The Berkeley Guides:
Berkeley Guide to Europe:
Portugal:
Southern Portugal
In contrast to the lush north, southern Portugal is a desert. Monotonous stretches of rolling, scrubby land are occasionally interrupted by plantations of cork, hay, and sunflowers, a few vineyards, and olive orchards. The people of southern Portugal are on the whole poorer than their northern counterparts, and often are subject to the whims of powerful quinta (farm) owners who control nearly all the land and resources. Despite the hardships of life here, you're likely to find that people are extremely friendly; you may find yourself becoming a bit friendlier too, after a few days of heady Alentejo wine, hot sun, and slow living. All this changes dramatically when you hit the Algarve (southern coast), Portugal's most-touristed region. In much of this area, plantations and fishing villages have given way to luxury hotels and time-share condos. There are still some pockets of tranquility, however, and plenty of outstanding beaches (attracting plenty of backpackers). Consider buses for long-distance trips in the south: They're faster than trains, they sometimes show movies, and they have air-conditioning--a lifesaver in this region.
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