And So The Festival Begin

This weekend is the Festival da Batata-doce de Aljezur (sweet potato) and having had the pleasure of attending once before, we headed off.  Bela, Harald, Marc and myself, out for an adventure on a gorgeous sunny Saturday.

Aljezur is a small market town of whitewashed houses and cobbled streets located about thirty kilometers north of Lagos near the border between the Algarve and the Alentejo in south west Portugal.  For us, about an hour and a half drive.

Onroute, Harald offered to introduce us to this amazing little village tucked away in the middle of seemingly, nowhere!   The tiny village of Pedralva, which in 2008 lay pretty well in ruins.  Thanks to one man’s creative vision it has been brought back to life.  What a fabulous treat for us, especially on this hot and sunny day.

The tiny town of Pedralva, in a valley therefore hidden from the roads above.

The local, very creative, Christmas Tree. I’d love to see it lit up at night!

A couple of shots in the village.

I think this might be a cafe at times.

When you order tea…..wow, do you get service!!!

My very happy and content husband.

This looked soft and pleasant to the eye.

OK…this kitchy little thing caught my eye and made me laugh.

Moi!

Another village shot.

Loved the chimeny’s shadow.

A great little fixer upper.

This medronho plant was laden with flowers.

Loved the house identifier.

Imagine what my hair is going to look like in six months!

Harald and Bela enjoying the pause for cafe/tea and relaxation.

Marc and I were so appreciative of this little side adventure and all the wonderful information Bela and Harald are willing to share with us.  We gleen new knowledge of Portual and things Portuguese each time we spend time with them.

The drive through the mountains from Pedralva to Aljezur was intoxicating thanks to the scent of the many towering eucalypti.  Even with the windows closed in the car, it was amazing.  Between that, the vistas on both sides of the mountain roads, and the simple enjoyment of being out together.  It was blissful.

Our first stop on arriving in Aljezur……lunch.  After all, you can’t go to a festival with all that food on an empty stomach!!

Bela, happy to be enjoying her beautiful Portugal.

Marc and Bela……no, they are not holding hands….but they are up to no good with their conversation, that’s for certain!

Harald enjoyed the fish.

Bela the succulent fresh squid

Marc and I both order octopus.

The festival was as much fun as it was in previous years.  It truly is one of our favourite here in the Algarve, and there is no shortage of festivals!

The annual festival is held to pay tribute to the sweet potato as a part of Aljezure’s cultural and gastronomic connection with the community and to show off to visitors the quality of the “Aljezur batata-doce”.   The sweet potatoes from Aljezur are so special that they have been officially recognized as a product with a protected designation of origin.

Orange to help you smell nice, cork to exfoliate!!

This beautiful hand painted nativity scene was quite beautiful.

Local raspberry and medronho liquore. Marc and I bought a bottle of lemon.cinnimon, just sweet enough to be enjoyed over an ice cube in the evening without being overwhelming. The fun part was all the taste testing!!!

Beautiful hand made baskets…..I keep promising myself I will purchase one but I can’t see myself shopping with it in Ottawa!!

Diane and Gwen, we think we found the perfect sized mug for your tea. Maybe next year you can come with us and purchase one each????

So many wonderful home-smoked meats, sausages etc..

Look closely at this chorizo and tell me you didn’t salivate??

And what about this one……oh yum!!

The ubiquitous wild boar.

These are hamburger buns!!!!

Bela is all shopped out and ready for the journey home.

Harald looking somewhat regal with this wave……

By now it’s been about six hours since we left home and given we are all heading out this evening for a concert, decided it might be good to go home, rest in our respective apartments, enjoy whatever beverage tickled our fancy…..in ours it turned out to be a G&T.    During the walk back to the car there were of course, a few photo opportunities.

I love how the older people gather and watch the world go by. Imagine the changes they have seen in their tiny village over the years.

Then there are the non teetotalers…..on the opposite corner!

This succulent was quite lovely with it’s gently swaying blooms.

A great day of wandering with our wonderful friends and I’m certain it won’t be our last time.  In a couple of hours we four head off, a five minute walk from the quinta, to a concert by a “local girl” whose made a name for herself…..that’s how she has been described to us.  Christina Paulo with a guirarra portuguesa,viola no baixo and if I am reading the ticket correctly, special guest Ruca and Tiago!!!!!  In any case, it will be fun and I’m certain we will be tapping our toes and smiling with the pleasure of it all.