SIMPLY
ALGARVE ISSUE NO. 41 SEPTEMBER 19
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Contents
RICHARD BASSETT
JAKE BASSETT
SUSI ROGOL-GOODKIND
DENIS O’LEARY
PUBLISHER Richard Bassett
4 WORTH KNOWING News, views, and some very good ideas
8 FADO Portugal’s intangible cultural heritage
12 DISCOVERING THE ALENTEJO A journey that will excite, entance, enthrall
EDITOR Susi Rogol-Goodkind +351 965 581 831 susi@rogol-goodkind.com ART DIRECTOR Jake Bassett +351 966 044 143 simplyalgarvemag@gmail.com
18 FROZEN MOMENTS The images that capture the brief
20 SOUNDS SURPRISING Things that go bleep in the night
CONTRIBUTORS Anthony Martin Brian Redmond Carolyn Kain Chris Partridge Chris Wright John Evans José Almeida Ricardo Chaves Richard Hudson Robert Bijker Russell Newton Selina Periampilla
22 PROPERTY UPDATE Why a real estate lawyer is a must-have
24 PAWTFOLIO PIECES The perfect pet portraits
26 BERLIN BEAUTIES Mari Arp and her luscous ladies
30 RECIPE OF THE MONTH Selina Periampilla’s sunshine flavours
33 WHY ARE YOU HERE? John Evans plays at retirement
34 GET A LIFE What you didn’t know about recharging batteries
36 A BUNCH OF THE BEST Anniverseries and the flowers to go with them
40 GADGETS & GIZMOS Smart phone cameras, there’s never enough
43 FINANCE Brexit - putting protection in place
45 MONEY MATTERS Your finance questions answered
ADVERTISING Denis O’Leary denisoleary48@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION 6,000 copies monthly, distributed via 100+ quality retailers, shopping centres, restaurants and more within the central Algarve region.
46 NOT TO BE MISSED Our guide to really special events All rights reserved. Except for normal review purposes, no part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the contents are only meant as a guide to readers. The proprietors of this magazine are publishers not agents or sub agents of those who advertise therein. The publisher cannot be held liable for any loss suffered as a result of information gained from this publication. Unipessoal Lda
51 RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH L’Auberge in Cruz da Assumada is a treat
52 GOLF Why posture makes for a better swing
53 SPORTS NEWS Where it is all happening
54 LAST WORD www.simplyalgarvemag.com
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News
WORTH KNOWING 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 ALGARVE HAS 22 NOMINEES IN THE 2019 PUBLITURIS’ TRAVEL AWARDS
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he 17 hotels and tourist resorts, four golf courses, and the Algarve Tourism Region, nominated in this year’s Publituris Portugal Travel Awards 2019, will learn if they have walked away with the coveted winner titles later this month when results are announced on 17 September in Cascais. Widely regarded as the Oscars of the tourism industry, recipients are justly proud of their achievement. The Algarve dominates many of the categories, especially the Best Beach Hotel, in which five of the seven finalist nominees are in the Algarve region. Candidates up for the award are Bela Vista Hotel & Spa, Praia da Rocha; Epic Sana Algarve, Albufeira; Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort, Sagres; Suites Alba Resort & Spa, Albandeira, Lagoa; and Vila Joya, Galé. The Algarve also dominates in the Best Hotel Resort, with Cascade Wellness Resort, Lagos; Conrad Algarve, Quinta do Lago; Pine Cliffs, Albufeira; and Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa, Alporchinhos, as well as the Family Hotel Resort and Golf Course categories. Last year’s winners included Vila Vita Parc in Lagoa as Best Resort Hotel; the Salgados Palm Village in Albufeira as Best Family Resort Hotel; Vila Joya, as Best Beach Hotel in Portugal; the Onyria Palmares Beach & Golf Resort in Lagos as Best Golf Course, a title it has won seven times in a row. You can get involved and register to vote online at premios. publituris.pt/travel/2019/
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS IN PORTUGAL
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op these into your phone – and the phones of family members and visiting friends: Emergency services: 112 Fire: 117 Information services: 118 Report cruelty to animals: 217 654 242 Maritime and search & rescue: 214 401 919 Childrens helpline: 217 931 617 Domestic violence helpline: 800 202 148
Conrad Algarve
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ADVANCE NOTICE... CHARITY FASHION SHOW
et this in your diary now, Florentinta is staging another charity fashion show, next month, a lunchtime event on Saturday 26 October at Monte Quinta, Vale D’Eguas in Almancil. Proceeds will go to Rotary Club Estoi Palace to support Rotary charities and Goldra Animal Sanctuary.
Tickets are ¤25 per person and include a two-course lunch (a vegetarian option is available) with half a bottle of wine. The March event attracted 150 people and raised ¤3,000 for good causes. Contact Shirley on 936 933 799 or Gail on 962 591 016 for information and to book.
THE CULTURAL CENTRE IN SAO LOURENCO REOPENS
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new chapter – and a dazzling one – has opened with the reestablishment of Sao Lourenco’s marvellous Cultural Centre which, after closing in 2012, has been brought back to life under new ownership – that of Paula and Mario Sequeira who own a highly-respected gallery in Braga. The glorious calm spaces of the courtyards, terraces and gardens are the perfect complement to the traditional 19th-century buildings that make up the Cultural Centre which houses surprisingly contemporary areas – the perfect backdrop for fine artworks. Currently, bold, adventurous pieces by British artist, Jason Martin, are being exhibited under the heading If Not Now, When. The Centre is open Monday to Friday 3.30pm to 7.30pm, or by appointment; ongoing topics will include conferences, literature, architecture, music and cultural activities for children. 910 971 881 / centroculturalslourenco@gmail.com
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News
URGENT BACK TO SCHOOL ACCA DROP OFF POINTS
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hildren’ charity ACCA are racing against the clock to have all materials and donations for its Back to School programme in place by 4 September. This year it is hoped that the charity will be able to help more than 800 needy youngsters who, without the right basic equipment, would not be able to take a proper part in school. The response this year has been excellent, but more is needed. Every small item will help and can be left at the drop off points listed below. If you prefer to make a monetary donation we can shop for you: ACCA IBAN PT50 0079 0000 4342641910 122 and there are also collection boxes at the various drop off points. School materials and backpacks can be delivered to the following drop off points: Alcantarilha: The Golf Shack, EN125 Almancil: Curiosa Indoor&Outdoor, Troto, EN125 Almancil: Iceland Overseas Supermercados Armação de Pêra: Holiday Inn Algarve Bouliqueime: Diamond Properties Estoi: Casa de Povo Gale: Iceland Overseas Supermercados Guia: Iceland Overseas Supermercados Moncarahacho:Red Cross Portimão: Iceland Overseas Supermercados Sao Bras: Museu do Traje Silves: Castelo de Sonhos For more information please contact: Gwenda Daud at backtoschoolalgarve@gmail.com
A SHORT STORY OF ARCHITECTURE, by art historian and artist Susie Hodge, is a pocket guide to key styles, buildings, elements and materials. Published by Lawrence King, it explores some 50 iconic buildings from the Great Pyramids to high-tech, sustainable skyscrapers. Great photographs and jargon-free descriptions. If you are getting your Christmas list ready, this one will be appreciated.
POST NOW FOR CHRISTMAS!
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o, not kidding. International parcels expert ParcelHero is urging those in the UK with friends and family here in Portugal, or elsewhere in the EU, to mail Christmas presents before the end of October to avoid potential no-deal taxes and paperwork. ParcelHero’s Head of Consumer research, David Jinks tells us that: “Boris Johnson’s government is sending the firm message that it is determined to leave the EU on 31 October. If we do quit the EU without any kind of deal, it is likely we will be sending packages to the EU under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. That means everyone sending a parcel to the EU must complete a Customs Invoice providing Proof of Origin, including a description of all the items being sent and their value. It also means that the receiver may well have to pay VAT and potentially import duties in order to receive the items if they are valued at over the gift threshold limit for the country; and that in turn means they will read the item’s description, spoiling the surprise.” David adds: “Given the option of receiving presents a few months early or possibly having to pay VAT and tariffs on their own gifts, we think most EU residents would rather receive their parcels now!”
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MOUTHWATERING
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he lovely Casa de Mondo in the hills above Boliqueime is running two lunches in September – on the 10th and the 24th. The setting is enchanting and rustic, the vibe is cool, and the scrumptious fourcourse lunch will be prepared by Sergio, who works as Chef de Partie at Ocean Restaurant at Vila Vita Parc. Award-winning wines from the Cliff Richard vineyard, and great company, add to the experience. ¤85 per person. Email info@casademondo.com for info and to book.
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CHEERS
hey describe themselves at a micro-brewery with a macro vision; Algarve Rock is the result of the energy, passion and knowledge of one family who fell in love with the Algarve and decided not only to make it their home, but to make it home to a very special venture – the production of craft beer. Check out youtube.com/watch?v=jm7fsdiIgxs to get a feel for what partners Gary Hosmer and Neil Conchie have created in Parc Vale da Venda in Faro. They teamed up with an ex Fullers brewer to produce a range that covers everything from easy going lager to a hoppy IPA, and supply their brew across the Algarve and Lisbon and export to Italy and the UK. We’re keeping all the good stuff about them for the next issue!
DRUMMING IT IN
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ow this is something you will love or hate – and we reckon love is more likely. Loulé Creativo has added rhythm and movement to its repertoire, with the introduction of Traditional Portuguese Drum sessions. This is real entertainment which works in local and regional histories. Best of all, it all happens in the Municipal Park of Loulé which, if you haven’t already discovered, is spectacular and a well-kept secret up the steps behind the monument at the end of the road leading from the main roundabout. Call 966 627 460 or 964 749 426 or email limondjazzi@gmail.com for dates and to register. Do one session and you’ll be going back for more. And kids will love it, too.
