SIMPLY
ALGARVE ISSUE NO. 48 JULY 2020
WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?
It has been a while since you’ve heard from us and we would like to explain to you exactly why it took us so long to come back!
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hen we first started to hear about the pandemic and the serious effects it was having on peoples health, we decided there was no choice but to shut down immediately and stop distributing magazines as it would only help spread the virus. This was a tough decision but necessary and along with everyone else, we had no idea how long we would have to wait to come back. Watching the numbers increase from positive tests to deaths was scary and for the first couple of months the whole world seemed to have turned upsidedown, like an alien invasion had occured. A trip to the shops for the essentials felt like walking around the set of the latest apocalypse movie, it made you wonder, will the world ever be the same? Maybe it will, maybe it won’t but as numbers have gone down and the situation is more stable, we see parts of the world opening up again including the Algarve. Though there are still uncertanties on whether we are through the thick of it and really are taking steps to putting Covid-19 behind us, we not only need to continue our safety measures until there are no more headlines, we need to learn from the pandemic and implement changes into our daily routines to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses for years to come.
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Now why we waited so long to come back was simply because we didn’t feel it was safe, we still didn’t have stability in the numbers of cases and as we deliver thousands of copies of the magazine throughout many locations, we felt like we would only add to the potential spread of the virus. After monitoring the situation closely and seeing no sign of cases exploding whilst taking steps back to normal life we decided it was safe to return. Now that we are back, here is what we recommend: • The magazines are only touched by one person after we receive them from the printers, however once they are distributed they may sit waiting for you to pick one up for a number of days, we reccomend disinfecting your hands before and after reading. • Don’t leave copies lying around! If you are finished reading the magazine, please store it safely or pass it on only to members of your household, please do not leave copies lying around where it is possible to collect the virus and pass on to whoever pick us up next. We are glad to be working again and sharing great people and places with you, we have been quiet but we are back and stronger than ever so please enjoy this issue of the Simply Algarve magazine and make sure you stay safe!
July 2020
Contents
4 WORTH KNOWING News, views, and some very good ideas
8 A PESCA Going fishing with Mark Privett
12 SECOND TIME AROUND Taking a look at some of the furnature currently available at House 2 House
14 JANET SHOOK Introducing you to Janet Shook
16 RESTAURANTE PETISCAIS A look at one of our new favourite restaurants
20 HEALTH The secret health benefits of Green Tea
22 NOW YOU SEE ME... Jake Cleaver talks Chameleons
COVER: The start of a great days fishing on the Funcho Dam with Mark Privett.
24 PROPERTY What’s new in the property market?
26 PROPERTY OF THE MONTH
PUBLISHER Richard Bassett
Is this your future home?
28 A TOUCH OF ELEGANCE Donna’s unique furnature for your home
32 A DAM PLACE TO HIKE We took a days trip to hike around Odeleite’s Dam
34 RECIPE OF THE MONTH How to make one of Portugal’s favourite treats for the beach: Bolas de Berlim
36 WHEN OUR TIME COMES Sharing our experience with funerals in Portugal
38 GARDENS How green are we really?
40 STAY HOME
ART DIRECTOR Jake Bassett +351 966 044 143 simplyalgarvemag@gmail.com CONTRIBUTORS Chris Wright Ricardo Chaves Richard Hudson Robert Bjiker Jake Cleaver Portugal News AlgarveDailyNews Jake Bassett ADVERTISING 966 044 143 simplyalgarvemag@gmail.com
A reminder to stay safe
42 FINANCE Your questions, answered by our expert
44 GOLF
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 Unipessoal Lda publication.
Get it right and things are swinging
46 SPORTS NEWS The latest in sport from Chris Wright
47 PARTING WORDS The European violet Carpenter Bee
July 2020
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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
ENVIRONMENTALIST ASSOCIATION REMOVES 300 KG OF GARBAGE FROM THE CACELA VELHA BEACH
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olunteers from Association Oceans without Plastic collected 300 kilograms of garbage on the beach in Cacela Velha, in the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António, in an action to raise awareness of the cleaning of Ria Formosa, said its president on 21 June.
the village [of Cacela Velha] and with the landscape” of the cliff above the Ria Formosa, but he regretted that it was necessary this group of volunteers travel to the Algarve on purpose to do a job “that the Vila Real de Santo António City Council and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests do not do”.
Tiago Duarte presides over the Association and was one of about 15 volunteers who took part in the collection work on 20 June, which took place at the eastern end of Ria Formosa, next to Cacela Velha.
“These are materials that have been there for years and we had to come from Lisbon to take it away,” said the president of the environmental association, thanking the collaboration of the Junta de Vila Nova de Cacela and the boatmen who cross the estuary to the beach located in barrier island in front of the town of Cacela Velha, a few kilometres from the parish headquarters.
“It went well, we picked up a lot of garbage, almost 300 kilograms, with incredible things, from a two-meter fibre boat, almost completely buried in the sand, and dozens of creels, wrapped in 300 metres of rope, which alone weighed more 100 kilograms,” said Tiago Duarte to the Lusa agency. The same source said that he visited this part of the coast of the Faro district for the first time this year and was “delighted with
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Tiago Duarte acknowledged that the team of volunteers “was unable to clean the whole island, because then there are microplastics”, but the action made it possible to give an “awareness brushstroke” to the need for authorities responsible for the area to clean it up all year . source: theportugalnews.com
July 2020
LAGOS ZOO WELCOMES PORTUGAL’S FIRST KANGAROOS
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agos Zoo has become the first zoo in Portugal to have kangaroos, welcoming a pair of eastern grey kangaroos on Wednesday June 17. These massive marsupials, which at their highest can stand at almost two-metres tall, were brought over to the Algarve from the Neuwied Zoo in Germany and are one-year-old. “This species of kangaroo is much larger than the other species of marsupials that we already have, the Wallaby. It can hop up to nine metres in length and two metres in height,” Lagos Zoo said in a statement. In fact, the zoo even had to build an enclosure with higher fences in order to accommodate these impressive animals. Visitors will be able to see them on the zoo’s Australian Trail, which is home to other animals such as wallabies, a cape barren goose and an emu. Source: https://www.portugalresident.com
COUNCIL WANTS TO REOPEN RENOVATED PRAIA DE FARO CAMPSITE AS SOON AS ‘THIS SUMMER’
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he Praia de Faro campsite may “open this summer” after the extensive renovation works that it is currently undergoing, Rogério Bacalhau, Mayor of Faro, revealed. Although there are still no certainties, given the delays the project suffered due to the ongoing pandemic, the council is convinced that “if things go well”, it will be possible that the opening will take place within this summer season. “We believe that we will be able to have the Camping Park open this summer,” he said. “What the contractor tells me is that, next month, it will be ready. If that happens, it is likely that we will be able to open in August”, he added. The initial objective of the
council “was to open now”. But, with COVID-19, the new tourism project was delayed, as there were “other more priority measures that we had to take, related to the pandemic”. Something that will not be a hindrance, in the case of the Faro camping site, are “conditions of work”, says Bacalhau. “We will take all the necessary measures so that the reopening is done safely”. “We will see if we have conditions for that. If there are, we will do that”, concluded the Mayor of Faro. Source: algarvedailynews.com
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News
OLHÃO CELEBRATES MUNICIPAL HOLIDAY WITH UNVEILING OF TWO SCULPTURES
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lhão celebrated its municipal holiday on Tuesday (June 16) with the unveiling of two sculptures that pay tribute to the town’s cultural and natural heritage – one depicting a female fish factory worker and the other a Ria Formosa seahorse. The first is a detailed and faithful homage to the women who worked at the town’s old fish factories.
“In recent years, we have tried to call ourselves the ‘capital of Ria Formosa’. This comes with an increased responsibility on how we manage this area,” said the mayor. “We see the seahorse as our mascot and want it to become one of the symbols of Olhão.” Original article written by Bruno Filipe Pires for Barlavento newspaper.
Located on the roundabout of Avenida dos Operários Conserveiros near the Faropeixe and Conserveira do Sul factories, it depicts one of these women as she sits on a bench gutting a fish with scissors. The sculpture was created by José Carlos Almeida and António Faustino and is made almost entirely from fibreglass. Only the bench and table were made with stainless steel. The process involved a significant amount of research. Several photos of old fish factory workers from Olhão were provided to the artists by the local council to help them to recreate these historic figures and their specific traits. As José Carlos Almeida explained, the way fish factory workers dressed and looked varied according to which region of Portugal they came from. But we had access to documents which helped us greatly,” Almeida told Barlavento newspaper. The second sculpture has been erected on Avenida 5 de Outubro and pays homage to the Ria Formosa’s seahorse population, considered by local mayor António Pina as “part of the town’s heritage”. The idea came from the mind of local designer Isa Fernandes, who was also the talent behind other local sculptures such as those located at Largo da Fábrica Velha and Largo do Gaibéu. However, it was brought to life by Alexandru Groza, a Quarteirabased artist. To create the five-metre tall and 1.80-metre wide sculpture, Groza used around 5,000 pieces of ceramic material.
