Alcacovas

From the coast we drove inland to a bit of the Portuguese heartland, Alentejo. There are probably megalithic bits all over Portugal, but in Alentejo, around Evora, there is a concentration that qualifies as a megalithic center, or centers, and which is world-class. We had been there before, visiting the Iberian Stonehenge, the Cromlech do Almendres and the largest of all dolmen, the Anta Grande do Zambujero. But we wanted to see more. Before getting to Evora, however, we stopped for the night at a camping aire in the small town of Alcacovas. After dinner in the camper, we walked about the sleepy little town, looking in particular for a 16th century royal residence.

More Of Portugal's Atlantic Coast And Beaches

After Sagres we drove further north to the beaches at Praia do Amado and spent the night there in a sort of camping aire, mostly surfers. The coastal scenery is dramatic, even on a relatively calm day.

Surfer traveling homes

 

Pano

Beach Zen

Why gardeners don't like snails

Over the hill is another vast beach and a plain of dunes; and
the non-surfer camping aire...near Carrapateira

 

Storm waves high enough to destroy the board walk here?

Maybe yes

Looking more or less north; dense sea haze

Miles of dunes

Where we might instead have camped but didn't

Next day, en route to Evora and the magalithic center(s) there,
we put in at a place called Azenha do Mar

Nice scenery but mostly housing for the vast farms inland

Sagres, 2017

I wanted to see Sagres again just because we had spent several nights there or in the vicinity back in 2010: (http://roadeveron.blogspot.pt/2010/01/sagres.html, http://roadeveron.blogspot.pt/2010/01/prince-henrys-school-of-navigation.html, http://roadeveron.blogspot.pt/2010/01/sagres-beaches.html). It was the western-most end of the world for the Romans, hence "sacred," and also the site of Prince Henry's School of Navigation, some years later. Columbus was an alum. Be all that as it may, we were prepared for the usual changes, after 7 years, but not quite prepared for the memory lapses and errors occasioned by seeing it all again.

View from where we camped, some nights, in 2010

All grown over now; signs prohibiting camping, RVs, etc.

The trip down Amnesia Lane required a stop in the harbor,
by the Doca Pesca

Cleaning the cages

Memorable entrance to Sagres harbor

We did not feel very welcomed

So we drove out to Cabo St. Vincent, which we, I, remembered
as the site of Prince Henry's; it is in  fact the land's end, as
celebrated in the above very busy brat stand ("last bratwurst
before America")

Has been discovered by the turbusses; or perhaps they don't go
there in winter, when we were there in 2010

Other than the lighthouse, I have no idea what the attraction
is at St. Vincent

So we drove back to Sagres and the "memories come floodin'
back," sort of; it was out on a point at Sagres where Prince
Henry's was, and where we camped: here; windy, but quiet
and secure

View back to the beach at Sagres

No longer Surf City

Looking back to Cabo St. Vincent

Closer up

Still a few surfers waiting for the big one

Others paddling out to wait for the big one

Approximate location of Prince Henry's, now a museum...

Motorhome parking obviously tolerated here, by Prince Henry's