Simply
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March 2018 Issue 23
Loulé, Almancil, Vale do Lobo,
Quarteira, Quinta do Lago, Vilamoura, S. Brás
Welcome... ...to your March issue! This month we bring you some great images and intriguing stories to go with them. We kick it off with a new monthly addition from Dave Sheldrake and Chloé Ophelia; "Photo of the month", a place where we spotlight great images from their Algarve photography walks. Following that, Susi Rogal-Goodkind talks us through the newest eaterie in Loulé, Wok Loulé, a huge restaurant providing amazing eastern foods with what some would describe as too much to choose from! Martin shares his wheelchair experience and his lack of care from carers in the U.K airports, Susi then walks us through the Boutique outlet at MAR shopping, she also checks up on Chris O'Keef, a busy man with a great collection of goodies from amazing houses in the Algarve. Not to be forgotten is our Q&A with Gillian Catto from ArtCatto, brilliant questions from Susi with equally great answers and amazing Artwork to go with it. Of course we have all of our regular Property, Finance, Gardening, Sports news and Golf tip! Richard Bassett, Publisher
PUBLISHER Richard Bassett
EDITOR Richard Bassett
ART DIRECTOR Jake Bassett
WRITERS
DISTRIBUTION
6,000 copies printed. All advertisers are issued copies for distribution, along with retail outlets.
COVER PHOTO Jake Bassett
Susi Rogal-Goodkind Anthony Martin
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Call Jake on 966 044 143 or email design@simplyalgarvemag.com
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All rights reserved. Except for normal review purposes, no part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the contents are only meant as a guide to readers. The proprietors of this magazine are publishers not agents or sub agents of those who advertise therein. The publisher cannot be held liable for any loss suffered as a result of information gained from this publication.
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Contents NEWS 4
PROPERTY 28
SAM 5
PROPERTY 30
Your local news.
Sam’s views and reviews.
PHOTOGRAPHY 6
Property of the month.
A property update from experts Yellow Homes.
Photo of the month.
PEOPLE 32
Wok in Loulé.
FINANCE 36
PLACES 10 PEOPLE 18
Goodies from Grand houses.
A Q&A session with Gillian Catto.
Currency news from experts Currencies Direct!
Almancil and surrounding areas.
An update from experts at AFM.
MAP 26
GARDENING 39
Meditteranean gardening.
SPORT 48
The latest sports news from Chris Wright.
GOLF 49
Pro tips from PGA professionals Eddie and Richard.
CLASSIFIEDS 50
Classified ads!
FINANCE 38
Susi RogolGoodkind is a freelance journalist/ editor who works between the UK and the Algarve where she and her husband have had a home for 30 years. She is also a member of the ACCA children’s charity committee. susi@rogol-goodkind.com
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News
Local news
Keep up to date with this months news. ALBUFEIRA'S PRAIA DA FALÉSIA ON TRIPADVISOR'S '25 BEST BEACHES IN THE WORLD'
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raia da Falésia, in the Olhos de Água area of Albufeira, has made it onto TripAdvisor’s ‘25 Best Beaches in the World,' the only beach in Portugal in the ranking. The beach is in a creditable 12th place on the list, devised using readers’ opinions and released today. TripAdvisor reports that Falésia had 4,048 reader ratings and a score of 4.5 out of a possible 5. Some 65% of travellers rated this Algarve gem as, "excellent." First on the list is the impossibly beautiful Grace Bay, in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Caribbean, with other highranking beaches from Brazil, Cuba, Aruba and Spain where San Sebastián’s La Concha is in 6th place. One of the Algarve’s finest beaches, Dona Ana in Lagos, used to win all sorts of accolades, including from Condé Naste Traveller which once called it “the most beautiful beach
Sources: www.algarvedailynews.com
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ALGARVE CHOSEN FOR NEW NEW INTERNATIONAL YACHT TRAINING CENTRE
he Algarve has been chosen by the International Yacht Training course provider for a training centre between Faro and Olhão. The provider aims to offer sailing and motor yacht courses that are approved by the Maritime Coastguard Agency UK to the RYA International Certificate of Competence level that allows sailors to navigate in any ocean. This initiative is a partnership between the Algarve Cruising Centre in Olhão and the Association for the Study and Conservation of Oceans, and has Ricardo Barradas as the manager – a regular trainer at the Clube Internacional da Marina de Vilamoura. According to Barradas, this new school and training centre could increase the Algarve’s international appeal, putting the region on the map as one the main destinations for advanced nautical training. Barradas said this agreement represents a qualitative leap in the training that is given in Portugal, since the focus on the practical component presents an alternative, but above all, a complement to the training that is already given in the country." There is a plan to expand this type of training through partnerships with other entities, such as the University of the Algarve and other relevant bodies in the region, says Ricardo Barradas. "The Algarve region has significant potential for nautical activities and there are many products yet to be explored such as advanced courses and even scientific tourism, but we need to innovate and invest," added Barradas.
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in the world.” This was true, until the Algarve Environment Agency made such hideous changes in 2015 that the beach dropped from international and national recognition. In December 2017, Falésia beach was spared a disruptive hotel expansion along the cliff-tops to its rear as the Sunset Albufeira Sport & Health Resort project, a 95-hectare expansion at the Alfamar hotel site, was rejected by the evaluation Committee of the Algarve’s Regional Development Commission. The developer's environmental impact study, encompassing this beautiful area of pine-studded clifftops and agricultural land, between and inland from the beaches of Falésia and Rocha Baixinha, was given an "unfavourable" opinion, thus enabling beachgoers to snooze in peace this season.
NEW OUTDOOR VENUE FOR LAGOA WINE FESTIVAL THIS APRIL
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agoa council, the organiser of the city’s annual Wine Festival, has decided to move the event from the white elephant site of the Arade Conference Centre, to another council-inspired mistake, the bright red tarmac of the city’s market area. The red wine stains will hardly show on the controversial surface that turned a normally cautious municipality into a regional laughing stock. Dubbed ‘The Red Streets of Lagoa,’ the Municipal Market Street has been chosen as the venue for the April event, with the council determined to demonstrate that the area can be used for some purpose other than a focus for revulsion and mirth. In an act of city planning that has entered the annals of urban follies, the roads around the market were covered in red tarmac and made pedestrian-friendly by allowing only one-way traffic, installing streetlevel lighting and paining white designs on the road surface. The plan intended that more parking space would be created and the area would create an ambience that would lure people to the market and other local traders. The council says that holding the Wine Festival in this outdoor venue, in April, is all part of the same strategy - date to be advised. At least the festival will be moved from the hollow and sterile Arade Conference Centre venue. The council’s press release does mention the Candlelight Market, which apparently brought a large number of people to the Red Streets area.
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Sam
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Sams trip to Alentejo.
his month, let's go somewhere slightly more inland and visit the beautiful Alentejo. The coast is great but sometimes you just need a change of pace, and what better place than the wine region! There are a number of wineries in the area, I am sure they are all equally amazing, but we did not want to miss the opportunity to visit Herdade da Malhadinha Nova since it produces one of my favourite Portuguese wines. To our surprise, the Herdade is so much more than just a winery! It is situated about a 1h30 drive from the Algarve, hidden away in the middle of Alentejo, not far from Castro Verde, and only accessible via some dirt roads which definitely adds to the whole countryside feeling. We decided to stay there for a weekend and try out the restaurant which we later found out that people have driven all the way there just for a meal so our hopes were definitely high and it definitely did not disappoint. Guests are greeted and offered a tour of the vineyard and a wine tasting experience; you can even have the option of touring by horse chariot, fancy! The surroundings are just beautiful and so vast, completely different from what you are used to seeing in the Algarve. Following on from the tour, we then went for the wine tasting which is great fun (obviously!) especially if you are like me and have no idea what you are doing, so you just copy what you see in
Native German and living in Portugal since 1995, Sam is a partner at Management Works! and of Blue Sky Villas, with over 8 years of experience and knowledge of the local area.
the movies. I hope it worked! Many wine glasses later, we were eager to finally try out the restaurant; I don’t have one bad thing to say about it. The food was delicious as all ingredients are produced in their farm and many are sourced locally. They also produce my favourite olive oil which was just mouthwatering and goes exceptionally well with their homemade bread. It does seem quite a drive for “only� a tour and some food but I can assure you that we had a great time and the whole experience has become one our favourite memories. Herdade da Malhadinha offers a variety of other activities and if you are looking for a weekend getaway before the crazy and hectic Algarvian summer, I definitely recommend a spontaneous trip to one of the most beautiful areas of Portugal. contact@blue-sky-villas.com
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info@toldolanda.com | www.toldolanda.com | 914 609 517
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Photography
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Photo of the month
Courtesy of Algarve photography walks' Dave Sheldrake and Chloé Ophelia.