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July 2020
Must do!
À PESCA
This month, we have “Gone fishing” on the waterways of the Algarve with the experienced guidance of Mark Privett!
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riginally from England, Gone Fishing Portugal’s owner and guide, Mark, has been passionate about fishing since he first picked up a rod aged five. Inspired by his grandad, Mark spent most weekends and holidays fishing the local rivers.
In 1999, after a year backpacking around Australia looking for fishing heaven, Mark and partner Ali emigrated to Australia and in 2001 started Gone Fishing Cooktown; guided fishing on the Great Barrier Reef and the rivers and
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islands around Cape York, Far North Queensland. Gone Fishing was very successful and over the years they were involved in a number of TV shows which allowed them to meet some real fishing and Aussie outback icons including regulars on the boat, Bush Tucker Man (Les Hiddins), Ray Mears, Andrew ‘ET’ Ettinghausen and Matt Watson. Late in 2018 Mark, Ali and their two teenage kids decided it was time for a change. They sold Gone Fishing Cooktown and relocated to the Eastern Algarve, in Portugal, where they started their new venture, Gone Fishing Portugal.
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If anyone has much experience fishing, you’ll know it’s best to get an early start, so the alarm sounded at 6 am and we shot off to meet Mark at his base near Fuseta, eager to start our day of fishing. Mark met us with a smile and a plan to go to Funcho, a Dam about an hour’s drive away. Along the way we learned about how Mark and Alison made their way to Australia and he told us some amazing stories from his time there. These stories really are amazing, including tales of 4.5 meter crocs and a friend who used to feed fish frames to giant Groupers and huge Rays in the bay, I have to admit I was very jealous and if it wasn’t for arriving at the beautiful sight of the still Dam amongst the hills and perfect blue sky I might have booked my flight straight to Cairns! We quickly slipped the boat into the water and Mark took us to our first spot to teach us a few basics, this being our first real fishing trip, it took us a little while to get the hang of casting, but with a very straight forward guide from Mark, we landed our first fish within 10 minutes! A small Largemouth Bass about five to six inches long, hardly a fish of a lifetime but you immediately understand the urge to
stand on the boat all day just waiting for that bite, for all you know the next one could be a five kilo monster! Mark made us feel very comfortable on the boat, with his obvious knowledge and simple teaching it didn’t take long until we felt like very capable new Anglers (though there were still some world record worthy attempts at the world’s worst cast and Mark couldn’t help but give a little chuckle, which we forgave him for). An hour or so later and casting was getting to be second nature and we could focus on what was coming as we made our way along the river bank, suddenly we see a huge puff of mud accompanied by some violent thrashing, Mark points out the back of a large Carp who hasn’t spotted us yet. He’s munching away on the waters edge whilst we eagerly fling lures as close as we can, suddenly, he bites and now it’s a game of slowly reeling him in and hoping he doesn’t spit the lure. With Mark’s guidance, we managed to get it to the boat and scoop him in the net, we are very happy with ourselves, it isn’t the easiest way to catch a Carp, they have surprisingly good eyesight and are most likely to bolt away even if you creep up as slow as you can and place the lure perfectly
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Must do! in front of them. We took a few seconds to take some pictures and then off he went to grow and be caught again another day. Throughout the day we travelled around the Dam to different areas that Mark knows have perfect spots for feeding Carp, dead branches that have fallen in to the water which provide perfect homes for Largemouth Bass and even some old buildings that are a couple of meters underwater, time really did fly as we were having so much fun. Sólido (Mark’s boat) is fully equipped with the latest fishing technology including Garmin electronics and a Minn Kota electric motor which really helps when you’re trying to sneak into the little bays. He explained how they work and it is amazing how precise the Livescope is, you can literally see where the fish are and where they are going, if there is a tree a few meters underwater that could be housing some Bass, it is an essential piece of equipment if you’re a serious Angler and a very helpful one if you’re a beginner. Nine hours after we launched the boat, we had caught just under 20 fish amongst us and it was time to head back, though to be honest we could have stayed for another five hours. We packed everything up, put the boat on the trailer and started making our way home listening to more stories from Mark; one being of the five kilo Sea Bass he caught sight casting with lures locally, this size fish are quite rare, a once in a lifetime prize fish, especially in shallow water (See the picture below). The whole experience has left us wanting more and so here we are sharing it with you, we hope our fun and excitement has rubbed off on you and you are willing to give it a try for yourself.
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July 2020
Mark is very experienced and can cater for die-hard Anglers wanting to experience a taste of all the Algarve can offer or complete Novices and with the current situation surrounding Covid-19, we couldn’t recommend it enough as a relaxing day away from the constant rubbing alcohol and face masks, just fresh air and fun (The boat and equipment is cleaned and sterilised with alcohol before and after use and masks are provided if needed). There are a few options, if you are looking for an extended charter you can spend a few days with Mark exploring the varied Algarve fishing environments including rivers, dams and the Ria Formosa. If you would rather a day’s charter then you can book a day of fishing in the Algarve that caters to your experience and goals. And it doesn’t stop at residents! If you are a keen Angler that lives outside of Portugal, Ali can create a whole itinerary for you, from your flights to accommodation so you can have a completely stress free experience on your fishing holiday whilst you benefit from Mark’s extensive knowledge, professionalism and easy going nature and from Ali’s organisation and hospitality skills. Mark Privett & Alison Ward www.fishingportugal.com +351 924 499 494
February July 2020 2020
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Go there
Second time around but still beautiful We are long-term visitors of House 2 House and through the years we have seen many interesting and wonderful things go in and out of their doors. Here are some of our favourites that are in the shop at the moment.
Set of 2 large super high back armchairs upholstered in blue velvet with matching footstool. Dimensions: 80 x 80 cms Condition: Excellent Price for the set: ¤625
Contemporary ceramic vase and matching bowl in egg-shell blue with charcoal highlights. Dimensions: Bowl 36 cms diam. Vase 41 cms tall Price for the set: ¤36
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July 2020
Original painting “Cretan Boat” by contemporary artist Paul Stevenson dated 1993. Dimensions: 58.5 x 58.5 cms Price: ¤500
Beautiful brass inlaid, Rosewood, Barrel-top desk in excellent condition. Dimensions: 56 x 60 x 120 cms tall Price: ¤499
Stunning, extra large, 12 sided, bevelled mirror set in a beautiful black and gold plaited wooden frame. Dimensions: 140 cms diam. Price: ¤425
Leather occasional chair with comfortable curved back in “taupe” colour. There are 2 of these chairs available. Dimensions: 61 x 66 cms Price: ¤92 per chair
If any of these items interest you, or you are looking to find something unique for your home, do pay House 2 house a visit. We see amazing things there every month, it is definitely worth popping in whenever you are driving past as you never know what you might find! Open monday to friday, 10am-1pm / 2pm-5pm 289 395 197 house2house.pt
July 2020
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Body & Mind
YOUR HEALTH IS KEY
Janet Shook is here to guide you on your journey and make sure you are always working towards a healthier body and mind You are a Health Coach and a Wellness Consultant, can you tell us what that means? Absolutely. I like to say I am part Personal Trainer, part Nutritionist and part Life Coach - I work as a team with my client to make lifestyle adjustments for total wellbeing. When I work as a Wellness Consultant, It is with companies, such as hotels or events organizations where I help create programs for wellness- from menus to new treatments to organizing retreats, etc… What made you choose this as a profession? When I was in my 20’s I treated my own chronic health problems with diet, exercise and mindfulness. From then on, I became a believer and wanted to know as much as I could in order to help myself and others. You are also a Yoga instructor, do you always involve Yoga in your programs? I love introducing people to Yoga, but It is not a requisite. There are lots of options for exercise, so we find what is the right fit for the person. Do you feel that you have a specialty in any specific area of health? Weight loss, decreasing body pain and inflammation, improving skin health and reducing anxiety. Often when I help a person with one area of their life, it effects many others, like a happy domino effect! This is amazing to watch happen. Really gratifying. What kind of programs do you offer? I offer a 6-month personalized program for anyone looking for real lifestyle and health transformation. But I
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also run retreats several times a year and can work with people in individual sessions, for example during their holidays to support healthy living on vacation. Can people contact you directly if they are interested in working with you? Absolutely. I work in person and long-distance. So people from anywhere can be in touch. We will be working with Janet to bring you some tips on healthy living and some ideas about well-being over the next couple of months so keep your eye out for them! Janet Shook is a Certified Health Coach with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition as well as aCertified Kundalini Yoga Instructor and massage therapist. Janet has curated wellness programs for Vila Monte Farmhouse, Monchique Resort & Spa, Praia Verde hotel, other fine hotels in Portugal and is also the Health and Well-Being Ambassador for Rhodes Events Management, Dublin, Ireland. Janet receives private clients for her personalized programs here in the Algarve and abroad. She is happy to offer a free first consultation if you mention that you have read this article! You can reach her through the following channels: www.janetshook.com Janet_shook@yahoo.com Instagram: Janet Shook Facebook: Janet Shook Wellness and Yoga Linked In: Janet Shook +(351) 927 393 217
July 2020
Dining out
RESTAURANTE PETISCAIS “MAGNIFICENT SPACE, MINIMALIST AND INTIMATE DECORATION. MAGNIFICENTLY COOKED FOOD” 16
July 2020
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he coastal town of OlhĂŁo is the largest fishing village in the Algarve and just ten minutes by car or train from Faro. The adjoining OlhĂŁo railway station building is Petiscais restaurant, a new stylish concept bringing culinary delights from one of the most iconic buildings in the town. Built in 1903 it was inaugurated on May 15th 1904 when the first train from Faro stopped at OlhĂŁo station. The location is called Covered Key and has been used as a warehouse for exporting fish, salt and octopus as well as coal, building materials, fertilizers, rice and seeds. The restoration project is the brainchild of entrepreneurs, Rui and Andreia Oliveira; Rui from Lisbon and Andreia and her family,
locals. Worldwide travel and experience in other business ventures have brought their dream and this spectacular project together. Rui and Andreia have a young family and live locally, taking care of the day to day running of the restaurant, giving that essential personal touch. They bring together a truly unique surrounding, professional and attentive service with culinary delights courtesy of young but very experienced chef David Monteiro ll whilst Evaldir Marques takes care of the table and mixes the drinks behind the bar. As well as being previously used for storage, the building provided a workshop to support and maintain the railway infrastructure and social services for railway workers and
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Dining out
“Picanha” Fried prawns in breadcrumbs
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July 2020
Apple cider Sangria
the originality can be seen in the detail and artifacts. The restoration project has been immense and after opening in December 2017 they have already built an international clientele that loves the chic and chilled ambience it offers. Chef David was born and raised in Olhao and has worked with many of Portugal’s top chefs, now he has made Petiscais his home and with the rest of the team aims to take his dishes to win culinary awards. The menu is designed with the freshest of ingredients and based on bringing you traditional portuguese dishes with modern techniques and twists which we can say works amazingly and the delicious food is backed up by two international bars, decide to dine inside or out on the glorious sunny terrace whist enjoying brilliantly made drinks from barman Evaldir.
