Maybe you can guess the snake with the help of Stephan`s pantomimic efforts?
- What snake is this?
Unfortunately we couldn`t find a single Vipera latastei, nor could we find Macroprotodon cucullatus. Only three latasteis have been found in the past five years in this area. There are much bigger populations in the North. Some herpers from Austria were more lucky a few years ago: http://www.herpetofauna.at/berichte/por ... /tag10.php
We also searched exactly at the place mentioned in this article but we weren`t rewarded...
Nevertheless the dunes of Carrapateira are a place of exceptional beauty:
- Capobrotus acinaciformis
We invented a new name for this beautiful flower: It`s the "French Fries Flower (FFF)". Its long, fleshy leaves have the shape of french fries. We haven`t tasted them though...
Originally this nice plant was imported from South Africa to Portugal. It was used to stabilize dunes and slopes. Today it can be found all over along the coasts and at some places it is already regarded as a pest, because one single plant can reach two metres in diameter...
- Capobrotus edulis
Next stop: Cabo de Sao Vicente
This is the most southwestern point of Europe. Here herpers from all over the world can enjoy some Franconian fancy foods!
- Original Franconian sausages - Delicious stuff!
- Lighthouse with the largest light in Europe. It can be seen from as far as 60 kilometers!
Next stop: Ponta da Piedade near Lagos
We avoided the city of Lagos which is a rather quiet place in winter and spring. In summer however, about 40000 tourists - mainly young people - occupy this city which has got 15000 inhabitants....
- Ponta da Piedade - Very impressing!
Next stop: Silves
Silves is a nice and quiet town off the coast in the socalled "Serra". Near Silves we explored some small creeks and were successful again:
- Isn`t this maura beautiful?
On our way back to Silves we found this dead Malpolon monspessulanus:
- Killed in a traffic accident...
Here are some shots which prove that Silves is a nice place to visit:
- Blooming almond tree
- Leaving Silves...
End of part II - the best is yet to come...