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e are Dave Sheldrake and Chloé Ophelia and we work as professional photographers here in the Algarve. We have wanted to organise an informal group to help people to become better photographers for some time, so the idea of the Algarve Photography Walks group was formed. There is no formal teaching, just events which are advertised on a dedicated Facebook Page. Anyone is welcome to attend; and at each event we simply walk and talk and take photographs and we offer our help to individuals during these walks. The walks are not strenuous and there is no charge for a walk - we ask that if you are able to give a donation (however large or small) at the end of each walk it will be donated to our chosen charity for 2018 - which is the Madrugada Association. The idea is to enjoy the Algarve, people's company and some photography too! We will cover lots of different subjects and skills
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and it matters not a jot what your equipment is or how skilled you are. For more information please join our Facebook Group Algarve Photography Walks https:// w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / g r o u p s / AlgarvePhotographyWalks/ or e-mail Dave on dave@ davesheldrakephotography.com. The February Photography Walk visited the oldest carnival in Portugal at Loulé and was a feast of feathers, dancing and movement for our members to capture. This month's featured photograph is by Tom Donachie and captures something of the unique atmosphere of this fabulous event. Next month's walk is planned for Tuesday 6th March, from 1.30 - 3.30 pm and will be visiting what is reputed to be the most photographed village in the Algarve - the beautiful fishing village of Ferragudo. Meet outside the church at the top of the village and find out why everyone loves to photograph Ferrragudo.
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Simply Almancil, Vale do Lobo,
Quarteira, Quinta do Lago, Vilamoura
Missed an issue? No problem! Find it on our website. www.simplyalgarvemag.com Simply
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September 2017 Issue 17
Almancil, Vale do Lobo,
Quarteira, Quinta do Lago, Vilamoura
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A WOK IN
Should one feel sorry for the flat dwellers by the Lidl roundabout in LoulĂŠ? After all, mega-sized restaurant has brought in car drivers by the hundreds. On the
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Places
LOULÉ
they have had a choice of parking spaces for many years. Until now. The opening of a new positive side, however, they are only a few steps away from the most amazing meal. www.simplyalgarvemag.com
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Places
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hose who know Loulé well will remember the circular car showroom (four-wheel drives with hefty price tags) that once sat on the road out of town towards what is now the industrial estate (no fast road then, no roundabouts, just a bumpy country-side route down to the traffic lights at Quatro Estradas). And they certainly will have shopped in the store that took over the premises, all things Chinese and some great bargains to be found. Well, that same Chinese family, the Wan Guis, upped sticks and moved closer to town by a few hundred metres to the even larger building owned by Anibal Madeira (that was where you went for everything kitchen, bathroom and tiling related), while hanging on to – what shall we call it – the round house.
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They had a plan you see, a long-held dream of a supersized restaurant that would serve the masses with a mouth-watering selection of the best in Far-Eastern and fusion food. Fast-forward a couple of years and that dream has become a reality, with a whacking great 900sqm eaterie that seats 300 people, is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, has 18 members of staff, and a never-ending flow of fresh dishes from the 100sqm kitchens. Let’s talk about building the dream first – before we get into the food and start tums rumbling at the thought. With the help of architect Susana Guerreiro from Quarteira, hoards of builders both Chinese and European, and shopfitters who understand the need for comfort and good looks, what was a vast space filled with metal shelving, plastic containers, and rails of clothing,
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has been reborn as a gleaming, glossy, brilliantlydesigned restaurant, skilfully divided into areas so you never feel you are sitting in the foodie equivalent of Grand Central Station. The whole environment is crisp and contemporary, quite unlike the usual shopping centre buffet bars. The lighting is stunning, and differs with each seating area, but it is over the impressive food tables, laden with delectable dishes, that it really does an amazing job. Okay, now let’s talk food. Lunch is €8.95 a head, dinner is €11.95. Kids from four to eight years old, are charged at €5.95, no matter how grown-up their appetite. And believe you me, with the choice of dishes on offer, the task is making the decision before you simply don’t have the room for more. Specialities each have their own area. Chicken cooked
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a dozen different ways, from the classically sauced to the crispy-skinned; seafood in all its splendour – sizzling prawns with spicy tomatoes, or deep-fried and battercoated for extra crunch, clams and mussels, crab and calamari. There are beef dishes, some worked with delicatelyshredded vegetables, others sautéed with herbs and spices, still more bathed in traditional sauces. There are lamb dishes, shiny little sausages, mini kebabs and pork cooked any number of ways. And there’s duck, all pink at the centre, and ready to be wrapped in paper-thin pancakes with all the trimmings. Noodles? You want noodles? Here it is not an either/ or of plain or Singapore, but thin ones, thick ones, simple ones, mild ones, hot ones, ones with vegetables or meat, or a mixture of the two; and an entire table
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Places of rice dishes. Talking about rice, sushi lovers are in for a treat, too, with a great selection of tempting little maki and uramaki rolls centered with spicy tuna or salmon, avocado and cucumber with slivers of crispy raw vegetables. Next is the counter of ready-to-be-cooked food: you take your plate, take your pick, and take yourself to the main counter where, with a twirl of the chopsticks, a chef will pop everything onto his gleaming hot plate, bring it to a sizzle, and hand it back to you. Soups. Yes. Salads. Yes. Al dente vegetables. Yes, yes, yes. And puddings galore, from cubes of wibbly-wobbly jelly to lychees in syrup, baked apples, cakes and mousses, fresh fruit and rice pudding. For €6.95 you can take it all away – or at least what you can cram into the box they’ll give you. And leftovers at the end of the night? So far, in the couple of weeks since Wok Loule has been open, there’s been very little there when the doors close at 11pm. And what there is, goes to the staff as their own takeaway! Worried about parking? A full house of diners could easily account for 100 cars. But with a choice of 18 carefully-priced, valuefor-money wines and five different beers, you may be better off taking a taxi there and back anyway. And that might just leave a bit of parking space for the flat dwellers nearby. Reservations recommended: 289 416 150
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Expats
Tales from an expat in Portugal Anthony Martin has discovered what it is like to be an armchair traveller. And not from the comfort of his own home, but from a wheelchair, with carers who do anything but! "Ps: My wheelchair experience was a one off. My sympathy goes to those who must rely on the service every time they fly."
