Being in the eastern Algarve and outside the main resort areas has allowed us a glimpse of some aspects of the Portuguese culture.
One is the cafes. It is not unusual to see large groups of mostly older men standing outside and inside cafes – either drinking coffee or beer (which is very cheap – about €2.45 for half a dozen in the supermarket), no matter the time of day. All are involved in animated discussions. Lunch at these and the restaurants is also a big event with people spending a lot of time talking together. It’s fantastic.
Old men on step-through motor scooters or old small motorbikes are another interesting feature. Invariably they are wearing old helmets with leather straps that are always dangling, never done up – there’s no chance that the helmet would be at all helpful in an accident. Most also drive about with a fag hanging from their mouth.
The other vehicles that have fascinated us are the three-wheeled trucks – more like a motorbike with a small truck on the back.
We visited Estoi on Friday (September 14) to see the Rococo palace – which we discovered is closed until August 2008 as it is being renovated. We did, however, visit the Roman ruins in the town – called Milreu. They were great – a patrician villa with a complex system of baths and an old temple. We were able to walk around most of the ruins without restriction – entry cost just €2 for each adults, kids free. The ruins featured some beautiful mosaics with fish designs. It also had a farmhouse in one corner that had been built over the top of the ruins in the 16th century. It was amazing to walk the same paths that a Roman would have walked 1900 years ago. The girls were particularly blown away by this idea.
We also visited the town of Loulé. This is a very prosperous town – much better maintained and cleaner than some of the others we have visited. The market was great – again the fresh fish on sale was amazing – rows of stalls with lots of fish. The fresh fruit and veggies were also abundant and very cheap. We wandered around the old streets around the market and bought some really nice ceramics. We also saw many of the market stall holders packed into the many small restaurants enjoying the cheap food and wine. Alastair and I had fish soup for lunch – a simple delicious mix of seafood, legumes and herbs – all for the princely sum of €1.25 each!! We found it difficult to get used to the rhythm of the siesta in the middle of the day – everything shuts (usually earlier than it says on the signs) except for the cafes and restaurants.
Carlene
One is the cafes. It is not unusual to see large groups of mostly older men standing outside and inside cafes – either drinking coffee or beer (which is very cheap – about €2.45 for half a dozen in the supermarket), no matter the time of day. All are involved in animated discussions. Lunch at these and the restaurants is also a big event with people spending a lot of time talking together. It’s fantastic.
Old men on step-through motor scooters or old small motorbikes are another interesting feature. Invariably they are wearing old helmets with leather straps that are always dangling, never done up – there’s no chance that the helmet would be at all helpful in an accident. Most also drive about with a fag hanging from their mouth.
The other vehicles that have fascinated us are the three-wheeled trucks – more like a motorbike with a small truck on the back.
We visited Estoi on Friday (September 14) to see the Rococo palace – which we discovered is closed until August 2008 as it is being renovated. We did, however, visit the Roman ruins in the town – called Milreu. They were great – a patrician villa with a complex system of baths and an old temple. We were able to walk around most of the ruins without restriction – entry cost just €2 for each adults, kids free. The ruins featured some beautiful mosaics with fish designs. It also had a farmhouse in one corner that had been built over the top of the ruins in the 16th century. It was amazing to walk the same paths that a Roman would have walked 1900 years ago. The girls were particularly blown away by this idea.
We also visited the town of Loulé. This is a very prosperous town – much better maintained and cleaner than some of the others we have visited. The market was great – again the fresh fish on sale was amazing – rows of stalls with lots of fish. The fresh fruit and veggies were also abundant and very cheap. We wandered around the old streets around the market and bought some really nice ceramics. We also saw many of the market stall holders packed into the many small restaurants enjoying the cheap food and wine. Alastair and I had fish soup for lunch – a simple delicious mix of seafood, legumes and herbs – all for the princely sum of €1.25 each!! We found it difficult to get used to the rhythm of the siesta in the middle of the day – everything shuts (usually earlier than it says on the signs) except for the cafes and restaurants.
Carlene
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