Days 33-35 Hikes exploring the Olhos d’Agua area coastline, discovering stunning sand art

So the weather was the same pretty much everyday, sunny, some occasional clouds and high of 22-24C. We are now on a streak of 20 days with not a single drop of rain.

During the first three of these days we got to know the area. The first day we walked to the Maria Luisa Beach. Next day we hiked along the shoreline to Falesia Beach and along the beach and then back via inland for a walk of about 3 hours total. Day 3 we hiked along the coast (cliffs, sand, rocks) between Maria Luisa Beach and Olhos d’Agua Beach and made a unique discovery. We came upon the sand art of Vitor Raposo.

Vitor Raposo is a Portugal native who lives near Lisbon but vacations in the Algarve where he has relatives. While in the Algarve he does artwork in the sand, almost every day. He calls it art that the ocean washes away. It is different patterns and words each time. It is stunning to see the completed product but even more amazing to watch him do it.

Below are some pictures of the hikes. The topic of Vitor’s sand art deserves a page unto itself so watch for and take a look at that page separately, with pictures and links.

On day 2 we eat out in Albufeira at Snack Bar O Jorge. Now we had takeout from this restaurant last year. It is very rustic and very local. Last year the takeout seemed so cheap it was a start the car moment, we looked at the bill and it seemed just too cheap. The prices have increased but same guy was greeting and serving tables, we think he is probably the owner. They have a menu but I think everybody just orders chicken piri piri, a famous Algarve dish. The restaurant is unique decorated with golf clubs on the ceiling and walls, among other unusual things.

First thing though we went down to Olhos ‘d Agua beach and a lookout spot that provides a great view of Olhos beach and also Falesia.