SAM_May16 by Richard Bassett

Simply

FR EE

May 2016

Almancil, Vale do Lobo,

Quarteira, Quinta do Lago, Vilamoura

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WELCOME

Welcome...

...to the first issue of 'Simply Algarve Magazine'. With an extensive background in publishing, Art Directing Ideal Homes and Homes and Gardens magazines in the UK, six years ago we created the East Algarve Magazine, which has proved to be very popular and a must have for both local residents and visitors. We are now excited to bring the central Algarve region its own free monthly publication 'Simply Algarve Magazine'. Providing something for everyone in a clear and professionally designed, informative way, we will publish regular features on local people and places. To compliment these, each month we will have professional writers and experts keeping you updated on all the latest Finance, Currency, Health, Sports, Food, General News and Gardening. With a monthly print run of 6,000 copies, the magazines will be distributed throughout the region, with every advertiser becoming an outlet, along with News Agents, Hotels, Restaurants, Bars, Cafe's and Golf Courses. In our next issue we will include a free notice board for you to advertise events, and also a free classifieds page. Simply email us your request to design@simplyalgarvemag.com along with any comments or suggestions you may have. We hope you enjoy this issue. Richard Bassett, Publisher

PUBLISHER Richard Bassett EDITOR Richard Bassett ART DIRECTOR Jake Bassett WRITER Ange Heapey ADVERTISING Call 961 700 200 or email design@simplyalgarvemag.com

DISTRIBUTION 6,000 copies printed. All advertisers are issued copies for distribution, along with retail outlets. COVER PHOTO Richard Bassett.

Unipessoal Lda

All rights reserved. Except for normal review purposes, no part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the contents are only meant as a guide to readers. The proprietors of this magazine are publishers not agents or sub agents of those who advertise therein. The publisher cannot be held liable for any loss suffered as a result of information gained from this publication.

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CONTENTS

Contents NEWS

FOOD

WHAT'S ON

HOMES

HEALTH

MAP

FINANCE

PLACES

PROPERTY

FINANCE

PEOPLE

PROPERTY

GARDENING

PEOPLE

PROPERTY

SPORTS NEWS

Your local news. Monthly guide to local events. Pondering sun protection. C么rte Real: An Emporium of Art.

Vaults Restaurant: 340 years of History. The largest Auction in the Algarve.

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Chef Joe Devines' aubergines. Energy efficient homes.

Your local map including advertisers. Banks will be banks. Property of the month.

The Algarve, a paradise with many faces.

Currency news from Premier FX. The latest finance news from AFM. Growing succulents.

The latest sports news from Chris Wright.

NEWS

News

Keep up to date with all the local news.

he six Algarve business associations that took Ikea to court to try and halt the construction of its retail park near Loulé have decided to drop their claims. The Association of Trade and Services of the Algarve Region (ACRAL) has dropped the legal action against IKEA, a decision backed by the other business associations in the Algarve involved in the same process. One of the first steps taken after the new president of ACRAL, Álvaro Viegas, took over was to meet the Ikea management and end the dispute between the parties that had been going on since 2011," reads an ACRAL statement. The association noted that since the beginning of the Ikea licensing process, ACRAL and several other business associations in the Algarve have tried in court to challenge the implementation of the project, but now, as the licensing is concluded it does not make sense to continue the litigation. Ikea will be a reality - it's up to us to find the best strategies to turn this threat into an opportunity: the municipalities here have a good opportunity, together with ACRAL, to find solutions to attract many thousands of Ikea visitors to their cities, said Viegas in a refreshingly objective and sensible statement. The measures filed in court had tried to halt the construction of the

commercial complex and the Ikea store whose first stone was laid in August 2015 by the then Deputy Prime Minister Paulo Portas who described the investment of €200 million, as "one of the largest of this governemnt." The Ikea store under construction near the Algarve Stadium is part of a complex that includes a shopping mall and a retail zone which will create about 3,000 jobs. During the licensing process, three injunctions were lodged, the latest by ACRAL in July 2015, in concert with ANJE/Algarve, Associação de Empresários de Quarteira e Vilamoura, Associação de Hotéis e Empreendimentos Turísticos do Algarve (AHETA), Associação dos Industriais Hoteleiros e Similares do Algarve (AIHSA) and lastly, the Confederação de Empresários do Algarve (CEAL). In 2011, four of the six associations had contested the urbanisation plan, but the court gave its assent to the intended location. To enable the store to be built, Loulé council in 2013 approved the Caliços-Esteval Urbanisation Plan, which reclassified the land as urban, it previously had been National Agricultural Reserve. As the development now is well on its way to being completed, the withdrawal of these various legal actions are welcomed and the action of Álvaro Viegas to be congratulated.

aking the Algarve "the safest tourist destination in Europe", is one of the Government's goals; especially at a time when terror alert is growing in Europe. The objective was revealed by the Secretary of State for Internal Affairs, Jorge Gomes, who during a visit to Albufeira stressed the importance of the project: "Algarve Safe Destination". According to the Diário de Notícias, the official also supports the implementation of measures such as the creation of "special and effective tools for inspections" at the border control to fight crimes alarming European Union in relation to terrorist threats. In this context, Jorge Gomes points out that focusing on crimes such as illegal immigrant smuggling, human trafficking, drugs and weapons smuggling and counterfeiting will be priority. The same source stressed that the project "Algarve - Safe Destination" will be focused on the "sense of security of domestic and foreign tourists." To do so, it will create a "permanent structure of security analysis in the Algarve, together with the use of statistical information."

GOVERNMENT ‘TO ANALYSE’ TOLL REDUCTIONS ON THE ALGARVE’S MOTORWAY

he government is having a good look at reducing the toll charges on the Via do Infante motorway, according to local socialist MP António Eusébio. In fact the whole socialist party is working with the ministry in order to reduce the amount charged or to put forward other measures such as discounts for HGVs and during quiet times of the night and day. The MP said that "something might even be done this year," but for now he would not commit himself to a deadline, after all, this was only an election promise by the sociaist prime minister. In terms of revenue, the government will want to keep the tolls as high as possible this summer. This should be easy with toll revenues swollen by desperate drivers seeking refuge and solace on the A22 while avoiding the chaos of

Making the Algarve the safest place in Europe.

the EN125 where roadworks will be continuing through what is predicted to be the busiest tourist season for a decade. Lisbon signed a disastrous deal for the Via do Infante which, many argue should not be tolled at all as it was 75� funded by the EU. The concession holder, ultimately the Spanish company Ferrovial, has a guaranteed income from a mixture of tolls and government (aka taxpayer,) subsidies when traffic volume drops, which of course it did as soon as the road was tolled. The Passos Coelho mantra of “user pays” means that the A22 driver pays, and then the Portuguese taxpayer pays to ensure the concession holder gets the stipulated income level. Years later and now in power, the socialists’ promise to look into things as soon as possible inspires little confidence.

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SOURCE: www.algarvedailynews.com

ALGARVE BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS DROP LEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST IKEA

WHAT'S ON

What’s On

Your guide to what’s on in the Central Algarve this May, brought to you by www.simply-algarve.com WEATHER LOWDOWN

May is an excellent time to visit the Algarve for those after moderate warmth and reliably dry sunny weather. At the region’s capital, Faro, the daytime temperature reaches an average of 18°C and a high of 23°C, while it falls to 14°C during an average night. Temperatures do occasionally fluctuate significantly either side of the long-term mean, however, and highs in excess of 30°C are possible.

FRIDAY NIGHTS AT IZZY’S BEACH BAR Top Algarve event specialists SunDown are taking over Izzy’s on Fridays. Spice up your Friday night with a breath-taking sunset, a cocktail or two and fantastic laid back jam sessions. SunDown’s resident DJs will be spinning the night away and there

will be guest DJs from the UK & Europe too. For more information contact Izzy’s. Address: Izzys Beach Restaurant, Vale do Garrão, Vale do Lobo, 8135 Tel: +351 289 396 984

HIGH-WARP TAPESTRY EXHIBITION, ALMANCIL

6th May 2016 – 31st May 2016 High-warp tapestry artist Françoise Devroede will be exhibiting her wall tapestries in the Algarve this May. Françoise has been creating highwarp tapestries for over 30 years. All her tapestries are unique works of art, that she has conceived and created. Address: Aderita Artistic Space, Rua 5 de Outubro Edificio Doza nº 141, Almancil, 8135-143 Tel: 912 186 868 Email: aderitasilva@gmail.com

ALGARVE MARKETS

Algarve markets are always popular and are a great place to soak up local culture. The biggest and best known are the Saturday morning gypsy market in Loulé and the Wednesday morning market in Quarteira, where you can buy everything from lace to pots and pans! Most towns and villages have their own local daily markets for really fresh (and cheap) local produce as well as a monthly gypsy market, so there is nearly always somewhere close by if you can’t resist a bargain! Almancil market takes place near the school on the 1st and 4th Sunday of the month.