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A
few weeks ago, I had to go back to London to renew my passport. Stupidly I left the renewal to the last moment and to renew online would have meant a four-week wait: no good if you’re travelling again in March. So, to London, the city in which I lived and enjoyed for six decades. To say it has changed would be an understatement and I found it quite incredible that I hear more English spoken in Almancil than I did in those few hours on the streets of central London. However, that’s not what this piece is about. For various reasons on this trip I needed special assistance and, as requested, arrived at Faro airport two hours before take-off. Check in was painless as I only had cabin baggage and was asked to take a seat nearby from where I would be collected. Five minutes later a charming girl arrived with a wheelchair, checked that I was indeed Senor Anthony, whisked me off to a separate security check area and then asked where I would like to go. As I now had an hour and a half to kill I opted for the lounge where she left me saying she would be back to pick me up in one hour. Great. I had a second breakfast, made some phone calls, read the morning paper and exactly at the designated time my escort arrived to take me to the gate. And yes, the front of the queue. Even the cabin crew had been briefed in advance; my carry-on bag was in the overhead locker before I got to my seat. Disembarking was equally smooth. Believe me, this is the only way to travel. Or that was what I thought on the outward leg. If only it had been so on the return journey. Arriving at the airport the requisite
two hours ahead of my flight, I made my presence known at the ‘assisted boarding’ area. This was situated just inside the airport doors, into which a gale was blowing, and closely resembled a sheep-pen. I, together with my fellow incapacitees, were ordered where to sit and told to wait until we were called. On the verge of huddling together for warmth (the sheep-pen analogy is more accurate than you may think) we patiently waited. Waited, and then waited some more. Sporadically, a name would be called, and a lucky passenger would be wheeled off. It appeared that the rule-of- thumb is; get ‘em in, check ‘em off and then wait until the last minute to move ‘em on - that way the chairs don’t clutter up the airport. I waited there for one hour, occasionally asking when my turn would come as I wanted something to eat and to visit duty-free. But this, however, made no difference as I was told we all had to wait our turn. When mine came, eventually, a kindly woman appeared who, I thought at the time, was hard of hearing, and couldn’t remember my name but constantly mixed me up with Darlin, Dear or Ducks (as in “ALRIGHT DUCKS?”). I wanted to go to Duty Free, but the raised voice shouted, “NO CHANCE, LOVE, GOTTA GET BACK”. I wanted something to eat but again was refused and was taken to the ‘special assistance station airside. Arriving at my second ‘sheeppen I asked my new shepherd if I could go to the lounge which was all of thirty meters away. This was when I realised that it was me that they thought was hard of hearing because I got a “NO DARLIN’, WE GOTTA HAVE YOU HERE AT 2:15”. I told her I would be here on time, as expected. “2:15 SWEETHEART. SHALL I
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WRITE IT DOWN FOR YOU?”. They obviously not only think we are deaf but also of limited ability. Why? Why, to some minds, do people in wheelchairs automatically become lesser beings? After grabbing a coffee and a croissant I got back in good time and my flock of six and I were wheeled into a lift to descend to the tarmac where the rain was horizontal. Here we were ordered out of the chairs and had to walk down a ramp and out into the wet and wind. Not a problem for me but certainly so for the lady with crutches and hand baggage. In front of us was a large truck with an extended platform at the back which we had to step on to and grab hold of a rail as it raised us up level with the rear of the truck. We were then herded inside and strapped into miniscule seats. And all the time being spoken at (note at, not to) by
excessively loud voices. It was only when I reached my seat on the plane that I was eventually treated like an ordinary human being. But then of course I was back on my own two feet, there wasn’t a wheelchair in sight therefore, I was one of them – normal. How unbelievably sad. This experience brought home to me two things. One, the truism “Treat others as you would wish them to treat you”. And the other, of my own invention: Get there early; forget the shops and duty free – if you can, walk it (you have at least an hour and a half to get to the gate) and only use ‘special assistance’ as a last resort or if you enjoy being humiliated. Ps: My wheelchair experience was a one off. My sympathy goes to those who must rely on the service every time they fly.
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People
ART FELT
Gillian Catto is a true specialist, a woman with an instinctive ability to recognise talent, to nurture potential and to advocate success. As a world-respected art dealer she has represented many fine names, and continues to attract the best. Exhibitions at her gallery in Loulé and the Conrad Algarve in Quinta do Lago are considered required viewing for the art cognoscenti. Asking the questions: Susi Rogol Goodkind
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et’s start at the beginning. Your London gallery; when did it open and was it your first adventure into the art world? The Catto Gallery opened in 1982. I specialised in 18th and 19th century watercolours but staged two or three exhibitions a year of contemporary watercolourists. I soon discovered that the public were more interested in those works, and within 18 months the gallery became a specialist in the field. You have to see where your market is and be prepared to move with it. Soon after this, I started representing oil and acrylic artists and also sculptors. The gallery was on its way to becoming one of the best known in London. Did you handle any famous names then and how did you source them? I first became involved in the star system when The Walt Disney Company approached me to put on an exhibition of animation. At first I declined, but when I saw that Disney Paris was opening, I decided to go for it. A tour of the Disney Studios in Los Angeles confirmed my interest and I went on to have a sell-out show; that a few surviving
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original Disney animators were there really added gravitas to the project. In fact, it went so well that I opened animation galleries in London, Paris and Munich. My next brush with Tinsel Town was when I was approached by Tony Curtis to stage an exhibition of his work. There are so many stories connected to this exhibition but the real synergy was with my father-in-law at the time, Max Catto, who had more books that were made into films than any other author. Trapeze was one of them, the movie that launched Tony Curtis into stardom – he, Tony, loved that connection. Tony was brilliant; the best raconteur I have ever met. He wanted to be known as a great artist rather than an actor – something I could not bring myself to tell him was never going to happen, even though his paintings were, like him, larger than life and full of colour. Amazingly, the first two works of his that were sold were bought by someone who did not have a clue that Tony Curtis was that Tony Curtis! I was then approached to show Tony Bennett, the singer, a water colourist who paints when he travels. We were so successful that he asked to do another show with me. On both
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Thomas Bossard
occasions he was singing at the Albert Hall and we were given the best seats. So what made you leave big city life behind and come to the Algarve? Ah, well. that would be a love story. My husband had died and I met an old boyfriend who I had not seen in 30 years, an English lawyer residing here for more than 25 years. I tried to run my London gallery from here but it proved impossible so I did a management buyout and The Catto Gallery London continues, but without me. Did you have the intention of opening a gallery here, or did you spot a niche in the market, and an audience whose tastes matched your own? No, but I soon hit a wall here. You see I don't drink – I have always been teetotal – and I don't play golf. That left me three options: 1. Go back to London; 2. Slit my wrists; 3. Open an art gallery. It was an easy decision. Test run – or straight into it? Yes, I did do a test run. Although
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I hate ‘pop ups’, I took over The Keys sales office in Quinta do Lago for six weeks and it was a great success. To do it, I had to have a company and VAT number and all the other legalities. When those six summer weeks were over I had a business but no home for it. Fate stepped in. Why Loule, rather than the heart of the golden triangle? I looked everywhere – galleries need space and they need a ‘café society… they need a heart. Almancil was not the right place; Quinta did not have a shop that was the right size; Loulé had what I wanted. I love this place – it has a history… and a very big heart. Do artists seek you out, or do you actively research the market to find new names to promote and established names that will promote you? Both. I really only represent artists that have a strong provenance. I have found a few artists in my time who have chanced their luck and come into the
gallery looking for representation. On the whole I have spent my gallery life creating a stable of fine artists and I am on the constant look out for new and exciting artists and sculptors. How big is your current gallery and at any one time what is the value of the works you hold there? The gallery is roughly 250 sqmetres and at the moment we have insurance in excess of one million euros on work held here. Your clients – how do they hear about ArtCatto? We opened here in 2011 so we have a known presence but, like any business, we rely on advertising and word of mouth to raise awareness. Are you a collector yourself, and what styles of art are your personal favourites? I have been collecting for years – mostly 17th and 18th century paintings. However, over the past few years I have been collecting more contemporary art. My personal
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People
favourites have to do with the journey of my life. I love them all for different reasons; they are family to me. And do you have a preferred medium? I don't have one really, different artists treat mediums in different ways. I do represent one of the finest egg tempera artist, Colin Fraser. Such a hard medium to use but his works are breath taking. Which exhibitions of yours has been the most successful to date and is success judged on the number of paintings you sell? Cristina Bergoglio, the Pope's great niece and Dom Pattison the urban artist – I have just purchased one of his paintings myself. There is always a demand for his work. Unfortunately when you run a business success equals sales. Explain how the whole thing works – who gets to choose which works from a particular artist go into a show? I work in a team. I have Antonio Lourenco and Freddie Ponte my cohorts. We decide together who, what and where. We have been working together for so long now that we seldom disagree and know what feels right. I could not run this gallery without them.
