Albufeira, Portugal

Through my parents, I had heard of this magical place in Portugal where you can dive right into the ocean because the water is so warm. Where you don't have to wade in the surf joint by joint to lower your body temperature so that when you eventually go under, you don't scream, causing your own death by drowning. Seeing goosebumps catalyze the hair growth on my I-just-shaved-last-night legs, I figured their stories were more nostalgia. We arrived in Portugal in the middle of a heat wave and I was sitting on the beach shivering after a few swims; contemplating my degree of faith, burqa and all. But when we stepped on the beach in Albufeira and I screamed because the sand was blistering hot -- I thanked god for my heathen ways.

Leaving the dollop of whipped hazelnut, chocolate, milk, and sugar on my wrist as a sacrament, I then blessed the saint who walks up and down the beach selling fresh Nutella filled doughnuts. As my dad waxed about his Albufeira 20 years ago and carped about the present, "It's so developed now... look at all these people?! Did you see the strip malls driving in? It's like Southern Florida!" I, was in heaven. Two of my favourite things in the world, balmy seas and doughnuts, side by side.

20 years from that divine day, I'll echo* his words. Albufeira might turn into the "South Beach of Portugal" and my saint banished because what toned and glistening mortal eats doughnuts on South Beach? Yet, if Albufeira was my dad's heaven then, and mine now, is it always heaven for someone at some time? YES! Cried the four women cavaleiros headlining** a bullfight. 

* Recently I started cutting my sentences short to turn back time -- I can't turn into him! I can't turn into her! Help me!! I have this theory though: the greater the swing towards Teenage Angst and Rebellion, the greater the swing back to Becoming Your Parents. Perhaps most of us will be spared? I hope :/

** Because I don't like to post rubbish, I took the time to research if such a lineup existed then and now -- nope.

Length of Stay

One day and one night

Docking Index

     

Six anchors -- wait, for heaven?! Alas, yes. Those balmy seas will be frigid come winter and my doughnut man back in his doughnut shop. Also given my dad's description of his heaven 20 years ago, the rapid rate of development in Albufeira may fast-forward my eventual fate. Have you ever pressed fast-forward and rewind at the same time on a VHS player? A hot mess.