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To commemorate the Smithsonian Presents Travels with Rick Steves magazine — now on sale online, and at newsstands nationwide — Rick is blogging about the 20 top destinations featured in that issue. One of those destinations is Salema, on Portugal’s Algarve Coast.
I can close my eyes and feel the salty ambience of Salema: The tall, fresh-squeezed orange juice of the loss-leader breakfasts where I put my feet up on the rusty railing, gaze out at the sea, and wonder what I’ll do today.
Actually, since I’m usually in Salema updating my guidebook, my options are all work-related: find a desolate beach farther north, on the windy side of Cape Sagres; venture up into the modern part of town to see how soft prices are for the modern hotel scene; drop by expat Brits in the next town, where those on humble retirement accounts live like kings with everything you could want in Portugal except a sea view.
I do fantasize about just being here on vacation. Nursing a drink in a still-wet bathing suit. Going out with Sebastian to haul in the octopus pots. Hiking to the beach where you expose skin that’s never seen the sun. Getting to the point where you can competently discuss the quality of the fish soup in each beachfront restaurant.
I was going to say there are just a few places in Europe where I could savor a true vacation. But then, when I think about it, there are many. But for a beach break — simply wasting away in a European Margaritaville — it’s fair to call Salema, on Portugal’s Algarve, my favorite.
I just happened to catch your episode on the Algarve and actually felt a little sorry for the octopus being maced out of the pot. Yet I happily dine on calamari, squid, etc. when I have the opportunity.
I found the people of Salema to be among the friendliness I have met. Unlike Vernazza, Hallstadt, Rothenberg, Manley, Port Townsend and Big Sur whose residents seem to be seasonal and out to make a fast buck, Salemians seemed kinder and gentler to me. Even our hard-working, conscientious guide seemed willing to exhale a bit in Salema.
We are heading to the Algarve in September. Rick, I will nurse a drink in my ‘still wet’ bathing suit for you! We can hardly wait…. the beaches look incredible and I have read nothing but good things about the people of Portugal.
We are also heading to Salema in September and are very excited. We are following your guidelines and will be doing the loop of Lisbon, Salema, Tavira, Evora and back to Lisbon for an early flight out to Greece. Sept 4-12. Any excellent restaurants you can recommend? Pubs? By excellent, I mean excellent and not tourist trap-ish ;P
Besides Salema, would you recommend Lagos? Susie-Aug.5,2010
Have you ever considered the Azores as a destination? I lived there for several years and at least 8 of the 9 islands are yet to be discovered by tourists. They are quite beautiful.