SIMPLY
ALGARVE ISSUE NO. 44 DECEMBER 19
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Contents
RICHARD BASSETT
SUSI ROGOL-GOODKIND
4 WORTH KNOWING
JAKE BASSETT
PUBLISHER Richard Bassett
News, views, and some very good ideas
8 LET THE EXPERTS COOK! Great spreads for Christman and New Year
10 SEEING THE LIGHT Meet Beau McClennan, the man who shines
EDITOR Susi Rogol-Goodkind +351 965 581 831 susi@rogol-goodkind.com ART DIRECTOR Jake Bassett +351 966 044 143 simplyalgarvemag@gmail.com
14 IN HER OWN WORDS Fancy writing? Here’s how to get started 18 A CENTRE OF IMPORTANCE São Lourenco where a new chapter has started
22 TECHIE GIFTS Getting all charged up for pressie time
24 LESSONS WORTH LEARNING Coming to grips with the local language
28 A RECIPE WITH A DIFFERENCE Roast duck with apples, pears and chestnuts. Yum!
30 THE CITY ON SEVEN HILLS Looking down on Lisbon; an artist’s perspective
35 WHY ARE YOU HERE? Another view, and a new-found focus
36 DIG THIS Going native in the garden really pays off
36 REFLEXOLOGY What’s the point? There is plenty!
CONTRIBUTORS Anthony Martin Beau McClennan Brian Redmond Carolyn Kain Chris Partridge Chris Wright Dawn Annandale José Almeida Lynne Booker Nigel Moore Pascale Fish Ricardo Chaves Richard Hudson Robert Bijker Rosie Peddie Stefan Humpenöder
38 PROPERTY UPDATE The year’s highs and lows ADVERTISING 966 044 143
41 RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH The delightful Med in Loulé
42 FINANCE Your questions, answered by our expert
43 CURRENCY The ups and downs of the exchange market
44 NOT TO BE MISSED
DISTRIBUTION 6,000 copies monthly, distributed via 100+ quality retailers, shopping centres, restaurants and more within the central Algarve region. 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
Get the diary out and plan your month
48 GOLF Get it right and things are swinging
49 SPORTS NEWS Where it is all happening
50 LAST WORD Learning the language of others... December 2019
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News
NEED TO KNOW We bring you more news, local happenings, shop openings, bright ideas as well as helpful hints and charity updates, so you know what to look out for where. Send us your news, too – we’ll always include anything of special interest
GETTING INTO THE FESTIVE SPIRIT
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ere’s a great recipe for Smoking Bishop Punch, a favourite of Charles Dickens and featured in Leah Hyslop’s book Made in London. For ten servings:
30 cloves 5 oranges, plus extra orange slices to serve 1 lemon 750ml bottle red wine 750ml bottle ruby port 4 cinnamon sticks, plus extra to serve 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon mixed spice 200g caster sugar, or to taste Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/Gas Mark 4. Push five cloves into each orange and lemon. Put the fruit in a close-fitting oven dish or tray and roast for about 1–1 1/2 hours, until starting to brown (you may need to turn the fruit halfway
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through, to ensure they colour evenly). Leave to cool slightly. Put the wine, port and all the spices into a large pan. Squeeze the juice from the oranges and lemons into the pan. They might still be quite hot, so be careful. Don’t worry if lots of fruit pulp drops into the pan. Put on a medium heat until piping hot, but don’t let it boil. Strain the punch through a sieve into a clean pan to get rid of all the fruit pieces and cinnamon sticks. Return to the heat and stir in the sugar (do this gradually, tasting after each addition, so you can decide when you’ve added enough). Serve in mugs or glasses, with a cinnamon stick and orange slice in each one. Enjoy!
December 2019
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DOG SITTING … SOMETHING TO WOOF ABOUT
he country’s first Pet Area with dog-sitting services in a shopping mall has just opened at Mar Shopping, the Algarve’s biggest commercial complex. The 200m2 space, designed exclusively for four-legged friends, is supervised by a team of experts, headed by dog trainer Sara
Tails. In addition to the dog sitting service while their owners shop, the Pet Area will run a calendar of activities including canine contests and behavioural training sessions, and services such as baths, shearing and deworming. Visit marshopping.com for more info. Woof.
CHRISTMAS… IT’S A WRAP!
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reat festive wrapping and fun decorations are worth braving the crowds at Ikea for. The tree-shaped jar is a real sweetie at ¤9.99; three robins to hang are just ¤6.
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News
IT HAS TO BE THE PHOTO OF THE MONTH
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emember your first Christmas here? Walking down the beach and lapping up the sun? It’s a memory we all treasure. Nigel Moore of the Algarve Photographers’ Group, had the whole family together last year to celebrate the festive season. What a great way of life we are lucky enough to enjoy. Hopefully, the sun shine on the 25th this year!
CHARITY SANTA PARADE
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he eighth edition of this annual event will take place on Saturday 7 December along the promenade of Armação de Pêra. And it is worth a day out heading west, to see the spirit of the festive season come to life. Participants can walk, or bike ride – there are warm-up sessions with Angelo of Urban Gym Health Club. Joining the fun is free but you are asked to bring food items – olive oil and long-life milk are first choice but all dried foods are welcome – all donations are distributed to the poor. Time to get out your Santa suit and good intentions. The proceedings start at 10am at the Holiday Inn – call 282 320 260 for more information
ACCA SPARKLES
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hildren’s charity ACCA beat its best fundraising initiatives with the recent Glamour & Glitz Ball at the Conrad which generated in excess of ¤30,000 for the causes it supports. President Wanda Crawford and her team have already allocated monies towards the supply of lifechanging equipment for four youngsters with serious health and mobility problems. Look out for volunteering opportunities.
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THE FOODIE’S FIRST CHOICE
polonia always offers amazing hampers for the festive season, packed with the very best, and presented with style. This year there’s a range of no less that 25, priced from ¤19.95 to ¤199.95. Opening times for all branches include 8am-6pm on Christmas Eve, and 8am-7pm the 31st.
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December 2019
NEW GALLERY
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tarting a new business from scratch can be tough, especially when you are going into a highly specialised field. But Teddy Golding, through a mix of passion and purpose, rather than seasoned practise, has just opened an art gallery in Almancil. With the work of six artists on display now, the promise of up to 15 ongoing, and a price range of ¤1,000 to ¤5,000, Fresco is a very interesting proposition for art enthusiasts at any level. US artists Mark Milloff and Ted Weller started the ball rolling along with French artist Veronique Engels and street artist and muralist Matt Griff, and abstract gesturalist Marcus Aitken who is enjoying great success in London. “When we’re assessing artists to bring in we’re looking for an urban contemporary slant – we won’t have any beach watercolours in here any time soon,” says Teddy. He plans to engage the local arts community and keep his minimalistic space dynamic and event-driven with opening evenings, artist talks, demonstrations – the aim is to create and curate an
exciting space with interesting pieces and events. And he is building up a library of original prints which will sell between ¤80 and ¤400 – another plus point, without question. Don’t watch this space for what’s coming up – go visit Teddy’s. It’s all very cool and laid back. On the drawing board is a big show in April / May with the Screaming Arts Group, curated by Chicago-based artist Sergio Gomez.
OVER TO SUE... Our story of the month…. from the team at Algarve Daily News
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hirty-five-year-old Violette Duval has walked 6,000km – from her native France to the Algarve – in order to show that despite her pain, she possesses the strength and endurance required to raise awareness of her condition, fibromyalgia. She has had to make many stops along the way to recover from injuries as a result of pushing her body beyond its limit. Despite this, she has only one goal: to make fibromyalgia known. She wants to warn of the slow and difficult nature of the disease, its lack of recognition and the high suicide rates it causes. In Portugal there are hundreds of thousands affected by this condition, roughly 2-4% of adults. The Portuguese Society of Rheumatology describes it as a disease with generalised, diffused, often migratory musculoskeletal pain and an increased sensitivity to a variety of stimuli that can cause pain and discomfort, like stress, anxiety, or loud noise. It is often accompanied by fatigue, sleep disturbance, memory and concentration problems. According to Myos, the National Association Against Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a non-medical, non-profit association, while it affects men, women and children of all ages and ethnicities, 80% to 90% of sufferers are women between 20 and 50 years of age. Violette’s symptoms forced her to rethink her future. At the age of 14 she had to give up her dreams of pursuing a career in basketball or being a PE teacher. “The first pains were in my hands and feet. I focused on my studies, but I was in pain all the time. I knew it wasn’t just psychological or emotional, although doctors insisted it was. I achieved a Masters Degree in Finance and went on to work as an auditor for KPMG. Two years into my job the pains were so great that I couldn’t feel my face, I couldn’t sleep, and I couldn’t work. I visited a specialist in Paris, who finally gave me my
diagnosis, and I was referred to the Center du Douleur (specialist pain centre), where I was given pills that numb the nerves but don’t treat the disease. “In my case the diagnosis was relatively fast, but there are people whose pain is so prolonged that the idea of suicide seems to be the only solution. “The French Social Security Service doesn’t recognise suffers’ inability to work to the same level as others – those with fibromyalgia are called lazy, and told their symptoms are psychosomatic. The patient, between pain and discouragement, begins to feel lost. “In physiotherapy I started to have this idea of travelling and it helped me emotionally to have a goal. I realised that walking and being in the outdoors was beneficial,” says Violette, who had previously undertaken two backpacking and public transport trips, one around Asia and Australia, and one in South America. “In Uruguay, I met a man out hiking with a trolley and a dog and I arrived home with the idea of doing something walking-related. After a year of crowdfunding and promotion I had raised the necessary money.” The trip to the Algarve is Violette’s third, but the first she has fully hiked. She left home on 13 April and made her way along the French and Spanish coast until she reached Portugal. Early last month she reached the Algarve, and by the beginning of March she hopes to reach the end of her journey in Grandville, Normandy. “I do this not only for myself, but others, too,” she told us. “When I travel I am happy, I walk, I take photographs. Fibromyalgia allowed me to travel… I owe all these trips to the disease. I will continue to spread my story and how people can cope with the illness.” What an incredibly strong young woman! Anyone wishing to support Violette, and follow her progress on her journey to raise awareness for fibromyalgia, can find her through her Facebook page, Instagram, or her official website, violetteduval.com
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Festive tastes
LET THE EXPERTS COOK!
