Welcome to the February edition and the month of love!
Those of us doing dry January (not me!) will celebrate with their favourite tipple, but how about Dry February for those who didn’t find the motivation in January? It’s the shortest month, so it’s a good one to choose!
Of course, February is a slightly uninteresting month marked only by St. Valentine’s Day, when lovebirds plan something special to either win their love or hold onto it! However, many of us simply grunt and mutter ‘blatant commercialism’ and ignore the 14th completely.
So why not embrace the spirit of Valentine’s Day this year, even if you’re determined to avoid red roses and chocolates? Let’s remind ourselves of the importance of love and compassion towards one another. As well as celebrating love in our personal relationships, let us also extend this sentiment to our neighbours and community by loving thy neighbour and uplifting our community as a whole. Rather than doom-scrolling and reflecting on all that is bad in the world that we can do nothing to change, a small gesture in our community will send a ripple out into the world that can only bring good.
The Algarve is a beautiful region filled with diverse cultures and backgrounds, and it is up to us to foster a sense of unity and togetherness. Whether it be a kind gesture towards a neighbour, volunteering at a local charity, or simply getting to know those around you, there are endless ways to show love and appreciation for your community.
In this edition, you may want to reflect on Father Rob's article (page 16) on how joining a church service can foster a sense of togetherness. Anadá Filipitsch, whose daughter, Constança, suffers from the rare genetic disease KAT6A, is appealing to the community to come and walk with them to mark Rare Diseases Day (see the What’s On section). Or, if your main love is animals, maybe read Cadela Carlota’s article (page 58) and sit with a dog on Valentine’s Day.
However, should you wish to enjoy Valentine’s in the traditional way, we can help you with that too. You may wish to support a local restaurant (there’s one suggestion from the restaurant critic) or cook your own vegan dish (see page 50). Our wine expert Candace guides you on selecting a sustainable wine to enjoy with your valentine (page 46). Should you wish to whisk your valentine off on a romantic weekend, take a look at Lena Strang's article on Pousada Castelo de Palmela (page 60).
So, let’s use this Valentine's Day as a reminder to spread kindness, understanding, and support to those around us. Together, we can create a stronger, more connected community where everyone feels valued and loved.
With love and gratitude,
Sophie, Tom, Phil and the Tomorrow team.
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The brothers from Praia da Luz who are rocking the London music scene
Keo is a four-piece alternative rock band formed by the Keogh brothers, who spent their formative years in Praia da Luz. Now living in London, Finn and Conor look set to rock the music charts after playing in Hyde Park last summer and performing sell-out sets at the famous Windmill in Brixton. Sophie Sadler spoke to Finn to find out what is driving their success.
Listening to some of Keo’s music with its melancholic vocals and uplifting guitar riffs is taking me back to my 90s hay days of dancing the night away in sweaty basement clubs, wearing baggy charity store clothes and Converse trainers while downing an alco-pop. This does not take away from Keo’s innovative sound, which a Ticketmaster review described as “angsty post-grunge”.
The same review went on to reflect that “lead singer Finn’s sentimentality shone through the bulldozing instrumentation, evoking bands such as Bush and even Silverchair.”
I ask Finn where his influences come from. “Mum and Dad have always played early 90s bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana. My brother Conor, who plays bass, is a massive Nirvana fan. He has a tattoo of the In Utero album art on his arm. I’m more of a Radiohead fan and listen to folk music from the 90s.”
There is a definite move back to guitar music in the UK, and 2025 looks set to take
a trip back to the 90s sound with the Oasis tour. But there are a few new bands, like Wunderhorse, Fontaine DC and Sam Fender, featuring guitar rock who are taking over the UK live music scene. “You can feel the influence of this sound in my age group,” reflects Finn. “There’s a massive grunge movement, or more like a take on it because it’s evolved due to new technology, so the sound is different. I think it was always in my imagination that one day guitar rock would come back in and it has – but in a more interesting way. If you take Fontaine DC’s music, it’s almost like Nirvana and the Smiths had a baby! Wunderhorse’s sound is like Neil Young songwriting, but it’s played with electric guitars and distortion pedals, so it sounds like Nirvana.”
The Keogh brothers grew up all around England, living in Birmingham, North Devon, Bristol, and then Waterford, Ireland. “I don’t think I was in any primary school for more than six months at a time.” This peripatetic existence was down to the fact that his Dad Davey is also a musician.”Dad’s an Irish folk singer, but his act is also very comedic. He’s one of the funniest people you’ll meet.
26 years of
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He’s probably done more gigs than any band on the planet! I used to join him on the road in the UK and once, we even toured the States in an old van as his support act. My brother and I would do a little 30-minute set in between two hours of his music, so performing has always been my life. My earliest memories are on my dad’s lap singing ‘Dirty Old Town’ in front of a packed pub.”
