WAGS St Vincent Walk: The Lunch – Monday 23 01 2017

 

The end of the blog is nigh, the blog that covering the WAGS celebration of St Vincent´s Day 2017 in four parts. As you may recall, the first part, written by Paul, dealt with the Sunday´s walk.  Then came the  second part, the first of Rod´s two  pieces, which covered our Sunday evening´s festivities. Then there followed the third part, Rod´s second bit, which described the Monday´s walk. And now we have the fourth and final section. in this the fourth part of the blog, in addition to providing the maps and statistics without which no self-respecting WAGS´ nor even AWWs´ blog could possibly be complete, we have been fortunate enough to enlist the services of an eminent Algarvean food critic to adjudicate on the post-walk Monday lunch. Of course, that critic must remain anonymous for reasons of professional propriety  – you know, conflict of interest, etc., – and  of self-preservation.

Here is the critique on the lunch:

"13 hungry souls decided to stay for lunch after the walk on Monday at O Palheiro whose owner, José Manuel, claimed to  be the distributor of the famous "perceves". Paul & Myriam had been there many times with visitors, all of whom enjoyed this local delicacy. At their "persuasion", 6 had ordered perceves the night before. 

But, alas! The perceves were terribly small. There was practically nothing to eat except sucking the sea water from the claws!

 

A big, miserable disappointment! Besides, the service was very, very slow!! By the time we left, it was nearly 4 pm!

Myriam complained to Helena, the cook/owner's wife, that she should not have served such small perceves. In fact, she should not have bought them at all!! She politely agreed, and apologised. Myriam expected a discount/refund.

But NO! Nothing!

Her husband was washing up at the far end of the kitchen. He usually would come out to say goodbye. But not on that day!

Don't know what the others thought about their choice of food. But at least Paul and Myriam had a big plate of fresh, large, plump and delicious mussels!"

Blimey, if that ever gets out on Trip Advisor, the fur will fly and the clam shells will crumble. For the record, Hazel and Maria greatly enjoyed their fish; Richard, we can recall, expressed considerable appreciation of his lamb chop; and the omelettes did what they are meant to do. Not too much should be read into the fact that Geraldine stomped out immediately after the soup!

How your blogger managed to make one small beer last the two hours it took to for him to get his food will remain for him an unrepeatable feat of self-control and endurance.

The tracks

The Statistics

                       Day1         Day 2

Distance       17.3 km   12.7 km

Total Time    4h 28m     3h 37m

Moving Time 3h 45m    2h 53m

Moving Av.      4.6 kph   4.4 kph

Elevation Gain 484 m    109m

 

                                                                                          

And to conclude, the customary literary quotation:

“Ah, yes, the luncheon – leisurely – very.”

                                (Mr Jingle . The Pickwick Papers)