SIMPLY
ALGA GAR GAR ARVE ISSUE NO. 36 APRIL 19
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Contents
RICHARD BASSETT
SUSI ROGOL-GOODKIND
4 WORTH KNOWING News, views, and some very good ideas
8 ON PARADE Easter Sunday’s Flower Torch Parade in São Brás is a truly amazing event
12 LEARNING CURVE Fancy yourself as a Strictly contender, or painting tiles? We’ve found some irrestistible courses
16 O PORTO OR OPORTO Portugal’s second city gets painted
18 PLANTING AN IDEA Colour and texture for a great-looking garden
22 PORTUGUESE PORCELAIN Vista Alegra is the china everyone wants
28 RECIPE OF THE MONTH Ottolenghi serves up a easy-does-it treat
30 LIGHT FANTASTIC Lighthouses of the Algarvean coast
34 PROPERTY UPDATE Why investment in property is on the up... and up
36 FAKE NEWS What does it really mean and what are the dangers
39 RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH Pop-ups are the new big thing – the place to meet like-minded people and enjoy great food
41 FINANCE Currency ups and downs and dealing with them
43 MONEY MATTERS
JAKE BASSETT
MEHREEN NAWAZ
PUBLISHER Richard Bassett EDITOR Susi Rogol-Goodkind +351 965 581 831 susi@rogol-goodkind.com ART DIRECTOR Jake Bassett simplyalgarvemag@gmail.com +351 966 044 143 CONTRIBUTORS Anthony Martin Brian Redmond Carolyn Kain Chris Partridge Chris Wright Fred Bos Jose Almeida Ricardo Chaves Richard Hudson Stefan Humpenöder ADVERTISING Mehreen Nawaz +351 920 470 883 mehreen0782@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION 6,000 copies monthly, distributed via 100+ quality retailers, shopping centres, restaurants and more within the central Algarve region.
Your finance questions answered
45 NOT TO BE MISSED Time to spare? Here’s how to fill it – from art to music to golf. Follow our guide to the events worth pencilling in the diary
51 GOLF Expert advice on getting into the swing of things
53 SPORTS NEWS Superbiking to surfing, and all other sports
54 EXPAT TALK Anthony Martin confesses his art-felt feelings
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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. Unipessoal Lda
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News
WORTH KNOWING We keep you informed, entertained, and hopefully coming back for more. And we want your news, your views, charity and community updates, new products and bright ideas
TWEET TWEET
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arolyn Kain’s article in our March issue got lots of attention – who took those great pictures is a question we have been asked time and time again. We should have told you first time round that the photographs were the work of Matt Grube, a medical doctor and a serious bird enthusiast, who was on holiday here from California. Here’s a couple more from his trip… right a curlew; right above an azure-winged magpie. And far right the man himself!
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housands jammed Loulé’s main Avenida to witness the Carnival procession in March. Nigel Moore, a member of the Algarve Photography Group was there and got some amazing images.
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DOGS WILL BENEFIT
awsitive Dogs in Loule, which specialises in teaching and training dogs (and their owners), was at the receiving end of a cheque for just over ¤5,000 from the recent Chilli Boy Charity Golf Challenge, presented by Viv Thomas to the organisation. Read more about the work of Pawsitive Dogs on page 13.
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KNOW YOUR WINES
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ou may well know which wines you like – and don’t like – but learning from the experts certainly sharpens expectations and taste buds. About Wine in Faro offers three different wine tasting sessions designed not only to be thoroughly enjoyed, but also to teach you the differences between Portuguese wine types and ports. You also get some delicious eats, including cured sausages, cheeses, patés, fruit, jams and a velvety dark chocolate. Sessions start at ¤23 per person and go up to ¤45 – the latter is a great 2.5 hour experience that takes you through three white wines, three reds, and three Port wines. 965 006 735 / aboutwine.gourmet@gmail.com
AND TALKING OF WINES…
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arlos Gracias, President of The Algarve Wine Commission (CVA) launched a new free-todownload App for Android and IOS smartphones at the recent Lisbon tourism fair, giving a technological boost to the region’s wines. The App, which will be updated regularly, aims to provides information that goes beyond the listing and location of the region’s wine producers by offering additional detail such as regional restaurants, wine news and related activities.
ACCA CHANGES LIVES
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amuel is 15 years old and lives in Faro with his mother, a waitress on a low income who is a dedicated caregiver. At age eight he underwent a surgical intervention in an attempt to control his severe epilepsy but after the surgery his condition worsened. He is currently totally dependent; does not talk or walk, is fed by PEG, and has daily severe convulsions. ACCA, the children’s charity that supports deprived youngsters across the region, has been able to purchase a wheelchair with funds raised at the 2018 Conrad summer event. As a result, this young man’s quality of life has been improved. To donate funds to ACCA causes you can pay by direct debit, bank transfer, cash or cheque to the ACCA account: IBAN PT50 0079 0000 43426419101 22. You, too, can make a difference.
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News
PEOPLE WORTH KNOWING
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aymond Parfait is a Belgian artist and sculptor who, inspired by the lights, colours and traditional architecture of the Algarve, produced stunning watercolours of the countryside and buildings in and around Loulé. His first exhibition was held in Café Luna in Faro. Raymond’s work has been exhibited in many prestigious venues including the Salon d’art du Godiarch in Villers-la-Ville, Belgium; Houston, Texas; and at the World Festival of the Arts for Peace in Brazil. He has had shows throughout the Algarve and at the Monastery of Alcobaça, and the gallery of the Social and Cultural Association of Almancil; in 2020 Raymond will have an exhibition at the Galeria Municipal de São Bras. In recent years, Raymond returned to portraits and oils and has received many commissions, not only for portraits but also from property owners wanting a painting of their home and gardens. For more information contact rparfait@sapo.pt
WATER WORKS
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he work of talented French sculptor Michael Monzies will transform any garden into a little bit of paradise. Represented here by Ernesto De La Rosa, who is the sole importer/installer in Portugal, Monzies’ reconstituted stone forms for Vibela France / Atelier Coralis bring together art and the natural movement of water to introduce a new, magical feature to any garden pond. No two installations are alike – there are various shapes of individual pieces by Monzies which together form an intricate sculpture and let water cascade down, adding a focal point to your outside space. Ernesto’s dedicated showplace, in Tareja, São Bras de Alportel, is open to the public on Saturdays (email to make a date). ernestodelarosa37a@yahoo.com
BRITISH DRIVING LICENCES POST BREXIT
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rits have been rushing to get a Portuguese driving licences (if you can call the six-hour wait at IMT Faro rushing). Is it necessary though, and what difference will it make when the UK leaves Europe? The Algarve Daily News have investigated: From the day the UK leaves the EU, holders of UK licences will be authorised to drive motor vehicles in Portugal for the first 185 days following their entry into the country, providing they are not resident. Those who become residents in Portugal must exchange their licence within 90 days; the cost of this is ¤30. In accordance with the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention, future residents who hold UK-issued driving licences, will have 90 days from the date they become resident to exchange their licence without having to take a driving test. If their application for exchange is handed in after the 90-day
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period, a practical driving test will have to be taken and the charge will be ¤75. Holders of a Portuguese licence will be able to drive in all EU Member States. Whether you can drive in the UK will depend on the legistlation adopted by the UK. If you hold one of the pre-1998 paper licences, (which IMT will not accept), you can call the DVLA on +44 300 790 6801 and ask for a ‘Certificate of Entitlement D737’ to be sent electronically. IMT will now accept a print out of that certificate.
