. OnHiatus.com > Journal 1 > Day Index > Journal Entry: August 5, 1999

Thursday, August 5, 1999
Porto to Lagos, Portugal
Portugal's FlagEstremadura's FlagAlgarve's Flag

Map
Lagos, Portugal:
Latitude: 37° 6' 8" North
Longitude: 8° 40' 38" West
Altitude: 27 feet
From Seattle: 5814 miles
Lodging: ??? - Private room

Map
Today's Travel:
Country: Portugal
Regions: Douro Litoral, Estremadura, Algarve
Route: Train: Porto (São Bento station) - Porto (Campanha station), Porto (Campanha) - Lisbon (Santa Apol&ograv;nia station); Bus: Santa Apol&ograv;nia station - Sul e Suesta docks; Ferry: Sul e Suesta docks - Barreiro station; Train: Lisbon (Barreiro station) - Tunes, Tunes - Lagos;
Path:Porto - Lagos, Portugal
Linear:322 miles
Weather: Mostly Sunny / Partial Sun

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Map
Trip Stats to Date:
Day: 847
Linear Dist: 155981
Countries Visited: 60
Regions Visited: 241
More stats...
Hotels: 271
Friends / Family: 176
Camping: 118
Hostels: 217
Transit: 57
Other Lodging: 7
Beers: 3153
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Journal Entry:
The alarm clock went off and I hit the snooze button - which doesn't work. Consequentially forty-five minutes later we're in a bit of a rush to get the last possible train to Campanha (Porto's other train station). Caught the train without any problems. In Lisbon we decided that we didn't want to keep rushing around (we were planning on being in Lisbon only one day) so we decided to head for the Agarve coast as quickly as possible. Caught a bus to the ferry, got on the ferry five minutes before it left, got to the train station across the river, and less than an hour after arriving in Lisbon we were on our way to the Algarve coast.

Near the end of the ride we realized that we were going to have trouble finding a room anywhere on the coast - others on the train had talked called ahead and found everything booked. I tried calling anyway - no luck in Lagos or Salema. Found a room in Portimão but it was in the giant casino in the $200 a night range. Finally decided to try for a room in a private home in Lagos.

At the train station we went with a woman (Zelinda - same woman I used last year here) to a nice room in a private house. The house is very similar to the one I stayed in last year - complete with the grandmotherly woman who doesn't speak a word of English but doesn't let our lack of Portuguese to interfere with her conversations. We set out exploring the way into town, had a great Italian diner (pizza and lasagna), walked around a bit, and had ice cream. Amy wasn't feeling well so we headed back to a reasonably early night. Just as well as we're hoping to meet up with my friends Christian and Thomas from Norway (see the Sailing in Scandinavia entries) tomorrow night - which means it will probably be a late one.


Related Sites:
US State Department Consular Information Sheets: Portugal
CIA World Fact Book: Portugal

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