The alentejo. Easily my favorite part of the country, and there’s a lot to love in this country. Lunar and hot, with roads so empty they’re filled with photo opportunities.

We took three days off and drove around Montemor-o-Novo, Évora and Mértola. You can get to an inland beach, a site with neolithic rock formations, swim in a small dam, watch a meteor shower, take part in a local party (dancing included) and have great food while at it. What’s not to like ?

There’s castles and abandoned factories and those empty roads that take you to tiny villages and dead ends by a lake. You’ll get to see Pulo do Lobo, a cool waterfall, but you’ll have to work for it..

Most of the time, even though it’s high season, you’ll be all alone in most places. And, even when you’re not, it never feels crowded.