FIESA

14th International Sand Sculpture Exhibition 10th Mar 2016 – 30th Oct 2016 FIESA, the largest sand sculpture exhibition ever built, is open from March to October. Located in Pêra, the exhibition uses some 40,000 tonnes of sand and covers 15,000m². This year it features around 100 different scenes depicting musicians, instruments and musical cultures from around the world. Tickets cost 9 Euros per adult. Free to children up to 5 years and half price for children aged 6 to 12 years. Over 65s get a 15� discount. This awesome display of handcarved sculptors is well worth visiting!

GOLF

4th Foursomes Week at Vale do Lobo 15th – 21st May 2016 Don’t miss Vale do Lobo’s 34th Foursomes Week this May. Vale do Lobo Golf Club will be hosting this year’s Foursomes week, a pairs competition, which promises a week of great fun and golf on the resort’s courses. Over the six days of the tournament, various types of competitions are played: Foursomes Stableford, Singles Stableford, Scotch Foursomes Stableford, Greensomes Stableford, Fourball Team Competition and, of course, the Foursomes Matchplay Finals. There are trophies for the

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winners and prizes will also be awarded for ‘Nearest to the Pin’ and ‘Longest Drive’. Participants are invited to take advantage of the special tournament package, which includes accommodation in one of Vale do Lobo’s luxury properties, green fees and unlimited golf over the competition week, as well as entry to the spectacular prizegiving dinner. For full details and bookings email Vale do Lobo Golf Club before 11/05/2016. Tel: +351 289 353 465 E-mail: golf@vdl.pt

HEALTH

SUN SCREEN Are you confused by all the sunscreen options and ingredients? From information about water resistant sunscreens to SPF 50 to broad spectrum protection, The Skin Cancer Foundation has you covered.

WHAT ARE SUNSCREENS? Sunscreens are products combining several ingredients that help prevent the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the skin. Two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB, damage the skin and increase your risk of skin cancer. Sunscreens vary in their ability to protect against UVA and UVB. WHAT ARE UVA AND UVB? Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is part of the electromagnetic (light) spectrum that reaches the earth from the sun. It

has wavelengths shorter than visible light, making it invisible to the naked eye. Ultraviolet A (UVA) is the longer wave UV ray that causes lasting skin damage, skin aging, and can cause skin cancer. Ultraviolet B (UVB) is the shorter wave UV ray that causes sunburns, skin damage, and can cause skin cancer. WHAT IS SPF? SPF – or Sun Protection Factor – is a measure of a sunscreen's ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin. Here's how it works: If it takes 20 minutes for your

unprotected skin to start turning red, using an SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer – about five hours. Most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do an excellent job of protecting against UVB. WHAT DOES BROAD-SPECTRUM MEAN? Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays. Beginning in December 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began to implement new rules for "broad-spectrum" products.

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Advertise your business to over 6,000 readers per month from only €40 + iva for a business card sized advert, up to €260 + iva for a full page. email: design@simplyalgarvemag.com or call 961 700 200 for more information.

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EUROCOOLING Algarve

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Tel: (+351) 289 369 241 Email: eurocooling@aol.com www.Eurocoolingalgarve.com

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Algarve Air conditioning Boliqueime, 8100-900, Loule, Algarve Portugal

An emporium of International art “Walking into the gallery is like walking into a colourfull painting.”

nce the family home of the Côrte-Real family, the exquisite Côrte-Real Gallery is situated just a short drive into the beautiful countryside from Boliqueime to the protected village of Paderne. “The art gallery for art lovers, by art lovers,” Pedro Côrte-Real and his partner Michael Roberts opened in 2006 and now represents over twenty five international artists, all to be found in the beautifully restored, six room Quinta. Michael spent many years in Paris as a creative director and wanted to move from corporate business. An artist himself, alongside Pedro, (who creates wonderful paintings, in particular of Africa and his roots in Mozambique)....Michael admits that after “opening quietly”, Côrte-Real has grown into something completely unexpected, with artists now approaching them to display their work. “It's unique.” The location, “far from the madding crowd.” “It’s a joyous place offering beautiful pieces of affordable art.” Relax in the enchanting gallery terrace with a complementary tea or coffee and take time to soak up the heavenly atmosphere. Each room contains a mixture of beautiful art work, ceramics, exotic lights and unusual arts and crafts as well as beautifully hand crafted sculptures, woodwork, pottery and jewellery. Michael and Pedro travel extensively to meet up-andcoming artists personally, visit affordable art fairs and build a relationship with the artisan. Some have displayed in many of the major cities around the world. To name just a few, Michael Sole a seascape artist from the Royal Society of Marine Artists, Sally Strafford who paints Spring flowers, almond blossom and amazing rare foliage from the Algarve, Jane Skingley, resident artist at Glyndebourne Opera, creates works from the west coast and the islands, a landscape artist, and Mary Mills paints unique Algarvian wild cliff foliage. You will find bespoke jewellery, courtesy of Marie Emanuel and sculptures by Manny Woodard, winner of the Chelsea Art Society who was chosen by the National Trust, for her work. Design consultants, Côrte-Real are working extensively on the new concept at Vila Joya, Europe’s leading boutique hotel in 2015, and 17 times in a row winner with 2 Michelin stars. Exhibitions are held at the gallery each month and three or four times a

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year they are associated with a different charity, complimented with wine tasting and seasonal traditional delicacies. Côrte-Real is a leading Art Gallery in the Algarve specializing in fine contemporary art, sculptures and high end Giclée prints. The gallery has a world wide customer base and a high reputation for promoting the best in affordable art in both paintings and sculptures, works of art and handmade objects from all over the world, including pottery by Les Caramiques de Lunssan and Italian marble tiles from Studio Verte in Florence. Portuguese Vogue has described CôrteReal as “a very special place to visit after the beach” and this has personified the vision of the owners’. “We would never

hang artwork or place anything here that we would not want in our own home,” explains Michael. “Secondly, it has to be a joyous experience. With so many galleries, visitors enter and are intimidated by the silence and the austerity; we've created a home that is full of joyous, lovely objects, lovely paintings and lots of colour.” Michael is eager to emphasize that; people can come here and enjoy their surroundings at their own pace, you can feel comfortable, have a cup of tea and not feel rushed. The gallery offers a door to door professional shipping service throughout the EU. A hidden gem. Côrte-Real gallery is open from Thursday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Tel: +351 912 737 762 / www.corterealarte.com

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corte real

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PEOPLE

Vaults Restaurant V

aults Canadian Bistro is steeped in history dating back over 340 years and promises to provide you with the best service and appetizing cuisine from the very heart of Almancil. Canadian born David Gale and his wife Katrina combine the yesteryear with mouthwatering dishes to satisfy any palate. David was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, not far from Niagara Falls. He was a tech student in high school and had a keen interest in theatre so joined the theatre group and went on to York University to do theatre studies. He cut his studies short to travel and worked for several years alternating jobs in props, costumes, carpentry and in restaurants, going on to manage CafĂŠ Bohemian back in Ottawa. Together with cabinet makers in Toronto, he created distinctive shop fittings for customers like Club Monaco. After spending 5 years as restaurant manager at the CafĂŠ Bohemian, he also got his break on Broadway with a company making sets for productions like The Lion King, Les MisĂŠrables, Tommy and The Producers as well as building sets and props for television and movies. Katrina was born in Iserlohn, Germany to a Canadian military family; they

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340 years of History returned to Canada when she was two and she grew up in Ottawa. Katrina studied computer science, technical writing and editing at college and worked as a technical writer and Help Desk Analyst in Toronto. She is a prize winning author of short stories, creating “Algarve Writers” on Facebook and Katrina is also a fiber artist. She knits, weaves, has 3 knitting machines and embroiders. It was 10 years ago that David and Katrina came to Portugal to holiday and that changed everything for them. “We were so taken with Portugal on that first trip. We stayed in Praia de Rocha and every other day we drove to a town or village in the Algarve. I remember coming around a curve in the road towards Silves and suddenly the castle appeared in front of us. We pulled the car over to the shoulder and got out and just looked at each other grinning.” After decades of freezing winters in Canada the Gales were looking for somewhere warm to retire or semi-retire, as neither of them is the type to just sit and do nothing. Two more trips confirmed those first impressions and a decision was taken to look for a place to live and some kind of work they would both enjoy.

