It was going to be a perfect beach day in the Algarve… we suited up, slathered on sunscreen, and grabbed our towels and hats. It was a warm day, but we knew the 20 minute walk would be worth it the minute we slipped into the cool ocean water.

Except we never got that far… we made it to the Praia Grande beach alright, only to find out we weren’t allowed in the water due to a “chemical spill” of some kind. Not sure if this was something lost in translation but ughhh…. Plan B!

Luckily, there happened to be a few beach bars lining the coast. If we can’t go into the water, we can at least enjoy a refreshing beverage!

After a light lunch, we made the trek along the beach back to our Airbnb, admiring the views of Castelo de Ferragudo. How cool to see a fortress from the 16th century on our stroll!

All disappointments were soon quelled after arriving back at our Airbnb and enjoying some afternoon pool time – this is what vacation is all about!