Chaminé in Magnums and Ancient Sea Battles

Last weekend was a holiday in Portugal,  Revolutionary Day –  25th April, 1974 –  35 years ago!   We flew down to Lagos in Hans’ Cessna 182 to enjoy a day at the seaside, and went to one of our favourite restaurants, O Camilo, perched on the cliff top behind Lagos.  We brought a present for our friends the restaurant owners, Francisco José, Rui Machado and Joaquim  - the first ever bottle of Chaminé tinto in a Magnum bottle  (1.5 liters)!

How lovely to sit on the cliff top admiring the fine views over Lagos bay, dining on freshly caught, grilled local fish and drinking a well chilled Chaminé branco with it’s spicy, delicate fruit flavors of melon and lime, and day-dreaming of the history which has been played out in this large bay below.

Lagos is an ancient marine town first settled more than 2,000 years ago by the Carthaginians, followed by Romans, Visigoths, and Moors, who arrived in the 8^th century and stayed until 1241.  Home to Henry the Navigator in the 15th century,  many a Discoverer set sail from here.  It was completely destroyed in 1755 by the big earthquake and tsunami.  Famous naval battles took place in this bay we are gazing upon from our splendid vantage point,  i.e. in 1693, when the French defeated the Anglo-Dutch fleet, and in 1795 when the British got their revenge on the French.