Looking for the perfect holiday treat for the family? Many of the little local restaurants will be closed over the festive season but the big players are set on giving you an unforgettable culinary experience. Booking in advance is essential and do check ahead for prices for children. We list a few favourites... CHRISTMAS EVE Birds Nest, Tenoca Celebrating in quiet style and elegant surroundings 289 366 4671 Gusto by Heinz Beck Conrad, Quinta do Lago 5-course menu, live entertainment €175pp 289 350 700 Julias, Praia Do Garrao Last orders 5pm 289 396 512 Louro Restaurant Conrad, Quinta do Lago 4-course festive menu €95pp 289 350 700
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Solar Do Poeta, Sao Lourenco A la carte dinner 289 398 489 Sol e Serra, Querenca Lunch 289 422 344
CHRISTMAS DAY Restaurante Atlantico Vila Vita Park, Porches Buffet Lunch €75pp 282 310 100 Gusto by Heinz Beck Conrad, Quinta do Lago A la carte lunch 289 350 700
December 2019
L’Auberge Loulé Lunch 289 422 342 Louro Restaurant Conrad, Quinta do Lago Christmas brunch buffet €105pp 289 350 700 Ocean Restaurant Vila Vita Park, Porches Gourmet dinner €210pp 282 310 100 Parrilla Natural €95pp With live music and Santa Claus 289 350 040
Wildfire, Vila Sol A la carte lunch €65pp 289 095 813 Solar Do Poeta, Sao Lourenco Special Carvery lunch 289 398 489
NEW YEARS EVE Birds Nest, Tenoca Candle-lit supper 289 366 4671
Gusto by Heinz Beck Conrad, Quinta do Lago 8-course celebration menu €375pp 289 350 700 Julias, Praia Do Garrao Last orders 5pm 289 396 512 L’Auberge Loulé Lunch 289 422 342
Casa do Campo, Almancil A la carte menu 289 399 109
Monte da Eira, Clareanes Special 5-course menu €48pp 289 438 129
Conrad Ballroom Conrad, Quinta do Lago Black and White Ball €340pp 289 350 700
Ocean Restaurant Vila Vita Park, Porches New Year’s Eve Dinner €490pp 282 310 100
December 2019
Parilla Natural €145pp After dinner the party continues with dancing outside and fireworks at midnight. 289 350 040 Wildfire, Vila Sol €100pp From 7pm, carriages 2pm 289 095 813
NEW YEAR’S DAY Casa do Campo, Almancil A la carte menu 289 399 109 L’Auberge Loulé 289 422 342 Monte da Eira, Clareanes 289 438 129
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Shining bright
SEEING THE LIGHT
Beau McClellan is a true innovator. His work as a lighting designer is sumptuous, exciting, elegant and original. At his LoulĂŠ atelier, we talk to the man who never fails to dazzle 10
December 2019
sound. When it came to art it was more about collaborating with art students than attending college with them.” Music was his first true love, and his chosen platform for self-expression. There were bands and there were much-lauded performances, but when that elusive deal fell through, Beau had to accept that the dream was, if not over, than about to re-emerging in a new and more complex form. “I had been given free reign over the toy-box… in addition to be involved in the glorious process of making music, I had been able play with all-things artistic from graphic design to fashion, film making, photography, stage sets, lighting design. I had something I knew I could nurture and grow.” Seeking the opportunity to develop his existing skills, Beau made the move to Portugal. “Staying in Scotland and being surrounded by colleagues who were still in the music business felt, well, stationary, and for me that wasn’t an option. I had some friends selling an old farmhouse ruin in the Algarve so I decided it could be the project I needed to occupy me. I sold everything I owned in Scotland, packing only what I could fit on my motorbike, and headed off to reinvent my life in Portugal. It was only my second visit, and it was only meant to be for a year… but here I am, almost 30 years later and still very much in love with the place.
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hat he was more of a practical child than an artistic one, is something of a surprise coming from Beau McClellan. “I was always taking things apart to see how they work, then trying to rebuild them… sometimes they even worked again! I’d hear my mother and father shout: ‘Beau, why is the Hoover not working and why can’t we get that channel on the TV?’ I was lucky to grow up in a home where freedom of expression was encouraged. Necessity became my mother of invention and the art part followed. I wanted to play drums but I didn’t own a drum kit, so I built one out of biscuit tins and hundreds of layers of clingfilm. Then, of course, I had to make the kit look cool; I spent as much time painting it as I did on building it.” A first in music Small surprise then, that a traditional arts course was never an option for young Beau. “Music is an art form and it is great to have a perfect understanding of music theory, but my bands and all the bands I followed were self-taught; it was about doing our own thing and creating our own
Now the lights The transition to lighting came quite naturally to Beau when he was asked by his good friend, architect Stuart Seaton, to build a chandelier for one of his houses in Quinta do Lago. “He had an interesting problem to solve,” says Beau. “The house that he was designing, like many of the houses in Quinta at that time, had a huge entrance hall and no one was making chandeliers big enough or contemporary enough for the architecture. “We made one from forged stainless steel in collaboration with a local glass artist, Miguel Cheta, who produced the glass components. It was a huge success and I recognised instinctively that as the field of architectural design was changing so quickly, a niche market was opening up for me. “No one wanted black forged steel anymore – instead it was all about stainless steel and glass. I knew nothing about that type of lighting – but I did know that I wanted to learn more.” And he did, soaking up new technology and interpreting it his way designing with LEDs. “The control for LEDs uses the same DMX protocol that we used to light the stage back in my music days, so I felt completely at home with them. I made the first chandelier to use this technology and before long we were working all over the world on both our own projects and designing product lines for other companies.” This is a man who thinks big. Very big. His Reflective Flow in Qatar, completed in 2012 and then the largest interactive LED light sculpture in the world, is a 126ft long, 20-tonne masterpiece, created from more than 2,300 individually hand-ground optical crystals and 165,000 LED lights. Unsurprisingly, the Guinness book of Records recognised the outstanding work. Things started to move fast then. Beau had become a big name in lighting. “We had sales offices in the heart of London, an R&D studio in Montreal, a factory in South China, and our own distribution based in Brussels that could guarantee any of our standard products for delivery anywhere in Europe in less than 24 hours. “It was crazy. We had a board of directors and a CEO; we had become a corporate company. Our business was more about selling boxes and less about the art and I began to feel I had lost the passion we had started with. In 2013 I took the decision to step down from BMD (Beau McClellan Design), leaving them my name and the designs I had developed. I wanted to get back to my roots, to being hands on with a small dynamic team who shared my vision.
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Shining bright New beginnings Beau’s wife Lucia became his partner in business and together they built a new company, Bybeau Studio, with the perfect team ready to embark on a true adventure. According to the maestro, his own work and direction has been reinvigorated by his co-workers’ enthusiasm. While making a conscious effort to stay small, ByBeau Studio retains the capability to work on key projects worldwide. But the most recent game-changer, he believes, is the Dimple from his new collection, a product that combines incredible handcraft in the form of the hand-blown glass with cutting-edge technology that gives new life to colour through the LED system. “It is the product that got me back to my core values, and proved that if you have passion for what you do – everyone around you will feed from that and be positively affected. It’s such a collaborative process – and felt like getting the band back together!” There are many projects ongoing right now, and products being developed that include bespoke chandeliers and lighting installations for private clients including hotels like the Lumiares in Lisbon, and a partnership with the Foundry in London. And away from lighting, the ByBeau Studio team has taken on product branding commissions for companies like Volcanic from Iceland – a super-premium Vodka…and Algarvean Monterosa olive oil. Is there an end to this story? No, absolutely not. While there is room to challenge the conventional and introduce differences that will set new standards globally, Beau McClellen will be there, leading the way. The Dimple at Gosto, photography: Chloe Ophelia
Luza 2019, photography: Nigel Moore
TALKING POINTS...
ReflectiveFlow, photography: Vasco Célio
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The third edition of The Algarve International Festival of Light, the Luza Festival, was staged in Faro in November. ByBeau Studio and Eventors’Lab, the organisation and production team behind this dazzling event, saw many thousands of visitors flock into the city to witness the amazing complexity of the installations along the streets, ‘painting’ the buildings with extraordinary colour and shape within shape. Workshops and the conference ‘Working with Light’ not only underpins Beau McClellan’s position as a tour de force in the business of lighting, but assures him of a new generation of artists who want to follow his leadership.
December 2019
MONTE REI'S CHRISTMAS CHARITY GOLF EVENT 13th December 2019
Christmas Vouchers In this festive season make your loved ones feel special by offering one of our Chtistmas Vouchers with a unique golf experience. Our PGA professionals have put together several tailor-made options to suit all golf levels.
Individual Stableford & Lunch Following Monte Rei's tradition, we
After the round of golf, all players are
are proud to announce our Charity
expected to change from their themed
Christmas Event 2019 followed by
golf clothing and footwear to "Smart
Lunch Buffet with selected drinks.
Casual" before heading on to the
The dress code for Golf is "Christmas
amazing Lunch Buffet prepared by our
Themed" and the best outfit will be
Chef Rui Silvestre.
awarded a Prize!
For ENTRIES and Vouchers information , please contact our Golf reception through: +351 281 950 960 . golf@monterei.com
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The write way
IN HER OWN WORDS
The Algarve Writing Group, the brainchild of keen scribbler Dawn Annandale, boasts close to 20 members and a host of famous ‘friends’ keen to offer advice and set subjects. This is a story of unpublished pride…
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’ve always been a fan of committing to the written word, producing fictional stories and factual articles and any else that took my fancy. So, after living here in the Algarve for a couple of years, I decided to look around for a group of like-minded people. Unable to find what I wanted, I decided to pop a post on Facebook to test the water, see if anyone else wanted to have a go at writing, and maybe even learn something on the way. A month or so later, a group of six people sat around a coffee shop table and The Algarve Writing Group was conceived. Now, 18 months on, we have around 15 regular (if somewhat transient) members who duck in and out of our monthly meetings at the Museum of Sao Bras on a Wednesday afternoon. The AWG is a creative writing platform – it’s not a scary group where your knuckles get rapped if you make a spelling mistake! Each month, an author/screenwriter/ publisher/literary agent comes up with a title and we, the group members, undertake to write an essay – a complete
short story of 1,500 words, actually – on the given topic, but interpreting it in our own individual ways. It’s not a competition and your work is not marked with big red lines or “must try harder” comments. It’s fun, interesting to read the different takes on the same title and, more importantly, it’s a challenge. The point of the exercise is to stimulate your brain cells and to stretch the imagination. Titles have included The Last Ferry, The Green Umbrella, My Heart, Marching into War, Big Girls and Friday Night. Any level of ability is welcomed and no matter how good we think we are, there is always room for improvement. Recognised We have been very fortunate to have been patronised by some celebrity authors who have delighted in setting the brief for our writing group. It’s wonderful that these famous people with their own hectic schedules, make the time to help our members and take pleasure in the task. One of my favourite authors, Louis de Bernières, came up with the title
Setting the brief, left to right: Ian Rankin, Louis de Bernières, Jo Brand, Chris Lang
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The Blue Cat and those of you familiar with his work will understand the significance of that. Each month, when the title, or theme, has been selected and the members informed, we all head home, scratch our heads for several days, then have three weeks to dream up our individual approach. Then, once we have formulated our essays, we email them to each other a week before the next meeting, have a read/laugh/cry and then sit down on a Wednesday afternoon and take turns to laugh at one another. I jest. Honestly, we are all very kind and constructively critical. We don’t care about spelling mistakes or forgetting a comma; it’s the content that matters. One lady who comes along likes to have a few pointers regarding her grammar, punctuation and spelling but no one judges the positioning of your semicolon unless you specifically want them to. We do have a couple of real-life writers within the group – published authors (not self-published) who have some experience in the literary world both here in the Algarve and in the UK. No one is a princess (or prince for that matter) and we welcome all abilities. Over the year-anda-half since the group was formulated, the standard of writing has vastly improved and confidence has grown. I’ve noticed how people have taken on board the helpful
critiques offered and acted upon the advice suggested.
