Kicking Back in Praia da Luz, Portugal.
In typical fashion of this break, we have absolutely zero idea, of where we would be spending Christmas, a quick Google search shows this place as ‘The best Campsite on the Algarve’ and they had a space for 5 nights – Result !
Perched on one of the many terraces Turiscampo had to offer Verity the Volkswagen is lapping up the beautiful blue skies and enjoying what has been elusive up until now, some of that stuff emulating from the big yellow thing in the sky !
A beautifully landscaped and well kept site makes it stand out from the normal European campsite.
The walk from the site down into Praia de Luz is a fairly easy pavement stroll. Despite reports of it being a long walk beside a busy road, I can happily says it’s not.
Once a small fishing village but today, it is one of the most popular tourist resort in the Algarve and dubbed ‘little England’ due to the amount of expats living in the town.
Sadly for my Generation, at least. this town will always be remembered as the holiday location of the McCann family.
The medieval church of Our Lady of the Light originally constructed in 1521 but as a result of earthquakes both in 1755 and 1969 the body of the church had to be rebuilt twice.
Interestingly, the church belongs to the Portuguese Roman Catholic Church but each Sunday after their morning service has finished it is used by St. Vincent’s Anglican congregation who hold Church of England services in English for the expatriate community.
The wide, sweeping bay extendis eastwards with a gently sloping sandy beach, which for the locals is proving excellent surf.
Strolling along the wavy mosaic tiled promenade lined with palm trees we found Praia da Luz to have a refined, almost upmarket air.
In the summer Inviting small bars and cafes with coloured parasols would sit side by side along the waterfront, but though the off season it’s a slightly different atmosphere, even with hordes of people about, the majority are firmly shut for vacation.
The opposite end of the town in westerly direction. Is more residential here with low rise apartments and small whitewashed houses overlooking the bay an air of the traditional fishing village still exists with small fishing boats along the more rocky shoreline.
Paul.