Portimao, Portugal

Portimao

Location:

37°07' N, 8°31' W

Anchorages:

In the entrance: inside along the east breakwater to avoid swells; deep almost to shore

Marinas:

Marina de Portimao, VHF 09; newer and less costly than Lagos but long walk to anywhere

Cruiser Amenities:

	Tourist Office
	Circular city buses: two routes
	Bus Service all points of Portugal
	Modelo Hiper-Supermarket
	Lidl's
	Laundry in the marina

Transportation:

Train west to Lagos and east through Algarve to Spanish border

Attractions:

	Restaurants cater to English tourists
	Ferragudo restaurants: they grill the catch you select
	Good selection of Portuguese tiles and linens
	Rent car to tour Silves, Monchique, Faro

Misc Information:

All information valid in October, 2003

Portimao held one of the best anchorages we have enjoyed so far in Europe. It was a large, well protected area that we felt comfortable when at anchor. Unfortunately the town was very commercialized for the vast number of northern European tourists that descend on the town each summer. We are talking thousands of visitors. So the charm factor was very low and the tourist glitz very high.

The cliffs along the Portuguese Algarve are dramatic.	Portimao is built on the top of the cliffs while its beaches reside below.
South view from anchorage out the harbor entrance	West view from anchorage of the marina
North view from anchorage of Fort San Joao at high tide	Storm over Portimao

Auto trip to Faro, Silves and Monchique courtesy of Bill and Jacqueline Bennett from Sea Swallow

Jackie, Chris, Jacqueline and Bill Bennett in Faro	View of Portimao from mountain range north in Monchique
Faro town hall	Bill investigating the folding chairs from Monchique
Faro sculpture	Yes, the chairs do fold!
Weather station at the top of the mountain	Military base at top of mountain
Terraced gardens in Silves	Bill observing coastal view from mountain top
Park sculpture in Silves	Bougainvillea everywhere, including tourist office!

The burn at Monchique

The sight from afar of a uncontrolled burn on the mountainside	Closer inspection reveals the intensity of the heat; no wildlife here!
The burn creates a wasteland on both sides of the road ...	which goes on and on!

Touring the Cork Factory at Silves

Cork trees growing up the hillside.	Their bark is harvested every seven to nine years.
The factory museum documents the past manual process.	The local area produced craftsman who passed their skills to the next generation.
Chris and Jacqueline tour the steam engine.	Antique workbenches define the work area for manual labor.
Manual labor was replaced with steam-driven machines.	The museum documentation was in both Spanish and English.