When Finn was 15, the family moved to the Algarve, where he stayed until he was 18, but his parents still live in Luz and he returns often to take a break and pursue his other passion, surfing. “I think most of my actual growing up, like becoming an adult, was done in Portugal.” He missed a chunk of education down to COVID so he never sat GCSEs. “I spent the pandemic in the Algarve with my family. I decided to buy myself a new surfboard. Then, the following day, they made surfing illegal and closed all the local beaches due to the pandemic.”
After lockdown the brothers were well-known in the local music scene. When Finn was 16, he played in local bars like Indigo over the summer as well as busking on Luz seafront. Soon, the bright lights of London called him to find fame and fortune. Even with no academic qualifications, Finn got a scholarship at the London University of Music. “I just went in and played them some songs that I’d written and they took me.”
Finn was in a production class in a small London studio when he first heard the drumming of Oli Spackman. “Oli volunteered to play whilst we recorded and I recognised he was just astonishingly good at the drums and then we hit it off,” recalls Finn, who always planned to form a band in the back of his mind. “There’s an old saying, ‘You’re only as good as your drummer’, and it’s so true. So knowing Oli from the early days was a big influence in forming the band, although we were good friends for six months before I asked him to join.”
Then, two years ago, Conor met guitarist Jimmy Lanwern, and after years of dreaming, Finn’s band suddenly became a reality. “I’ve got Conor on bass and he’s the glue. I know I’ve always got a good bass player and my brother with me. But after meeting Oli and Jimmy, it finally feels like that kind of brotherhood that’s important for a band.”
The new four-piece have also honed some of their skills in the Algarve. “We did a gig at Mellow Loco in Lagos, and afterwards, the owner threw us an awesome after-show party. The booze was flowing freely and everyone got pretty wasted. Oli was so drunk he let the owner give him a smiley face tattoo on his thigh. Oli didn’t remember a thing until two days later when he rediscovered the tattoo on the flight back to London.”
With the band established, they set about trying to conquer the London music scene. Finn describes himself as the ‘squeaky wheel’ managing the band and trying to get noticed. “Music has always been everything to me. I’ve always believed that I can make it and I’ve drilled that mentality into the rest of the band.”
Finn acted as the manager, cold-emailing promoters and trying to get bookings. “To start with, getting any gig was really hard. But we just kept doing more and more shows and then we started to get noticed by A&Rs who were coming to watch us.” The Artist & Repertoire division of a record label is responsible for scouting, financing and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. “They are basically scouts and it became pretty clear maybe two years ago that we started to get A&Rs at every gig. In 2024, Keo wowed crowds at The Windmill in Brixton, a live music venue with a reputation for championing new music.
I ask Finn if he has a record deal, which in my head is the holy grail of the record industry, but I am, of course, out of date. In today’s competitive industry it is more important to find a manager to fight your corner. Keo’s pivotal moment
Finn and Conor playing in Mellow Loco bar in Lagos
came a year and a half ago when they met their manager, Callum Smith. He got us a really good booking agent who represents big acts like Beabadoobee, so he gets us a lot of the good shows. Callum also played a crucial role in facilitating the band being signed by East City Management. “Our management company is run by a guy called Tav, (Stephen Taverner) who’s amazing. He looks after Wolf Alice and he’s just kind of ‘the wise guy’ who watches over us. So, I’d say management was more important than anything. So those were the two first pieces of the puzzle.”
Finn explains that trying to find a record deal is an emotional roller coaster. “We were sat in massive offices overlooking London every other day with influential label executives. It was really like how you imagine it in movies. They would sell us a dream consistently but never offer – it was like everyone was waiting for someone to offer first.” Their first offer from Relentless Records gave them a huge confidence boost, but they decided it wasn’t the right one.
Then, this year, Keo found the missing piece of the puzzle when they met with Polydor, who gave them some money to help develop their sound. When I spoke to Finn, they had offers from two different companies and were anticipating signing a deal within the next week or two. “There’s been this lull of waiting because we had offers, but our management and lawyer kept insisting that we needed to bide our time in order to have different offers on the table so that we could get the best one.”
Finn is the band’s songwriter, and I ask him to explain his creative process. “I’m super influenced by Ben Howard, Nick Drake and John Martyn, who all play acoustic guitar. Although I play electric guitar in the band, I generally compose on my acoustic with open tunings, which is a way of tuning your guitar. I’ll play some chords and normally they’ll just match how I’m feeling and then the lyrics will come after that. There are also occasions when I’ve been in the room with the guys in the studio or in a rehearsal room and the band will join in on the progression of the song. I give them a vision so everyone gets the sound I want to hear from their instrument. I think that gives them a bit more freedom than me writing their instrumentals.”
