We have visited friends in Lagos on Portugal's Algarve coast. The time spent with our friends was great, but now it is time to get back to nature. We have not visited the west coast of Portugal for some years. A quick stop at Cabo de Sao Vicente. The Romans called it Promontorium Sarum and believed the sun sank into the sea beyond here each night. Imagine the water temperature! That is not exactly what Linda said on testing her toes!
At the lighthouse, we feel the full power of those strong Atlantic winds,
many tourists braving the gale.
For us, it is north, in the area that has been designated a natural park.
"Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina"
The first stop is "Portal," with limestone and marl cliffs. The coast here is markedly jagged.
Our lunchtime view, in fact, is such a good vista that we can stay the night and walk the beach.
It is windy and the sea quite heavy, but the young gulls enjoy it.
On the sand dunes, the grasses blow in the wind.
Since our entry to the bay, it has taken little time for the whole sky to change.
As we eat our lunch, it certainly looks like rain!
We walk out onto the beach as the sky starts to darken.
The light is fantastic and extraordinary; one minute is here, and then it is gone.
The ocean seems to become panic-stricken with the darkness.
The dunes caught the last of the light, and the hills beyond were cast into blackness. Standing there, it was clear how the dunes were formed; the wind had become quite savage.
Now we have a squall.
We are getting wet, and I have to protect the camera. The aggression is hard to believe,
it's all happening so fast.
Then, as quickly as the squall started, the sun penetrated the cloud.
From a far corner of the bay, it all looks relatively calm!
As the early evening approaches, yet another mix of colour appears. The sea also changes; it becomes oily and limp.
What a day!
All looks peaceful; those Romans would have been happy tonight as the sun sinks into the sea.
Night drawing down on the beautiful and wild West coast of Portugal
and a good night from us.
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