In the interests of managing to turn up on time to meet B’s boys at the airport next week, we decided to do a “dry run” to Faro airport using the train and bus method that we had settled on (taxi back with them and all their stuff mind you!).
We went to the tumbleweed station and found guys having breakfast and still not interested in us at all. We left Kymi in a covered walkway, told him to behave (yes, really – the heat must be getting to us) and got on a train with amazingly turned up bang on time. You can buy tickets on the train and a return (Ida e Volta – thats now 5 words of Portuguese we know in total) to the centre of Faro costs just 4 euros each.
22 minutes later we were in Faro wondering where on earth the “nearby” bus station was. Then I found one of those big tourist map and it was indeed quite close by. We went there and the ticket lady said to go and stand on the other side of the road. We did for a while, then we sat in the nearby cafe and ordered coffee. So of course the bus arrived and we couldn’t get on it as the coffee had not arrived and we hadn’t paid for it either. There will be another one soon…..actually, not that soon – we sat there for another half an hour. So no coffee next time we do this then. The bus service is local so took nearly as long as the train journey for about a tenth of the distance. Job done, so off into Faro town for a look, after another 20 minutes on the return bus!
Faro also has a nice old town area and the inevitable church to visit – this one had a square spiral stone staircase to negotiate to get to the views at the top, next to the open bell tower – and no, they were not working!
Gateway to Faro old town
Inside the old town
B outside another church...
...and the view from the top!