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"To us Portugal was like the Canada of Europe. It’s a beautiful country, the people are peace loving, gracious, friendly and so welcoming. Even when the only Portuguese we knew were the words faz favor and obrigado we felt at home.” On the last holiday in 2012 David went out to evaluate the estate agent postings for a possible house to rent or buy. He came back excited saying, “I didn’t find a house, but I think I found us a restaurant.” and that was the beginning of the adventure at Vaults Bistro. Executive Chef Marco Aleixo heads the kitchen team at Vaults. He is a certified chef from the Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo de Faro and has over 15 years kitchen experience in the Algarve. Chef Marco brings a fresh Algarvian attitude to his cooking, using high quality fresh ingredients combined with expert techniques to bring out intense natural flavours in his regional dishes, creating memorable meals. Chef Marco is co-founder of the Algarve Cuisine Academy, which offers cooking

demonstrations and lessons to the public. He is also responsible for producing the annual culinary guide to the Algarve since 2001, 'Guia Gastronomico do Algarve". Chef David Wilson is the man behind the well-loved English-style Sunday Carvery, long considered the best in the Algarve. He was at one time the head chef at the Algarve restaurant, Poachers. They offer a choice of roast beef, roast pork or roast lamb, (chicken or salmon upon request), with all the traditional trimmings. Vegetarian options are available if pre ordered. David explained, “Whether you're here to share a jug of sangria and a game of chess on the patio, to read a book at a corner table with a bica, to have a quick salad for lunch or to enjoy a lavish meal with friends David and Katrina would like Vaults to be your place, comfortable, happy, and enriched by every visit.” Quality food and drink and knowing how and where it is grown and the people who produce it is Vaults’ philosophy. By creating and offering the very best food we improve our own lives, and bring added value to yours. They are dedicated to

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For reservations, bookings, private functions and information: Telephone: 289 391 883 Email: vaultsrestaurant@gmail.com Vaults Bistro, Rua 5 de Outubro, 85 Almancil, Algarve. N37.087533 W-8.0331775

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style (NZ) lamb shank, which could be followed by a tempting lemon cheesecake. A friendly, welcoming atmosphere with impressive classical surrounding together with great cuisine and attention to every detail, Vaults caters for groups and parties and is open for lunch from Wednesday till Friday from 12:30 to 2:30 and for supper from Tuesday till Saturday from 6:30 to 9:30. Sunday Carvery hours: 12:30 to 2:30 and 6:30 to 9:30

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quality: that means quality food, quality service and ultimately quality time. David also explained, “What you choose every time you visit determines what we feature on our menu. When you demand quality products, you support the local farmers, fishermen, butchers, bakers, and cheese-makers who produce them. You help to create a better environment—for eating and beyond.” Any fine restaurant is about more than the food, it must have great service too. All of their staff pride themselves on being courteous, efficient and knowledgeable about the menu. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and will do their best to accommodate any special requests. Vaults menu is a mix of traditional and international cuisine, fresh and flavorsome with tempting and delicious dishes. Why not try Vaults Calamari with Tarter Sauce, Chicken Liver and Port Pate with Toast or Horse mackerel with brioche toast served with an apple and onion sauce. Main dishes include Vaults Canadian burgers, Chef’s special curry “duet” and Vaults

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PEOPLE

Buy something for nodding! Introducing the Algarve's largest Auction House, located minutes off the A22 motorway at the São Brás de Alportel exit.

e are a family centred business, proud of the team who work here with us. We offer a unique service right in the heart of the Algarve, within easy reach of all main road networks. Our monthly general Auctions are buzzing and friendly – items sold range from a 1 euro trinket, household goods and tools to beautiful furniture, paintings, lighting and ornaments for the home and garden. There really is something for everyone. The Auctions are held on the first Saturday of every month (except August) from 10 am onwards. Items can be viewed on the two days immediately preceding the Auction.

Not able to join us? No problem. How about checking out our catalogue online at www.ahalgarve.com. You can even place bids online from the comfort of your own home and follow the Auction as it happens! This facility has increased our audience participation, with sales to Europe, the Americas and as far away as Australia! If you can join us we offer refreshments - we are proud to support a local charity to which all proceeds from the sale of food and beverages are donated. There is ample parking outside – just look out for the monkey on the banana! As our reputation and knowledge here in the Algarve grows we are developing

a strong following of antique sellers and buyers. As a consequence of this we host Antique and Collectables Auctions every quarter. These are held on a Wednesday evening. The next one is on 22nd June at 7pm and is an opportunity to purchase (and sell, of course) antiques and collectables in the vibrant atmosphere of an auction. We will provide you with a glass or two of wine to support the bidding! Other services we provide include valuations, house clearance, transportation of goods and storage of items. Why not give us a call or better still, pop in, meet us, have a chat and see what we can do for you?

GENERAL AUCTION Saturday 7th may 10.00am. Over 500 lots including furniture, ornaments, art, tools. 100 items starting at just €1. Viewing via our online catalogue at www.ahalgarve.com or on Thu & Fri 09.30-5.00pm at the auction house. We offer several options to bid including pre and telephone bids, live internet bidding and saleroom bids.

SPECIALIST AUCTION COLLECTABLE TOYS May 13th - 23rd. Including matchbox, dinky and corgi. A monthly online timed auction via our website. a great opportunity to start or build up your collection. Running for 10 days every month.

ANITIQUES AUCTION Wednesday 22nd June. Antiques and collectables. evening auction of around 200 lots. GENERAL AUCTION Saturday 4th june. For more information please visit us or call us on 289 832 380 or via our website www.ahalgarve.com Happy bidding!

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FOOD

A misplaced English Chef Local Chef launches his recipe book, sharing delicious dishes, with a twist of Portuguese.

e met up with Joe Devine a week and a half after his first, self published recipe book was launched, titled “A year’s cooking in the Algarve”. Joe has been living in Tavira since June 2012, originally intending to stay for only 3 months, after being offered a job at the popular restaurant Aquasul in Tavira. Having gathered over 100 recipes in the last 5 years Joe had been thinking of putting his own slice of pie into the world of recipe books. His career started in Guilford England, at a catering college, after which Joe went to Holland, working in Amsterdam for 22 years as a chef in a catering company and later a cookery school. During this time he had also written recipes for publication in other books. At this time, in terms of culinary culture, he took inspiration from France, Italy and

Asia. Joe’s book is in no way a Portuguese cookery book, however his dishes have obviously become more Portuguese. It is written with the intention to be easy to follow, with a simple, clean layout and a touch of humour. Joe says; “If you follow the recipe, anyone can make any of the dishes”. All the ingredients are available locally. The book also features beautiful photos, not only of the delicious food, but of the of the stunning East Algarve region, taken by photograper Ana Paula Carvalho. Currently “A year’s cooking in the Algarve” is available from Restaurant Aquasul, Casa Das Portas and Pessoas Cafe, all in Tavira, and soon, further across the Algarve. For details email Joe at devine.culinair@ gmail.com or see his website www. misplacedchef.com

AUBERGINES BAKED WITH TOMATO, ALMONDS AND RAISINS Whether served along side grilled fish, chicken or lamb or just simply enjoyed together with a green salad as a light lunch, these aubergines are packed full of flavour and texture. They can be eaten straight from the oven but I prefer to prepare them at least half a day in advance allowing the flavours to develop. 2 large aubergines. 2 large tomatoes, deseeded and diced approx 1 cm. 2 onions, peeled and diced approx 1 cm. 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped. 1/2 tsp of all spice berries, finely crushed. 2 tbsp of blanched almonds, roughly chopped. 2 tbsp of raisins. 2 tbsp of red wine vinegar. 75 ml of extra virgin olive oil. 1 tbsp of granulated sugar. A good handful of flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped. SERVES 4 • Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/ Gas Mark 4. Cut the aubergines lengthways in half and place them in an oven dish, cut-side up. • In a bowl mix the remaining ingredients, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and spoon over the aubergines. • Cover the dish with aluminium foil and bake for 45 minutes, remove the aluminium foil and bake for a further 15 minutes. Eat immediately, or allow to cool before refrigerating until use.

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HOMES

Energy efficient, zero energy or plus energy homes – which should you choose and why?

ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES

e met with Architect Anabela Macieira, owner of CORE Architects to get clarification on the matter. Anabela is German educated and specialised in energy efficient and ecological buildings. She is the Chairperson of the Passive House Association in Portugal and the leading specialist in this area. “Building suststainable and energy efficient doesn’t only make sense ecologically but also economically”, she says. ”The long term benefits of low energy houses, Passive houses or plus energy houses are tremendous. But what are the real differences?” For several years, we have been confronted with a variety of ever-changing names that describe the respective energy standards of a building. But the related definitions go far beyond the usual general knowledge. We want to bring a better understanding of the terminology. If you imagine a scale from 150 to -50, 150 would represent the consumption of a conventional house with 150 KWh per m2 per year. On the other end of the spectrum is the plus energy house which actually produces additional energy of 50 KWh per m2 per year which can be fed back into the public grid.