Jonty Hurwitz
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JĂźrgen Lingl - Rebetez
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People
Cristina Bergoglio Rumour has it you are moving gallery space. Where are you heading, why, and what does the new premises have to offer that is special? It is more than a rumour but not in stone yet - as you know, things move slowly here. We were offered the most beautiful building in Loulé ; my first reaction was to question why would I want to move five minutes down the road when I have spent years advertising where we are. Three months went by and I was asked again so I took another look at this building which is on three floors and will have a lift. I said “yes". It will be stunning. Can you paint yourself? Have you ever wanted to? If you asked my mother, who is nearly 101, she would say I could paint; the truth is I can't. I am good with my hands, I love computers and in the old days I would sew and knit . Who has time for that now? How do you judge potential for a successful showing? Is it pure instinct? No, although instinct gained through being in the business for so
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Orlanda Broom long is helpful. An artist has to be of a certain calibre, they have to know their craft. Think of Picasso. Look at his early work and it is evident the man knew how to draw and, as a result, could move through his different periods with skill. You can only be a clown on ice if you know how to skate. So yes, I have certain criteria which have to be met. If someone wanted to start collecting, what six pieces of advice would you give me. There is just one. Love the piece that you are buying and do not worry about investment. Last question. If you could personally own any painting of your choice – from impressionist to old masters, which single work would you choose? That’s an almost impossible question. I would take any Renoir, Klimt or Lautrec blind . I wish I had not answered that question … there are so many more. Price range €600 to €150,000, average price 6,000.
NOT TO BE MISSED:
29 March, Conrad: Tommaso Ottieri and Serge Baroteaux, evening launch party 6 April, Gallery: Colin Fraser and Shen Ming Cun June (date TBC), Conrad: Dom Pattinson and Jürgen Lingl-Rebetez September (date TBC), Conrad: James Frances Gill and Georg Scheele September (date TBC) Gallery: Carrie Graber and Ana Perpinyà
ART CATTO
Monday to Friday: 10:00 to 18:00 Saturday: By appointment Avenida José da Costa Mealha Nr 43, R/c 8100 – 500 Loulé +351 289 419 447 info@artcatto.com artcatto.com
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Follow the N125 West for Togofor-Homes, Vilamoura Foll Wes ow t Yell t for he N1 ow 25 Hom es
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Property
Property of the month A really unique, character rich, 5 bedroom rustic style property in the Central Algarve near the coast. Peaceful and private with country and partly sea views.
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PROPERTY DETAILS • Centrally located between Almancil and Vilamoura; • Unique and central location; • Complete privacy on a plot of 3,045m2; • Rustic style features throughout; • 3 X double en suite bedrooms on the ground floor; • 1 bedroom/1 bathroom plus large Atelier on the 1st floor; • 5 bathrooms (3x en suite); • Large living room with wood burner; • Dining room with covered outside space; • Palatial style room with a fountain and skylight; • Fully fitted and equipped kitchen; • wooden windows / wooden shutters; • Guest annex for extra 1 or 2 bedrooms; • EC class: F; • External covered dining area; • BBQ; • Carport; • Garage; • Electric entrance gates; • Large imposing entrance area with ample parking; • 12m x 5 m swimming pool; • Manicured and landscaped garden; • Borehole; • Fully walled and fenced
€1.150.000 Ref: R-SOA
YELLOW HOMES Land & Houses Algarve Real Estate Agent since 1995 Tel: +351 289 301 294 Email: info@yellowhomes.com www.yellowhomes.com EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime (opposite DHL)
AMI: 6232
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Property
Investing in
property Property expert Paul Greenhalgh advises us on the current property market.
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ith the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffering its biggest one day points loss in its 122-year history on Monday 5th February 2018 and stocks in Asia and Europe also taking huge hits in February – the volatility of the world stock market is exposed once again. With bank interest rates still offering pitifully low returns, investors are
continually looking at property as the favoured method for investments. The question of course is where should one invest? As reported in the "Illustrative Insights" newsletter, the credit rating agency DBRS states that "most European real estate markets have trended positively, posting a strong recovery following the dramatic collapse of the last ten years”. In its report it points to
GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS
SPACIOUS 3 /4 BED TOWNHOUSE WITH NICE GARDEN IN FERREIRAS ALBUFEIRA. This spacious and modern townhouse with communal pool is situated in a quiet location of Ferreiras.An excellent investment opportunity in a central location and perfect as a holiday home or for permanent residence. AMI: 6232 Price: €249.000 Ref: REC EC class 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
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notable improvements in Ireland (12 %), Portugal (10 %), the Netherlands (10%) and Spain (7%) with Italy being the only European country where the property sector continues to decline (- 1 %). In the United Kingdom, the DBRS highlights the challenges that are beginning to present themselves to the real estate industry due to Brexit and at a time when London is also showing the first signs of a slowdown. With the capital usually leading the property market trends within the country, things are not looking good for the rest of the UK. As has been reported in the Association of Estate Agents in Portugal (APEMIP), the Portuguese property market is continuing to improve with 2017 demonstrating that average property prices had climbed yet again. With an average of 400 properties per day being sold nationally, buyers are reacting in much greater numbers as confidence continues to grow. In 2017, the municipal tax on property purchases (IMT) earned the municipalities 851.2 million euros nationwide with this figure already surpassing the previous record of 839 million euros, collected in 2007. With property sales in Portugal showing no signs of slowing down the
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rating agency Fitch has predicted that prices in Portugal will grow in 2018 and 2019 at a rate of around 5% year on year. Great news for those looking to buy in Portugal right now. With just under 500 properties for sale in locations stretching the full length of the Algarve, Yellowhomes Land and Houses Algarve is well placed to give advice on all areas for property investment. All the
properties we have listed are personally visited by our sales teams allowing us to perfectly match the search criteria of buyers with the correct properties. In addition, each property we have listed is given to us directly from the owners allowing us the opportunity to negotiate directly between potential buyer and seller. To view our superb selection of properties for sale please visit our user friendly website at www.
GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS
yellowhomes.com. With properties being sold at quicker rates than any time in the last 10 years, we are more eager than ever to list quality properties or plots particularly around the areas of Loule, Almancil, Boliqueime, Vilamoura, Carvoeiro and Tavira. If you are considering selling your property or plot and would like to speak with a member of our team then please call us now on 289 301294 to make an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you soon.. Paul Greenhalgh Yellow Homes Land & Houses Algarve www.algarvepropertysearch.com www.algarve-portugal-immobilien. de Vilamoura Office EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime 8100 - 068 Boliqueime Tel: 289 301294, Fax: 289 301439
AMI: 6232
IMMACULATE 3 + 2 BEDROOM ATTACHED VILLA IN BOLIQUEIME. This stunning modern 283 m2 large property is situated in a closed condominium on the outskirts of Boliqueime and within walking distance from numerous restaurants, shops and a supermarket. Built in 2007. Ref: P-WKL / Price €270.000 EC class 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
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AMI 6232 Tavira Office Rua Dr. José Pires Padinha 178 8800 - 354 Tavira Tel: 281 320 281 Fax: 281 321 901 (AMI – 6232)
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People
Goodies from
grand houses
When a home-owner in the Golden Triangle decides to go minimalistic, what do they do with a houseful of fine furniture that won’t sit comfortably in their new all-glass environment? There’s only one man to phone, as Susi Rogol Goodkind discovered
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or some people, retirement in the sun has huge appeal. For Christopher O’Keefe it was never going to be an option. Not content with running one of the most prestigious villa rental businesses in the Algarve, Arcadia Luxury Villas, he spends much of his time going through other people’s property, and hauling off the best bits to a vast warehouse in Almancil. Why? Because he simply has a passion for tables and chairs, art and artefacts, sofas and sideboards, coffee tables and book shelves…. the list is never ending. His warehouse in Almancil is packed to the guns with more than a few treasures, the sorts of objets trouvé that any self-respecting interior decorator would fight to lay their hands on and their clients would love them for. Chris first came to the Algarve in 1971 and enjoyed regular family holidays here. Having spent many a year in
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Ireland, he was in the antiques business and as a side line ran a property company called Celtic Cottages, a popular pairing it would seem. In 2001, he and the family upped roots and moved here full time. He bought an old Quinta, and set about a total revamp, turning it into a wonderful family home, nestled in the Algarvean countryside. Chris’s brother Seamus was already established here having built up a successful property development business called Iberia Constructions. Content clients wanted their second homes managed by experts, and who better to do that than the antique aficionado himself. Arcadia Luxury Villas was born to provide a top quality service, and handling rentals was a natural follow-on. Today, Chris has around one hundred properties on his books – at the top end there’s a villa that can achieve a cool
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€25,000 a week, and one that boasts its own discotheque. A collector of collections But let’s get back to the armchairs, sideboards, and works of art now. While Chris’s team look after those holidaying here in style, the boss is busying himself with emptying out homes that come on the market for sale or redevelopment. “I’ve always liked collecting furniture and antiques, and when clients move or renovate, I am often their first point of call,” he says. Is it one great big clear out or does he pick and choose? “I am selective. I can recognise what is saleable, what would be in demand, what’s in keeping with trends.” He is also hugely generous, and passes stuff on to various charitable organisations. Of course having a certain type of client makes all the difference. While you and I would stick an unwanted table on a local buy-and-sell website, Chris is dealing
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with high-end clients, and their equally high-end chattels. Premiership footballers have happily handed over the keys so Chris’s vans can collect some pretty wild and wonderful pieces that carry a hefty value not just because of their previous ownership but because they are quite removed from the everyday. Extraordinary, oversized statement stuff. The sort of thing you would see in the background of a hello! photoshoot. I fell in love with a metal coffee table. Really in love. Just as well it was enormous – larger than an emperor bed – so I settled for a wonderful curvy console table is heavy wood, which will get the shabby-chic treatment and verdigrised. There is plenty in the warehouse to tempt your wallet out of your pocket. Aside from the extraordinary or eclectic, there are bargains galore, outdoor as well as indoor furniture that, with just a bit of TLC, will emerge
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People
as a star find. And there are sofas that Chris has recognised as top-notch, original Ercol pieces for example, that are fashion-right must-haves which he has had beautifully upholstered. Those are the finds that go fast. “Everyone is looking for a bargain,” he says, “but there are people who appreciate the sort of quality, fine-name pieces that you can’t find produced commercially these days.” Has Chris himself ever fallen for a particular item and taken it home with him? “All the time, “ he confesses, “that’s my problem.” And his dream customer? “Someone who would exchange their classic cars for my furniture,” he says. “Seriously, though, it is lovely to see some of the younger generation interested in second-hand furniture and antiques – the sort of things that may have sat proudly in their grandparents home.” Got something to selI? Want to find that something special for yourself? You can reach Chris on 916 212 392 and make an appointment to visit his treasure trove.
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CAPE GARDENS info@cape-gardens.com 289 397 165
Design | Construction | Maintenance www.simplyalgarvemag.com
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Finanace
The latest currency news. Keep up to date with our currency expert Chantelle, Client Account Executive at Currencies Direct.
"Any Brexit related news is liable to be the driving force behind pound exchange rate movement over the next few weeks."
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peculation that the European Central Bank (ECB) will remain dovish on the subject of monetary policy for the foreseeable future has countered the impact of a run of positive Eurozone data over the last few weeks. However the euro is still standing firm against rivals like the pound and US dollar. After getting off to a fairly positive start to the year, the pound failed to sustain its initial momentum and has reversed gains against a number of the majors. Demand for the pound eased on concerns that government disagreements will have a negative impact on Brexit negotiations. Investors were also concerned as EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier intimated that the UK achieving a transitional deal after Brexit should not be taken for granted. Brexit worries prevented the pound from deriving much benefit from the Bank of England (BoE) indicating that rates could rise sooner than currently forecast at its first policy gathering of 2018. The Federal Reserve increased interest rates in December 2017, but the move had been so long expected that it failed to boost the US dollar. In fact, USD exchange rates actually softened as the Fed implied that interest rates would only be raised a further three times in 2018 rather than the four times hoped for. WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR Any Brexit related news is liable to be the driving force behind pound exchange rate movement over the next few weeks. UK data will also be of interest, as any reports which reduce the chances of the BoE increasing interest rates in 2018 will put the pound under pressure. Italy will be taking to the polls in March and most experts expect the election to result in a coalition government, with Silvio Berlusconi’s conservative alliance projected to take the biggest share of votes. The impact this would have on the euro largely depends
on which parties Berlusconi allies himself with. If Berlusconi opts for Matteo Salvini, the euro would be pressured lower thanks to his opposition to the single currency and preference for returning to the lira. The US dollar remained on soft form for much of January, although the currency has since recovered from its worst levels against the pound. The Fed is forecast to increase borrowing costs at its March gathering, and if it indicates that a further three adjustments could be made over the rest of the year we could see the US dollar jump.
For more information, please contact Chantelle at the Almancil office of Currencies Direct on 289 395 739 or alternatively visit their website on www. currenciesdirect.com/portugal and register to get regular updates on the currency markets, (please mention Simply Algarve magazine as a referral point).
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Currency savings are best enjoyed poolside. Sit back and beat the banks from the comfort of your sun lounger.
Paul Currencies Direct customer since 2013, Watch his story at currenciesdirect.com/Paul
• Bank-beating exchange rates* • Fee-free transfers • No hidden charges Contact us today to start making great savings.
Get in touch - Algarve Ave 5 de Outubro, No 246 Almancil, Portugal, 8135-103
+351 289 395 739 algarve@currenciesdirect.com currenciesdirect.com/portugal
*Fees and exchange rate data for banks taken from the International money transfer index™ (imti™). Currencies Direct Ltd is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Service Regulations 2009 (FRN 504360) for the provision of payment services.
PO16171EN – Simply Algarve advert – Dec 16 v2.indd 1
19/12/2016 17:22
BRITISH STYLE AUCTION HOUSE
• Direct Sales • Business and House Clearances
Direct sales, Business and house clearance service, online catalogue, & Monthly Auctions! Free valuations and Monthly Auctions!
• Free Valuations • Online Catalogue
General Auctions Plus Antiques and Collectables General auctions are held on the 1st Saturday of the month and Start at 10:00 am.Viewings on the Thursday and Friday before the Auction between 09:00 and 17:00.
WANTED! ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE JEWELLERY AND HALLMARKED STERLING SILVER.
FURTHER DETAILS OF ALL AUCTIONS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE
Do you have antique and vintage jewellery you would like to sell? Have you got some hallmarked sterling silver items you no longer want? These items are creating a lot of interest at Auction at the moment and are achieving realistic prices.
WWW.AHALGARVE.COM
Why not give us a no obligation call to discuss what you may like to sell? We offer honest valuations and free advise to all potential sellers.
Open: Mon - Fri 09:00 - 14:00pm Sat: Open Auction days Email: valuations@ahalgarve.com Office: 289 832 380 Tel. Mark: 914 774 438 Sitio do Besouro, Conceição, Faro
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Finance
IRS Tax Return 2018: frequently asked questions Keep up to date with our Finance expert, chartered accountant Ricardo Chaves from All Finance Matters.
"From 2018, all IRS tax returns are exclusively submitted on-line, so if you don’t have yet a password to access the tax portal, it’s important to request one per each tax payer."
