“Dark Sky” was what we came for. We found it and more. This stop gave us a little downtime and some great experiences. Herdade dos Delgados Hotel is built like it is part of the surrounding countryside. Nearly all rooms have a view of Albufeira do Alqueva delivering a great backdrop from the room, the restaurant, and the pool.
Our explorations brought us to the town of Maurao and we ended up at a cafe that felt more like a Sunday afternoon at home than a restaurant.
An Astrophotography class at DarkSky Alqueva introduced us to a new art form with an incredible astrophotographer, Miguel Claro. He taught us how to create beautiful pictures of the night sky and an appreciation for what can be done with enough talent!
Our dinner in town at Monte D’Acorda made us feel like locals and strangers simultaneously. Driving into a small Portuguese village was a bit of an adventure. In a town far from any city, narrow streets with buildings built right up to the street. Parking seemed to be governed by a complex set of rules that were nowhere in sight. Cars, people, and animals all shared the road. We walked into a restaurant that was built in a converted home. The open kitchen let us watch all the cooking and all the drama. The couple who seemed to run the place would switch back and forth between looking angry and like teenagers in love. Our waiter approached the table and within about 5 seconds determined our Portuguese was inadequate to order and simply walked away. Thank you to the gentlemen a few tables away who literally ran over to translate and even make some wonderful recommendations! The food was wonderful and the experience is one of my favorite dining experiences of the trip.
This area of Portugal is one we will certainly visit again. We need a great Milky Way photo!
Our next stop is Istanbul, Turkey. The place where the east meets the west.