Passive houses consume no more than 15 kWh per m2 per year. For a real “green” step further, you could opt for a neutral or zero-energy house, which is also self-sufficient and produces energy, but in this case, the CO2 footprint for the production and transport of the necessary materials is considered in the energy calculation. The production of a car for example takes up to 1/3 of the total used energy during the lifespan of the car! If a building is built with only local materials, that have even been produced on-site, than you can consider a real zero energy house. For example, a building that is built out of clay bricks, produced on-site and using recycled materials that make up the bulk of the construction can reach a zero energy standard. But these zero enegry homes only exist in very extreme communities and are therefore considered more in theory. As materials need to be produced and transported we can only label them "nearly zero energy buildings". The goal of the German trained architect is to further implement Passive houses in Portugal and to build many ecological and energy efficient healthy homes. ''I don’t believe the classification

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of your home is nearly as important as finding the perfect shape of your building, choosing healthy and natural materials and avoiding toxic components. We have too many allergies and diseases caused by toxins in our food, cosmetics and even clothes so we don't want to create homes that further diminish our healthâ&#x20AC;?, says Anabela. With this objective, in 2015, in conjunction with other entrepreneurs in the Algarve, she founded the association Re-Gain (www. regain.pt). Together they offer clients homes, gardens and natural pools that are completely sustainable and energy efficient. According to the international Passive house database (www. passivhausprojekte.de), so far in Portugal there are only three completed certified Passive houses. This doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean that only these examples exist in Portugal, but that only three clients were willing to carry out the expensive certification. "More important than the official certification, are

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the characteristics of the house; energy efficient, comfortable, economical and environmentally friendly," said Anabela. "Therefore, one must pay close attention to details during the planning phase." Houses are "passive" because the majority of the heat demand will be met from "passive" sources such as sunlight, heat of the habitants and technical equipment. It is therefore extremely important to make extensive bioclimatic studies every material, exact size of the windows

and roof overhangs. The house is placed in the optimal direction to the sun. "The glass surfaces and roof overhangs must also be precisely calculated, so that the sun does not overheat the house in the Summer. During the Winter when it the sun is lower, we know exactly how far the sun reaches into the building and we can therefore passively warm the house", explains the architect. One of the main principles of a Passive house is the insulation. The house must be peripherally insulated from the outside, because then a superior recovery of the heat emitted by inhabitants and household appliances can be achieved. Airtightness of the envelope is another important factor; any gaps in the building envelope, for example, for the electrics or the waste water need to be carefully sealed. Thermal bridges which are very common in Portugal even in new buildings lead to moisture and mould in the house. In a Passive house

these thermal bridges do not exist. To determine the airtightness, a so-called blower door test is performed. After completion of the building, the main door is taken out and a ventilation system that brings the house under pressure is used. The pressure loss is measured to check for leaks and minimum air exchange of the house. In a vacuum and pressure of 50 Pa, a ventilation rate of n50 <0.60 / h (0.6 air changes per hour) should be met in Passive houses. Only if these standards are achieved can the house be certified. Because the house is airtight, of course, an extremely well-functioning ventilation system is necessary, which regulates the supply of fresh air for the residents and allows the rejection of nascent in the house steam. Energy loss is reduced by window ventilation. Depending on the properties

and especially the energy consumption, which is measured over a period of time, the houses are then classified. But is the classification of a lowenergy, Passive or plus energy house important anyway? "It is important that you can be impressed by the standards of quality thermal insulation and the healthy atmosphere of your home," said Anabela Macieira, who focuses strongly on the use of sustainable and non-harmful materials. Materials that contain formaldehyde for example, should not be used. The quality of the flooring, and the colour is important. The aim is to avoid materials that evaporate toxins over the lifetime of the building. Due to the quality of construction, use of natural materials and the technical features of a Passive house, construction costs are higher than those of a traditionally built house. The difference is still

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not as great as one might expect, being around eight percent higher. "But for these eight percent one creates a shell that offers maximum comfort throughout the year," said Anabela. "A healthy comfortable microclimate throughout the whole year that doesn't cost any more "Minimal costs for heating or cooling are incurred. Depending on the use of the house, this additional investment can be amortised within five years with permanent residences. If the house is used only as a holiday home, it can take up to 20 years. "The supply of self-generated electricity into the public grid would be another way to compensate for the investment more quickly, but unfortunately this is very bureaucratic in Portugal". Also somewhat bureaucratic and not cheap is the statutory Certificado de Eficiencia EnergĂŠtica required since

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For more information on Passive houses from the German Passivhaus Institute visit: www.passiv.de www.passivhaus.pt for Passive houses that have been approved by the Portuguse Passive House Association. regain.pt & core-architects.com

2010. This energy certificate, that only technicians authorised by the National Energy Agency (ADEN) are allowed to issue, classifies a building on a scale of A+ (most efficient) to F (inefficient), and provides information on the energy efficiency of the building. However, this takes into account not only the actual energy consumption, but also the technical equipment installed in the house. An energy saving regulation, like in Germany, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exist in Portugal, or low-interest loans and grants to credit repayment as promotion of energy-efficient and sustainable building. But with the EU law of 2020 we have to be aware that in just four years only low energy houses will be approved to be built. It is time to start changing our approach and act more green, especially in the building sector.

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Portman Properties

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PROPERTY

Banks will be banks Property

Interest rates are here to stay low for longer which is good news for borrowers but bad news for people with savings and pensions.

ICurrency

swings, a blessing or a curse

n a surprise move in February the Bank of Japan moved its key interest rate into negative territory for the first time in history. It has now joined the European Central Bank as well as the central banks of Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark who all have negative interest rate policies in place to fight deflationary pressures. As the global economic outlook is weakening, the market rightly expected the ECB to announce further measures in their February meeting. The ECB delivered. Interest rates are here to stay low for longer which is good news for borrowers but bad news for people with savings and pensions. Low interest rates are positive for property prices as it increases the

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ALGARVEAN COTTAGES

V I LLAS

affordability ratio for people who need a mortgage to purchase a property. In Portugal most mortgages are based on a floating rate, with 3 or 6 months Euribor as the benchmark with a margin (spread) for the banks. Coming out of the financial crisis the spread that banks charged were high at around 3.5 to 4�. At this time of writing this article it is possible to get a floating or fixed rate mortgage with a spread of 1.5�. (This is still twice as high as before the crisis started in 2008). Should you choose a floating rate mortgage based on 3 and 6 months Euribor, both currently have negative interest rates of approximately minus 0.17 and minus 0.096. In other words, a floating rate mortgage based on 3 months Euribor would cost you

H A P P Y H O M E S A L G A RV E A PA RT M E N T S

TOWNHOUSES

QU I NTAS

Happy Homes Algarve is currently looking for additional good quality rental Villas and Apartments to offer to our customers for next season. If you have a property to let, please contact us for more details'

Confused about the new rental law? Contact us for specialist advice. h a p p y h o m e s l d a. R u a D r. P a r r e i r a 1 3 7 next to Barclays Bank 8 8 0 0 - 3 46 T a v i r a

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L A N D & H O U S E S A L G A RV E

for the 1st 3 months 1,33� (spread 1.5 + -0.17). The new 3 month Euribor rate will be fixed at the end of the period. It is highly unusual to have negative interest rates, but then again we are living in uncertain times. For people who need a mortgage (or already have one) it may be of interest to take advantage of the current low interest rate environment we are in by choosing (or changing to) a fixed rate mortgage. As we all know it is difficult to make predictions, especially when it is about the future. No one knows where interest rates may be in two years time. However, with interest rates near zero the risk is to the upside. A fixed rate mortgage could protect you from rising rates. Not many banks in Portugal offer clients the choice between a fixed or floating rate mortgages. This has resulted in millions of people currently having a floating rate mortgage. This has worked well during a period of falling interest rates but could be damaging when rates start to rise again. To put this in perspective, a 5 year fixed rate mortgage would carry an interest rate of 1.55�* which offers peace of mind versus a floating rate mortgage of 1.33�with no protection against interest oreign exchange rates rate fluctuations (* based on the official can be volatile and 5 year Euro swap rate of the 22nd of unpredictable. A weak Euro April 2016, the benchmark banks use for be a beneﬁ t to buyers this type can of mortgage. For those of you from terminal, outside the monitor Euro with a Reuters you can zonechanges but can cause ISDAFIX2). a headache price on Reuters The price for peace who of mind never been for vendors arehas returning to cheaper at 22 of basis points. In need northern their country origin and to Europe it isthe common that from you can exchange proceeds the choose a 5, 10aor house even 20back year sale toto have purchase fixed mortgage. Not in Portugal, 5 year home. There has always been a is the maximum. large number of English buyers and Why are banks not doing more to sellers offixed residential and buy This to let promote rate mortgages? is properties in the Algarve. However, a matter of ´boys will be boys, banks

Expert advice from Robert Bijker, director of Land and Houses Algarve.