Togetherness The Algarve Writing Group is also a very sociable and friendly group – a glass or two of wine is a definite help in breaking the ice. We like to encourage one another and it’s fabulous to see skills developing. One month members were encouraged to think outside the box and write about the given title in as obscure a way as possible. It was a helpful and challenging exercise which produced some incredibly imaginative essays with the most diverse interpretation known to man. Our current topic, 1947, was set by the author of a recently-published novel, a first for Debby Jones whose book, Dateline Haifa, is a tale of espionage in post-War Europe. We are delighted (and somewhat overwhelmed truth be told) that so many talented and skilful writers and literary giants take the time out to interact with our group. Chris Lang, screen writer of The Unforgotten fame was thrilled to be asked to supply a title, as were Jo Brand, Andy McNab, and Ian Rankin. Feedback on our efforts has been excellent and we hope to produce a collection of short stories at some stage.
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The write way
AND JUST TO WHET YOUR APPETITE… Here’s the start of one member’s essay, 1947 by Warren Rothenburg
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t was a baby girl. Never to know her mother’s touch. All those years of wanting, wishing had come to this. Julia and Serge had spoken so much about having a baby together. It had felt for them inevitable and somehow requisite of their deep love for each other that a child, a product of their togetherness, would emerge from their union. But, it was not without the debates of how this would, or could, change what they had with each other. They lived and breathed almost as one. Their love was complete within itself. Serge loved Julia with a passion that lived brightly within him. Could their love for each other include another person? Serge would never know, for Julia had exchanged her last breath for the first breath of their baby girl. It was a complicated birth. Thirteen hours of labour. The pain of trying, struggling and the exhaustion that followed led to this exchange: Life gives and takes within the same breath. The moment was almost instantaneous: a swapping of lives, the mother for the infant. Sue was born. She lived. She breathed. It was June 1947.
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For Serge it was the coldest winter ever. This person that emerged from his Julia had life, but had taken his Julia in some horrific exchange that ripped him apart. The news that he had a daughter but had lost his Julia felt horribly unfair. He felt empty and lost, especially as he had somehow played a role in her death. He never recovered, nor could he ever feel some connection with a daughter that would always remind him of what he had lost, what had been taken away from him. A sacrifice. Julia was gone, his dearest Julia; how could life continue? He receded into an inner world of despair and anger, and this became depression. His life had ended at the moment that Julia’s had. Sue came into the world through her mother’s sudden death, and grew into the world by witnessing her father’s slow one. Want to read more? Join the group!
TALKING POINTS... ...or rather writing points If you would like any further information drop Dawn an email on annandale.dawn@gmail.com or send a smoke signal or carrier pigeon and get down to a Wednesday meeting at the Museum. You never know – your essay may even be selected for publication in Simply Algarve.
December 2019
from s n i 5 M lé Lou
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Go there
A CENTRE OF IMPORTANCE Beside the beautiful little church in Sao Lourenco, known for its marvellous tile-worked interior, is an intriguing group of linked buildings that cascade down the hill and border the twists and turns of magical gardens. If you haven’t visited the newly-launched Cultural Centre, you are missing out 18
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ack in 1981, when the Algarve was quieter and far slower-paced than today and elegant resorts on the coast were still in their early days of development, German couple Volker and Marie Huber realised their passion and opened the very beautiful doors of a terrace of 200-year-old traditional local houses. They brought music and art, literature and archeology together, with gallery shows, talks and concerts, introducing new interests to those looking for something outside of a golf-and-beach way of life. Yesterday Artists and musicians were invited to the Algarve to exhibit and perform, and to meet an ever-growing audience of enthusiastic and appreciative residents and visitors. The Hubers also went on a journey of discovery, finding local talents – sculptors and metalworkers in particular – and providing them with a platform to show their work. The gardens, too, were a focus for them. They lavished
love and invested energy into the creation of a wonderland of twisting paths and curving beds of wild plants and exotic shrubs interspersed with fine pieces of contemporary and traditional statuary – painted cows in the grass, gigantic wooden carved nudes on a terrace. Volker Huber passed away in 2004. He had been awarded a municipal medal of merit by Loulé Câmara and later, a street in Almancil was named after him. The Centre closed in 2012. Breathing new life Today, however, it is at the start of a new chapter, the result of years of renovation and the commitment of a group of friends with a heartfelt passion for art and culture, who purchased the centre. Paula and Mário Sequeira, famed gallerists in the North of Portugal whose Galeria Mário Sequeira iin Braga is internationally acclaimed, have joined forces with collector of contemporary art, Gilles Weil; international businessman Bernard Schack; and Tessa Schack, an artist and wild life
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Go there photographer who worked in Paris in advertising and marketing for many years and has now assumed the role of Director of the new Cultural Centre. With a shared vision, they are facing the inevitable challenges and moving daily towards meeting their objective… to make the Cultural Centre a key landmark on the Algarve map. Open now for just three months, the results of their work is being heralded by visitors and the media alike. They are staging art exhibitions – initially the work of English artist Jason Martin and currently that of Angolan Luis Coquenão whose aqueous vinyl painted landscapes transport the viewer across mountains lost in swirling mists, through wild forest land and by sweeping streams. Local school children have been invited in to meet the artist and discuss his work… another move to take the Centre to the heart of the community. A full programme is being drawn up now, which will include both national and international artists, conferences and special events. And the building itself cannot fail to delight. It is something of a design triumph, blending the new and minimalist with the old and enchantingly complex – as narrow tiled walkways link spaces large and small so that there is a surprise around every corner. If you haven’t been, go, and delight in the bravado of the new owners. Herr Huber would be impressed with the rebirth of his long-held dream and the team, under Tessa Schack’s direction, who are making it happen.
TALKING POINTS... Check what’s coming, including the programme of fascinating talks at The Cultural Centre Rua da Igreja São Lourenço 8135-027 Almancil T: 910 971 881 E: centroculturalslourenco@gmail. com Opening hours: Monday, 1.30pm-5.30pm Tuesday to Friday, 10.30am-5.30pm Saturdays, 11am-1pm, 3pm-5.30pm
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December 2019
Giving time
TECHIE GIFTS
From Kindles that encourage youngsters to develop a love for reading, to drones and hoverboards that get things moving, here are some Christmas gift suggestions that will go down a treat with kids of all ages (including the grown up ones). It’s a long way from dolls and aftershave, says Chris Partridge DJI Mavic Mini drone Regulations covering drones have been tightened up since the incident last year when Gatwick Airport was brought to a standstill when drones were flown round the tarmac. Now every drone weighing more that 250g has to be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority. Until now, all drones under that weight were just toys, but now DJI has launched a highly-capable drone weighing in at just 249g. The Mavic Mini quadcopter has a high definition video camera in gimbals so it can point automatically at the subject on the ground or pan and tilt under the control of the pilot. It’s great for those impressive shots you see on telly as you seem to rise from the ground and circle your house at ever increasing altitude. The controller clamps onto your smartphone, with the view from the camera displayed on the screen. The free DJI Fly app provides tuition and lots of preset flight modes. Unlike toy drones, the Mavic Mini has GPS so it can automatically return to its launch point and land safely if the batteries run low. The one feature it does not have, unfortunately, is ‘follow me’, the ability to follow narcissistic runners, cyclists and off-roaders automatically so they can
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relive their adventures from the air. For that, they will need friends to pilot the thing. The Mavic Mini is now available at about ¤399, or as part of a pack including extra batteries, a charging hub and lots of other goodies. Try Radio Popular. Kitsound Immerse headphones Noise-cancelling headphones are a bit like magic – turn them on and the noise of life switches off so you can concentrate on the music (or audio book or podcast or whatever). Kitsound specialises in making high tech at low prices, and their Immerse noise cancelling headphones are a steal, from around ¤60 at amazon.de and also FNAC, offering quality sound with a good bass and wire-free attachment to a phone or tablet. And the styling is pretty good too, without the flashy details aimed at teenagers, and folding into a compact bundle when they are not being used. Amazon Kindle Kids Edition The world’s most popular e-reader is now available in a
December 2019
version specially adapted to encourage children to read. And it is not all about the blue or pink case it comes in (though it helps by protecting the device from nursery accidents and turning it on and off when it is opened or closed). No, the main things that separate the Kids Edition from the grown-ups’ one is the software. Selecting a word, for example, converts the definition into a flash card for future practice, and finishing a book is rewarded with gold stars. The Kindle Kids Edition costs around ¤100, and users can also sign up to a library service giving access to more than 1,000 child-friendly books at a fixed monthly price. The only drawback is that colour picture books look very drab on the Kindle’s monochrome screen. Moto 360 smartwatch The smartwatch is one of those things that was supposed to sweep the world but never quite made it to the big time – even the Apple Watch only sells millions compared with the iPhone’s billions. So it is brave of eBuyNow, the Canadian licensee of the Motorola brand, to launch a new watch, especially as it is designed as a fashionable adjunct to your Android phone rather than a swanky and expensive fitness band. But if that is what you want, the Moto 360 hits the spot. It is circular, as every watch should be, and not too huge. The interface is Google’s Wear OS. Inside, however, it is packed with every sensor you can imagine, including GPS, gyroscope, accelerometer, light sensor, heart rate monitor and so on. It communicates via Bluetooth, WiFi and 4G. The Moto 360 goes on sale in December – check prices in FNAC.
Hover-1 Nomad hoverboard Few toys have more fun potential than a hoverboard, capable of propelling you at the speed of a good run (7mph), effortlessly balancing. The Nomad has a battery large enough to cover eight miles and it has a Bluetooth speaker to play tracks on your smartphone as you go. LED headlights show you the way and it is water resistant in case of puddles. The drawback? It is illegal on almost any public road or path, so you need a large garden to get the best out of it. Check out Amazon for different makes on offer and prices.
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Speak up
LESSONS WORTH LEARNING George Bernard Shaw once said: “England and America are two countries separated by the same language.” The same applies to the Algarve and the rest of Portugal which is why Brian Redmond took himself off for some serious studying
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s residents of this southern region we are accustomed to the looks of confused bemusement when we attempt our version of Portuguese with the citizens in the north, followed by a gruff: “Como?” Many of us have, over the years, taken
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the time to enrol in Portuguese classes in language schools, online, through community initiatives or in one-to-one sessions. Each method has its pros and cons. On the plus side, the pupils will learn the language to a greater or lesser degree; on the minus side, language schools can be very expensive; online courses seem to favour Brazilian Portuguese rather than European
December 2019
Fountain in Parque de Santa Cruz, Coimbra
12th century Romanesque cathedral, Se Velha
Coimbra University
Portuguese; community projects tend to attract people looking for something to do and, in some cases, to force their views of the curriculum onto the group. Ultimately it is a matter of individual taste and needs – whether one simply wants to get by day to day without worrying about mispronunciation and accent, or needs a stronger grasp of the language to engage over the phone with bureaucrats, or while travelling through the country. Rightly or wrongly, Algarveans have a reputation for taking the language, chopping it into pieces, condensing it and then carelessly lobbing it out. For example próxima semana becomes “pra’ seman”, casa de banho morphs into “ca’ d ban” and of course obrigado and obrigada become to sound like “obrigadt”. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this but, from a personal perspective, it’s not an ideal situation, so I decided to research the best region of the country in which to learn the language. On a journey to the north I stopped off in Coimbra, the university town midway between Lisboa and Porto. As I wandered around that evening dropping into cafés and settling for a side street restaurant for dinner, it was as the aural equivalent of having cataracts removed… I could understand clearly every syllable that was being spoken by the townspeople I came in contact with, which left me thinking that perhaps Coimbra was the place to be.
