48hrs in the South of Portugal
My first visit to Portugal, and I loved every second!
On this solo trip, everything was spontaneous. I arrived in Faro, and let the city show me the way :)
My first order of business was FOOD! LoL From the Faro airport I caught the local bus that took me directly in town. On the way to my accommodations I was on the search for breakfast, so I decided to stroll around to see what was open. To my surprise, nothing was open yet. I learned fast that on a Saturday morning the whole town sleeps in late Lol (my wishful type of Saturday mornings!). Shops and restaurants open around 11am and you see the city slowly start to wake. Absolutely beautiful. I recommend waking up before everyone else just so you can witness this small town greet the day.
See slideshow below from my first morning in Faro.
FINALLY LUNCH TIME!! :)
I found this great vegetarian/vegan cafe called Mel & Limão. The decor is quaint and inviting, they don't have wifi, and they only except cash (GOOD TO KNOW). Actually a lot of the town only accepts cash, so make sure you stop by an ATM before visiting on a Saturday because their banks are definitely closed on the weekends. Their food and drinks are fresh and made to order. Oh and did you see those PRICES below?? You know I love a good deal, especially when I don't have to slack on my healthy choices! :)
Faro is a lowkey GEM!
This town is so small, that normally tourists only to use it as a "pass through" to their next destination. This means it hasn't been overrun yet, which makes this place a gem! I only stayed for 2 days but I'm planning on a longer visit next time. The locals are so welcoming and since I did ZERO PLANNING before arriving, that is where I got my information on what to do and where to go! I asked around and they told me about a train that would take me to another town called LAGOS where I can do water activities! So the next morning I woke up early and caught the first train out. Read all about my little day trip HERE.
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After returning from my adventure on that 2nd day, it was already dinner time (YUM!). So I again was on the search for food, but this time I was looking for the BEST PORTUGUESE FOOD that Faro had to offer. About a 10min walk from my Airbnb, down a few allies and streets, I saw 4 patio tables outside lining the walls of a what looked like an apartment or townhouse. YAY I FOUND A VENDA!!!
The only way I can describe this little tapas restaurant is by saying... IT... IS... AMAZING! Completely lives up to what the locals told me, and I ate way more than a party of One should have! For this meal it's safe to say, I wasn't a vegetarian/vegan. Lol!
#TheScenicTravelerTips for A VENDA
- MAKE RESERVATIONS: I was lucky & arrived right when they opened, 20 mins later it was packed!
- BUY THEIR SPICES: I bought 2 boxes of their local seasonings (that was used to make my delicious tea you see in the video)
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