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WITH A GREAT SENSE OF STYLE
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lorentinta, the chic fashion store in Almancil, showed off its latest collections at Quinta Monte, Vale D’Eguas on 23 March, attracting an audience of more than 150. The sit-down lunch and runway performance raised funds for the Rotary Club Estoi Palace in support of Faro Hospital Baby Unit and Streetlife Animal Sterilization Programme. If you are ready to shop for spring and summer now this is the place to go. Only problem is, you’ll find it hard to make a decision on what to buy… the choice is considerable. The brain-child of Gail Priestnall, Florentinta is also the Portuguese distributor of Frenchic Chalk Paint and will advise you on how to give existing pieces a whole new look, or will undertake the work for you. 962 591 016 / florentinta.com
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Celebrations
ON PARADE ”Ressuscitou como disse! Aleluia - Aleluia -Aleluia! “ This is the chant that will echo around the streets of the town of São Brás de Alportel on Easter Sunday morning as it has done for centuries in honour and celebration of the resurrection. Brian Redmond has taken part 8
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very year, thousands of people – residents and tourists of every nationality – flock to the centre of São Brás to witness what is regarded as one of the most important events of the year, the Flower Torch parade. The chanting comes from a procession of hundreds of the townsmen who wind their way through the streets that are decorated with carpets of flowers emphasising that the occasion also serves as a celebration of spring. The wild flowers, gathered from the surrounding hills, are arranged on the ground, in rich and intricate patterns of colour as complex in design as any Persian rug. And there is an abundance of lavender, rosemary and myrtle that fills the air with wonderful aromas. The procession begins following Mass at the parish church; the Blessed Sacrament is held aloft on a shaded platform which is followed by the parish priest. Once it is underway, the procession will be joined by hundreds of men and boys each carrying a floral ‘torch’, formed from long poles that are entwined with flowers and crowned with an elaborate display that is designed to be admired and judged at the end of the morning’s celebration as the finest of the parade. These torches have been painstakingly created the night before, normally by the local ladies whose creativity and ingenuity form the backbone of the beauty and success of the procession. Getting prepared In the week leading up to Easter, hundreds of volunteers – Church groups and their children, the Scouts and workers from the Council – prepare for the celebration, going into the hills and meadows of the countryside collecting all the flowers – some times up to three tonnes of them. They are then taken to be trimmed of their stalks and sorted
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into various categories, by colour, type, shape etc. Local businesses that have access to cooling cabinets offer space in order to keep the important harvest chilled and fresh. If there is a shortage of flowers, which may be the case this year with Easter being so late in the month, then coloured wood shavings supplement the petals of the flowers. The laying out of the floral carpet begins at four o’clock in the morning of Easter Sunday, come wind or rain. The people gather in groups and are given different tasks. Patterns are formed using molds to create two parallel lines and a central row along the entire length of the route which is normally one kilometre long. Several dramatic embellishments are created at junctions along the way to further highlight this very special occasion. How it began The origins of the custom are unclear. Some trace it back to 1596 when the Earl of Essex along with Francis Drake were plundering their way across the towns on the gulf of Cadiz. The Earl arrived at Faro and, after sacking and burning the area, he turned his attention to Alportel where he had heard that the church there had treasure to be taken. His troops made their way to the town but were met by furious defenders who beat them back with clubs and with fire and sent them on their way. Whether this is a historical fact or just folklore, it became the foundation of confraternities that started the tradition that we see today… the symbols of sticks and torches but without the flames . Despite folklore, the religious importance and significance of the Easter procession cannot be ignored. Holy Week processions began throughout Catholic Europe in the 16th century after the Council of Trent. Braga in the north created the tradition in Portugal in order to dramatise the teachings of the four evangelists, namely the Gospel. In towns across the country the devoted wanted to
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Celebrations
have a permanent exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. When it was reported to the Bishop that up to 40 fires burned nightly around São Brás from various encampments hoping for recognition, he ordained that it should be so. And so what was the upkeeping of a tradition developed into the spectacle that exists today. The Flower Torch parade has become a joyous occasion with the men from all the groups competing with each other to give the loudest or most dramatic vocals to the chant. But it wasn’t always like that – in earlier times the marchers were instructed to ‘walk calmly and modestly and with all decency’. It was prohibited to laugh or to speak and there were penalties for breaking the ruling. In those days, the procession was overseen by Senior church officials. Nowadays, the participants brandish their torches like peacocks displaying their fine colours and there are judges moving through the crowds choosing which torch deserves to in a prize. When at last the procession returns to the church, those who want their torches to be judged rest them against the wall and those who do not dash theirs to the ground on the steps of the church. Prizes are awarded to seniors, juniors and children. Trophies, which are sponsored by local businesses, are distributed and a party with music and dancing begins and then carries on until evening. The flowers that decorated the streets so beautifully in the morning get trampled underfoot by the marchers and spectators; they will be swept away by teams from the Câmara so that before long no trace will remain of this special celebrations of Easter. Until next year. “Ressuscitou como disse! Aleluia, Aleluia, Aleluia” “He rose again as was said! Aleluia, Aleluia, Aleluia”
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Class act
LEARNING CURVE Time to add to your repertoire. Learn the language, brush up on your artistic skills, write that bestseller, play more than ‘chopsticks’ on the piano. We’ve tracked down the local heroes who will help you score top marks
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o your golf handicap is on the up, and your bridge-playing is improving, but what other talents lurking there that could do with a polish? Now’s the time to feed your mind and body and take up new interests…
ART BJ (that’s Barbara Jane) is the first port of call for budding artists, whether absolute beginners who have yet to learn the difference between acrylics and watercolours, or practised talents ready for some professional tutoring. The groups are small, which means you get the attention of BJ herself, an artist and qualified teacher, or Fabiano Nonato who specialisies in photorealism drawing. The spacious studio is in the International Church in Vale Judea; classes cover acrylics, water colour, drawing, mixed media and pastels. Costs are ¤12 for a two and a half-hour session, evening classes are ¤10 for two hours. 916 103 050 Bernadette Martins runs a tile-painting workshop for groups (kids included) of up to six. Part of Loulé Creativo, her workshop is conducted in Portuguese, English and French and focuses on the techniques of the 17th century. Think blue cobalt pigment, fauna, flora and figures. The cost is ¤15. 914 184 801 / bernadetteceramics@gmail.com for details of where and when the next session is planned. STREET PHOTOGRAPHY Vitor Pena shares his knowledge and passion for capturing life around him as he walks his groups around Loulé. The next three-hour session is in May but you need to book early as he will only take a maximum of ten keen snappers (with their own equipment). His programme includes framing stories through the use of light and shadow, portraying strangers in their daily lives, capturing stories and connecting thm to the city and the street. A wonderfully spent ¤10. 929 112 824 / vitordasilvaphotography@gmail.com DANCE Fábio Henriques (six times National Champion of Ballroom Professionals) is Vice President of Clube de Dancas João de Deus and runs one hour tango classes at their studios in Loulé (Tuesday 9.30pm) and São Brás (Wednesday 7.20m). One class session a week will set you back just ¤20 a month, or you can pay ¤7 a class. Private lessons can be booked in Faro. Call Fábio on 964 769 423 for details, then think about the dressing up opportunities (though he recommends comfy clothing and “shoes that can slide without effort on a wooden floor”. Ballroom, flamenco, salsa etc are also on offer. STRETCH David Gallego runs twice-weekly classes at ASCA in Almancil, combining stretch with a bit of yoga and pilates. Once you get into the swing of it, you’ll feel great. The one-
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hour sessions start at 11.45am and the cost is ¤35 a month. David is the man to ask about ballet classes in Vilamoura, too. 918 392 896. YOGA Casa Vida’s August and September two-hour sessions include 90 minutes of Yogaflow – restorative and Yin style yoga practice based on the traditional hatha yoga system – followed with 30 minutes of Mindful meditation and yoga Nidra relaxation. Healthy snacks are provided. ¤25 cost per session. Also planned is a five-day residential retreat, 26 September to 1 October that begins with early morning meditation, Mindful yogaflow, healthy homecooked vegetarian cuisine, creative workshops, rest time by the pool, early evening restorative yoga, finishing with yoga Nidra relaxation under the stars. There’s a special offer to Simply Algarve readers for the residental package – contact Annie Moore at moorwellbeing@gmail.com for details. QUILTING CLASSES Gillian Stapleton’s Thursday morning quilting classes in and around Tavira are pretty packed, but it is always worth calling incase someone pulls out. However, big things are planned for later in the year when the new Quinta da Fonte do Bispo in Santa Caterina is completed. There Gill will take charge of a purpose-built- studio for quilting, sewing and other needlecrafts. Call her now to get your name on the list but be warned if you have never quilted before that once you get started you will develop a passion for it, and huge pride in what you create. 966 006 437 / gillstap@aol.com
PIANO LESSONS John Evans teaches piano on a one-to-one basis, mostly in the homes of his students. He accepts pupils of any age, from children to senior citizens, including complete beginners. He does require that his students have access to a suitable instrument – an acoustic upright or grand piano, or a touch-responsive electronic keyboard with an authentic piano voice and a compass of 88 notes. Adult beginners usually have a clear idea of what kind of music they ultimately want to tackle (classical, popular, jazz, standards etc) and John will always try to accommodate preferences. 916 206 792 / jevans@oninet.pt MAC MAN Russell Newton, as one of the only three AppleCare Mentor Trainers outside of the US, delivers official training to technicians and Support Professionals around the world. Here on the Algarve he focuses on one-to-one, and group training for individuals and companies. Whether an elderly person wants to learn how to text their family on
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WhatsApp, a youngster wants to begin to learn to code and create apps, an adult wants to get to know their Mac better, this is the man who will get needs sorted for any Apple products, any Apple software , Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple TV or Apple Watch. Charges for a one-to-one (up to three people) are ¤40 an hour. 933 544 652 / me@russellnewton.com
with special needs. Private and group lessons from this expert are available, as well as events and workshops. 917 076 040 / karin.pawsitivedogs@ gmail.com
GOLF Algarve Golf Guru, run by Eddie Charnock and Richard Hudson, two fully qualified PGA Professionals, offers golf instruction for all levels of players, from beginner to professional, tailored to specific needs. When you book your first one hour lesson, you get a free 30 minutes, which can make all the difference. 917 938 545 / richard@algarvegolfguru.com
PHOTOSHOP Mieke Mondelaers is a keen photographer and highly experienced in image manipulation – so much so she advises members of the Algarve Photographic Group on how to achieve
HORSERIDING Pinetrees, between Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago, was established in 1985, and is registered with the ABRS and the Portuguese Equestrian Federation. Pedro Ferro, Level 3 riding instructor and trainer, can provide classes and courses for beginners and those returning to riding, and also prepare riders for competitions. A ten-hour course with qualified trainers costs ¤350 and includes personal accident insurance, all the necessary riding gear and a large choice of horses and ponies. Training for special-needs riders is available. 289 394 369 / 919 363 190 / riding@pinetrees.pt COOKERY CLASSES Taste Algarve concentrates not on complicated techniques and recipes, but on traditional southern Portugal specialities and local produce. Based in her charming rural hotel Monte do Álamo in Tavira, on a 7-hectare farm, 1.5km from the city, owner Mariana Ramos Mesquita shares her love of food and culture and creates a hands-on experience for groups of two to eight. The four-hour cooking classes run on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and start at ¤75 pe person; there are options for youngsters, too. This is a thoroughly enjoyable half day, that will introduce you to a different world. 281 098 209 / mariana@tastealgarve.com DOG TRAINING Pawsitive Dogs Loulé runs a range of classes that your pooch will benefit from. Karin Holmström Forster specialises in dog behaviour and classes include ‘Good Dog in Public Places’, beginner classes where dogs are taught to focus on the owner, obedience training, and guide dog training for owners
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Class act maximum results. She is planning two-hour sessions for a maximum of four people that cover, in addition to the basic stuff like saving and cropping photographs and adding contrast, the more challenging aspects like resizing, retouching, sharpness and shadows. Get it right and you can get rid of the bags under the eyes and thinning hair, and make sure the sun always shines. Mieke also offers one-to-one classes. +32 473 173 711 / Meikemo@gmail.com LEARN PORTUGUESE Faust – the language school in Semino, en route to Quarteira, is accredited by the Ministry of Education. The teachers are professions and the approach of the school differs from conventional methods where reading and writing skills come first – Faust concentrates instead on conversation right from the start. The school is open Monday to Friday 9.30-12.30am and 3.00-10.00pm and courses include a two-term session, an intensive course and a 40-hour crash course over two weeks. Classes for children are available, as well as summer courses and private classes. And it’s not just Portuguese – English, French, German, Russian and Spanish lessons are on the curriculum too. 289 301 356 / 919 437 377 / en.faust.pt 289 301 356 / 919 437 377 / info@faust.pt
WRITE ON Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson and Brigit Grant will be hosting a writing course 15-19 May at the fabulous Casa de Mondo in the hills of Boliquieme. Whether you are itching to get that screenplay ready to present to bigwig directors, want to produce a polished autobiography, get the novel that’s in you out, or want to submit publishable material to Simply Algarve magazine, this is your chance to learn from the real professionals. The ¤85 a day include a stunning lunch and there is a 10% discount if you book for more than two days. Get in there quick as places will be booked fast. 911 177 936 / casademondo.com
TALKING POINTS... At the museum in São Brás the selection of classes is considerable, the environment is a delight, and building a social life is part of the attraction Alentejo Singing Group Learn and sing Portuguese folksongs, while having fun, and polishing your language skills. 11.30am Mondays
Let’s Mosaic No experience or artistic talent required – all tools and materials available. 10.00am Wednesdays
Art Group Develop your own styles in oils, acrylic and watercolours. 1.00pm Wednesdays
Needlework groups Communicating through needle and thread facilitates easy bonding and provides a relaxed atmosphere. The more experienced needlecrafters will happily assist others. 2.00pm Tuesdays and Thursdays
Bobbin Lace Also known as pillow lace or bone lace, bobbin lace is your chance to make something beautiful. 6.00pm Wednesdays Dancing fitness 30-minute cardio fitness training with aerobics and dancing steps to musical hits from past decades.. 10.45am Wednesdays Hatha Yoga Focused on alignment, breathing and focus. Suitable for all but you must bring your own yoga mat. 6.00pm Tuesdays Iyengar Yoga The aim here is to develop strength, mobility and stability. Props, including blocks and straps are used. 5.30pm Mondays and 10.30am Thursdays Keep Fit over 50 A mix of cardio fitness and strengthening legs, arms, tummy, bottom and back with great background music, 9.30am Wednesdays Keep Fit Senior This one trains flexibility, mobility, coordination and balance with smooth movements and stretching of all joints and important muscles. Classical music is relaxing. 9.30am Fridays
Pilates In addition to the strength and balance exercises, this class improves flexibility with low-impact stretches and exercises to build stronger bones and more flexible muscles. 10.30 Mondays and 9.15 Thursdays Portuguese for foreigners Two classes, beginners and conversation, 10.00am Beginners, 11.30am Conversation, Fridays Social Bridge Gymnastics for the brain, on Friday afternoons. 2.00pm Fridays Tai Chi Practicing Chi Kung and Tai Chi improves and strengthens the circulation of energy in the body, lowering blood pressure, irrigating the joints, stimulating circulation, structures muscles and strengthens the immune system ... and all this happens without stress or tension. 11.30am and 6.30pm Mondays Zumba Zumba is ideal for those seeking exercise – it improves the quality of life, both physically and psychologically. 10am Tuesdays Email admin@amigos-museu-sbras.pt for more details
Not enough for you? More coming next month… we aim to keep you busy! 14
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Contact us for more information
AA vida vida é uma festa. éCelebre-a. uma festa
Celebre-a
Crie um evento inesquecível. Life is a party. Celebrate it. Create an unforgettable event.