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Soul searching
FADO: Portugal’s intangible cultural heritage Time spent in Lisbon would not be complete without a visit to a Fado house in the narrow back streets of Alfama, says Lynne Booker. Be it a tourist eaterie with a guest performance by a travelling fadista, or a late-night bar that caters to local tastes, the heart-wrenching sounds are captivating
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t is impossible not to have a view on fado. People either love it or hate it. The subject raises as much passion as the genre itself. The possible origins of fado include Arabic – from the population remaining in the Mourarias after the Christian reconquest in 1147; Afro-Brazilian – from the mixture of the modinhas (soft romantic music of the Portuguese elite in Brazil) and the lundum (Angolan) which came to Portugal with the returning Royal family in the 1820s; maritime – from the sailors returning to Lisbon after their voyages of discovery who may have sung sea-songs of nostalgia for Lisbon; medieval –from the troubadours with their romantic poetry; 16th century
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– from the narrative singing of the C16 romanceros. Other theories suggest a connection with the Afro-American blues; or a gypsy element from Andalucia; or because the Jewish community was present in Lisbon for years after their forced conversion of 1497, it could be that their secret suffering contributed to the saudade of fado. Fado comes from the Latin fatum meaning fate. Fate describes the individual´s future and fado bemoans the unchangeable nature of the individual´s destiny and the unforgiving and unchanging nature of the lottery of life. The songs are urban folk songs from four of the poorest districts of Lisbon: Alfama, Bairro Alto, Madragoa and Mouraria. Saudade which has a multiplicity of meanings
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such as longing, yearning, regrets, homesickness, memories, is the essence of fado. Fado is sung by male or female ‘fadistas’ with a traditional accompaniment of a melody line from the guitarra portuguesa and the rhythm is provided by the acoustic guitar, which the Portuguese call viola. Sometimes a double bass adds extra bass to the rhythm. First recognised in Lisbon in the 1820s, fado originated in the taverns and brothels and the first famous exponent was Maria Severa. Her fame rests on a play of 1901 by Júlio Dantas (later made into the first Portuguese talkie – A Severa – in 1931). From about 1870 the Teatro de Revista began to
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incorporate fado songs and soon no production it staged was complete without fado. The place to be Many fados are about the city of Lisbon and the city is likened to a girl who is always beautiful and elegant. It is likely that of all the cities in the world, Paris and Buenos Aires included, Lisbon is the city which is the subject of most songs. In the 1890s, fado de Coimbra appeared. Sometimes this form is referred to as canção de Coimbra, because it does not belong to the Lisbon tradition of fado. It is usually sung by male students or graduates in the street (preferably on the steps of the Old Cathedral) and
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Soul searching is firmly identified with the University of Coimbra, and the performers are always in the black capes which the students wear. Lisbon fado is usually sung by only one person. A woman fadista normally wears a black shawl over her dress signifying mourning for the first fadista, Maria Severa. Men used to dress in suits but now a black polo sweater or an open necked shirt is accepted. There are different types of fado: menor is sad, slow and melancholic and is sung in a minor key; Mouraria is nostalgic but in a major key and faster; corrido has cheerful and upbeat music but the words do not necessarily reflect that mood; bailado is danceable. Fado canção or fado musicado is more commercial and appeared in the 1930s with Amália Rodrigues its greatest exponent. Fado castiço is the original type of fado and considered the best by the aficionados. It is accompanied by the guitarra portuguesa and viola only. Fado à desgarrada and fado vadio are different from the professional fado found in casas do fado. In these formats, amateurs take turns to sing their emotions. A Portuguese friend tells me that the only proper form is fado vadio; the rest is just “para inglês ver!” With a capital F Because fado was tightly controlled by the Salazar regime, some Portuguese have an ambivalent attitude towards it and its most famous exponent Amália Rodrigues. It was announced by Salazar that he would give the Portuguese three fs to be proud of – fado, Fátima and football. And so, perhaps in spite of themselves, both Eusébio and Amália Rodrigues became apologists for the regime. After the 1974 revolution, fado became less popular and it was not until the late 1980s that younger artists have realised that fado is greater than the history of the dictatorship. Traditionally, most fadistas came from Lisbon but over the past 100 years, Lisbon fado has lost its connexions with Lisbon, bullfighting, the nobility, saudade and fado menor. It is becoming an international genre scarcely distinguishable from other song types. Perhaps the recent recognition by UNESCO of fado as part of Portugal´s intangible cultural heritage will encourage a return to its roots.
TALKING POINTS... There are many great names in Fado today, and they include: Ana Moura In 2007, she released an album Para Além da Saudade (Beyond Saudade) which was a huge hit and in that same year she joined the Rolling Stones in concert at the Alvalade XXI stadium in Lisbon, singing No Expectations with Mick Jagger. One of the most popular presentday fadistas, Moura’s haunting sound is said to capture the very essence of traditional fado. Camané If you were lucky enough to see him in concert in Vale do Lobo in the summer, accompanied by jazz pianist Mario Laginha, you will have become a faithful fan of Camané that very evening. The emotion that his singing renders is entrancing so it is no surprise that he is regarded as one of the most acclaimed fadistas of our time, performing regularly on the great stages of the world. Carlos do Carmo His mother was a fado singer so he was born with the passion in his blood. One of his first records, Carlos do Carmo e Orquestra de Joaquim Luiz Gomes, was released in 1963 and since then he has achieved gold and platinum status for his music which is said to have broadened the boundaries of Fado by incorporating both jazz influences and Portuguese poetry. Mariza This one is very much the superstar, playing to packed audience wherever she performs and introducing humour to her repertoire. Born in Mozambique, she grew up in Lisbon singing fado in the Mouraria, the neighbourhood where the genre was born. Referred to as ‘The New Amália’, she made her name when she sang at the tribute event remembering the legendary lady.
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Discovering
THE ALENTEJO
To many, the Alentejo is the flat, stark expanse of land through which the motorway to the north passes en route to Lisbon. Well, they are missing out. If you haven’t explored the region, be prepared to be stunned with what it has to offer, says Brian Redmond
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here is a town in lower Alentejo in the district of Beja with a population a shade under 5,000 that, not unlike other small towns in the region, is reliant on agriculture, viniculture and light industry. What makes this town intriguing is its name. Cuba. It has been suggested on a number of occasions that the town was the birthplace of Christopher Columbus who gave the name of his ‘birthplace’ to the Caribbean island he discovered. It has also been claimed that he was
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the maternal grandson of the Portuguese navigator João Goncalves Zarco discoverer of Madeira and that indeed his real name was Salvador Fernandes Zarco. The claims have been dismissed by genealogists but this didn’t discourage the townspeople of Cuba from erecting a full sized bronze statue in honour of Columbus in the main square. More surprises The Alentejo region covers one third of Portugal as it extends through central and southern parts of the country.
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Medieval hilltop castle of Arraiolos
It has borders with Algarve in the south, the Atlantic to the west, and Spain to the east. In the south eastern corner of the region, some 18kms from the Spanish border, where it is defined by the Rio Guadiana, lies the former mining town of Minas de São Domingo. Geologically, it sits on top of what is known as the ‘Iberian Pyrite Belt’, an area stretching 250kms by 30kms and containing massive ore deposits of sulphur, iron, copper, lead and zinc, plus significant deposits of gold and silver. The area was mined in Roman times for sulphur, gold and silver but it was during the industrial revolution and the demand for copper that the mines came into their own. In 1851 a 50-year lease was taken on them by English businessmen James Mason and Charles Barry who immediately changed to open cast mining methods. They built a narrow-gauge railway from the mines to a purposebuilt port on the Guadiana at Pomerão from where the copper ore was shipped, mostly to Britain. The company prospered and the town grew with Portuguese labour and also English miners from Cornwall. The workers and their families were housed in terraces of tiny low cottages often windowless. Water, sanitation and ovens were shared, while the managers had detached
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Vila Nova de Milfontes
homes around a ‘village green ‘ complete with a bandstand and tennis courts. The company formed its own private armed police force to control the town, the mine, and the miners. During the First World War, production switched from copper ore to Pyrite, the main component in sulphuric acid which was used extensively in industry at the time. Because of the enormous quantities of water required for smelting and purification, a dam was built and a reservoir created. The water used at the mine turned into a sulphuric acid solution that leached into the ground contaminating vast areas of land. The workers began to suffer severe health problems particularly respiratory, from breathing the sulphur dioxide that hung in the air and also from acid burn caused by the dioxide settling on surfaces and once wet from damp or dew becoming acidic. The misery continued until 1966 when the company folded under pressure from the Government to pay for an environmental clean up. Almost 25 million tons of ores had been extracted during the lifetime of the mine. The town is now a tourist destination as many of the old mine buildings and sheds remain. The câmara of Mértola has created a superb artificial beach and water sports
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Discovering
Vineyard
centre at the reservoir. The mining company’s former headquarters is now a hotel as is the police station and jail. Food and drink The Rio Guadiana rises in Spain and enters Portugal in the district of Évora and soon feeds western Europe’s largest artificial lake created by the ‘Alqueva Dam Project’. Construction of the project began in 1995 and was inaugurated in 2002; it reached its maximum capacity in 2010. The reservoir is designed to irrigate the region and to be able to maintain a strategic water supply through three years of drought. The lake covers an area of 250 square kilometres and is key to extensive wine and olive production in Alentejo. In the past, many of the region’s vineyards were dug out in order to protect the newly demarcated port wines from the Douro, also Salazar’s regime encouraged wheat production over vines. In the 1970s and 80s, wine cooperatives were established that invested heavily in production and bottling techniques and a code of best practice amongst the growers means that Alentejan wines are now highly rated. The town and hinterland of Reguengos de Monsaraz on the north western edge of the lake is central to the wine industry but the hilltop town of Monsaraz itself is jewel worth visiting. Perched high on a rocky outcrop it has 360 degree views across the entire countryside and strategically faces the Guadiana and neighbours Spain to the east. It is one of the oldest settlements in southern Portugal and has
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been occupied since pre history. It was populated Statue of great by Romans, Visigoths, navigator Arabs, Jews and after the Colón,Christopher re conquistadors by Christians Columbus, Cuba, loyal to Afonso III. The town is walled and is dominated at one end by a castle and fortress and at the other by the church. The streets are narrow and winding and the only motorised traffic comes from vans delivering supplies to a selection of cosy restaurants, guest houses and artesanal stores. Sunrise and sunset mark the best times of the day to be in Monsaraz. Capital matters Évora is the capital of southern Alentejo and is a beautifully preserved medieval town with a stunning Roman temple known as the Temple of Diana. Its remaining 14 corinthian columns are considered an example of the best preserved Roman ruins in Iberia, and it is because the temple was undercover for hundreds of years – first as part of a fort and then as the town’s slaughterhouse – it was only brought into the open in the 19th century. Today Évora is a lively university town with clubs and bars and, of course, restaurants. The cuisine of Alentejo is known for its simple yet mouthwatering dishes with the region’s black pork featuring high on the menu. One such local masterpiece is ‘Carne a Portuguesa’ a fine dish in its own right but ‘Carne de Porco a Alentejana’ with its
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addition of clams during the cooking process is a sensation. A lot of the flavours come from the use of aromatic wild herbs and it is because local cuisine is in harmony with the seasons with herbs such as coriander, mint, thyme, oregano, and sorell as well as asparagus adding dramatic flavours to the dishes. In summer time there is an abundance of tomatoes, peppers, beans and other legumes that, if preserved, are added to the robust lamb and pork dishes favoured in the winter months. Olive oil is an essential component in Alentejan cooking. There are four main varieties of olives grown in the region. Galega, Cobranços, Cordovil, and Verdeal Alentejana. The Alentejo produces 70% of Portugal’s olive oil. It exports throughout the European Union, to Angola and Brazil and it has been voted as the best olive oil in Japan. The splendid countryside The Alentejo landscape is dominated by olive groves, which are managed in three different ways. There is the traditional, centuries-old style of olive groves where trees are planted are in wide rows with typically 60 to 180 trees per hectare. With or without irrigation, the trees may take 15 to 20 years to come into production. Then there is the intensive olive grove with the trees planted in narrow rows, 300 to 450 per hectare and irrigated. They come into production in five to seven years and can produce for several decades. Finally, there are highly-intensive groves where the trees are planted like a hedge with 900 to 1200 per hectare and produce in two to three years. The oldest groves of this type only produce for 20 years as opposed
River Guadiana and the village of Mertola
to the traditional type that fruits for more than a century. In springtime the land takes on a multi coloured mantle. Yellow clover, white daisies, purple lilies paint the fields. Here and there great slashes of blood red sweep across the picture as wild red poppies come into bloom. Poppies are also cultivated for their seeds and white poppies are grown commercially and under licence for the opiates they produce for the pharmaceutical industry in the manufacture of morphine and codeine. In early summer, sunflowers are prominent in the fields like thousands of sun worshippers gazing at their God. The olive groves with their shades of green and grey, fields where hay and wheat were harvested are like rough golden shavings and all this happens under a vast vivid blue sky. So much to see With more than 150 kms of Atlantic coastline Alentejo has more spectacular landscapes and seascapes to boast about, from the mouth of the Rio Sado through Zambujeira do Mar and along the Costa De Sud Oeste Alentejana e Costa Vicentina, to Cabo de São Vicente in Algarve, the
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most south westerly point of continental Europe. There are dozens of deserted sandy beaches dotted along the way. Some are among towering cliff formations and difficult to access, others are deserted and perfect for bathing. There are long beaches ideal for fishing and surfing and for the most part of the year are completely free of crowds. Small towns dot the coast, from the industrial town of Sines to the north to more modest places. Porto Covo has a horseshoe bay and a small island offshore, Isla de Pessegueiro, which was once a Roman fish-salting facility. Further south to the town of Vila Nova de Milfontes; hugely popular to Portuguese holiday makers in the summertime, it is an attractive town perched high above the estuary of the Rio Mira. It was founded in 1485 and, as the locals will tell you, it’s neither a new town, (Vila Nova) nor does it have a thousand water springs, (Milfontes). It did, however, get a rough time from pirates and corsairs who destroyed the town until a fortress, Forte de São Clemente, was built. The fort is a focal point in the town today and in the square outside the main entrance is a monument to more pioneers of Portuguese aviation. A local highly-decorated military man, Brito Pais along with Sarmento Beires and Manuel Gouveia flew the first airplane, a De Havilland DH9A, named Pátria, from Portugal to Macau; they took off from Vila Nova de Milfontes. Nowadays, a passenger ferry crosses the estuary where the historic flight began over to the beach at Furnas. There is a walking trail that ultimately ends in Algarve at
Odeceixe
Cabo de São Vicente and which passes through Vila Nova de Milfontes. The trail south takes you over sand dunes until the town of Almograve and on to a formidable lighthouse at Cabo Sardão. The coastline becomes elevated after this with high cliffs and wonderful seascapes. As you near the fishing harbour of Porto das Barcas you may see anglers out on spits of rock surround by the tide and with no visible means of how they got there; motorised fishing boats find a safe mooring within the narrow harbour. The next seaside town is Zambujeira do Mar. It is an attractive town with good holiday accommodation and very good restaurants. It, too, is a town on a cliff overlooking a beautiful horse shoe bay with a safe beach and popular with surfers. The walking trail that goes south from here is known as the ‘Fisherman’s Trail’ and the distance of this leg of 26kms follows the coast the entire way. The scenery and wildness is spectacular and the ocean is crystal clear blue. Along the way you pass the former holiday home of Portugal’s most beloved fado singer, Amália . The beach below her villa is popularly known as ‘Amália’s Beach’, this section of the trail ends at Odeceixe.
