Algarve Homes, Buying a Home in Lagos, Villa do Bispo Realtor, Investment Opportunity,
Algarve Info
Away from the cold of northern Europe and far removed from the stresses of modern life, the Algarve has more to offer than just about any place one can think of. Climatically it is privileged almost beyond belief: 330 days a year of glorious sunshine and protection from any northern winds by a range of mountains that run parallel to the coast a dozen or so kilometres inland.
The Algarve’s soft, sandy beaches are incomparable. They stretch for more than 100 kilometres, from Sagres in the west to Vila Real de Santo António in the east, broken only by the dramatic outcroppings of rock, sculpted by the sea into fantastic shapes, which give each bay, each beach, a special character of its own.
While one side of the Avenida thrives with small shops and businesses, the other side is home to the Lagos Marina welcoming many a seafarer arriving from the Atlantic. Along with several lively restaurants and bars, the marina offers information and booking for all types of water sports including sailing, scuba diving, water skiing and big game fishing just to name a few.
The varying coastline provides locations to practice all kinds of water sports, from calm waters for safe swimming, snorkelling or wind surfing to deeper seas for sailing, water skiing, fishing or diving. There are two magnificent marinas at Vilamoura and Lagos. The Algarve’s beaches are washed clean by the Atlantic tides twice a day.
Other sports to practice include tennis, horse riding, hiking, flying and hang-gliding. Nature lovers enjoy the Algarve’s bird sanctuaries and wonderful countryside with its almond and fig trees, vineyards, orange groves and landscapes carpeted in wild flowers.
Golf is now the king of sports in the Algarve, with 25 superlative courses, some of them world-famous. One may play comfortably every week of the year. After a round of golf, what could be better than some delicious Algarvian food. The local kitchen is as rich and sunny as the climate. Fish and seafood, fresh from the sea, are usually charcoal-grilled, or steamed in a "cataplana", a traditional pressure cooker that’s looks rather like a flying saucer, which produces a riot of flamboyant aromas and flavours you’ll find nowhere else in the world.
The local wines are good, especially the reds, and there are some interesting eau de vie ~ made from almonds, honey and other local ingredients. Brave visitors with strong stomachs enjoy "Medronho", distilled from small berries of the same name that grow wild in the Monchique area.
In the Algarve you can run with jet set or just laze around in the sun. You can eat in luxurious international restaurants or in local bistros and beach cafés. You can dance the night away in casinos and discos, or simply enjoy the crystal-clear night sky. And, if you happen to be at Cape St Vincent when the sun goes down, perhaps you will hear it sizzle as it sinks beneath the sea.
Read more > November 10, 2006, 1:00 am