Final Fling: Lisbon

Lagos, Portugal: hauled out 26 October 2012

Itinerary Lagos, Portugal: 26 October 2012 is Haul out time.  Lagos has an old town to explore, more than a few restaurants and a nice beach 2 minutes from the boatyard.  Other activities - as time permits!

Arade looks just fine through a camera lens...but it certainly was NOT!

“Be brave, my trusty (about to mutiny again) crew!” said Cap’n Fearless as we headed off into a 3 metre, very nasty swell coming in through the Arade River entrance.  Once out of the river, and recovered, we settled down for a short, easy sail into Lagos.  

Better still, we tied up at a quiet Sopromar Boatyard dock, said hello to our favourite duck friends and then ran off to have hot, hot showers.  Life was good!  WJ3 too, was primped (a quick check-over) in preparation for an early morning haul out.  In our absence, Sopromar had purchased a new toy – a remotely controlled travel lift.  Our friendly crane operator looked as if he was busy playing an X-Box. “Look mum, no hands” as WJ3 swung like a baby in straps.  

Time for the girls to play then!  So we did...

Monument to the Discoveries - Vasco da Gama sailed for India from here in 1497

Rather than stay a week in Lagos cleaning, BCK & GS made a run for the train station and headed off to Lisbon.  Here we sat on the big red bus, now an obligatory ride, before a bit of free-wheeling touristico-ing around the old city, taking in as many sights as we could in our 3 days of freedom. 

We ate well down Baixa's Rua Augusta

We ate pastel de nata for breakfast, lunch and dinner, sampled seafood, strong coffee and other Lisbon specialities, shopped in stylish boutiques - all easily reached from our centrally located hotel.  As a final fling, we invaded a hair salon for a little Portuguese pampering, only to emerge looking like Stepford Wives extras.

Tram to Bairro Alto & a quick walking (shopping) tour

Too soon, it was back to WJ3. Somehow we managed to get her ship-shape and still have time for a few hours of touring, shopping, visiting local markets (sadly no snail sellers - it was a public holiday) and making friends at LazyJacks marina-side before it was time to board our BA flight home.     

Cataplana straight from Lagos's best kept secret - Alkibir

Having made London, we managed a whirlwind tour of the underground.  Getting to Heathrow wasn’t easy and we made three train changes, with our luggage during peak hour.  Still we whisked past “Monopoly” stops that one day we hoped to get back to see – London Bridge, Westminster, Earl’s Court.  Enticing as it was, we just wanted to get home.

From: Portimao, Portugal   Lat/Long: 37:06.72N  08:31.34W   Date/Time: 25/10/12: 1400
To: Lagos, Portugal Lat/Long: 37:06.44N  08:40.26W   Date/Time: 26/10/12: 0930
Time Taken: 6nm (1.5hrs) Distance (this year): 584nm (92hrs)
Distance Total (since 2008): 10821nm   Weather: 3m SW swell; cold, wet and windy
Fastest Speed: Too busy looking at the size of the waves to notice.  Thought they’d be perfect for surfing.