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Discovering
TALKING POINTS... Wine trails are popular in the Alentejo. In the lands around Beja and Évora there is a comprehensive selection of Adegas or wineries to investigate. An anti-clockwise route example could be: Quinta do Carmo in Vidigueira north of Beja; Herdade de Esporão in Reguengos de Monsaraz; Adega Mayor in Campo Maior; Adega de Cartuxa in Évora; Herdade de Grous in Albernaia and finally, Herdade das Pias close to the fabled birthplace of Christopher Columbus (or Salvador Fernandes Zarco) in the small Alentejan town of Cuba.
Castelo da vide
church of Misericordia in Beja
MUST SEES According to gotoportugal.eu the top ten places to visit in the region are: Castelo de Vide, known as the Sintra of Alentejo Marvao, one of the most beautiful fortified hilltop villages, with views over Castelo de Vide, Serra de Sao Mamede Nature Park and over the Spanish city of Valencia de Alcantara Elvas, classified as World Heritage in 2012 by UNESCO
Amoreira Aqueduct in the town of Elvas.
Vila Vicosa, with its manificent castles and palaces Tereno, a village of immense charm, and a 13th-centry castle Monsaraz, a hilltop village with views of the Alquevar Lake Evora, known as the ‘museum city’, with its fine Roman temple Viana do Alentejo, half way between the Atlantic Ocean and Spain, with fine churches, a pentagonal castle and the Shrine of Nossa Senhora d’Aires Bodoca Safari Park, for a 45-minutes safari to see 250 animals living freely
Sever river portugal alentejo medieval bridge with roman stones
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Rota Vicentina, a network of trails covering 400km
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om fr s n 5 Mi lé Lou
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Snap happy
FROZEN MOMENTS The Algarve Photographers’ Group current exhibition draws together some very different approaches to the subject. Staged at the Museu do Traje in São Bras, it features themes as varied as a hat dancing in the wind to soap bubbles floating across a landscape. The images here were voted the top three by visitors and group members at the opening
FIRST PLACE Ruth Vera Title: Andalucian Horses What: Horses running wild Where: Parque Donãna Andalucia España Why: An opportunity to create a special photograph for the exposition Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M 1 Mark II
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SECOND PLACE Martin Goodkind Title: A Bigger Splash (with apologies to Mr Hockney) What: Bloody Mary, made by someone who didn’t read the instructions Where: On the terrace, against a black card background Why: Now I’ve stopped drinking, didn’t know what to do with the rest of the vodka Camera: Sony RX10 iii
THIRD PLACE Carole Tranmer Title: Blowin’ in the Wind What: Hat flying off on a very windy day Where: In my back garden Why: Freezing movement - a feeling of a free spirit caught in action Camera: Lumix DC-FZ10002
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Cheep bleep
SOUNDS SURPRISING Carolyn Kain was up and about at 5.3Oam, searching the garden for signs of an intruder, or things that go bleep in the night. It turned out to be both, in one very unexpected form Night jar
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t’s twilight on a Tuesday morning. I’m woken by the loud and rapid ringing of a mobile phone. Somewhere outside I hear a repeated mechanical tone, ka-kek, ta-tok, ka-kek, ta-tok, ka-kek, ta-tok. Persistent and loud enough that it made me stir my weary bones; I rise from bed and look outside the window. An empty courtyard bathed in early morning light but no sign of a mobile phone lying on the calçadas. The volume increased. Was it someone passing by on our caminho? It seemed unlikely as it was so early. I opened the front door and the cool morning air drifted inside. No sign of anyone or anything but the ringing sound continued. My other half disturbed by the mobile phone emerged from his dreams, “What’s going on? Whose phone is that?” As if silenced by his voice the ringing stopped. We rarely – if ever – have searched around the garden at 5.30 in the morning or played hunt-the-mobilephone outside our gate. It was certainly very puzzling, beyond any obvious explanation. Trying to think divergently I came up with a suggestion: “I wonder if the gardener has dropped his phone? Perhaps he’s ringing it to locate where it is?” We waited until a more civilized hour and called his number. Before he even answered we knew that was not the explanation since there was no ringing in the garden. But the following morning at dawn the ringing started again. A repeat and unwelcome performance interrupted our slumbers: ka-kek, ta-tok, ka-kek, ta-tok, ka-kek. Unable to figure it out we likened the situation to an Agatha Christie mystery. It became a page turner when as the day cooled down at sunset, the noise began again. Lasting for several minutes, it was clear and continuous – always rhythmic, sometimes fast then slow, sometimes far away then closer. So what is it then? Trying to be helpful, a knowledgeable friend advised me that it might not be a mobile phone and suggested a Midwife toad or a Scops owl instead. Telling me they have voices that are similar to each other, she explained that the owls are rare but sometimes can be heard in the Algarve. Turning to technology I listened to both voices on YouTube but neither had the correct tone sounding more like whistling flutes. After several more raucous disturbances we were able to verify that this particular mobile phone or creature was crepuscular – that’s to say it only operated at sunrise or at sunset. Noctule bats that frequent our area were ruled out because their voices
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are high-pitched squeaks. We knew it definitely was not a cricket since they usually activate their inborn batteries in the middle of the day. Excuse me for a moment while I digress from the mobile phone whodunit and correct a common myth. Crickets do not make a noise by rubbing their legs together. The sounds we hear are male crickets rubbing a scraping organ on one wing along a comb-like organ on the other. Anyway, to continue! The mystery remained unsolved until late one night we were returning home along our track. On the ground the headlights illuminated what looked like an extended piece of broken bark lying in a hollow. As we approached, nearer and nearer, it rose straight into the air on graceful wings with white markings on the underside. I’ve never seen one before but I know enough about birds to exclaim: “That’s got to be a nightjar.” So that’s what is is! Sure enough it definitely was because when I went onto YouTube I heard its ka-kek, ta-tok, call. Exactly the same as we had been hearing at dawn and dusk. A programme available on BBC Radio 4 and presented by English wildlife expert, Chris Packham, likens the nightjar’s call to a car alarm going off. That’s another interpretation, I suppose. It turns out that red-necked nightjars are quite common in the Algarve and lead unusual lives. Territorial and provocative, especially in the mating season, they are able to clap their wings behind their backs. Eggs are laid on the bare earth and once the chicks have hatched they can already walk. Going on hikes for distances as far as 50 meters, the parents hover overhead to find them. At night, the young stalk around in the long grass and sensitive bristles round their gaping mouths enable them to scoop up insects. When in flight these bristles, which are modified feathers, help the nightjar to funnel moths into its mouth. Throughout the day, nightjars remain almost motionless on the ground or lying flat along a tree branch. Keeping themselves secure they shift their positions slightly with the movement of the sun to avoid casting a shadow and giving themselves away. It is the males that sing using different song posts; they turn their heads from side to side to maximise their range. Several legends have grown up around nightjars and their role on Judgment Day. There’s no truth in the old tale that that their bodies are inhabited by the souls of unbaptised children or that they suckle from goats making them infertile. However young nightjars, born in the Algarve in July, will fly to Sub-Saharan West Africa later on that month and that truly is incredible.
