Jan Schroder

As Chris and I walked on the golden sand of Meia Praia beach during our last week in Lagos, we reflected on what surprised us most about our month-long stay in the Algarve. We agreed that one of the things that was a pleasant surprise was how much there is to do here.

My husband, Chris, did not weep for joy when he proposed, on our wedding day, or when we won this contest—but he did in Lagos—over fish. As he wiped the tears from his eyes with the navy-blue paper napkin, a large oval plate with fish bones, and a few more remnants of our meal in front of him, “I’m in heaven,” he said. “I’m going to build a house right...

I really thought this far into the 21st century we’d all have personal jet packs and be flying our way around town. Instead, I pretty much rely on my car. And I don’t love driving. One of the best things about being in Lagos, Portugal, is that we’ve been able to walk just about everywhere—supermarkets, produce markets, restaurants, and the beach.

We were the lucky winners of a contest sponsored by International Living magazine last year, to spend a month in Portugal as a trial retirement, and report on what it would be like to retire in the Algarve area along the southern coast. Our home base for the month of October is in Lagos, a city of around 22,000 people about 187 miles from Lisbon.