Sterling has recently lost some of its strength which is a beneﬁt for vendors who want to move back www.simply-algarve.com to the UK. But what impact has a strong or weak currency, is it a curse

Property

Experience Currency swings, the power of Advertising a blessing or a curse

Robert Bijker, Director Tavira Office Yellow Homes – Rua Dr. José Pires Padinha 178 Land & Houses Algarve 8800 - 354 Tavira Vilamoura Office Tel: 281 320 281 EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime Fax: 281 321 901 - 068 Boliqueime www.algarvepropertysearch.com h a p p y h o m e s l 8100 d a. o n t a c t us t o d a y : 2 81 32 0 28 3 R u a D r. P a r r e i r a 1 3 7 Tel: 289 301 294 Cwww.algarve-portugal-immobilien.de next to Barclays Bank www.portugal-accommodation.com Fax: 289 301 439 (AMI – 6232) 8 8 0 0 - 3 46 T a v i r a

Confused about the new rental law? Contact us for specialist advice.

G O L F P R O P E RT I E S

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A PA RT M E N T S

T O W N H OU SE S

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Covering the whole of the Algarve as independant real estate agents, we can provide you with unbiased advice when you decide to purchase a property and can introduce you to a wide choice of reputable mortgage banks, architects, lawyers, builders, chartered surveyors and interior designers. We have been in business for over 16 years, finding the right property for countless satisfied clients. We currently have over 900 properties available online and would be very pleased to help you find your ideal home.

If you are the owner of a good quality property and wish to sell, please contact us to arr ange an appoin tment TA VI RA

R u a J o sé P i r es P a d i n ha 1 7 8 880 0 - 3 5 4 T av i r a

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V I L A MO U R A

N 1 2 5 , B e n f a r r a s , B o l i q u e i me 81 0 0 - 0 6 8 B o l i q ue i m e

www.simply-algarve.com 88_Apr16.indd 24

C o n t a c t us t o d a y : 2 81 32 0 28 1

Advertise your

oreignbusiness exchange rates to over can 6,0be volatile 00 readers perand unpredictable. A weak Euro month from can be a benefi t to only buyers €40 + ivaoutside for a business from the Euro zone card but can a headache sizedcause advert, up to for€260 vendors who are returning + iva for a full page. to their country of origin and need to exchange the proceeds from the Email: a house back sale to purchase design@simplyalgarvemag.com home. There has always been a large number English buyers and or call of 961 700 200 sellers for of residential and buy to let more information. properties in the Algarve. However, Sterling has recently lost some of its strength which is a benefit for RE REFEback vendors who want to move to the UK. But what impactD2 has a strong or weak currency, is it a curse or a blessing? the style and mood that InBeautiful April fabrics 2015forwe had a relatively pleases you. New curtains, pillows, interior weak Euro which made itstyles: easier for blinds, exterior shades, (different Roman. buyers from the UK to purchase Venezian, conventional). Pergolas. BedHowever, covers. Bed headboards. a property. a year later blind repairs. due to a the EuroCurtain has orrecovered We make covers with ultra resistant materials, weak economic recovery for outside garden chairs, tables and in sofas.the Euro zone combination We do fabricinreplacement for yourwith inside the or outside of sofas, longue possibility a chaise Brexit. Forcovers, a buyer umbrella covers including repairing your from the UK this is less favourable, clothing. Laundry and dry cleaning services at but for a vendor who would like to competitive prices. sell and move back to tosee the We will be delighted you!UK this off ers window opportunity 914 671a546 / 920 167of952 / 289 358 290to capitalize on the current weakness Specialist Sewing Shop and interior decor, of no the pound and convert Euros matter how big or small your requirement. Come visit us, is where we are in to Sterling. A thisBritish homeowner Almacil, Rua just de Valeneeds Formoso, a buyer in the Algarve Edifício Oliveiras Parque, *LOJA A*, Almancil, from the Euro zone, of which there 8135-148. Just opposite the GNR. are plenty of at the moment. The N CE

REAL ESTATE

Expert advice from Robert Bijker, director of Land and Houses Algarve.

MAP

will be banks`. Banks always make the a bank who do this for a living. When same mistakes, only the circumstances interest rates do go up again this may change. In the past banks have made leave thousands of people exposed and costly mistakes by lending money for at risk of not being able to fulfil their a long period of time at a fixed rate, monthly mortgage obligation resulting while borrowing (funding) short term. in bad loan provisions and losses for A bank can borrow the money for the banks. This is exactly what the banks whole period which is more expensive thought they could avoid by passing on and eliminates interest rate risk but is the interest rate risk to the homeowner. less profitable. If a bank borrows money However if banks would proactively for a short period, it will cost them approach their clients to offer the less and they will make more money. possibility to switch from a floating rate They can continue borrowing short to a fixed rate mortgage, they would term on an ongoing basis. However, this not only provide a good service to the leaves them fully exposed to adverse homeowner but also lower the risk of a interest rate movements and if not potential default should rates go up. managed correctly can cost the bank Should you be interested in changing dearly. And that is exact what has the type of your mortgage (or to lower happened in the past all over Europe. the spread on your mortgage), it is Highly qualified professionals at treasury advisable to shop around a bit. Ask desks of various banks got it wrong several banks to make a simulation for while trying to maximize profits for the you as there is a good chance that your bank. Contrary to fixed rate mortgages, current mortgage provider will not give H A P P Y H O M E S A L G A RV E PROPERTY MANAGEMENT changes in interest rates with a floating you the best rate. Some banks offer rate mortgage are simply passed on to to pay the expenses you incur when TOWNHOUSES ALGARVEAN COTTAGES V I LLAS A PA RT M E N T S mortgage the homeowner while the profit margin changing provider. QU INTAS (spread) for the bank remains the same. If you have questions and/or need Happy Homes Algarve is currently looking for additional good quality It may seem logical that Portuguese assistance with arranging quotations, rental Villas and Apartments to offer to our customers for next season. banks opted to promote floating rate contact us to make an appointment, free If you have a property us for more mortgages, but it really to is let, not.please There contact of charge and no details' obligations. However, is no logic in assuming that millions we would be very pleased if you would of households with very little financial consider using our services to help you knowledge would be better suited to finding the right property to buy or to manage fluctuations in interest rates assist you in selling, now or in the future. than highly qualified professionals at Robert Bijker

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23/04/2016 18:47

PROPERTY

Property of the month YELLOW HOMES Land & Houses Algarve Real Estate Agent since 1995 Tel: +351 289 301 294 Email: info@yellowhomes.com www.yellowhomes.com EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime (opposite DHL)

AMI: 6232

www.simply-algarve.com

Combining the ultimate in luxury living, with the spectacular coastal views from this sublime hillside setting, makes this the perfect central Algarve retreat.

PROPERTY DETAILS Ref: P-RKC

̇̇ ̇̇ ̇̇ ̇̇ ̇̇ ̇̇ ̇̇ ̇̇ ̇̇

4 en suite bedrooms Large fitted and equipped kitchen Spacious reception rooms Utility room Guest cloakroom Maid’s quarters with private access Cinema room Separate games room or gymnasium Under floor heating Air-conditioning Integrated sound system 14,480m2 plot Electric entrance gates Low maintenance manicured gardens Calçada driveway Private borehole Heated swimming pool Energy Cert: B-

€1,495,000 www.simply-algarve.com

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PROPERTY

The

Algarve, a paradise

with many faces

One of the longest and hardest crises in the property market is finally over and the expectations for 2016 are high! All signs point to recovery.

roperty purchasers this year could be rewarded with great price bargains. Prices have come down to a realistic level and are stable, but they could increase again if there is a potential shortage of properties in the near future. The Algarve enjoys multiple nationalities interested in buying a property; increasing numbers of Germans, French, and Scandinavians and Benelux clients plus, of course the Brits and Non-Europeans who wish to gain a permanent residence within the Schengen area. Welcome to the Algarve Portugal´s most southern province which stretches from Vila Real on the border with Spain to Cape St. Vicente, the most south-westerly point in Europe - and from there northward along the rugged west coast to the next province - the Alentejo. This is a unique jewel in Europe where the sun shines approximately 300 days per year and offers a multitude of benefits compared to other European countries including: climate, leisure, golf, beaches, safety, satisfaction and taxation. The Algarve is a paradise for retirees and offers tax advantages on foreign earned income. The site ‘Living in Portugal’ gives all detailed information about these advantages. (Source: www.livinginportugal.pt). Although

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the Algarve is most commonly known for its beautiful beaches with long flat stretches of sand, coves and bays - it also boasts spectacular countryside with small picturesque villages tucked away in the hills. From the natural charm of the very western Algarve towards Sagres, the coastline turns northwards with majestic black rock cliff faces, both areas are a paradise for surfers! Well known holiday accommodations are based in the Lagos area, Carvoeiro, Albufeira in the centre and Tavira in the East. The central Algarve with its world famous golf courses and facilities are located within the ‘golden triangle’, the most opulent and exclusive area in the region. Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo and Vilamoura are low density and upmarket, purposebuilt luxury resorts with great facilities including marinas, world class golf courses and tennis academies, shopping malls, award winning restaurants and infrastructure. Their close proximity to Faro International Airport is appreciated. The primary focus for the deluxe market is the golf resorts and tourist resorts, front line properties here are also ideal to rent out as an investment. Quinta do Lago - consists of three major golf courses and approx. 550 private, expensive villas located within roughly 800 hectares of beautiful, landscaped plots near the sea.