September 2019
Scops owl Midwife toad
Pipistrelle bat
Red-necked nightjar Mole cricket
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Property Update
THE IMPORTANCE OF REAL ESTATE LAWYERS You need sound, professional advice about the legalities of property buying and selling says Robert Bijker, director of Yellow Homes
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hether you’re purchasing or selling property in Portugal, you should appoint a real estate lawyer whose primary area of practice is real estate. The lawyer may work in other areas of law, too, but the main focus is on residential or commercial real estate transactions. He or she will oversee the legal work involved and assure the interests and rights of the client are protected in order to avoid eventual financial loss. The complexity of real estate law can make transactions confusing for non-professionals and especially first-time buyers. Some strongly believe they can get through the purchase process with a property agent by their side, but real estate agents are not licensed to provide legal advice. This means property agents should not answer complex legal questions, even if they know the answer. Hiring a lawyer for a real estate transaction in Portugal is optional and to reduce purchase costs you may rely on your own knowledge, or get assurance from good friends who have purchased a property in Portugal without a lawyer. Yes... you
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can do everything yourself, but it’s probably not a good idea. Using a lawyer who specialises in real estate will increase your total property purchasing cost, but it could save you headaches and money in the long run. Often, purchasers think that a lawyer mainly does secretarial work like filling out a standard purchase agreement, but the law of real estate is unique and raises special issues of practice, and problems not present in other transactions. A lawyer takes care of the whole legal purchase process involving documentation and administrative work and will double check the legality of the property in fiscal terms, registrations and possible existence of liabilities on the property. A real estate lawyer is trained to deal with all kinds of real estate matters and their assistance is also of importance if you wish to sell your property – as a vendor you can face serious liability issues if your sale contract isn’t worded correctly. A lawyer will ensure that you are financially protected in case a buyer finds a major issue with the property after purchase or if a buyer wants to pull out of the agreement at the last minute. They also protect you from buyers who don’t meet their
September 2019
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financial obligations in a timely manner. While you may be able to do everything yourself, there’s a good chance that you’ll make mistakes along the way that might end up being costly and time consuming. Many questions arise when buying a property, such as what future development or construction is planned for the area? This is an important issue which a real estate agent is not obliged to tell you about and it is not something you can find out for yourself easily. Another matter to avoid is the possibility of outstanding liabilities such as claims, right of way, debt and unpaid condominium fees. You need a lawyer to alert you to this. The real estate agent may point this out, but it is better that an independent third party does this for you. Environmental issues fall under the same banner, such as not being able to (re)build or renovate an annex or a deck on the property because your property is in a protected area.These are only some examples to show you the importance of dealing with a professional. Your lawyer will guide and accompany you through the whole purchase process until the final completion on the purchase or sale. Note: When purchasing or selling a Portuguese property a private or public notary must also be involved at the time of completion when the deed (escritura de compra e venda) is ready to be signed. Unlike a lawyer, their role is to represent the truth and the State, rather than either party involved in a transaction. In Portugal, it is often necessary for documents to be signed in the presence of a notary for them to be legally binding. Furthermore, a lawyer has a legal responsibility to his client and will make an effort to protect the client at all costs against unforeseen legal circumstances. They deal with mortgage fraud, negotiate on behalf of the parties they represent and oversee the transfer of deeds and titles. If there is a problem between parties, a lawyer can mediate to resolve matters amicably and if that fails, they are able to take legal action. When buying a new property in Portugal – although it is not really pleasant to plan for your departure from this world – a lawyer can avoid misunderstandings over the inheritance between your loved ones in case you pass away; most real estate lawyers are specialised in creating Wills and Trusts to ensure that your assets go to the person(s) of your choice. We think it is important to hire a real estate lawyer when purchasing or selling a property. Avoid unnecessary risk and secure your peace of mind. Without a real estate lawyer involved, consequences may be more damaging than purchasing a car that turns out to be a lemon. If the agent is a professional you should be able to count on their recommendation for a
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good law office with a proven track record – normally, agents do not refer a client to a law office unless they think they are exemplary. They should provide you with at least two or three choices. Speak to them all and decide on the lawyer you feel most comfortable with. If you need any advice about buying or selling a property, contact us; our friendly conveyancing team is here to help you. Vilamoura Office EN 125, Benfarras Boliqueime 8100 - 068 Boliqueime T: 289 301 294 / F: 289 301 439 Tavira Office Rua Dr. José Pires Padinha 178 8800 - 354 Tavira T: 281 320 281 / F: 281 321 901 (AMI - 6232) www.yellowhomes.com
GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS
AMI: 6232
UNIQUE, SPACIOUS SINGLE STOREY VILLA BETWEEN VALE LOBO AND QUARTEIRA. This wonderful south facing well-built property (2002) is uniquely set on a large private plot of nearly 4000 m2. Calm residential area and a beautifully natural setting surrounded by pine trees, rich in nature and biodiversity, while being in walking distance to beaches and amenities. Viewing is a must. Price: €1.190.000 Ref: HNG EC: C.
Contact us! Our email is info@yellowhomes.com or call us on (+351) 289 301 294 Find out more info on our website www.yellowhomes.com
GOLF PROPERTIES - VILLAS - APARTMENTS - TOWNHOUSES - PLOTS
AMI: 6232
WELL PRESENTED 3 BED VILLA IN BOLIQUEIME WITH POOL AND SEA VIEWS. Situated close to the picturesque village of Boliqueime in the Algarve sits this well-proportioned Villa with 3 bedrooms on a peaceful south facing landscaped plot of land. The villa benefits from domestic solar hot water, double glazed windows, mosquito screens, aluminium shutters, airconditioning, heat radiators, heated pool and electric entrance gate. Plot size : 2000 m2. Very private. Price €650,000 Ref: R-GBT EC: B.
Contact us! Our email is info@yellowhomes.com or call us on (+351) 289 301 294 Find out more info on our website www.yellowhomes.com
September 2019
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Close up
PAWTFOLIO PIECES
Jilly Menpes-Smith leads a dog’s life, painting pooches for their loving owners. Her style in distinctive, and her passion for four-legged friends is evident in every brushstroke
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rtist Jilly was born in London, convent educated, and moved into the fashion arena after leaving full-time studies. She worked initially for a buying house in Regent Street, and then, with experience and expertise tucked under her high-fashion belt, she went on to create her own designer-driven collections. She moved to Portugal, and the Algarve, 31 years ago attracted by everything the country and region had to offer. Years later, after building a home in Quinta do Lago in 1988, Jilly Menpes-Smith returned to her first love – painting. A fervent lover of animals, and a dog owner for most of her life, progressing to pet portraiture was a natural, and it is what has made her so in demand. “Pets, and dogs especially, hold such a big place in your heart,” she says. “I try to capture that special character you see each day and the wonderful expression in their eyes which is so important. As a family we have had various dogs including two Old English sheep dogs and three West Highland Terriers. My husband Roger bought me two Westies as a surprise one Christmas… and they lived with us here in Quinta for 16 years. I still miss them now.” Jilly takes on special commissions and works from good photographs that capture individual personalities and their special charm. “Often the portraits I do as intended as gifts for birthdays or Christmas; beautiful lifelike paintings that can be treasured for years.”
TALKING POINTS... Jilly’s chosen medium is acrylic on canvas and her preferred size is 40x50cm. Some clients, she says, want black and white pencil drawings. Portrait prices start at around ¤450, and framing can also be arranged. Jilly has produced Christmas cards using a favourite painting, and is often requested to do the the same for her appreciative clients. To discuss commissions she will undertake, contact her on 918 754 058 or email jillyquinta@hotmail.com
FAVOURITES Place to be My husband and I walk on the beach most days and that is our favourite place so we really enjoy the wonderful beach restaurants here, especially 2 Passos. Day out We love the Alentejo and enjoy lunch at Herdade de Malhadinha Drink There’s nothing better than a vodka and tonic! TV programme David Attenborough Planet Earth For fun I collect stones and paint them
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Influences
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BERLIN BEAUTIES Berlin is Europe’s cultural capital, a claim that is made by many of the 20,000 artists who work and reside in this vibrant city. Carolyn Kain admires the work of one particular artist, known for her single-minded approach and brilliant layering technique
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rogressive and provocative, there are innumerable museums, galleries and exhibitions in Berlin, often funded by powerful institutions and businesses. Stimulated by these surroundings, artist Mari Arp is a creative force whose ever-changing work is in a fascinating phase. Taking time out to study billboards and magazines, she looks for pin-up girls and starlets with superficial smiles and retouched beauty; they become the fascinating centre-pieces of her large-scale multimedia collages. Layer upon layer of paint, pastels and acrylic spray are applied to create the lustrous borders that frame each bewitching face. Like photographic models, the borders of each picture are beautified, adorned and decorated. Finally, the entire surface is given a fine coat of high gloss synthetic resin. Gleaming like a highly polished mirror, aesthetically attractive, yet the phony grins seem shallow. Mari’s ladies are often reminiscent of Hollywood film star, Carmen Miranda. Portuguese by birth, Brazilian by creation, Carmen Miranda spent her formative years in Rio de Janeiro. No surprise then that Mari Arp recently spent time in Brazil and the country left a strong impression. Returning to Berlin and its diverse architecture, contemporary art scene and nightlife, she is very much at home. Her artwork, discovered on a recent visit to the city by the owners of Galeria Côrte-Real, has resulted in an exhibition that is a sheer delight.
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September 2019
TALKING POINTS... Mari’s gorgeous ladies are currently on display at Galeria Corte-Real on the outskirst of the village of Paderne. Directions are signposted from Boliqueime, Ferreiras and Paderne itself.. The Gallery is open Thursday to Sunday, 11am until 5pm T: 912 737 762 W: corterealarte.com
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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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September 2019
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OF THE MONTH EXCLUSIVE SALE: Unique 5 bedroom Quinta-style property with guest annex in peaceful village setting and centrally located close to Vilamoura
• Character-filled property with bamboo cane ceilings • 4 bedrooms / 3 bathrooms • 2 living rooms with fireplace • Separate dining room • Large open-plan, fully-fitted and equipped kitchen • Large covered terraces ideal for entertaining • Guest annex: large garage / 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom • Heated salt water swimming pool (10 x 5m) • Pool surrounded by large terrace made from rustic tiles
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September 2019
PROPERTY DETAILS • Beautiful landscaped garden • Fully-fenced plot with automatic entrance gate • Car port and ample parking area • SAT-TV-/telephone - Internet connection • Air conditioning / solar panels for hot water • Security alarm system • Mains water, own borehole, cistern and water softener • Total construction: 388 m2 • Plot size: 6,234m2 • EC: B
¤765,000 Ref: P-CCL 29
Simply delicious
CHILLI DHAL FRITTERS
These crunchy, spicy lentil balls, similar to falafel or Indian vada, are one of the most popular street food snacks, or ʻgajacksʼ, in Mauritius. Yellow split peas are soaked in water overnight so they plump up and are easier to crush. They are then spiked with plenty of green chillies and fresh coriander before being rolled into small balls and deep fried. Eat them straight away, alongside other snacks like samosas, dunked in a green chilli chutney or, like the locals do, stuffed into crusty baguettes
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Makes: 25 balls Prep: 15 minutes, plus overnight soaking Cook: Under five minutes per batch
Pour the vegetable oil into a deep, heavy-based saucepan or deep fat fryer and heat to 180°C. You can tell when the oil is the right temperature by dropping a small cube of bread into the oil. If it browns evenly in 30 seconds then it is ready. When the oil is hot enough, carefully drop in the balls (about four or five at a time, to prevent overcrowding in the pan).
Ingredients 200g yellow split peas 3 spring onions, finely chopped 2tbsp finely chopped coriander 2–3 green chillies, finely chopped 1tsp salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 litre vegetable oil, for deep frying
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The fritters should sizzle in the oil. Using a fork or a slotted spoon gently move them around so they colour evenly. It will take a couple of minutes until they are golden brown and cooked throughout. If they brown too quickly, reduce the heat slightly to make sure they cook inside.
For the mayonnaise 6–8tbsp mayonnaise 1tbsp capers (optional) 2tbsp gherkins or cornichons, chopped (optional) 1 small garlic clove, grated or finely chopped Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
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Drain on a wire rack with kitchen paper underneath to catch any excess oil. Serve with Coriander green chilli chutney or crushed into a crusty white baguette.
Method Place the yellow split peas in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Leave to sit overnight and soak.
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The peas should have puffed up slightly and the water reduced by the next morning. Drain them well and tip into a food processor. Blitz until the peas are a coarse paste and clump together. Tip the crushed peas into a large mixing bowl and add all the other ingredients apart from the oil. Combine well with a spoon.
