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There's something magical about markets, especially the one's abroad. Yes, there really are bargains to be had, if you look carefully, but it's more than that. It's the atmosphere, the buzz, the holiday feeling, the colours, the smells... you know what I mean.
The Algarve is the ideal place to have a wander and a look around markets as most towns and villages have their own. However, the following two 'tourist' markets are recommended by us and are big and beautiful enough to be well worth a visit.
WEDNESDAY - Quarteira
SATURDAY - Loule
Quarteira has everything. There are stalls selling souvenirs, shoes, clothes, watches, bags, fake designer this and that... shopping heaven. Quarteira is adjacent to Vilamoura and is half-an-hour's drive or less from Praia da Oura. You can park in a street just off the seafront and walk through to the main street to find streams of people heading towards the market. Loule is also a very good market and a nice place to visit.
Don't Flash the Cash!
It is highly unwise to visit a market with anything of value about your person. You already know this, of course, but we often do things on holiday that we wouldn't think of doing at home, do we not? This phenomenon explains why, each and every year and without fail, a number of holidaymakers visiting markets are divested of passports, credit cards and large amounts of money. Do leave all of that in your apartment safe (rent the key from reception on arrival) and just take the cash you'll need to buy the irresistible singing chicken and so on. That thief over there, looking just like everyone else in his fake Raybans and bermudas, is in heaven - crowds of people jostling one another and leaning over stalls to see the merchandise, leaving their back pockets exposed or their handbags (often open) slung behind them. Don't make his day!
Our tip is to put a small, cheap purse (you can buy them at the market!) containing coins and folded notes into a plain plastic carrier bag, along with your newspaper, tissues, comb or whatever. Okay, it might be bad for your image, but people in shorts carrying plastic bags probably don't look worth robbing. But just in case the would-be pickpockets get hold of this article and start ignoring the leather shoulder-bags in favour of tesco carriers, another option is to buy a small purse with a long strap and hang it round your neck and down your front.
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