The Douz Festival is based on an ancient Bedouin gathering when Saharan tribes met to trade and, legend has it, to marry off their daughters. Instead, today, the Saharan Bedouins compete in camel, horse and dog races, folklore performances and traditional plays. Their backdrop is the 150-mile salt lake of Chott El Ferid, which set the scene for the film, The English Patient and the golden sand dunes that were a setting for Star Wars.

Walk about, listen to bands from competing tribes, ride a camel called Mustapha, attend a busy market and eat fresh fish, such as red snapper, sea bass, bream, grouper, red mullet, tuna and prawns. The sweet baklava is to die for.

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The old town is a beautiful reminder of the 2000 year history of Lagos. Although most of it was destroyed in the tsunami and earthquake of 1755, there are still old buildings from the 16th century and the governor's castle.

There is a marina for boats from all over the world, dolphin watching by experts, coastal cave exploring in small boats with guides, and some of the best golf courses in Portugal nearby.

Shopping is a delight, with leather goods on every street corner and craft stalls, manned by the friendliest people anywhere.

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The Tivoli hotel in Lagos has everything for everybody. Wonderful seafood, comfortable rooms, all with balconies overlooking swimming pool or sea, yet in the centre of town. Fresh seafood every day, laid out as attractive buffet, Italian as well as traditional Portuguese.

There is a shuttle service to the excellent beach club, right on the Atlantic shore, built for leisurely sunbathing, snacking and swimming.

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Vierhuizen: miles of cycle paths radiating from a comfortable camp site, and six small towns in range.

See bird hides, eat seafood, view art galleries, a tea factory, ex-pirates' houses, windmills, old churches, wild flowers, calm canals and a national park island, Schiermonnikoog, where no cars are welcome and the North Sea beaches stretch for miles. The best food in Holland at campsite Herberg.

Bert Jan and Saskia Harens
Hoofdstraat 49
9975 VR Vierhuizen
De Marne, Netherlands.
Tel: 0595-401657
www.camping-lauwerszee.nl
Groningen is the nearest railhead.

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