Brian outside the Faculdade de Letras
A bit of history During the 13th century, literacy levels here and all over Europe were low. The then king of Portugal, Don Dinis, was the first monarch who could read and write. He was a prolific poet and understood the importance of literacy. Scholarships were made available to study but the students had to go to Salamanca, Bologna and Paris. In 1290, Don Dinis got permission from the Holy See to establish the first Portuguese university – Estudo Geral – in Lisbon. In 1308 the college was transferred to Coimbra but 30 years later it went back to Lisbon where it remained until 1537 when the academial game of ping-pong ended and Coimbra finally became its permanent home. In the 18th century the Marquis de Pombal, Minister of the Kingdom, made sweeping reforms in the University, particularly in the teaching of sciences. The collection of scientific instruments and materials that are gathered in the dedicated museum at the university is one of the most important in Europe. The 18th century also brought the reign of Don João V who, like other European monarchs at the time, was absolutist and considered himself to having divine intervention. He used the riches pouring in from Brazil to stimulate the arts and to build on a monumental scale. One such building is the Biblioteca Joanina da
December 2019
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Speak up Universidade de Coimbra, the Joanine Library. This magnificent building on the campus is spectacularly decorated and embellished with gold leaf and is considered to be one of the most beautiful libraries in existence. Other Joanine monuments include the Aqueduto das Águas Livres in Lisbon and the Palace of Mafra. And some background Coimbra is the fourth largest municipality in the country after Lisbon, Porto and Braga and is seen as the centre for the entire middle region. It contains 18 freguesias and a resident population of approximately 160,000. This figure increases by about 25,000 when the students begin their academic year. It hosts the largest number of foreign students, many of whom are enrolled under the Erasmus Programme which offers an internship in an EU country for two months to one year whilst a student completes a section of the degree course they are pursuing. Coimbra is located on a hill on the banks of the Rio Mondego. The skyline is dominated by the university and Cabra bell tower. The main link from the riverfront to the colleges is by way of a series of steep alleyways known as Quebras Costa that wind up the hill and are home to numerous cafés and bars. In the summertime impromptu jazz sessions happen on the steps, and Fado music venues provide the unique sound of the city. Near the summit, the steps open out into a large cobbled square which is dominated by the 12th century cathedral, Sé Velha. It was built to act as a church and sanctuary and also a fortress. The top of the hill is the site of the university campus and the former Royal Palace. The faculty buildings – law, medicine, psychology, natural sciences and letters – are around the squares of Porta Férrea and Don Dinis.
Portuguese so that by day’s end at 5 o’clock we were suffering from ‘post-grammatical stress’. Heads numb, we would go back to our temporary homes and tackle our trabalho de casa. But each morning I would happily step up through Quebras, getting fitter and faster every day, to further my learning in good company. On the edge of the campus under the statue of Don Dinis lies a broad set of granite steps. There are 125 of them in five tiers and are called Escadas Monumentais. They lead down into the Praça da República and the Botanic Gardens. Legend has it that if you fall (and survive) on the steps you will not pass your exams. As our class all passed none can have tripped on Monumentais. After three intensive weeks we didn’t come away speaking fluently but we were better equipped to understand and tackle the language. Constant practice is needed by reading, listening and speaking (clearly). Our new-found abilities have enhanced our life here with our Portuguese neighbours and friends. After all, it is not a good thing to be separated by a language. For information about courses visit www.uc.py
Back to school The faculty of letters provides The university library is a Unesco World Heritage site and one of the most various courses in Portuguese as important tourist attractions in Coimbra a foreign language and so it was, after applying for the intensive course, that I found myself enrolled in the University of Coimbra in August. My fellow students were a mixed bunch both in age and nationality. Many of us were foreigners living in Portugal but quite a few were from overseas. We sat a placement The final ten days of the course Brian took test that would determine the level of the course that best coincided with the first semester for Coimbra’s suited our existing language skills. The class sizes were new students. The city comes to life with their small – around 15 students in each – and my co-students, arrival in September when they are dressed in the ranging in age from 19 to 60, were from Japan, Singapore, traditional academic costume of black suit and tie Germany, China, Denmark, and America; the one thing we with a cape or Cape e Batana. The new students had in common was our enthusiasm to learn the language are encouraged to join the many societies and in a genuine scholastic setting. clubs. Membership of the AAC, Associaçao The course is very intensive. Each day was split into two Académica de Coimbra, the Students’ Union, is components; the morning session ran for four hours and complimentary to all. This important body was was dedicated to the structure of the language. Our tutor, founded in 1887 and is the oldest students’ union Cristina, despite her relaxed attitude, was a serious and in Europe. It has a long history of struggle against dedicated teacher who brought out the best in us. The biunpopular State policies – particularly during lingual classes consisted of conversation, group sessions , the Salazar years – and was instrumental in the role play and, interestingly, dictation. foundation of Amnesty International. In the 1970s, After a brief lunch break it was back to class to study clashes with police were frequent; the students grammar under tutor Ana’s careful eye. For some, myself devised a clever way of dodging the mounted included, this subject was a tough one; the younger police – they doused the cobbled streets with members of the class found it easier as they had only soap making it impossible for the horses to recently learned the rules of grammar whilst studying proceed in pursuit of the protesters. English. These classes were delivered completely in
TALKING POINTS...
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December 2019
E legance ALGARVE
Love of furniture and interior design by Donna Algarve Elegance is the beauty within your home with a taste of difference and style. Find us here: Av. Duarte Pacheco 143, Almancil or contact us on T: 960 116 396 E: donna@algarveelegance.com W: algarveelegance.com
Simply delicious
ROAST DUCK
with apples, pears and chestnuts Okay, it’s the festive season with turkey and the various trimmings being the traditional centrepiece of a celebration lunch with family and friends. But why? Make this year an adventurous one, with a burst of deliciously different flavours that will have tastebuds tingling. Skye McAlpine gets it together Serves: 4 as a main course
for another time – it’s particularly delicious for roasting potatoes). Return the duck to the oven and roast for a further 30 minutes.
Ingredients 1 duck (about 2kg) 2 apples cored and chopped 2 shallots, chopped A small bunch of sage, leaves torn Juice of 1/2 a lemon 70ml brandy 4 pears, peeled, cored and quartered 150g boiled chestneuts (vacuum-packed ones are fine) Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
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Remove the tin from the oven and arrange the chunks of pear around the duck. Pour the remaining brandy over the pears and return to the oven to roast for another 30 minutes.
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Add the chestnuts to the roasting tray and roast for 35-40 minutes longer until the juices run clear when you pierce the duck with a knife in the thickest part of the flesh.
Method Bring a large pan or kettle of water to the boil. Pierce the skin of the duck all over with a fork. Set the duck on a wire rack in the sink, then pour the boiling water over it. Pat dry with kitchen paper, then settle the bird, still on its wire rack, in a roasting tin and leave in the fridge for 2 hours.
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Toss the apples, shallots and sage in a large bowl and squeeze the lemon juice over them. Season with salt and pepper, then pour in 30ml of the brandy. Stir and leave to steep for at least 10 minutes.
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Some 20 minutes before you are ready to roast the duck, heat the oven to 200C/Gas Mark 6 and take the bird out of the fridge to bring it to room temperature. Fill the cavity with the apple mixture, then generously rub the skin all over with 1 heaped tablespoon of salt.
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Put the duck in the oven and roast for 30 minutes.
Remove from the oven and carefully drain the duck fat into a heatproof bowl (keep this excess duck fat
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Leave the duck to rest for -20 minutes, then serve with the brandied pears and chestnuts, as well as the heavenly apple and sage stuffing.
TALKING POINTS... Says Sky McAlpine, author of A Table in Venice (Bloomsbury), from where this recipe was taken: “The idea of tossing a few slices of brandy-drenched pear and a handful of chestnuts into the pan along with the duck as it roasts is the inspiration of Marlu Salvatori de Zuliani; the deliciously caramelised fruit is a marvellous match with the meat. My instruction for preparing the duck are, I concede, a little laborious. But it is necessary in order to dry out the skin so it crisps beautifully in the oven. It’s a small faff, but definitely worth it.” We rate this cookery book, and so does Nigella Lawson!
December 2019
December 2019
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Artistic tastes
THE CITY OF SEVEN HILLS
There are many vantage points from which to admire Lisbon’s beauty, and they have provided inspiration for artist Roman Markov
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December 2019
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apturing the eclectic atmosphere of Portugal’s capital city, Roman Markov paints its urban landscape. Thousands of buildings carpet the right bank of the River Tagus, ten kilometres from the river’s mouth. Roman is selective choosing areas where the city has been laid out in a grid pattern that was originally designed in the 16th century. Despite there being an extraordinary mix of buildings, when viewed from above there is a regularity about the appearance of the streets and their terracotta roof tops. This orderliness undoubtedly suits the artist’s style. Influenced by Cubist painters such as Picasso, Roman has an interest in geometric shapes tessellated together. His paintings therefore are often dominated by straight lines. Simultaneously, he captures many details, including the intricate wrought iron balconies that overlook Lisbon’s cobbled streets. The occasional narrow staircase can be glimpsed as it climbs a slope. Interspersed amongst the houses and apartment blocks there are grand public buildings, churches and convents. Some paintings include river front buildings and the Mar de Palha (Sea of Straw) where the Tagus has broadened out to form an inland sea. Commissioned by the owners of Galeria CôrteReal in Paderne, Roman’s new collection of paintings reflects the loveliness of the city.