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T
he IRS delivery time will begin on the 1st of April and will run until the end of May. So now it’s that time of the year, when we need to clarify some of the questions you may have concerning this important task. In which form can I submit my IRS tax return in Portugal? From 2018, all IRS tax returns are exclusively submitted on-line, so if you don’t have yet a password to access the tax portal, it’s important to request one per each tax payer. As the tax website is only in Portuguese this may be a difficult task if you don’t understand the language, ask your accountant to get this for you. When do I need to submit my IRS tax return in Portugal? All IRS tax returns, independent of the type of income earned, need to be submitted from the 1st of April until the 31st of May. What is the period covered in my Portuguese IRS tax return? The tax year in Portugal is the same as the civil year, so you declare the income from 1st of January 2017, until 31st of December 2017. Who needs to fill an IRS tax return in Portugal? All the tax residents and or the non-residents that earned income from Portuguese source need to submit the IRS tax return. The exceptions are for residents that have earned only salaries or pensions, from Portuguese source, lower than 8.500€ per year, and when there wasn’t any tax deducted on source, and or in case they received alimony income up to 4.104€. Do I fill a joint return with my partner or a single one each? You may choose to do it either way, so it’s important to ask your accountant to simulate the two scenarios and see what is more advantageous to you. What happens if I forget to file a return or do
it incorrectly? It’s important to be aware that the fines for non-compliance with the dates, can be very high. Fines can go from 37.50€ to 112,50€ for a delay of 30 days. However depending on the type of missconduct, mainly fraud, fines go from 375€ to 22.500€. I’m non-resident, do I need to submit a return? First of all, are you sure that you are nonresident? Do you have a fiscal representative? If not, where do you receive your IMI council tax bills? If you receive them at your property in Portugal, then most likely you are resident for tax purposes in Portugal. If you are nonresident, then you will only submit a IRS return in Portugal, if you have income from Portuguese source (this includes property rental or property sale even if you haven’t made a capital gain). I arrived in Portugal last year, do I need to submit a return? In the first year of residency, you need to submit a tax return for the period you were in Portugal (from … to 31-12-2017). The same happens to all those that stopped being Portuguese residents in 2017, they need to submit a tax return from 01-01-2017 until the date they left. What happens if I have to submit tax returns in more than one country and the information is not ready before the end of May? If for any reason you don’t have all the information required to submit the tax return in Portugal by the end of May, you may submit a request in the tax portal, to allow you to submit the tax return until the end of December of the current year. When do I need to pay my IRS? After submitting your tax return the tax authorities will validate your declaration and you will receive a tax bill in the post, giving you 30 days to pay. Please note that if you intend to be away during the warmer months and don’t have a fiscal representative to receive
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your bills, you will incur in monthly interest charges and penalties, if paying out of date. Some suggestions to make your IRS this year a stress-free task We strongly advise our customers to prepare everything ahead of time, in order to complete this process smoothly: PASSWORD: Make sure you and your partner have a password to access the Tax Portal. If you do not have one, request a new one immediately; COPY OF ID AND NIF: For you, your partner and any dependents you may have; DECLARATIONS OF INCOME: Gather the statements of income and withholding taxes; BANK ACCOUNT: Your IBAN will be necessary to include on your IRS return and will make any tax refund much quicker. CGT:
om fr s n 5 Mi lé Lou
if you have sold a property in 2015, make copies of the deeds (for purchase and for sale) and gather invoices for the real estate commission and home improvements. These can be deducted against any capital gain tax. Remember if you have a resident status but your income was earned abroad, you have to deliver along with the tax return the ‘J’ Annex which discriminates the values received abroad. There are taxation agreements in place between Portugal and several countries to avoid double taxation, so the impact this will have on your IRS will depend on several factors. If you are registered as a nonhabitual resident, don’t forget you will need to fill in the Annex L and also include the IBAN information on all your bank accounts abroad. And remember, we can assist you with all this bureaucracy, please feel free to book an appointment with us and avoid any late submission fines. Contact 912 448 103
We buy and sell high quality furniture.
An enjoyable shopping experience with amazing choices at affordable prices. Why go anywhere else. Bedroom - Dining room - Lounge - Garden - Office - Kitchenware - Lighting - Soft Furnishings - Pictures - Mirrors - Objets d’art OPEN MONDAY - FRIDAY, 10:00AM - 17:00PM TEL: 289 395 197 OR VISIT WWW.HOUSE2HOUSE.PT
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SHOPALONG N ot all the shops have opened their doors yet at the long-awaited Designer Outlet complex and that’s possibly a good thing – especially to those who cannot resist a special find and the opportunity to save as much as 70 per cent on an item they would happily have paid full price for had they seen it elsewhere. Fancy a fancy bag? Spanish high-fashion house Bimba Y Lola has divine dress-up clutches at €92, reduced from €295 and a great selection of cute little zip-up wallets for around €20. Their separates collection is young, fresh and adventurous and there’s plenty to choose from at what seems like crazy prices. More fab bags are part of the offering at Purificacion Garcia, (Puri to its legion of fans) another Spanish label
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and one that is known for delivering a twist on the classics. Reckon on saving a highly-attractive 50% – minimum! In the store right now are cropped Chanel-style jackets in soft checkered tweed, tunic tops in brilliant colours and striking prints, and perfectly-cut palazzo pants that are great for on-the-terrace entertaining. Amanda Holden (not that Amanda Holden), of Vale d’Eguas, went to look and came out beaming – and with more than a few bags: “I love to shop at Purificacion Garcia. I bought a fabulous fringed long waistcoat that goes over dresses and jeans. And a fab stripy shirt for Mr H. They were under half price!” Narrow jackets, sweaters cut close to the body, and great-looking slim-line shirts what this iconic house has ready and waiting for the fashion-forward fella. There’s nowhere to stop for a coffee or glass of vinho
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Places
Go to Designer Outlet at the Mar Shopping Centre in Loule, and there is no question about it, you will leave laden with bags full of wonderful bargains. Susi Rogol Goodkind sets out to spend.
or a snack in the Designer Outlets which leaves more time to cruise the shops. (Though there are plenty of eateries in Mar itself, including the four chefs designer foodie section that is certainly worth a lunchtime trip – divine home made pasta in particular). Pick up a bright-coloured wheelie at Samonsite – or black if you don’t want to get noticed – there’s 20%-40% savings across every range. Now you can shop more, and have less to carry! THE CHOICE IS HUGE Of course, no shopping centre, bargain priced or otherwise, could do without the big names in sportswear, and here they are huge (the floor space as well as the labels!). A vast Adidas is packed with rails of the latest kit, while Pepe Jeans, Puma and Ericeira Surf and Skate compete for
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attention from those in search of the fashion-led must-have trainers and track suits. The high street chains are here, too, like Calzedonia and Intimissimi, Springfield and Desigual all set to capture a slice of your fashion spend. In all, there are more than 50 outlet stores – all leading brands with their own sense of style and brand personality. Decenio men’s section has sweaters in more than a dozen colours and every conceivable variation on the classic shirt (okay, so that shop alone had me waving my credit card for a purchase designed to placate the other half when he saw my mounting number of receipts!). My friend Jennifer bought her bloke not one but two sweaters, and got taken out for a very smart dinner as the result. (Bloke did not realise she’d paid less for each than the price of a main course in the restaurant of his choice.) And then
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there is Timberland. And Lion of Porches. And Rockport, where Jonathan Gee bought virtually the same shoes as the pair he had bought full price in Algarve Shopping just a few months earlier. But it is not just fashion that is pulling in an appreciate audience. There is much for the home. And Home is the very appropriate name for a store lined with gleaming frying pans of every shape and size and finish, shiny cutlery and kitchen gadgets, wonderful electrical things, and Rowenta (a key brand in the shop) with its own, well-priced answer to Mr Dyson’s stick vacuum. PRATO DO DIA The big Vista Alegre outlet is where to stock up not only on essentials like frosted glass platters and china of every description, but also on over-sized pots and pans (back to Samsonite for another wheelie); oversize really means what it says on the label here, so just think of all that room inside for those irresistible little gift items (buy now and keep for Christmas gift-giving?) that will not make a dent on your shopping budget. Need sunglasses? A new watch? How about a fine cotton duvet cover, and a pair of cosy warm pyjamas? It’s all here. At crazy prices. And not just for the occasional Black Friday or Miserable Monday clear-it-out sale, but every day, all year round. Open till late.
