Holidaying in the Algarve - Part 2

 

Whilst staying in Armação de Pera we took a few excursions. On Saturdays a nearby, Moorish town called Loulé holds a huge  indoor market (not to be confused with the gypsy market on the outskirts of the city). The baked goods, fish, fruit and vegetable were amazing and along the outside wall of the market hall there are a number of shops selling local pottery and gifts. We went at about 10am and it wasn’t too busy and Noah enjoyed looking at the fish stalls! I would recommend bringing a light jacket as it is on a hill top and despite the sun being warm the wind was a bit chilly.

 

Loulé market

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Algarve is famous for pottery and close to where we were staying was the famous Porches Pottery. The selection is amazing and you can watch the small team of painters working on new pieces. The cafe, Bacchus, next door to the main pottery, is a great place to stop for coffee and cake. It is run by an English couple and we enjoyed a hefty slice of lemon drizzle cake complete with extra drizzle!

 

Porches Pottery

 

For older children there are a number of water parks in the area.

 

Food here is very family friendly. All the restaurants we visited offered us a children’s menu of the usual fare - burgers, fish fingers etc but we opted for smaller portions of local specialities for Noah, for example calamaris, grilled sardines with some of our meal as well. They were very welcoming to children and most we visited had high chairs but changing facilities seemed to be limited.

 

I can really recommend this part of the Algarve for an early summer holiday with a toddler. Noah loved everything we did from the pool, the beach, to the new foods and of course, coming from a big city in Northern Europe, the lovely sunny fresh air and the freedom to run on a big sandy beach.

 

 

 

 

One word of advice - if you can find an internet cafe with printing facilities I would recommend checking in for your flight the night before online for your homeward journey as Faro Airport is not the fastest place for checking in or getting through security. If you can’t do this, arrive as early as possible for your flight check in time and if travelling with children try and get checked in as soon as possible.

 

If you haven't read part 1, find it here!