TALKING POINTS... In its earliest carnation Lisbon was a Phoenician settlement which occupied an area now known as the hill of São Jorge. It proved to be a perfect natural harbour that was easily defensible. Later, in 205 BCE, it was occupied by the Romans, then the Barbarians followed by the Visigoths and Moors. It was Portugal’s first king, Dom Afonso Henriques who drove out the Moors in 1147. Throughout the centuries Lisbon has been noted for its ‘miradouros’ (viewpoints) and today most are located at the top of Lisbon’s seven hills. Marked by terraces with spaces where visitors can sit and rest, here are some of the best:Miradouro das Portas do Sol Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcãntara Miradouro da Graça Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte Miradouro de Santa Luzia Miradouro Santa Justa Elevador Miradouro de Santa Catarina Galeria Côrte-Real is on the outskirts of the protected village of Paderne, signposted from Paderne, Boliqueime and Ferreiras. Open Thursday to Sunday 11am until 5pm T: 912 737 762 W: corterealarte.com
December 2019
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Property
PROPERTY YELLOW HOMES Land & Houses Algarve Real Estate Agent since 1995 T: +351 289 301 294 E: info@yellowhomes.com www.yellowhomes.com EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime (opposite DHL)
AMI: 6232
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December 2019
OF THE MONTH Unique 2-bedroom apartment in top location at the Marina Vilamoura with large communal pool and in walking distance to all amenities and Falesia beach
PROPERTY DETAILS • Private condominium in top location • Built in 2009 • 4th floor • Panoramic elevators • Modern architecture and luxurious finishes • Imposing glass façade brightening the hall and corridors • Large communal swimming pool and landscaped garden • Lobby that operates 24 hours • 2 double bedrooms, fitted wardrobes • 2 bathrooms (1 x en suite) • Entrance hall with cloakroom • Modern, fully fitted kitchen
• Large living-dining room with plenty of light • Large glass doors opening up to a 30m2 terrace. • Central Aircon, electric roller blinds • SAT TV / telephone / internet connections • Security door and alarm • Communal roof terrace • Car parking space in the basement • Perfect holiday retreat or ideal for rental income • Excellent value for money • Construction area: 115 m2 • EC: B-
¤535,000 Ref: ABT December 2019
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toldos - awnings sun wind rain protection
toldolanda
info@toldolanda.com | www.toldolanda.com | 914 609 517
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December 2019
Reasons
WHY ARE YOU HERE? Pascale Fish has not been in the Algarve long but to her it is already the home she never wants to leave. A media and marketing maestro, she lives with her partner in Sao Bras Where are you from? I was born in the French Alps, spent my early years between lakes and mountains in Savoie and moved to Kent, the garden of England, in my teens. Although I have lived in the UK the best part of my adult life, I have hopped between the two countries ever since.
and love everything about it. How do you spend your time? One of the reasons we moved out here was to escape the rat race. Striking a good work life balance was impossible in our previous jobs. Our priorities have completely changed. We now want time to enjoy the place we live in and the people around us and to fit work around that. I have four grown up children and three grandchildren and I want to spend more time with them. I have found the perfect option: working from home as a social marketer. I promote, through social media, innovative and effective ‘clean’ products that respect health, the environment and are not tested on animals – three things I am passionate about. It gives me total flexibility to work when I like and from absolutely anywhere in the world.
Your Profession? I qualified as a translator and interpreter at the Institute of Linguists in London and worked in various fields involving languages in both the private and public sectors before moving into media and communication. In the early 90s, I was a bilingual radio presenter for Radio France. For the past ten years I have worked in the hotel and hospitality sector as a general manager, both in France and the UK. The first time you visited the Algarve and why? One of my greatest regrets is not having visited the Algarve earlier! I discovered it a couple of years ago whilst visiting friends who have a holiday home in Loulé. Three things that made you fall in love with the place? The natural beauty of the Algarve, the fantastic weather and the charming locals with their strong sense of family and tradition. How many times did you visit before you decided to make a move? It was a bit of a case of love at first sight! I came only twice before selling up in France and driving down with my partner and our two cats. Did you rent/buy/build – where? We quickly worked out that renting long term was difficult and quite expensive around Loulé. We stayed with friends for a couple of months before moving into the house we bought. I spotted it online and knew it was the one immediately. We live in the beautiful hills around Sao Bras
Your favourite place? Faro Beach is my favourite place. I go there practically every day at low tide to walk Nina, my dog. I love its stuckin-a-time-warp ambiance; no fancy buildings, just little cabins on the sand. I cross the bridge, turn left and park all the way at the end of the road. From there, the beach is empty most of the time except for a few surfers. I never tire of admiring the colours, the waves, breathing the salty sea air and watching the birds across the intracoastal. And I think it’s my dog’s favourite place, too! Your perfect day? A day spent exploring another part of the Algarve. We still have so much to see! Finding a little gem of a restaurant for lunch and trying new dishes and flavours. Catching up with friends early evening around a bottle of wine to round up the day. Your favourite local dish? I enjoy the Arroz Marisco at Beira Serra, one of our favourite local restaurants.
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In the garden
Sea squill, Urginea maritima
Myrtus communis flrs lge
PLANTING A THOUGHT
Autumn in the Algarve, along with refreshing rainfall should bring a second spring of the year with a renewed green landscape to take us through to the festive season. The Christmas break is the best time to think about getting drought-tolerant plants into the ground. Rosie Peddle of the Mediterranean Garden Fair suggest going native
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t any event where Algarve gardeners gather, there is a common theme to the questions raised: How do I reduce my water consumption? How do I get rid of my lawn? Why do my lavenders die? The answer to all of these is to use the native plants of the Algarve. Admittedly, it is difficult to appreciate what ‘native’ is when you may have just taken possession of a beautifullybuilt and finished property which is surrounded by a scalped and flattened landscape with every trace of the local ‘weeds’ removed. I must admit here that our builder must have thought that I was verging on the lunatic when I insisted on moving all the bulbs of the autumn sea squill (Urginia maritima) which were growing on the area where our house extension was to go. Now, however, they are safely lodged in another
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part of what we laughingly call ‘the garden’ and flowering fit to bust at the end of each summer. Light bulbs These are only one of the superbly adapted plants which grow and flourish in the harsh conditions of the Algarve landscape. Bulbs, above all, are the classic Mediterranean plant – dormant in the long hot summers and in active growth during the cooler more humid days of autumn, winter and spring. On short midwinter days it is possible to see the native paperwhite narcissus (Narcissus papyraceus) flowering among the evergreen shrubs on the hillsides with bunches of small highly perfumed flowers on each stem. Later in the year there is also the wonderful deep blue Scilla peruviana – a bulb nursery in France has a lovely pure white version.
December 2019
As well as these two excellent performers there are a myriad of small bulbs such as blue flowered Muscari neglectum, Allium roseum and, if you are lucky, Tulipa australis. The australis means ‘of the south’ by the way, and not that the plant comes from Australia! Rock on As well as the bulbs there are the many varieties of the rock rose family, Cistus, which grow here. In our own patch of the chalky Barrocal in the eastern Algarve we are lucky enough to have at least four main varieties of these shrubs and their flowering period extends from early March through to May or June. There are seven distinct species listed as growing here. One of my favourites is the cerise pink flowers of Cistus albidus, a lovely contrast with the soft grey leaves. It is slightly taller than some of the other cistus and can be gently pruned to provide a more pleasing shape. If you have seedlings of this, or any other native shrubs, which pop up in your garden then it is possible to move them around if you get them when they are still very small – maybe only 5cm high. The trick is to do it when the ground is wet and before they have had the chance to start putting their long water seeking tap roots down. Mature cistus, and many other shrubs and trees, use a wonderful trick to see them through drought periods: they have two root systems. There is a shallower fibrous root system which spreads out around the base of the trunk and then there are longer wiry water-seeking roots. This is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to grow these plants in containers or pots for sale. If you see small evergreen shrubs offered for sale which
look vaguely familiar from your walks in the countryside, grab them and put them in your own garden. You will have a good chance of establishing these much quicker than the more seductive and colourful exotics which are also available. We have found that regular monthly summer watering is only required for the first year or two and many of our shrubs have now been totally removed from the watering system. Rosemary and lavenders, and some of their many colour variants, have been particularly successful for us. Lavenders that do best in the Algarve are the ones which will tolerate the generally chalky soils. Avoid the overblown ones offered in some garden centres which need watering nearly every day in the summer to keep them alive in pots. Look out for Lavandula dentata candicans, my favourite, which gently seeds around and needs no watering. Rosemary is listed as a native plant of Portugal and, like lavender, does best in well drained soils. You will see the low growing, or prostate, form cascading over rocks with its winter show of blue flowers. There are also some spectacular native grasses which are sometimes available. The Stipa family does very well with little or no watering and has not proved to be at all invasive with us. Stipa gigantea, S. tenacissima, S. capensis and S. bromoides are listed as native to the Algarve. The first three of these have all been successful additions to our dry garden and look good throughout the year. The Pennisetum family has some useful drought-tolerant members and P. villosum is listed as growing in the Algarve. The grasses seem to provide a useful link between garden areas and the surrounding landscape without the harsh lines and contrasts of more exotic plantings.
Grape hyacinth (Muscari neglectum
TALKING POINTS...
Portuguese Squill (Scilla peruviana)
Another spectacular spring flowering shrub is the Algarve endemic, Genista hirsuta algarbiensis. If you have the chance to visit the protected area of Rocha de Pena in the late spring you will see clouds of its bright butter yellow flowers. Admire, but don’t get too close as it is extremely prickly. For the past ten years, the Mediterranean Gardening Association Portugal has staged a spectacular annual fair in the autumn, as well as activities year round that range from workshops to guided walks. The website mediterraneangardeningportugal.org is worth a visit and provides information and advice in spades.
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Property Update
MARKET REVIEW
Every December Robert Bijker, director of Yellow Homes, reflects on the past year and provides an outlook for the property market in the year ahead. What can we expect from 2020? Read on...
