THE ALGARVE COASTLINE FROM THE SEA In addition to Benagil cave, our boat took us on a tour along a considerable length of the Algarve coast. We entered many sea caves and encountered many coves. Some caves were large, some small, and some deep. Once inside, they often became dark. Everytime we entered one, we felt like Pinocchio must have felt when he was swallowed by a giant whale. Looking back, the entrance resembled an open mouth with an endless narrowing gullet stretching ahead. Overhead the roof became the creature’s ribs. Often the water appeared light, bright, and sparkled, as light filtered through from outside. Now and again it turned inky, navy blue. Always inside the caves there was the loud sound of crashing waves, as the water splashed against the walls—the action which had created them over thousands of years. We also marveled at the stacks which rose out of the water and enjoyed passing beneath rock arches. There were beautiful sandy
coves, many of them only accessible by boat. There were shoals of fish in the clear water and giant jellyfish bobbing along. We noticed a few people high on the rocks above. One was even fishing! The length of his line made it seem impossible to cast successfully, but he had it down. He would certainly need super human strength if he caught anything bigger than a fish which would fit onto a small plate. We were sure a fight for anything bigger would send him tumbling into the water below. With such a dangerous coastline for fishermen, it is not surprising to see a lighthouse which, for us, created a picturesque scenic moment, but for them is often a life saver. At one point we headed out to sea so we could appreciate the shoreline from a distance. As the boat sped out towards the ocean, it created waves topped with white crests, spraying us with salty droplets. Not entirely unwelcome, as the sun was hot and unrelenting. During our return, we held on tight as we raced towards the shore at top speed in order to beach the boat as far as possible out of the water. It was then time for a cold beer and a coke at the beachside bar.
32 ] REIS-NICHOLS JEWELERS MAGAZINE
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