| On the southwestern tip of continental Europe, | | | | some credit! One of the highlights of the Algarve is |
| Portugal is an old school country. In this article, we take | | | | Lagos. |
| a look at Lisbon, Lagos and the Algarve. | | | | Lagos |
| Lisbon | | | | I grew up in San Diego, California. It's a great place to |
| Lisbon is the biggest city in Portugal and is located on | | | | be a kid and an adult. The only complaint I have is a lot |
| the Atlantic coast in middle of the country. I've been to | | | | of people seem to feel the same way. The population |
| Lisbon three times, but only for a few days each time. | | | | has exploded beyond belief, freeways are crowded |
| Every time I come away with the impression of | | | | on weekends and housing prices average roughly |
| elegance. | | | | $500,000 for a deluxe closet without driveway. Its still |
| Arriving by train, your first taste of Lisbon is when you | | | | nice, but I've begun to think about relocating. If I do, |
| walk out of the train station directly onto the shore of | | | | Lagos may be my destination. |
| the harbor. As you look to the ocean, the name "San | | | | Lagos is a sleepy beach community with just about |
| Francisco" immediately comes to mind. Mountains rise | | | | anything you could want in paradise. White beaches, |
| up on both sides of the mouth of the harbor and then | | | | private beaches, grottos, wine growing, a lively nightlife, |
| there is the bridge. Running across the mouth of bay is | | | | modern conveniences and just about the nicest people |
| a bridge that looks for all intensive purposes like the | | | | you have ever met in your life. |
| Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. I've never had a | | | | You can stay in a hotel while in Lagos, but this is a |
| chance to research it, but there has to be a | | | | mistake in my opinion. Instead, go to the train station |
| connection. | | | | and reserve a room with a family. Families in cities all |
| As you walk into Lisbon, everything is clean and | | | | over the world do this, but Lagos is different. The |
| relaxed. There are walking only streets with cafes and | | | | family you stay with more or less adopts you as one |
| garden areas. Bringing to mind San Francisco again, | | | | of their own. They will haul you all over town, introduce |
| there are cable cars running though the center of the | | | | you to other locals and generally give you a true taste |
| city. I can't tell you why, but Lisbon is a very low stress | | | | of Portugal. For veteran travelers, nothing could be |
| city on both the mind and the wallet. Yep, it is cheap | | | | better. |
| and a good destination for budget travelers. | | | | Rating |
| Algarve | | | | For an overall rating, I give Portugal and Lagos the |
| The Algarve is the southwestern tip of Portugal and | | | | highest rating of "bar." I loved it so much, I wanted to |
| borders on both the Atlantic and Mediterranean | | | | stay and almost purchased a bar by blackmailing, |
| oceans. This is an interpretation on my part as some | | | | bribing and begging a friend in California over the |
| feel the area only covers the beaches on the | | | | phone. Alas, his wife didn't think it was such a good |
| Mediterranean Ocean. Regardless, the Algarve is a | | | | idea. |
| collection of beach towns that remind me of Southern | | | | Hey, how about you? We could probably still get a |
| California in the 1940's. No I am not that old. I am just | | | | good deal! |
| relying on family stories and pictures. Jeez, give me | | | | No, seriously. |