This area is an absolute paradise for ‘elite and chic’ golf lovers from all over the world - these luxurious golf resorts have their own rules and prices! North of Faro there are beautiful villages and towns with open market places and beautiful distant sea views - like Loulé which is an interesting larger town in the central Algarve offering all usual amenities. The town is in an elevated position and is famous for its Saturday morning gipsy market. In the East Algarve there is Tavira, a town renowned for having the most churches. Tavira offers beautiful protected nature reserves, plus the islands in front of its beaches which lend themselves to idyllic dreams of peace and tranquillity. The part in the East between Tavira and the Spanish border is very natural with scattered, traditional fishing villages on flat land. Here property prices are decent. Cultural highlights can be found all across the Algarve. The Portuguese tourist association offers a wide range of attractions and sports events throughout the year. Albufeira

is a lively town - even in the winter - and best known for its night life. Most towns and villages have an old square or centre - sometimes surrounded by an old wall with narrow roads as well as shops with typical regional cuisine, handicrafts, Portuguese wine and spirits and of course culture. The Algarve has an abundance of restaurants, from the good - to those with Michelin stars. The majority serve traditional Portuguese dishes incorporating fresh fish, good local meat, vegetables/ salads and accompanied by good Portuguese wines or Sagres or Super Bock beer. The Algarve is a natural beauty with lots to offer and has a great multi-cultural community. For the Portuguese, their second language is English but in the Algarve, German, Spanish and also sometimes French is spoken and understood. Editor: Susanna Gross, Sales & Marketing Manager, TogoforHomes Lda, Real Estate Agency based in Vilamoura - Lagos - Tavira

ABOUT US: REAL ESTATE AGENT ‘Togofor-Homes’ has been successfully selling properties across the entire Algarve for the last 12 years operating from their three offices in VILAMOURA (head office), LAGOS and TAVIRA with a team of multi-lingual professionals offering a portfolio of more than 800 quality properties for all areas in the entire Algarve and in all price ranges. Please contact info@togofor-homes.com or enquiries@togofor-homes.com we also offer very attractive job opportunities for sales consultants and property listers. If you are interested please send your CV with photo to admin@togofor-homes.comOur web sites: www. properties-algarve.com and www.togofor-home.com.

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Algarve Homes Lda Company Profile

Algarve Homes Lda is a private, family owned; fully Government licensed Real Estate Agent (AMI Nº 175), with two traditional high street offices, one in the charming picturesque village of Santa Bárbara de Nexe and, the other in the busy country market town of São Brás de Alportel, both offices in the central Algarve and close to Faro Airport, numerous championship Golf Courses, sandy beaches and harbours. Established in 1989, Algarve Homes is now officially the longest established Government licensed Real Estate Agent in the Algarve – over 27 years! We pride ourselves on our friendly, professional, ethical and personal service, offering knowledge and experience, advice and assistance in all aspects of acquiring or selling your property in the Algarve - from our initial contact, to guiding you through the complete selling and purchasing process and after sales service.

We can offer our services through the medium of Portuguese, English, French and Dutch languages.

“Sold” by... ALGARVE HOMES – Sociedade de Mediação Imobiliária, Lda Sede Social: Largo do Rossio, Nº1, 8006 – 701, Apartado 5096 Santa Barbara de Nexe, Faro, Algarve, Portugal NIPC Nº 504599321 – Capital Social 25,000.00 Euros – Mat Nº4161 - CRC Faro – AMI Nº 175 – APEMIP Nº 342

Tel: (00351) 289 992 625 Fax: (00351) 289 992 598 e-mail: info@algarvehomes.com Web: www.algarvehomes.com

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Vale do Lobo, €350,000

Vila Sol, €1,350,000

A rare opportunity to own a delightful and very well maintained villa overlooking the 12th green of Vila Sol Golf Course. Designed and built to a very high standard. The property is situated in a quiet area with landscaped gardens and a heated pool. It benefits from air conditioning and underfloor heating, and boasts spacious and comfortable accommodation including 5 en suite bedrooms, study/bedroom 6, light and spacious living room, dining room, modern kitchen with adjoining laundry and a very spacious basement with garaging and storage.

Vale do Lobo, €325,000

Located on the prestigious golf resort of Vale do Lobo within less than 5 mins walk to the beach and praça. This double storey aldeamento it's in a very good condition and comprises 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge and dining room, kitchen and terrace. Excellent lock up and leave property.

Vale do Lobo, €975,000

A lovely first floor apartment surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens in Vale do Lobo. The apartment comprise of two bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, fully fitted kitchen, spacious lounge/dining room with fireplace. Ideal for those who are looking to own a luxury home in the sun without the responsibilities of a large property. The apartment is within easy walking distance of the tennis centre and has all amenities on site including, golf, the beach, health club, shops, restaurants and bars.

Ideally situated between Almancil and the coastal resorts of Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago and within easy reach of golf, beaches, restaurants and other sport facilities. Spacious property comprised by 4 bedrooms, 3 en suite plus a guest shower room, large lounge/dining room and kitchen. Secluded garden with fenced pool area and tennis court. Excellent property for permanent residence, holiday home or rental business

Service you deserve. People you can trust. 28 years of professional services in Quinta do Lago and surrounding areas.

architechture and design with help from our professional friends and colleagues.

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property they have been looking for as well as advertising on matters of management, law,

MAP

We are good at meeting our clients’ needs and expectations, we can often find the particular

Due to an upturn in property sales and our ever increasing list of interested buyers, we are looking for more properties to offer for sale in the ‘Golden Triangle’. If you would like to put your property on the market with us please ring our office on 289 356 210 or email properties@portmanproperties.com www.portmanproperties.com AMI 2436

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Property

Broadcast your property Broadcast

Meet Gavin and Amanda who offer a unique way to market your property.

your property

uyers dream of owning especially when buyers can be Recordings can be seen on 2 popular a property in the sun - travelling some distance. However, International property websites, plus we bring that dream a like the best Agents in the Algarve, our own website, and YouTube. little closer every time we use video as a proven technique. Why YouTube? Because it's the 2nd Meet Gavin and Amanda a unique way market your property. we broadcast live from who We areoffer so enthusiastic about ourtolargest search engine in the World, the Algarve properties - probably because videos are more dream of owning a property use Buyers video as a proven informative than text and photos. what uyers a perfect the technique. proof We is and engaging and informative than text Over 90% of in the sun -towe bring that dream are so enthusiastic about properties can look at your property opportunity e v eour ryw h e r e . Buyers and photos. Buyers can look atagain your a little your closer every time we property - the proof is everywhere. Whatever again,again and and shareagain, their and experience start their show Buyers Whatever your and property share broadcast live from the Algarve your property, big or small, we create a with their family by just sending the property! property, big or their experience with their family by search - what a perfect opportunity to show online commentated walk-through video, then link. Buyers can see we're easy to talk With almost small, we create just sending the link. Buyers can see Buyers your property! in one of our live broadcasts. to, down to earth, and clearly know our instruct us tofeature sell ityour 20 years of UK a commentated we're easy to talk to, down to earth, With almost 20 years of UK Estate 'Going Live' is a great way of telling a proprties, inside and out! Estate Agency w a l kyour - t hproperty r o u g h Tel: and(00351) clearly our proprties, Agency marketing, we've got some - and lot of Buyers that we have 289 know 093 958 property we'll marketing, we've video, inside(00351) and out! real "bite", and we charge no more for sale. Recordings can be seen then on 2 Mob: 916 236 500 got someagents. real Giving buyers feature it in www.buyinthealgarve.com Tel: (00351) 289 093 958 tell little the world ! than other popular International property websites, "bite", and one YouTube. of our Why live sales@buyinthealgarve.com Mob: (00351) 916 236 500 information from we the outset, is a bit 'hit plus our own website, and and miss', when buyers can broadcasts. YouTube? Because it's Live' the 2nd Estate Licence 11870 AMI charge noespecially more than other agents. 'Going is alargest great Real www.buyinthealgarve.com be travelling However, searchofengine World, probably Giving buyerssome little distance. information from way telling ina the lot of Buyers that sales@buyinthealgarve.com like the best Agents the and Algarve, we we because more for engaging the outset, is a bitin 'hit miss', havevideos your are property sale. Real Estate Licence 11870 AMI