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he past 12 months continued to see healthy demand for real estate for both permanent living and investment purposes, albeit at a slower pace than the year before. Less supply of existing properties in combination with relatively high prices, sharp downward revisions of economic growth early in the year and uncertainty regarding trade wars and Brexit are the culprits. Despite this, property prices continued their upward trajectory by increasing 3% year-on-year, which was in line with the lower end of our expectations. There are reasons to be cautiously optimistic for the upcoming year. The demand for properties in 2019 came predominately from buyers in Scandinavia, France, Germany, Italy and the UK. There is also a noticeable increase in demand coming from Americans and Canadians as a direct result from years of promotional efforts by Turismo do Algarve and Turismo de Portugal. The Golden Visa and NHR programmes remain popular. The former is offered in many European countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and the UK. However, the latter pulls in more people who either buy or rent long term. One could argue that without the NHR programme, property and monthly rental prices would be lower. Although demand for property was healthy, transaction volume was less than a year ago, mainly due to relatively high property prices and the uncertainty that Brexit, trade wars and economic slowdown caused. The economic climate The fear earlier in the year that various economies in Europe may go into recession looked premature as they continue to grow slowly. The policy response from the ECB to stave off a recession by lowering interest rates even further saw government bond yields going deeper into negative territory; even ten-year bond yields temporarily dropped to minus 0.5% in Germany. which is seen as the economic engine of Europe but has suffered from a recession in the manufacturing sector, with the automotive and related industries in particular taking a downturn. Car manufacturers have long supply chains for car parts,
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chemicals, metal, textiles and electronics and as such a slowdown affects various industries. The slump in manufacturing also hit other countries; the introduction of trade barriers may still make matters worse. The manufacturing industry role in the economy is much smaller than it was 20 years ago. The larger service sector is still humming along and consumer spending continued to stay strong. ‘Everyday low interest rates’, a variation on Walmart’s famous ‘everyday low prices’ slogan,makes for happy consumers, businesses and governments. However, the longer the weakness in the manufacturing sector persist, the more likely it is to spread to other sectors in the economy. Deglobalisation pressures may well continue next year which could have a negative effect on the global economy. The financial state of play Christine Lagarde is the new president of the ECB since November 2019, succeeding Mario Draghi. It is expected that she may have a different view on past interest rate policies and may be less inclined to continue with negative interest rates The ECB has long argued that governments need to create a more resilient economy by speeding up structural reforms and increasing spending. Germany especially, with large trade surpluses, can spend more on stimulating economic growth by deficit spending. So far the ECB’s return to stimulus, and the prospect of higher government spending, have avoided a recession. The bond markets are offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for fiscal expansion. Germany could spend as much as ¤100bn to upgrade outdated infrastructure while The Netherlands, another country with a trade surplus, is contemplating setting up a ¤50bn fund for infrastructural works and investments in IT. England will have elections soon and both the Tories and Labour are planning to increase spending by respectively £75bn (3% of GDP) to £106bn (4% of GDP), up from £51bn. Across the pond, the USA plans deficits of 5% of GDP for the next five years. Portugal, which has one of the highest debtto-GDP ratios of Europe – estimated at 119.50% by end of 2019 – has less room for fiscal expansion but it will still benefit from economic expansion abroad. With signs that Europe’s economy
December 2019
is starting to bottom out, investors believe that a recession may Our base case scenario for 2020 is for prices to remain stable be avoided and equity markets are near or at all-time highs. with a slight upward bias. Property markets in Europe have benefited from low interest rates and are often at or above pre-crisis levels. European central Yellow Homes – Land & Houses Algarve bankers are calling for tighter regulation of mortgages to shield www.algarvepropertysearch.com banks and households from rising house prices. This can come www.algarve-portugal-immobilien.de in the form of capping the percentage of loan-to-value of a property and by demanding from banks to hold more capital Vilamoura Office against their mortgage lending books. EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime Politicians are reluctant to implement these measures which 8100 - 068 Boliqueime are meant to cool off the property market and if delayed it may Tel: 289 301 294 have already caused harm. The financial situation of Portuguese Fax: 289 301 439 banks is, however, improving the percentage of non-performing loans which are still above the European average. Tavira Office Ultra-low interest rates have been a boon to businesses, Rua Dr. José Pires Padinha 178 consumers and governments over the past years and the effect 8800 - 354 Tavira is often immediate. But it has a negative impact on savers and Tel: 281 320 281 pensions funds albeit with a delay. Fax: 281 321 901 (AMI - 6232) Pension holders worldwide are faced with steep hikes in their contributions or cuts to their benefits. As the number of retirees will only increase over the years, a GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS cut to their benefits reduces their spending power. Although only a small number of retirees may be looking to purchase a property in the Algarve, a reduction in benefits may hamper economic growth in Europe and can have a negative effect on property prices overtime. Property ownership benefits There is no doubt that a long term investment in property is rewarding; in the short to medium term there can be price volatility but overtime the return on investment is good and as such this should be part of a diversified investment portfolio. Property is relatively easy to understand and if rented out provides a decent return versus a savings account or bonds (exotics not included, as their risk profile makes them unsuitable for the average investor). In addition, it offers you the possibility to spend your holiday in your own investment property which is tempting to many. Our projections Overall, we expect that in 2020 the property market will remain in good condition although we do not see much upside to prices of existing properties. There is good demand for property as long as the price is right. With rental yields of around 4% there are still good investments opportunities to be found; some properties are more suitable for letting than others – it depends on location, proximity to an international airport, outdoor space, a (communal) pool or not, to name a few. However, if the property you are interested in purchasing is overvalued, you will struggle to make a decent return on investment.
AMI: 6232
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY: BEACH FRONTED 3-BED TOWNHOUSE NEAR OLHOS DE AGUA / ACOTEIAS. The immaculatelypresented, fully-furnished property is part of a small, private condominium with communal pool. It is amazingly set just a stone throw away from the beach and with beautiful sea views. The light-drenched and private corner house consists of three levels, three bedrooms and three bathrooms. An internal staircase leads to the basement which consist of a very spacious and private garage with automatic doors. Truly unique property 100 meters from one of the best beaches in the Algarve. Price: €625.000 Ref: R-BTO EC: C.
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
AMI: 6232
BEAUTIFUL 5-BED QUINTA-STYLE PROPERTY WITH GUEST ANNEX, NEAR VILAMOURA. This character filled four-bedroom villa with separate one- bedroom guest annex, is conveniently located in a very peaceful village setting within a short drive of Vilamoura, the marina, several golf courses and numerous beaches. The 11m x 5m heated salt water swimming pool is surrounded by a large terrace made from rustic tiles. The property with beautiful country views also benefits from approximately 4,000m2 of additional land for fruit trees, vegetable growing, tennis court, etc. Viewings recommended! Price €675,000 Ref: P-CCL EC: B.
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
December 2019
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MERRY CHRISTMAS S I M P L E TAS T E . P T
NEED SOME HELP GETTING THINGS SAFELY FROM A TO B? GIVE US A CALL AND WE WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN.
MAN & VAN
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Give us a call now on 966 044 143 and lets get your items moved or delivered ASAP!
December 2019
Dining out
RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH MED, LOULÉ
C
éline Luís practised psychology for more than ten years but her passion for food and her taste for the restaurant business – ingrained from childhood when her parents owned the Avenida Restaurant in Loulé – never left her. In June 2018 she returned to her first love, with the realisation of Med, a delightful eaterie in the old town, opposite the castle. Good food and service and a great environment – that was the starting point, and the criteria that has remained vital to the restaurant’s character. The flavours are distinctly Mediterranean, careful blends, brilliantly rich colours, layers of taste that mix and mingle. Céline and her team of six, led in the open kitchen by chef Bruno Gonçalves, are justly proud of the atmosphere they have created and the growing number of regulars who return time and time again when something distinctively special – and different to what is on offer elsewhere – is wanted. The menu changes with the seasons but the Med classics remain, as much due to client demand as the the team’s own preferences. A far-from-ordinary cataplana, octopus with sweet potato and a lighter-than-air cheesecake with fresh berries have become staple dishes, on offer year round. But what adds to the pleasure here is the sheer variation which means that however many there are in a group, there will be something to satisfy every taste. The seared tuna is particularly good – deep pink in the centre, rolled in sesame seeds and served with a salad of rocket - but there’s also a tuna burger, carefully chopped and mixed with an array of crispy vegetables. Fish fanciers will also be back just for the homemade pastéis de bacalhau, on the starter list but perfect for a light lunch. Other first courses include fried tomatoes with scrambled eggs and goats cheese baked with honey, almonds and green apples – you could make a real meal of a selection of small, perfectly-prepared dishes. Meats, too, are superb. Forget the skinny over-cooked
lamb chops you’ll find in other restaurants, Céline serves up tender grilled lamb loin, with a little mound of petits pois – the ideal complement. We haven’t yet tried the wild boar fillet that comes with a port reduction and a bed of wild mushrooms, but it is on the list for our next visit. A favourite of ours at Med, however, is the spaghetti with Ria Formosa clams; the portion size is more than generous and the distinct flavour wonderfully rewarding. It’s the decor at Med that always collects admiration. Woodwork by the skilled Hervé Chambon has created a character wall of shop fronts and shelving – every time you look you see something different. Med is open Monday for lunch and Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. They are closed between Christmas and New Year. Rua Dom Paio Peres Correia, 14 8100-564 Loulé T: 964 210 708 / 289 422 264 W: med-cozinha-mediterranica.negocio.site
December 2019
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Finance
In response to your questions... Each month, Ricardo Chaves of All Finance Matters gives an insight into the legalities governing tax and general financial matters I am a British citizen resident in Portugal with the Non-Habitual Residency status. Will Brexit have any implications in my personal circumstances? No. After Brexit you will maintain the benefits arising from the tax regime of non-habitual residents. I am resident in Portugal but not NHR. Do I have to declare my pension and pay tax here? As a resident of Portugal, you must declare your worldwide income in Portugal. If you receive a pension and this was due to public functions (military pension or teacher’s pension, for example) then you declare this in Portugal, but they are not taxed. This is because according to the DTT (Double Taxation Treaty) agreements, the right to tax these pensions remains with the country where they are paid. So, you may be taxed at source, depending on the threshold in your country. If the pension is private, then the tax is paid in the country where you are resident, which is Portugal. However, please note that the Portuguese IRS code, states that in case of Pensions and Annuities which include personal capital contributions, the portion corresponding to your personal contributions shall be deducted in determining the taxable amount. As in many cases this is not possible to calculate, then the tax code determines that only 15% of your income is liable for tax, which means that 85% of your pension is exempt from tax in Portugal. I am a Swedish citizen living in Portugal and have the NHR status. As you already know the Swedish government and the Portuguese government already committed to a long list of changes. Can you please tell me how this will affect me? In fact, Portugal and Sweden’s Ministers of Finance have signed an amendment to the DTT executed between the two countries, with the objective of allowing Sweden the right to claim tax on pensions derived from its territory. According to the information available at this stage, the DTT will remain in force and only a surgical amendment to the pensions’ clause will be made. Moreover, at this stage, the information available suggests that Sweden will be entitled to claim tax on all pensions after a transitional period of three years. If, during a three-year period counted from the entry into force of the new DTT, Portugal starts claiming tax on Swedish pensions, then Sweden will not claim tax. However, if Portugal keeps the currently existing exemption under the NHR regime and/or does not start claiming tax on pensions through any other mechanism, then Sweden can immediately – once the transitional three-years’ period is over – start claiming tax on the pensions. It is very important to note the signature of this
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agreement is only the formal beginning of the process to amend the DTT and it is still uncertain when a new DTT will actually be in force between the two countries. In this context, we can bear in mind the timings of the renegotiation of the Portugal/Finland DTT, which began in 2013 – a new treaty was even agreed on in November 2016 and Finland fulfilled all the internal formalities for the new DTT to put it into force in 2017, whereas Portugal did not. As a result, Finland communicated the termination of the whole DTT with effect as of 1 January 2019. Last but not least, please note that any NHR taxpayer can choose to pay taxes in Portugal, opting by the tax credit instead of full exemption. This way they would be paying taxes here and avoiding the 25% tax in Sweden. I am selling my property for ¤500.000€and will have a big capital gain. As I am a tax resident and this is my primary residency, I am considering reinvesting in another property in the UK, in order to avoid paying this tax. However, due to Brexit I am not sure if I will make this reinvestment on time and I really do not wish to buy another property in Portugal. Do I have any other alternative? What is your advice? There is a alternative as the Portuguese government amended Article 10 (capital gains) and now the scope of reinvestment is widened. In the case of the sale of the house used as the primary residence of the taxpayer, you can reinvest in the purchase of an insurance contract, or individual membership of an open pension fund, or contribution to the public-funded scheme. To make this possible, the following conditions must be met: • The purchase of any of the ebove schemes must be made within six months from the date of realization • If the investment is made through the acquisition of an insurance contract or individual membership of an open pension fund, they must exclusively provide the purchaser or his spouse with a regular periodic benefit, with a maximum annual amount of 7.5% of the amount invested • The taxpayer needs to be retired, or a minimum of 65 years of age Last but not least, you msy want to reinvest partially in a house and partially in one of these products – both types of reinvestment may coexist. However, each of them has its maximum deadline – reinvestment in a new property three years, and in a financial product six months. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us; we aim our expertise and know-how to work to your benefit, keeping you tax compliant while paying only the legal minimum. Contact our office and book an appointment to find out about the tax strategy that might be more effective in your specific situation. ricardo@allfinance.pt
December 2019
Finance
Currency outlook EURO – NEW ECB PRESIDENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT EUR/GBP: DOWN FROM £0.86 TO £0.85 EUR/USD: DOWN FROM $1.11 TO $1.10 The euro struggled to hold its ground in November as Eurozone data underwhelmed. The bloc’s industrial sector continues to be a sore spot for EUR investors, with a slowdown in manufacturing starting to spread to other sectors. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, however, with the news that Germany unexpectedly avoided a recession in Q3 offering some consolation to the single currency. Looking ahead, the euro will remain in a vulnerable position as the end of the year approaches thanks to the fragility of the Eurozone’s economic outlook. Another key focus for EUR investors will be the European Central Bank (ECB) as they look to new ECB President, Christine Lagarde, for any signals on how the bank may shape monetary policy in 2020. Hints at further rate cuts or an expansion of the bank’s current monetary policy would be euro-negative. POUND GBP/EUR: UP FROM ¤1.15 TO ¤1.17 GBP/USD: UP FROM $1.28 TO $1.29 Pound movement has been mostly fuelled by domestic politics in recent weeks, with election speculation infusing GBP exchange rates with fresh volatility. So far, most of the polling data indicates that the Conservatives are enjoying a commanding lead over Labour. GBP investors generally favour a Conservative victory on hopes that a majority will help Boris Johnson break the Brexit deadlock in parliament. This situation is positive for Sterling because if the Conservatives have a majority in Parliament then they will pass the Brexit deal in time and then start trade negotiations with the EU and thus take out any source of uncertainty and could possibly see GBP-EUR spike to ¤1.25 or above and GBP-USD edge towards $1.40 However, traders remain wary given how unreliable polls have proven in recent years, with many GBP investors fearing the election could lead to another hung parliament.
