AlanHo Posted March 11, 2007 Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 We are off to Tenerife for two weeks next Monday followed by a two week holiday in Portugal 4 weeks later. We will have a rental car in both places.I would welcome any feedback on your experiences there - especially the sights and things you recommend and those you advise we should ignore.In Tenerife we are staying at a hotel in north Adeje away from the noise and bustle of the main south resorts and the lager louts. In Portugal we have booked return flights to Lisbon with the intention of doing a circular tour taking in the small towns, castles etc within say a 75 mile radius. I am trying to organise accommodation in some Pousadas and have yet to look for other hotels. Hence any feedback is most appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 11, 2007 Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 If Tenerife is anything like Grand Canaria in the centre, and I believe it is, DON'T DRIVE in the mountains, unless you want heart failure. I believe that Artist, I think it was did the same as us and ventured inland. We were on a coach, and 'Er indoors had hysterics, the heights and sheer drops are horrendous.Portugal is so different. Do seek out the small villages there, we were made really welcome. Eating out is a pleasure. Go for grilled sardines, but be aware that most places don't gut them before cooking.Enjoy yourselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thos Posted March 11, 2007 Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 Never been to Tenerife (or Tenneriffy as they say on Coronation Street!) but agree wholeheartedly with andsome concerning Portugal. Loved sitting in an outside cafe eating grilled sardines, bread and salad. T'was on the Algarve though so no recommendations about villages to visit.Enjoy yourselves.Thos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted March 11, 2007 Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 If you go on the coach trip up and into Teide (the volcano) take plenty of spare underwear and toilet rolls with you. The hairpin bends are hairpin sized with a very steep and deep drop. Worth going to, though, if only for the clear, pure air which, being so high, is a bit sparse.http://www.canaries-live.com/UK/teide.htmlThere used to be a bar about half way up that served a most odd concoction of hot chocolate and the local liqueur made from bananas. Quite nice but it may have contributed in some small way to the need for extra underwear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 11, 2007 Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 Never been to Tenerife (or Tenneriffy as they say on Coronation Street!) but agree wholeheartedly with andsome concerning Portugal. Loved sitting in an outside cafe eating grilled sardines, bread and salad. T'was on the Algarve though so no recommendations about villages to visit.Enjoy yourselves.Thos.A nice bottle of Vino Verdi goes down well with fish. Another dish to try is a traditional Cataplana, again with fresh salad and bread and a bottle of Vino Verdi. Don't bring the Vino Verdi home however, it just doesn't taste the same here. It needs drinking over there on a nice sunny day, sitting outside a café.It is less than a year old, and very green, but in the right surroundings, with the right food, is unbeatable.CATAPLANA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted March 11, 2007 Report Share Posted March 11, 2007 Yep.... Ill second that ........ Ive only been to the Algarve too ...very friendly people ....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 ] Another dish to try is a traditional Cataplana, again with fresh salad and bread and a bottle of Vino Verdi. Don't bring the Vino Verdi home however, it just doesn't taste the same here. It needs drinking over there on a nice sunny day, sitting outside a café. Yummy!!I love Portugal and the Algarve. We have also spent time in Oporto in the north and Lisbon (we stayed in Cascais). The country as a whole is very welcoming, fabulous food and wine.Tennerife, I have only been there once. We stayed in the north, which I prefer. Mount Teide is a lovely excursion. We drove up the one side, through the clouds as we ascended, then down the other through pine forests, to the south. The island is small enough to do the round trip in a day. The terrain changes from rugged to lush, then down in the south rocky cliffs. If I had to chose between them, it would be Portugal. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 Just one point I would like to make about Portugal Alan, Don't eat the PORK, you will gut rot. Even the locals will tell you the same thing. I had food poisoning for four day's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 One dish that I almost forgot, it became a firm favourite, that is Chicken Piri Piri. It is best with chips and salad. White wine is too tame with it, if you want wind, go for a full bodied strong red, although I think that it is at its best with a bottle or two, ore even three of four of nice cold beer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thos Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 One dish that I almost forgot, it became a firm favourite, that is Chicken Piri Piri. It is best with chips and salad. White wine is too tame with it, if you want wind, go for a full bodied strong red, although I think that it is at its best with a bottle or two, ore even three of four of nice cold beer.I had that in South Africa and I thought it was a South African dish. I agree with the recommendations for a rough red or lager, though.Thos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 I think andsome is thinking of Gordon Pirie. He gave everyone the runs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 One dish that I almost forgot, it became a firm favourite, that is Chicken Piri Piri. It is best with chips and salad. White wine is too tame with it, if you want wind, go for a full bodied strong red, although I think that it is at its best with a bottle or two, ore even three of four of nice cold beer.I had that in South Africa and I thought it was a South African dish. I agree with the recommendations for a rough red or lager, though.Thos.I am not sure of the origin of the dish, but it was very popular in South Portugal when we were there. We brought some Piri Piri sauce home with us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted March 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 [i am not sure of the origin of the dish, but it was very popular in South Portugal when we were there. We brought some Piri Piri sauce home with us.This dish evolved in Angola and Mozambique (once Portuguese colonies) after Portuguese explorers and settlers brought American chile peppers to Africa. The Portuguese also took the peppers and the cafreal to other parts of the world, notably Goa, India. Spicy-hot Frango Piri-Piri is now so popular in Portugal that it is regarded as a Portuguese dish.Thanks for all the info in the above posts - it is appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 One dish that I almost forgot, it became a firm favourite, that is Chicken Piri Piri. It is best with chips and salad. White wine is too tame with it, if you want wind, go for a full bodied strong red, although I think that it is at its best with a bottle or two, ore even three of four of nice cold beer.I had that in South Africa and I thought it was a South African dish. I agree with the recommendations for a rough red or lager, though.I am not sure of the origin of the dish, but it was very popular in South Portugal when we were there. We brought some Piri Piri sauce home with us.A bit on the hot and spicey side, if I recall correctly.I don't like the taste of beer of any description, so I'll have to stick to the wine. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted March 12, 2007 Report Share Posted March 12, 2007 your local Nando's does piripiri chicken .......... I like it on chips ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thos Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 I had never heard of Nandos so I googled it and find that though we are deprived here in Orpington, there is one in Bromley. Tempted as I am, it is a little too far to go, even for piri-piri chicken and chips.Thanks anyway, Tankus.Thos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 There isn't one anywhere near to us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 I had never heard of Nandos so....Thos.That's because they are always tucked away quietly somewhere.That's why they are known as Nandos hideaways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thos Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 I had never heard of Nandos so....Thos.That's because they are always tucked away quietly somewhere.That's why they are known as Nandos hideaways. :D Oh, dear!Thos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 heh ....theres never a vet when you need one ...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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