Bumper Stickers: I know it is illegal to have a sticker in the rear window of your car. I had a sticker in the window and when I went for the annual inspection I was told I had to remove it.
Chinese restaurant: There is a restaurant called The Old House in Parque dos Naçōes in Lisboa. It specializes in Sichuan cuisine and I, having lived in Chengdu, Sichuan for 3 years, can say that it is very, very authentic. We try to go there everytime we are in Lisboa.
I miss Mexican food. I tried the Baja Fresh recently after a trip to IKEA in Loule, but I crave a good, authentic Mexican meal. We found one in Barcelona and my taste buds rejoiced. We are fortunate to be several hundred meters from a Nepalese restaurant in our small town that is popular with the many Nepalese and Indian farm workers in our area. It’s a sensory delight for sure.
As for “never seen...” I haven’t been flipped off by a stranger while driving and I haven’t seen anyone with a gun strapped to them 🤷🏻♀️
I have seen a few stickers like "Bebê a bordo" in the back window(s) and a few stickers of surfers carrying their boards. What I haul back from the US (no judgement please) is Bar Keepers Friend. I don't know how the Portuguese keep their hobs and stainless steel clean. Mike and I are still amazed if we see a car with color. If it aint black, gray, silver or white... What I have never seen is buttermilk and those "Coffee Mate" containers of flavored coffee cream.
#4 You never see (mostly) the shutters/blinds open on Portuguese houses. Understand the summer thing but all the year round, hmmmmmm......Let there be light!
nice writing. i am your "never"...I have about 7 bumper stickers on my car, a 10 year old citron. for the past 5 years. i have to buy them in the states but I agree with you that I have not seen one in 10 years here. Often I come out of a store and people are behind my car reading them. They say Dirt Worshipping tree hugger/U R SHE/Co-exist/Oregon Bigfoot anti fire sticker/etc...(being a hippie pagan ex pat chick)...I live between Lagos & Aljezur, love cyo
Some great observations Nancy and Denise! I have never thought about bumper stickers. Both my wife and I "Love Mexican Food", growing up in California, and spending time in Mexico. It is certainly the spices that make all the difference. I would love me some good "chips, salsa, and guac please" LOL : )
If you find your self in Estoril there is a great Chinese right near the fire station. Hua Guang, it has been around for many many years and survived Covid. https://goo.gl/maps/gesgVu3fz8fvqwU67
Always a joy to read your interesting observations. BTW there are 2 Chinese restaurants in Estoril. I have tried the one in the casino, not a big fan of Chinese restaurants anyways so never went back, got turned off after my trip to China. And there is a good mexican restaurant in Cascais on the yellow street, it does satisfy my taste buds.I do make my own guacamole. For the sour cream substitute try crème Fraiche next time, works great. ♥️
We spent 10 nights in Loulé last summer on our scouting trip. There is a Chinese restaurant there. We talked about it but never made it there for a meal. We were a bit skeptical as the google reviews were mixed. However, since returning home I’ve seen nothing but glowing reviews on it in the various Algarve Facebook groups I’m in. So after we arrive I will definitely try it out. Hope to see you some time after Thursday 🤭
The current California gloom had me feeling glum and even anxious, yet you words brought laughter and a *lift* above the rainclouds. Thank you for being a human lighthouse!
If you look there are surely Chinese restaurants in the Algarve, but I don’t know because I very rarely travel over there, but here in Porto there is one in the square of my street that has been open for maybe 40 years.
Yesterday I went to get take away and it was completely full.
I miss Mexican food but only a little. And it has to be Tex Mex so that tells you where we used to live (and thankfully don’t anymore). I also miss (on a grand scale) Target. A true American institution. Love your stories!
Bumper Stickers: I know it is illegal to have a sticker in the rear window of your car. I had a sticker in the window and when I went for the annual inspection I was told I had to remove it.
Chinese restaurant: There is a restaurant called The Old House in Parque dos Naçōes in Lisboa. It specializes in Sichuan cuisine and I, having lived in Chengdu, Sichuan for 3 years, can say that it is very, very authentic. We try to go there everytime we are in Lisboa.
I miss Mexican food. I tried the Baja Fresh recently after a trip to IKEA in Loule, but I crave a good, authentic Mexican meal. We found one in Barcelona and my taste buds rejoiced. We are fortunate to be several hundred meters from a Nepalese restaurant in our small town that is popular with the many Nepalese and Indian farm workers in our area. It’s a sensory delight for sure.
As for “never seen...” I haven’t been flipped off by a stranger while driving and I haven’t seen anyone with a gun strapped to them 🤷🏻♀️
I have seen a few stickers like "Bebê a bordo" in the back window(s) and a few stickers of surfers carrying their boards. What I haul back from the US (no judgement please) is Bar Keepers Friend. I don't know how the Portuguese keep their hobs and stainless steel clean. Mike and I are still amazed if we see a car with color. If it aint black, gray, silver or white... What I have never seen is buttermilk and those "Coffee Mate" containers of flavored coffee cream.
Aisles of canned soup
Aisles of cake mix
Aisles of breakfast cereal
#4 You never see (mostly) the shutters/blinds open on Portuguese houses. Understand the summer thing but all the year round, hmmmmmm......Let there be light!
nice writing. i am your "never"...I have about 7 bumper stickers on my car, a 10 year old citron. for the past 5 years. i have to buy them in the states but I agree with you that I have not seen one in 10 years here. Often I come out of a store and people are behind my car reading them. They say Dirt Worshipping tree hugger/U R SHE/Co-exist/Oregon Bigfoot anti fire sticker/etc...(being a hippie pagan ex pat chick)...I live between Lagos & Aljezur, love cyo
Some great observations Nancy and Denise! I have never thought about bumper stickers. Both my wife and I "Love Mexican Food", growing up in California, and spending time in Mexico. It is certainly the spices that make all the difference. I would love me some good "chips, salsa, and guac please" LOL : )
If you find your self in Estoril there is a great Chinese right near the fire station. Hua Guang, it has been around for many many years and survived Covid. https://goo.gl/maps/gesgVu3fz8fvqwU67
Always a joy to read your interesting observations. BTW there are 2 Chinese restaurants in Estoril. I have tried the one in the casino, not a big fan of Chinese restaurants anyways so never went back, got turned off after my trip to China. And there is a good mexican restaurant in Cascais on the yellow street, it does satisfy my taste buds.I do make my own guacamole. For the sour cream substitute try crème Fraiche next time, works great. ♥️
We spent 10 nights in Loulé last summer on our scouting trip. There is a Chinese restaurant there. We talked about it but never made it there for a meal. We were a bit skeptical as the google reviews were mixed. However, since returning home I’ve seen nothing but glowing reviews on it in the various Algarve Facebook groups I’m in. So after we arrive I will definitely try it out. Hope to see you some time after Thursday 🤭
I never found sour cream while visiting for a month.
Litter, we see very little litter along the highways.
Nancy
Your post made my day!
The current California gloom had me feeling glum and even anxious, yet you words brought laughter and a *lift* above the rainclouds. Thank you for being a human lighthouse!
Thank you, Nancy. Always enjoy your observations! We arrive in Tavira this weekend to start our next life chapter. Can’t wait!
If you look there are surely Chinese restaurants in the Algarve, but I don’t know because I very rarely travel over there, but here in Porto there is one in the square of my street that has been open for maybe 40 years.
Yesterday I went to get take away and it was completely full.
I miss Mexican food but only a little. And it has to be Tex Mex so that tells you where we used to live (and thankfully don’t anymore). I also miss (on a grand scale) Target. A true American institution. Love your stories!