UK political developments continue to drive the pound says Jose Almeida of Currencies Direct Looking ahead, the pound will grow increasingly sensitive to UK political headlines in the build up to the election on 12 December. Outside of politics, markets will also keep a close eye on economic data coming from the UK, with Sterling set to face some headwinds if there are signs that economic growth flatlined in the fourth quarter. US DOLLAR USD/GBP: DOWN FROM £0.78 TO £0.77 USD/EUR: STEADY AT ¤0.90 The US dollar enjoyed some significant support in November as investors flocked to the safe-haven currency in response to a risk-off mood in markets. The souring risk sentiment comes amid renewed USChina trade uncertainty, with markets fearing a preliminary trade deal may be at risk due to Donald Trump’s reluctance to roll back trade tariffs. Looking ahead, the US dollar is likely to maintain its upwards momentum through to the end of 2019 if the US and China are unable to finalise a deal in December. USD investors will also keep an eye on the Federal Reserve in the coming month. Whilst the Fed recently signalled it was hitting pause on its monetary easing, its policy plans for 2020 remain unclear. Expect to see the US dollar come under some pressure if its December rate decision alludes to potential rate cuts next year. Please get in touch if you want to know more about the latest news or how it could influence your currency transfers. Since 1996 we have helped more than 275,000 customers with their currency transfers, so why not give us a call to find out more. For more detailed information, please contact the local office by phone or visit the Currencies Direct website to register to receive regular updates on the currency markets. And do mention Simply Algarve magazine as how you heard about us. T: +351 289 395739 W: currenciesdirect.com/portugal
December 2019
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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
LUISA SEABRA
Galleria Corte Real On now The Ballerina Girls come from the new collection of bronze resin pieces from this brilliant sculptress whose work never fails to produce a smile.
GETTING INTO PRINTS
ArtCatto at the Conrad Till end December That unforgettable Sgt Pepper Beatles cover by Sir Peter Blake as well as works from Dan Baldwin and Bruce McLean. Meanwhile, at the Loulé gallery, favourites including Pedro Guimarães, Voka, Cristina Bergoglio and Colin Fraser.
Bruce McLean Black Mimosa
FONSECA MARTINS
Tavira D’Artes On now A collection of new work from this hugely talented artist who is versatile in his stye but famously known for his floral windows and patios.
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December 2019
THE SHAZEQUIN COLLECTION
Lady in Red Gallery de Arte Edificio Adega de Lagoa On now Shazequin is an exciting concept in mannequin art, created by the artist Shaz Bilyard. She created the first Shazequin in August 2015. The art represents an ebullient outpouring of colour, expression and originality. The artist’s principal aim is to express humour and sensuality, but she also aims to break down both artistic and social conventions and gender stereotypes.
turismocriativo/experiencias/25-bolodo-reino-dos-algarves ¤25 per person Sunday 8 December, 2.30pm5.30pm Learn to make chocolate truffles To register call 966 660 943 or visit: loulecriativo.pt/en/turismocriativo/ experiencias/23-bombons-natalicios ¤25 per person
CONVERSATION CLUB
Coreto Hostel, Loulé Every Wednesday till 11 December Learn to falar Portuguese. Conversation groups in a relaxed atmosphere will get you past the bom dia and obrigado stage. Sessions are accompanied by a traditional snack. There are two levels, which is handy. For information and to register, call 966 929 240 or email atelierpalavrascertas@ gmail.com
BUILD YOUR OWN CATAPLANA
The Magnolia Hotel Quinta do Lago Every Friday A real favourite among Algarvean dishes, you can design your own dish selecting five ingredients from the chef’s list. ¤25 per person, minimum of two people per booking. 289 005 300 / book@themagnoliahotelqdl.com
MARKETS ESTOI MARKET
Sunday 1 December This big monthly gypsy market, along with the T-shirts and designer-look-alike handbags and watches, has a good number of plant and herb stands, and locally-grown fruit and veg, sausages and cheeses, bread and homemade biscuits. The sit-down snackeries do serve up some pretty good chicken piri piri, too. If you have a horse, this is where you’ll find saddles and stirrups! Follow the cars and park, if you can, in the big lot next to the cemetery.
MONCARAPACHO MARKET
Sunday 8 December Another goodie on the regular calendar, and spread out (wear comfortable shoes) over a big area. The pottery, Olaria Moncarapachense is worth a visit before you get into the main market and you’ll always find unusual hand-made items alongside the usual pots and painted plates. At one end of the market area there is a good selection of saplings and healthy shrubs; elsewhere there’s the usual clothing and household plastics. Good place to pick up Christmas gifts – especially scarves and bracelets.
QUARTEIRA WEEKLY MARKET
Fonte Santa, Quarteira Every Wednesday, 8am-2pm This is one of the best weekly markets with, in addition to all the usual stuff there are fabrics, bedlinens, towels and some great hand-tooled casual leather bags with handsome buckles and lots of fringing. Kids will be able to choose from a big selection of soft toys and mechanical trucks.
EXPERIENCES CHRISTMAS WORKSHOPS
LOULE SATURDAY MARKET
Loulé Coreto Hostel Saturday 7 December, 3pm-6pm Make a traditional Christmas Bola Rei To register call 966 660 943 or visit: loulecriativo.pt/en/
Opposite the Convent Every Saturday, 8-ish till 2pm Follow the sound of the Peruvian musicians the visitors who arrive by the coachload and trickle down to the market grounds. Much the same on offer as other places but a great atmosphere because it is smaller. Stop for a sugar-laden fartura – freshly made, hot and rolled in cinnamon.
December 2019
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Agenda
SONG AND DANCE ANTOINE DE GROLÉE
Amigos De Música Os Agostos, near Santa Barbara da Nexe Tuesday 10 December and Thursday 12 December, 7pm The French piano virtuoso will give the final Amigos’ concerts of 2019. On the Tuesday, Antoine will play music by Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms; on Thursday pieces by Beethoven, Robert Schumann, Liszt, Chopin and Debussy. Doors open at 6.00pm and wine, fruit juices and canapés will be served. There will also be a short interval with refreshments. Entry donation is ¤25 per person for guests and non-members. Email reservasconcertos@gmail.com to book. The Amigos De Música is an international group of around 90 members who stage musical activities by internationally renowned musicians and also sponsor young Portuguese musicians. It is a non-profit organisation and celebrated its 28th anniversary last year.
MUSIC FOR CHRISTMAS
Quintinha da Música Covas da Prata, Tavira Sunday 22 December, 4pm Olga Heikkila, soprano and Irene Ainstein on the piano, bring together some of the finest festive season music, in a concert that promises to be a real delight. The concert programme and interval drinks and tapas are included in the ticket price of ¤25. Contact lynne. algarvehistory@gmail.com to book.
CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
Museu do Traje São Bras Saturday 7 December, 7pm Concert by the Friends of the Museum Choir. And lots of familiar pieces. Tickets ¤5. Saturday 21 December, 8pm Jasmim, Ukrainian Music and Culture Group, guaranteed to get you in the spirit of the season.
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ORQUESTRA CLÁSSICA DO SUL
Christmas concert Igreja de São Pedro do Mar Quarteira Sunday 15 December, 4pm Free entrance and a concert that will make you feel warm. The programme includes among others God Rest You Merry, Gentleman, The First Noel, The Skater’s Waltz, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Adeste Fidelis. Free admission, which is a nice early Christmas present!
Santa, though maybe not the same one, will be around to chat at centres like Mar Shopping and Algarve Forum (which also boasts an outside skating rink), and at the various Christmas markets.
ON STAGE THE WINDSORS IN PORTUGAL, 1940
Museu do Traje São Bras Evening performance: Friday 13 December, 7.30pm Matinees: Saturday 14 and Sunday 15, 4pm Introducing a great deal of humour through an array of entertaining characters, this two-act play, written and directed by Carolyn Kain, is based on factual evidence and features Simon Tubb as the Duke of Windsor and Natalie Galland as the Duchess. Tickets, ¤10, from 966 329 073; profits will be donated to the Bombeiros of São Brás.
December 2019
THE NUTCRACKER
Teatro das Figuras, Faro 14 December, 9.30pm 15 December, 4.30pm The Companhia de Danca do Algarve in a real family favourite. It’s Christmas Eve and Clara and her family have dinner to celebrate. The presents are opened and of all the toys received a nutcracker doll stands out. Clara falls asleep and in her dream the dolls come to life and the Nutcracker becomes a handsome Prince. Tickets are ¤10.
variety of quality exhibitors, a dynamic programme of live entertainment for all the family and a great location in a warmth of the Vale do Lobo Auditorium and throughout the Parque do Golfe Complex. Importantly, the event raises funds for the Wolf Valley Charity Fund, which provides support and finance to numerous needy local causes.
CHRISTMAS MARKET
Lady in Red Gallery de Arte Edificio Adega de Lagoa Until 21 December Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm A gorgeous gift collection within the gallery of sumptuous local handcrafted products. If you’ve done your Christmas shopping, then go there and treat yourself.
ON SCREEN IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
Teatro das Figuras, Faro 11 December, 6pm Sentimentalists will enjoy this! Ninety minutes of good intentions and lessons learned in Frank Capras’s 1946 classic, starring James Stewart as a lost soul refound. Free entry!