Crie um evento inesquecí
Life is a party. Celebrate it. Create an unforgettable eve
R. de Valverde Almancil
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Art form
O PORTO or OPORTO beautiful either way 16
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Inspiration for the artist Roman Markov, Portugal’s second city is perched upon a granite cliff with buildings that defy belief. Carolyn Kain looks up
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tanding in higgledy-piggledy rows on steep and cobbled streets, narrow staircases climb up and down at perilous angles. Rickety wrought iron balconies and lines of flapping laundry overlook the River Douro. In its earliest incarnation this Roman settlement was known as Portus and on the opposite south bank there was Cale. A ferry service connected the two and together they were known as Portus-Cale. This name eventually became connected to the surrounding province and in 1128 Dom Afonso Henrique named himself king of a newly-independent country, Portugal. The small town of Portus meanwhile simply became Porto prefaced by the definite article ‘o’ and meaning the port. It is the Anglicized version that combined ‘o’ with Porto and the name Oporto was born. It was in the city’s magnificent cathedral that Philippa of Lancaster – daughter of John of Gaunt and granddaughter of Edward III - married the Portuguese
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king Dom João I in 1387. Located on an imposing hilltop the church dominates the riverside. Nearby in a house close to the Douro their son Henry the Navigator was born. Mother and son did not forget their English roots and spoke to each other in Philippa’s first language. At a ceremony held in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, her son became a Knight of the Garter. His heraldic banner still hangs there today. Pictured by Roman Markov in his vibrant paintings there are historic buildings standing alongside the bustle of everyday life in Porto or Oporto…whichever title you prefer! See his interpretation of the dazzling sights that give Porto its magical charm at Galeria Côrte-Real Galeria Côrte-Real is located on the outskirts of the protected village of Paderne, signposted from the centre of the village, and from Boliqueime and Ferreiras. Open Thursday to Sunday, 11am-5pm T: 912 737 762
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Gardening
PLANTING AN IDEA Whether your outdoor space is a perfectly-manicured lawn with immaculate flower beds, or a rocky sprawl of countryside with ancient trees and untamed bushes, or a neat easy-care terrace with a couple of tubs, you want is to look wonderful. Picking the right plants for this climate is vital, says John Harvey. Here are his choices‌ Sedum
Lantana
Best plant/plants for thick, luscious ground cover Rosemary (prostrate, dark blue variety), bidens alba, myrtle (be prepared for constant trimming), liriope, thyme, sedums, cotoneaster horizontalis, junipers horizontalis, lantana montevidensis.
Ipomoea
Jasminum sambac
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Fastest climbers for fences /wallcover There are a few different types – ipomoea, podranea ricasoliana, pandorea jasminoides, bougainvilleas, lonicera (honeysuckle), clematis, passiflora, wisteria, pyrostegia venusta, jasminum sambac, climbing roses, most bougainvilleas. Many of these give you a good scent, too.
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The greatest hedge-makers Eleagnus ebbingei, eugenia myrtifolia, metrosideros excelsa, photinia fraseri red robin. The eleagnus hedge has a lovely scent in autumn. Best for year-round green The above hedge plants, plus all type of lavender, oleanders, eriocephalus africanus, caprosma, grevillea shrubs and groundcovers, agapanthus. Best for year-round colour Most species have a flower dormant period but the most prolific flowerers, in my experience, are: Bidens alba, ruellia simplex, salvias of most descriptions, bougainvilleas (when the first lot of flowers die you can rake them off and you’ll invariable receive a second flush), lavenders, iocroma cynaea, abutilon, pennisetums, tecoma stans, tecoma capensis.
Photinia fraseri red robin
Lavender
Top survivors in the heat / poor soil / when there’s a water shortage Cacti and succulents such as kalanchoe, crassula, echeveria, aloe, sedum, portulacaria, senecio, gasteria, sansevieria, sempervivum, and aeonium; there are varieties of each type and all are good in tough conditions and very rewarding in terms of shapes and colours. Most lavenders, eriocephalus africanus, pittosporum tobira, pistacia lentiscus, chamaerops humilis, cistus, retama monosperma, rhaphiolepis indica, cotoneaster dammeri, cotoneaster franchetii, oleanders, gaura, teucrium fruticans, tulbaghia violacea, lantana montevidensis (white, pink and yellow), myrtle, rosemary (rosmarinus prostratus and officinalis - trailing and vertical - the dark blue variety is very beautiful), lagerstroemia indica, russelia equisetiformis and roses. Fine in strong winds Most of the plants mentioned here will survive strong winds. It is best, in my opinion, to stake newly-planted trees and perhaps shrubs on windy slopes to prevent them being uprooted before getting their roots down.
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Tecoma stans
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Gardening
Geranium
Plum tree
Oleander
Bromeliad
Great in pots Geraniums/pelargoniums, most succulents mentioned above, ruellia simplex, salvias, lavenders, most of the climbers mentioned above. Best fruit -producers In the Algarve the best fruiting trees are orange trees, lemon trees, grapefruit trees, plum trees, fig trees and, of course, carobs, olive trees and almond trees. Fastest-growing shrubs Oleanders, lavenders, abutilon, tetradenia riparia, citharexylum spinosum, iocroma. Shrubs that are fine in the shade Hipoestes, clivias, bromeliads, chlorophytum, black bamboo. In their natural habitats. Bromeliads grow in the full range of light conditions from full sun to partial shade but the variegated varieties will often become solid green if they are given too much shade. Trimming tips all ground covers, shrubs and trees should be trimmed in relation to their environment and the wishes of their caretakers.
TALKING POINTS... The number of gardening books out there is huge and new ones are introduced frequently. But here in the sunshine, where there is often a shortage of water, and a surfeit of rubbish soil, the tried-andtested titles never fail to deliver the right advice. We asked John Harvey for his most trusted tomes. They are: Garden Plants for Mediterranean Climates by Graham Payne, who lived near Santa Barbara de Nexe for many years. The Crowood Press, ISBN 9781861268952 The Mediterranean Gardener, by Hugo Latymer Frances Lincoln. Out of print now, but available through Amazon. The Dry Gardening Handbook, by Olivier Filippi Thames & Hudson, ISBN 9780500514078
Harveys of LoulĂŠ T: +351 916048671 E: harvcor@sapo.pt
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Truly innovative space with rigorous vintage strokes, the Moon is an alternative in good taste and welcoming, transforming and disseminating Glamour.
