Albufeira was the second city on our search for a home in Portugal. It was a beautiful city, but hilly, as you can probably tell from the photograph. I got more cardio-vascular exercise there than I’d had in a while. From the beach to our rental was all up hill. I had to really want to visit the beach!
The problem for me in this city was it was meant for young people and those who like to party to all hours of the night. There were so many bars and places to eat near the beach, literally more than a hundred that covered street after street in the Old Town. We knew immediately that it would not be our home base. But we stayed for the two weeks, just to visit nearby cities and sites.
We learned a couple of lessons, as well. Never schedule two weeks in a city you have never visited. Also, make sure you know what each section of a city looks like, so you can reserve accommodations in a place where you will be comfortable. Being on the Main Street from the beach meant late nights listening to people leaving the bars and seeing some pretty drunk folks.
Yet, we enjoyed going to the beach early, before the young people. When the beach is filled with young women in barely-there bikinis and swimsuits, you feel your age. Thankfully, there were escalators to take us above the beach for walks each day. Yes, it was so hilly that the city installed escalators for people whose hotels and rentals were above the beach.
Below are some of the places we visited while in Albufeira, even spending two days in our beloved Quarteira, which is one of the frontrunners for our long-term stay. We went to Faro, Olhao, and Tavira, three beautiful towns in the Algarve of Portugal. This is for you, Judy!
Help from Heaven 
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