Burgau to Alvor to Portimao 🚙
We never had to go far for some of the most beautiful beaches and rugged coast line in the Algarve.
We continue to house sit in the small village of Burgau just outside Lagos, (not the capital of Nigeria of course 😂.).
Check out this house sit post here. https://anotherdaymeandering.com/2021/05/15/trusted-housesitters-portugal/
So it was up early, quick breaky, on with the walking shoes which always got the doggies a little bit excited and eager for their harness and leads, out to the car and off we go.
Alvor ⛱
https://www.algarve-tourist.com/alvor-portugal-algarve.html
Only a 40 min drive from Burgau, with the doggies of course, is the township of Alvor and then on to Portimao.
Alvor is quite a small town with a great big beach but just further west is a beautiful cliff line with caves and remarkable rock formations.
Alvor has some history. The Romans first established the village then came the Moors. It was taken back by the Portuguese in 1189.
And did you know that the Portuguese King John 11 died in Alvor in 1495. The link above will tell you a lot more about Alvor, that is if you’re interested.
Some more beach and cliff shots coming up next.
Now of course Alvor is a thriving tourist destination and only a short drive to Lagos and Portimao.
There are plenty of hotels, restaurants and bars throughout this part of the Algarve. Well worth a visit.
Rock Formations
https://www.algarvefun.com/algarve-tips/best-caves-algarve
Today was a great day cos we discovered some beautiful cliff and rock formations and some isolated beaches.
If you click on the link above you can see that these rocky cliff lines are scattered along the Algarve coast line.
You can walk along these cliff to Portimao, lovely walk.
Beach Três Irmãos ⛱
This is the most relaxing and peaceful beach and it also has a restaurant built into the cliff face.
It is accessible from the rear down the cliff pathway and also from the beach.
Courtesy of Canico Restaurant on Beach Três Irmãos 
Canico Restaurant on Beach Três Irmãos 
A must visit – Beach Três Irmãos 
Great Place to Fish
Next Stop Portimao ⛱
Portimao like Alvor has historical roots back to the Greeks and Moors. Most of the historical buildings were destroyed in an earthquake in 1755.
Present-day Portimao reflects its commercial roots. Up until the 1980s the town had a large fishing and fish processing industry. This was hit by recession and largely replaced by the construction industry as the Algarve tourism boom took off.
The town still has a large port, some rather charming civic buildings which I forgot to photograph, and plenty of shopping.
Trusted House Sitters 🐶 🐱 🏠 – Supports our Travels
Fabian and I have been members of Trusted House Sitters since 2015 and have travelled to such places as Spain, Portugal, France, Thailand, Australia, Ireland and England. Why did we join? Well, that’s easy, we love to travel, we love our furry friends and we get to stay in some beautiful homes and villages absolutely free. We live like a local and all we have to do is love our house owners’ animals while they travel worry-free. So would you say that we are happy? Yes, we love it and we just love the people that we have met so far.
Over the years with Trusted Housesitters we experienced a lot of lovely 😊 people. To help others considering a membership we thought that it would be a great idea to write about our experiences.
The Old Town Portimao
The old town of Portimao lived of the sea and has preserved the old fish processing factory, now a museum. A major source of female employment. The following pictures show the old bucket type conveyor belt running from the wharf to the factory. And lots of smiling, well mostly ladies.
the smiling Ladies 
Bucket Conveyor 
More smailing Ladies 
The Old Fish Processing Factory 
The buckets carry the fish into the Factory
Portimao, New Town
Some local tourist sites.
https://www.visitportimao.com/en/region-portimao
https://www.algarve-tourist.com/portimao-portugal-algarve.html
The new township is very modern and the place is covered in apartment buildings.
There are hotels and a major Casino alonge the main drag.
Portimao Boardwalk and Lunch
The beachfront boardwalk runs the length of the main township and dotted along it are cafes, bars and restaurants. We found a great place for lunch that allowed us and doggies to sit outside right opposite the beach. We had a mixed salad and pizza washed down with the local beer and wine. Lucy and Milo were very well behaved but sadly didn’t get to share. (Don’t worry. They got an extra dollop of yogurt for their dinner 🍽)