Our Chef Phillipp Glass will serve you with mediterranean and international cuisine broadened with several inuences, his cuisine merits itself through its attention to detail and delicate avors. Vila Sol Plaza - Loja 2 8125-307, Reservations: +351 925 323 098 bookings@restaurantmoon.com Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 6:30 pm to 12:00 pm
THE PERFECTION OF PORTUGUESE PORCELAIN You can find Sagres, a white china pattern with fluted edges, in supermarkets, in Makro, and in many a home and restaurant. But did you know that its maker, Vista Alegre, is luxury brand that has achieved iconic status on a worldwide level? Carolyn Kain explains 22
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E
veryday crockery is one thing. Important works are another. But both are core to the vibrant story behind the label that commands respect acoss the globe. Exquisite in its delicacy, Portuguese porcelain is of the finest quality as exemplified by Vista Alegre. Its beautifully handpainted tableware can only be compared to items created by other famous manufacturers such as Meissen, Royal Copenhagen, Belleek, Crown Derby, Spode and Wedgewood. Portugal has the further distinction of being the first country to bring Chinese porcelain to Europe and then to popularise its use. In 1498 the Portuguese explorer, Vasco de Gama, found a sea route to Asia around the Cape of Good Hope. This discovery meant that Asian spices, already popular in Europe and previously transported on complicated overland journeys, could be transported with relative ease and efficiency to Portugal by ship. Unlike spices, porcelain was an entirely new commodity to the West and it was quickly judged to be a desirable item of tableware. By the middle of the 16th century, ships carrying thousands of porcelain plates and dishes were regularly sailing between Beijing and Lisbon. In 1563 the Archbishop of Braga summed up the local taste for porcelain saying: “In Portugal we have a kind of tableware which, being made of clay, (kaolin), may be compared advantageously to silver both in its elegance and cleanliness. We call it porcelain. The pieces which are decorated in blue dumbfound the eyes. We are not concerned about their fragility since they are quite cheap.” The tableware was so appealing that the aristocracy began to commission special pieces. This required merchants to take drawings to China showing family crests and coats-of-arms to be painted onto individual pieces of porcelain. Still surviving today, one extraordinary blunder featured on a porcelain ewer, shows the Portuguese royal coat-of-arms painted upside down. Now contained in a priceless collection belonging to the Winfield Foundation, this rarity highlights a mistake made by a Chinese artist more than 500 years ago! The Royal choice In contrast, present-day commissioned pieces are carried out with precision care. Working for the most discerning clients, Portugal’s Vista Alegre factory has produced complete dinner services for Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and the White House. The long and distinguished history of Vista Alegre began in 1824 when the Portuguese King Dom João VI granted a patent authorising the operation of the factory. Five years later it was given the title of Royal Factory to honour its artistic and industrial success in the production of glass, crystal and ceramic goods. Constantly striving to improve the company’s reputation, the owner of the factory, Pinto Basto, sent
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his son Augusto to study in Sevres, France, where Europe’s most prestigious porcelain factory was based. Returning home and putting into use what he had learned in Sevres, he discovered a local source of kaolin close to the Aveiro Estuary where the factory was located. More and more porcelain could be produced using this nearby source of raw material and the company’s interest in creating glass and crystal items began to dwindle. Important developments occurred in the quality of porcelain pastes and glazes. There were technical and industrial improvements, and foreign master-craftsmen experienced in ceramics were brought in to teach the Portuguese labour force. In 1851, at the exhibition held in London’s Crystal Palace, the porcelain produced by Vista Alegre was marveled at. The following year Portugal’s Dom Fernando II, an art lover and connoisseur, visited the factory making his own purchase of a special plate created for the royal house. Whilst the success of the factory was of paramount importance to the founder and to future generations of his family, it is notable that they also possessed a sense of social awareness. Many of the work-force lived far from the factory and therefore to accommodate them more conveniently up to 100 houses were constructed. This early attempt at providing social housing was accompanied by the innovation of a crèche where workers’ children were looked after free of charge. Leisure facilities such as a theatre and a football stadium were built. Strange as it may seem the first international football match organised in 1889 between Portugal and England is credited to the Pinto Basto family. Portugal 2- England 1! Today some of the original facilities, including the houses, stand around a tree-lined village square. Forming a small town there is a visitor’s centre, the factory museum and the production works which is still in operation. On the factory floor where the ceramics are made and fired, the scale of the process is impressive. In a separate studio space, a team of artists is dedicated to decorating the tableware by hand. Using mixing palettes, fine brushstrokes and delicate tools, they paint preordained patterns and colours with absolute precision. Vista Alegre’s accomplishments can be attributed to the ability of designers to harmonize tradition with modernity. Diversifying into hotel-ware, the company has distinguished itself by producing
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Home functional and aesthetically appealing ceramics created by demanding chefs and hoteliers. State of the art production techniques and the combination of classical and contemporary designs are continuously being explored. Well-known designers such as Christian Lacroix, Joana Vasconcelos and Roberto Chichorro have been employed, sometimes to create new ranges, limited edition and commissioned pieces. In 1997 Vista Alegre merged with Cerexport and in 2001 with Atlantis Crystal forming the sixth largest tableware group in the world.
The Lisbon store is a treasure trove traditional and contemporary style
TALKING POINTS... The Vista Alegre shop Algarve Shopping Guia T: 289 562 204 Open daily 10am-11pm Vista Alegre Outlet store Designer Outlets Mar Shopping Almancil T: 289 246 000 Open daily 10am-11pm Vista Alegre Historical Museum Ilhavo Aveiro T: 234 320 628 E: museu@vistaalegre.com W: vistaalegre.pt Open Tuesday to Friday – 9am-6pm Saturdays and Sundays – 9am-12.30pm and 2pm5pm
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Please email for reservations or viewings info@casademondo.com Tel 911076846 00447903525941
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Property
PROPERTY 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
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OF THE MONTH PROPERTY DETAILS
Located near Loulé, a beautiful Africaninfluenced single storey 3-bed villa built in a rustic style with a magnificent garden.
• 3 bedrooms with fitted wardrobes • 2 bathrooms • Entrance hall • Fully fitted and equipped rusticstyle kitchen with breakfast area and pantry • Large living room with woodburning stove • Large south facing covered terrace with barbecue • Bamboo ceilings • Fully fenced / walled plot • Landscaped garden with Koi pond, water feature, orchard
• • • • • • • • • •
greenhouse, bird pens and vegetable plots Automatic irrigation system Car port and ample parking Swimming pool (9x4.5m) with outside shower Double glazed windows with aluminium shutters Utility room SAT-TV / telephone / internet connections Borehole and cisterna Construction size 277m2 Plot: 4,405m2 EC: F
¤580.000 Ref: P-NNS www.simplyalgarvemag.com
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Simply delicious
Hot charred cherry tomatoes with cold yoghurt One of the beauties of this dish from Simple Ottolenghi lies in the exciting contrast between the hot, juicy tomatoes and fridge-cold yoghurt, so make sure the tomatoes are straight out of the oven and the yoghurt is straight out of the fridge. The heat of the tomatoes will make the cold yoghurt melt, invitingly, so plenty of crusty sourdough or focaccia to mop it all up with is a must alongside
Serves 6 as a starter or mezze
blacken on top.
Ingredients • 350g cherry tomatoes • 3tbsp olive oil • 3/4 tsp cumin seeds • 1/2 tsp light brown sugar • 3 garlic cloves, finely sliced • 3 thyme sprigs • 5g fresh oregano, 3 sprigs left whole and the rest picked, to serve • 1 lemon, finely shave the skin of 1/2 to get 3 strips and finely grate the other 1/2 to get 1tsp zest • 350g extra thick Greek-style yoghurt , fridge-cold • 1/2 tsp regular chilli flakes • flaked sea salt and black pepper
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Method Preheat the oven to 200°C fan.
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Place the tomatoes in a mixing bowl with the olive oil, cumin seeds, sugar, garlic, thyme, oregano sprigs, lemon strips, 1/2 teaspoon of flaked salt and a good grind of pepper. Mix to combine, then transfer to a baking tray just large enough to fit all the tomatoes together snugly. Roast for 20 minutes, until the tomatoes are beginning to blister and the liquid is bubbling. Turn the oven to the grill setting and grill for 6–8 minutes, until the tomatoes start to
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While the tomatoes are roasting, combine the yoghurt with the grated lemon zest and 1/4 teaspoon of flaked salt. Keep in the fridge until ready to serve.
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Once the tomatoes are ready, spread the chilled yoghurt on a platter (with a lip) or in a wide, shallow bowl, creating a dip in it with the back of a spoon. Spoon over the hot tomatoes, along with their juices, lemon skin, garlic and herbs, and finish with the picked oregano and chilli flakes. Serve at once, with some bread.
More delicious summery recipes can be found in Ottolenghi Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi, Tara Wigley and Esme Howarth, with photography by Jonathan Lovekin (Ebury Press, ¤25.65) from FNAC in store on online at fnac.pt/ ia159806/YotamOttolenghi).
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Photography
LIGHT FANTASTIC On camera this month, are images from Fred Bos whose passion for the sea – and the lighthouses of the Algarve in particular– have produced a coast-to-coast picture of both architecture and history
Farol de Vila Real de Santo António In Vila Real de Santo António, the last building before the dune and maritime pines is a lighthouse that has been in place since 1923. The sandy ground posed a few problems, which were overcome by laying the building on reinforced concrete foundations... innovative for the time. A lift up to the tower was installed in 1960. The lighthouse is 46m high with a signal that can be seen for 48 nautical kilometres.
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Cabo de Santa Maria Lighthouse, Farol, Culatra Island Farol means lighthouse in Portuguese. The lighthouse of Cabo Santa Maria is 46m high. The lighthouse was built in 1996 as a reconstruction of an 1851 lighthouse and it has a luminous range of 46km.
Alfanzina lighthouse, Carvoeiro This lighthhouse was first constructed 1920, height 23m, range 29 km.
Lighthouse Ponta do Altar, Portimao This schoolhouse style lighthouse sits on a high bluff overlooking the east side of the entrance to the harbour of Portimao, on the Ferragudo side. It dates from 1893 and, at only 10m high, it is now dwarfed by a large communications tower to the east.
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Photography Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse, Lagos Despite plans having been made as early as 1883, this lighthouse was not erected until 1912-13, on the site of the ruins of the Nossa Senhora da Piedade hermitage and a neighbouring farmhouse. It is now a tourist attraction because of the rock formations, and can be visited by boats on hire nearby. The building is 51m above sea.
Lighthouse of Ponta de Sagres In 1894 the lighthouse was inaugurated as part of the 5th century commemorations marking the birth of Henry the Navigator. In 1958, it was demolished due to its historic inadequacy, and a new structure was built 20 metres away and opened on 1 April 1960. From August 1983, the lighthouse was controlled from a distance – from the Cape St Vincent Lighthouse – and integrated into the special protection zone of the fortress of Sagres. The lighthouse tower is 13m and the light has a range of 20km.
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Lighthouse of Cabo de São Vicente A rudimentary lighthouse existed on the Cape since 1520, in a special tower constructed on the site of the convent. In 1587, the tower was destroyed by Sir Francis Drake, and only returned to operation in 1606; the lighthouse began operating in October 1846. Following an initial period of operation, the lighthouse was abandoned due to its state and the poor performance of its light. Remodelling work began in 1897. By 1908 the lighthouse was operating with a 1,330-millimetre Fresnel lens, making it one of the largest optics used in Portuguese lighthouses and one of the ten
largest in the world with a range of 53km. In 1982, the 28m high lighthouse was automated and, at the same time, it began to control the neighbouring lighthouse in the adjacent cape. Situated on the tip of the Cape of St Vincent, guarding one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, and the traditional land’s end of Europe – the extreme southwestern-most point of the continent – it was an essential landfall for sailors returning from Africa and the Americas. It remains one of the most powerful lighthouses in Europe, and can be seen as far as 60km away.
