FELIZ SÁBADO

When my friend Tobi asked me – hey Sophie I know your favorite day of the week is Saturday – why don’t you write a blog post for Aljezur Life for us, I was surprised because why I should tell the world something about my best day of the week?
But it also made me curious if I might not be the only one who likes Saturdays as much as I do.

Let’s be honest there are several ways to start our Saturdays these days – some of us need to work, a few curing the symptoms of a hang over after last nights Pizza Party or others like me, when I am not working, enjoy to wake up early and get ready for a morning spend in charming Aljezur.
Nonetheless, when living in a small town, the weekly Farmers market taking place in the massive multipurpose hall marks my start of an awesome weekend and the majority of all visitors buy products for their next days or stock up their bar and restaurant storages.
Follow the signs up to the cemetery and than turn left was the only description I got a couple of years ago – that is not really welcoming – but eventually you will arrive at the hall that doesn’t look like as if a lovely market is waiting inside but many cars and vans parked in front will guide you the way.
However, my first advise is to show up between 8 – 9 am to get the full range of choice on all stands.
So, with this post I would like to introduce you to my all time favorite and newest rising stands on the Aljezur Farmers Market and that all shown humans, products or brands are highly biased by my very own opinion and experience.

Firstly, here, right in front of the entrance you need to stop and buy an entire box of fresh Oranges sold form the back of a loading area for the best homemade Sunday morning orange juices – small prices guaranteed!
I will be honest with you –for a long time I only came for the cakes! Yes, yummy and homemade cakes made by Simone who sells awesome breads, pizza and cakes to more and more customers.
Even though her homemade cherry cake is always my first choice, most of the time I am too late and its sold out – but hey, don’t worry, the cheesecake, topped Apple pie or Russischer Zupfkuchen are all crazily delicious.
On one of the next tables you will find the stand of Fernando who sells self grow and harvest veggies and self-made products of friends.
Get a jar of tasty pesto, fresh picked sorts of different lettuces, spinach and herbs to refine your weekend salad, pasta or like me upgrade your daily scrambled eggs with a green vitamin dose.
My tip – ask him about locally produced olive oil and be lucky to get a bottle yourself

You wouldn’t believe me but when in Aljezur – try some Indian delights! Really, no kidding – since a couple of weeks Sean and his lovely mother spoil all of us with some awesome treats from their home country – go treat yourself and sit down for delectable Samosas, homemade Nimkies and lemonade.
Luckily, 2 years ago I was working for a restaurant in Arrifana and Saturdays my duty was to buy fruits and veggies at the market. Totally unprepared I didn’t thing about refreshing my “fruit, veggies and herbs” vocabulary, not to mention the numbers of unit etc… – the first visits ended almost in a disaster but I got a little help from my market friend Luis Antonio!
 
But before I will introduce Luis Antonio, let me give you some basic vocabulary so you might be better prepared than I was.

My highlights

So, Luis Antonio a farmer of Aljezur, calculating all numbers by heart, handles like all farmers the weekly rush with Portuguese serenidade and greets everyone in the waiting queue with a smile, a friendly word or warmly hug and the end.
His seasonal selection of mouthwatering products (ask for fresh hortela for teas, salads or mojitos) gives me always a good feeling about buying and supporting the local micro economy.
However, when leaving the market, the social part of this early morning starts and it’s an unspoken role to finish the forenoon with a visit at the square next to the Igreja nova which is in walking distance to the market. Don’t try to drive over there you won’t find parking anyway…
Fun fact – last summer I ordered freshly delivered rolls for sandwiches at a place I got to know as “Pedros’ Mum” – officially known as “Mercearia da Igreja Nova” which is a busy local supermarket on your way to the square. Please stop by to check and buy Pedro’s home grownproducts and be amazed by a product range every veggie and vegan lover gets highly thrilled.
The quarterly beating bell of the church at the square will guide you to one of my special places in Aljezur.
This square welcomes everyone from near or far no matter if you live here, are a tourist or just pass by – so relax and order yourself a pastel de nata plus one of the special coffees at my friend’s place, Taberna do Largo, to enjoy the sunshine and the company of your friends and family.
Let me finish with stating that I love doing these mornings as often as I can and please keep in mind that I experience all the mentioned above before noon – isn’t this even more awesome and still so much weekend left to enjoy.
If you want to enjoy this awesomeness as well – well I hope, I see you around and come back here for one of my next posts of who to visit, what to do, when to explore, where to eat and why to just sit back and breathe.
Feliz sábado!