Portugal

Here are our first week images of another historic European country. Pretty low key but all the same very beautiful regions visited and new experiences.  We are very much enjoying the laid back, friendly and relaxed country.  In the Algarve we visited Albufeira, Lagos, Sagres, Cabo St Vincente (Europe's most southwestern point).  Then we moved onto the Alentejo region, where we chilled by the wild seaside of the Atlantic Ocean for a few days in Porto Covo, then onto central Portugal to the wine country and amazing medieval towns of Monsaraz and Evora.

The fort at Sagres, which had breathtaking views of the
Atlantic over wind swept cliffs

At the fort in Sagres, this compass was discovered in
excavation works and was from the navigational school,
 Henry the Navigator

Views from Sagres

Cape de Sao Vicente, a solitary lighthouse
 standing on the most south western point of Europe

Another view of Cabo de Sao Vicente

A not too unfamiliar site to a kiwi coastal scene

Porto Covo streets of blue and white

A typical street front door in Porto Covo

A beautiful beach in Porto Covo we found, which we
 had all to ourselves all day.
  It was just perfect, a picnic lunch and good book each

Monsaraz

Monsaraz, a small medieval walled village, high up
 on the plains with magnificent views of the lakes
 below - our view for the night

View from below of the Monsaraz village -
spot the camping cars

More stunning views of the lakes from Monsaraz

Inside the walls of Monsaraz, where there is a church,
 restaurants, wine bars, tavernas, cafes, homes, post office
and an amphitheatre

Monsaraz again - with more stunning views

The plaza of Monsaraz, probably the biggest open area
of the village

The walls of Monsaraz

JR in Monsaraz

Evora - inside the 14th century walls - A Roman temple,
Temple of Diana

JR on the roof the Se (cathedral)

Evora's Cathedral

Spiral staircase inside the Evora Cathedral

The narrow streets of Evora, an aqueduct
runs through the centre of the old town
 where the walls of houses are built around
and against the support of the aquaduct!