Been up to my eyes at work and was on a happy holiday in the sunny Algarve. No joke. 35 degrees Celsius, shining sun and a slight breeze. Now, I am normally not one to complain about heat. I am a sun baby and I love being out in it. However, this was some seriously hot sun folks. I felt like my Portuguese butt was being roasted, an apple was about to be shoved in my mouth and I would be served up at the next bbq. Seriously baking :) Just the way I like it.
The trip was great. We drank quite a bit of wine and lazed about in the sun most days. Naps are essential to a good day. Mmmmm naps.
Interestingly, there were less Portuguese people there than one would suspect. I realized it was quite a tourist area (although we were lucky enough to have a villa outside of Albufeira so we avoided most of the crunch), however, I really had forgotten exactly how many English and German people invaded. Holy Hell! Anyone for a proper fry up? EVERY restaurant has a “proper English breakfast” and some have the American version. Tons of English dishes to be had at the restaurants. Now, correct me if I am wrong, but wasn’t I in PORTUGAL? Why the hell would someone (English) want to have their (English) dishes they can get at any old (English) pub? Isn’t the point to experience and enjoy the “native” food? It isn’t like there is a derth of choices in Portugal for food – rabbit, beef, pork, chicken, fish (about a zillion types), shell fish, pasta, baked goods (mmmm yum) all made with actual herbs and spices unlike SOME (English) food. And before Sug starts goin on a rant about fought over real estate being valuable real estate (extra points if anyone besides Beth gets that reference), ackadak languages, Her Majesty’s Empire and cheap help, I would like to point out that Portuguese food is some seriously good eatin. Unlike the boil it till it’s grey mentatlity one experiences..ahem..elswhere.
I am already missing the herbs and spices used there. Not to be mean to Finland, but..to my Finnish brothas and sistahs..there are more spices than just pepper, salt, and crappy chili powder that has no kick. There is nothing like a garlic ladened proper FULL meat and fat sausage (mmmmmm Portuguese churiço), or mussels in a cataplana, or spit roasted picanha (wikipedia explination for you non portuguese food savy types..Oh and Beth..in case you wanna try it: Picanha Churrascaria – 269 E. Palm Ave in Burbank). Now, before you get your panties in a bunch..I know it is a Brazillian way of making the food. HOWEVER, Brazil was discovered by the Portuguese in 1500 (Pedro Álvares Cabral)- pay no attention to the indigenous people folks – they didn’t have a flag and even Beth knows what happens when you don’t have a flag. So, Brazilian food is Portuguese food. And I am also the queen of the universe. Don’t tempt me to smite you.
I should say this though. God love the English, and Germans for bringing a decent beer to the Algarve. I can’t STAND the piss they try to pass off as beer! We drank (not including those bottles at restaurants) 35 bottles of wine during the week. By Friday, I was so jonesin for a beer it wasn’t even funny. I was NOT going to dring Sagres and the “Super Bock” concoction they try to pass off as beer makes me wanna hurl. All hale the E.S.B! Oh and I can’t leave out the Irish..:Guiness is the nectar of the gods.
All in all it was a great trip…we left there with 1 more large suitcase than we arrived with. We have priorities here..had to have space for the wine and Cachaça. I won’t bore you with the details of how brown I am or how rested I became. Love Portugal..land of my heart..
Have opposable thumbs will write. Random thoughts and musings from a Yank in Finland.
Boston at Night
4 comments:
When exactly did you become the queen of the universe? I don't deny you have the ability to smite (or is it smote) at will, but didn't know you had gotten a new title. :)
Just so I know exactly where the double standard runs... from your tirade, it is ok to offer imported food/beverage as long as it is more acceptable to you than local food/beverage?
Glad you had a good time. I am SOOOO very jealous of you right now.
Melanie
I proclaimed myself the Queen of the Universe in a fit of megalomania. It has since passed.
It is acceptable to offer imported food/beverage in any case, but totally ignoring the local food stuffs is a bit annoying.
Guinness is imported most everywhere so that doesn't count. Oh and Portuguese beer is horrible.
Love you Mel
Well, after a visit to Algarve back in the day for a couple of weeks and trying to find anything "local" that would be half-decent it dawned on my *why* Pedro went to find Brazil. King Manuel was fed up with home cooking - so Pedro was sent out and he came back with chicken piri-piri... (An interesting read BTW is Pedro Vaz de Caminha's "Letter to King Manuel on the Discovery of Brazil")
I don't remember beer, but vinho verde and some no-name local red wine were delicious. Can't beat the wine.
One thing I noticed was not only the prevalence of "Irish pubs" and "English Breakfast" but all the unfinished skyscraper skeletons? Called Praia Da Rocha "skeleton coast". Did they still have the building boom halfway on/off?
I can understand why the Algarve is such a magnet for peoples from the more northern climates..3000 hours of sunshine a year... I can also understand why there would be a market for "stuff from home"..I just didn't understand why it was so difficult for me to find traditional food... Portuguese food is quite tastey..but I never remembered the Algarve being so damned Un-Portuguese before..aside from the usual tourist brikabrak stuff to buy...
The skeletons still exist, but not as prevelant as before. More of the construction now are holiday villas for those rich enough to be able to afford a place there..
Portuguese wine is quite tastey..which is why we brought so much back. Unfortunately, Finland doesn't import a great selection of Portuguese wine..not to mention the wines we bought would have cost us upwards of 60€ a bottle from the Alko if it was indeed imported here :)
I am a firm lover of Brazilian food.. and Piri-piri is FAB.
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