I love this new tradition. You know, running away from all of my problems and celebrating my birthday alone. To be completely, totally, 100% honest, I didn't really think about my birthday on the day. I definitely thought about it before the trip but it really did feel like just another day. Probably because it is.
The trip I took to "celebrate" my birthday (or run away from grad school for a week) was UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE!!! I love Portugal. I love Lagos, Portugal. I LOVE kayaking and one day, when I have the time, I know I will love paddleboarding. I wanted to do it so badly but there just wasn't the time (or the budget to be honest). So, the following is a story/photo summary of September 25th - 30th, 2017.
I should note, before I begin, that this a photo summary. If I get on top of things like I am trying to, I will post just picture posts of countries I visit at a later date. You know, after they are backed up and organized.
I take so many photos.
I should note, before I begin, that this a photo summary. If I get on top of things like I am trying to, I will post just picture posts of countries I visit at a later date. You know, after they are backed up and organized.
I take so many photos.
September 25th
Train from Durham to Newcastle and Metro from Newcastle to Newcastle Airport.
Public transportation, I love you.
It was also raining.
Thank you England for reminding me why I was taking a sunny break.
Flight from Newcastle to Faro.
My favorite part of the flight was eating (no picture) and this couple holding hands during take-off.
Awww...for cuteness.
I arrived pretty late at night and it was gloriously warm.
September 26th
Early morning Faro.
I didn't really sleep in because the chick in my room snored louder than my Dad and brothers combined.
It was so incredible I couldn't actually be mad - just a wee bit sleep deprived.
I love the use of seashells for ashtrays by the way.
Train from Faro to Lagos.
Last view of Durham vs. the first view of Lagos and my first view of lunch.
OH MY GOODNESS! LUNCH!
My first thought when I arrived was, "Oh look, there is a fast food place."
My next thought was, "My foodie friend Oh Susana is going to be so mad if I go to Portugal and get fast food."
Ergo, I sat down in a restaurant.
It was a good life choice.
The rest of the day was spent wandering around Lagos and getting acquainted with my new iphone lens attachments (Happy Birthday to myself).
After the rough night in Faro, having my own room was glorious.
After two years in college housing in England, having my own bathroom literally brought me to tears.
I also watched tv, on a tv, for the first time in 2 years.
It was America Ninja Warrior.
It was also awesome.
September 27th
That one day where I got older but not wiser.
Well, maybe a little wiser, I wore sunscreen and didn't get burned.
Thank you Greg for reminding me.
The morning was spent kayaking around the coast of Lagos.
This was incredible. If I had much monies I would do this all the days of my life.
I really like kayaking.
I really, really, really want to try paddleboarding.
As the only solo traveller in my group, I got to go with the guide.
AKA I was in the front of the group and got the best video.
At first, I was sad because I wanted my own kayak but it turned out to be a really great thing in the end.
After the kayaking excursion of awesomeness, I ate lunch at the same restaurant from yesterday and then went home to change and go to some beaches (yes, plural).
I got some sun, walked through some caves and natural tunnels, did some swimming in the ocean (not as cold as people said it would be), and hunted for seashells. I got SO many seashells.
They are beautiful, I love them all though I could only bring about half home.
I was pretty wiped out by the end of the day so I got some gelato (mint and strawberry was actually a spot on mix) and went home for the night.
September 28th.
Good thing sleeping in for me is 6:30 because it meant that I was rested AND I was able to check out the awesome sunrise while overlooking the Praia Dona Anna from the cliffs.
I checked out the lighthouse but spent most of the time hiking around the top of the cliffs, randomly seeing dolphins, and then heading down toward the water before the tourist buses started to come in.
(I want to paddleboard so much!!!)
I spent a good 30 minutes here shooting a timelapse from my gopro.
Unfortunately, I didn't think about the lovely morning sunlight reflecting off the water and burning my legs.
That was truly unpleasant 6 or so hours later.
At that point, it was definitely time for breakfast.
For future reference, eat breakfast before you hike.
I was super shaky.
Then again, it could have been the heights.
Heights really do scare me.
In the afternoon I went to the Praia Dona Ana again for some sunbathing and swimming.
It was really, really nice.
It was a hot day but with cool water and a breeze it was perfection.
I also ate dinner on the beach before heading home.
Lessons from today? Eat breakfast and wear sunscreen before you hike next to the ocean.
That reflective sunlight will light your legs on fire and breakfast is so dang important.
September 29th
Super sad day. It was the day I left Lagos.
I spent a bit of the morning walking about before getting my final souvenirs (I got my Portugal ring) and eating a final breakfast.
After a sad goodbye to my bathroom and hot shower I took the train back from Lagos to Faro.
I spent the afternoon in Faro wandering around.
I love wandering and getting lost, you always find the most awesome things.
Then it was dinner and off to bed.
Another quick note/self-memo: Don't judge others by your first impression of their stuff.
I got into my hostel dorm room and saw that there were three (girls) in the room.
I figured this out, not by them actually being there, but by the clothing hung around to dry.
You know, the string bikinis and lacey knickers.
So, I assumed I was bunking with some 20-somethings on their last holiday for the summer.
This is not an undue assumption as I had been running into these kinds of groups my whole trip.
Well, of my three assumptions, I got two right.
They were women, they were on holiday, but they were in their 60's rather than their 20's.
Also, with three of them, they snored in surround sound.
They were very nice but I am glad I never saw them in the string bikinis or lacey underwear.
September 30th
I left for my bus to the airport at 6am and was through all the fun of air and train travel and back in Durham for lunch.
It was a glorious break.
Now the madness of my actual life can continue.
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p.s. because technology is awesome, an app on my phone created this 1 minute video of all my photos/videos on my phone from my trip.
Many of them are already in the post but, here they are again. :)
Obrigado!
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