Lagos, Portugal
HIDDEN, INVITING, SPECTACULAR
As I ascended the hundred some-odd stairs that separated the The Praia don Camilo beach from my rental car, I paused to allow a photographer to line up and snap a shot. Her subjects were an elated bride and groom, stopped on the stairs in order to take one of the most epic wedding pictures I had ever seen. With the sunny sky, turquoise water and dramatic rock faces serving as their background, I couldn’t help but hope that their lives together would always be so picturesque. I had watched them marry not thirty minutes prior, along with a few other dozen sunbathers on the beach. It was late afternoon, and as the sun dipped in the sky, extending the shadows on the beautiful beach, we quietly watched a woman in white walk down the stairs to the sand, where a handful of her loved ones were waiting for her. When they groom kissed his bride, the entire beach applauded.
The Prai don Camilo beach sits just minutes outside of Lagos, Portugal, but you need to know it is there in order to find it. There are no directions, no signs…nothing that says “warning, you are about to see the most beautiful beach you have ever seen, prepare yourself”. In fact, all of Lagos feels that way. Which is why I’ve chosen the following three words to describe this Southern Portuguese town.
HIDDEN:
Arriving in Lagos did not feel like anything special. It struck me simply as a charming seaside town. I circled around through a series of looping roundabouts. My destination was the beach, which I had looked up ahead of time. Still, after parking my car and walking to the top of the stairs that lead down to the western coast of the Atlantic (an ocean I had spent my entire life on the other side of), the view completely took my breath away. It was gorgeous, grand, and completely unexpected. Something similar happened when I drove from the beach parking lot into the heart of the town a few hours later. I followed Google maps onto impossibly narrow roads with corners so tight that it was a wonder to me that cars were allowed at all. I then passed a street that was blocked off for pedestrians and realized that cars were, in fact, only partially allowed. Once I ditched the vehicle and took off on foot I felt like I had found the real Lagos. Adorable restaurants, tourist shops peddling cork, and impossibly nice locals greeted me like I was an old friend. But I could help but register a hidden wink… I knew, and Lagos knew too, that without a sense of adventure and curiosity, I could have easily driven by this gorgeous place, none the wiser to the beautiful views and charming alleyways that lay just out of reach of any vehicle.
INVITING:
The moment I entered the winding streets of center Lagos, I couldn’t help but feel completely drawn in. This little hidden town seemed to operate completely without influence from the outside world. I found myself dining at a sidewalk table with my family, sipping a glass of juicy red sangria as the sun dipped below the low buildings and the sea breeze cooled our bare legs. My mother shivered slightly and the impossibly handsome waiter appeared, proclaiming in perfect English that he had a blanket for her if she was cold. We marveled at the hospitality, understanding jointly that if we decided in that moment to find an apartment and stay forever, that Lagos would welcome us with open arms.
SPECTACULAR:
Everything in Lagos from the beach cliffs, to the gelato stands, to the sun-drenched streets felt as they were meticulously designed by someone with an astounding sense of feng shui, and a flair for the dramatic. Everywhere I turned, my eyes found something interesting and pleasing. I resolved to return someday to spend significant time in this out-of-the-way seaside town, and as I drove away I could sense the pulsating energy of the town behind me. Those cliffs, the winding streets, the beautiful locals… they weren’t going anywhere.
THE 3 THINGS YOU WILL NEED WHILE YOU’RE THERE:
Lagos is a stunning little town with close access to an incredible beach. This once-piece is a great convertible piece that can be worn on the sand, or under pants or a skirt as a stylish top. With a piece like this, you can go from lunch to sunbathing without having to hunt down a public restroom to change in.
You really can’t beat the stylish beach-bag. It is cute, practical, and an absolute must for Lagos. This bag is great since it features several pockets that will help you keep your beach items separate from your day items - like your phone and wallet.
The beach in Lagos is missing one crucial thing - a snack shack! If you get hungry or thirsty on the beach, you are going to be walking up about 300 stairs and more than a few hundred yards to the nearest coffeeshop. Instead, invest in this vacuum insulated water bottle and bring a beverage with you.