TALKING POINTS... Background Fred Bos was born in Holland and became interested in lighthouses in his early twenties. While sailing around the waters of northern Europe, his fascination deepened as he realised their importance. Suffering from the cold climate in the north, he sailed into the Mediterranean and spent 15 years exploring everything around there. Now settled in the Algarve he continues to sense the attraction of the sea. He noted that before the electronic revolution in navigation, a broken lighthouse could be more dangerous than a rock.
Inspiration “Some lighthouses are beautifully designed, a treat for the eye and a relic of the past. The stories they tell about the time they were set up are fascinating, just like the people who manned them in their often lonely jobs.”
Camera Fred started off with an analogue Minox and then went over to digital with a Lumix FZ8 and a Nikon D7100. Now he works with the more portable Nikon D7800.
Favorite motto “In navigation, don’t always rely on your electronics.”
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Why Portugal should be your top choice right now Today Portugal offers a favourable investment climate with some unique conditions beyond tax incentives, golf, sun, sea and beaches. It has a diverse heritage which make the country one of the most attractive destinations in the world for those looking to travel, live or work abroad. Global investors continue to believe Portugal is the place to be. Stefan Humpenöder explains why...
P
ortugal is seen as a socially stable country with potential to increase it productivity in order to reduce unit labour costs; it offers a modern environment in which investor confidence has increased. The growth in tourism over the past few years has made a significant contribution to this dynamic. Portugal’s good reputation has led to an increase in number of international awards. Portugal stands out from the crowd for two reasons following the 2009 changes in Portuguese retirement tax laws which made it even easier for expats to plan their future here. Firstly, once granted, the NHR (Non Habitual Resident) status, recipients’ overseas income is exempt from taxation for ten years; secondly, the Golden Visa scheme allows investors from non-EU countries a fast-track residency permit in Portugal when investing a minimum amount as defined by law. These two opportunities have proven highly successful and were the initial drivers in attracting the right audience.
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Portugal has tax treaties with all EU countries as well as several non-EU countries to prevent double taxation. Although other European countries also offer residency by investment in real estate programmes, in Portugal these advantages are combined with great weather, low costs of living, the friendly and honest mentality of the people and the ability to get by with one language, which is English. And, if the head of the household qualifies for permanent residency, all dependents automatically qualify too. So many reasons There are other reasons for Portugal’s popularity: there is no Inheritance Tax in Portugal regarding property; construction of newly-built homes is growing and looks set to continue through 2019, adding greater options for thousands of new house hunters who are eager to buy. The Portuguese real estate market is in good health which in turn has restored confidence among homebuilders. Projects
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Property update for student accommodation and co-living is something we’re going to be hearing a lot more about in Portugal. It has become increasingly attractive to the younger generation and the educated Portuguese who left the country during the crisis, to return to their home country because of better job opportunities. Portugal is seen also as an innovator – there is a growing importance of sectors such as R&D and information technology. Commercial property investment continues to be strong after the very intense activity registered in 2016-2018. Despite mistakes made in the past, Portugal enforces strict planning regulations to ensure beaches and the unique countryside remain unspoilt. It has set a trend towards the development of the renewable resource industry with hydro, wind and more recently solar energy. You can’t beat the climate. Long, hot summer days cooled by the Atlantic breeze followed by extremely pleasant winters. Short bursts of heavy rain ensure that the landscape stays green. There’s nowhere better Portugal is a great place to be with an excellent quality of life... a place where you can enjoy a coffee or lunch on the terrace almost any time of the year. In addition to a sun, sea, beach and/or golf holiday, tourists are developing a taste for the history and cultural heritage of Portugal. It’s a peaceful country, too – one of the most peaceful in the world, and boasting one of the lowest crime rates in Europe. Since 2016, Portugal secured over 150 new air routes to various cities in the USA, China, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy and Scandinavia increasing foreign investment. Internal flights are cost-effective. Golf is another important driver for tourism. Portugal is one of the world’s top golfing destinations with over 70 world-class golf courses already built or under construction and more in the planning phase. Portugal’s publicly-funded National Health Service provides healthcare for Portuguese citizens and foreign residents alike, and. medical tourism is a developing market, especially in the aesthetic beauty sector. In regards to school education you will find a high-quality public and private education system here. If you are looking for an international environment, there are many international schools all over the country, attended by both Portuguese and foreign students. Then there is food and drink... the cost of living in Portugal is one of the lowest in Europe and for a very reasonable sum, you can take a friend out for a dinner and drinks in a nice restaurant. In Portugal you find hardly any language barriers as most people speak English or French, especially the younger generations. This is a
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significant benefit for anyone moving here, in case you struggle with learning a new language. Another reason why Portugal is popular is that the Portuguese people are truly friendly, honest and hospitable. Should you decide to make Portugal your second or first home, you will feel welcome and ‘at home’ from the start. If you are considering to buy a property in the Algarve and would like to speak with a member of the Yellow Homes team, call us to make an appointment. Vilamoura Office EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime 8100 - 068 Boliqueime T: 289 301 294 / F: 289 301 439 Tavira Office Rua Dr. José Pires Padinha 178 8800 - 354 Tavira T: 281 320 281 / F :281 321 901
GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS
AMI: 6232
EXCUSIVE LISTING YELLOW HOMES: MODERN 3 BED VILLA IN VILA SOL. Located within the Vila Sol golf resort - home to one of the Algarve’s most sought after championship golf courses – this modern three bedroom villa has four bathrooms and is equipped with air-conditioning and underfloor heating throughout. The carefully selected high quality finishing are impressive. The house offers excellent comfort and luxury. Rare opportunity to acquire such a beautiful villa for under 1 Million Euros. Price: €965.000 Ref: TPL EC D.
Contact us! Our email is info@yellowhomes.com or call us on (+351) 289 301 294 Find out more info on our website www.yellowhomes.com
GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS
WELL-PRESENTED BUNGALOW SET IN QUIET COUNTRYSIDE NEAR LOULE. This country style villa is set in a tranquil area only a few minutes’ drive of Loule and is offering lovely country views. The villa is set on a large, partly landscaped plot with good access road. Good quality construction and high ceilings throughout.. AMI: 6232
Ref: KSN Price €445.000 EC class in progress.
Contact us! Our email is info@yellowhomes.com or call us on (+351) 289 301 294 Find out more info on our website www.yellowhomes.com
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Talking Point
EVERYTHING BUT THE TRUTH Fake News is big news at the moment. Every contentious topic, from vaccination to alleged interference in elections, is strewn with accusations that the debate is being hijacked by strategicallydistributed half-truths and outright lies and propaganda, spread by social media. Chris Partridge tells it like it really is
I
t has got so bad, the phrase ‘fake news’ is now in all the dictionaries. Of course, fake news has been with us from the dawn of time – in the 13th century BC the Pharaoh Rameses the Great had carvings of his mighty victory over the Hittites inscribed in every temple in Egypt, though historical records show the battle was a stalemate. But recently, the rise of social media has given the lies wings. It can be difficult to understand why social media is so much more powerful than the TV, radio or newspapers. It is a mix of factors.
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The first thing is that social media gives everyone instant, unregulated access to everyone else. To get news out on traditional mass media, you need to go through a line of gatekeepers starting with a journalist and proceeding past editors and sub editors. That does not guarantee that all fake news is eliminated but it goes a long way towards it. Even the most biased news outlets are regulated so they cannot reproduce hate speech or libels, for example. To get a message out on social media is as simple as opening an account on Facebook (if you are over 40) or Instagram (if you are younger). Both, by the way, are
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Today, your individual inbox is accessible to everyone on the planet in a completely new way, and it is essential for everyone to know that. Many of the posts you get will be from friends and respectable sources, but many will not...
operated by the same people. Twitter is the other major player. YouTube (owned by Google) has huge influence but to contribute you need videomaking skills. The next step is to get typing, hoping people notice and ‘like’ or ‘share’ your comments. Us regular folk don’t particularly care about likes or shares, of course. But people with agendas care a lot, because likes and shares are how the messages get propagated. It is easy to forget that likes and shares generate income. Facebook and Instagram are advertising companies, making mind-boggling amounts of money by adding paid-for ads to the posts you look at. So every time you link to a post of a cat video, you are indirectly helping to pay for it. Advertisers love this because they are paying for ads that are tailored to your tastes and preferences in a way that traditional TV ads cannot.
Nothing is secret Ever wondered why most of the advertisers seem to know where you live, or that you recently bought a particular
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item, or what your hobbies are? That’s because Facebook, Twitter or Google told them. Disturbingly, it isn’t just ads that are tailored to your individual needs and tastes. News posts are as well, so if your posts show you have a left-wing political stance, you will begin to get lots of socialist-leaning news. The same is true for the right, of course. The result is that many people only see news that reinforces their established position on many topics, so they live in a ‘Facebook bubble’. Today, your individual inbox is accessible to everyone on the planet in a completely new way, and it is essential for everyone to know that. Of course, many of the posts you get will be from friends and respectable news sources, but many will not. Many are political fanatics pushing an extremist agenda and who aren’t particular about truth, such as white supremacists, Islamic jihadists and so on. Many are antiscience, opposing vaccination or promoting weird diet fads. And many are harmful to children such as the self-harm propaganda sites recently exposed as a contributory factor in child suicides. And, of course, there are state-sponsored disinformation campaigns. The social media companies are showing little inclination to do anything about fake news. Facebook teamed up with a few fact-checking organisations to mark stories with a cautionary note, but the need to pass every story past a human editor has proved prohibitively expensive; Snopes, one of the factchecking organisations, withdrew from the system. Individually, there seems to be little ordinary social media users can do except get their brains in gear and look at every ‘news’ post critically and compare the contents against what the mainstream media are saying. And remember that the mainstream media may not get it right all the time but at least you know where they live.
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BRITISH STYLE AUCTION HOUSE
• Direct Sales • Business and House Clearances
Direct sales, Business and house clearance service, online catalogue, & Monthly Auctions! Free valuations and Monthly Auctions!
• Free Valuations • Online Catalogue
General Auctions Plus Antiques and Collectables General auctions are held on the 1st Saturday of the month and Start at 10:00 am.Viewings on the Thursday and Friday before the Auction between 09:00 and 17:00.
