Blogs from Quarteira, Algarve, Portugal, Europe

Today was market day in Quarteira. It was a "gypsy market" although I am not sure why they call it gypsy. Anyways, lots of fresh fruit and veggies, sausages, cheeses (we bought some cheese), fish (saw some cool freshly caught eels and lots of freshly caught sardines). We also found some pastries that looked like funnel cakes so we tried one of those and it was so good we had another! Yummy! We also bought a Portuguese melon but haven't tried it yet. We walked through the town which was very nice. Then we headed back and stopped in Pera where they were holding their annual Sand City (International Sand Castle Festival). The theme this year was music. They have artists (sand sculpture specialists) from all over the world (even a few from Canada!!) who create ... read more

There have been so many moments on this trip when I feel like someone should come along and pinch me. I have to pause and take it all in because it almost seems surreal, like I am in a dream... Am I really sitting at a little table in the south of Spain drinking blanco sangria listening to this perfect musician playing the accordion? Or watching the flamenco dancers so passionately and aggressively expressing themselves through their dance in a tiny show theatre on some random side street? Could it be possible that I am in one of the 3 biggest cathedrals in the world? And are my eyes failing me? Or is that pair of Italian leather shoes really only 15 euro? I love this place And then there are the moments when someone needs ... read more