17/01/2012 Albufeira, Portugal

We woke up early and wandered to the same pizza place next to the hotel for a full English breakfast before hiring bikes and riding to Albufeira. It was an amazing sunny day and we rode to the beach near our hotel first where we sat and admired the outlook for a while before riding on through the Marina and up over the hill into the Old Town of Albufeira. The scenery was amazing and perfect riding weather. We found a brilliant restaurant called the Beach Basket where we sat on the balcony and ate lunch in the sun looking out over the beach – paradise! I had the Portuguese Peri Peri chicken which was very tasty and we had a delicious drop of wine – very civilised! We then wandered along the beach and back and stopped for an ice cream before riding back to the hotel, dropping off the bikes and walking down to the beach near the hotel to catch the sunset which was spectacular. We walked to a restaurant at the end of the beach for dinner (amazing calamari and cheese and garlic toasted sandwiches) and drinks then stumbled back to the hotel along the beach – perfect day!

Beach stop on our ride from the hotel to Albufeira

Beach stop on our ride from the hotel to Albufeira

Beach stop on our ride from the hotel to Albufeira

Amazing!

Quick beach walk on the way to Albufeira

Thea paddling

Laura taking pics on the beach

Amazing rock formations on the beach - not to mention the surfers!

Tom and I on the beach

Surfers in action

Laura's cool arty shot on the beach

Thea, Tom and I soaking up the sun

The team: Laura, me, Thea and Tom

Last lookout over the beach before peddling on to Albufeira

Back on the bike!

Oranges for sale on the side of the road on the ride from the hotel to Albufeira

Thea up ahead on the ride from the hotel to Albufeira

The ride from the hotel to Albufeira

Stop off at the Marina

The Marina

View from the lookout above the marina

View from the hill just before turning the corner into Albufeira

Photo stop - Albufeira in the background

View from the hill just before turning the corner into Albufeira

Riding through Albufeira

The beach in Albufeira

The beach in Albufeira

The beach in Albufeira

Albufeira

Albufeira

Tom and I soaking up the sun at our amazing lunch spot looking out over the beach

Portugese special: Peri Peri chicken... yum yum

The view from our lunch table

The view from our lunch table

Albufeira

Albufeira

Albufeira

Albufeira

Albufeira

Strolling the beach in Albufeira after our feast

The beach in Albufeira

Albufeira

The beach in Albufeira

The beach in Albufeira

Looking back to our lunch spot on the ride home...

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Laura and Tom on the becah at sunset

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Laura, Tom, me and Thea on the beach at sunset

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

Sunset over the beach near our hotel

More than a few drinks in the bar at the end of the beach - thanks to Jambo!

Laura and Tom getting on it