WHEN I was asked if we could go somewhere other than Tenerife, I responded by suggesting Portugal, which was acceptable, and we went to Faro.
Faro is a city in southern Portugal, capital of the Algarve region and the Faro District, as well as the southernmost city on the Portuguese mainland with a population of over 70,000. It lies on the shore of the Ria Formosa lagoon, a protected nature reserve and hosts the region’s international airport.
The lagoon and city attract a great deal of wild fowl including the famous Storks of Faro which can be seen everywhere nesting on churches, buildings and even lampposts.
The Ria Formosa is a barrier island system, a large shallow lagoon protected from the wild Atlantic Ocean by a chain of sandy barriers. It was declared a natural park in 1987 and provides a feeding ground and resting place for more than 20,000 birds that winter there, including the iconic ibis. It is also famous for its seahorse population and home to two endangered species. The lagoon also supports 140 species of fish and rich beds of molluscs and crustaceans.
But the area is continually under threat from pollution, the spread of algae which is choking sea grass, the home of seahorses and from climate change.
The lagoon is important for local communities who harvest oysters, mussels and clams as well as traditional salt production. Tourism remains important for the area’s economy but its future depends on balancing protection with sustainable use. My advice is to visit sooner rather than later.
I concede that it is only 45 minutes by car from Faro to the border crossing with Spain and only 155 miles to Gibraltar on the tip of the Iberian Peninsular.
Yes, I have been to Gibraltar once but in a different decade. Gibraltar has a British policeman, post box and a branch of Marks & Spencer but I don’t have to go abroad to see them.
I did make another compromise before it was too late and agreed to go to the Czech Republic.
Prague is the capital and largest city in the Republic. More than 1.4 million live there and 2.3 million in the wider metro area.
I did enjoy my brief time in Prague walking across the famous Charles Bridge, visiting the Cathedral, dedicated to Wenceslaus the first – Prince of Bohemia and subject of the equally famous Christmas Carol “Good King Wencelas” – two different spellings but thought to be the same guy.
You must also visit the astrological clock opposite in one of the many squares Prague has.
I wandered around the numerous shops selling surplus army wear from the former Soviet Union, their army occupying Prague in August 1968, to crush the “so called” Prague Spring. The Czech Republic was formed on January 1, 1993, following the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia.
My journey across the world in 80 years is almost complete but I still have an incomplete bucket list.
Join me next time as I take advantage of another cheap flight from the North East and fly across the North Sea to Norway and the city of Bergen.
Author: John
Author of Around The World In 80 Years