Petiscais promises to be different and also to ensure a dining experience in a cozy, modern environment. With ample private parking, you’ll receive a warm welcome and top level dining experience with new interesting flavours and hospitality second to none. It was a pleasure to meet Rui and Andreia and see for ourselves the impressive project and to taste the delicious dishes. Contact details: Facebook, Petiscais Restauraçåo T: +351 918 707 936 E: cais.olhao@gmail.com Open Monday to Saturday Times 11:30 to 15:30 - 18:30 to 23:00 Closed on Sundays
“Arroz Ria with fish fillets” July 2020
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Health
GREEN TEA
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Behind green tea’s faint color and mild taste, lie powerful health benefits.
ue to recent findings regarding its health benefits, this beverage’s popularity has reached an all-time high. Now, more than 15 million people in America alone are drinking green tea, with sales up 650 percent from 2002. It was recently reported by Newcastle University that a cup a day can help prevent Alzheimer’s and some cancers. Green tea is readily available in the Algarve and should be thought about seriously. Many people reduce their water intake over the winter months, so maybe this is the way to keep our bodies running smoothly.
STRONGEST ANTIOXIDANT FOUND IN GREEN TEA. In September 1997, a study concluded that green tea contains high concentrations of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the strongest antioxidant. EGCG is over 100 times more effective in neutralizing free radicals than vitamin C
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and 25 times more powerful than vitamin E, both wellknown antioxidants. Antioxidants are thought to prevent cellular damage that leads to certain diseases, especially cancer. When compared to black and oolong tea it was found that green tea contained, by far, the highest active EGCG concentrations. This is because green tea is steamed immediately after it is picked, which prevents the leaves from oxidizing, thus preserving EGCG. ENHANCED WEIGHT LOSS Two studies have proposed drinking green tea may help you lose weight. The first study compared green tea’s metabolic effect, in extract, to that of a placebo. Researchers found green tea drinkers burned an additional 70 calories per day. The difference is believed to be caused by the catechins (i.e., antioxidants which enhance metabolism) in green tea. The second study, done by the
July 2020
University of Geneva, revealed combining caffeine and EGCG enhanced metabolic rate by 4 percent. STRONGER BONES A study by researchers from National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Tainan, Taiwan, suggested drinking tea may strengthen bones. Tea contains fluoride and flavonoids, both of which may enhance bone strength. The study was based on 1,037 men and women, ages 30 and older, who were questioned about their tea consumption habits and given bone-mineral density tests. Researchers found the benefits were most noticeable in people who drank at least two cups of tea per day, for at least six years. People who habitually consumed tea for over 10 years had the highest overall bone mineral densities 6.2 percent higher than non-habitual tea drinkers. Habitual tea drinkers for six to 10 years had bone mineral densities that were 2.3 percent higher than non-habitual tea drinkers. No significant differences between tea drinkers of one to five years and non-habitual tea drinkers were established. PROTECTION AGAINST ESOPHAGEAL CANCER Research reported in the June 1994 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that Chinese people who drink green tea have a reduced risk of developing esophageal cancer. Green tea is consumed to a much greater extent in China and other parts of Asia. Researchers from the National Cancer Institute and Shanghai (China) Cancer Institute interviewed 900 individuals with esophageal cancer and 1,500 without the disease. Subjects who drank green tea and avoided burning hot fluids had significantly lower cancer risk.
Researchers concluded the antioxidants in green tea possess not only cancer-preventing properties, but also anti-inflammatory properties. They may prevent or reduce the severity of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, including pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in the joints. Although further research is needed in this area, the study provides encouraging evidence of green tea’s preventive effects. INCREASED HEART ATTACK SURVIVAL RATES Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, demonstrated that consumption of both black and green tea can increase longevity after a heart attack. In the study, 1,900 heart attack survivors, men and women in their 60s, were asked about their tea consumption. Compared to non-tea drinkers, heavy tea drinkers (i.e., those who drank 19 or more cups per week) reduced their risk of dying over the next three to four years by 44 percent. Moderate drinkers (i.e., those who drank less than 14 cups per week) reduced their risk by 28 percent. HEART DISEASE REDUCTION In a study presented at the 1991 International Symposium on Physiological and Pharmacological Effects of Tea, researchers from the National Defense Medical College in Saitama, Japan, revealed that Japanese men who were heavy green tea drinkers reduced their total serum cholesterol levels. The study involved 1,306 men ages 49 and 56 years old. A similar study of 1,371 men over age 40, released in March 1995 by the Saitama Cancer Center, came to the same conclusions. Lowering blood cholesterol is associated with preventing heart disease. Gareth Bullock
A CANCER PREVENTIVE A study by Japanese scientists of the Saitama Cancer Research Institute shows that after cancer treatment, early stage breast cancer spreads less rapidly in women with a history of drinking more than five cups of green tea per day. As a result, there is a lower recurrence rate and longer disease-free period. Green tea and EGCG are natural and readily available inhibitors of TNF-[alpha], a gene expression which promotes growth in cancer cells and surrounding tissue. Since EGCG has also been proven to kill cultured cancer cells without causing harm to surrounding healthy cells, green tea could be beneficial not only for cancer prevention but also in the therapy and prevention of other diseases. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PREVENTION In April 1999, medical researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, published a study reporting that drinking four or more cups of green tea per day may prevent rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory disease, and reduce its severity in those currently battling the disease.
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Wildlife
NOW YOU SEE ME... Now you don’t! Jake Cleaver shares some interesting information about the Algarve’s ground lions from his visit to the Vita Nativa association in Olhão. Chameleon’s are fascinating and the more you know about them the more amazing they become!
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ou don’t often notice the almost magical creatures that are: The Chameleons (which is hardly surprising, what with their reputation as the masters of camouflage) until you are swerving wildly to avoid them as they cross the road - in what has to be said to be the slowest way possible. One step forward, two steps back. They are almost Moonwalking! “Billy Jean is not their lover, she’s just a girl” that would probably run them over. But these proud Kings of Leon are amongst us, and with their 360 degree view they are probably watching you - with one eye at least. But I realized I didn’t know too much about them. And so, back in February, when I saw an event on Facebook called “Conheces o Camaleão?”, and realised I didn’t. Certainly not as much as I would like to. It sounded too good an opportunity to pass up. The event was in the Ecoteca de Olhão. Which turns out to be a beautiful building next to the Campsite just outside of Olhão. It’s the restored residence and grounds of the poet João Lucio, and it’s got a free museum and exhibits of his life. It even has a stairway that looks like a guitar, and a vegetable patch. It was worth coming already. I followed the Chameleon signs and waited. A few people turned up, but mainly it was a class of 6 year olds that came. A lovely Lady with the best T-shirt of a dragonfly - which turns out to be the logo of the association Vita Nativa (that hosted the event) arrived. And we all went inside to learn more about our Algarvian Ground Lions.