Buy In The Algarve Unashamedly different

We video and broadcast your property

0:16 / 12:04 Tel: (00351) 289 093 958 Mob: (00351) 916 236 500

www.simply-algarve.com 86_Mar16.indd 32

www.buyinthealgarve.com sales@buyinthealgarve.com

Real Estate Licence 11870 AMI

www.eastalgarvemag.com

23/04/2016 18:53

Rua do Calvário nº 96, 8135-123 Almancil, Algarve,Portugal Tel: 289 399668/ 289 397573 - Fax: 289 399294 info@shirleydunne.com - Website: www.shirleydunne.com

Property Management, Maintenance and Rentals

R E F E RE

N CE

MAP

We are a long established Villa Holiday and Property Management Company with over 25 years experience in Management, Rentals and Maintenance. Our team has an intimate knowledge of the Algarve and will do everything it can to make your holiday an enjoyable experience. Please come and talk to us about your requirements.

We offer a full management and concierge service, including weekly inspections, payment of bills, supervision of maids, gardeners and pool companies. We can deal with all types of bureaucracy and documentation on your behalf, including a translation service. We can help you with maintenance issues large and small. Property owners and rental clients have a 24/7 emergency number to contact.

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FINANCE

Managing your international payments Premier FX’s Account Manager Cathryn Evans keeps us up to date with the latest currency news.

On the 22nd March we started the day with the GBP/EUR at 1.2780 and by 2pm it had gone down to 1.2640. On £1000 this is €14 difference, and on £10,000 €140

hen considering moving your money there is so much to consider. Is now the right time? Am I getting the best rate? Should I wait to see if it improves? And, with the ‘Brexit’ looming, What will happen to the Pound?? From now until the vote we will see very differing opinions of what will happen depending on the result. No one knows what the outcome will be. However, the consensus is that an exit from Europe will generally weaken the Pound, whilst a vote to stay in will move it higher immediately. Once upon a time we were able to see a trend in the markets; and when certain economic data was published, we had a good indication of where the rate was going to be. In these changing and volatile times, this is not so easy to predict. We are seeing that any piece of news seems to concern investors and see them jumping from one currency to another for security. This of course causes the volatile market, which is why at times we can see the GBP/EUR

move over 100 points in one day. For example on the 22nd March we started the day with the GBP/EUR at 1.2780 and by 2pm it had gone down to 1.2640. On £1000 this is €14 difference, and on £10,000 €140. If you have any currency needs, talk to a specialist we are here to help you secure the best rates and at the right time for you. Premier FX offers a tailored service to suit your needs, we take time to listen to your requirements and offer personalized solutions to help you achieve the best rates, and eliminate the stress and concern about moving your money. If you would like any further information on how we can help save you money on your transfers worldwide, with our fee free service or find our more about our currency cards, please contact me or call our office in Almancil. Premier FX is authorised by the FCA (530712) and regulated by HMRC. CONTACT: Cathryn Evans, Tel: + 351 289 358 511 Email: cathryn.evans@premierfx.com

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FINANCE

Licensing and tax on Rental properties Keep up to date with our Finance expert, chartered accountant Ricardo Chaves from All Finance Matters

If you are considering renting your property, there are a number of issues that you need to be aware of in order to avoid any problems with the Portuguese licensing and tax departments.

s more and more tourists visit Portugal, it's worth considering renting out your property to reduce the cost of owning a holiday home. There are nearly 30,000 rental licenses registered in the Portuguese Portal of Tourism, which is growing daily. If you are considering renting your property, there are a number of issues that you need to be aware of in order to avoid any problems with the Portuguese licensing and tax departments. First of all, you need to bear in mind when you rent your property in Portugal, that irrespective if you are a tax resident or not, the rental income will always need to be declared in Portugal. Secondly, the Tax Authorities (Finanças) state categorically that Property Owners letting directly to holidaymakers (less than 30 days) are viewed as business activity and must be reported in Category B. Despite several taxpayers declaring rentals on Category F, this should be reserved for “longterm” rentals (more than 30 days). Even the “locação turística”, when the property owner makes a contract ceding the property to an agent for ongoing letting to tourists, should also be declared under category B. Please note that as we mentioned on previous articles, the main reasons for you to comply with this new law, are: • ASAE and the tax authorities are checking the rental portals, to make sure that the properties advertised, are all legal and the owners are fully compliant. Fines are considerably high for those without a AL license, both the property owners and property agents that advertise the rentals; • Tax is considerably low if you are on this scheme, as a non-resident you pay as little as 3.75� tax, instead of being taxed at 28� (this is not a typing error you read it correctly, 3.75� opposed to 28�) So why take unnecessary risks and not obey the law? Please find below some questions and answers, to help you understand a bit more about the local lodging: 1) As a business, will there be complicated accounting/reporting requirements? No, unless your income is over €200,000 per year, we will class you on the “Simplified Regime” and as the name says, everything will be simple. 2) What is the simplified regime and what expenses can I offset against my rentals? Most of the Sole Traders in Portugal elect to operate under the Simplified Regime when opening their business activity. Under the simplified regime taxpayers cannot deduct professional and business expenses against their annual gross income. The taxable income of this category will be computed automatically, based on their income.

3) What is the tax payable on the simplified regime on my rentals? The effective tax rate on Category B, in the simplified regime, for a non-resident Property Owner will be 3.75�. So for earnings of €10,000 the taxable income, equates to €375. Please note that under Category F, on the same income taxed autonomously at 28�, the tax liability would be €2,800, nearly 8 times more! 4) Do I have to issue invoices to holidaymakers? Yes, you need to issue invoices, however this is a service included on our package, so we will do this for you. We will also simultaneous report the arrivals and departures to the Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) at no additional cost. This is also mandatory under the new law. 5) Will I need to be VAT registered? You can be VAT registered by choice or when your income exceeds €10,000 per year. However as the VAT charged to holidaymakers is 6� as a tourist activity and as most of your operating expenses has VAT at 23� rate, normally you should be in credit in terms of VAT. 6) Do I have to pay Social Security contributions? There are various full and partial exemptions that apply in most cases: a) many people are eligible for full Social Security exemption if they already contribute to or are beneficiaries of a National Insurance system anywhere in the EU and beyond; b) those earning less than €16,768.80 in Local Lodging income are also fully exempt; c) those who earn more have contributions based taxable income (15� of gross Local Lodging invoices) and should be eligible for partial reductions from the normal contribution of €145. 7) How long does it take to get a rental license? Depending on your urgency, we are able to complete the registration at the tax office and the application to the tourism office, in 48hrs allowing us to have your AL number in 2 days! The AL license is valid for 10 years. 8) Do I pay capital gains if I decide to stop renting? In most cases you won’t have a problem with the capital gains. However is advisable to seek personal advice, so you can plan ahead a future sale of the property. 9) What do I need to report to SEF? All property owners need to report to the SEF (Emigration Office) the entry and exit of all guests with non-Portuguese nationality. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us, we aim our expertise and knowhow to work in your benefit, keeping you tax compliant while paying only the legal minimum. Contact our office and book an appointment to find out more about the tax strategy that might be more effective on your specific situation.

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GARDENS

How to grow

succulents

Gardeners spend a lot of time looking at the overall picture, and by way of a change it’s good to get down and examine plants at really close quarters.

hen you start playing with plants for your garden you have a refreshing alteration of scale, focusing on individual leaves as opposed to vast sweeps of a border. It is light work, intricate and absorbing, yet it can have equally high-octane impact. Succulent plants, with their plump, waterretaining leaves and stems, are often quite chubby compared to many species, yet close inspection can reveal that they look delicate and exotic. Many are ideal to adorn your garden. Succulents are a large, diverse group and what counts is somewhat debatable. Debatable succulents include halophytes (plants that grow in salt marshes), bulbs (many people consider a few bulbs such as Bowia and Heamanthus to be succulents), Welwitchia (a weird cone baring plant all the other generally accepted succulents are flowering plants) and even some cacti. Even if you exclude all these, you’re left with a huge range: rain forest epiphytes (e.g. Hoya and Schlumbergera),

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alpines from the mountains of Europe, cacti from Canada and Patagonia, not to mention all those succulents from deserts and semi-deserts in fairly warm to very hot climates. For the purposes of this article, I’ll just consider the warmer climate desert plants that are grown as houseplants in cooler climates. Even though this group is quite varied and sometimes plants with very different cultural requirements are included in the same genus (e.g. Euphorbia and Mammillaria). (Most the succulent bulbs will grow well if treated like this.) LIGHT: Most plants (including succulents) are basically solar powered and succulents like more light than most. They’ll do best on a south-facing wall (north-facing in the southern hemisphere). Although succulents do well outside all year here you must keep an eye on your plants, as succulents can be burnt by too much light and heat but this rather depends on the type and where you live. Also plants can aclimatetize to some extent.

