September 3rd to 10th - Lagos
Gaudeo
John and Prue Quayle / John Quayle
Mon 10 Sep 2007 11:57
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3 -10 September - Lagos: During our passage down
the Portuguese coast we noticed a decade of sociological change every 50-70
miles. Whilst we had especially enjoyed Viana do Castelo, we were
apprehensive about arriving in the Algarve - our predilection for higher
latitudes has been mentioned earlier.
The Algarve coast was beautiful for the first 25
miles but at Lagos became a locust like sprawl of concrete far into the east.
The old part of Lagos however, is attractive but crawling with holiday
makers, many British - the sight of aging Britons en masse is not the
prettiest of advertisements. Outside the old town development has been frenetic,
not always tasteless, but numerous "for sale" notices and abandoned half
completed apartment blocks are manifestations of a surge of speculative
uncontrolled building which has outstripped demand. In other areas also, it
seems that Portugal has squandered the opportunities of its EEC status,
often in a quagmire of poor regulation and corruption.
Both of us were layed low with a lurgy in
Lagos, a `fluey type of virus. Fortunately we were otherwise kicking our
heels for the last few days before Prue`s return to UK
and arrival of the new crew; moreover, the marina was excellent (with the
Sopromar boatyard/chandlery - the best we have found in Portugal), and the
long sandy nearby beach provided superb
bathing.
The most important day in this year`s calendar was 6th September -
Prue`s 60th birthday (see photos). One of the highlights was to view
a DVD of the children and grandchildren which had been filmed in
London and Tiree - "Happy Birthday" written in the sand on a Tiree beach
and sung with gusto by Bea and Arthur ( Louis has not yet received his
training in choral music). Then lunch at a fisherman`s cafe, bathe off
the beach, and evening posh nosh at San Sebastion`s -
a memorable day.
We were entertained to a lovely evening
by Derek Hare, an accomplished painter and Anne Bachmann, who is
a sculptor at their gorgeous house which has land leading down to the sea
west of the small town of Praia da Luz a site of continuing international
intrigue.
The new crew consist of a combination of good
lunchers and keen sailors - more of the former! : David Bostock, Richard
Genochio, Edward Pank and Arthur Stephenson. Arthur is the only dark
blue in an otherwise light blue boat. He will no doubt claim superiority
given that Gaudeo`s livery is dark blue. The plan is to sail today for Porto
Santo, then to Madeira and onto Tenerife in the Canaries where the boat
will stay until November for the Transatlantic over 60s
outing.
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