One thing Portugal has in abundance is beaches! Last year Maike and I headed towards the Costa da Caparica, and this afternoon we decided to explore the Ericeira area, which is closer to where I live now. After yesterday’s grand adventure in Évora, we slept in this morning and took it slow until the afternoon, when we headed to the Praia da Foz do Lizandro. The sun was out and it made for a the perfect beach flopping session.
What we didn’t count on were the incredibly strong winds! This of course was perfect for wave and wind surfers alike, but for lazy lizards like us, it meant finding a spot that would provide some refuge from the wind while still enjoying the sun. Eventually the perfect little cove among the rocks manifested itself and we set up camp for our continued mother-daughter bonding.
The water was absolutely freezing, and we both decided that to brave the waves and iciness we would need wetsuits, lest we end up with pneumonia. What I love about the beaches here in Europe is the absence of the beach hawkers trying to sell you something, but what struck us about this particular beach was the noticeable absence of dogs. There is a huge sign a the entrance banning them from the area, but of course there is always someone who fails to read or or chooses to ignore the large sign. Wouldn’t you know, the lone dog (on a leash) that turned up to annoy the seagulls belonged to a German family!
In terms of sand quality and beach layout, Praia da Foz do Lizandro tops my list, offering ample space to spread out, and organised designated areas for sports, a wading lagoon for children, and not crowded at al. The range of restaurants / cafes in the area is rather limited but good. We had our dinner at Indigo, which is a bit on the pricey side, but the food is good and the drinks generous in size. Don’t miss the cider sangria or Indigo lemonade – and the menu offers vegetarian and vegan options.
Tomorrow another grand adventure awaits us, so stay tuned!
Related Entries:
FrogDiva Thoughts 