Day 171
11 hrs*, 13 .8 kms
Day Totals: 16 hrs, 19.6 kms

Back in February of 2008, just 7 months after having started my Global Parkbench Tour, I traveled this route from Andalusia to the Algarve region in souther Portugal. Now I'm back again... to visit the towns that I missed and to continue all the way to the very Southwesternmost tip of Europe... and maybe do Superhike along the way, if I'm so inspired.

My first stop will be Tavira, which I skipped on my 2008 trip. It's nighttime when I arrive, so I sincerely hope I'll find some reasonably lodging.

After a kind of frustrating experience in Huelva, Tavira is love at first sight. The bus station is right on a river, with a riverwalk and charming whitewashed red tiled houses--and plenty of cozy little hotels. I soon find one within range, but opt to keep looking in case I find something cheaper. I enjoy a pleasant evening stroll around the town before crossing the river where I find a nice cheap hotel--plus a carryout food joint (common here in Portugal) where you can buy a ready made meal of salad, chicken, rice etc to take home with you for just a couple euros .

Tomorrow I'll explore this town properly.

Next Morning

Next morning go up the the roof of the hotel to enjoy a beautiful sunrise across an endless sea of reddish brown tiles... I'm liking this town even more. Sure, it's a bit touristy--but I don't mind, it's got charm, character--and after parkbenching nearly 100 Spanish towns, I can more readily percieve the subtle differences between the two Iberian cousins... and it feels refreshing to experience a new country. Different food, language, architecture... a more run down feel, but not in a depressing way--more like shabby chic.

It doesn't take me too long to fully explore the town--to climb up a little ridge to check up it little castle with a garden in the center (free entrance)... to wander up and down its various alleys. Since the bus isn't leaving for a good while, I decide to go ahead and wander along a country road for a while, then come back.

I suppose I could start a Superhike here--there are villages up in the hills to explore... Nah... I'll continue on down the coast...