In May, Keo released their debut track ‘ Fly’ on SoundCloud and YouTube, which caught the attention of Dork, Far Out and NME. Another track, ‘Crow’, tells the story of someone preparing to lose a family member to disease but still desperately hoping that they can pull through. The message of the song is based on Finn’s own experience after his Mum, Abi, defeated cancer.
Their stand-out gig so far was playing Hyde Park with Kings of Leon and Paolo Nutini. “It was just amazing because I’m always going past Hyde Park and playing in a massive open space in the summer with a sea of people – it felt unbelievable. I got to meet Paolo, and he offered to share some brandy with me, which I didn’t accept, but it was a taste of what the future might hold!”
I point out that this point in his life must feel very exciting. “It’s funny how it works. I feel like by the time something actually happens, it’s no longer as exciting as when you first heard about it possibly happening!” But there is plenty of excitement lined up for Keo in 2025. The band is playing to a sold-out crowd in Oslo in March. A European promotional tour and summer festivals include Dot to Dot in Bristol and Nottingham, Sound City Liverpool and The Great Escape in Brighton.
So I am desperate to get some more juicy details of the London music scene. Is it all sex, drugs, and rock and roll? Well, the short answer is no! Finn is in a relationship, drinks moderately and definitely doesn’t take drugs. “It’s so competitive now, and I think people just don’t stand for that shit anymore,” reflects Finn. “The music industry doesn’t want someone that’s unreliable and off their head, so it’s very rare that someone successful is living like that. I think the people that are making it are surprisingly dialled in. Even if their public face comes across otherwise, they are like working their arses off!”
Keo has gone down a characteristically retro route by not releasing any of their music on streaming platforms. Their first singles recorded with Pete Robertson will come out this month. As well as recording in the sought-after producer’s own studio, they have also been invited to record in the Warner Building in Kensington, which Finn describes as “probably one of the best experiences of my life”. This delay has been deliberate: “We wanted it to feel like all good music feels at first. It’s your own little secret, and you want to gatekeep it. So, it’s really worked for us being a bit more like ‘you can come to us’ rather than ‘please listen to us’.” But he admits that it will be a great feeling to see their records on Spotify.
Reflecting on my conversion with Finn, I am struck by his maturity. He’s an old rock-and-roll head on young shoulders. Maybe this is because he was performing music from a young age. You can imagine him dreaming this all up in his childhood bedroom as he moved from town to town.
But one thing is sure: Finn has tunnel vision, seeing only musical success. This focus is undoubtedly driving Keo forward on the London music scene. Just as long as London doesn’t forget, Luz found him first!
Xavier Pottery Crafting the Future of Algarve Chimneys
WORDS Jake Cleaver
“O bom filho à casa volta,” was Domingos Gonçalves, artistically known as Xavier, answer when I asked him what it felt like to return to pottery after a 20-year hiatus. “É como andar de bicicleta,” he added with a smile. But when did Xavier first learn to ride this metaphorical “bicycle”? That’s what brought me to his old pottery shop in downtown Loulé – to uncover his story and see how his son, António, is now learning to work the potter’s wheel and to “pedal” alongside him.
Back in the day
I found Xavier hard at work in his workshop. With clay already set in motion, he was too busy to stop. I therefore conducted the interview as his well-practised hands turned a humble block of clay into the latest bespoke chimney.
Xavier was born in the north of Portugal and moved to the Algarve at 16 years old. But his fate as a potter wasn’t forged in the kiln just yet. He told me how he actually began work as a carpenter in Albufeira. It was only when he met his first wife that he began working in his father-in-law’s pottery shop. Clay, Xavier told me, has been worked in this building for more than 100 years. Indeed, his father-in-law’s father had passed it on to him.
Walking around the space, trying not to knock anything over, the workshop felt a bit like a time capsule. Although they now use an electric kiln, the back room still holds the remnants of the old days, when clay was fired using traditional methods. But Xavier told me things have changed a lot. The surroundings were a lot different. The workshop, although still on this charming cobbled street, was surrounded by farms and trees – and the road was full of other olarias (pottery workshops).
It was big business back then. Before the invention of plastic, pottery wasn’t just a charming art form, it was a necessity of life. People came to buy water jugs that they would fill up at the local poço (well), as well as containers for olive oil, preserved olives and vases, but the biggest seller by far was the alcatruz (octopus trap).
When the fishermen of the Algarve switched to cheaper plastic traps and plastic and glass containers began to be used in homes, there was a drastic decline in pottery in the region.
Over time, the olaria fell into disrepair, and Domingos transitioned to running a bar. Yet, his connection to pottery never truly faded.
Father and son
Occasionally, he taught workshops to curious tourists, keeping his hands in the craft.
