Sunday, February 25, 2007

A trip to Portugal: Costa Vicentina and the Southwest of the Alentejo

Two years ago my sister and me went on holiday to the Costa Vicentina and the Southwest of the Alentejo. We have decided to publish some photos of the trip and to tell a little the route that we follow.We were three days during the holidays of the Virgin of August (13,14 and 15),and enjoyed mainly of the magnify beaches of thr zone.We lodged in Casa Alcatruz, a litte hotel that is located in Rogil, a small town that belongs to Aljezur.


We left in the evening from La Antilla (in Huelva, Spain) to Rogil. For us, the route route is all freeway to the border Portuguese, to cross the bridge on the Guadiana in Ayamonte , follow all the freeway until Lagos, and later to go by N-120 road until Rogil.Once we entered the state road - that goes from the end of the freeway to Sines -, they are going away to happen a fishing series of beaches and towns, very animated in this holidays, but without the lots of people that usuallu was in the Algarve in Summer.


Once we arrived at Rogil, and we checked in the hotel, we decided to visit one of beaches of the town. This pretty beach is called Praia Vale do Homes. We left a pair of photos of this beautiful beach. Waters are cold and the sea is scrambled. Clifts, but very beautiful coast. In beach usually there is not much people, with which it is rested and it enjoyed.Here are two photos, first one is the cliffs and the other one is a sunset in the Atlantic Ocean.



Vale do Homes


Sunset in the Ocean


The next day we decided to go to the North. We took the N-120 to the towns of Vila Nova de Mil Fontes and Portocobo. We followed this road until Odemira, later to take the N-393. Vila Nova de Mil Fontes is a small town of the coast, located in the mouth of a river, in such a way that it has a small fluvial beach, and beaches in the south of the opening and others in the north - where it is the town -. Like all beaches of this coast, they are coves with cliff in both sides. Cauntion with the beach of the mouth of the river - we were in that beach - , since the current is usually is
strong - and also the water is cold ;) -.




Vila Nova de Mil Fontes


After lunch, we followed by N-390, to enter by a secondary road and to go to Praia da liha. This is a beach, formed by a cove between cliffs, that enjoys a precious view on Ilha do Pessegueiro.


Ilha do Pesseguiro
Praia da liha


Later we approached the neighbor Porto côvo, a small fishing town of white and blue houses. We left one photo of the town so that you enjoy it. This day gave little more of if, the return way until Rogil, exhausted of the day of beach and drive.


Porto côvo


The second day we went to a precious beach, located in a cove that is acceded by a forest track that is called Praia do Murração. Of all the beaches that I have been in Portugal, this small cove is the one that I like more. It is worth the trouble to arrive: little people, fine sand, cold water, rocks for that it likes to practice scuba,… .To arrive it is necessary to go by the road that go from Aljezur to Vila do Obispo. The forest track starts near this last town, in front of the eolic energy plant.


Praia do Murração


Later, we went to the Praia of Bordeira, and took the lunch in a restaurant near the beach: excelent sea bass to eat :D
Praia da Bordeira


After return to Rogil, we decided to spend the evening in a wild beach, called Praia gives Carriagem. The access to this beach is quite complicated, since it is through a cliff. This causes that it is an almost desert beach, but that is worth the trouble to see, although it is from above, without lowering to the border. After sunset we went to the hotel


Praia da Carriagem
Praia da Carriagem


The last day we went to two beach that there were more people in the zone: The Praia da Arrifana and Praia da Cordoama. But there was a foggy day, and we could see anything.


Praia da Arrifana


And this is all the trip :). This zone os Portugal is beautiful: wild beaches, good food, wonderful sunsets. Enjoy it!

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Gredos's mountains and Iruelas valley

Two weeks ago, my girlfriend and me made a trip to the Gredos's mountains (Sierra de Gredos in spanish), near the town of El Tiemblo and the Toros de Guisando. We left Madrid by the highway M-501 (Carretera de los Pantanos) until San Martín de ValleIglesias. The toros de Guisando are located three kilometers from this town.These sculptures are dated from century IV-III before Christ and it thinks that they were magical protections for the meadows around (you can find more information here and here in spanish).


Toros de Guisando


If we followed the road, we went to the town of el Tiemblo, and we took the road to Avila, in order to arrive at the zone of the dam of the Burguillo, we left the road to Avilla, to cross the dam,and to go for the natural reserve of Valle of Iruelas

This zone is located on the North face of the Mountain range of Gredos, and has a spectacular landscape. We took advantage of to eat in the zone of rural tourism.
rural houses
small chapel


After lunch we followed the forestal road direction to the little town of La Rinconada, to take a rural track that raises towards the port of Casilla. Asphalt paving in first km, can be crossed in until it becomes a forest track only apt for four wheel drive cars. This route fits in a valley, following the course of a brook that ends at the dam of Burguillos. In the port he is noticeable in the maps like a viewpoint, but we didn't had a four wheel drive car to climb to it. The forest of pines that crosses is precious and the tranquillity that is breathed for which the excursion has been being worth the trouble.


brook
brook


We recognize that there are sites in the Mountain range of Gredos that is worth the trouble to explore.