal - First steps Traveler
Enjoying the empty Beach
December 15, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
Today I just explored a bit more of the area. I went to the beach, although it was way too cold to actually go swimming. But I managed to use a little sunscreen. In the afternoon, I walked around Albufeira and discovered a little art gallery. The topic was "Wasted Xmas". Every piece of art was made out of rubbish and had Xmas screaming all over them. I got into talking with the gallerist, and he could tell me a couple of interesting stories about the artists.Read more
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Portugal - First steps Traveler
My ... last day?
December 16, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
Today should have been my last day in Albufeira, and I was ready to go. But because of the Air Berlin crisis (and in the end downfall) my flight was cancelled, so that I had to take a flight the next day. Because of that, I got a free "jolly" day and could enjoy the sun some more. So I went out exploring the gruff coastline of Albufeira again.Read more
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Portugal - First steps Traveler
Back home
December 17, 2017 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
Today was my last day - for real. It was actually very sad to say goodbye to my new-found freedom and adventurism. I think, that was the moment I got bit by the actual travel bug. Since then, I always wanted to travel more and more and more...

Song of the trip: Rooftop by Nico SantosRead more
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Trip end
December 17, 2017