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That’s really where their name comes from. In Greek Khamaí means Ground, and Leon/Lion. Gosh, here I go already. But here’s some more things I found out: Chameleons change colour to match their surroundings, yes. But only if the colour is in the reptiles repertoire. There’s a rumour that if you put them on something red they would explode. This isn’t true, apparently. But the fact that we can say that with such confidence, makes me wonder about us human beings. But they also change colour depending on how they feel. Which makes Chameleons the most honest creatures in the world. I knew I liked them! But really. Imagine that. Imagine if humans were like that. And we all had to show our true colours, so to speak. I think it could lead to some awkward situations. A Chameleon actually changes colour completely if they see somebody in the park they don’t like. Their Aunt knows if they dont love the Christmas present she got them. And good luck denying they ate the last cricket in the cricket tin. Because that’s the thing, as you might imagine, they normally turn much bolder, brighter colours when they are feeling good. Their girlfriend is in town. It’s a nice day. A new plague of locusts is on the swarm. And more darker colours when things aren’t going so well. That’s why if you pick them up (which you really shouldn’t do unless you absolutely have to) they will start to dim. If they get hurt. For example: scratched by a cat, which are one of their worst enemies (Cats, the newly arrived European
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Magpie, and of course, us humans, are all bad news for the Chameleon). The area around their injury will turn black. And, when they die - they turn entirely black. I don’t much fancy the black spots, but I do think it would be better if we were a little more colourful with our emotions. That way nobody could pretend to be fine when they aren’t. But, I’ll be honest, what I’m really angling after is this: I want to walk down the street on a good day, looking as bright, green, and funky as some of these Lovely Leons that I help cross the road. (I havent hit one yet. Thank goodness.) The Lady with the dragonfly shirt and all the information, asked us all when we think would be the best time to look for Chameleons? In the day, or at night? Amusingly, one of the kids immediately said, “Well, obviously in the daytime. It’s dark at night. You can’t see a damn thing.” He has a point. And apparently that’s the Chameleon’s trouble. They can’t see where they are, so they can’t decide what colour they should be, and so decide to turn a bright, light green which makes them easy to spot with a flashlight. Also, another reason it would be good if we took a leaf out of the Chameleons book - and spiralled more easily up and down the colour spectrum. Is that it would be a lot easier to tell if somebody is pregnant. There’s no embarrassing, “Oh it’s just a food baby” moments in the Chameleon world - as they will simply turn yellow. And you should absolutely avoid touching them when they are this colour as you could break the eggs. Yes, the eggs. Chameleons lay around 30 tiny eggs that they cover in a hole in the sand in September, and all being well they hatch 1 year later. And when they do. They are tiny. Really. Just a few centimeters. Nevertheless, they immediately start to make their way in the big bad world all on their own. Sadly, not for an awfully long time, as the average life expectancy (for our Algarve Chameleons at least) is only 3 years.
even touch my nose with my tongue. (I tried very hard to when I wrote this!) A Chameleon’s tongue can shoot out to more than twice their body size. And fast as well - their tongues can accelerate faster than any sports car! I bet they are amazing at tongue twisters. And capable of some very sharp quips. I wonder if it ever gets them into trouble, and they have to learn to hold their tongues? The Chameleon we all know and love is not found in the rest of Portugal but only here in the Algarve, and is more likely to be found in the east between Quarteira and Vila Real de Santo António. The Ria Formosa is famous for them. How they first got here is a mystery. Although some scientists believe they were brought here from North Africa on fishing vessels as a lucky charm, or, perhaps it was simply a way of getting rid of the insects aboard the ships. “You really have no idea how lucky you are”, the Lady told us. And she was right. We really didn’t. Somebody had rescued a Chameleon crossing the road (of course) that morning, and gave it in to her at RIAS (Centro de Recuperação e Investigação de Animais Selvagens, that partnered with Vita Nativa for this event) - for her to release into the wild. But since she knew she had this event in the afternoon, she waited to do it with us. Sometimes things just work out. And so we all went outside and carefully took him out of his temporary cardboard box house, and gazed in awe, before placing him on a branch and watching him make his way home. He moved so slowly, but then we blinked - and he was gone. Afterwards, having committed him to memory we went inside to try and make our very own 3D Chameleons in his image. What a meeting. I feel I really know our little Algarvian Lions much better now. And hopefully, now, so do you! Vita Nativa hosts lots of different events and if you are interested in learning more about the Algarvian Flora and Fauna - follow them on Facebook, and see who else you could go and get to know.
They also have amazing lingual dexterity. I mean, I can’t
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Property Update
TIMES ARE CHANGING Robert Bijker, managing director of Yellow Homes - Land & Houses Algarve, discusses the recent events surrounding Covid-19 and their effects on the property market
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he Covid-19 pandemic not only caused a severe economic downturn with record unemployment but has also changed the way we are living and working. This with potentially lasting changes in consumer preferences about what an individual and/or family expects from their residential property, the place that we call home. The meaning of a home can differ from person to person but in general it is the place where one lives, secure and enjoyable, where you can laugh or cry, be yourself, learn, love and be loved, be respected and cared for as well as a place to share memories and to make new ones. The lockdown has now added another requirement; it needs to have space or an extra room to work from while being away from the office. It is also important to have a good sized private outdoor space and in case of apartments one should be able to get to the property using the staircase (in order to avoid being in a small enclosed environment; the elevator). If an apartment is in a high rise building the use of a staircase may not be an option for everyone. The increase in video conferencing amongst businesses had already increased pre- Covid-19 due to the various worldwide conferences about global warming and reduction of greenhouse gases. However, the lockdown accelerated and broadened this
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trend as employees who could work from home were now asked to stay at home. In addition parents with children had to use video conferencing for their children to do their schoolwork due to the closure of the schools. The demand for video conferencing software such as Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx and especially Zoom went through the roof (the latter has a good chance of becoming the word of the year, I will Zoom you!). It may well lead to a more permanent change in how we live and work given the option of not going to the office to work (or only a few times per month) we may also change our preference of where we want to live. Coming out of lockdown most people are re-evaluating what freedom means to them and may prefer to live in a low population density area outside of their town or maybe even in a different country providing there are good internet and travel connections. In the past people could not make this decision as there were technological hurdles to overcome (no or slow internet, no video conferencing solutions) as well as the social acceptance by colleagues and businesses to work from home. It will be interesting to see how the pandemic has changed all of this which may lead to new trends in demand for residential property. Early signs are that the desirability of a property with a large terrace or private garden with or without swimming pool has gone up.