Then, ten years ago the tides turned. Loulé Criativo, in its initiative to preserve traditional crafts and bring them into the future, restored the old pottery shop. Xavier was asked to return and fire things up again.
Chim chiminey, chim chim cheroo But things had changed since back then and Xavier has dedicated himself almost exclusively to keeping the Algarve’s iconic chimneys alive.
If you look around the Algarve, you may still see the remnants of these beautiful old chimneys from a time when they were all handcrafted and something of a status symbol. Xavier takes inspiration from these and visitors to the shop can collaborate with him, describing their vision for a custom chimney. Xavier will then craft it to their taste and specifications – making each one a true original.
These days, though, chimneys aren’t often used for their original purpose but as decoration in the garden, often making a nice home for a light bulb.
Looking around the workshop, I saw Xavier will occasionally spin a pot, mug, bowl, plate, vase or coaster. I also saw photographs proudly displayed on the wall of the chimney trophies that Xavier created for cycling, rugby, football and other big sporting competitions over the years.
Music to mud
I also met his son António. Arriving at the workshop, he was keen to check the kiln and see how their freshly fired pots had turned out. He explained that these little pots were part of a collaborative project of Loulé Criativo, where they will be given to the local lady weavers who will top them off with their woven local dried plants.
António is a musician and didn’t grow up with his hands in clay, but these days he is embracing it wholeheartedly. He even runs workshops to pass on the skills he has learned from his father.
Spinning full circle
Xavier’s journey from carpenter to potter to barman and back shows how life keeps spinning and the good son does indeed eventually come home.
This artisan is preserving the tradition of Algarve chimneys and, with António now working alongside him, is ensuring the artform survives –one carefully crafted chimney at a time.
If you are looking for your own unique chimney or wish to take a workshop, then please follow them on Instagram or get in touch.
@olaria_xavier
olariaxavier1976@gmail.com +351 927 188 223
The real Sofia Escobar
Sofia Escobar has captivated audiences the world over in the iconic roles of Maria in West Side Story and Christine in The Phantom of the Opera. In an exclusive interview, Sofia tells of her journey from Guimarães, in the municipality of Braga, to London’s West End, and of her next exciting venture –performing as Sofia Escobar.
WORDS Vaughan Willmore
Watching Sofia perform is captivating. With her wonderful soprano voice and stage presence, she makes it look natural. However, it’s easy to lose sight of the hard work, sacrifice, and dedication needed to reach (and maintain) her position as one of the world’s most popular stage performers.
“Music was always part of me,” she said. “I believe some things are born with us and develop over time. I was lucky enough to grow up in an environment that allowed it to blossom, but, at an early age, I didn’t necessarily think I could make a living out of performing.” Sofia’s teenage years were filled with singing and acting lessons and school performances, where she demonstrated an unmistakable talent and love for the stage. She trained at the Conservatório de Música do Porto and caught the eye of television executives when she won the role of teacher Olívia Matos in the award-winning TV series Morangos com Açúcar. Sofia featured in over 40 episodes of the longrunning teen drama.
At just 19 years of age, Sofia made the brave move of relocating to London to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. They were fulfilling but challenging times, with her studying hard and working as a waitress to help pay her way. Sofia told me how “incredibly supportive” her parents were, even going to the point of remortgaging their house so they could support her financially. It was while she was studying that she spotted an advertisement in The Stage offering open auditions for one of the most beloved musicals of all time, The Phantom of the Opera
It was while studying in London that Sofia spotted an advertisement in The Stage offering open auditions for one of the most beloved musicals of all time, The Phantom of the Opera.
The audition process took many months and involved almost a dozen callbacks. “I wasn’t nervous at the start because I didn’t think I’d be cast,” said Sofia. “As things progressed and the calls came for yet another audition, I knew I had a chance.” In 2007, Sofia was cast as the lead understudy for the iconic lead role of Christine. It was a major step in her career and an important one, as finances were running low. “I’m not sure how much longer I could have lasted if I hadn’t secured that work,” said Sofia.
Sofia spent two years as the lead understudy. It was hard work, having to be ready to step into the star role at “five minutes notice”. In 2010, she became the lead actress in her own right and went on to play the role for three years. London audiences and critics alike were captivated by Sofia’s emotive delivery and crystal-clear vocals.
Sofia looks back on her nine years in London with affection. She lived in Notting Hill and St. John’s Wood, and still misses the vibrancy of the city. It was the place she met her future husband – a huge fan of Phantom – who introduced himself after one of her performances. They’ve now been married for 11 years and have a young son.
as herself – Sofia Escobar – rather than a fictional character. “It’s lovely to be myself and not a character,” said Sofia. “Albeit, I’m eternally grateful for all the opportunities those roles gave me.”
