Loulé Lovely Loulé

I had promised to take Laurie to Loulé today as there were a few things she wanted to pick up at the market to take back to Canada.  As her time here in the Algarve is winding down, we decided today would be a perfect one to head off.  With Pat in tow, Marc ensconced at home and running a few errands around town, off we headed.

This is the prickly pear, the fruit of the cactus. It’s frequently used in sauces this time of the year. Quite tasty but not to everyone’s taste

Carob for sale, both in the whole form as well as the powder A great substitute for coco in cooking.

An old octopus pot, covered in permanent shells and long since retired for decorative purposes.

A play being rehearsed for The Carnation Revolution also known as the 25th of April

Each performer had a turn at acting out a part of the performance. Very dramatic…..wish I understood more of what they were saying.

This fellow had such a baritone voice

Still and pensive.

And finally, a lovely display of piri-piri peppers.

We had a thoroughly enjoyable time wandering around the old quarter and in and out of stores.  I took walks in the sunshine and left Laurie and Pat to shop as they wished.  Happy to say, both of them found purchases and the revenue in Loulé climbed today!!

The traffic police were out today, checking the car windows for expired parking passes. I saw at least three tickets being written.

I know somebody who loves these shoes.

:Lovely old building in one of the squares close to the centre of town.

Look at those happy faces…..and they hadn’t even made serious purchases at this point.

These two were giggling and laughing from the belly.

The bougainvillea is starting to grow quickly in the daily sunshine.

The blue sky, lone chimney and the bougainvillea……a perfect shot.

I was sitting and enjoying a bica when the sun shifted and these lovely shadows appeared.

Aren’t geraniums just wonderful? Makes me think of my friend Françoise.

Easter eggs being hung on a decorative orange tree. Lovely.

I knew I was being watched….and then I looked up!!

I found shoes for Marc and myself. Can you guess which ones are for him and which for me?

A beautiful old inviting doorway.

Lunch time rolled around and we were determined to be outside on the sunny side of the street.  We felt we were “settling” because it was a challenge to find a place in the sun with a vacant table but……..the sign/menu for the restaurant may have turned people off but what a surprise.  The food turned out to be wonderful.

Funny thing happened though.   Laurie had decided to order a tostas with ham, cheese, caramelized onions, tomatoes, and an interesting sounding sauce.  At the last second Pat decided to share with her so they upped it from a “small” to the “larger” version.  Imagine their surprise (and mine) when they received the following platter!!!

Yup……eight sandwiches!!!!!!!   LOL    What’s a girl(s) to do………DRINK.  Delicious white sangria laced with loads of fruit.   Helped to wash down the tostas!!!

I had a wonderful pizza of thinly sliced chorizo and presunto.  One of the best I’ve had this year….pizza’s that is.

And finally, a walk back to the car for the drive home…….a delightful and productive day.

And on the route home…….our first wisteria of the season………