The Algarve has two "Natural Parks," protected natural parks. I visit both: the unspoiled coast of the Costa Vicentina, where the rough sea and salty wind crash against the high cliffs, and the tranquil lagoon area of the Ria Formosa, where water and land slowly merge. Meanwhile, I explore the gastronomy of this Portuguese region.
As we drove from Faro airport to our hotel in Portimão, our driver began to speak proudly about the villages we passed, the landscape, the local dishes... "Vinho Verde, it's a Vinho Verde, very good!", he said. "And Caipirinha, my favorite cocktail!" He spoke as if they were typical Algarve drinks, but Vinho Verde is from northern Portugal and Caipirinha, of course, from Brazil. Even so, it's good to see how sincere his enthusiasm is. He even spoke about a seemingly unassuming shopping center we passed as if it were a tourist attraction.
As we drove from Faro airport to our hotel in Portimão, our driver began to speak proudly about the villages we passed, the landscape, the local dishes... "Vinho Verde, it's a Vinho Verde, very good!", he said. "And Caipirinha, my favorite cocktail!" He spoke as if they were typical Algarve drinks, but Vinho Verde is from northern Portugal and Caipirinha, of course, from Brazil. Even so, it's good to see how sincere his enthusiasm is. He even spoke about a seemingly unassuming shopping center we passed as if it were a tourist attraction.