THE NUTCRACKER
Mar Shopping Monday 3 December and Sunday 23 December, 7.15 It’s Christmas and there’s no getting away from The Nutcracker! The performance on the 3rd is beamed in live from London’s Royal Opera House, and on the 23rd from the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. Sit back with your popcorn and hum along. Tickets are ¤10.
GETTING FESTIVE
AMIGOS CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
Sunday 1 December Museu do Traje, São Bras 11am-4pm Homemade cakes, quiches and sweets, organic jams and honey, Christmas plants and decorations, bags, decorative candles, cards, jewellery, recycled artefacts, art, woolly winter knits and lots more as well as a tombola and info stand for helping the local abandoned dogs and cats.
VALE DO LOBO CHARITY CHRISTMAS MARKET Vale do lobo Auditorium & Parque do Golfe Saturday 7 December, 10am5.30pm Over the past ten years this market has evolved to be one of the most anticipated pre-Christmas events, and had more than 1,000 visitors last year. There’s a wide
CHRISTMAS MARKET
VILA VITA Biergarten Porches 20-22 December, 1pm-8pm This spectatcular street food market celebrates the best of national and international flavours with a selection of diverse delicacies including raclette with potatoes and pickles, Christmas turkey tacos, waffles with different toppings and a wide selection of beverages such as the Pilsner and Special Bock Christmas versions of the Vila Vita’s own craft beer, Herdade dos Grous and Quinta de Valbom wines, hot chocolate, spiced tea and, of course, traditional mulled wine. And as if that isn’t enough, there’s live music, a children’s play area with bouncy castle and face painting, a fire pit where visitors can roast marshmallows, a popcorn and candyfloss cart, and a Santa Claus who will put a smile on the face of every child there. Wooden alpine huts deliver a wintry atmosphere.
TALKS A CELEBRATION OF FADO
Presented by Peter Booker Lagoa Library, Tuesday 10 December, 6pm Tavira Library Friday 20 December, 11am A fascinating celebration of fado, a music genre that can be traced back to the 1820s in Lisbon – but its origins are probably earlier than that. Peter Booker examines its history, and his belief that translation of the words helps us to understand the art form and therefore this essence of national culture.
December 2019
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Golf
GET ON TOP OF THE BACKSWING Richard Hudson and Eddie Charnock, Algarve Golf Guru, PGA Professionals, continue their series on how to put your best into your game
A
lways remember, your backswing sets you up into an athletic position so that you can swing forward with balance and power. The best advice we can give you is to keep your backswing simple! Here we look at four key points to a better top of the backswing position:
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Your lower body Your legs should support and stabilise you during your backswing; their main task is to resist against the turn of the upper body – that resistance winds you up like a spring so that you can unwind from the ground up. It’s important that you allow your hips to turn into your backswing but it’s more important that you maintain flexed and quiet legwork. Your legs are your foundation, giving you the critical balance you need as you swing the club back and to the top of your swing.
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Your lead arm – left arm for right-handed golfers – should swing the club back into a relaxed position. Too straight can cause tension and inhibit range of motion and wrist hinge; too bent and it weakens the integrity and structure of the top of the backswing position. A little flex or bow in your lead arm is okay.
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3
Your back arm – right for right-handed golfers – should swing away from your body and then fold under the club into an L position at the top. To glue your right arm to your side on the takeaway is a big mistake that many golfers make, reducing the swing arc, as is lifting your elbow skyward like a chicken wing in an attempt to extend your width. It is important to keep the elbows the same distance apart.
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Your chest windup How long should your backswing be? The length of your backswing is greatly dictated by your flexibility – the more flexible you are, the more you can turn your shoulders 90 degrees along with a 45 degree hip turn, without straightening your right leg or swaying to the right. So, keep a firm base, coil down from the top to the base until you reach an athletic balanced position to start your transitional movement. Want to up your game and improve your technique? Now is the time to book a lesson with the professionals. Contact Richard or Eddie to discuss coaching opportunities. E: sales@algarvegolfguru.com W: algarvegolfguru.com And do mention Simply Algarve as a point of referral.
December 2019
SPORTS NEWS
Brought to you by Chris Wright
JOSÉ MOURINHO TAKES CHARGE AT SPURS The English Premier League acquired its third Portuguese manager as José Mourinho put ‘pen-to-paper’ to take charge of Tottenham Hotspur following the dismissal of Mauricio Pochettino. Mourinho, sacked by Manchester United 12 months ago, has been working as a pundit for Sky Sports and was linked with a possible move to Spurs arch rivals Arsenal. Mourinho – reported to be on a salary of £12m – showed interest in Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Toby Alderweireld and Danny Rose while manager at Manchester United but he faces an uphill task in getting the north London club to finish in the top four as they are currently in the lower echelons of England’s top flight and uncomfortably close to the relegation zone. A group of fans who will be particularly interested in the new appointment are the Algarve Spurs Supporter Crew who generally get together to watch the games and enjoy banter with other supporters at O’Pirata Bar in Travessa Sá Carneiro, Albufeira. Another Spurs link with the area is Eric Dier who spent time being educated in the Algarve before moving to the Sporting Academy near Lisbon. The Spurs Legends are regular visitors to the Algarve with many of the favourites of yesteryear including Graham Roberts, Paul Miller, John Pratt, Ossie Ardiles and Mark Falco coming over to support Centre
Algarve, Moncarapacho, believed to be Europe’s only holiday centre for youngsters with special needs. Last May, in the impressive banqueting suite at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, England goalscoring hero Harry Kane turned up, totally unannounced, for a fundraising dinner for Centre Algarve. Kane, who became the first England player to score in every game in a qualifying campaign as England thrashed Kosovo in their final Euro 2020 qualifier recently, took along a Spurs shirt from the Champions League Final against Liverpool which Harry duly signed and which was subsequently auctioned for £9,000 with the England international centre-forward doubling the amount to £18,000. Sixty-year-old Graham Roberts, patron of the charity, said: “cycling over 400kms from Malaga to Moncarapacho three years ago was the longest and most challenging event that any of us had done but when it is for such deserving cause who can resist? So Harry’s support is a great boost to us all; both here and in Portugal.” It is equally rewarding that last month the British Ambassador Chris Sainty and his wife Sarah visited Centre Algarve and were highly impressed with the facilities including air-conditioned bedrooms with en-suite hygiene and wet rooms, discovery centre, soft play/sensory room as well as the American-themed diner and children’s kitchen. So the Historic Luso-British Alliance dating
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back to 1386 continues to flourish with sport and charitable support helping to improve the lives of many young people from both countries. FARENSE LOOKING STRONG When SC Farense won 3-1 away at Varzim it was their sixth consecutive victory and cemented their place at the top of the Segunda Liga with fans beginning to dream of a return to the Primeira Liga from where they were relegated in 2002. The recent run of good form has coincided with a reawakening of the talent of Ryan Gauld, the former Dundee United, Sporting and Scotland U21 international. Gauld, who signed for Farense in the summer after a loan spell from Sporting at Hibernian, got the opening goal against Varzim. Farense are at home to Feirense at the Sao Luis Stadium on the weekend of 14-15 December. PORTIMONENSE STRUGGLE SC Portimonense, the Algarve’s only Primeira Liga club, continue to struggle and prior to their game against highflying FC Famalicão, on 30 November, they had only one league victory which was way back in August away at Tondela. Centre-forward Jackson Martinez is yet to score this season and it will be crucial to the team’s survival hopes that he finds the back of the net soon. Vital home games in December: weekend 14-15 December against Rio Ave and a week later when Sporting Lisbon descend on Portimão.
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Last word
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Anthony Martin new year’s resolution is to ‘woke’ up and understand what Generations X and Y are all about. And suggests that Christmas is for caring... and doing something for others
ere in Portugal we have no less than five Police Forces. GNR, PSP, JP, SEF and ASAE. Some may think that this is a mite top-heavy, force-wise, but then again, perhaps not. Perhaps there is room for one more for I found out today that in Abu Dhabi they have a ’Happiness Police
Patrol’. These smiley officers drive around in rose-pink cars and follow drivers who have been obeying all road signs, keeping their distance, using their indicators and generally behaving with courtesy to other road users. They stop them, shake the driver’s hand, give him a ‘happiness sticker’ for the car and allow him to choose a discount voucher to use at shopping malls or with telecom providers. What a great idea. I’m sitting here visualising our own GNR embracing this. What a difference it would make, instead of a stern face, one hand on holster and the other thrust forward with a command for documents, they could congratulate us for giving way on a roundabout and award us a three-point credit on our licence. This could spread to other public servants. Our traffic wardens could give us a pat us on the back for parking between the lines, together with a free wheel balancing test. Should we run our pool pumps and tumble dryers solely at night perhaps EDP would give us special dispensation from power cuts. Cheap international phone calls from MEO if we stop writing rude comments about them in their complaints book. And, for choosing the correct numbered ticket at the Finanças, an extra month on the tax payment date. I look forward to the powers that be implementing this peoplepleaser sure thing.
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ho is Maya Jama? She was all over the news the other day. I looked her up and found that she is an attractive 25-year-old TV personality/DJ with over one million followers on Instagram, an estimated net worth of a dollar per follower and the proud owner of 21 million results on Google, I was impressed. Put my name into Google and you will get eight results - something is definitely wrong here. Obviously I am not yet an influencer, not well-known enough and not, to use the modern parlance, woke. And I am sure that the reason I am not woke is that I am a fully-fledged member of what is now called The Silent Generation for, through no fault of my own, I entered this world before 1945. Ms Jama, on the other hand, is a Millennial – aka Gen Y –
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and being so, obviously knows what it is to be woke. But what is it with this generation naming thing anyway? My daughter, for instance, is a paid-up member of Generation X, which of course is no fault of hers – if anyone is to blame it is me. She, being in marketing, speaks a completely different language to us of the Silent Generation, or indeed any generation, unless they are also in marketing. I telephoned her in the hope she could clue me in and enlarge my knowledge of the modern world. I asked whether she had a window of opportunity for me to run an idea up her flagpole to see if it would fly in order for us to deep dive and get ahead with this, starting with the low-lying fruit. I have to start our conversations in this manner otherwise she thinks I’m uneducated. “What is it?” I asked, “to be woke. Am I woke, is your mother woke? Do we know any woke people?” There was an audible sigh “Look daddy, you wouldn’t understand, and I can’t talk now, I’ve got a presentation coming up and I have to explain that we must leverage certain options and drill down to the next level otherwise we’ll have to sunset the project”. Bloody hell, I thought, and I used to change her nappies. I’ve a good mind to go and have sex with her mother and tell her. That’ll show her that I’m not dead yet.
My daughter is a paid-up member of Generation X. Being in marketing she speaks a completely different language
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he editor keeps reminding me that I must mention Christmas so okay, have a Happy one. Personally, I’m fed up with the commercialisation. Christmas does not start in October, it is not about rosy-cheeked children playing in the snow or roaring fires and presents piled under the tree, or sleigh bells and tinsel and Ho-Ho-Ho. No. So you want to have a happy Christmas? Go and visit someone who has nothing, someone who is alone, someone who is hungry. Bring them some happiness – it will reflect on to you.
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M E R RY C H R I S T M A S AND A
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