Helena Sá was our pilot and the quality of our experience was down to this professional, competent and easy going lady who just oozes her love of hot air ballooning. We started from the tiny Lagos aerodrome on a beautiful late spring afternoon. We were able to watch and participate in the preparation of the balloon for flight and then had a short safety briefing. There were two other passengers plus me and the pilot, as the balloon basket is quite small so this is all about travelling in close contact with fellow passengers and the pilot. All this of course makes it a very pleasant social experience; the pilot is able to give lots of information about ballooning and about the Algarve and you get a good sense of how this big bag of gas with a basket is able to manipulate the winds to float you through the air. The views were fantastic. We started off flying higher and travelling quite fast (in ballooning terms at least!) while the second half of the journey was lower and much slower. It is all down to the winds and the skill of the pilot. Down below people came out to wave from their homes or honk their horns as we flew over the roadways. All too soon it was time to start looking out for a suitable landing spot, again part of the fun being that you never quite know exactly where this is going to be. We landed in a small field and were soon joined by the friendly ground crew. The whole experience was rounded off with a picnic of Portuguese Bubbly and traditional snacks which we all enjoyed together as the sun went down. Again I was struck by the social side of ballooning. On to-days trip there was a pilot from Belgium helping the ground crew as well as the young daughter of one of the crew and a huge friendly dog. Once the balloon was packed up and safely in the trailer we were driven back to Lagos aerodrome, again through interesting rural countryside.

The actual flight is one hour but with preparation time before hand, pack up and picnic afterwards and the trip back to the aerodromo you need to allow at least 3 hours and maybe more depending on the day. However Helena speaks English, Portuguese and German so it is easy to talk with her beforehand and find out everything you need to know.

For a visitor to the Algarve  a hot air balloon trip must be a particularly interesting experience as it gives you the opportunity to see parts of the Algarve that are frequently missed by tourists. The views from the air combined with the jeep trip back means that as a visitor you get a much better insight into life away from the tourist spots. Ballooning on the Algarve is in my opinion another good reason to choose the Algarve as a first choice holiday destination. Why not combine a weekend at Duas Quintas with a balloon trip with Barlevento Balloons. The perfect way to celebrate a special occasion or give a unique gift to someone who has everything.

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The biggest Carnival celebrations on the Algarve are always  in Loulé and this year is no exception. The Loulé carnival dates back to 1906 and is a colourful display of floats, bands and scantily clad girls.This years theme ‘The world  of show business’ promises to be as colourful and as creative as ever.  Caricatures of politicians and satirical views of current affairs are also represented  in this general atmosphere of fun and relaxation. Loule is about 25 minutes drive from Duas Quintas guesthouse.

Carnival is also a great time for families to eat out together. It is a national holiday so many people are off work and there is more time to relax and enjoy the wonderful traditional meals.
Eating out is great at any time of the year but in February you will still find many of the more wintry meals on the menus. Stews and  casseroles play a big part in traditional cooking. Borrego ensopado (mutton on a bed of bread) and Javeli estufado (wild boar in a stew)  are well worth a try.

In Silves, Recanto dos Mouros is one of the many restaurants that has a  good selection of traditional meals as well as some excellent house wine and a tempting dessert display.

The hills around Silves provide a wonderful base for walking. In February, the earth is getting ready to burst into its full spring glory. The Barragems (reservoirs) are full and at their prettiest and this is one of the best times to do a lovely 3 hour  circular walk from  Duas Quintas to the Barragem do Arade. A little further afield the fontes at Alte are strong and gushing and there are many walks to choose from including the spectacular Rocha Da Pena. This is one of the walks included in the inclusive package provided by Algarvewalkingholidays and is a good example of the diversity of rural Algarve as a walking holiday destination.

For those who prefer four legs to two, horse riding is also a popular activity for this time of the year. The nearest riding stables to Duas Quintas is the Country Riding Centre , www.countryridingcentre.com a 5 minute drive away. Here the English speaking owners will makes sure you have a very special experience on horse back in the Serra or hills around Duas Quintas.
The number of sunshine hours will be increasing so some time on the beaches is a must. Probably not warm enough for a swim but a wonderful contrast to the cold, grey weather in Northern Europe.

Check out the low cost flights to Faro airport this February and prepare to party!