Angela and Roland's European Adventure: Sunday 26th February

Sagres

We had already made up our mind that we would travel to Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente, not because there is anything much there, but really because it is the most South Westerly part of Europe and intimately linked with Portuguese world discoveries. It was here that Henry the Navigator set up his school of navigation that could be said led to the later discoveries by Portugal of a great number of the then unknown places around the world: well unknown to Europeans.

It was a sunny afternoon and we hoped we might see one of the spectacular sunsets that Cabo de São Vicente is known for, so we set off expectantly to Sagres and then the cape. When we arrived in Sagres we heard loud music playing through speakers and followed the noise. There was a small but very lively carnival in progress. People of all ages were parading and dancing in the street in fancy dress costumes. We joined in the festivities by clapping and cheering on the paraders, including the men in very short nurses uniforms with false bosoms and hairy legs (sadly we couldn't get a photo of them as too many people got in front of us). We watched for a while before strolling along the cliff-top. After our stroll, given that sunset was fast approaching, we made our way the short distance to the cape.

A lorry load of old timers at the carnival

Nordic centaurs?

Big heads and big eyes seem to be a theme around these parts

Cliff-top walk

Cabo de São Vicente

It was a short 3 mile drive up the coast to Cabo de São Vicente. There is a light house with some vending machines (coffee and cold drinks etc.), a small bar, and some pay toilets. Roland made the mistake of not reading the instructions on his toilet ticket (i.e. using the printed bar-code to gain entrance). He thought it would be much easier to force entry through the tripod box turn-style exit. He then proceeded to the loo with a loud alarm bell ringing. When he came out he was greeted by the toilet police and had to explain himself.

Incarceration avoided, we took our place on the cliff top to await one of nature's spectacles. The car-park by now was packed and there was a small crowd waiting expectantly. It's very eerie when so many strangers quietly gather together as the sun goes down and it reminded us of the atmosphere at eclipses. Perhaps it was the time of year, or the banks of clouds, but in the end the sunset was just OK. We have probably all seen better sunsets at some time in our lives. However, we are reliably informed that it has been known to really deliver the goods. We enjoyed the experience anyway so we were not downhearted as we made our way back to camp and ended the day with a really lovely meal in the restaurant.