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Take a tablespoon of the mixture in your hands and, pressing firmly, form into a ball shape (about the size of a golf ball). Each will weigh around 25g. Repeat with the remaining mixture – you should get 25 balls – and place them all on a plate ready to be fried.
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TALKING POINTS... This is one of the delicious recipes from The Island Kitchen, by self-taught cook, Selina Periampilla who brings together the sunshine flavours of Mauritius and the Indian Ocean. Published by Bloomsbury, it is available from Amazon and bertrand.pt. It includes great photography by Yuki Sugiura and illustrations by Sarah Greeno and yes, a recipe for Coriander green chilli chutney.
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toldos - awnings sun wind rain protection
toldolanda
info@toldolanda.com | www.toldolanda.com | 914 609 517
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Reasons
WHY ARE YOU HERE?
Pianist John Evans retired some ten years ago. Err. Delete the word retired. Today he teaches keyboard, is musical director of a theatre group, accompanies performers in concert, and is also a church organist. Taking it easy is not in his nature Where are you from? West Midlands, UK.
on the plane and saying, “Did we just buy a house in Portugal?”
Your profession? I have been a professional musician for most of my adult life. My first paid engagement was playing the organ at the age of 11 for a wedding at my local church. After receiving a classical training on piano and graduating from Birmingham University, I embarked on a career as an accompanist, gaining valuable experience in all genres of music by working in night clubs, theatres, radio and television. Eventually, I became established in the world of musical theatre as a musical director and conductor of London West End shows and UK national and international touring productions. The first time you visited the Algarve and why? January 1988. My wife and I were invited by friends who had taken early retirement and emigrated to the Algarve. The three things that made you fall in love with the place? The beauty and tranquillity of rural Algarve, the relatively low cost of living her and the easy access to the Mediterranean diet. How many times and over what period did you visit before you decided to make the move? One year after our first visit, we returned to see our friends. At the time, we were living in the USA, but toying with the idea of settling back in England, as I was receiving offers of theatre work there. However, we concluded that the nature of my work didn’t require us to have a permanent home in the UK – we simply needed a nearby European base that, between contracts, offered a pleasant climate and agreeable ambience in which we could recharge our batteries. Portugal fitted the bill perfectly. Did you rent/buy/build and where? Towards the end of this second visit, our friends discovered a house under construction in the village of Bordeira, Santa Bárbara de Nexe. Attracted by the design and location, we made an offer, which was accepted, and we promptly returned to the USA. The whole process had been so unexpectedly rapid that I remember turning to my wife
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When did you settle here? We returned in the summer of that same year, 1991, but had to wait for a couple of months for the builder to complete the finishing touches before we could move in. He kindly supplied us with an apartment at his expense! The house served us well as a bolthole where we would typically relax for two or three months of each year, until about eight years ago when I retired and we became permanent Portuguese residents. How do you spend your time here? I remain active as a musician in several capacities. I work as an accompanist with a baritone and a soprano, giving classical music concerts under the name of Music For A While. I also provide live piano backing for cabaret singers and, for several years, have been Musical Director of the Angels Theatre Group, which raises money for charitable causes. I teach piano privately to both beginners and more advanced students and have recently acquired a job as a church organist. So it seems I have come full circle. Your perfect place? Quarteira, for entirely sentimental reasons. Some years ago my wife passed away. Subsequently, I met and fell in love with a lovely lady called Maya, who is an accomplished, conservatory-trained pianist. We recently married in Gibraltar but, since our life-changing first encounter took place in Quarteira, it’s the only possible candidate. Your perfect day? A family day with Maya and my step-daughter, Liza, comprising an early morning swim, a leisurely breakfast on the patio, a visit to Faro beach for more swimming, followed by a delicious seafood al fresco lunch at one of the restaurants overlooking the ocean. To round off the day, we would have a light sushi dinner, and finally, attend a concert given by the splendid Orquestra do Sul. Your favourite local dish? We love Rodízio-style cuisine, whereby succulent slices of spit-roasted meats are cut and served directly at the table.
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Your kit
LIFE CHANGING Your battery life, that is. This is the first in a series of articles by Russell Newton, our own Macman, to help you get the most out of your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and other Apple products
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pple devices such as iPhone, iPad and MacBook come with high-quality rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Due to clever software design these batteries can usually get you through a normal day of use. However, here are ten tips and tricks to help you maximise your battery’s performance.
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Charge the device overnight. Regardless of how much or how little depleted your battery is at the end of the day, put it on to charge overnight. It will do no harm and you will always have 100% charge when you unplug it in the morning. Charge it whenever you get the chance. Contrary to popular belief, regularly charging your iPhone, iPad or MacBook for a short while will not diminish the lifespan of the battery. Additionally, if Mac laptops are plugged into power they don’t drain the battery at all. Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use. This is an especially useful step on Apple notebook computers, but might help with other devices too. If you are not wirelessly connecting to networks or other devices, turn these functions off. Turn on Wi-Fi! Using cellular data (3G or 4G) uses more power than Wi-Fi. Connecting your iPhone or iPad to a Wi-Fi network will actually allow your battery to last longer than using the mobile phone network. Use Airplane Mode. Not only is this a legal requirement on many airlines, but it also reduces battery
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consumption enormously. Airplane Mode deactivates all wireless communications, thus saving battery life. If you turn Airplane mode on you can still turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth back on individually if you wish to pair with wireless headphones or use other features such as AirDrop. Turn down the brightness of the screen or keyboard. The brighter your screen and backlit keys, the faster your battery will deplete. Generally, leaving these settings on automatic is good practice, but feel free to dim them further to get more out of your battery. Don’t allow apps to run in the background. In iOS go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh to see which apps are allowed to run in the background. Turn them on or off individually, or simply disallow all apps from running in the background for maximum battery life. On a Mac simply quit any apps you are not currently using. Open applications on a Mac have a little black dot below their icon on the Dock. Keep your software up to date. Apple software updates often include advanced energy-saving technologies, so always make sure your device is using the latest version of iOS, macOS, or watchOS. Keep an eye on your battery usage. In iOS go to Settings > Battery to see which apps or activities are draining your battery the most. It even suggest tips on how to improve your usage. Activate Low Power Mode, in the Control Center or Settings app. This useful feature will engage several battery saving techniques enabling you to go longer without a charge.
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FACT OR FICTION? Force quitting apps by swiping them off the top of the screen improves battery life? Fiction! Double-pushing the home button (iPhone 8 and earlier) or sliding up from the bottom of the screen (iPhone X and later) takes you into the app switcher. This allows you to quickly jump between recently used apps. It also allows you to swipe the app off the top of the screen to cause the device to forget the ‘saved state’ – useful if the app is misbehaving. However, it is a common misconception that it improves battery life. Apple intentionally throttles older iPhones so they run slower, in order to encourage you to buy new devices. Fiction! The iOS software purposefully runs a little slower on devices with ageing batteries. This is a feature that Apple added in iOS 10.2.1 in order to reduce the number of unexpected shutdowns users experience. Having the battery professionally replaced will allow the software to run at full speed again - regardless of the age of the device. You can actually disable this feature in Settings > Battery > Battery Health > Peak Performance Capability. iOS 12 actually introduced many features specifically designed to help older devices run faster than before! You should always fully discharge and recharge your battery, rather than topping it up or partially charging it? Fiction! There is no problem partially charging a lithium-ion battery, nor charging it when it is partially depleted. In fact they are designed to be charged overnight, regardless of how much you drained the battery during the day. Having an unofficial battery replacement, or even doing it yourself, is just as good as getting Apple to do it? Fiction! DIY or “after market” battery replacements might be good quality and cost effective. But not always. Doing it this way might well void your warranty or cause additional issues with your Touch ID or other functionality. Always check what guarantees the service provider is offering before agreeing to a repair. Apple Stores or Apple Authorised Service Providers only use official Applesupplied parts fitted by Apple Certified Technicians. Additionally, performing such surgeries yourself may carry risk of damage or injury.
TALKING POINTS... Russell Newton is an International Apple Trainer who works all over the planet training Apple Technicians and Support Professionals. He is also one of only four AppleCare Mentor Trainers in the world, and the only one outside of the USA. When he’s not globe-trotting, he is based in the Algarve offering Apple technical support and training in the region. He still uses a five year old iPhone 6 with original battery! You can contact him on +351 933 544 652, or email him at me@russellnewton.com
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Flower Power
A BUNCH OF THE BEST Each year relationship anniversaries are celebrated and gifts exchanged, from paper in year one to pottery for the ninth and the good stuff starting with silver on the 25th. But more and more people are saying it with flowers nowadays…
1st anniversary – Carnation Red ones symbolise admiration, while whites represent innocence. The carnation is a long-lived flower that embodies the promise of a lifetime spent together.
2nd anniversary – Lily of the Valley According to legend, a nightingale will only return to the woods in spring once the lily of the valley is in bloom – just as one partner will eagerly await the other’s return when they’re away.
3rd anniversary – Sunflower The sunflower’s strong stems symbolises the firm foundation of a relationship while its sunny hues represent the warmth shared between lovers.
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5th anniversary – Daisy While daisies may appear simple or even boring at first glance, a closer inspection reveals an intricate texture and petal structure, a reminder that in a relationship there are still surprises to be found. 4th anniversary – Hydrangea Hydrangea symbolises the growing understanding between two people and symbolises gratitude… the perfect way celebrate another year of a happy marriage.
6th anniversary – Calla The calla lily is an elegant and in its pink form carries connotations of admiration and appreciation; it is traditionally gifted as a promise of passion.
7th anniversary – Freesia Traditionally a trying year for couples, many look to avoid the ‘itch’ by presenting their loved one with a freesia, a symbol of trust and faithfulness.
8th anniversary – Lilac Lilacs are a symbol of first love. Traditionally given on the 8th year of committed togetherness, they are a reminder of the fiery romance shared in the early days of a relationship.
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Flower Power
10th anniversary – Daffodil Daffodils are often used to signify memories not forgotten and are the symbol of a decade spent together. They also symbolise new beginnings and a promise of more good times ahead.
9th anniversary – Bird of Paradise The 9th wedding anniversary is embodied in the bird of paradise flower – an exotic and magnificent flower symbolic of freedom and joy. It connotates faithfulness and thoughtfulness.
25th anniversary – Iris A notable flower for a notable milestone. The 25th anniversary is represented by the iris, which signifies faith, wisdom and promise. The Iris is also the symbol of France and heavily associated with Paris, the city of love. 50th anniversary – Yellow Rose and Violets| The only anniversary that is marked by not one but two flowers, the contrasting colours of yellow roses and violets symbolise the coming together of two people who complement and support each other despite their differences.
50th anniversary – Yellow Rose and Violets The only anniversary that is marked by not one but two flowers, the contrasting colours of yellow roses and violets symbolise the coming together of two people who complement and support each other despite any differences.
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TALKING POINTS... According to Lucia Polla, marketing manager at online florists serenaaflowers.com most people will know that wedding anniversaries are marked by gem stones and other materials, but few are aware that each year is also embodied by a flower. “For centuries flowers have been known to represent different traits and emotions and so it makes sense that an anniversary should be celebrated with a flower that synergises with the meaning of each occasion,” she says. “Gifting flowers – whether it’s a single stem or a full bouquet – is always sure to put a smile on your partner’s face, and will definitely win you brownie points.”