WANTED! ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE JEWELLERY AND HALLMARKED STERLING SILVER.
FURTHER DETAILS OF ALL AUCTIONS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE
Do you have antique and vintage jewellery you would like to sell? Have you got some hallmarked sterling silver items you no longer want? These items are creating a lot of interest at Auction at the moment and are achieving realistic prices.
WWW.AHALGARVE.COM
Why not give us a no obligation call to discuss what you may like to sell? We offer honest valuations and free advise to all potential sellers.
Open: Mon - Fri 09:00 - 14:00pm Sat: Open Auction days Email: valuations@ahalgarve.com Office: 289 832 380 Tel. Mark: 914 774 438 Sitio do Besouro, Conceição, Faro
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Dining out
RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH CASA DE MONDO, Boliqueime
C
asa de Mondo is not a restaurant in the traditional sense but one of the new breed of pop-ups that bring stylish options to an audience who want something different and delight in the whole experience of great food in a fairytale environment… and sitting with strangers who, by the end of the first course, have exchanged a bit of personal history and swapped phone numbers. Pop-ups are a trend, not just here on the Algarve, but in the world’s great capitals, too, where keen cooks with a passion for entertaining and often a wish to increase their circle of friends as well as their bank balance, have jumped on the bandwagon. Established restaurants, too, have picked up on the pop-up appeal, arranging one-off events where they can produce different food to their usual. The Casa de Mondo way adds magic to the mix. For starters, there really is a Mondo – Mondo Pena the American sculptor whose massive copper works fill the gardens, hang from the ceilings inside the house, sit beside sofas. Mrs Mondo, aka Harriett Grant Pena, is Portugal’s answer to Angel, TV presenter Dick Strawbridge’s wife, and star of TV’s Escape to the Chateau. Harriett plans events with a theme. It could be Valentine’s Day, or Thanksgiving. It could be a Mexican night, or all-American, or Turkish – you name it, and she’ll have it on her to-plan list, with detailing and décor to echo the theme. The house and gardens are a dream. In the evening there are hundreds of candles, cascades of fairy lights strung from the trees, music to match the mood. And the food... now that is sensational. We went to the Greek night. Ouzo lemonade cocktails in iced glasses rimmed with sugar on arrival in the garden. Amazing aromas from the barbecue area where meats were sizzling. The atmosphere was buzzing as the 20odd guests arrived – some practised pop-up aficionados, others new to the whole thing. We sat down for dinner. One couple on our table had grown up a few streets away from
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us in London; another had journeyed from Tavira and were staying the night in one of Casa de Mondo’s guest suites (if you ever want a few days calm and quiet, this is the place to go). Then came dinner, Greekstyle. Lavish servings of homemade hummus, tzatziki, beetroot salad, grilled halloumi, oildrenched olives, warm-from-the-oven spanakopita triangles, meatballs and crispy pitta. And that was just the first course. Another sip of ouzo, more wine, and then the mains: lamb souvlaki, meat or vegetarian moussaka, lemony potatoes and crisp Greek salad. More ouzo, and a table-vs-table quiz about all-things Greek. (We lost, but laughed a lot). Deserts – like you need another course – thick, creamy Greek yoghurt with honey and pistachio nuts, and fruit kebabs. A treat? You bet, and at ¤35 a head including wine and soft drinks, an amazing one. Call Harriett to check out forthcoming dates and book fast – satisfied diners have their names on the list already. Casa de Mondo Boliquieme T: 289 147 287 / 911 076 846 E: info@casademondo.com W: casademondo.com
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Expert financial advice Ernesto By Andy Oliver, deVere, Portugal.
De La Rosa
Portugal welcomes Brits regardless of Brexit deal
Virbela flowforms
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Ernesto De La Rosa Invites you to experience in The sítio de Tareja, São Brás de Alportel an outdoor showroom presenting the work of the French artist Michaël Monziès, creator of the Atelier Coralis in Saint Laurent France. Water features rarely seen in the Algarve. Visits upon reservation every Saturday. visit. Create a natural energy in your landscape
ortugal has always had strong continuing to prevail: António Costa, Prime ties with the UK. The Anglo- minister of Portugal, said existing rights Furthermore, following the defeat of UK Portuguese Alliance (or Aliança of British citizens living in Portugal would Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal in Contact: ernestodelarosa37a@yahoo.com Luso-Britânica) between Portugal continue to be respected in the event of a no- the British parliament, Portugal has made in advance: 916 091businesses. 898 and England (succeeded by deal Brexit, including access to the national moves or to call secure affected The 37a sitio de Tareja, São Brás de Alportel the United Kingdom), ratified at the Treaty health service and the recognition of British government is extending a €50 million credit of Windsor in 1386, is the oldest alliance in driving licences and academic qualifications. line aimed at companies 8150-060 that trade with the the world that is still in force. This alliance, Since the news broke of Brexit about 23,000 UK. In theory, it will be used to help these which goes back to the Middle Ages, has Britons have officially registered as residents companies adapt to new regulations as well served both countries well. It has been very of Portugal, but the British embassy estimates as diversify their exports to countries other important throughout history, influencing the the actual number is anywhere between than Britain. participation of the United Kingdom in the 45,000 and 50,000. The impact of Brexit on Portuguese Iberian Peninsular War, the UK’s major land Naturally, the Portuguese Prime minister businesses should not be disparaged, with a contribution to the Napoleonic Wars and the isn't doing this out of the kindness of his Confederação Empresarial de Portugal study establishment of an Anglo-American base heart. It is estimated that there are over carried out by Ernst & Young finding that it in Portugal. In return, Portugal has aided 200,000 Portuguese residing in the UK and could reduce exports by between 15% and England (and later the UK) in times of need, Portuguese Economy Minister, Pedro Siza 26%. Moreover, the researchers found that for example, in the First World War. Vieira, said “Lisbon hopes Britain would offer Brexit could have an estimated negative Today that historic bond of friendship is as the same benefits to Portuguese citizens.” impact on the Portuguese GDP of between strong as ever. About 80,000 British citizens Another reason for the agreeable 0.5% and 1%. live and work in Portugal and almost 200,000 proposal has to do with the vital role British The British government is due to present Portuguese nationals live and work in the UK. holidaymakers play in Portugal’s tourism further plans in the coming weeks before Around 3 million Brits visit Portugal every industry, which contributed to 15% of the the 29th March cut off point. António Costa, year. Britain is a huge market for a whole country’s annual total of 15 million GDP Prime Minister of Portugal, said he was range of Portuguese products and Portugal is in 2017, and one in five jobs are linked to still hopeful for a change of heart by British a gateway to a market of 250 million people tourism. A record 13 million tourists arrived Lawmakers that would lead to approval of the worldwide. in Portugal last year. Prompting Portugal is agreement May Struck with the EU leaders for With Brexit on the horizon it is to create special airport corridors to facilitate an orderly Brexit. The likely hood of Brexit is understandable that British folks are looking the entry of British tourists. Considering that that the outcome will please neither side, yet optimistically to the Anglo-Portuguese tourism is such a large sector of the economy, both may just have to learn to live with it. Website: Mobile: foundation for reassurance. As www.portugalsolicitors.com it stands it it makes sense for Portugal to make it as00351 easy 965 093 809 seems that the Portuguese is 794 as possible for their biggest Email: consumers to Office:government 00351 289 098 info@portugalsolicitors.com
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Finance
Brexit uncertainty continues EURO EUR/GBP: Down from £0.87 to £0.85 EUR/USD: Unmoved at $1.13 An increasingly gloomy economic outlook from the Eurozone has been the primary cause of Euro exchange rate movement over the past month, with concerns that growth in the bloc may have stagnated at the start of 2019 dragging on the single currency. The European Central Bank (ECB) latest policy decision proved to be the main drag on the Euro, with the bank slashing its growth forecasts for 2019 and signalling interest rates would remain on hold until at least 2020. However, the past couple of weeks have seen the Euro’s fortunes begin to improve, with a weaker US Dollar and slight improvement in economic data buoying EUR sentiment. With the economic slowdown still the biggest news influencing Euro movement, upcoming key German and Eurozone data will be in focus. If economic data beats forecasts then the Euro could continue its recent recovery versus the US Dollar. POUND GBP/EUR: Up from 1.14 to 1.16 GBP/USD: Up from $1.29 to $1.31 It’s been a turbulent month for the Pound, with the UK fluctuated before eventually rising as the chances of the UK crashing out of the EU appeared to diminish. UK economic data was mostly side-lined in recent weeks, as markets focused almost solely on Brexit. This ultimately led to Sterling surging to new multi-month highs in mid-March as a series of Parliamentary votes saw UK lawmakers both reject a no-deal Brexit as well as vote to delay the UK’s formal exit beyond 29 March. But, with a Brexit deal still to be reached and Theresa May only seeking a short delay to the end of June, could we see the Pound begin to slip again in the coming weeks? US DOLLAR USD/GBP: Down from £0.77 to £0.75 USD/EUR: Unmoved at 0.88 The US Dollar started out the past month as a consistently resilient safe haven currency that was benefitting from
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Staying on top of the latest currency news can help you time your transfers more effectively. Find out what you should look for over the next few weeks…
market uncertainty over US-China trade negotiations and signs of a broadly slowing economic outlook. However, over the past couple of weeks US data has begun show cracks in the US economy, stoking fears that the US may not be as resilient to the global slowdown as previously thought. This has prompted economists to speculate on the possibility of the Federal Reserve adopting a more dovish approach to monetary policy, further limiting the appeal of the US Dollar. Going forward, should we see US economic data continue to soften in the coming weeks, then it’s highly likely we may see the recent pull-back in the US Dollar persist. TOP TIPS: LIMIT ORDERS Currencies Direct offer a range of specialist services to help their customers save time and money on their currency transfers – including limit orders. If you have to make a transfer overseas, but the exact date is flexible, a well-placed limit order could get you a good deal. With a limit order, you set instructions to carry out your transaction once the market price reaches your specified exchange rate. Maybe you think a currency is overvalued right now, and want to wait for its price to go down. You could set up a rate alert, but you’d run the risk of your target exchange rate being reached at a time when you can do nothing about it (for example, the middle of the night). With a limit order, once your goal rate becomes available, the transfer will be locked in and carried out automatically. Since 1996, Currencies Direct has helped more than 250,000 customers with their currency transfers. For detailed information and advice, contact the local office and register to receive regular updates on the currency markets and the possible impact on your transfers. (Do mention you heard of us in Simply Algarve magazine.) T: 289 395 739 E: algarve@currenciesdirect.com W: currenciesdirect.com/portugal
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The Home Centre Rua Duarte Pacheco 44 8135-104 Almancil T. 962 591 016
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Finance
MONEY MATTERS Each month, Ricardo Chaves of All Finance Matters will answer readers’questions to help you to understand the often complex tax system here I am 67 years old and have just sold my property in Portugal. It was my primary residence and I sold it for ¤300,000 euros. The house was purchased in 2014 for ¤220,000 with a mortgage. The debt to the bank at the time of sale was ¤30,000. How much do I need to reinvest, to avoid paying taxes in Portugal. First in order to make sure that this was your primary residence, you need to check if the address of the house is the address registered at the Portuguese tax office. If this is not the case, you should change it at least six months prior to the sale. If you noticed this too late, please be aware that the change of address in some cases can be done retrospectively. In terms of the amount to reinvest, it works like this: ¤300,000€- ¤30,000€= ¤270,000€ So, it’s the proceedings of the sale, minus the mortgage redeemed at the time of deed. The mortgage is only considered if taken prior to 2015 and it for the purchase of the asset. How much time do I have to make that reinvestment? My new house only costs ¤200,000, can I reinvest part of the proceedings of the sale into a financial product? You have up to three years after the sale to make the reinvestment. Alternatively, you can use an asset purchased up to two years prior to the sale, to use as your new primary habitation. If the new house you purchased had a price of ¤200,000, then in order to avoid the payment of Capital Gains Tax, you need to invest an additional ¤70,000 into a financial product. Please note that this is only applicable (financial product) if these conditions are met: • Acquisition of the insurance contract, individual membership of an open pension fund or contribution to the public funded scheme must be made within six months from the date of sale • If the investment is made by purchase of an insurance contract or by individual membership of an open pension fund, they must exclusively provide the buyer or his/ her spouse with a regular periodic benefit of a maximum annual amount equal to 7.5 % of the amount invested. The reinvestment will not be considered if it is not made within the six-month period, or if in any year the value of the benefits received exceeds the limit of 7.5% Q We currently have an English Will that needs amending. This Will, currently does not mention any of our Portuguese assets. My question is, is it better to add the Portuguese Assets into the English Will or create a new Portuguese Will for this? First of all, let me inform you that in order to make the Will in Portugal, you should contact either a Portuguese notary, or a Portuguese solicitor.