While Sofia certainly doesn’t rule out a return to television, she told me, “Theatre is the place for me. It’s where I feel most comfortable.” She’s currently touring and working on a second album of original songs in collaboration with other artists. It will be out late 2025. In the meantime, check out Sofia’s first album or, if you have a chance to see her in concert, take the opportunity to see her performing as the real Sofia Escobar.
sofiaescobar.pt fundacaoronaldmcdonald.com
More success followed after Phantom, with Sofia taking on the role of Maria in West Side Story. Sofia’s dedication to the role earned her numerous awards and nominations. She won the ‘Best Actress in a Musical’ award at the Whatsonstage Theatregoers Choice Awards and was nominated in the ‘Best Actress Category’ for the 2009 Laurence Olivier Awards. A world tour ensued.
Whenever she had a chance, Sofia would return to Portugal and was a frequent presence on our television screens as a supportive mentor for several seasons on the prime-time show Portugals Got Talent. She subsequently featured as a member of the main cast in the popular soap opera Ouro Verde
Throughout all of her success, Sofia has been a loving mum and has always prioritised her home life. She currently lives in Madrid with her actor husband, Gonzalo Ramos. Sofia often participates in charity performances and collaborates with organisations dedicated to the arts, supporting young artists and encouraging the next generation of talent. She’s a passionate advocate of the Ron McDonald Foundation, which cares for and supports families with children who are undergoing hospital treatment (see link at the end of the article).
In 2022, Sofia released her debut album, the critically acclaimed Tanto Mais (All The More). It was a marked departure for Sofia because she was once again performing
For me, there’s something extraordinary about February! It’s ‘neat and tidy’ – being 28 days (most of the time), exactly four weeks long – and I think my slightly compulsive mind likes the symmetry, the mathematics of it. So for example, if 9 February is a Sunday, then you know that 9 March is also a Sunday – very handy. I also enjoy how short it is – it is over in the blink of an eye, and it doesn’t hang around as long as those very annoying months with a whole 30 or 31 days.
I am sure that as humans, we want things to fit into nice little orderly packages, but frustratingly, as we all know, life isn’t as neat and tidy as February. It doesn’t fit into perfect four-week blocks or wrap up as quickly as we might like. Days spill over into weeks, challenges arise when we least expect them, and the unexpected seems to have a way of derailing even the best-laid plans.
As much as we might long for the kind of order and brevity February offers, life can feel messy, chaotic and sometimes downright overwhelming. Relationships can be complicated, work can pile up, and there are always unpredictable moments – good and bad – that disrupt our routines. And yet, this is exactly what makes life so rich, so full of possibilities.
Where do we find our balance in the midst of this messiness? For me, faith provides a framework to navigate life’s unpredictability. It doesn’t promise to make everything perfect or easy, but it offers tools to help us face challenges with grace and resilience.
Faith reminds us that we’re not alone. When life feels chaotic, knowing we’re part of something bigger can be comforting – a story that stretches far beyond ourselves. Church, in particular, creates a sense of community, a space where people can gather, share their joys and struggles, and find support. It reminds us that we’re not meant to do life alone.
With its fleeting days and hints of spring, February also reminds me of hope. It points us forward. The days grow longer, the first signs of new life begin to emerge, and there’s the quiet promise of brighter days ahead. Faith works in much the same way. It offers hope even when life feels dormant or bleak, assuring us that renewal and transformation are always possible.
So, while February might appeal to my love of order and symmetry, it also teaches me to embrace the beauty of life’s imperfections. Just as February’s brevity reminds us to cherish the moment, faith encourages us to find joy and meaning even in the messiest parts of our lives.
As we catch glimpses of spring’s arrival this February, perhaps we can take a moment to reflect. Life may never be as tidy as February’s four weeks, but that’s okay (even February has an ‘odd’ day every four years). In the messiness, there’s beauty, connection, and hope – the things that make life worth living.
And who knows? Maybe this February, you might even find yourself drawn to explore faith or visit a church. It’s not about finding perfect answers or wrapping life up into a tidy little package, but about discovering peace and meaning in the middle of the beautiful chaos.
There are services every Thursday at 10.30 am, and every Sunday at 8 am and 11.30 am, but beyond that, the church is open every day for you to just come and sit, to be still and reflect.
Have a wonderful February, and enjoy its short appearance.
God bless
Fr Rob is the Anglican Chaplain at Igreja Nossa Senhora da Luz
Here Come the Girls!
Lagos Ladies Sunday Brunch Group was set up a year ago by Liz Ryan, who never in her wildest dreams imagined that it would take off like it has. “To date, we have over 900 members and 52 brunches behind us,” said Liz, who loves her “Sunday family”.
