A Bit of Old Algarve Magic and a Secluded Beach

The sun was back this morning and so we headed off to do a little exploring.  One of the places we wanted to visit in the sunshine was an old fishing village called Salema (Sah-LAY-mah).  The fisherman are almost gone as there are only a few weathered fishing boats left but Salema has a gorgeous beach in front of it and that has started to draw visitors from several gated resorts located nearby.  We really liked the vibe of the place even though it only has three beachside streets with no real attractions other than lounging in the sun or enjoying a good meal or drinks on the deck at one of several well reviewed restaurants.  But we only stopped for a coffee when we arrived as I had read about a secluded beach about a 30 minute drive away that had a small restaurant specializing in octopus dishes.  So off we went and we were not dissapointed with the food or the scenery.  Both were spectacular.

  Looking up from the beach at some fishing boats and the village of Selema.

 Walked to the end of the stunningly beautiful beach.

One of the cobbled streets with refurbished fishermen homes that are mostly rented out to tourists.

Went for a walk along the cliffs and looked back down at Selema beach.

After driving down a narrow and twisting road we ended up at Priaia do Costeljo with its restaurant.  The wind was blowing hard and the waves were crashing onto the beach.  It was wonderful.

But first things first as we had to have our very late lunch (3:30pm).  It was well worth the wait as we shared traditional fish soup, clams in garlic sauce and octopus salad. Rita added a little of the local piri piri sauce to the fish soup as recommended by the chef.  It was all excellent.

After our delicious and filling lunch we walked this breathtaking beach.  As mentioned the wind was blowing very hard but we could still hear the roar of the waves as they crashed onto shore.

A castle-like rock island at the end of the beach

On the way back from the beach we veered off onto a dirt road that had a sign with binoculars.  It was worth the effort as we ended up at a breathtaking viewpoint showcasing the rugged Algarve coast.

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