{"id":997,"date":"2006-03-17T10:11:07","date_gmt":"2006-03-17T10:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mrsglaze.com\/2006\/03\/17\/an_american_cou\/"},"modified":"2012-04-03T02:50:30","modified_gmt":"2012-04-03T02:50:30","slug":"an_american_cou","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.amyglaze.com\/an_american_cou\/","title":{"rendered":"Surf Vacation in Portugal"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Surfalgarvecoast_1\"<\/a>
\nAn American couple walks into a surf house with a Scottish doctor, a Northern Irish army officer, a Spanish male model, a Welsh accountant, and a Costa Rican massage therapist in Lagos, Portugal\u2026.
\nSounds like the beginning of a bad joke but in fact we have been having a \u201cgreat crack\u201d surfing, eating, drinking, and sleeping in the sunny Algarve Coast.
\n\"Surfguy\"<\/a>
\nNorthern Irish Army Surfer Girl
\nThe beaches this time of year are deserted with the exception of some die-hard surfers and a few locals. Most hedonists flock to the beaches in the summer when the nightlife comes alive and the waves at the beaches are tame.
\n\"Ericsurfboard\"<\/a>
\nMy Handsome Hubby
\nOur accommodation and surf instruction has been organized through Surf Experience<\/a> which is run by three long time surfers from England and Australia. The surf house we\u2019re staying at is reminiscent of a college fraternity complete with posters of surf dudes, women in g-string bathing suits and photos of people partying, passing out, and pissing on themselves \u2013 Jackass meets Lagos kind of atmosphere.
\n\"Surftony_1\"<\/a>
\nOur Scottish Doctor not taking any risks \u2013 in the sun that is.
\nConsidering most of us in the house are around thirty, we\u2019re all trying to re-live a little past glory. The condition of the surf house is definitely a throwback to collegiate years and I\u2019m still in shock that I\u2019m actually paying to stay at a place where I can\u2019t put the toilet paper in the toilet. But, I guess that\u2019s how the plumbing is in most of Lagos. The fact that the apartment is a block away from fun and cheap bars and restaurants makes it a great pad for partying and stumbling home to safety.
\n\"Surfsabastiencu_1\"<\/a>
\nOur Surf Instructor…eat your heart out Carrie!
\nThe best part of the experience (besides our fun group) has been the surfing and the certified instructors that drive us to the beaches and give us personal instruction depending on our abilities without any pressure. I used to boogie board religiously in San Francisco until a near death drowning experience that has kept me away from water sports ever since. For me this trip has been about being able to get into the water without my heart leaping into my mouth. Thanks to Sebastian, Phil, and Tobie I can get back in the waves and stand up on a surf board too! Yee-haaaa!!!
\n\"Surflearning_5\"<\/a>
\nThe food here is delicious, cheap, and served in huge portions. Which is exactly what you want after a long day of surfing. My personal fav is a fish stew called cataplana, cooked and served in a big copper bowl filled with shrimp, clams, chorizo, fried pork, fish, tomatoes, and cream.
\n\"Cataplana_1\"<\/a>
\nCataplana
\nDuring the day the surf instructors pack lunch for us, which normally consists of sandwiches, outrageously sweet orange slices, delicious picnic salads, fresh melon, cookies, and potato chips. Phil\u2019s chopped apple, cheese, chikpea, sour cream, and chive salad was the group favorite. I liked Tobie’s tuna fish with black beans and chopped green and red peppers. Who knew that surfers were such good cooks? Honestly, the lunches were super yummy everyday.
\nWe leave for Paris on Sunday after stopping for one last night (of luxury I hope) in Lisbon with our muscles sore, faces tan, livers tired, and hearts happy. Monday I start the superior cuisine class at Le Cordon Bleu and it\u2019s back to the grindstone for my final course before graduation.
\n\"Surfgroup\"<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Technorati Tags: algarve<\/a>, lagos<\/a>, portugal<\/a>, surf school<\/a>, surf<\/a>, travel<\/a><\/p>\n

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