A mile walk, two metro trains and a four hour bus ride later, Heather and I finally arrived in the famous southern city of Lagos.
Lagos is known for its breath taking beaches surrounded by steep cliffs, and it did not disappoint. The first day Heather and I went on a two and a half hour kayak tour through the cliffs and grottos. The beaches were even more stunning when looking at them from out at sea, but after two hours of kayaking my arms felt like they were going to fall off, and I was in serious need of some food. So, we went to the grocery store to get something to make for dinner – after five days of constantly eating out we were ready for something more home cooked. We decided to make toast with avocado, cheese, eggs and tomato – it really hit the spot.
The next day we took a bus over to the city of Sagres. Sagres is a lot smaller and cozier than its tourist filled sister city, Lagos, but still just as beautiful. In order to see as much of the coast as possible, Heather and I decided to rent bikes. We spent three hours riding up and down the coast exploring beaches and old forts and when we were finished enjoyed a great lunch at a local cafe. Once back in Lagos, we were exhausted and decided to take a nap on the beach (rough life – I know), then headed out at night to see what kind of night life Lagos had to offer. It certainly did not disappoint, and Heather and I had a great night laughing, dancing and meeting tons of other backpackers.
Today, our final day in Lagos *tears* we decided to try our hand at surfing. We signed up for a beginner lesson as neither of us had tried surfing before and set out at 10:00 a.m. on the dot to a nearby secluded beach. The lessons were basically private because it was just us and a Canadian couple which was super nice. To start, our instructor gave us our wetsuits and boards, and we set out to the beach. After a five minute warm up and quick explanation on how to get up, we were on our own to venture into the water. I will admit I doubted my ability a bit as I nearly fell trying to get up on the board on land, but I was a natural in the water and got up on the first try! We boarded for five hours total with a break for lunch, and by the end the instructor nearly had to drag me out of the water. Even though my arms ached and my stomach was churning from all the salt water I had inhaled, there was something about gliding across the clear blue water that kept me craving more. All in all, it was one of the coolest things I have done on my travels, and I definitely foresee more surfing in my future.
Next stop – Seville, Spain!