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ALGARVE Yoga & Mindfulness Weekday Retreats Join us at Casa Vida for transforming mornings of Yoga and Mindfulness near Loule. Gentle yoga flow, peaceful mindful meditation and yoga Nidra relaxation. Friday 8.30 - 11.30am June to October Fee 50 Euros (includes healthy snacks) Contact 0044 07941 264621 moorwellbeing@gmail.com www.moorwellbeing.com
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Gizmos
MULTI-CAMERA PHONES
With sophisticated fancy camerawork built into the latest mobile phones, the opportunity to snap images of the highest quality is ever present. Chris Partridge reports
T
ime was, we were happy if our mobile phone had a camera at all. It was great to be able to grab unexpected photo opportunities even if our regular phone was back home. The pictures might have been a bit grainy, and snaps of our mates in dark bars were frankly just black rectangles, but suddenly we had cameras that were always in our pockets. Nowadays, however, smartphone cameras seem to have got a bit excessive. High-end phones have two or three or more, and sometimes it seems as if the phones of the future will have lenses all over the backs like acne. But the question is, are they any good?
Apple Iphone XS
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Verdict on quality The short answer is that multiple cameras can produce great results, and dedicated cameras
are rapidly becoming obsolete except for professionals. Multiple cameras can take different images simultaneously, which can then be combined with software to create a picture that is better than either individually. A good example is one of the first multi camera phone, the Huawei P9, with dual lenses designed in collaboration with Leica. One camera took colour, the other black-andwhite. Combining the two produces images with better contrast and more accurate colours, and, because the monochrome camera had better low light characteristics, night shots were more detailed. This principle has been developed hugely in the three years since the P9 Samsung Galaxy Note 10 was launched. Now you can
September 2019
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Nokia 9 Pureview
get phones with separate lenses for close-ups and long distances shots; the new Honor 20 Pro, for example, features no fewer than four cameras (plus the selfie camera on the front, of course.) The line-up starts with a main camera with a massive 48-megapixel sensor. This does the donkey work for all photos. Backing the main camera up is a macro lens for very close up shots of flowers and wildlife, for example. A super wide-angle lens enables you to fit all the members of a wedding party in without forcing everyone to cluster together, and a 3x telephoto lens means you can get close to the action without sacrificing image quality – very good for sports particularly. This combo of cameras makes it possible to get stunning images even of subjects that would challenge many dedicated cameras, especially as the main and telephoto lenses are fitted with optical image stabilisation to reduce camera shake to a minimum. The right choice for you The main challenge is selecting the right camera for the job, which has to be done by choosing icons on the screen. There is a ‘1x’symbol on the main screen which you press to cycle through the telephoto, hybrid zoom and wide angle options, or you can pinch in and out on the screen to do the job. To select the macro lens you have to go to its own section of the camera app which is confusing. Another thing to bear in mind is that the main camera is set to take 12-megapixel images by default, to save on memory. If you want to exploit the full capability of the camera, you need to select the ‘ultra clarity’ mode, which means you cannot use the zoom or wide-angle lenses. Not only is the Honor 20 Pro a superb phone camera, it is also value for money at a quality level at about ¤539. Another budget phone with a high-end camera is the OnePlus 7 Pro. It has a triple camera on the back with a main lens with a 48-megapixel sensor plus ultra-wide and a 3x optical zoom. However, the feature that sets the 7 Pro apart is the selfie camera. To avoid the irritating notch in the main screen, the selfie camera sits in a drawer in the phone casing which pops out when needed. To do this, you bring up the photo app and press the ‘switch to front camera’ option. It is really quite dramatic. At about ¤678 the OnePlus 7 Pro is excellent value for money. Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 10+ is an unashamedly high end device, however, selling at over a grand. Most of the cost is explained by the gigantic, glowing, detail-rich screen and the iconic stylus that makes the Note into an artist’s notepad as well as a phone, but the camera is top of the line as well.
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The camera line-up includes a 12-megapixel main camera, a 2x telephoto lens and an ultra-wide angle lens, and it also includes the industry’s latest fad, a ‘time of flight’ camera that measures distances rather like radar. This is used to enhance depth effects and in other apps to estimate sizes of nearby objects. It is a little unclear what real advantages time of flight cameras actually deliver, but this may become clearer when apps such as augmented reality, which superimposes information onto images of the real world, begin to appear. Pretty good going So far, however, the winner of the prize for cramming as many lenses as possible onto the back of a camera is awarded to the Nokia 9 Pureview, which has no fewer than five in cluster, all made by Zeiss. Two of the cameras take colour, the rest taking monochrome images that combine photos to provide images with more detail in the shadows and great depth of field. The editing is done by a dedicated high-speed processor. The drawbacks to the Nokia 9 Pureview include lack of telephoto or wide-angle lenses, though the budget price of ¤640 gets you a superb stills camera. Are the extra cameras worth the money? Google says no; its latest phone, the Pixel 3, has just the one, a 12-megapixel unit. It doesn’t even have optical image stabilisation, but produces some of the best images of any smartphone camera. Low light does not trouble it, colours are true, and it has excellent contrast. And you get all this for just ¤454. However, this may be set to change – leaked mockups of the forthcoming Pixel 4 show two lenses.
Honor 20 Pro 2
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Finance
Brexit concerns
L
ast month saw a sharp sell-off of the pound, driven by the rising threat of a nodeal Brexit. This resulted in the GBP/EUR plummeting from 1.11 to as low as 1.06, with EUR/GBP breaking through to 0.93. Meanwhile, GBP/USD tumbled from 1.23 to 1.20, while EUR/USD edged up from 1.11 to 1.12. WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING? The pound fell heavily against its peers over the past month, a reaction to Boris Johnson’s hardline stance on Brexit and a shock contraction in GDP in the second quarter. At the same time, the start of August saw an initially buoyant US Dollar, a result of the Federal Reserve signalling no further rate cuts, but, US-China trade tensions have since reignited, fuelling speculation the Fed could still cut rates further. Finally, the euro trended higher over the single currency capitalising on the weakness of its peers. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR? In the weeks to come, we can expect to see lingering downside bias in the pound as October’s exit date looms and the risk of a no-deal Brexit continues to grow. Of concern is that the euro may be disrupted by Eurozone politics amid speculation that an Italian general election may be on the cards. USD investors will likely keep their focus on the Fed and the possibility of another rate cut in September. CURRENCIES DIRECT When it comes to buying or selling a property, be aware that taking the time to consider how you’re going to manage the currency transfers involved can make a big difference. While using your bank might seem like the easiest option, leading currency brokers can offer more competitive exchange rates, personalised support and a number of other benefits.
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No-deal fears propel Sterling to multi-year lows. Find out what you should be looking out for, says Jose Almeida
At Currencies Direct we employ over 500 currency experts, spread across four continents, and we’ve had a presence in Portugal since 2011. WE CAN HELP YOU • Secure an excellent exchange rate • Avoid the sending and receiving charges applied by banks • Freeze an exchange rate for up to a year • Stay up-to-date with the latest currency news • Manage your pension payments HOW WE COMPARE TO THE BANKS See how much you could save transferring money abroad with us opposed to your high-street bank, based on sending £100,000 to Portugal. Average bank Rate: 1.094364 Fee: £11.95 You receive: ¤109,426
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That’s an additional ¤3,118 in your overseas account. Rates compared on 29 July 2019. When comparing our exchange rates to the banks, we use the International Money Transfer Index (an independent comparison service), so you get a verified, ‘real world’ comparison. Currencies Direct is here to talk currency, so please get in touch to hear the latest news and how it could impact your transfers. Since 1996 we have helped more than 250,000 customers with their currency transfers, so why not give us a call to find out more. For detailed information, contact the local office or visit our website and register to get regular updates on the currency markets. (Do mention Simply Algarve as how you heard about us). T: 289 395 739 E: algarve@currenciesdirect.com W: currenciesdirect.com/portugal
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Up and coming Events: 10 September Lunch with Sergio a chef working in Ocean Restaurant at Vila Vita Parc 14 September Pamper Day Two treatments and a Light lunch and complimentary drinks with cream Tea with Bubbles 24 September Sergio lunch For reservations please email at info@casademondo.com
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Finance
In response to your questions... Each month, Ricardo Chaves of All Finance Matters gives an insight into the legalities governing tax and general financial matters
O
n a monthly basis we receive many questions from readers and select those that we feel may help others better understand the tax system here in Portugal. Please feel free to send enquiries to us.This month, many of our enquiries relate to property ownership.
I bought a property in Portugal last November, why do I have to pay the full years IMI tax if I only gained ownership so later in the year? The taxpayer is the property owner as of 31 December of the previous year. This means that if you bought your property at the end of 2018, you will pay the IMI for the full year. Please note that the IMI is always related to the previous year, ie the 2018 tax is due during 2019. Likewise, if you sell your property during 2019, the new owner will pay the full IMI for this year, which will be due in 2020. Can you explain the tax implications of selling a property here? I understand that if I down-size and move from my house to an apartment, I will be taxed on the difference between the sale and the purchase price. Is this correct? And what if I sell but don’t buy, and choose to rent? First of all, let me tell you that if you sold a property in Portugal, irrespective of your residency or if you made a gain or not, you always need to complete an IRS tax declaration. Secondly, you can only use the reinvestment to avoid capital gains if you are resident and the property you are selling is your main residence. This means that your address at the tax office must be the address of the property being sold. You are only liable for tax if you had a gain on the transaction. Please note that the value you paid for the property needs to be adjusted, according to the inflation coefficient, applicable to the year of purchase. Accordingly, the purchase value will increase for the capital gains calculation. Also, from the sale of your property you can deduct the costs incurred with the purchase operation and sale of the property, costs incurred in property over the past 12 years, such as property refurbishments or other money spent to increase the value of the asset, including the cost of the energy certification. If after this, you still made a gain, then you can reinvest the proceedings of the sale on another purchase within the EU. This needs to be done on a purchase made between 24 months prior and 36 months after the sale. If the reinvestment in the new property is lower than the total sale, than the tax will be calculated pro-rata.
