Restaurants are the center of social life here. We encounter the same people at our hangouts. For example, there’s a blond Swedish woman who hangs out at Saboyas. She comes alone and drinks a couple of glasses of red wine and knows everyone who comes in. We’d never spoken to her before but other night she suddenly said, “Am I imagining things, or is there a seagull in that restaurant?” We all looked across the street to see a giant seagull desperately trying to get out by flying at every window as employees chased it around or crouched under tables depending on their courage. It was quite the drama to watch as the bird cleared elegant table settings with its wings. They succeeded in getting it out and introductions were made.
A Portuguese man arrived to sit with the Swede. A lively discussion ensued about careers and medical problems… you know, older adult subjects. Oddly enough, the subject that stood out to me was the proper pronunciation of Ikea. Apparently the Swede was a worldwide Ikea financial trainer. She announced that Americans say Ikea wrong. It’s not eye-key-ah, it’s eh-kay-ah. Not eye, but eh. Got it? I’ll probably forget by the time I get home.
We were at another café called Pedros. It was packed because a band was setting up. Seeing as how we had two seats available at our table and a sweet looking older couple was trying to find a seat, I offered for them to sit with us (not unusual here). The Swiss lady and I got into a struggling conversation as I don’t speak French or German. I dreaded the moment that introductions would happen. Sure enough, she burst into laughter when I said my name is Heidi. She wanted to know if my husband was Peter. I need to make up a name when I’m around the Swiss. That same day, a photographer was wandering amongst the guests taking pictures. He took a great photo of us and wanted to know if we would like him to email it to me. Sure! I gave him my email and then I waited for the opportunity to get a good shot of him, then I emailed it to him.
A promenade café with a black cat on their logo is an easy place to stop for a glass of wine to people watch. The other day, when I ordered my wine the kid got a nervous look on his face. Another waiter brought Joe’s beer, but no wine yet. Pretty soon I see the kid trotting back from the grocery store down the street with a bottle of wine. Shortly after, he calmly set a glass of wine on the table.
Another place we go to when we’re willing to walk for 40 minutes, is Os Salgados. It’s at the other end of the boardwalk spanning to wetlands. It’s a little spendy, but worth it for the great wine and even better steak fries. On the walk over we got to see a horseback tour.
A favorite of ours is Pappas. They serve the best curry shrimp I’ve ever had. We get an order for two. The servers have been there for years and always greet us like friends.
Sometimes we take an Uber over to Portimão for the day. There’s a restaurant on the beach we like that we call Rita and Leo’s place, even though neither one of them work there anymore. There was giant pipe right along the whole length of the beach. The manager explained that this was a huge project to restore the sand to their beach from the eastern end of the beach, Pria Rocha. They pump the sand into the pipe with lots of water and it travels to the end (about a mile) and dumps out into a huge trough. Three pipes drain the water from the pond as the sand settles. The manager broke out her cell phone and showed pictures after last winter’s stormy season—one of the worst in memory. The beach was corroded right up to her deck.
But Tasca’Lado is the best. We went there right after we got here and ordered the meat platter for two… a rib-eye and a rump-roast with grilled pineapple and steak fries. The waitress, Andrea, is a sweetheart. We told her we would be back for my birthday. When we came in last night, she clasped her hands together and said, “That’s right, It’s your birthday!” she seated us and brought me a glass of red wine saying she opened a special bottle for me as a present. It certainly was good—from the Alentejo region.
She was so disappointed that we didn’t order dessert (too full) that she brought me a crème brûlée with a candle on top and sang happy birthday to me. Isn’t that sweet?
