Getting Away From It All

Towards the Western coastline, it becomes wilder and windier with real Atlantic weather. The landscape is windbeaten like that of Cornwall.

Along the central coastline, where Algarve's favourite resort of Albufeira has grown to encompass its neighbouring villages, the weather is calmer and warmer.

Past Vilamoura and Vale de Lobo, is Faro with its airport and the pretty town of Tavira, famous for its salt.

The coastal towns are hives of leisure activities, and yes, drinking is a popular one when Portuguese wines and spirits are so reasonably priced.

Golf, tennis, riding, watersports and even microlight flying are all on offer.

But if you are truly looking for a quiet and peaceful landscape into which to escape, travel a few miles inland and you find an older Portugal, another world.

You may no longer find anywhere which has never seen a foreigner. But you will find towns and villages rich in their own Portuguese culture where visitors are welcomed for their interest in the land rather than simply for their money.

Try the market town of Loulé,"http://www.cm-loule.pt/" . This is the administrative centre of the area set in the high countryside. Alte with neighbouring Sta Margarita surrounded by the four serras or mountain ranges is always hospitable.

At nearby Sa Bartolomeu de Messines, the market attracts residents from far and wide.

Monchique in Springtime is unforgettable.

These are my choices but you have to balance your own special needs--these may be family, schools, transport, language difficulties, friends to speak your own language on the homesick days.

Carol Van Vuuren's travel diary from Portugal at "http://www.rci.co.za/travel/next.htm" really invokes the atmosphere of the country and may give you other ideas of where to explore.

You need to take time to find your special place, somewhere you really feel at home. It will be there. Travel hopefully. You will arrive.

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