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To illustrate this, if you are selling for, say, ¤400.000 and your tax bill was going to be ¤25.000, you will only be tax exempt if you reinvest the full sale price ¤400.000. If your new apartment only costs ¤200.000, then your tax bill will be ¤12.500, as you only reinvested half. If you decide to rent and not to reinvest, then you are liable for the full tax bill. The payment of the capital gain occurs in August of the year following the sale. We inherited a property from our mum last year and decided to sell it. As we are selling for the same price she bought it, do we still have to pay tax? If so, how long do we have to wait until we can sell, to avoid paying capital gain tax? As you probaby know, there is no Inheritance Tax in Portugal, that’s why the only tax you paid when transferring the house into your name, was the stamp duty at 0.8%. The stamp duty was levied on the Tav Value of the Property (VPT) and this will be considered the price for acquisition purposes. Irrespective of the years you keep the property, you will always be liable for capital gain tax, providing you sell above the property at a prce higher than its valyewhen you inherted it. We own a townhouse in Loulé which we registered for touristic lettings (AL). We are aware of the taxation of 8.75% on the gross income, but what about the expenses? We will have a lot of expenditure this year, remodeling the property – can we offset this against our income? As a non-resident, if you are registered for the Local Lodging activities, your tax liability will be as you said, 8.75% of your gross income. Although there is no deduction of expenses, you can opt in a specific year to use a different criterion and be taxed according to the category F rules. This way, you would be able to use all the refurbishment costs and other deductible expenses and only pay tax on the profit, although at a much higher rate. However, it is unlikely that there will be advatages in using this taxation rule, unless the costs of the refurbishment of your Loulé property are a lot higher than 65% of the rental income received.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us; we aim our expertise and know-how to work to your benefit, keeping you tax compliant while paying only the legal minimum. Contact our office and book an appointment to find out about the tax strategy that might be more effective in your specific situation. ricardo@allfinance.pt
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Agenda
NOT TO BE MISSED
Each month, Simply Algarve brings you a hand-picked selection of the events on the region’s calendar. There are, of course, many more, but we will focus on the lesser-known and possibly more interesting. Got an event coming up? Email us with the details at simplyalgarvemag@gmail.com
THE ARTS URBAN ARTISTS
ArtCatto, Loulé Continued by demand Dom Pattinson – he of the much-loved bespectacled zebras – Dain, considered by high-profile collectors as one of the most influential urban artists to emerge out of New York today, and Ben Allen who works with a range of materials including acrylic, household paints, spray paints and screen printing, are enjoying a fair bit of adulation on the Algarve. Their work is bold, bright and cheering.
THE SCULPTURE GARDEN
Conrad Hotel, QdL Still there – still a joy See extraordinary works like Mondo’s super-sized eel and works from talents, Anneke Bester, Eleanor Stride, Paulo Neves, Sam Shendi and Jonty Hurwitz.
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MAGDALENA MORAY
Corte Real, Paderne On now Magdalena Moray captures the endless perspective of the evening sunsets in the Minho region of Northern Portugal. A new collection of wild landscapes and seascapes. All painted in the north, and all wantable! corterealarte.com.
TERESA PAULINO
Vale Do Lobo Art Gallery Till 30 September Monday to Friday, 9am6pm Last month we featured the work and story of the amazing sculptress Teresa Paulina. Now you can see many pieces at close quarters in Vale do Lobo. You will want them all.
PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION
Museu do Traje Sao Bras Until 25 September The images shown on pages 18 and 19 were voted the best in the latest Algarve Photographers’ Group show, but there are dozens more that capture the ‘frozen moments’ theme. Flying Soap Bubbles by Ernst Neidhardt is one of them.
September 2019
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MUST DO’S GRAPE HARVEST IN QUINTA DA TOR
Aldeia da Tôr, Loulé 7 and 14 September Visit the vineyards and cellar and take part in the grape harvest. You’ll enjoy tasting the excellent wines of this farm, vinified, matured and bottled on the property. The programme includes a welcoming reception, a trip to the winery, an introduction to the process, lunch and wine tasting, grape crushing (bring suitable clothes!) and refreshments by the pool. Organised by Loulé Criativo and Quinta da Tôr, email geral@quintadator.com or phone 968 427 274 for more information.
SAND CITY
Lagoa On until end November 10am-10pm If you haven’t been there and done it already, there’s still time to see the world’s largest Sand Sculpture Festival – this year’s is the best and biggest ever in its new location in Pera. it occupies an area of 6 hectares and is built by more than 60 artists from various countries who come to carve about 65,000 tons of sand. Great family entertainment is part of the package. It’s worth checking out algarvefun.com/listings/fiesa/#tickets for discounted tickets.
MEN IN COATS
Teatro Lethres, Faro 19 September, 9.30pm Men In Coats is a unique visual comedy double act that combines the arts of comedy, clowning and illusion. Since the act was created by Mick Dow they have performed all over the world. This year’s edition, Other Eating, introduces a cross between puppetry and gastronomy - a real challenge of creativity.
PORTUGUESE FOR FOREIGNERS
Coreto Hostel, Loulé 4 September Another Loulé Creativo initiative, this one designed to get you speaking the lingo and understanding the local customs with confidence. Conversation groups in a relaxed atmosphere will get you past the bom dia and obrigado stage. There are two levels, which is handy. For information and to register, call 966929240 or email atelierpalavrascertas@gmail.com
FOODIE THINGS OKTOBERFEST
Vila Vita Biergarten Porches 26 September to 6 October, 1pm to midnight Food first – think schnitzel and potato salad, cold cuts and apple strudel. Based on the famous event in Munich, the resort’s offering a jolly indeed with a real party spirit and yes,lots of beer – every day, between 3pm and 6pm it’s Happy Hour with three beers for the price of two! Live music starts at 7pm and, on the weekends, a band from Bavaria will play.
GASTRONOMIC EXPERIENCES
Matriz, Loulé By appointment Learn how to cook traditional dishes from Loulé, integrated into the Mediterranean diet. The meeting point is at Loulé municipal market, for a food shopping experience followed
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Agenda MONCARAPACHO MARKET
Sunday 8 September Another goodie on the regular calendar, and spread out (wear comfortable shoes) over a big area. The pottery, Olaria Moncarapachense is worth a visit before you get into the main market and you’ll always find unusual hand-made items alongside the usual pots and painted plates. At one end of the market area there is a good selection of saplings and healthy shrubs; elsewhere there’s the usual clothing and household plastics. by a cooking and sharing session in which you will produce Tiborna Pasture salad; Chicken ‘Cerejada’ of Loulé and Carob cake. Loulé Creativo’s specialist classes get better and better and ever more adventurous. This one is run by Ana Figueiras – hufiana@hotmail.com / 966 789 387.
FESTAS DO PESCADOR
Fisherman’s Square, Albufeira 4-6 September, from 6pm The annual Festival of the Fishermen pays tribute to the fishing community of the region. Expect plenty of wonderful seafood in typical Algarvean dishes and loads of beautiful sweet sweet desserts. Some two dozen little bars serve up the tasties and drinks. There’s music, too, from 8.30pm.
MARKETS
And don’t forget Loulé’s Saturday market, opposite the convent. Just follow the mobs. And midweek there’s the Wednesday gypsy market in Quarteira, 8am-2pm. Chicken piri piri at Marufo down the road is worth the walk after you’ve shopped.
SPORTS VALE DO LOBO GUEST DAY
FARMERS’ MARKET
Quinta Shopping Sunday 1 September, 10am-1pm Luscious local fruits and veggies alongside local artisan food products including oils, dried figs and nuts. Take a big shopping bag, have a coffee and pasteis de nata and watch out for the visiting folk dancers.
Ocean Golf Course 28 September, 8am to 6.30pm Vale do Lobo Golf Club Members and Vale do Lobo Proprietors Club Members can make themselves popular by inviting guests to play in the Vale do Lobo Guest Days at a special price of ¤50 green fee. Find out more at valedolobo.com/en/events/vale-do-loboguest-day-september-28th/
ESTOI MARKET
Sunday 1 September This big monthly gypsy market, along with the T-shirts and designer-look-alike handbags and watches, has a good number of plant and herb stands, and locally-grown fruit and veg, sausages and cheeses, bread and homemade biscuits. The sit-down snackeries do serve up some pretty good chicken piri piri, too. Follow the cars and park, if you can, in the big lot next to the cemetery. A walk round the corner to Estoi Palace, now a Pousada, is well worth the time. Amazing original architecture and tile work.
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SONG AND DANCE
OJA STET - MUSIC FROM THE MOVIES
CONCERT AMIGOS DE MÚSICA
Os Agostos, near Santa Barbara da Nexe Tuesday 10 September and Thursday 12 September, 7pm English virtuosos David Owen Norris, piano and Paul Silverthorne, viola will give the opening concerts of the Amigos’ 2019-2020 season. The first will feature music by Beethoven, Berg and Elgar; the second pieces by Bridge, Brahms and Cole Porter. Doors open DAVID at 6.00pm OWEN and wine, fruit NORRIS juices and canapés will be served. There will also be a short interval with refreshments. Entry donation is ¤25 per person for guests PAUL and non-members. Email SILVERTHORNE reservasconcertos@gmail.com to book.
Vale do Lobo Auditorium 21 September, 7.30pm to 9pm An intimate evening of jazz featuring renditions of music from some of the best known movies, past and present, from the OJA Stet ensemble, formed in 2012 and one of the most recent bands to come from the Algarve Jazz orchestra (OJA). The ensemble features a rhythm section, wind instruments and a female voice who all come together to create distinctive and creative sound. Tickets, available now from the resort reception, are ¤18 for general public (special prices available for Resort Members Card holders).
FESTIVAL F
Vila Adentro FARO 5-7 September, from 6pm The sixth edition of Festival F within the walls of Faro old town, and more amazing music from
Portuguese big names including Amor Electro, Antonio Zambujo, Funk Ball, Captain Faust, Carolina Deslandes, David Career, Deejay Télio, Linda Martini, Mayra Andrade, Profjam, Revenge Of The 90’s pop, rock and hip-hop. A wild night and amazing atmosphere… and a very very big crowd. Tickets are ¤15 for the 5th; ¤18 for the 6th and 7th; and a three-day pass is ¤45. cm-faro.pt
KIDS STUFF CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT
SALSA CLASSES
Museu do Traje Sao Bras 2, 9, 16 and 20 September, 7pm Richard Hoke will get you swirling and swaying with the music – just in time for the start of the new Strictly season. You can book by emailing admin@amigos-museu-sbras.t or call Richard on 281 971 631.
LIVE MUSIC
Vale do Lobo Praça Every night till 15 September, 7.30pm to 11pm Family fun on the Praça which will be home to live musical performances every night – take your place at one of the restaurants for a front seat. Mondays: Wendy & Adam Tuesday: Denzel & The Washingtons Wednesday: M90 Thursday: Wendy & Adam Friday: Dieb Band Saturday: Space Jam & Let’s Go Out Sunday: The Originals
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Vale do Lobo Praça Daily, until 15 September, 6.30pm to 11pm Kids can jump on the bouncy castle, enjoy fun workshops and experiment with face painting under the watchful eye of professional child minders from Oficina dos Sonhos. And parents can sit back and watch with a glass of chilled rosé.
