Faro, Portugal 🇵🇹 2019 – Michael and Pam's Travels

Date: 5-6th September 2019

Travelled: 14 kms from Almancil to Faro, both in the Algarve

Visited: Faro

Stayed: Private aire €10, all services. N37.02942, W07.97002

Budget: 89 days @ €72 per day

Having originally thought we may stay a couple of nights in Almancil, we decide to move on to Faro. The ‘nature based’ aire at Almancil was really a bit ramshackle and too far from both the beach and the township.

It only takes 20 minutes including a quick ice stop before we roll into Faro and the paid aire situated half way between the city and the airport. It’s all well laid out and we get some shade for our €10 per night.

Map of Faro, the icon on our parking spot

The manager provides a map with direction to Praia de faro (the beach) and the city. So we unload the scooter, level the Hymer and set off to find the beach.

We ride around the airport, crossing a long narrow bridge across a wetland, to the beach front. This photo looking across the wetland and the airport, Faro in the background. Our ride to the beach takes less than 10 minutes,

We lock up the scooter and walk across the dune. It’s actually a lovely clean beach, clear water and very few people. Perfect. So we spend a couple of hours lazing, then go back to the Hymer for lunch and a rest, then return in the late afternoon for a quick swim before dinner.

After a long beach day, we walk 50 metres up the street to this family restaurant recommended by the site owner. Probably his brothers place but the food was excellent (€31).

Next morning we breakfast whilst planning our day in Faro. Faro is the provincial capital of the Algarve, has a large university population and according to our guide book less touristy than the rest of the Algarve. Back on the scooter again we take the slightly more complex route into the city, but we are parked and on foot within 15 minutes.

The Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Carmo.
This church completed in 1735 (after the great earthquake of 1731 destroyed much of the city). It is Faros top attraction.

The Igreja’s lavish gold alter and chapels are spectacular.

The Capela de Ossos.
This early 19th century chapel can be found at the rear of the Igreja off the cloister. Constructed using the skeletal remains of a 1000 monks its a fascinating, but somewhat morbid attraction.

Our guide book refers to the Capela dos Ossos as the Chapel of Bones, but perhaps that’s not a direct translation ?

We continue down the hill toward the old town, Faro looks very Portuguese.

A quick stop at the Igreja de São Pedro.

Obviously the restaurant and ladies dress shop precinct.

Faro Sé, there are a hundred scouts already inside and another hundred waiting to go in. Hence we skip the Cathedral.

We find a peaceful section of the old city walls with a seat in the shade for 10 minutes.

The Zundapp trike, ‘tradesman editions’. The owner tells us he has been getting quotes on re-upholstering the saddle (since 1987).

The Arco de Repouso.
As you can see it has three large bird nests (white stork) high on it’s facade. I look up and see a huge stork rise and fly away as I fumble to get the phone out of my pocket. Such is life, we got to see it but we cannot share it with you.

So we have done Faro as best we can. Making our way back to the scooter and then the Hymer. We have a very late lunch a rest, then go back to the beach to spend an hour relaxing. Given the late return we dabble with going out for dinner again, but weaken to a drink and a toasty.

Michael and Pam

One thought on “Faro, Portugal 🇵🇹 2019”

1 Comment

Denice
September 9, 2019, 10:49

Hi Guys, Faro looks pretty cool….. except for a few quirky parts. Love the hot dog van 🙂 . Thought for a moment you must have converted your scooter to carry more shopping :). Cheers Denice

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One thought on “Faro, Portugal 🇵🇹 2019”