Portugal is rapidly becoming our favorite place in the world. Why, you ask? Three reasons: interesting and beautiful beaches, pitchers of sangria and flavorful, fresh seafood. Here in Praia de Luz we have found all three within easy access. We're enjoying the variety and changing flavors of Portugal, especially this Algarve region.

This morning we went for a walk on the Praia de Luz beach . Normally the beach stretches from one rocky outcropping to the next along a blue crescent of ocean. Today the tide was out and the beach went far beyond its normal limits allowing us to walk farther and view the variegated cliffs and the green, algae-coated rocks normally covered with seawater. The cliffs are beautifully striped and form an interesting contrast of color to the blue water and the bright green rocks covered in algae. I touched the rocks and they felt fuzzy and soft, like velvet. Once the tide comes back in, all this will be submerged under the ocean again and the cliffs only visible from a distance or from the water on a boat. We felt lucky to see them today and enjoy their beauty. After our walk we went to the Galley café where we watched a para-glider take off from the cliffs and sail through the air above the ocean. We drank some sangria, ate melon and ham, and felt truly lucky to be in such a beautiful place.

Tonight we ate at a small café about a block from our condo and enjoyed the freshest seafood imaginable. I am now a huge fan of sea bass! The crispy skin and tender white flesh of this amazing fish can make me drool with happiness. Cory had salmon with herb sauce, also delicious, but nothing can compare to fresh sea bass. With our dinner we enjoyed a remarkable sangria that had chocolate undertones, silky on the tongue and the best we've had so far. When we asked about the wine, we were told it was their house wine. No more identification than that, but it was really good. We are now lying on the couches in the condo, appreciating the wonderful day we experienced, the fresh seafood and the amazing sangria. Portugal really has a lot to offer the traveler.