This former fishing town, now tourist mecca, has become our first stop in Portugal. We discovered it last year through Anja nd Micha ( www.reisenundspeisen.com ) and we luv it. We avoided it originally ‘cos we don’t like tourists. Yes, sigh, I am aware that we too are tourists, but that is clearly different, duh.

But in all fairness, Monte has done such a good job with its onslaught of tourists that it doesn’t feel like a tourist place, but just a busy town with showers. Showers? What are you talking about woman? (Don’t think I didn’t hear you.) They have a Shower House and it is awesome.

Shower houses originated in a time when it wasn’t common that every home had a bathroom and it has stood the test of time. And group showers are so much more fun… Just kidding of course. This is a proper place and there are loads of INDIVIDUAL showers and no joint ones anywhere. But enough already! Monte has more!

Monte has great beaches and you can walk for miles on flat, hard, white sand. Beautiful. There are birds, feathered and other, to see, shells to be collected as they are so lovely, as well as live mussels which more importantly taste lovely. There are restaurants for every taste and every pocket, with Fado music in some of them too. The weather is great and the people are friendly.

What more can I say – it’s great! Give it a visit, you won’t regret it. And don’t forget to have a shower!
PS: Some more great info is right here: http://www.montegordouncovered.com/