The reason she set up the Facebook Group was to get together with ladies like herself, who don't have family here or just want to make new friends, especially if they are new to the area. She was blown away by the response when 300 ladies joined in the first two weeks, and with around 25 to 35 meeting each Sunday, lasting friendships have been formed throughout the year, spilling out into friendships between couples who now meet regularly.
“There is no magic formula or agenda when we meet, it just works and we have so much fun. You just have to take a leap of faith, join the group (no subscription) and pop in any Sunday. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain,” said Liz, who has lived in Lagos for many years.
FB: Lagos Ladies Sunday Brunch Group
Avoiding Valentine’s Day Scams
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and people all across the world are already preparing for the most romantic date on the calendar.
Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate love, but, unfortunately, cybercriminals view it as an opportunity to exploit emotions for their malicious gains. As we gear up to exchange tokens of affection with our loved ones, it’s crucial to stay vigilant against the rising tide of Valentine’s Day phishing scams.
The Allure of Romance Valentine’s Day phishing scams often play on the emotions associated with love and romance. Cybercriminals are adept at crafting enticing emails, messages or social media posts that appear to be from a secret admirer or a long-lost love interest. These messages may contain subject lines like “A Valentine’s Day Surprise for You” or “Someone Has a Crush on You”. The goal is to lure unsuspecting individuals into clicking on malicious links or downloading infected attachments.
Fake E-Cards and Messages
One popular tactic employed by cybercriminals for Valentine’s Day phishing scams is the creation of fake electronic greeting cards or messages. These messages claim to contain a heartfelt note, a romantic poem or even a digital gift. However, clicking on the provided link can lead you to a phishing website designed to harvest your personal information, such as login credentials, credit card details or other sensitive data.
Online Shopping Deals
Valentine’s Day is synonymous with gift giving, and cybercriminals exploit this by promoting fake online shopping deals. Be cautious of unsolicited emails or social media ads advertising discounts on flowers, chocolates or romantic getaways. Clicking on these links may redirect you to fraudulent websites where scammers can steal your payment information or deploy malware onto your device.
Protecting Yourself from Valentine’s Day Phishing Scams
Firstly, Think Before You Click: Exercise caution when receiving unexpected messages,
WORDS David Thomas
especially those with romantic overtones or promises of surprise gifts. Avoid responding, clicking links or opening attachments, or responding to requests. Denying the phisher engagement is a crucial step in protecting your information.
Romance Fraud
Romance fraud involves people being duped into sending money to criminals who go to great lengths to gain their trust and convince them that they are in a genuine relationship. They use language to manipulate, persuade and exploit so that requests for money do not raise alarm bells.
It is important that no matter how long you’ve been speaking to someone online and how much you think you trust them, if you have not met them in person it’s important that you do not:
• send them any money
• allow them access to your bank account
• transfer money on their behalf
• take a loan out for them
• provide copies of your personal documents such as passports or driving licences
• invest your own money on their behalf or on their advice
Remember profile photos may not be genuine; do your research first. Performing a reverse image search on a search engine can find photos that have been taken from somewhere or someone else.
If you think you have been a victim of a romance fraud, do not feel ashamed or embarrassed – you are not alone. Contact your bank immediately and report it to the police if you have sent money to the fraudster.
Cybercriminals are adept at exploiting our emotions, and phishing scams continue to evolve in sophistication. By staying informed, thinking before clicking and employing cyber security best practices, you can protect both your heart and your data from falling victim to Valentine’s Day phishing scams. Stay safe, stay secure, and have a happy Valentine’s Day!
David Thomas is president of Safe Communities Portugal
Diogo Piçarra has topped the popular music charts and wowed audiences all over the world. He’s also been a popular figure on our television screens thanks to his work as a mentor on the primetime show, The Voice. Tellingly, despite all the acclaim he’s received, Diogo has stayed humble and connected to his roots here in the Algarve.
“My parents always supported me and believed in my ability as a musician and singer. When times were tough, they were there for me.”
Diogo Piçarra has three number-one albums to his name and stands as a significant figure in the popular music scene – an artist who blends heartfelt emotion with masterful songwriting which captures the spirit of a generation of followers. Known for his soulful voice and introspective lyrics, he has carved out a unique place in the Portuguese music scene. Diogo’s journey is one of passion, perseverance and authenticity.
Diogo was born in Faro, in October 1990. As a teenager, his interest in music blossomed, thanks in no small part to a friendly neighbour gifting him a guitar. Diogo taught himself to play and, in the process, began exploring songwriting. It was while studying at the University of Algarve that he joined with his friends in forming his first band, taking the role of guitarist and writer, rather than singer. Together, they played local clubs in
and around Faro, and, although they eventually disbanded, those experiences provided the foundation for what would eventually become a prolific solo career.
