Taking a few days off of me Bob and Tania decided to explore the Algarve region.  Starting Cabo São Vicente (which they had already viewed from the sea), they worked their way eastward.

Cabo São Vicente

•   According to the DK Eyewitness travel guide of Portugal: "In the middle ages, this windblown cape at the extreme southwest of Europe was believed to be the end of the world.  The Romans called it the Promontorium Sacrum (Sacred Promontory) and today with its 60-m (200-ft) cliffs fronting the Atlantic, it still presents a most awe-inspiring aspect." Bob and Tania agreed.  The lighthouse itself is said to be the most powerful in Europe with its up to 60 mile range (although they could not see it the night they crossed down the coastline because of the electrical storm they were in).  There was a large swell from the southeast the day they visited by land which added to the excitement of the area.  The whole area is a nature preserve and has a long history of important naval battles off its coast.  Amazing place to see.

Ponta de Sagres

• They visited the Forteleza de Sagres at which Henry the Navigator (who did not sail himself but was the son of King João I) set the foundation for Portugal's maritime ventures to Africa in the early 1400's.  Legend has it he built a school of navigation at the fortress on the promotory at Sagres.  He wanted to allow the Portuguese mariners to explore beyond the Canary Islands and Cape Bojador.  To that end he had caravels built and send his mariners into unknown waters. Gil Eanes rounded Cape Bojador in 1434 which opened Africa to trade and exploration.  The church he built inside the fortress was used by mariners to pray for safe journeys.

• The Ponta de Sagres (like Cabo São Vicente) was a wildly exhilarating place to visit.

• The Rosa dos Ventos wind compass that reportedly Henry the Navigator had built.  A view from the ramparts towards Cabo São Vicente.  The church built for traveling mariners inside the fortress.

Praia do Tónel

• Since the ocean swell was so prominent that day, Bob and Tania decided to catch the surfing action at Tónel.  It was a great day for the surfers.  Unfortunately the next week the parents of two young children who had been swimming and got caught in the undertow perished trying to save their young ones (the children survived) - another tragedy for the Algarve for the summer of 2007 (along with the Madeline McCann disappearance).

Alvor and Portimão

• Traveling towards Spain the next day, they tried their usual back road approach to the area.  They stumbled upon a railroad sign that seemed to indicate a steam powered train (none were ever seen in the area).  The clam diggers and salt farms were the next stop at Alvor.  They quickly passed through the larger city of Portimão and viewed it's "colorful" new marina.

Tavira

• After returning from Cadiz, Spain a few days later, they met up with the Lagos Navigators Club from Lagos (heard on the VHF radio M-W-F on channel 77 in the Lagos Marina

   

  ) at the eastern town of Tavira.  The club is very active with events held it seems almost weekly and this was a trip pre-arranged to visit the private Observatorío in the foothills outside Tavira.  Astronomer Clive Jackson and his family put together a nice program of information and dinner that was enjoyed by the whole group.  Mr. Jackson and his family have spent ten years constructing various exhibits and planetarium for schools to visit.  They see approximately 700 students a year who come to learn about the Universe and other scientific interests.  The telescope pictured is over 100 years old.