It was really windy today but luckily dry. I had been researching online and found a little restaurant inland (Casa de Pasto do Carmo - snappy name) which specialises in steaks so we decided to drive out to see it before we headed out for the day. It certainly was off the beaten track but looks very nice so we had a couple of ‘galao’ coffees each and booked in for an evening meal.
Afterwards we headed to a town I had read about in a discarded magazine about the Algarve from November last year. The town - rather a generous description - Cacela Velha was really attractive, off the tourist trail and very quiet. The views over the estuary, beach and sea were stunning and there is a lovely beach walk that can be done but as the tide was coming in we decided it was not the best of ideas. There was little open so we could not even get a coffee so it was onwards in the car to the most Easterly town on the Algarve - Vila Real de Santo. This is a fascinating little town with a marina on the Guadiana river where the border between Portugal and Spain runs down the middle.
We found a little place for lunch (yet another plato del did before driving back home before dinner.
The drive back to the restaurant was a challenge in the dark with many tight and blind turns. We got there eventually and there were others who had also made it through the narrow roads in the Portuguese countryside. Along with a small carafe of house red wine, we both started with fish soup - very good before moving onto the main event. I had steak on the stone and Colin had a peppered steak. Mine was superb, tender and very blue so I could just sear the outside as I wanted it, also chips and vegetables. The stone was scaldingly hot and remained so for the entire meal
We finished up with two of the local desserts - again delicious. Unfortunately the evening suddenly took a downward turn as we had the most stupid argument… I’d like to say it was about world events or something personal but it actually related to the names of the hamsters I have owned and in what order. Also my memory and how often I am corrected on this - it's an age thing! After muttered comments kept low the atmosphere changed and we paid (in cash as we discovered the card machine was apparently broken) and left in silence. That’s obviously the end of the holiday/birthday vibe. Obviously all my fault… obviously!!