Diogo’s Piçarra’s big break came in 2012 when he participated in Pop Idol. From the very start, his charisma and raw talent stood out. His performances on the show demonstrated not only his technical skills but also his ability to connect emotionally with audiences. At the end of the season, Diogo was crowned the winner. It had proved a great showcase for his talents and, as the winner, he won a car and a scholarship to a music course in London.
Winning Pop Idol was a transformative experience, but it was only the beginning. Instead of rushing to release music immediately after his victory, Diogo took time to refine his sound and artistic vision. His patience paid off, as his debut album, Espelho (released in 2015) topped the music charts and attracted critical acclaim and a legion of new fans.
Following the success of Espelho, Diogo quickly established himself as one of Portugal’s most popular and respected artists. A second album, released in 2017, elevated his status even further, with tracks like ‘História’ and ‘Já Não Falamos’ becoming instant classics. The album, which delves into themes of love, identity and self-reflection, solidified Diogo’s reputation as a gifted lyricist and composer.
There then followed a significant gap between Diogo’s second and third albums, which was mainly due to COVID restrictions. Looking back on that time, Diogo told me he had concerns that his fans might have moved on or even lost interest but, in truth, they were waiting for him. Diogo’s third album also went to number one in the music charts. Its title South Side Boys is a reference to the Faro-based football club Farense and their dedicated fans.
Nearly ten years after his debut album, Diogo is still with the same recording label and his touring band features friends from Faro and dancers from Olhão. Although now residing in Lisbon – a place that gives him ideal connectivity to the music business and entertainment industry – he spent much of Christmas with his wife and young daughter, back here in the Algarve.
“We are a very close family,” Diogo told me. “My parents have always been supportive. They understandably insisted I finish my degree (in journalism), but they always supported my music. Originally, I was a guitarist and not a singer. It was my parents and good friends that gave me the confidence to sing and go solo.”
With a young daughter to look after and a busy professional career, Diogo has little in the way of spare time. Away from the spotlight, he enjoys exercising and travelling. He also has a somewhat unusual hobby, in that he is an accomplished hairdresser. He developed the skills during lockdown and puts them to good use when touring with his band. Indeed, a significant part of Diogo’s appeal lies in his live performances.
Whether playing in intimate venues or on grand stages, he brings an infectious energy and emotional depth to his shows. His ability to connect with audiences, often pausing between songs to share personal anecdotes or thoughts, makes his concerts feel like shared experiences.
Diogo’s latest EP, ‘Chuva’ is available to stream and purchase via his Linktree page (@diogopicarra), In March, he will be performing at Casino Estoril, with more live dates to be announced shortly. Diogo is likely to be back here on ‘home’ turf for the Portimão Sardine Festival (in August) and for the highly anticipated tenth edition of Festival F, which takes place in September in Faro. Later in the year, he will be back on our television screens as a mentor on The Voice Kids
In an industry where trends come and go, Diogo’s music stands out as a testament to the enduring power of authenticity and artistry. As we look forward to a new year, one thing is certain: Diogo’s voice and songwriting expertise will continue to resonate with millions, both here in Portugal and abroad.
The seventh of February marks the second centenary of the birth of one of Portugal's best-loved artists. Francisco Augusto Metrass went from a struggling student to a nationally acclaimed artist who would tell Portugal's history through his artistic abilities, with many of his works still widely admired today.
WORDS Luka Alexander
Metrass’ story shows the constant struggle artists face to gain recognition for their talent, but, with passion and dedication, this boy from Lisbon eventually managed to catch the eye of art lovers and even the king himself.
Born in 1825 in Lisbon to a wealthy family of Neapolitan origin, Francisco Augusto Metrass knew from an early age that he was gifted with an artistic flair. He first studied at the Lisbon Academy of Fine Arts as a voluntary student at the tender age of 11 despite the disapproval of his father, who wanted him to take up a career in commerce. Keen to expand his knowledge and broaden his horizons, Francisco moved to Rome in 1844. It was in the Italian capital where he would study alongside the Germanborn painters Johann Friedrich Overbeck and Peter Von Cornelius, as well as fellow Portuguese artist Luís Pereira de Meneses, 2nd Viscount of Meneses. While in Rome, Francisco
was devoted to learning from Johann Overbeck, who taught him techniques and theory for interpreting art.
One of Francisco's first paintings, Jesus Welcoming Children, was created in 1846 and is housed today in the Museum of Aveiro. Looking for inspiration, Francisco travelled around Italy, visiting Florence and Bologna before eventually returning to his beloved homeland, Portugal, via Paris.
Upon his return to Portugal, Francisco exhibited his work at Palácio dos Lumiares a S. Roque, which turned out to be a complete and utter failure: he was met with little to no interest by critics and the public alike. Downhearted, Francisco decided to sell his paintings and use the funds to open a “portrait talking house” in Cais do Sodré. Still searching for fame, Francisco was, yet again, forced to sell his work, but this time to an auction broker, possibly in the hopes of a better deal.
