I've spent a few 5 month winters down in the Algarve, mostly to escape the cold in SW France while still being able to grab some waves (surfer). Weather's gene

I've spent a few 5 month winters down in the Algarve, mostly to escape the cold in SW France while still being able to grab some waves (surfer). Weather's generally sunny, landscape (as you, the OP know) is surreal, and the people, both locals and expats, are generally friendly. A bit insular compared to Lisbon area, not a whole lot going on (expect for summer when it's apparently a complete holiday zoo). The language is next to impossible to grok (can get by well enough in Brazilian Portuguese but the dialect down here is just something else, they seem to swallow their words). Fortunately the Portuguese as a people generally speak decent English. Dirt cheap in the off-season (was renting a massive modern apartment with 20 foot ceilings for 500 euros per month) and internet is decent for being out in the sticks, had @8mbs/2mbs near Sagres. Can definitely reccomend the Algarve, just not sure about long-term, it's truly another world ;-)