Portugal

In 2002, we spent 3 months in Evora, Portugal while Susan taught at the University of Evora on a Fulbright Fellowship. We decided a few weeks in the Algarve would be a great way to warm up after Norway and see how much it’s changed in 24 years – LOTS!

We flew from Gatwick to Faro before just hanging out for 2 weeks near Salgado and Almancil. The whole EES process of clearing passport control started in February so we had our pictures and fingerprints taken twice in Norway, once in Faro, and then once in Frankfurt when we left the Schengen. The Faro process was a bit chaotic, taking about 30 minutes of standing in one spot in line. Four booths were open (Good) and we picked the wrong one (Bad). The machines couldn’t process one guy who we think is a resident of Portugal with a UK passport. We stood in line for 2 phone calls, 2 supervisors before they told him to step aside while they cleared someone else. We had our picture and fingerprints done again! We’re guessing the Norwegian ones didn’t get shared or who knows why??

The Algarve now has condos everywhere, more restaurants, a much better supply of laundromats, good wine, excellent pork dishes, some unknown number of water parks, and at least 15 different golf courses for you golfing fans. Some of the roads have improved but we drove on our share of narrow streets and roads. Many Portuguese still cannot park between the lines in a parking lot@

Evora was the next stop in Portugal. We had to see how it’s changed or not in 24 years. The sidewalks are still cobbled and inside the wall is pretty much them same. Outside the wall, though, the city has added stores, hotels, some restaurants. The parking garages still are extremely, extremely narrow. Parking on the street or an outside lot is still a better idea!