Porto - Barcelona Day 10 Lisbon - Faro

So long Lisbon we have to leave you now it would be wonderful if we were to stay for another few more days maybe a next time we will be back. At the entrance of D'Happy Inn and were ready to move on again.

We rode to Saldanha Metro Station at GPS : 38.733892, -9.144082 to catch a direct metro train to Oriente Train Station for our next destination, Faro.

It was a rush hour, crowded with people going to work, four of us with our bikes and luggage having difficulty to gain access to the train platform. We were at one time advised by the staff to catch a later train due to the morning crowd. Bit by bit we managed to maneuver to the far end of the platform and were lucky to be able to squeeze into the arriving coach.

What a relief we made it to Oriente Train Station for the intercity train. Our fear has finally subsided. The digital directory was easily seen at the screens hung at the ceiling where we got info as to which platform to catch our train to Faro.

The hand signage was out and all into the coach, the train is moving now.....

My bungee cord came in handy again securing the bikes at a dedicated space.

Power point available for you to charge your electronic devices and by the way the fare was €11 to Faro from Lisbon.

Arrived at Faro Train Station after 3 hours of a comfortable ride. The southern most city of Portugal.

Faro is the capital of the Algarve. The old name of the city was Ossonoba, baptized by the Romans. Faro is part of Portugal since 1249, when the city and the entire region of the Algarve was conquered from the Moors by King Afonso III.

It was easy to locate The Story Guesthouse situated at R. Jose Estevao, GPS : 37.017590, -7.933954

Immediately after we have checked in for the stay at The Story Guesthouse we went out for the city ronda.

Uncle Google recommended and led us to this restaurant, Adega Nova at Francisco Barreto Street, GPS : 37.018661, -7.938363 for lunch.

Faro is situated by the sea shore, the fishes are easy available and had to be fresh & good.

Mixed seafood paella was ideal for Asians like us that was perfectly flavoured to suit our taste buds.

The fish dishes were good and delicious.

A wonderful lunch at Adega Nova, the staff was friendly and helpful. Thank you for your yummy food.

A land train to tour the centre of Faro which apparently is equipped with pre-recorded audio commentary. Might be a good idea for a quick look at Faro.

We have our bikes and did not have to use other mode of transport to see the places. Here we were riding through the shopping area of Faro.

The tall monument at the square in honour of Ferreira de Almeida who was born in the city of Faro. A great man who has contributed tremendously for Faro.

Behind the Porta Arabe which is the entrance to the Muslim city of Santa Maria and often referred to as the Arab Gate. It was served as access for those who came by sea and had a drawbridge over the marshland linking to mainland.

There is a legend associating the existence of an image of the Virgin on the walls that the Arabs laid into to the sea that resulted the land and sea ceasing to produce. The Arabs then returned the image to its original place which eventually caused the land bear fruit and the sea fish were found to be in abundance.

The medieval Cathedral of Faro. Church was built on the ruins of the ancient Roman temple, it was also a mosque during the Arab period then being adapted to a Church after the conquest of D. Afonso III. Located at GPS : 37.013303, -7.934959

Monument to Bishop Francisco Gomes de Avelar at GPS : 37.013603, -7.935283.
Dom Francisco Gomes de Avelar is said to had devoted his life in the improvement of Faro, investing in public building and improvement of urban infra-structures. He lived between 1736 and 1816, dying of old age with a long life for his time (80 years).

The statue of King D. Afonso III, standing in Faro’s historic walled city, found in front of the Municipal Museum.

The old town of Faro has many long narrow roads some with interesting ceramic wall tiles like this one. Photo credit : Jocelyn.

The sun was setting at the waterfront and we were having fun with our cameras.

Anne & F.A.R.O.

Faro with the 3 ladies and our Brompton.

The marina of Faro. It would be lovely to spend some time admiring the flashy yachts at the marina at one of the cafes.

There is also Faro's Maritime Museum which is found in the vicinity of the waterfront although it's quite small but it has some interesting displays relating to Portugal’s Age of Discovery, including a model of one of the boats in which Vasco da Gama sailed around the Cape of Good Hope to India in 1498.

Europe is generally bicycle friendly but we don't need this we have our own bicycles.

The reception of The Story Guest House recommended us to checkout this Restaurante À do Pinto at Tv. Rebelo da Silva GPS : 37.015912, -7.932836

A simple decor restaurant yet cozy.

Overall the food was excellent, always love the Portuguese which I am starting to like it. The seafood was fresh and delicious, what not all from the shore of Faro itself. Photo credit : Anne Cheong.

Paella with delicious succulent & fresh prawns.

Some kind of mixed seafood dish like what we get in Malaysia which we call "Pun Choy", ths was also another fabulous mouth watering dish.

Cheers and that was our last night in Portugal, it had been a wonderful journey in Portugal and I would love to come back again for the gorgeous scenery and most importantly the Portuguese food.