Like sun-starved, post-apocalyptic, underground dwellers we have been stumbling around out here in SW Portugal, amazed at this giant orb in the clear blue skies. I know as Brits we moan about our weather, but bloody hell we have had every right to with the winter and now spring we have had and are still getting. It’s been a great big bag of shite, and from the forecasts I have been keeping an eye on, none of us are exactly desperate to get back home to it………….

Please bear in mind that the photos here are from my phone!

I fell in love with this south west tip of Portugal on literally my first day out here in January 2023. For sure I was out here bass fishing - the fishing is not remotely easy but wow it’s fun - but it was way more than that. The place just feels good. Easy access to both the jagged and hectic but achingly beautiful west coast, and also the stunning and more sheltered south coast, it’s just an incredible part of the world. I came back from that trip and said to my family that we had to come and check it out for a bit of a holiday because I knew they would love it. I was obviously gutted that my flight was cancelled because of the bloody weather and I didn’t get to join the lads for this January’s bass fishing trip - check out this monster bass they had right here - but almost right after my heart attack last year my wife booked a villa and flights for us to come and spend this week out here. You only live once and all that, and to be fair we haven’t been on holiday like this for a long time now.

So the six of us left what didn’t remotely feel like a UK spring last Friday evening to come out here. We took my mum along - dad died nearly two years ago now - and also my mother in law because my father in law isn’t able to come along for various health reasons and both the grannies could do with a break. My wife found what has turned out to be the most gorgeous villa in a seaside town called Salema, just west of Sagres which is basically the most south-western tip of Europe. We have walked and explored and relaxed and had the most fantastic time. I have run every morning bar one which has felt great, and I didn’t even bring any fishing gear which hasn’t bothered me too much. I just wanted to spend time with my family but of course on the various walks we have done I have obviously been half-scouting for future bass fishing trips! Yesterday afternoon I was watching smaller fish getting attacked from below about five hundred yards off the beach here in Salema. Could it have been bass?

A local fishing for sargo off the cliffs around Sagres

Every meal out has been fantastic - decent prices, friendly service, great locations, and really good food. Mainly pork and chicken for me which works great with what I am meant to be eating more of after my heart attack, but all my lot seriously love eating fish. If you like seafood it’s as good as it gets out here. They have eaten stuff like squid, octopus, crab, prawns, mussels, clams, corvina, john dory, sushi, oysters and so on. You obviously can’t come to Portugal and not indulge in the odd pastel de nata as well. Rather lovely with a cup of tea in the afternoon, overlooking the crystal clear waters as this great big orb shines down upon us from intense blue skies. Anybody remember what the sun looks like? We are heading back home today, and whilst I am itching to get back to fishing, we have all gone and fallen head over heels with this gorgeous corner of Europe. I can see myself spending a good bit of time here over the next few years, both for fishing and photography, but also potentially for a good bit of time away from UK winters together with my wife. We have various ideas starting to formulate for when the youngest girl has finished her A-Levels and gone off to university. You’re a long time dead and I can’t allow myself to forget how lucky I am to still be here……………

Luxuriating in glorious weather as if we've never seen it before, heading back home today

© Henry Gilbey 2023