Bruno said this, Bruno said that. Bruno said there's a larger InterMarché in Carvoeiro.
Bruno says InterMarché's own products are better than the rest.
Bruno, Bruno, Bruno. All day long Bruno.
Bruno is the Manager of the local InterMarché and he and Anne are on a first-name basis.
Anne is quite popular at the InterMarché. First time she asked where matches were, after the young guy told her, he winked at her - twice!
Bruno says InterMarché's own products are better than the rest.
Bruno, Bruno, Bruno. All day long Bruno.
Bruno is the Manager of the local InterMarché and he and Anne are on a first-name basis.
Anne is quite popular at the InterMarché. First time she asked where matches were, after the young guy told her, he winked at her - twice!
This is where Anne and Bruno meet. Los Mosqueteiros is a bar upstairs. Usually this corner is full of people having their espressos and smoking. Smoking. Portugal is one gigantic ashtray. I'd say it's pretty close to 50/50 smokers / non-smokers.
While shopping, particularly grocery shopping, is seemingly familiar (ketchup is in recognizable ketchup bottles with the work 'ketchup' printed on the label etc) it isn't always the case. For example, first week we brought home a bottle of softener thinking it was detergent.
I've taken to bringing my iPhone along when we shop. It has a Google app whereby when you point the camera at Portuguese text it shows it in english, sometimes.
Perhaps the most noticeable and immediately noticeable difference is all the grocery stores have this odour. You catch it as soon as you enter and it just gets stronger the closer you get to the fish department. Fish is to Portugal as double bogies are to bob, ubiquitous.
Also there are some items you just don't see back home.
While shopping, particularly grocery shopping, is seemingly familiar (ketchup is in recognizable ketchup bottles with the work 'ketchup' printed on the label etc) it isn't always the case. For example, first week we brought home a bottle of softener thinking it was detergent.
I've taken to bringing my iPhone along when we shop. It has a Google app whereby when you point the camera at Portuguese text it shows it in english, sometimes.
Perhaps the most noticeable and immediately noticeable difference is all the grocery stores have this odour. You catch it as soon as you enter and it just gets stronger the closer you get to the fish department. Fish is to Portugal as double bogies are to bob, ubiquitous.
Also there are some items you just don't see back home.
While InterMarché is the place we go to most we (somehow) managed to find our way to a lovely grocery store called Apolonia. It caters to tourist's tastes and stocks many of the products we're all familiar with. Wine sections are massive and as you can imagine the selections are ridiculously inexpensive. The current house white is under 3 Euros but we were quite happy drinking one for 1.5 Euros. The province to the north of the Algarve is a major wine region called Alentejo. In fact while talking to a Portuguese man at Pearson he told us the best Portuguese wines come from Alentejo.
One of the great things about Apolonia is they have take out ('take away' it's called here) that changes every day and is delicious.
For example Monday's menu carried a choice of: Breaded Hake fillets; Stewed beef with carrots or BBQ pork ribs. To that you could add tomato rice and sautéed vegetables. Plus there is always soup and other sides.
One of the great things about Apolonia is they have take out ('take away' it's called here) that changes every day and is delicious.
For example Monday's menu carried a choice of: Breaded Hake fillets; Stewed beef with carrots or BBQ pork ribs. To that you could add tomato rice and sautéed vegetables. Plus there is always soup and other sides.
The Algarve Shopping Centre. Reputably one of the largest in Portugal is really very nice. But as with all things Portuguese it has it's own, to us at least, eccentricities.
McBifana. Bifanas are on every menu in Portugal. Essentially it's a pork sandwich adorned in various ways - garlic cloves, onions and so on. Wonder if in China there's a McGeneral Tsao? Or would that be General McTsao? A nice touch is shown in the photo to the right. Mickey D Pt. has a place for you to wash your hands.
No need for a roof in the Algarve. There are lots of nice touches here and there as shown below.
Notice the ashtray in the bottom right photo. The young woman has a cigarette in her hand. They're everywhere these smokers. There is a grocery / Canadian Tire store that runs the length of the plaza. It's enormous.
The following are some photos showing some of the highlights.
The following are some photos showing some of the highlights.
So what's going on here? People are taking their fruits and produce to this woman. She weighs them, puts them in a plastic bag, applies a sticker and then seals the bag. Nothing for the cashier to do except scan it.
And speaking of cashiers note that they are all seated. That's common practice here. They just sit and slide stuff across the scanner.
Need any salted cod? The fish department is enormous. Saw things I didn't know existed. And apparently they're edible. Bacalhau is on every menu. That and sardines. Haven't had the pleasure yet.
And in this the last photo what you're looking at in case it isn't identifiable is eel. Had a close look and the teeth on the thing still scared the bejeezus out of me even though it's dead. I'm looking at that ocean in a whole different way.
And in this the last photo what you're looking at in case it isn't identifiable is eel. Had a close look and the teeth on the thing still scared the bejeezus out of me even though it's dead. I'm looking at that ocean in a whole different way.