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Except for a few cities, the Algarve predominantly consists of landandhousesalgarve.com and enter in the subject line Info Eco low density residential areas. As such, and with a population Homes. We will register your interest and follow up with more eager to follow and obey safety measures, the number of people information when available to investors. affected by Covid-19 as well as the number of casualties are low Stay safe and healthy. in comparison with other countries. Nevertheless many people decided to cancel bookings for holiday letting accommodation Yellow Homes – Land & Houses Algarve during the months of March, April and May. The closure of www.algarvepropertysearch.com borders, general uncertainty, job losses and health problems www.algarve-portugal-immobilien.de where often the reasons given to cancel reservations. However, in the past 4 weeks reservations have picked up and with the Vilamoura Office opening of borders both owners of property and holidaymakers EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime are starting to return. We have noticed an increase in demand for 8100 - 068 Boliqueime villas with a private pool, both for short/long term letting as well Tel: 289 301 294 as to buy. The ultra-rich are parking money in high end luxury real estate in cities like New York, London and Paris and often Tavira Office do not intend to live there whereas high net worth individuals Rua Dr. José Pires Padinha 178 are seeking good quality villas with a swimming pool in the 8800 - 354 Tavira Algarve often in established areas to live in. We have also noticed Tel: 281 320 281 an increase in demand for this type of property coming from (AMI - 6232) buyers who indeed want to park money due to negative interest rates on savings of Euro 500.000 and above and are worried about future inflation due to the GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS enormous amounts of money that is being created by central banks worldwide. If you have 2 million in savings you can avoid negative interest rates by spreading the amount in a saving account over 4 or 5 banks. However, for larger amounts this more complicated and it still doesn’t address the worry about inflation. Interest rates of government bonds in many countries are in negative territory all the way up to maturities of 10 years. The rates are artificially suppressed by bond buying by AMI: 6232 the central banks, aka quantitative THE ONLY MODERN 3 BED VILLA IN VILA SOL UNDER 1 MIO EUROS Located within the Vila Sol golf resort - home to easing. A better indicator of fear one of the Algarve’s most sought after championship golf courses – this modern three bedroom villa has four bathrooms for inflation is the price of gold, and is equipped with air-conditioning and underfloor heating throughout. The carefully selected high quality finishing which has been gradually moving are impressive. The house offers excellent comfort and luxury. Rare opportunity to acquire such a beautiful villa for under upwards from USD 1400 to 1770 1 Million Euros. Ref TPL / Price: € 965.000 Euro, EC - D over the past 12 months. Hard Contact us! Our email is info@yellowhomes.com or call us on (+351) 289 301 294 assets such as real estate are also Find out more info on our website www.yellowhomes.com seen as a hedge against inflation. These type of buyers are worried about inflation, do not want to pay negative interest rates. Other factors such as polarization and GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS rising populism in their home countries may also lead to the preference of spending time in their property in the Algarve. The reasons for investors to buy property in Portugal are as good as ever especially with price reductions. Property is relatively easy to understand and is inflation proof overtime. We are currently living in uncertain times, however the Algarve benefits from many good things that people lack up north and given time may well come out on top of it. We are fully aware that times are AMI: 6232 changing, watch this space for WELL-PRESENTED BUNGALOW SET IN QUIET COUNTRYSIDE NEAR LOULE. new eco home offerings. We are This country style villa is set in a tranquil area only a few minutes’ drive of Loule and is offering lovely country views. in contact with developers who The villa is set on a large, partly landscaped plot with good access road. are at the forefront of developing Good quality construction and high ceilings throughout.. Ref : KSN / Price: €445.000 Euro, EC - IN PROGRESS sustainable, low carbon lifestyles Contact us! Our email is info@yellowhomes.com or call us on (+351) 289 301 294 without compromising comfort. Find out more info on our website www.yellowhomes.com Register your interest at info@
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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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OF THE MONTH PROPERTY DETAILS
Unique large country home with lots of character conveniently located in the hills close to Loule
• Exceptional property with a rustic, Algarvian style • Perfectly maintained, with lots of character and charm and surrounded by natural, Mediterranean vegetation • Modern comfort and techniques • 4-bedrooms | 4-bathrooms • Very spacious open plan dining room and lounge with fireplace • Large fully fitted and equipped kitchen with dining area
• Cosy snug room/bibliotheca • Typical terracotta floors and high wooden ceilings with beams throughout • Sun terraces, covered BBQ and summer kitchen • Large private salt water pool • Underfloor heating throughout • Plot completely walled/fenced • Double garage • Construction: approx. 400 m2 • Plot: 5.000 m2
¤1.950,000 Ref: R-LLJ July 2020
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Worth a visit
A TOUCH OF ELEGANCE If you’re looking for an extravagant piece of furnature from a small lamp to an esquisive 4 post bed, you will find what you’re looking for at Algarve Elegance and if its not already waiting for you in the beautiful showroom then Donna Vinall will find it for you!
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riginally from Norwich, Norfolk in the UK Donna Vinall worked as a carer for 26 years including in her own care agency which she had for 8 years before moving to Portugal. First visited Portugal on a spare of the moment decision a couple of years ago, she felt like she needed to escape from a very stressful lifestyle at the time and decided to get away, so, guided by her love for horses, she found Portugal after finding an advert for Horse riding holidays. She had never heard of it but it was perfect as it was only a 2 and a half hour flight and she could be there
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and back in no time. She spent her first visit to Portugal in Orique, a very quiet but beautifully tranquil part of the Algarve and that was it, she was hooked! Initially, she had no idea what to do here in Portugal, so together with her husband she bought an apartment near the sea and though she spent plenty of time soaking up the sun, boredom set in as she was used to working everyday. She started decorating the apartment but could only go so far with it, so they decided on starting a project and bought a ruin in the hills of Salir and completely renovated it and there Donna decided that her love of interiors and
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Worth a visit designing beautiful homes was going to be her future. Fresh from completing that project Donna started Algarve Elegance, her own furniture shop in Almancil providing beautiful and unique furniture from suppliers from different countries such as the UK, France, Italy, Spain and of course Portugal. After just a year Donna knew the shop wasn’t big enough to showcase her inventory in the way she pictured it and so just before we all went into lockdown she found a new place, four times bigger than the last so she can show visitors just how beautiful her furniture really is. Over the lockdown period, she used the time to completely transform the new area from bare white walls and empty space to a showroom filled with wonderful furniture that will make anyone say wow. It was a huge step especially as it was only a year since starting but well worth it as it gives clients the space to look around and there is always something new to see. Donna also offers her work as an interior designer, filling your home from top to bottom with unique style that caters to what you love and want to see in your home, whether the client want to be a part of the process or not Donna loves furniture and design and firmly believes that when you do what you love you do it to the best of your ability even going to the point of painting walls and furniture with unique patterns and techniques that she comes up with herself that complete the look. We love Donna’s shop, it’s a beautiful place filled with love for what she does and it oozes into every corner, we hope to see you there next time we visit! A: Rua Vale Fromoso, Almancil, 8100-221 T: +351 960 116 396 E: donna@algarveelegance.com W: algarveelegance.com
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Worth a visit
A DAM GOOD PLACE TO HIKE If you’re looking for somewhere to visit with beautiful views here is why you should take a day to visit Odeleite!
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deleite, situated amidst the beautiful Algarve hills, with a stunning river marking its boundary on two sides, is a delightful patch of green in a landscape dominated by the browns of the Portugal interior. The streets are full of traditionally decorated houses and the little village church is charming. Within its white walls are some fine statues dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. A visit to the local museum is also a must. The real attraction, however, is the magnificent Odeleite Dam, which not only supplies the region with water, but is a fantastic place to walk and soak up the scenery. The village of Odeleite is developed on a hillside that is cut out of sharp slopes which determine the development of the urban center. At the foot of the hillside, hugging the Village, the Ribeira de Odeleite can be found, which 6 km’s downstream flows into the Guadiana River. As the village’s point of reference, near the stream is the main Church of Our Lady of Visitation (16th Century). The main traditional activities carried out in the village and a little all over the parish are basketwork, apiculture,
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the production of goats cheese, lacework and traditional confectionary. The Odeleite Dam, constructed between May 1992 and September 1998 is a man-made lake, which together with its neighbour the Beliche Dam, forms the biggest water reservoir in the Algarve. The effects of the hydraulic resources of these two dams, which are joined by a 2,950 metre tunnel, have as their objective the Municiple water supply for all the Sotavento (east) area of the Algarve (including Loule) and the Terras da Ordem National Brushwood. The name of this wooded area, with approximately 1,366ha, indicates a religious past associated with the Order of Christ, a time when it belonged to the Castro Marim Alcaiaria Mor Commendation. After its extinction, the land ended up by being acquired by the State in the 60s and underwent the first forestation project with a view to recovering the fertility of its soils and respective water reserves. With the April 1974 revolution, management of this space was interupted, a new intervention commenced from 1982 onwards, which seeks not only the management of game resources but also the arboreal coverage.
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Simply delicious
PORTUGUESE BOLA DE BELIM
As one of our favourite Portuguese traditions is a Bola de Berlim on the beach, we thought why not try it for ourselves! Ingredients 2 x 7g sachets dried yeast 75g caster sugar, plus extra, to coat 125ml lukewarm milk 3 eggs, lightly beaten 75g unsalted butter, melted, cooled 500g plain flour vegetable oil, to deep-fry For the crème pâtissière: 50g plain flour 75g caster sugar 1 egg 4 egg yolks 375 ml milk Yellow food colouring (optional)
Fill a deep-fryer or large saucepan one-third full with oil and heat over medium heat to 170°C. Working in batches, gently drop balls into oil and deep-fry, turning halfway, for 4 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel. Set aside. Using a sharp knife, make a horizontal incision in each doughnut, taking care not to cut all the way through. Toss doughnuts in extra sugar to coat, then spoon 2 and a half tbsp crème pâtissière into each one. Serve doughnuts immediately.
