Every year, a small but deeply committed group of travellers books a flight to Lagos, packs for sunshine, Atlantic breezes and a gentle retirement, and arrives at the airport to find that the sun is indeed there — all of it, all at once, along with fifteen million neighbours they were not expecting and absolutely no sardines.
They booked the wrong Lagos.
It happens more than the airline industry cares to admit. Lagos is, geographically speaking, an extremely common name for a place that could not be more different depending on which one you end up in. One is a sleepy coastal town in southern Portugal with cobblestone streets, excellent wine, and a population that could fill a medium-sized football stadium. The other is the football stadium, the city around it, the city around that city, and then some.
Having lived in Lagos, Portugal for some time now — and having supported clients in both places remotely — I feel uniquely qualified to present this entirely objective comparison.
The Numbers, Presented Without Comment
The Incident at the Airport, Reconstructed
A true story that definitely happened, probably
A British expat — let us call him Derek, because he has that energy — books a flight to Lagos in January. He has read about the Atlantic. He has seen pictures of the cliffs. He has packed factor 15 and a thriller novel and a small bag of tea bags because you can never be too careful.
Derek lands. It is 33 degrees at 7am. The airport has seven terminals. He cannot find the rental car desk because it is in a different building, which is in a different part of Lagos, which takes forty-five minutes to reach.
Derek calls his wife. "I think I've made an error," he says quietly.
His wife asks if he found the sardines. Derek does not answer immediately.
"There are no sardines," he says. "There are fifteen million people and nobody has heard of a pastel de nata."
The good news: Derek stayed for a week. He ate jollof rice every day. He now describes it as one of the best accidental holidays of his life. He went back the following year on purpose. He still cannot find a pastel de nata. He has stopped looking.
Now, About the Apple Support
This is where the story takes a technical turn.
A fellow — not Derek, a different fellow, though the energy is similar — moves to Lagos, Portugal. His Mac starts playing up. He googles "Apple support Lagos." He calls the first number he finds.
A very cheerful man answers. He says he will be right over. He arrives promptly, which is already impressive. He is carrying a large bowl.
The bowl contains an apple. Also a mango. Also a pawpaw.
"You said Apple support," the man explains, beaming. "Here is your apple. Also I brought extras because you look like you need fruit. The pawpaw is very good today."
The Mac remains broken. The pawpaw is, genuinely, excellent. But the spinning beachball is still there in the morning.
The moral of the story is twofold. First: when googling for Apple Mac support in Lagos, Portugal, be specific. Second: never turn down good pawpaw.
For the Mac problem, there is MacLagos.com. No fruit. No bowl. Just an Apple specialist since 1996, based in Lagos, Portugal — the one with the Atlantic — who will sort your Mac the same day, in your language, without anyone bringing produce to your door.
The Verdict: Both Lagos Are Magnificent
Here is the thing about Lagos, Nigeria that nobody tells you before you accidentally end up there: it is one of the most extraordinary cities on earth. It is loud and fast and brilliant and alive in a way that very few cities anywhere manage to be. The energy is unlike anything in Europe. The food is world-class. The people are warm, sharp, funny, and welcoming in a way that makes you wonder why you ever worried about arriving in the wrong place.
And Lagos, Portugal? It is a town that has somehow remained quietly wonderful while the rest of the world got very busy. The cliffs are still there. The Atlantic is still cold. The sardines are still excellent. The pace of life is still set to something approximating sanity.
Two Lagoses. Both worth your time. One is where I live. One is where I may end up living someday. Both have sunshine, warmth, and people who will look after you.
Only one of them, however, has a Mac specialist who will arrive at your door within the hour and fix your computer without bringing fruit.
Mac playing up in the right Lagos?
Lagos, Portugal. Atlantic on the doorstep. Apple specialist since 1996. Same-day support in English, Portuguese, Swedish and French. No fruit. No bowl. Just results.
Get in touch →Miguel de Sousa Pires is an Apple Mac specialist since 1996, founder of mafiaBusiness London, now based in Lagos, Portugal. MacLagos.com provides Mac support for expats in Lagos, Algarve, Portugal. In English, Portuguese, Swedish and French. No Nigerian jollof rice provided, regrettably.