HEAT: Many succulents will tolerate (if not prefer) to have a cool winter period when they only have protection from frost (many will tolerate some frost). However there are others that need to be kept above 10 degrees C. If you have a greenhouse, you may like to concentrate on the kinds that tolerate cooler conditions (they include most the small round cacti that have nice flowers, some large cacti, most Opuntias, most Crassulaceae, Aloes, Agaves, some Euphorbias and all Messembrianthemums). If you’re growing your succulents somewhere that stays hot all the time, you should stick to the more tropical kinds: Melocactus, many large cacti, some Euphorbias, stapeliads, Kalanchoes, Pachypodiums etc. although you can probably get away with some of the more tolerant types like Aloes. WATER: This is complicated. Most books advise to water about once a week from spring to autumn and not at all in the winter. This is fine if you’re keeping them cool in the winter, and don’t have winter growing types. If you’re keeping them warm all year, you really need to water all year, but probably a bit less in the winter. Winter growing kinds will need watering about once every 2 to 4 weeks in the winter. You really have to learn to tell when things are looking thirsty. The stemless Messembrianthemums are very fussy about when they get watered and

they’re all different! FERTILIZER: Accepted wisdom says that succulents like low nitrogen fertilizer. However I think balanced fertilizer (with trace elements) is perfectly OK. COMPOST: Succulents will grow well in wide range of composts. Many people use peat based compost. Others use inorganic compost composed of things like pumice, perlite and sand. I mostly use a perlite-based compost and the only things I’ve found it doesn’t work for are Bulbines. Anacampseros and, more so, Avonia like loam based compost. POTS: Old books recommend clay pots but plastic works just fine. Don’t put plants in pots smaller than about 5cm as this will really dwarf the plants. If you’re going to put multiple plants in the same container, make sure they like similar conditions and grow at about the same speed. Don’t mix winter and summer growing plants or cacti and Crassulaceae (the latter take over) and don’t mix stemless Messembrianthemums with anything. PESTS AND DISEASES: Again complicated as pests keep evolving immunity and the availability of insecticides keeps changing. The main problems are: Mealy bugs (white fuzzy things that look a bit like small woodlice), root mealy bugs (similar but live in the soil), red spider mites (very small, cause brown scarring) and various types of rot.

Many people use systemic insecticides and fungicides every year or so b u t crassulaceae really don’t like systemic insecticides or Malathion. Red spider mites don’t like being sprayed with water. I use bulb powder in the compost to prevent fungus and root mealy bugs. If you can put your plants outside or let them get cold in the winter, it will help keep the pests down. If you have a plant that dies at the base, you can often chop off the dead and dying bits and get what’s left to take root. You may also be able to graft the top bit. Some more easily grown succulents (good to start with): Aeonium, Agave, Aloe, Apteranthus, Beaucarnia, Carpobotros, Cereus, Crassula, Dracena, Delosperma, Echeveria, Echinopsis (now includes Lobivia, Trichocereus etc.), Euphorbia (some, remember there are tropical and cooler climate species), Gasteria, Graptopetalum, Gymnocalycium, Haworthia, Kalanchoe, Lampranthus, Lithops, Mammillaria (easy species include: boccasana, gracilis and prolifera), Notocactus, Opuntia, Pachyphytum, Plectranthus, Rebutia, Sedum (warmer climate kinds the cold climate types should be grown in the garden in a cold climate), Senecio. Mark O'Shaughnessy

Pool construction & repair With 30 years of experience and working with the top pool sellers in the Algarve, we offer a range of pools from concrete to fibreglass. We also provide jacuzzis, saunas, pool pumps and much more! Tel: (+00351) 963905615 Email: MARK.OSHAUGHNESSY@ HOTMAIL.CO.UK

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We provide Pool heaters, pool fencing, telescopic pool covers, winter pool covers, automatic slated safety cover, water treatments and much more.Our manual pool covers are made in our warehouse to guarantee quality to our customers.

Tel: (+00351) 918 143 491 Email: info@aquapura.com.pt www.aquapura.com.pt Pool construction specialists Specialized in new and existing pools Refurbishment, repair and maintenance

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Tel: 289 391 691 Mob: 916 982 085 Info@norberto-marum.com www.norbertopools.com.pt

SPORT

Sports News ALGARVE RUGBY FESTIVAL

he annual festival at Brown’s (Vilamoura) attracted a large crowd with teams from Gloucester Rugby Club, CDUL (Lisbon University) and the British Army providing some thrilling entertainment. The British Army team recorded a 29-10 win over Gloucester whilst, six times Portugal Rugby Cup winners, CDUL had a resounding 31-13 victory against the Army.

A CLUB WITH A PROUD HISTORY

C Farense, who play at the Estádio de São Luís are currently battling against relegation from the Segunda Liga. The club, founded in 1910, has played twenty three seasons in the Primeira Liga, their highest position was fifth in 1994–95. The club therefore qualified for the UEFA Cup losing to Lyon (France) in the first round. In 2002 the club was relegated from the Primeira Liga and in subsequent seasons dropped several levels before going bankrupt in 2005. The following season the reformed club started at base level and by 2013 had returned to the Segunda Liga. Malcolm Allison managed the team briefly in 1989 and signed Peter Barnes who played one game for

the club. Having now won only three of their last sixteen games they are facing the ignominy of dropping back into nonleague football. If Farense do go down they will look at their four defeats by local rivals Portimonense and Olhanense as being crucial. Farense's final home game of the season is on the 8th May. The last Algarve derby of the season saw arch rivals Olhanense and Farense meet in Olhão. Stanley Amuzie’s 90th minute winning goal could well have hammered another nail in the coffin of relegation threatened Farense. A crowd of 2,560 settled down to what many thought could be an explosive encounter but they were to be disappointed until midway through the second-half when a coffin was carried shoulder high along the front of the main stand in a mock symbolic representation of the possible relegation of the Faro based club! The Farense fans know that their team, who have picked up only two points from the last five games and are third from bottom (five go down this season as the league is being reduced), now have just four games to haul themselves to safety. The thought that Farense could disappear into the ignominy of nonleague football was too much for many fans as they made the short journey back to Faro.

WALKING BACK TO HAPPINESS

rowns Health Club and Spa at Vilamoura started weekly Walking Football sessions some twelve months ago and anyone, as long as they are over fifty years of age, is welcome to have a go. Walking Football, is a non-contact slow-paced version of the beautiful game but players must keep their feet on the ground! Anyone who sprints, runs or jogs while the ball is in play will incurs the displeasure of the referee and will be penalised with a free-kick. The health benefits of Walking Football for this older age group are tremendous with improvement in the cardiovascular fitness, joint mobility, co-ordination and proprioception. There is less stress on the body as there is no sudden change of direction or cutting

The latest local sports news brought to you by Chris Wright

movements. The third generation astro-turf pitch is also kinder on knees and ankle joints. Alan Brown, who founded the Health Club and Spa, is a keen participant and having undergone a triple heart bypass operation a couple of years ago he is fully aware of the benefits of sport. “Come and try Walking Football. It’s the perfect game for the 'forever young' football players who want to continue enjoying the game without killing themselves!” Last October ten teams from Scotland, England and the Algarve contested the first Algarve Walking Football Cup and as the magazine was going to print more teams from the UK including Manchester City Strollers were arriving for another 50+ competition. Training sessions: every Tuesdays, from 9:30am to 11.00am. Contact: 289 322 740 or email: info@browns-club.com

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You don't need to be a great Footballer or a champion Golfer to play Footgolf! Open to everyone on Saturday and Sunday afternoons between 2pm and 5pm - Pre-booking required

Colina Verde Golf & Sports Resort Moncarapacho Tel: 289 092 983 #FootGolfAlgarve www.simply-algarve.com

FootGolfAlgarve 51

We build, while you rest. High-end quality homes, built to German standards. Energy efficient and cost conscious. Call us for a free initial consultation.

Dipl. lng. Arch Anabela Macieira Tel 289 301 882 www.core-architects.com Geral@core-architects.com