Week 2 is November 22 – 28. This post recounts the various experiences we have had as we explore and as we try to live as a resident of Portugal. For the longer, and hopefully humorous, stories see Daily Life. If you want to see more pictures follow me on instagram: @pama.rammy.
Concert and Dinner
On Saturday, we attended a piano concert at Ermida de São Sebastião, a church in our neighborhood, and went to Tavira La Pizza afterwards. We were not the only ones with this idea. The concert was a piano duet and cost 8€ each. Arriving early, we watched as the tiny church filled and chatted with a couple who split their time between homes in Netherlands and here in Tavira. The pizza place was one recommended by one of the Irish ex-pats we met and when we arrived to our reservation, we saw them seated near the window. We also ran into them at Lidl later in the week, and of course at the gym.
Car Rally
Also on Saturday, Tavira hosted a car rally, an event that had cars racing the narrow streets in the evening. The cars started out around 3pm with the course taking them outside the city, then they returned around 9:30p. The sounds of car motors rumbling filled the air and as we left the pizza place, we saw a lot of people packing the streets. We could hear the roar of the cars well after 11pm, with some making their way past our apartment after finishing the event.
Gym Days and Coffee
We have settled into a routine, going to the gym on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. My Pilates class is at 10h30 on Mon & Wed, and at 11h00 on Friday. So far, after morning pilates we have gathered for coffee with with the Irish ex-Pats we met. Spin class is at 17h15 on Mondays and 18h30 on Wed & Fri. It is a lively class with people singing along to the songs.
On Tuesdays, we Dine
We’ve decided to dine out on Tuesday evenings, with the goal of trying a bunch of different places. This week we hoped to try Tasquinha da Paula, a small restaurant in our neighborhood that we pass by on the way to the gym. Perhaps we missed the memo because that restaurant is closed on Tuesday and as we wandered around to find another, we found that a lot of restaurants were closed on Tuesdays. Maybe we dine on Thursdays instead? Not able to find anything on our list open, we return to the more touristy restaurants that line the river, and settle in on a Ramen restaurant.
Shopping with the Landlords
On Sunday, our landlords took us shopping. The plan was to visit IKEA in Loulé for home goods and then Decathlon in Faro to look for bicycles and a few things for the gym. The IKEA in Loulé is located in MAR shopping center and is worth an entire day trip.
After shopping, we wanted to repay their generosity by buying them lunch. They said não (“now”) which is the Portuguese word for “no.” Remember, they don’t speak English and our Portuguese is at level 0. On the return trip, we seem to be taking backroads and it was lovely to be traveling through the Algarve countryside. Soon, things look really familiar and we arrive to their place.
Once there, they whip up a seafood stew, followed by freshly roasted chestnuts, mango, coffee, homemade wine, something like a port. And we end up leaving with fresh produce from their land: mangoes, lemons, oranges, avocado, onions, potato, lettuce and a cherimoya. We still need to figure out how to repay their generosity.
EU Passports
No, we didn’t get EU passports — the cats did! This passport is more like a vaccination record booklet. But it is convenient for us if we ever need to travel to different countries with the cats and when we return home with the cats.
Exploring
On Tuesday, we decided to look at the various churches in the area. We could only see the outside, later learning that many are open only after 14h00.
We went up our street to see Igreja de San Francisco and then explored around to the Camera Obscura (Tavira Eye), the Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo, and Castelo de Tavira.
In the map, I highlight where our apartment is relative to the places we frequent (Tavira Plaza, Lidl and Aldi), and highlight the location of the churches on either side of us.
Christmas Lights
The Christmas lights are being put up around town. It started with the wires and frames to hold the displays. Now, when we walk through town, we see the progress being made. Can’t wait to see it totally lit up at night.
Thanksgiving Day
On Thanksgiving Day we headed over to Mr. Portuguese Bakery to pick up a couple gluten-free muffins and cookies for have as dessert later. Then, after a quick trip to the grocery store, we made the spontaneous decision to train over to a town east of us called Vila Real de Santo António. From this Portuguese town, we can see Spain across the Ria Guadiana, the river that divides two countries.
We walk south from the train station then zig-zag to get to Avenida de República, the road adjacent to the the waterfront. Partway down, we see the main shopping and gathering center of the town and head in. They are preparing for Christmas — putting up lights, setting up booths, setting up a a snow sledding area for the kids and more. We decide that we will return in a couple weeks to see it all lit up in the evening.
Returning back to Tavira, we stop into Lidl which is conveniently located near the Tavira train station then head home to prepare a Thanksgiving feast. After chowing down we video chatted with some family before their Thanksgiving started up and ours wound down.
Story Time
For the confusing experiences and embarrassing moments for this week check out the week 2 outtakes in the Daily Life post.
Follow me for more things not to do when living in a foreign country (@pama.rammy)
