Ahhh… I’m back from another week in Portugal, nicely relaxed, fairly tanned and with more weight around the midriff… My holiday mostly consisted of eating, drinking and doing nothing which is absolutely perfect!
Of course, there was a certain amount of football as my Dad is a huge footy fan and I have to say even I enjoyed what I watched.
I was glad to be abroad when France got knocked out, it must have been havoc in the city – I wonder if any cars were burned (car burning is a common French occurrence when youth are discontent with things)? I feel sorry for France though, politicians have become too involved in their sports and they are a good team even if their behavior was disgraceful. They did represent their country well by going on strike though didn’t they?
As for England, well, bitterly disappointing but then I think I hear that at every sporting event – never live up to expectations.
So my dreams of watching an English or French Final on big screen TV in the city square as I did in ’98 (albeit not in Lyon) have been dashed. Who knows who’ll get the final, I think Germany (it wouldn’t be as bitter if we lost to the finalists) or Brazil but I will leave predictions to the specialists as I don’t know anything!
So, aside from watching the footy, we had a good holiday and got to explore some areas we hadn’t seen before such as Praia da Rocha near Portimao. Praia da Rocha looks like a typical holiday resort with manicured beaches and tall apartment buildings. The beach looks just like a postcard though:
I also savored some Portuguese cuisine, although after 4 years of regular trips to Portugal I have to say that their cuisine is nothing special and normally consists of grilled meat or fish, limp salad with no dressing and chips. Fish is also quite expensive and generally has a very fishy taste which I’m not too keen on (okay, so fish should taste of fish, but sometimes for me it tastes too much of fish – are you following?). Due to the extreme lack of variety in Portuguese Cuisine, I like to eat at my Mum and Dad’s rather than going out for a meal; fresh salads, BBQ or good comfort food and dishes from my childhood such as Shepherds Pie.
On one particular day we were enjoying a glass of lovely Portuguese vino overlooking the beach and decided to make the most of the excellent weather and stay for dinner. I chose Pork Medallions in a mushroom sauce with chips and salad. When the meal was served I was surprised to see I had been given Crisps with fried onions on them! Chips in French does mean crisps but I had never been given crisps in a restaurant in either France or Portugal before so I was gob smacked to be given crisps as part of my meal!!! The pork was actually nice even if it was undercooked in the middle and the salad was much fresher than what I’d become used to. However, the fried crisps and onions were just disgusting, as bad as they sound.
Talking about the beach, one day I was on the beach playing with my new IPhone app and was trying to take some artistic photos. Through the little lens of the application, I spotted a parasol and though it would be cool to include it in the photo. I hadn’t spotted the man underneath it with his hands down his swimming trunks! YUCK! The beaches around where my parents live are quite remote so you often get the odd nudist and exhibitionist but this was taking things to a whole new level. I think he may have heard my exclamation when I looked up, as shortly afterwards he was laying on his side with his leg up in the air and striking poses!!!
My favourite time on holiday though has to be the end of day aperitif with bread and cheese, sardine paste and chilled white wine overlooking the glistening sea near one of my favourite beaches. Paradise!
I was pretty ill (again) before going on holiday – I had caught a chill with the dreadful French weather and it had gone to my sinuses. What a delight it is to return to gorgeous weather in France, it’s been a long long time since I haven’t been able to say that so I hope it’s going to be a long time before I moan again.
Well hullo there, and welcome back! 🙂
“I wonder if any cars were burned (car burning is a common French occurrence when youth are discontent with things)?” Not in Paris that I heard about, but when Algeria lost to the USA there was a mini-riot at the Charlety Stadium. See photo at this link: burned car.
I was really pissed (in the American sense) about the goal that England scored against Germany that was not caught by the refs. That was unfortunate, and hopefully continued serious talks about allowing instant replays to contribute to refereeing and /or electronic goal monitoring or *something* will reform this awful, ancient aspect of the game! I really felt that was unfair… Okay, and they still sucked, lol, but I did feel bad about that part! 😀
“(okay, so fish should taste of fish, but sometimes for me it tastes too much of fish – are you following?)” Yes, I follow and I completely agree. Fish should not be overly fishy. In my mind, it is a signal that the fish is off, and is very unappetizing.
“I hadn’t spotted the man underneath it with his hands down his swimming trunks! YUCK!”
BWAH HAH HAH!! Ewwwwww. Oy, some people!
“My favourite time on holiday though has to be the end of day aperitif with bread and cheese, sardine paste and chilled white wine overlooking the glistening sea near one of my favourite beaches. Paradise!”
Ahhhhhhh! I got all relaxed and happy just reading that sentence. 🙂
It definitely turned to summer while you were gone, and I am glad you returned to sunny skies! We had a little bit of a thunershower last night, but today is warm and sunny again. It feels good to have warmth in my bones again. I thought it would never arrive!
Welcome home, and hope those tomato plants are growing well! 😉
Wow, I only thought about the car burning thing half heartedly so a bit shocked to see a car was actually burnt!
The England disallowed goal is a shame, at least we have an excuse LOL! Given all the dosh in this sport they should have better systems in place that’s for sure…
Yes, rude, yucky, horrible horrible man. Good job there weren’t any kids nearby.
May the sunny days last! I think we’re going to be in for a storm or two today but hopefully everything will clear up for the weekend… Also, it had better NOT rain for my trip to Paris Friday.
Ooh, sounds a nice relaxing holiday. How lovely.
I didn’t realise Portuguese cuisine was so unimaginative although now I come to think of it, I couldn’t actually name a Portuguese dish…
I’ve got rogue tomatoes in my garden. They’ve grown from seeds that were in rotting fruit and dug over. I’ll probably get a better harvest than from an official plantation if the punaise don’t get there first.
Catapalana is quite nice but it’s generally quite expensive and needs to be shared as most restaurants need min 2 people ordering.
The tomatoes sound fun, I hope they grow safe and sound! Its amazing what pops up out of the ground sometimes…
That brings back memories of Portugal – I went there with my wife many moons ago. I enjoyed the vino and the fried sardines and other bits and pieces but I imagine I would tire of the cuisine if I had to live there.
Sounds like the perfect holiday…well maybe if you ignore the crisps and the man on the beach!
Lovely pics..I’ve never been to Portugal…it looks beautiful.
Hi
Re rude man on the beach – lucky your lense was not on ZOOOOMMM!
Food in Portugal is ‘rustic’ to say the least! Leitão assado is very popular so I would keep a low profile when you next go ‘Piglet’ :))
This will make your trotters twitch! LOL
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204556804574261972756515860.html
@Dumdad: me too, I love the variety of cuisine we have in France although to be honest I haven’t visited enough of Portugal to completely write them off yet.
I love the wine and the sardines and cheese as well.
@Ayak: I love the ruggedness of Portugal especially on the Western Algarve as it’s not as built up and the beaches are lovely. I bet you’re spoiled for choice in Turkey though!
Pigletinportugal: yes, very lucky! Also lucky that I’m as blind as a bat! So, Leitão assado is what they call soggy crisps with greasy onions then? I’ll avoid that like the plague! Not sure about the pig either, too close for comfort 🙂
Leitão assado is what they call soggy crisps with greasy onions then?
No Piglet…check out the link ;((
yep, read the article afterwards. I’d watch out you too!
I think I might move to Portugal for a bit when I’m tired of Italy. Where do you suggest?! (I quite like crisps, so the cuisine won’t be too much of a problem!)