Method: (Standing time: 1 hr 40 minutes) For the crème pâtissière Using an electric mixer, beat flour, sugar, egg and egg yolks until thick and pale. Meanwhile, place milk in a pan and bring to the boil. Working quickly, gradually whisk milk into flour mixture until well combined. Transfer to a clean saucepan, place over low–medium heat and whisk constantly for 5 minutes or until thick, taking care it doesn’t burn. Remove from heat and strain through a fine sieve into a bowl. Add a few drops of colouring, if using, and stir until combined. Cover surface with plastic wrap to prevent a skin forming. Set aside to cool. Makes 375 ml. Place yeast, sugar, milk and 60 ml lukewarm water in a bowl and stir to combine. Set aside for 10 minutes or until mixture bubbles. Add eggs and butter, and stir until combined. Place flour and a pinch of salt in a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Pour yeast mixture into well and mix until combined. Knead dough on a lightly floured work surface for 5 minutes or until smooth, elastic and very soft. (Alternatively, use an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook.) Lightly dust with flour, then transfer to a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside in a draught-free place for 1 hour or until dough doubles in size. Line 2 trays with baking paper, then dust with flour. Punch down dough, knead gently and divide into 12 balls. Place on trays and leave to rise without touching. Dust with flour and cover with greased plastic wrap, then a tea towel. Set aside for 30 minutes or until dough doubles in size.
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Here to help
WHEN OUR TIME COMES... They say that ‘nothing is certain except death and taxes’. We have no choice but to talk about the tax we pay, but discussing the matter of death is often ignored or put off. We share our experience of the funeral process here in Portugal, with the hope of helping someone in their time of need.
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owards the end of 2019, we were unfortunate enough to have had two deaths in our Family. This was our first time dealing with this in Portugal, and we had two very different experiences using two different Funeral agencies. The first agency was suggested to us by the local GNR and were not at all helpful. We felt quite lost throughout the process which was dealt with with little sympathy. It seemed like purely a business transaction. After learning from our first experience we decided on a different agency, Sublime Funeral services in Loulé.
What are the obligatory processes immediately after a person’s death? After the death of a loved one, the family member should immediately contact a Funeral Agency, so that it can take care of all the funeral proceedings.
We were greeted by Pedro who was instantly so much more helpful with finding out information about the deceased and what we needed to do. Pedro was with us at every step of the way helping us with every question we had and for those of you who have had to go through any bureaucratic process in the Algarve, you will know it isn’t at all easy, let alone whilst dealing with grief. Pedro clearly had past experience with foreign families which made the whole process a lot smoother and we didn’t feel so left in the dark. I would also like to point out that whilst funerals aren’t cheap, when it came to costs with the first Funeral director we were met with a large number and no compromises on it. We were unaware that we were free to choose our own director, the GNR called the funeral director that was available and we were given no information on what to do next.
Is there any paperwork I need to provide and where do I take it? Does the Funeral director help with this? Normally, the information needed for a funeral is always the responsibility of the Funeral Agency, though some agencies are not as prepared as others to be able to support the family in terms of necessary bureaucracy, especially for foreign citizens since the agencies are often unaware of the legal procedures for the repatriation of the deceased to their country of origin.
Due to our experience, we know that there are others out there that would benefit from knowing some basic information about the process so we asked pedro to answer some questions.
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Can we choose which funeral director the deceased goes to? Yes, in Portugal the Funeral Agency is decided by the deceased’s Family and by Law burial agencies must refrain from contacting family members of the deceased without their authorisation and any agent that does so can be punished by law.
The Police told us there is an investigation into the death, what is going to happen and what are we supposed to do? The family must apply to the public ministry of the municipality where the death occurred for information about the process and await its conclusion, you will most likely feel the need to do try and help or find out as much information as you can, but the best thing you can do is let authorities proceed with their investigation and wait for its conclusion. When the investigation is over you will be informed of the conclusion and you will be free to continue funeral arrangements.
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We are unsure of the cause of death, what is the process to request an autopsy and when will we get the results? Once again, this type of situation should be the responsibility of the Funerary Agency. The family should speak to the Funeral Agency, so that the public prosecutor’s service is contacted and informed that the family is not sure about the cause of death and wants an autopsy to be performed. The results tend to take a few months and depend on how busy the hospitals are, when then are ready you will recieve a letter in the post letting you know that the report is availabe to collect from the public ministry. The deceased was a contributing member of society, are there any discounts or benefits to help towards their funeral? Yes, there are benefits for the closest family members (spouse and underage children) and also subsidies to support funeral expenses. They depend on the years of contribution of the deceased, the funeral home may help to collect information and documentation to obtain these same benefits, but it will not be able to charge services for them, as it is prohibited by law and incurs the crime of an illicit attorney. Funerals seem to occur very soon after death here in Portugal, sometimes within a few days, however, as the deceased is from another country, how long can we wait to make sure all family and friends can make travel arrangements for the funeral? The fact that funerals in Portugal are held between 48 and 72 hours after death is nothing more than a question of culture, although by law, the body must be cremated and buried in a coffin, within some deadlines which must not
exceed 72 hours after delivery of the body to the family. As for the waiting time, yes, it is possible to pass these deadlines, including making them 2 or 3 weeks later, but it depends on the conditions of each Funeral Agency, (having a conservation chamber is one of them). The deceased was from another country and wished to be buried back there, what is the process for this? The process depends on the country and its laws. For example, within the countries of the European Union, as there are no customs, it is always easier to handle the documentation as some countries do not require documentation signed and viewed by the local embassy or consulate. But also in these cases it will always depend on the undertaker, if he is responsible enough and has general knowledge on how to transfer deceased to different countries inside and outside the European Union. What are the burial options in Portugal? The options for Funerals in Portugal are; SĂŁo, Grave Burial, Burial in a Family tomb or drawer and cremation. It is now possible to have cremations in the Algarve in the recently opened Crematorium of Albufeira. If you have any other questions please contact Pedro at Sublime, they are very helpful and professional and it will make a very difficult process much easier for you. W: www.funerariasublime.pt E: funerariasublime@gmail.com T: +351 927 797 623
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Outdoors
HOW GREEN ARE WE REALLY? Last month we caught up up Diogo from Geojardim garden center to discuss the new direction in which he is taking his business 38
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henever a customer makes a change in their business, whether it be a new menu at a restaurant, or a new greenkeeper at a golf club, we like to inform our readers about the updates in the form of an editorial story. So when Diogo told us that he was updating his website and that he was ‘changing his business strategy’, we picked up the camera and headed off for a meeting at GeoJardim garden center with him. Always organised, Diogo had prepared some notes for our meeting. In front of him was a piece of paper on which we could read two sentences, both outlined; ‘Green industry is not really green’, and ‘It needs to stop’. We immediately knew this interview was not only about his new website, Diogo was serious about something! For the first time in 11 years of publishing magazines, we had a client to who was offering a free editorial story who didn’t want to promote their business, but instead to promote a different way of thinking and working within the gardening industry, for both the consumer and employees. Let’s start with the mission statement: ‘Geojardim’s mission is to leave a better world. We will continue to be an ethically responsible company, believing in sustainable growth models and continuing to strive towards solutions that respect People and the Environment. We have a long journey ahead, but we will do our best’. So... to leave a better world and sustainability!
place at the Garden Center. Diogo will be keeping checks on the results and is happy to talk to clients and other garden companies about them. The goal is that all of the 24 products he currently uses are replaced by 100% natural products with the same quality results... a big task, but it’s achievable. Next in the mission statement is being an ethically responsible company. Although the following points may appear obvious, they are not always in place. Staff should be fully trained including health and safety. They should be fully insured and receive a fair salary. Quality machinery and safety equipment should be provided. For example the latest strimmers and lawnmowers run on rechargeable batteries. For the employee there is no smelly petrol to deal with, the noise is significantly reduced, the machines are much lighter and more comfortable to use. GeoJardim have a compost shredder in which they shredded garden waste last year resulting in 20 tones of compost. This takes 6 months before it can be used in the gardens. At the end of the interview Diogo makes a point that is very important to him. he says, “This is not about promoting GeoJardim. It’s about creating awarness, sharing information with other companies and working together with the suppliers to find new solutions. It’s no longer a competition for us anymore. Our mission is no longer focused on growing, on market share and maximazing our profit, it is about doing what we think is right. It’s about becoming a more ethical and sustainable company, and being more involved with our local comunity and ultimately working for a better future. We dont have all the anwsers but will do our best! For more information or to contact Diogo, visit his website www.geojardim.pt
Why do we have to wear such a high level of protective clothing and breathing apparatus when spraying insecticides, fungicides and herbicides (weed killer). The image of a family sitting on a lawn having a picnic is scary when you’ve just seen it being sprayed by someone covered from head to toe and wearing a mask. Surely there’s something wrong with this image! Diogo has stopped using or selling glyphosate (Round up) and is currently working with suppliers to find solutions that respect the environment and persuade their clients to use 100% natural products. For example, their is a natural weed killer containing pelargonic acid from plant extract which has been available for years, there are also insecticides made from extract of plants roots like Nim oil and many other alternatives. Our question was: why isn’t everyone using this already? Diogo’s view is that consumers decide on what products are sold on the market by the choices they make. If we carry on buying the usual pesticides, they’ll carry on selling it to us... there’s no change. If we start demanding more from companies and their products and question were does it come from and how is it made? Who do they work with? Do they support the local community? Do they have sustainability programs? Once again, it’s the consumer who can make a change by choosing how and where they spend their money. Trialing and testing of new biological products is taking
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100% recycled compost, all processed on site at Geojardim
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COVID
Please make sure you are safe and take measures to protect yourself and everyone around you, it is our job to make sure we don’t have to lockdown again. So please keep wearing your masks!
