We were treated to a local mainstay of the Algarve, namely Market Day. A wonderful British lady and her daughter who had been coming to Clube Praia da Oura for 20 years took us under their wings and drove us to Loole, about 30 minutes from the resort. What an experience. It was a huge rectangular stone building open-aired in its centre with stalls surrounding all walls both inside and out. There were rows inside of fresh fruits, flowers, vegetables, bread, and FISH, with friendly bantering and bartering between the locals and the tourists all around. We bought strawberries by the case, fresh cashews by the pound, and fresh flowers by the bunch.
My new friend added delightful pieces of Portuguese pottery to her 20-year collection. Her daughter bought her first handmade straw basket perfect for market day or the beach. I spied fresh peas in the pod and through hand signals asked for a small bag. The endearing gentleman refused to take payment for such a small purchase.
On the outside one could purchase baby chicks, ducks, geese, and even rabbits. What a wonderful display of a local custom! We ended the morning by enjoying "white coffee" at an outdoor cafe in the town square watching the world of Loole go by.