Hello there, my loves! Today, I am incredibly excited to finally talk to you about our anniversary trip to Portugal. Me and my better-half went there at the end of May to celebrate our eight years together, and it was honestly the most amazing trip we've ever had! Do you know how sometimes when you go on holiday, you enjoy your time but at the end of the day, you are somewhat happy to return home? Well, Portugal was the first place we ever went to that genuinely left me thinking 'I could live here!', and just being there made me feel so happy. We stayed in a small town called Alvor, located on the beautiful coast of the Algarve. Today, I am excited to tell you a little bit more about our trip, and share some photos - hope you enjoy!
I have always loved being by the ocean - something about it is just so soothing and relaxing, and I'd definitely consider it to be my 'happy place'. Just the sound of heavy ocean waves hitting the shore is enough to make all my worries wash away. The Algarve has some of the world's most beautiful and underrated beaches, and we were lucky to have one just outside our hotel in Alvor
(photo above!). We were a little concerned about the weather as May tends to be somewhat unpredictable; but luckily, we got plenty of sunshine. We spent hours walking around in the warm sand, collecting seashells and just enjoying life!
Happy beach selfie. :)
Life doesn't get any better than having cocktails on the beach, so I went on a mission to try as many drinks as possible! There is just something so perfect about enjoying an ice-cold pina colada in the sun, and to be honest, I'd happily do just that every day for the rest of my life. There are many lovely cafes scattered all around the Algarve beaches (surprisingly cheap, too), serving not only colourful cocktails, but also delicious food. I wanted to try as much of the local food as possible (although, admittedly, we did
almost order Domino's), so I went for a few fish dishes which were amongst the best I've ever had!
Some of the wild dolphins we saw (hopefully, the animation will load)! Can you spot the baby dolphin? :)
I had never seen a dolphin prior to our trip, so that was definitely one of the biggest highlights (and actually, one of the main reasons why we wanted to visit Portugal in the first place). Admiring these beautiful creatures in the wild was absolutely breath-taking, and much, much better than seeing them in captivity. There are lots of different dolphin watching tours in the Algarve, so you can easily find a reputable place no matter where you stay!
On our search for the dolphins, we set out nearly twenty miles (!) into the Atlantic on a small rib boat. That alone was the most surreal experience - being surrounded by nothing but the ocean, with no land in sight - it was a little scary, but mostly just very exciting! We spent about an hour looking for the dolphins in their 'usual' spots with no luck, but eventually, we spotted a large group near a fishing boat. The dolphins approached our rib boat, clearly a little curious, so I managed to get some pretty good footage and it was the most unforgettable experience!
One of the main things I loved about Alvor where we stayed, was how quiet and peaceful it was. Perhaps we got lucky by going just before the main tourist season, but there still weren't as many people around as you'd expect. Some parts of the Algarve are a lot more 'lively'; with clubs and vibrant night life, which isn't really my cup of tea. Alvor is a lot more quiet, which is perfect if you're planning a romantic holiday, or if you want to just get away from all the noise and relax. We walked the entire stretch of the beach one evening to watch the sunset, and it was completely empty - something really magical about that!
Just want to be a mermaid. :)
Overall, I completely fell in love with the Algarve and I honestly cannot wait to go back. It's completely exceeded my expectations in every single way; from the stunning beaches to adorable dolphins, and the general beauty of it all. Thank you Portugal for being so incredibly warm and welcoming to us. :) And if you are wondering what your next holiday destination should be - look no further! The Algarve has it all and I am certain you would enjoy it as much as I did. x
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