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ow is more important than ever to be responsable and think before we hold events and gather in groups, while borders and businesses are opening and we feel more and more comfortable venturing back out and enjoying ourselves, we need to remember to social distance, use our masks and disinfect our hands before and after interacting with anything around us.
so much space here in the Algarve, lets make the most of it and spend our free time enjoying it instead of spending it in a tight group, if you really need to talk about the football or gossip to friends we can facetime and chat from the terrace or back garden over a glass of wine or nice cold beer, everything counts. Thank you for your consideration and your dedication over the last few months to stop the spread of Covid-19, lets keep strong and continue our fight against the virus!
It has been a difficult last few months especially mentally, but if we throw safety measures out the window then the world’s collective efforts would have been for nothing so lets keep reminding eachother to do our best. Support your local businesses! You might have a favourite restaurant or shop that is out of town but consider supporting your local restaurants and shops before those further away if possible. There won’t be as many tourists this year and we as residents need to support our local Family busineses to keep them running and help them bounce back from the financial difficulties we have all experienced over the past few months, Primark, Ikea and Mcdonalds will be fine, whereas your local second furnature shop, clothes shop or family restaurant take much harder hits so lets do our best to support them. Let’s get more active and get fresh air! Instead of going to bars and cafes, lets go for hikes and dips in the sea, we have
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by Dora Guerreiro
Buy with Confidence, Sell with Success! Your home, your lifestyle...It´s our purpose.
DG Algarve Properties | (+351) 289 355 336 | (+351) 912 391 925 | dora@dgalgarveproperties.com Estrada de Vale do Lobo, Rua Manuel Teixeira Gomes 947 1Âş Dto, 8135 - 016 Almancil, Portugal
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Finance
PAY LITTLE TO NO TAX
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Each month, Ricardo Chaves of All Finance Matters gives an insight into the legalities governing tax and general financial matters
ortugal is one of the best countries to live or retire and there are several reasons for this: best EU residency program for investors (minimal stay requirements and the possibility of obtaining an EU passport after 6 years), it’s the best EU tax haven for pensioners and high net worth individuals (10-year exemption of most nonPortuguese source income). It is also one of the top countries in the World to buy and own real estate. In terms of tourism, Portugal was voted the best destination; best country in the World to visit and best European golf and beach destination as per the World Travel Awards. Recently it was also the first European country to receive the “Safe Travels” stamp awarded by the World Travel & Tourism Council. This allows travelers to recognize Portugal as having adopted global health and hygiene standardized protocols to allow visitors to experience ‘Safe Travels’ Portugal is also the best country in Europe and North America (after cold Sweden) for immigrant integration (MIPEX III). It is a very stable, peaceful and safe country and offers a high quality of life coupled with a low cost of living. Finally, the Portuguese are highly educated and almost half of them can speak at least one foreign language, mainly English. Portugal can be the gateway to 250 million Portuguese-speaking people. If you are planning to move to Portugal and the above was not enough, then you probably need to find out more about the non-habitual resident (“NHR”) taxation regime. The NHR is a scheme for new residents that can provide substantial tax benefits, so much that you may discover that Portugal is a tax haven for you. Although the name makes you feel that you NHR are nonresidents, that is not correct. The name can be confusing, but in fact the Non-Habitual Resident (“NHR”) taxation regime is only available to those that become resident in Portugal. The NHR scheme is proving very successful at attracting individuals of independent means, pensioners and certain skilled professionals to establish residency in Portugal for tax purposes, while not being subject to any minimum or maximum stay requirements. In addition to the non-existence in Portugal of wealth tax, or of inheritance/gift tax for close relatives, the NHR regime essentially grants qualifying individuals the possibility of becoming tax residents of a white-listed jurisdiction whilst legally avoiding or minimising income tax on certain categories of income and capital gains for a minimum period of 10 years. A major feature of the NHR regime lies in its interaction with the double tax conventions signed by Portugal or
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with the OECD model tax convention in the absence of one. In effect, most double tax conventions (of which Portugal signed 87) grants the possibility to tax most categories of income to the country of source of such income, although in practice, so as to attract foreign investment, many countries will not make use of that possibility to tax nonresidents. Since most such categories will not be taxed in Portugal in the hands of a NHR because they may be taxed abroad, in practice most foreign-source income types will be zero taxed in such hands. Since the first of April 2020, the Portuguese Government has decided to change this scheme and those that became resident after that date, will see their private pension schemes taxed at a generous flat rate of 10%. This is still lower than most of the tax rates in Portugal and the tax rates in other European countries. Under the NHR regime, the following categories of foreign-source income and capital gains (except if sourced from a blacklisted tax haven which has not signed a double tax convention with Portugal) will be generally exempt from income tax in Portugal since they may generally be taxed in the source country, even though they will not often be taxed in the hands of non-residents in the latter country either: - Profits derived from eligible occupations - Royalties and associated income - Dividends, interest and real estate income - Capital gains from the alienation of real estate (including shares deriving more than 50% of their value from real estate) and of ships or aircraft operated in international traffic Capital gains from the alienation of movable property (other than shares deriving more than 50% of their value from real estate or ships/aircraft operated in international traffic) will be tax exempt if the relevant double tax convention states that they may be taxed in the source country, but this is not the case with the OECD model or with the generality of the conventions, and therefore if you buy or sell shares or other financial assets, some basic tax planning may be required. It should be noted that several countries often deemed “offshore tax havens” do have double tax conventions with Portugal and are therefore white-listed for the purposes of the NHR regime. In addition, all EU member states are white-listed, even though several such states may in many ways be used as “offshore tax havens”, especially by non-residents from that country. Occupational pensions will be taxed at 10% as long as they may not be deemed sourced from Portugal. Foreign-source income from employment (including fees of directors and entertainers or sportsmen) will not be taxed in Portugal if it is taxed (at whatever rate) in the
“Move to Portugal and pay little or no tax on your income”
July 2020
source country. Portuguese-source income depends on whether or not it is derived from eligible occupations, will be taxed as follows: - Employment income (including fees of directors and entertainers/sportsmen), business or self-employment profits and royalties (including payments for know-how), if derived from eligible occupations will be subject to a 20% flat rate; - Other Portuguese-source income will be taxed at the normal rates applicable to regular resident taxpayers; In conclusion, in order to maximize the advantages of the NHR regime it has to be taken into account not only the Portuguese tax law, but also the tax law of the source country of the income, as well as the double tax conventions applicable to the foreign-source income and advantages to receive as a NHR. This scheme can be also very attractive to all those British citizens that have become Portuguese Residents, in order to prevent Brexit and allow travelling in EU after the 1st of January 2021. Portugal have stated those British that arrive prior to 1 January 2021 may register for residency under EU citizenship rules, until 30 June 2021. Those
who arrive after the 31 December 2020 will have to apply for residency under the more stringent third country national rules. Applying means it can be refused whereas if all requirements are in place for EU residency it is automatically given. Once you obtain your EU residency certificate, it is mandatory that you also change your tax residency, which means that you will be liable for tax in Portugal and should declare here your worldwide income. The NHR scheme can be the solution you need to avoid or reduce your current tax bill. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your personal situation and see whether you meet the criteria to qualify as a non-habitual resident (NHR). Although the granting of NHR status is not automatic, it will not be refused if all the legally applicable criteria are met. DISCLAIMER: this text contains description of a generic nature and cannot preclude specialist advice in connection with specific situations. Contact our office and book an appointment. Email: ricardo@allfinance.pt Tel. +351 281 029 059
DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO
HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOGRAPHY AND 4K VIDEO T: +351 961 700 200 E: RICHIBASS@HOTMAIL.CO.UK July 2020
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Golf
PRACTICE YOUR GOLF AT HOME! Richard Hudson and Eddie Charnock, Algarve Golf Guru, PGA Professionals discuss The Practice Swing and Training Aids!
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hese have been tough times, staying at home for such a long time isn’t easy, especially if you have the golf bug! Although the pandemic seems to be coming to an end, we wanted to show you a practice drill along with some training aids, so in the future you can practice your game of golf when at home. What is the idea behind the practice swing? The idea behind any practice swing, is to rehearse precisely, a swing you will need to hit an effective shot, without striking a ball. Here is a simple way for you to practice your Golf Swing ‘By the Book’ at home, without using a golf club.
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angle. As the hands pass hip height, your left arm will start to rotate and the book will be parallel to target.
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At the top of the backswing the book is now parallel to your target line.
Starting the downswing the legs are leading the way, halfway down the book is again parallel. At impact the book is at right angles to the target line.