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There is no need to have two Wills. You can add the Portuguese assets to your English Will, for this to be valid in Portugal – you just need to have a certified translation of the original Will. Although the Will is not mandatory, it is always recommended that you have one in order to make the responsibilities of your inheritors easier; a Will can save them a lot of time and paperwork during what will already be a difficult period due to the circumstances. As mentioned, please seek advice from a Portuguese solicitor.
You do not need two Wills – Portuguese assets can be added your English Will. For this to be valid in Portugal you need to have a certified translation of the original Will
I am considering the Non-Habitual Resident scheme. Presently I am a UK tax resident and receive Pensions from the UK, dividends from my UK company and rental income from properties in France. Will all the above be tax exempt in Portugal? The NHR - Non-Habitual Residency – scheme allows you several tax exemptions on income from foreign sources, for a limited period (ten years). The exemptions depend on the double tax agreement between Portugal and these countries. In your particular case, what will happen is that your pensions won’t be taxed in Portugal, neither will the dividends. However, the rental income will be taxed in the county where the properties are located. Although you must declare the rental income in Portugal as well, there will be no tax to pay. If your pension in the UK is private, there won’t be any tax to pay in the UK either. However, the State Pension or Civil Service Pension will always be taxed in the UK, unless it falls under the threshold limit. Please feel free to send any questions you have to ricardo@allfinance.pt. The most appropriate will be published in the first available issue of Simply Algarve
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Agenda
NOT TO BE MISSED Each month, Simply Algarve brings you a hand-picked selection of the events on the region’s calendar. There are, of course, many more, but we will focus on the lesser-known and possibly more interesting. Got an event coming up? Email us with the details at simplyalgarvemag@gmail.com
THE ARTS THE NAMES
ArtCatto, Loulé 11 April – 1 June Two of the gallery’s most popular contemporary artists, Austrian Voka – he describes his style as “spontaneous realism,” – and Alisa Lim A Po from Holland, whose distinctive technique, right, makes for layered work, at times thick and rich in texture and at others almost transparent, are set to dazzle you with their breathtaking boundary-pushing works.
THE SHAPE AND THE SHADOW
Vale do Lobo Art Gallery Untll 13 June, Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Discover the bold, vibrant paintings and intriguing sculptures from acclaimed artists as selected by the São Mamede Gallery to be part of this Collective Exhibition. Powerful pieces from Georg Scheele, Jean-Frédéric Bourdier, Jesús Curiá, Manuela Castro Martins, Mar Sólis, Miguel Ponticú, Nogueira Lopes, Paulo Neves, Shintaro Nakaoka and Vitor Ribeiro feature.
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ARTCATTO AT THE CONRAD
18 April – 27 June Colourful Souls is the title of the Pedro Guimaraes exhibition that opens at the Conrad this month. The work of this hugelyrespected plastics artist whose atelier is in Guimarães, northern Portugal, hangs in private collections across the world – Nigeria, Sweden, Holland, USA, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, France, Spain, Angola, Porto Rico and Lebanon.
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Agenda PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
Museu do Traje Sao Bras On now The latest exhibition from The Algarve Photographers’ Group is entitled Trades. Expect anything from shoemakers in action, to bakers, calcada-layers, perhaps even butchers working on a carcass; at the time of going to press the selection committee were still make decisions about what would feature in the show.
GORDON HUNT
Corte Real, Paderne On now Think of a polished meditation in light and colour. The paintings of this British artist capture the sparkling reflections of summer sunshine glistening on the calm Algarve sea. While you are at this wonderland of a gallery nesting in the hills and surrounded by wild flowers, take a look at the carefully-chosen sculptures, basketware, lights and glazed pottery made by true artists who focus on indivual design and innovative finishes.
EASTER EASTER ENTERTAINMENT FOR KIDS
Vale do Lobo Praça 6-28 April A programme of entertainment, designed to keep youngsters happy over the holidays, with children’s entertainers ‘Oficina de Sonhos’ presenting a week of games, activities and Easter fun especially for the little ones – bouncy castle, face painting, balloon modelling, crazy hairdresser, crazy nails, tattoos – you name it.
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EASTER VINTAGE PARADE
Vale do Lobo Auditorium Saturday 20 April, 8.30pm Put on your dancing shoes and step back in time with the Lucky Duckies as they bring back the glamour and nostalgia of yesteryear with hits from the greats including Dean Martin, Dinah Shore, Elvis, Sinatra and Nat King Cole. Drink, treats and sheer good fun available throughout the night. For information and tickets: 289 353 322
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FLOWER TORCH PARADE
Sao Bras Sunday 21 April, from 9.30am On page 8 of this issue you can read all about this amazing festival and the parade through the streets of Sao Bras with the townsmen carrying huge ‘torches’ of flowers (and competing for the ‘best’ title). Every inch of their journey from the church, is paved with petals that form a carpet. It is truly uplifting.
EASTER FAIR
Quinta Shopping 19 April, 10am-1pm Workshops, in conjunction with ACCA, that your kids will love with lots of different activities for all ages.
MÃE SOBERANA
Festa Pequena Loulé Sunday April 21 At the start of the festival of Nossa Senhora da Piedade (better known to locals as Mãe Soberana) the statue of the patroness of Loulé is carried down from her home on the hilltop chapel to the church in Largo de São Francisco, where she remains for 15 days. In May, when she makes the return journey, it is a whole different ballgame, with thousands and thousands of onlookers lining the arduous route and bands playing as the procession moves slowly through the town and up the winding hill. This is Portugal’s largest religious celebration south of Fatima.
HAPPENINGS LATE NIGHT SHOPPING
Designer Outlet Algarve 19 April, 9.30pm Get your tickets now for this event – they are going fast! Humourist Herman José will present his irreverant and whacky One Man show that introduces mad-cap props – the ‘Nelo’ pochette, the ‘José Estebes’ vuvuzela, the ‘Tony Silva’ platform shoes, the ‘Serafim’ wig and the ‘Senhor Feliz’ cane. And when you stop giggling, you can shop like crazy.
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Agenda THE WALKING FESTIVAL
26-28 April Ameixial, Loule 26-28 April It was the first event of its kind to be held in the Algarve and possibly the first in Portugal and since 2013 it has since been repeated annually. The Walking Festival Ameixial has a programme that includes walks for all ages, workshops, lectures, moments of relaxation, displays of public art and musical animation. All in the beautiful countryside in and around the village of Ameixial. Check out the detail at wfameixial.com
FARMERS’ MARKET
Quinta Shopping Sunday 7 April, 10am-1pm It’s back, and will be on the first Sunday of every month. Pop down to Quinta Shopping for the best of local produce and regional specialities, enjoy a coffee in the sun, and at 11.30, clap your hands as Grupo Folclorico de Faro perform. If you have visitors staying, they’ll love the experience.
TALKS THE TRAGIC HISTORY OF THE SEA
Tavira Library, 26 April, 11am Lagoa Library, 30 April, 6pm Peter Booker of the Algarve History Association details the disasters which overtook Portuguese Indiamen on their journey home – one beset by problems: overloading; dissension in the command; faulty navigation; threats from pirates; and extreme bad weather. As many as 20% of Indiamen did not complete the round trip to India and back again. Most of those who came to grief were wrecked on the coast of South Africa, and some of the survivors have left written narratives of their struggles to return to civilisation. Peter bases his presentation on these accounts of disaster, followed by death-defying marches across a hostile environment. He shows that the Portuguese experience shows that only strength of purpose gives a chance of survival. There is no set charge for the talks – AHA relies on voluntary monetary contributions; it is a non-profit-making association and any money, above and beyond the costs of running the Association and covering speakers´ expenses, is donated to charities such as the Portuguese Red Cross and those that support young people. AHA also provides support for the work of the Conservatório in Faro to enhance opportunities for young musicians.
SPORTS EASTER JUNIOR GOLF ACADEMY
8-12 and 15-19 April Budding young golfers will enjoy spending their Easter holidays honing their skills - this is a perfect opportunity for children who already have some golfing experience but now want to progress to a new level and perhaps to be able to challenge their parents by the end of the week! The price per child is ¤100 per week. For more information contact 289 353 464.