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Places
WHO IS THERE
The people behind the operation know exactly what they are doing, and what will result in happy customers, and happy shop owners. The Designer Outlet Algarve is the first in Europe to be integrated with a store (IKEA), a shopping mall and an outdoor leisure area. A joint venture between IKEA and Mutschler Outlet Holding, it is under the managementof Vienna-based ROS Retail Outlet Shopping, whose founders, Thomas Reichenauer and Gerhard Graf, boast a portfolio that includes designer outlets across eastern Europe and new developments in Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain and Croatia.
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FASHION Ana Sousa Benetton Bimba y Lola Calvin Klein (coming soon) Casa das Pelas Cortefiel Decenio Desigual Festina Fifty Factory Garcia Jeans Guess Lacoste Lion of Porches Pepe Jeans Puificacin Garcia Sacoor One (coming soon) Sacoor Outlet (coming soon) Spaccio Suits Inc Tiffosi Timberland Under Blue ACCESSORIES Be on Time Festina Geox Respira Gucci Eyewear Michael Kor Eyewear Multi Opticas
Ray-Ban Rockport Samsonite Seaside Sunglasses Hut Tumi SPORTSWEAR Adidas Ericeira Surf and Skate Puma UNDIES CK Underwear (coming soon) Calzedonia Triumph Intimissimi KIDS Charanga PERFUME AND COSMETICS Douglas Perfumes & Companhia The Body Shop HOME Home & Cook Lameirinho Textura Vista Alegre
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Gardening
MEDITTERANEAN GARDENS:
A WATERWISE
H
ere in the Algarve we are beginning the spring planting season faced by a situation of “severe drought” (Instituto do Mar e do Atmosfera), due to the scarce rainfall of the past autumn and winter. This lack may have been due to cyclical variations or to the effect of global climatic change, but whatever the reason, as gardeners we need to confront this challenge, and make positive changes in our gardening practices in order to help in the preservation of precious water. Our most pro-active and immediate response lies in our choice of new plants for this season. Species native to Mediterranean areas world-wide are the best performers in surviving the summer drought period normal to our climate, when despite becoming dormant, they still provide
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well-defined structure, saving their flowering period for autumn and spring, and offering a variety of groundchoices which enable us to reduce the water-hungry areas of lawn. When well planned, Mediterranean gardens have no dead period. As we also have some of the highest levels of solar radiation and light intensities on earth, we need plants which have evolved to survive such levels of stress, using strategies such as glossy, thick leaves and spines. HOW NATIVE-DROUGHT-TOLERANT PLANTS SURVIVE Over 90% of a plant’s total weight consists of water, and is essential to it’s life. Mediterranean natives maintain balance through their own combination of adaptations to a low supply of water, soil and nutrients. By reduced transpiration they can survive with little or no water
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We are beginning the spring planting season faced by a situation of “severe drought” (Instituto do Mar e do Atmosfera), due to the scarce rainfall of the past autumn and winter.
APPROACH other than winter rainfall. In response to the continuous stress under which these plants evolved, annual increase in growth is slow, but the result is uniform size and shape with compact growth and a cushion form being characteristic. Evergreen leaves are often hard and spiny, reducing water loss by adaptations which cool the surface, felty or dense spiny covers. When silvery, they also act as reflectors of light. Succulents are amongst the most successful plant families in this climate, storing water efficiently in thickened stems, leaves, or roots, and hardening the skin to seal it in. WATER-WISE PLANNING In the Mediterranean garden, “groundcover” is a basic necessity. Evergreen vegetation retains soil, protecting it
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from dehydration. The resulting soil humidity encourages a healthy soil life, stimulation vigorous growth. A lush plant cover cools the atmosphere, and trees and climbers surrounding your house cool the mid-summer days and nights. Use trees to create shade, reduce irrigation, cut down winds, and absorb pollution and dust. Mature trees can reduce summer temperatures in residential areas by 5-10ºC! And their dappled intermittent sunlight over midday and the afternoon benefits all plants. LAWNS One of the most important ingredients of water-saving gardens in minimal lawn area. Lawns are intolerant of prolonged exposure to sun, and use more than 70% of the water applied to most gardens. Lawns should be kept for the areas where families spend their time; to sit, eat and
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Gardening
play. For these areas, use new, hardier grass varieties, slowgrowing, deep rooted, with low water needs. The best site for a lawn is under tall trees’ moving shade. As mowing height greatly affects water retention, let the grass grow longer as heat increases. LAWN ALTERNATIVES Evergreen, low-lying foliage plants, single species planted in large patches, can provide a tranquil alternative to grass. Large open spaces can be broken up by groundcovering vines, shrubs, or constructions like pergolas. Paving, shading by a tree or arbour, can be used to provide easily maintained sitting space. Wooden decking is a Californian-style alternative. POSITIONING PLANTS In our climate, position affects plant growth. All gardens possess widely differing sites, each with its own character: heat on southern facing walls, cooler sites under tree shade, permanently windy spots. Understand your gardens micro climates to choose the correct planting sites, matching them carefully with the shade or sun demands of a particular plant. Plant to the East of existing trees and shrubs to avoid damaging afternoon sunlight and use north facing slopes and walls for plants which need a cool root-run. And reserve the hottest locations for plants from South Africa’s Cape region, they love it! MULCH The greatest importance of mulch lies in the restoration
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of the usually damaged humus content in Mediterranean soils. Its major importance is in the retention of water and nutrient content, activating and feeding the soil life which works the ground, helping it to absorb rain easily and permitting winter rains to accumulate as an important water reserve in the subsoil. Mulch retains this reservoir for a long time by reducing surface evaporation. As bedrock with little soil is a frequent feature in our area, mulch helps to build up top soil over the years, applied in a layer at least 10-15cm deep, it needs to be replenished annually, ideally after the rainy season when soil water content is maximal. IRRIGATION Irrigation should be limited to plants that would not survive without it. Although we may plan for a completely drought-tolerant garden, we may still need some water to irrigate vegetables or containers. Remember that plants require water when in active growth. Since watering has become necessary with this winter’s prolonged drought, apply it early before the midday sun evaporates it. In summer, give deep night irrigation to encourage deeper root growth and save water. Remember that many droughttolerant Mediterranean plants resent summer water which may drown their dormant inactive roots. In the first year of planting, drought tolerant plants require 1-4 monthly waterings. During the second season and thereafter some will need a thorough watering only once a month, while others can already do without. Established well-tended
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plants look after themselves, watch the leaves: if they lose their gloss or turn limp, if the top growth folds over, water is needed. Remember to water slowly, giving time for water to penetrate and avoiding runoff, also avoid wetting the leaves and stems of drought tolerant plants, felty leaf surfaces cannot function when soggy. HOW TO CHOOSE DROUGHTTOLERANT PLANTS A plant’s ability to thrive in a harsh environment is only one factor to take into consideration when selecting plants for water-saving gardens. Their overall landscaping potential is also extremely important. Their structural and flowering features and attractive foliage deserve high priority. The Lentiscs (Pistacia lentiscus, Pistacia atlanticus) perform brilliantly under the burning summer sun, with shinning bright green leaves and scarlet autumn berries, as does the Bay, Myrtle and Oleander, Arbutus unedo, Viburnum tinus, and all Citrus varieties. Trees like the Carob, Olive and both local oaks: Quercus ilex and Quercus suber, though slow growing develop into wonderful s h a d e trees, while the Platanus orientalis keeps its deep green leaves throughout the hottest days. The local palm, Chaemerops humilis, comes in a beautiful blue green variety as well as its traditional Barrocal green, and both grow into fountains of fan shaped leaves quite quickly given proper attention. Flowering plants from other Mediterranean climates worldwide include the blue Agapanthus lily from South Africa, the generous Pandorea jasmoinides from Australia, a vigorous climber whose bright pink trumpet shaped flowers bloom lavishly all summer and is only equalled in vigour by the Podreana ricasoliana from South Africa, another fast growing climber which flowers continuously from March till summer’s end. Other well know Mediterranean beauties are the Echium with its blue spires, beloved of bees, all varieties of Lavandula, and, of course, rosmarinus officinalis, which has a prostrate
variety providing scented and long flowering ground cover for the most exposed areas. Last but very important, never forget the Succulent family, especially all varieties of Aloes, whose flowers are the first to loom at winters end, and also the many types of Agavaceae, the most drought tolerant of all, with their dramatic sword shaped leaves, spectacular flowers, and easy propagation. And finally, the Aeoniums, those amazing succulents which withdraw into sculptural tubular structures all summer only to explode into umbrellas of apple green or rust red rosettes at the first rains, followed by spikes of chrome yellow blossoms. There are many more plants, from all the different Mediterranean areas of the world, which will tolerate the increasingly harsh temperatures and low winter rainfall which we have begun to experience here in the Algarve. It is worth remembering that over 50% of all endemic Mediterranean plants are threatened or rare. Focusing on native species in your garden from now on will benefit their survival, as well as adding beauty and longevity to your garden itself. Credit: www.cape-gardens.com info@cape-gardens.com
CAPE GARDENS
DESIGN |CONSTRUCTION | MAINTENANCE www.cape-gardens.com
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info@cape-gardens.com
289 397 165
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Sports
SPORTS NEWS G
VOLTA AO ALGARVE THRILLING FINISH
eraint Thomas missed out on a third Volta ao Algarve title on the last stage of a race won by Team Sky colleague Michal Kwiatkowski. Welshman Thomas, who went into the final stage with a 19-second lead, finished second overall. Kwiatkowski won the 44th Tour of the Algarve thanks to a perfect tactical move by the team on the fifth and final stage from Faro to the top of Malhão, Loulé. Polish rider Kwiatkowski covered the 173.5 kilometres final stage in 4h18m02s at an average speed of 40.344 km/h. The final stage came hard on the heels of the previous day’s 200kms leg between Almodôvar and Tavira. Also on the fifth stage podium was Portugal’s own Rúben Guerreiro (Trek-Segafredo) who finished second. Englishman Ben Swift (UAE Team Emirates) finished the final leg in ninth place.
