Although we rent a house in the Algarve most years, we have made it a priority to explore the rest of the country. Each year we explore a different region although every year we find new interests in the Algarve itself. Several years ago we made our first trip out of the Algarve to the ancient Roman town of Evora. Portugal is alive with Roman, Moorish and Christian history. It is all around you. From the Christian monasteries with their classic features to Moorish castles and Roman temples.
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| Roman Temple of Diana in Evora |
But Portugal is far more than history. From the Algarve to Lisbon; all the way from Porto to the Spanish border she is full of fascinating surprises. If you are a trolley lover like me you have to try a ride through the Alfama on this most efficient, friendly and closeup of transportation modes.
Lovely restaurants at every turn complete with great service and friendly people. In downtown Lisbon the trolleys run on the streets and the avenidas are pedestrian ways made for people.
If you have your own place and like to cook, the supermarkets are every bit as good as home and in some cases much better. Who ever heard of a supermarket with 39 cashiers and more wine than the LCBO? It's called the Continente.
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| This is our usual market. About the size of an A&P. You even get an awning for your car! |
Although transit abounds, you'll want a car if you want to move around. Driving is similar to Canada. The only lesson to be learned is negotiating a round-a-bout. Just one rule. Never enter when another car IN the circle is coming towards you. Otherwise driving is no different then home. Check your map for road sign symbols.
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Speaking of wine. Porto is the home of PORT with over 50 port cellars along
this section of the Duoro River. Not impressed? I guess I can't help you! |
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| This my favourite Port. |
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| There's always the beach |
A benefit of vacationing in Portugal in the winter is the ease with which you can quickly travel to Spain, Gibraltar or Morocco. Three day bus trips are available and if you are not a world traveller they are a great introduction to new cultures.
Speaking of culture, one of my favourite activities is Fado; traditional Portuguese music. Last winter we spent an evening at a very nice restaurant on the Estrada de Farol to hear both musical and oral interpretations of the tradition.
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The guitar and the guitarra are usual instruments. They are wonderful alone or accompanying
a singer. We have heard both male and female in Lisbon, but the singer this night in the
Algarve was a young lady. |
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| We weren't exactly enamoured of this young lady, but she gave it a good effort. |
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One of the port bottles here is from 1861. I asked the maitre de
to explain why the neck was broken. |
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For very old ports or wines the neck is heated, cooled and snapped to avoid any contamination
from the very old cork and helps to keep sediments on the bottom of the bottle. Apparently a client had brought in this particular 1860 bottle of port for a celebration because this restaurant is expert at the practice. |
