Hungry Traveler

Ola Versna ! Thank Goodness for your reply. Reading the other replies about "Boquerones" are pickled anchovies... I thought I was losing my mind !!! :) We enjoyed "Boquerones" in Andalusia (Marbella, Malaga, Torremolinos, etc.) many, many, times and they were NOT pickled ones !!! Gracias, for clearing it up !!!

That's a long haul through some fairly dull landscape on a high speed highway (with tolls). Spend a couple of nights in Lisboa or Sintra. I think it would be most lovely to stroll Sintra after a leisurely dinner. Very romantic. Obrigado TSquare !!! Will start looking for accommodations in Sintra/Lisboa area !

Hi V.Wang Sorry but I didn't see your question earlier Here's one of the sites that has information about the local markets as well as other handy info: http://www.algarve-information.com/markets.htm Will also attempt to send this same info directly to you !

Miguel, et al... I'm staying in a unit in Abufeira (Algarve) with a kitchen, for a week. My plans is to spend a few extra days (up to a week) in or near Lisboa. But probably in a hotel with no cooking facilities... Approximately, how long is the drive to Lisboa or Sinstra ??? I MIGHT decide to spend another week, somewhere in Algarve, where I'll have a kitchen and do day-trips to Lisboa/Sintra. Obrigado !!!

Marc and Miguel: Thank you for your inspiring recommendations. Okay, as one of our splurge dinners, we'll try the expensive clams :) I'm sure the $1.99 per pound clams I get are not in the same class but... We'll be there in early October... will grilled sardines be readily available ???

REGARDING ......On Saturday we paid 30 euros for a couple of kilos of clams at the Silves market. The same quantity would have set us back, I'd guess, much less than half that amount in Toronto. But Portugal without seafood wouldn't be Portugal, would it? If you are staying in a place with a kitchen, cooking in the Algarve is a real pleasure. Because we enjoy cooking a lot, and also because this trip in part was a bit of a reunion, we've done a lot of our own cooking, everything from the above mentioned clams to hake, Lisbon style, (in tomato, onion garlic, white wine, etc) and chicken. All good. Hi Fresco ! YES... we will have a kitchen and love to shop for local produce and seafood ! I have a listing of the outdoor markets and the days they'll be open. 30-Euros for a couple of kilos translates to: 30-Euros for 4.2 pounds in weight. 30-Euros is approximately $37.50 US Thus about $8.50 US per pound. Though not the same variety, I can buy live clams for around $2.00 a pound, a half mile from where I live. I'll be there in early October... Hopefully the weather will still be "decent" and most tourist gone... Will grilled Sardines be readily available in October ??? Thanks All !!!

There's a thread in the NY forum about "fine dining" and were it starts to separate itself from ordinary dining and whether there's a different standard in NYC than there might be in other cities. I suppose "cheap" is also relative to a few things such as where you are and what you get for the price. Dinner may be dinner, but not all meals are equal. It's also not reasonable to translate the price into dollars and think in terms of what that will buy at home. Most meals in Europe will cost about one and a half what they cost last year because the dollar is so weak. Europe itself is not cheap for traveling Americans, at at least what was cheap last year, is not cheap this year in dollars, although the price to the locals hasn't increased that much. Anyway, fresco's meal was six courses and beverages. One can't expect that to come at the same price as a simplier meal. Bux: What you said is true, for the most part. You can't compare Apples and Oranges... But for $68 ($34 for two persons) my wife and I can dine on around 10 dishes, in an upscale Chinese restaurant, in San Francisco's ChinaTown. This meal could consist of a whole Roast Duck, Mu-Shu Pork, a whole Steamed Fish, Dungeness Crab with Black Bean Sauce, a couple of stirred-Fried veggie dishes, a whole chicken, some appetizers, a huge bowl of rice and tea. More food than we could consume at one sitting and something we'd NEVER do. We'll still go to Portugal and dine at expensive restaurant but also balance it with lesser cost fare. This we've done, where ever we travel, which we've been doing since 1959... I understand a lot of American tourists are bypassing Western Europe and heading to Eastern European countries, where prices aren't as costly.... yet :)

Hi Fresco !!! Thanks for sharing your experience ! Was the meal a "fixed" meal, at a "fixed" price ??? Or was there an extra charge for wine, "firewater" and dessert ? Neither my wife nor I, are much into alcohol... perhaps a glass of wine or a bottle of beer at the most. We'd just as soon pass on the booze, especially if it was so-so quality. 192 Euros is appoximately 27.43 Euros per person. About $34 US per person. Maybe I'm spoiled but, I don't consider $34 per person... "cheap" Thanks !!!

40 Euros (and above) per person is out of our financial range ! 80 Euros is around $100 and IMHO too much for one meal. We're NOT looking "fancy" meals or "fancy" restaurant... just good local food. When we were in Jamaica, we had a choice of dining at a fancy restaurant, with a beautiful view, at around $50 per person... Instead we ate at a local Jamaican "jerk" (BBQ-Chicken/pork/beef) restaurant and thought that was a fantastic meal !!! Also Curried-Goat and white rice and local Red-Stripe beer ! I can get very fresh seafood because we live near the coast. BTW: We are NOT from Western Europe

Re: "I hate to say so, but I couldn't, except for tapas places. Eating well in a regular restaurant for 10-20 euros was possible in another time, in another Spain. You have to go up at least to the next level, 20-30 euros, to get anything culinarily attractive." Hi Vserna: Hmmmm.... Have prices sky-rocketed that much ??? We were there in May of 2000 and ate well in the "€10 to €20" range. But... back then, the US$ was much stronger We even dined, in that range, on the Ramblas in Barcelona. Tsk... Tsk !

Pedro: Those prices and menu items would work for us ! We can have our main meal during lunch and concentrate on daily specials. Then something like tapas for dinner. Gracias !!!

Hi vserna We'll be in Marbella in September... Can you give us an idea of the "price range" (in Euros) for these restaurants ? We're not "Fancy Restaurants" people Could you recommend restaurants in the €10 to €20 range ? Thank You !!!