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On the follow through, the book will be in a parallel position.
The swing sequence pictures will help you to fully understand the different positions.
You will need a good sized book, place your hands on the book as shown in picture 1, with the right hand a little lower than your left if you are right handed. You will place your left hand a little lower than your right if you are left handed.
Training Aids During our time at home we have had some time to test some training aids ourselves, here are some of our favourites for you to consider using that will help develop a perfect swing, safely at home.
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For your long Game: PlaneSWING - Why PlaneSWING?
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The take away is generated by the shoulders and at hip height the book should be parallel to the spine
July 2020
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PlaneSWING
5 Pro Advanced chipping net
PuttOUT Pressure Putt We believe it is simply the most effective full swing golf training aid available. You can use it at home or in the garden! Regular use is the quickest way to a powerful and repeatable golf swing. The PlaneSWING is very popular with Major Tournament Players such as Dustin Johnson, Tommy Fleetwood, Darren Clarke and Bryson DeChambeau, who all have one at home. You can try before you buy, contact us to try out the PlaneSWING at our Teaching Centre.
practice aid that can be taken to the putting green as well as used at home, along with the PuttOUT Deluxe Putting Matt. The Putting Matt has markings up to 2mtrs, alignment lines and pace targets, everything you need to help you find the ‘Best You’ on the greens!
For your Short Game: We would recommend something like the Pro Advanced Golf Chipping Net with Foam Practice Balls. Important when buying a chipping net to find one that is a pop-up design and folds down easily for storage when not in use. The Pro Advanced has a stabiliser pocket in the bottom for a weight to be added for longer shots. Your net needs to include a target as this really helps you to judge the distance of the chip, replacing the flag which would normally be your target.
“What is the maximum number of golf clubs you can carry in your golf bag?”
GIVEAWAY TIME! Here is your chance to WIN a 30 minute golf lesson with The Gurus! Just answer the following question correctly:
Please email your answer to sales@algarvegolfguru.com To discuss any of the areas covered above or to book a golf lesson, please contact Richard or Eddie and mention Simply Algarve as the referral. E: sales@algarvegolfguru.com W: algarvegolfguru.com
For your Putting: The PuttOUT Pressure Putt Training Aid, a free standing
July 2020
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Sport
SPORTS NEWS
Brought to you by Chris Wright
FOOTBALL STARTS AGAIN After an absence of almost three months football returned to the Primeira Liga in early June with none of the top four clubs – FC Porto, Benfica, Sporting or SC Braga – recording a victory in the first round of games. A week after Sporting hooligans had been jailed for their invasion and assault on players at their training centre two years ago, Benfica fans brought further shame on the capital as the team bus was attacked leaving two players requiring hospital treatment. The Eagles squad and entourage were on their way back from the stadium when a large stone, believed to have been dropped from an overhead bridge, smashed one of the windows on the bus. The injured players were Serbian international winger Andrija Zivkovic and midfielder Julian Weigl. The incident would have brought back memories for German international Weigl, who had been part of the Borussia Dortmund squad targeted by a roadside bomb that damaged the German club’s bus prior to a UEFA Champions League tie against AS Monaco in April 2017. Benfica ended a run of four consecutive draws before beating nine-man Rio Ave 2-1 away but then lost at home to Santa Clara by the odd goal in seven after having led 3-2 with eight minutes to go.The future of beleaguered manager Bruno Lage may well have been decided following the outcome of the game against Maritímo on the 29th June. FC Porto took advantage and at the time of going to print were three points clear of their bitter rivals with six games to play. At the other end of the table
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Portimonense did their survival hopes a power of good with victories over Gil Vicente and Marítimo (Madeira) plus two hard fought draws against Santa Clara (Azores) and the mighty Benfica. The win against Marítimo took the Portimão outfit to within four points of safety. FARENSE PROMOTED! When the pandemic struck and football was halted, SC Farense were in second place behind Nacional (Madeira) at the top of the Segunda Liga. The professional league, Liga Portugal, subsequently announced that the two clubs would be promoted. Former Dundee United and Scotland U21 international Ryan Gauld, rediscovering some of his earlier promise, has been influential in the Farense midfield this season. Farense last played in the top flight eighteen years ago and had competed at that level on twenty-three occasions between 1970 and 2002. The club´s highest finish was fifth in 1994-95 when they qualified for the UEFA Cup losing in the first round to Olympique Lyonnais by a single goal in each game. The late Malcolm Allison was briefly in charge at the Estádio São Luís in 1989 when he signed Peter Barnes and Peter Eastoe. LISBON HOSTS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE The capital will stage this season´s UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, semi-finals and final. Played as a straight knockout tournament, the games are being split between Benfica’s Estádio da Luz (which will host the final) and Sporting´s Estádio José Alvalade. The Champions League
July 2020
has been on hold since the 11th March due to the COVID-19 outbreak. 7/8th August - Round of 16 second legs (venues to be confirmed); 12/15th August - Quarter-finals; 18/19th August - Semi-finals and the 23rd August will see the Final at the Estádio da Luz. The quarter-final and semi-final draws will take place in Nyon on the 10th July. The 2019/20 final was due to be held at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul which will now instead stage the 2020/21 showpiece. The three subsequent final venues have also agreed to host a year later than originally planned:- 2022 Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg; 2023 Football Arena Munich, Munich; 2024 Wembley Stadium, London. The quarter-final Champions League ties are: Atlético Madrid v. Manchester City/ Real Madrid; Barcelona/Napoli v. PSG; Leipzig v. Atalanta and Bayern Munich/ Chelsea v. Juventus/Lyon. The Benfica eagle Victoria will be welcoming Champions League teams in August PORTIMÃO CIRCUIT TO HOST FI GRAND PRIX The Portuguese press has reported that the Autódromo do Algarve could stage two F1 events on the 27thSeptember and the 4th October. The circuit has a Grade 1 licence, thus meeting all the requirements of the FIA to host Formula 1 which would be visiting the Algarve for the first time although F1 cars regularly use the track for testing. The 4.692kms (2.915miles) circuit was built in 2008 at a cost of €195m.The last Grand Prix to be held in Portugal was at Estoril in 1996.
Last word
Parting words...
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Jake Cleaver shares a funny encounter with his new best friend, the European violet Carpenter Bee.
was trying to think of an idea for this month’s column, when I heard what sounded like an Apache helicopter, and a huge buzzing idea came nose diving out of the sky and reverberated past my ear. It was one of what lots of people call ‘Dive Bombers’ (you can understand why). They are these huge, black, bee-like creatures, that come out in the spring and join the busy honey bees, humming loudly as they go about their business of collecting pollen and tickling flowers. Now, I’m always a bit nervous of buzzy things. Ever since that one time I got a hornet stuck in my hair (my hair is good at collecting things like that). And damn, do those things pack a punch. I felt like I had been in a round with Mike Tyson. (I’m just saying that for emphasis. I don’t actually know, I’ve never gotten Mike Tyson stuck in my hair.) Mohammed Ali should have said: Float like a butterfly, sting like a - Hornet! So when I hear these Bee-52’s coming towards me I normally panic. I don’t think they are going to hurt me. And presumably they are just mistaking me for a flower. Which is very flattering. But it doesn’t make the experience any less terrifying. I normally become a sort of grateful Ninja - and wave my hands about wildly, while shouting “Thank you!”. Such mixed messages. They must think I’m a flower playing hard to get.
But who knows, maybe they are? They are definitely humming something. But it’s also because they like to burrow into wood or Bamboo to lay their eggs.
Presumably they are just mistaking me for a flower. Which is very flattering. But it doesn’t make the experience any less terrifying!
Also, they are not harmless (at least the females aren’t). They can sting. Which is good. It’s good to be a little dangerous. I mean who would take them seriously otherwise? Well, I might do. They are massive and sound like fighter-bombers on an air raid. However, as their name suggests, they are violet, not violent. (They might look black, but if you look carefully they have a violet tinge.) Which means they are super mellow dudes who, unless you really provoke them (or get them stuck in your hair?) will just get on with their daily business of pollinating every bloomin’ thing around. Arguably, the most important job on the planet. Actually no. No arguing. It is.
Anyway, the idea that bombilated down towards me was: to find out, once and for all, just exactly who these Buzz Lightyears think they are? Because lots of people say that they aren’t a bee at all - but a harmless beetle? This turns out not to be true. I did some research, a.k.a, asked the green-keyboarded members of the “Gardening in Portugal” Facebook group if they knew? Of course they did. And I can now reveal that they are: the Violet Carpenter Bee, or Abelha Carpinteira in Portuguese, and Xylocopa Violacea in Latin. They are called Carpenters, not because they are always humming: “I’m on the top of the world lookin’ down on creation and the only explanation I can find is the love that I’ve found ever since you’ve been around is that your love’s put me at the top of the world.”
July 2020
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