From Edinburgh to Faro

February 26, 2018

From Edinburgh to Faro

An M-24 bag is the perfect companion on any trip. For Scottish environmentalist Jo (@treesnpeace), it was the inseparable accessory on her recent journey to Faro, Portugal.
Jo is passionate about eating vegetables, not animals, using less plastic and being kinder to the planet in general. It’s no surprise then that her rucksack of choice is our upcycled backpack made from disused lorry tarpaulin.
Here’s what Jo got up to on her trip.
I love my hometown of Dundee, but I desperately needed an adventure in the sun. So, I booked a cheap flight out of Scotland to Faro, Portugal to see what it had to offer.
I’d planned virtually nothing for the trip – I just wanted to get away and explore somewhere new. Naturally, I’d be taking my M-24 bag with me. I’ve had it for over two and a half years now, but while this isn’t the first adventure it’s been on, there was something about Faro which my bag felt at home in.
The hostel I stayed in was amazing. It’s called the Top City Hostel, and is in Lagos, which is a town in southern Portugal’s Algarve region. I mainly liked it because of how eco-friendly it was. It was filled with eco-efficient lighting and toiletries, and was well equipped for recycling too. It sounds silly, I know, but it’s still a rarity for small, cheaper hostels to think so environmentally.
Faro itself was beautiful. I took hikes up cliffs, took naps on the beach and went for a cold but refreshing dip in the sea. Of course I had to collect some shells and throw away some trash too. While doing so I met this great local artist who creates murals on the beach to raise awareness for tidier beaches. What a beautiful ecosystem Faro is.
I really couldn’t recommend it more. And if you do plan on visiting, go at this time of year. It’s quiet, so you’ll get to experience the cliffs and the beaches in their raw, untouched beauty. Oh, and don’t forget your M-24 bag of course.
By Max White.