...She was afraid to come out in the open
and so a blanket around her she wore.
She was afraid to come out in the open
and so she sat bundled up on the shore.
Two, three, four, tell the people what she wore!
It was an itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini
that she wore for the first time today.
An itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini
so in the blanket she wanted to stay.
Two, three, four, stick around we'll tell you more.
I got the inspiration to pen down my memories of my trip to Portugal when I stumbled upon this old classic - Brian Hyland "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" I would request you to listen to it by clicking on the link above!
When I landed in Faro, Portugal at 8:00 am on a crisp Saturday morning, after having left from home in Bristol, UK at 3:30 am, despite the little to no sleep I had had the night before, I felt a tingling sense of excitement for the adventure ahead.
After a quick transfer process, I got outside the airport to locate the taxi I had booked in advance to take me from Faro to Lagos. I boarded it to find a few old ladies, out on a girl's trip, occupying the front seats and a minute later I was joined by Dom, who was also visiting from the UK like me, so we plonked ourselves at the back of the minivan. Lagos is a good 91kms away from Faro, but the roads were so good we covered the distance in under an hour, as for me it felt even lesser because Dom and I were chatting away like teenagers at the back of a class. He was a teacher at kindergarten and was full of stories, as was I coming from the back of some exciting trips and travels. Before I got dropped off at Lagos, the ladies sitting ahead of me got off at a beautiful beach town, a few towns before Lagos, which gave me ideas about what to explore when I visit here next. Algarve is a popular region in the south of Portugal and is dotted with beautiful towns and beaches, Faro being the most underwhelming, but the only town with an airport, which makes it the entry point to this haven!
My hostel was not very far off from the drop-off point. I reached the hostel to find out that the check-in was available in an hour or so, so I dropped my bags and headed out to get a feel of the place. I was in a bit of urgency for time as I had so little of it, I landed here Saturday morning and I was returning Sunday evening. I wanted to just get showered and be off like a bullet. I finally got checked in, took a shower, charged my phone, picked up a few maps of Lagos, got the receptionist to highlight the best beaches and restaurants and I was ready to start my day at 1 PM, so glad I booked an early flight (do you sense the sarcasm?)
Now I, hungry for breakfast, went to one of the cafes I had recced earlier and I knew exactly what I wanted to eat (yay! Time saved), tried not to gobble it up and was finally ready to start exploring. I was wearing all of my recent purchases from my bikini to my dress and my sandals. I got myself a cool pair of glasses to match my happiness and off I was feeling like a tourist.
I started exploring from the first beach. It was too crowded to find one's personal space, so I moved on to the next and the next until the fourth one where I found some respite from the crowds. I spread my towel on the sand, pulled out my book, and finally relaxed into myself. Soon enough I got uneasy in the heat. I saw a family in front of me setting up an umbrella. They told me they had gotten their own but I could rent one from up the cliff. The umbrella was totally worth the effort and the money. Now I got comfortable again and also felt safer with a little enclosure of the umbrella behind me. I thought to myself that it was now high time I took the plunge into the ocean in a bikini for the first time ever. My heart was racing as I was so conscious of everyone watching me. I coyly got the dress off till my waist and got myself comfortable sitting in a bikini top and then I slid out of the dress and sat looking because there was really nothing more to do. I found some courage in seeing all the other women on the beach, so many moms with their mom bodies and yet comfortable in a bikini, so many young girls wearing skimpier bikinis than me. I slowly started feeling like a part of my surroundings. So now sitting in a bikini with a towel around me was comfortable but to go to the enticing water was the next step, which got my heart racing again. Hesitantly, I got up, looked around, and told myself no one is really looking at me, and walked quickly to the water. I was hoping to just jump in and hide again, but the water felt so cold, I had to paddle outside for some time. But once I waded into the deep waters, all my inhibitions subsided, a sense of calm poured over and I thought to myself that yes, this was how this massive, natural oceanic water body was to be enjoyed.
The water was clear, so blue, and just the right temperature. Once in I just didn't want to come out. Revealing my body for the first time, gave me a revelation of being comfortable in my skin. I felt so free after my swim, I got back to my umbrella, and dried myself while sunbathing and reading my novel. I got the feeling that I am living the life I imagined and I was so happy and content at the moment. I wanted to share it with someone but my phone had no sim or wifi. So I reveled in it and took pictures to remember it!
I took a few more dips and spent another hour, by the end of which the beach was vacating and people were heading back to town. I finally sat down for lunch at 6:30 pm, this was the beauty of the European summer, that for all the rush I was feeling to start early, it didn't matter if I started at 2, because the days are so long that I got enough time in the sun. The meal was scrumptious but what was even better was the Mateus Rose wine which I tasted for the first time that day. I had ordered the whole bottle on the recommendation of the waiter, the bottle was very different from regular wine bottles and very compact, so I saved some for later and put it in my backpack. I thought of heading back to the hostel but then I saw a string of people heading the other way. Upon inquiry, I found out that everyone was headed to see the sunset. So I trudged along as well, observing the landscape taking it all in, and revisiting my beach day in my head, I knew it would be something I'd always remember.
The sunset at the lighthouse was beautiful, the light just before the sun went down was magical. Seeing the sunset in the Atlantic Ocean, I was full of so many emotions, I could sense the time and space of things and it was very surreal, in afterthought it could have been the wine as well.
Getting back to the hostel I was excited to explore the nightlife because that's what Lagos was famous for but as it turned out the parties didn't start until way into the night.
I was tired, alone, and didn't think it safe to be out so late, so I grabbed some dinner and headed back to the hostel.
While heading back, I was a bit sad that I was alone but just then I saw the moon and got pulled to it. It was a full moon, I found myself at the beach and the moon a full orb of white was casting its magnificent reflection on the ocean.
I decided to sit down, it felt safe as there were a few couples around. As I sat, I felt the sense of adventure returning and I was happy again. I opened up my leftover wine and sat there enjoying the view with my thoughts directed towards the big and mighty universe. I went back to my hostel very happy and content.
The next day I had an unwilling early morning, as I had made a booking for an early morning activity of kayaking. The only reason I got up was that I got to wear my bikini again! Joining me from my hostel were a few other folks, one among whom was Hannah!
We struck a conversation and hit it off. I was glad to have found someone to talk to, I just poured all of my emotions from my experience the day before and she was so patient and kind, she was God sent. When given the option to kayak together we both jumped at it. Our guide for the day was Miguel, a young, good-looking guy with an endearing smile, washboard abs, broken English, and a genuineness that showed through.
The whole idea behind going kayaking was to see some of the hidden beaches and coves which are otherwise inaccessible by road. I had done some rafting and kayaking once before in India so I thought this would be right up my alley. What I can say is, that it is harder kayaking in the ocean than in a river where the natural flow of the river pushes you ahead, so I was glad to have another person to help paddle my way across the various coves. The coves were very dramatic with limestone arches forming nooks to give a respite from the heat.
But it was the banter between the three of us that made the morning electrifying. The tour stayed for a while at one of the beaches before we headed off. I was able to get a bikini shoot (bigni shoot! IYKYK) done thanks to Hannah. Miguel gave us a few options for lunch around Lagos, one of which happened to be at a bakery run by his family, so once we got back and showered we headed straight over there to try some goodies. The Pastel de Natas at his bakehouse were delicious.
I got back to the hostel, packed my bags, and was ready to say hasta la vista to my wonderful stay at Lagos. I could not have asked for a better trip than this :)
Comentarios