PORTIMONENSE PLAY WITH PANACHE
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C Portimonense fans fears that their team were heading for the lower reaches of the Primeira Liga were firmly dispelled with three victories – Rio Ave (home) 4-1; Marítimo (away in Madeira) 3-0 and Feirense (away) 3-1. All this, after failing to win since November and losing two of their better players in the January transfer window. The 3-1 home defeat by Benfica was no disgrace with Portimonense holding the reigning champions at 1-1 until thirteen minutes from time. A main contributor to the Portimão team’s success has been top scorer Fabrício who bagged a hat-trick against Rio Ave. The 27 year-old Brazilian was on loan at Kashima Antlers (Japan) last season and, on his return, has firmly established himself as a crowd favourite with six goals in those three important victories. Fabrício was voted the Primeira Liga best midfielder for January and was presented with the award at the home game against FC Porto
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Brought to you by Chris Wright.
SIX NATIONS RUGBY
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f England retain the trophy and beat Ireland at Twickenham on St Patrick’s Day 17th March, then some of that success will no doubt be attributed to their pretournament training camp in the Algarve. For the fourth time since October 2016, England RFU returned to Browns Sports & Leisure Club in Vilamoura. The resort was not new to England's senior squad, having previously stayed there pre-world cup in 2007 and ahead of the Six Nations 2009.
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WALKING BACK TO HAPPINESS
hirteen teams of Over 50 year-old ageing footballers will compete in the Albufeira Walking Football Cup, organised by Algarve Football Tours who bring thousands of players from abroad to the region every year. The venue for the third annual event is Estádio Nora, Ferrieras, Albufeira on the 19th & 20th March. Sheffield United, Oxford United, Brackley Saints (Northamptonshire) and a UK Select Team will join Silver Coast Strollers (Costa de Prata, Portugal), Bellavista Strollers (Lagos), Browns Sports Club (Vilamoura), East Algarve Walking Football (Tavira) and last year’s returning champions EAWF Soccer Olhanense Strollers. Thousands of older men across Europe have rediscovered the joys of playing football again through a sport that makes the basic elements of a match accessible to them by slowing the game down. Walking football, which is supposed to involve a free kick every time a player runs, was only invented seven years ago and first appeared in the Algarve at Olhão some three years ago. The pace of walking football may be more leisurely, but the game is still fiercely competitive. In addition the camaraderie and social events have brought a whole new dimension to the sport. Fun, fitness and friendship are key words. www.algarvefootballtours. com www.walkingfootballalgarve.com
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Golf PRO TIPS
Golf
Richard Hudson and Eddie Charnock, Algarve Golf Guru, PGA Golf Professionals share their top tips on playing the signature 7th hole at Vila Sol.
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he par 3, 7th Hole is a Signature Hole at Vila Sol that has so many great features, from the Mens tee it measures 162mtrs/178yrds and from the Ladies tee 125mtrs/137yrds. The tee shot is downhill over a beautiful lake into a large two tier green, framed by two bunkers. The green slopes steeply from back to front which helps the ball to stop for those golfers hitting longer clubs into the green. When looking at this difficult Par 3 you have to take into account the Atlantic breeze which greatly effects this elevated tee shot and is not always noticeable. On this Signature hole, club selection is about as difficult as it gets when playing Vila Sol. The best advice we can
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offer is to choose half a club more than you think and commit fully to the shot. Having watched many handicap amateurs play this hole the tendency is to try and hit the club they have chosen too hard which usually ends with a pull into the bunker left or a complete miss hit into the water short. A par on this hole feels like a birdie! If you would like to contact the duo for lessons or any other golf needs, find them on their website: www. algarvegolfguru.com Email sales@algarvegolfguru.com and make sure to mention Simply Algarve as a point of refferal.
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Classifieds
CLASSIFIED ADS! The Simply Algarve magazine now has a free classifieds section for our readers. Please send your small free ads to Design@simplyalgarvemag.com before the 16th Febuary to be included in the next issue! FOR SALE TOYOTA Land Cruiser 2.5 Turbo Diesel, 3 Door, Left Hand Drive 293,000 Km Portuguese Registered Price 8,600 euro Contact: 926 747967 email: greenrivercompany@gmail.com
ART CLASS Every Thursday morning 10 – 12.30pm at ASCA Almancil. Complete beginners welcome. All mediums covered. 12 Euros. Contact Tracy 289489174.
Buganvilia Plaza, Quinta do Lago 35m2 shop / office for rent. Ground floor, front row, middle unit with large display windows. Directly facing the main VDL to QDL road. Available February 2018. Call: 962 115 133
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FOR SALE: Mens Golf Clubs Ping G5 4-LW great condition with matching bag. 966 044 143
Art by Alyson Sheldrake. Original Acrylic Paintings for sale, Pet and House Portraits all at affordable prices. Alyson is an Algarve-based artist available for Commissions. alyson@artbyalysonsheldrake. com PT mobile: 912027256 www.artbyalysonsheldrake.com
ENTERTAINMENT FOR RESTAURANTS, BARS AND HOTELS. We specialize in Sixties Music but we offer Karaoke as an option. Please contact Richy on 966 006 436 or see www.richybassett.com. FOR SALE: German built 2 bed wooden house. Moncarapacho. â‚Ź40,000: 964588666 ALL YOUR SOLAR NEEDS! Expert in solar solutions, we will beat any quote in the Algarve, finance available! Contact info@solarpanels4u.com
Artist and Teacher Karen Wride at First Class Art. Oil painting and drawing lessons in small, friendly classes for beginners to advanced. See my work exhibited in Galleria Corte Real and Galleria de Arte, Lagoa www.karenwride.com www.first-class-art.com
Europe's Best Golf Venue *Membership prices for anual subscriptions.