Faro Local Customs

Portugal is not particulary famous for its beer. Nevertheless, pale lager beers seem to be quite popular. I gave Sagres and Superbock a try.

Sagres beer is brewed by the Central de Cervejas brewery in Vila Franca de Xira. Since 2008 the brewery is under control of a joint venture of the breweries Heinken and Carlsberg.

Superbock is the most popular beer in Portugal and also well known in other countries of the world. It is brewed by the Unicer brewery, which is located in Leca do Balio in the north of Portugal.

Superbock: http://www.superbock.pt/

Sagres: http://www.cervejasagres.pt/

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At every restaurant we visited in Faro there was a EUR 2 -3 cover charge per person and for this you get a delicious basket of ciabata type bread, fish paste and sometimes cheese or olives.

Salads were absolutely gorgeous and I never tasted such good tomatoes lightly drizzled with olive oil. All day long we saw local people delivering fish they had caught to the restaurants and everything we ate seemed unbelievably fresh and delicious.

Wine is very cheap (and very good) which really keeps down the cost of eating out. We liked the reds so much, that unfortunately, we never got around to trying the white.

The photo shows a little delicacy I spotted at the food market and couldn't resist buying.
It didn't taste quite as good as it looked but who could resist it ?

for about five minutes, Spain did not know they had been eliminated from the next round of the Eurocup... for these five minutes I witnessed something pretty cool, Portuguese and Spanish people telling each other they loved each other (yeah they were drunk) and getting along brilliantly. They thought they were both advancing. I can´t speak for the Portuguese or Spanish, but from my experience this is rare..

People in Algarve are very simple and always like to help you the best way they can. English is widely spoken, and there are also a lot of ex emmigrants in France. You should try to deal with people in a simple way, never expressing your rights (unless you are really compelled to); just thanking will conquer you all the help you'll need.

As in most of Europe, the nightlife doesn't begin until well after 11p.m. So, take a siesta, do whatever you need to do to stay awake. There are dance clubs every couple of blocks in Faro.

Salinas is the traditional way to gain salt from the sea.

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Once a convent, now a museum.
Built in 1519 as a convent, a cork factory from 1860 onwards, a museum from 1984.
Pre historical, Roman and medieval artifacts shown.

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Once a convent, now a museum.
Built in 1519 as a convent, a cork factory from 1860 onwards, a museum from 1984.
Pre historical, Roman and medieval artifacts shown.