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MUSIC FARO BLUES
Teatro Lethes Faro 12-13 April 9.30 The International Festival of Blues is coming up for its 6th edition – and two nights dedicated to the Blues. Performances by Li’l Twiste, Little G Weeil, Guitar Not So Slim and Budda Guedes Power Blues, left, in a performance included in the Fifteen Long Years tour where the audience are invited to take part in the recording of a theme that will be included in the celebration disc of his career... to be edited in 2020!
DINO D’SANTIAGO
Teatro das Figuras Faro Saturday 20 April, 9.30pm Dino D’Santiago released Mundu Nôbu in 2018 and the critic of Publico gave the album four stars. Born in Portugal, raised in Quarteira, he found his voice in Cape Verde, creating a sound between funaná and afro-house. He has recorded with Madonna, the two artists sharing their passion for Lisbon.
40 FINGERS PIANO EVENT
Quintinha da Música, Tavira Sunday 14 April, 5 pm Two pianos and four pianists, this Dutch group – Marlies van Gent, Inge Lulofs, Frank Fahner and Irene Ainstein – are highly entertaining to watch. This event is musically brilliant as well as being fun to watch. For their return visit they will be playing music by Brahms, Piazolla, Saint-Saëns and more. Tickets are €25 (including interval drinks and tapas). Contact lynne.algarvehistory@gmail.com (directions to the Quintinha will be sent on booking).
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SIMPLY
ALGARVE Missed an issue? No problem! Find all of our articles on our website.
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Golf
YOU CAN LOSE LENGTH WITH A LONG BACKSWING! Richard Hudson and Eddie Charnock, Algarve Golf Guru, PGA Professionals discuss the backswing
I
t’s fair to say that some players like John Daly swing with their elbow flying out and the club long over the shoulder, while others (most, actually) like Sergio Garcia keep it in, proving that it’s possible to hit great shots either way. However, biomechanics studies indicate that the flying right elbow position favours a fade ball flight while a tucked right elbow promotes a draw. So, if you struggle with slicing or have always wanted to develop a power-rich draw, then the right elbow position may hold the answer. Plus, when you let the right elbow fly, it has the tendency to raise the right shoulder skyward, which almost always causes an overthe-top move during the downswing resulting in an array of bad results. The key for long-term success is to eliminate the faulty shoulder tilt and right elbow position at the top. The most efficient right elbow position for eliminating slices
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and promoting a draw is on – or just inside – the seam running down the right side of your shirt (if you are a right-handed player). When you place your right elbow in this general area, it allows the shoulders to turn level to the spine, making it much easier to drop the club on, or inside, the correct plane on the downswing for maximum power and improved control. We recommend the use of alignment sticks and a small pilates ball between the forearms whilst practicing, as the sticks will help you track your practice swings to generate the correct feeling and the ball will stop the elbow separation during the backswing. Contact Richard or Eddie to discuss coaching opportunities in 2019 E: sales@algarvegolfguru.com W: algarvegolfguru.com And do mention Simply Algarve as a point of referral
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SPORTS NEWS
Brought to you by Chris Wright
World superbike championship Alvaro Bautista (Ducati) has continued his perfect start to the 2019 World Superbike championship by taking a second consecutive hat-trick of race wins with a flawless performance in Thailand. Britain’s Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) and Alex Lowes (Yamaha) are in second and third place in the overall championship table. The motorcycles that race in the championship are tuned versions of motorcycles available for sale to the public, by contrast with MotoGP where purpose-built machines are used. MotoGP is the motorcycle world’s equivalent of Formula One, whereas Superbike racing is similar to touring car racing. Future rounds of the championship are being held in the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, USA and Great Britain before arriving at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimão on the weekend of 6-8 September. Tickets for this prestigious event start at ¤12 and are now on sale at worldsbk.com/ Riding the waves Praia do Amado, the southernmost beach in Aljezur located near the village of Carrapateira, is one of the Algarve’s most popular spots for surfers. The venue will host the fourth stage of Liga MEO Surf, Portugal’s biggest surfing competition, from the 21-23 June. Aljezur mayor José Gonçalves has also said it will be “an honour” to host the event in the borough which, according to a study about the sport, generates around ¤4m for the local economy. Some 80,000 surfers visit the area every year. Easter golf festival Golf Santo Antonio at Parque da Floresta near the fishing village of Salema, Sagres, is staging an Easter Festival comprising of four competitions. 19 April: Texas Scramble Shotgun (teams of four); 20 April: The Stock Pot/Pairs Better Ball Stableford (teams of two); 21 April: Dubai Stable ford (teams of four) and 22 April: Am Shotgun (teams of four). The event is open to all, with a special green fee
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rate of ¤25 per competition, plus the entry fee where applicable. For more information, contact Santo Antonio Golf Reception at 282 690 054 or email golf.reservations@ saresorts.com Big win for Portimonense After going six games without a win in the Primeira Liga, SC Portimonense thumped Madeira outfit CD Nacional 5-1 to record the team’s largest win for 31 years. Lucas Fernandes, on-loan from São Paulo FC (Brazil), scored his first goal for the club. The following week a point secured at Belenenses (Lisbon) has moved Portimonense to mid-table. Early April sees an important away trip to relegation threatened Tondela before the much-anticipated home game against reigning champions FC Porto on the weekend of 13-14 April. Farense in the relegation battle Just one win in their last 11 games has left SC Farense just a point above the drop zone in the Segunda Liga. The one ray of sunshine was the 3-0 victory over fellow relegation candidates Varzim, thanks to goals from Lynel Kitambala (9’), Mayambela (25’) and former Benfica and Portugal International Ribeiro (86’). On the weekend 13-14 April, fourth place Estoril Praia will provide stiff opposition at the Sao Lúis Stadium (behind Faro Hospital) and a week later, on Easter Saturday, Penafiel will be the visitors. Walking football marches on The EuroCopa International Walking Football Cup in Albufeira on 1-2 April attracted an entry of 29 teams. The teams from this region – East Algarve Walking Football, Browns WF and Lagos Strollers – will now be gearing up for the Browns Algarve Walking Football Cup in Vilamoura 3-5 May. The sport continues to attract increasing numbers as the health benefits far outweigh a few aching muscles and the odd strain. Visit walkingfootballalgarve.com
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Last word
EXPAT talk... Anthony Martin might be a man of many talents, but putting pen (or brush) to paper is not one of them. So when looking to take up a new interest, art is not on his list. Here’s why...
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it is a fact that certain words are inextricably linked and that the use of one immediately conjures up the other. More often than not, ‘happy’ follows ‘deliriously’, ‘poverty’ follows ‘abject’ and ‘disaster’ follows ‘unmitigated’. We also find it difficult to divorce Tom from Jerry, gin from tonic or stewed apples from custard (well we could, but it wouldn’t be the same). And if these are the positives, there are also the negatives, words that could never be conjoined – ‘compassionate’ with ‘despot’, ‘squeamish’ with ‘axe murderer’ or ‘full agreement’ with ‘European Union’. But on a personal note the word pairing that presently haunts me are ‘art and ‘classes’. Which conveniently brings me to an article you will have seen in this month’s magazine. A piece on the various and varied courses available to us here in the Algarve. For if you are, as I am, retired and neither a golfer nor a bridge player, we need to keep occupied. After all, how many hours a day can we visit the supermarket or sit in Apolonia’s café? Therefore, knowing that we need to keep our minds and bodies active – what do we do, what can we do or, more precisely, what do we want to do? This is a problem that I faced a while ago, and decided that it was time I got off my backside and took up an interest. However, the words ‘art classes’ filled me with panic; they took me back to schooldays when I would hunt for a convenient illness or feign a strained wrist, anything to keep me away from the art class. I am sure that somewhere, buried away within my subconscious was the reason why my brain and my pencil-holding hand did not communicate. Was I, as a child, poked in the eye by the school bully wielding an HB? Did my parents, to improve my deportment, force me to walk around the room with a drawing pad on my head? What is this phobia I have? We have all heard of ‘writers block’ – being faced by a blank piece of paper and not knowing what to put down – but this is almost the opposite... knowing what I wanted to put down and where to put it but physically unable to do so. I’ve bought the books; I’ve read about grids, vanishing points, that eyes are always halfway down the face, about shading, cross-hatching and particularly free-form gestural drawing (when the strokes are loose and free) but as far as I am concerned learning to speak Inuit would be easier. So, what did I do? A while ago, a long while ago in fact, I joined a class. It was a sculpture course. Give me a chisel and a piece of stone and I’m happy as a pig in ****. Everything went swimmingly. I loved it, I excelled (well at least my wife thought I did). All was hunky-dory until the time came for
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the drawing module. I thought back to those school-days decades ago and now, as a responsible adult, and no longer having a mother to phone and say I was ill, I had to take it on the chin. My two class neighbours, the fine arts student on my left and the architect on my right, thought me hilarious and doubled over with laughter as they watched my pencil moving across the page producing a line that imitated the meanderings of an inebriated ant. No matter how hard I tried, I could not produce a two-dimensional sketch from a three-dimensional object for I could not and still cannot, handle height, width or perspective. To use the hackneyed cliché – I cannot draw a straight line. And as for the life drawing module... a real live naked person, with rounded parts and dangly bits, was seated on a turntable that would be turned a few degrees every few minutes. There I was, agonising over my drawing pad for far too long, trying to get the angle of an arm correct and, on looking up to check, I found a large penis staring at me, Apropos of nothing, would the possessor of a small penis sit naked for a group of art students? Be this as it may, the nearest I came to represent the human body on paper, was playing hangman with the kids and somehow I don’t think that I can get away with calling my work an impressionistic take on the subject – or an homage to Lowry-meets-Braquemeets a four-year-old child. Is this why Chris Ofili worked with elephant dung? Why Damien Hirst stuffed sharks and Tracey Emin unmade beds – could they not draw either? And Jeremy Deller, he who won a Turner Prize, admitting later that not only could he not draw but neither could he paint nor sculpt and that he was banned from taking art at O-level. Well at least I’m in good company. So will I join an art class on the Algarve. Probably not. In fact, definitely not. But I am thinking about.learning to tango.
Looking up I found a large penis staring at me. Apropos of nothing, would the possessor of a small penis sit naked for a group of art students?
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