I come to Portugal every year to get away from city life, my parents have a place just outside the town of Loulé, in a tiny little village called Poco Novo. It’s a really remote location as it was an old derelict farmhouse at one time.
Iam 24 years old, and live in London. Being so cut off here gives a real time to reflect on things - there is no internet, TV etc. so it is sort of like being away from the modern age. As much as there is lots of tourism in surrounding areas -Vilamoura, Vale de Lobo etc. - being so close to a quintessential Portuguese town such as Loulé really opens your eyes to what it’s like to be a citizen here.
I’ve noticed in the past few years the same sort of ‘characters’ that appear in the town, specifically amongst the older generation: the men who sit on the benches and watch life go by, or meet on the corner of the grocery for a chat. Similarly, the women who meet early on a Saturday morning to get the best deals at the fish market, or who take such pride in their shops.
I think sometimes it’s a positive thing to slip away from the glitz and glamour that the tourist industry creates and look at the more simplistic aspects of life: these people have been living here their whole lives, and whilst it is a holiday destination to us, to them it is a home and a lifestyle.
Looking at things through my lens I was able to see a different aspect to life: one that focused on appreciating time and socialising, where it was not about being busy but about being approachable.
Saying that, a great sense of pride was also present: from those running their stalls and markets, to those dressed up in their best clothes/ hats (despite the high temperatures!) I was able to get a real sense that people here love their town and always have time for their neighbours.