TALKS EMPIRE ADRIFT BY PETER KINGDON BOOKER
Lagoa Library, Tuesday 24 September, 6pm Tavira Library, Friday 27 September, 11am The mad D Maria I arrived in Brazil in 1808, and her family remained there until 1820. Why, and what was the effect of their prolonged absence? Who governed Portugal in their absence, and with what effect? This episode in history has become even more famous through the fado of Amália Rodrigues Lisboa, não sejas francesa, which first appeared in a show in 1952. With the influx of French fleeing the tax regime of their homeland, the theme is ironically appropriate today. In this presentation, Peter Booker looks at the voyage to Brazil, and how the Portuguese Empire was cut loose, and drifted away from its homeland. For more info contact: lynne.algarvehistory@gmail.com
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Dining out
RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH L’AUBERGE, LOULÉ
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or a good number of years those living around Cruz da Assumda or Vale Telheiro just north of Loulé, regarded L’Auberge as their local and were understandably sad when it closed down. So imagine their delight when it re-opened just a few months ago – same place, same decor and, best of all, same owner and same chef. Let’s talk about the place itself first. Unpreposessing, it is a typical, flat-fronted Portuguese house on a curve in the road winding up into the hills. Only the handpainted tile plaque announces the ‘restaurant’ message, and only the colour of the building - bold, bright red, states you can expect something different. Inside, there is the mandatory bar and wooden chairs and tables around a cosy fireplace. But the main room - the one everyone wants to be in, is glass fronted with stunning views sweeping across the valley, to the sea. The décor is of minor interest but that, in fact, allows you to focus on the food. Chef Alain Simon is dedicated to French and Belgian cuisine, and brings together unusual flavours and textures, using the finest fresh ingredients that are locally sourced. And the dishes with familiar names are not quite what you would expect because of the passion that has gone into their composition. Octopus salad is an example of his approach – rich and tender with layers of flavour and a definite bite. And coquille-st-jacques gratinées, a dish that takes many back to early eating-out experiences, has a lightness that makes you want to order another portion before heading for the mains. A salmon and leek quiche is another treat and a great way to encourage kids to try something different. For those who want to unleash a new taste-bud experience, I recommend the smoked duck breast that is served with tabbouleh and marinated cucumbers. The restaurant is bustling at lunchtime and busy in the evening, especially when the sun is going down and the big
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windows let in a soft breeze. That’s when you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the pure pleasure of great cuisine. Lamb tenderloin is served with a herb sauce and crispy potato rosti; a filet mignon comes with mushroom sauce and potato gratin – there none of the sameaccompaniments-for-all style that so many restaurants adopt today. The steaks at L’Auberge are a treat, too, the meat of the finest quality, perfectly aged and wonderfully tender. And if you are a fish-lover, there is plenty of choice on the daily specials– sea bass, monkish served with a leek sauce and rice sauteed with raisins, sea eel, and that Belgian favourite, moules with chips. Puds, if you have the room (tell them to leave room my partner just said) include an apple and caramel pie with vanilla ice cream that is a taste sensation. The prices are right, too, with starters all under ¤10 and mains coming in at between ¤11 and ¤18 . Cruz da Assumada, 8100 296 Loulé T: 289 422 342
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Golf
TOP TIPS FROM THE PROS Richard Hudson and Eddie Charnock, Algarve Golf Guru, PGA Professionals discuss positive posture
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reat golf posture is crucial for consistent, accurate and powerful ball striking. You don’t have to be an athlete to achieve great posture, the tips on this page will work for golfers of all shapes and sizes. The golf swing is essentially a turning motion around your spine; the better the angle of your spine at address, the better it will be throughout the swing. Five key points to consider are: Keep your body weight focused on the balls of the feet. Too much on the heels and you will feel like you are falling back when you swing; too much on the toes and you will feel like you are falling forward at some point in your swing. With weight focused on the balls of your feet, you will feel balanced.
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Bend from your waist, so that you create a straight spine. Your hips should be your hinge from which to flex your torso over your legs. Your body is now ready for rotation because your core and base are stable.
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Do not let your chin rest on your chest which would allow the spine to curve too much before and during the swing. Many amateur golfers take the keep-yourhead-down matra too literally. By keeping your head
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down, you are increasing the curve in the mid-high back area. By putting an increased curve in the mid-back area, you will decrease your swing width.
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As with any sport, you should have a slight flex in the knees, creating what is known as ‘dynamic balance’. A slight knee flex in both knees means the body is ready for action, crucial to controlling your centre of gravity. You are putting yourself in a position to perform with great efficiency and you are minimising the possibility of injury.
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At address, the arms should hang straight down with the butt of the club a hands width from the thighs. This will allow your arms, shoulders and neck to be relaxed, allowing your arms to swing freely through the plane of your swing. From a visual perspective, the lateral view of correct posture would have a plumb line beginning from the anterior shoulder that would run in front of the knee and centre over the balls of the feet. Contact Richard or Eddie to discuss coaching opportunities for 2019 E: sales@algarvegolfguru.com W: algarvegolfguru.com And do mention Simply Algarve as a point of referral.
September 2019
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Sport
SPORTS NEWS
Brought to you by Chris Wright
PUDSEY BEAR HAS A BALL! Centre Algarve, a holiday centre in Moncarapacho for young people with special needs, welcomed young and old to their Pudsey Fun Day when groups from across the region helped to raise in excess of ¤5,000 for Children in Need. Those who helped to make the day a roaring success included a magician, fashion show, beauty parlour, bouncy castle and the Annette School of Dance from Quarteira. Pudsey Bear was on hand to receive donations from various groups including a large cheque for ¤1,056 from the customers and staff of the Overseas Supermarkets group. centrealgarve.org PORTIMÃO ‘EUROPEAN CITY OF SPORT’ SUCCESS The first six months of European City of Sport has seen Portimão host an incredible 315 sports activities involving some 52,230 people – more than 40,000 above what was expected for the whole year! Recently four of the world’s best futsal teams – Benfica, Sporting, Inter Movistar and Kairat Almaty – competed for the International Masters Trophy at Portimão. The ninth round of the FIM Superbike World Championship takes place at the Portimão Autodromo over the weekend 6-8 September with tickets starting at a modest ¤12. autodromodoalgarve.com PROMISING START Once again Portimonense managed to avoid becoming embroiled in a
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relegation battle last season. The club has gone into the Brazilian market – 17 of the 27-man squad are from Brazil – to bolster their midfield in the form of Luquinha, Everson and Romulo while they have recruited right-back Kouki Anzai from Kashima Antlers (Japan). The club finished tenth and twelvth respectively since their return to the top flight and this season securing top flight status will remain the primary target. Another mid-table finish would be a big bonus. Four points from their opening games against Belenenses (H) 0-0 and Tondela (A) 2-1 is a solid foundation for tough games to follow including, at home, FC Porto weekend of 14-15 September and SC Braga weekend of 28-29 September. OS ARMACENENSES LOSE The Campeonato Portugal team from Armação de Pêra lost their opening game of the new season at SC Olhanense. Armacenenses went a goal behind ten minutes from time but a sweet volley five minutes later from João Silva looked to have salvaged a point only for Olhanense’s centreforward João Vasco to snatch all three points with the winner 60 seconds later. The game was played behind ‘closed doors’ following crowd trouble at the Olhão club’s home fixture last April against Casa Pia which resulted in the game being abandoned. On 8 September Os Armacenenses return to Olhão for the first round of the Portugal Cup. EAGLES FLYING HIGH! Cafés and bars the length and breadth
September 2019
of the Algarve were packed to watch Benfica thrash Lisbon rivals Sporting 5-0 to win their eighth Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (SuperCup). There was a carnival atmosphere at the packed Algarve Stadium with music, lights and flares setting the scene for the fireworks that were to follow! Midfielder Rafa Silva gave Benfica the lead five minutes before halftime and Pizzi doubled the Eagles advantage on the hour. Alejandro Grimaldo added a third as the Primeira Liga champions took control and Pizzi put the result beyond all doubt by scoring his second goal fifteen minutes from time. There was still time for debutant Chiquinho to find the back-of-the-net eight minutes after coming off the bench to complete a sorry night for the Portugal Cup holders. Following the game, Sporting’s general director of sports, Miguel Albuquerque, is reported to have been hospitalised after being set upon by a group of disgruntled fans. A sorry end to a sad night for Sporting but Benfica will start the new campaign with two more trophies having won the prestigious pre-season International Champions Cup for the first time ahead of Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid. Their three victories in the USA, against Guadalajara (Mexico), Fiorentina & AC Milan, drawing large crowds from the Portuguese American communities that number over 600,000 in California and Massachusetts alone.
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Last word
EXPAT talk...
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Anthony Martin heads for the supermarket and learns a lesson that has nothing to doing with price or ingredient checking but everything to do with good, basic manners
his place is great – I mean seriously great. It must be, because I’m still here and still loving it, even though it’s 38 degrees in the shade, the roof lining on my car has detached itself and is, or was a few minutes ago, wrapped around the heads of the rear passengers. We are also, at the time of writing, in the midst of the lorry transport strike and the fuel stations have run out of diesel, Continente have sold out of my preferred water and there has been a run on ice and ice-cream. I’m driving with the windows open and air-conditioning off to save fuel, my shirt is sticking to my back and when I get home I can no longer park my car in the garage and out of the sun because the space now contains another fridge and an extra three freezers. From the beginning of my marriage the freezer was always full, and the excuse was: “what happens if we are snowed in and can’t reach the shops?” I could handle it then, when we had a small under-the-counter freezer and lived in a colder climate. It didn’t seem to matter much and sometimes we even took the stash out and ate it. But here, where you may have possibly noticed there is little chance of being snowed in, there is a perceived chance that, due to striking transport drivers, the butchers, bakers and candlestick makers may not be restocked as quickly as usual so it is just as well that we have two fridges and four freezers. All are full, and not just full but the food is packed so tightly that I worry that in the event of a power cut the robalo and the salmão may possibly mate. But all this is bythe-by and, yet again, I have gone off at a tangent.
Manners make it So, I was saying, up there at the top of the page, how much I like this place and one of the reasons, apart from the obvious ones, is the inherent politeness of the native Algarvians. I find it charming that on entering a post office or bank or indeed any place where people are gathered, the entrant will offer up a bom dia and whenever you say thank you, you will receive a de nada in return, and this always said with a smile. Also, when queueing at a supermarket check out and having only a few items, how often have you been waved ahead? This difference in attitude between the southern Portuguese and Brits was brought home with a bang this morning when I was waiting my turn at the supermarket check out. Ahead of me, were two women, each with an over-flowing trolley. Asking politely, as I only had one item, if I may jump ahead of them. They looked me up and down and immediately replied: “Nah, we was ‘ere first, get in the
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bleedin’ queue.” Inwardly fuming, but now being Portuguese by osmosis, I stood silently for ten minutes wishing a multitude of disasters upon these harridans and thinking that I should have gone to Apolonia, only to realise that, of course, it could equally happen there. The only difference between Aldi and Apolonia would be the contents of the trolley, the cost of the bill and, dare I say it, a better dressed shopper.
At the checkout, I found myself thinking about the differences between the various nationalities that spend their holidays here
One of a kind Whilst silently seething I wondered if, had I been clutching a can of baked beans and said: “Allo girls, ‘avin a good ‘oliday? Kin I go froo as the wife is waitin’ for ‘er dinner.” I would not have been thought of as a toffee-nosed git who believed, because he was carrying a pack of organic coconut water, could exercise his droit de seigneur and pass to the front of the queue. Driving home, windows open, air-con off, shirt sticking etc. I found myself thinking about the differences between the various nationalities that spend their holidays here. And I came to a personal opinion that the Brits are a race apart from the ‘Continentals’ and that possibly only the French equal us in our disdain for those we perceive to be of a different socio-economic type – and I’m including those we believe to be on a scale above us as well as those we believe to be on the scale below us. Whatever the ‘experts’ say the class system still exists and, as the paragraph above shows, I am as guilty as the next man for perpetuating it, for some of us who live here believe we are better than the average tourist who denigrates ‘foreign muck’ and who are seduced by signs that say: “English Fry Up Breakfast – All You Can Eat for ¤6”. Strangely enough, my two ladies in the checkout queue are as guilty as I, for they immediately pigeonholed me as not ‘one of them’ and subsequently wanted to put me in my place. I would lay odds that they voted leave – Brexit-wise.
September 2019
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