Alvor

Zephaniah was a prophet between 640-609BC. He predicted the overthrow of Ninevah that occurred in 612 BC. He is speaking about God here: ‘ The LORD thy GOD in the midst of you is mighty, He will save, He will rejoice over you with joy; you will rest in His love, He will joy over you with singing.’ Zephaniah 3:17

Now for Alvor.

Alvor is situated roughly halfway between Portmão and Lagos. It is a harbour village with shops and a  market on certain days. This post will involve the positive aspects of wait.

‘ A healthy attitude is contagious, but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.’

Tom Stoppard

And a laugh!

‘ If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life.’

Oscar Wilde

So, with these in mind, here is another Green Bean story.

The newly,

taken from sizzling oil

fried batter,

(wrapped around the freshly par boiled long, fat,whole, stringless,

green beans)

was crisp, light, and golden.

The bowl of red rice, bright red with fresh cooked tomatoes and small clippings of clear white garlic, was a mound beside the green gold of the beans.

What was there not to like?

I asked the waiter: ‘ Is it good to order Peixinhos da Horta today?’

‘Yes, very good!’ was the reply.

‘Are you sure because I can have the same as my husband.’

I always feel for the chef having to do this and that, all at the same time in that hot place, the kitchen.

We enjoyed our drinks one cold one hot, the sun went in and we went inside. The view was of the Odiaxere, Torre, and Iama rivers. They all join with the sea in their own way here. With waders and sea gulls and people, there was a lot to see of the sea greeting all. The tide was coming in, and boats were lifting up. A pleasant hour’s wait but unexpected.

We waited. I asked the waiter.  Is everything OK? ‘.

The honesty was crisp.’ The cook went to the supermarché for the green beans they are nearly ready now.’

So they came. Beautiful, hot, and stringless, these stress filled beans. All that extra work and others to feed, too. Other customers who were not likely to be eating Peixinhos da Horta.

I wish the market had been on for him. That would have been really close.

Malassadas, Portuguese doughnuts fried triangles of dough with yeast, quickly dipped in cinnamon and sugar.

We waited , the person second in line, and me with a long queue of eager people behind us. We smiled. We waited. We gesticulated  our surprise. The man in front had ordered 21 hand shaped,hand fried, cinnamon and sugared Malassadas and the person in front wanted one and I wanted three and all the rest snaking along were waiting for their delicious bite.

The seagulls should have come for his 21!

‘Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.’

Henry Van Dyke. ( He also said,’ A peace that depends on fear is nothing but a suppressed war.’)

Alvor, Algarve, Portugal! Beautiful!

Take care,

Sandy 🙂