Travels with Chili -- A Little Family Road Trip

Back in mid-November we decided to take a short road trip down to the Algarve -- the southern coast of Portugal. We took Chili with us. The last time she was in a car for that long, the journey ended with a couple of days in a hotel and an airplane ride to Portugal. This was about a three hour drive and ended in an Air BnB in Portimao.

She had a really good time in the car with her head on a swivel to see out both windows and not miss anything.

Our route to the Algarve took us on a national motorway through the Alentejo region. It is a quiet, rural, and sparsely populated area with beautiful rolling hills with vineyards along with olive and almond trees. Fun fact: My favorite Portuguese wines are from the Alentejo.

While the tolls are a bit pricey -- around $35 roundtrip -- the motorway is amazing. It is off season, of course, but the traffic was very light and the road is in excellent repair. We were curious to know what that road is like in season because it is the main artery down to the Algarve from Lisbon and north. We don't think it would be too bad because so many of the tourists to the Algarve fly in from the UK and around the EU.

Chili was a champ at the AirBNB. Once she figured out that we brought her food and treats she settled right in. This little trip was a test of sorts to see how she would behave if left alone in an unfamiliar place. She passed with flying colors. She particularly enjoyed sitting at some outdoor cafes with us. The lady who owns the place we went for breakfasts took a particular shine to our girl. Luckily, Chili understood every word she said to her in Portuguese.

The beach in Portimao is spectacular. We took a little walk along the beach so Chili could feel the sand under her feet. She was not a big fan and preferred to return to the cafe, speak some Portuguese, and get treats and water.

While Chili rested at the apartment, Will and I took a boat ride along the coast to see some very cool small beaches and sandstone cliffs with lots and lots of caves. These cliffs are quite different than those near our home in Cascais.

After leaving Portimao, we headed west to see some of the less built up area of the Algarve. We explored a bit around Salema and Sagres. Both were really lovely. The history of Sagres goes back a long way. In the 15th century it was a meeting place where scientists and sailors shared maps, shipbuilding techniques, and organized expeditions. Many people back then also thought Sagres was the end of the earth. Final fun fact: in current times Sagres is a very popular Portuguese beer.

We're looking forward to more road trips with the International Dog of Mystery this winter.