Using the funds he raised from the auction sale, he travelled to Paris, where he would stay until 1853, producing a series of paintings with historical themes that would later come to national prominence in Portugal. Honing his craft and perfecting his techniques, Francisco returned to Lisbon, where he set out to make his big break. Having studied Rubens, Rembrandt and Van Dyck while away, Francisco now had all the tools he needed for success, and it wasn't long before art collectors, and even the king himself, began to recognise Francisco for his outstanding work.
When King Ferdinand purchased the painting Camões in the Macau Grotto
it arguably put Francisco’s name in the spotlight. The painting depicting Portuguese poet Luís Vaz de Camões was later acquired by the state at the Conde do Ameal auction in 1921. Today, the painting is housed in the Chiado Museum in Lisbon. With this success, Francisco became a professor of historical painting at the Academy of Fine Arts and later collaborated on Revista Contemporânea de Portugal e Brasil (1859–1865), a contemporary magazine.
Some of Francisco’s most famous works include: O Juízo de Salomão (1850), Enterro de Cristo (1850), Inês de Castro Pressentindo os Assassinos (1855) and Só Deus! (1856). He also created some oriental sketches, including one of the Fado singer A Severa in c.1861, however these sketches proved unfavourable to the paying public.
Sadly, Francisco’s fame was shortlived. On the Feast of St. Valentine, 14 February 1861, Francisco Augusto Metrass died of tuberculosis on the island of Madeira. He was 36 years old.
While Francisco's life and fame were short, his legacy lives on through his artworks, which have now become museum pieces, carefully preserved for future generations and eliciting more praise for the artist in death than during his lifetime.
1. Francisco
2.
3.
4.
5.
Augusto Metrass (1825–1861) c.1861 [Public Domain]
Jesus and the children (1846) by Francisco Metrass [Public Domain]
Camões in the Cave at Macau (1853) by Francisco Metrass [Public Domain]
Inês de Castro pressentindo os assassinos (1855) by Francisco Metrass [Public Domain]
So Deus! (1856) by Francisco Metrass [Public Domain]
LAGOS SECONDHAND FURNITURE
Urb. da Marateca Lote 5, Chinicato, Lagos
“As Mulheres Corajosas” Who Made Portugal Great Branca Edmée Marques
Branca Edmée Marques de Sousa Torres, April 1899 – July 1986, was one of the early Portuguese specialists in the peaceful application of nuclear technology, founder of the Radiochemistry Laboratory in Lisbon, and one of the many students inspired by Professor Marie Curie’s passion for science.
WORDS Dan Costinas
Although Portugal invested significant resources in searching for new, rich lands and finding new trading sea routes, mainly associated with seafaring and the Age of Discovery, the country has more recently also been home to women who have successfully ‘navigated’ the problematic waters of scientific research.
Spring 1899:
When the frail girl was born in the heart of Lisbon, nobody knew that the future would be so bright for the baby baptised Branca Edmée.
At eight years old, Branca Marques became a paternal orphan. She focused on studying, seeing education as an opportunity not to be wasted. After finishing secondary school, she enrolled at the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lisbon to study physics and chemistry. Her commitment and hours of studying paid off and, five years later, she qualified with the highest marks in her year.
Summer 1924:
One year before graduation, she was invited to join the faculty staff as a chemistry assistant, becoming the first woman employed in the university’s chemistry laboratory.
Branca’s exceptional abilities caught the attention of Marie Curie, who invited her to conduct research at the Radium Institute in Paris. Under Mrs Curie’s mentorship, Branca earned a PhD in chemistry from the Sorbonne University in Paris.
Autumn 1936:
Two years later, she founded the Radiochemistry Laboratory, contributing significantly to the European understanding and application of atomic energy for non-combative use. Her research work quickly amassed international recognition, as she actively participated in expert scientific bodies and conferences.
Branca Marques’ commitment to post-secondary education and dedication to teaching were equally remarkable. She became the first woman to hold a professorship in chemistry in Portugal. In the middle of the 20th century, research was
not properly acknowledged at the University of Lisbon, but Branca’s and other pioneers’ efforts created new avenues and opened new windows for systematically conducting research in Portugal.
Winter 1942:
Dr Branca Edmée Marques became the first woman in Portugal to be a full professor in nuclear chemistry.
Although she had been previously invited to settle in Paris to pursue research work, she chose to return to Lisbon and join the Faculty of Sciences again, promoting science advancement in her own country.
1986:
Branca Edmée Marques passed away on 19 July 1986, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. Her pioneering spirit, dedication to research and passion for teaching paved the way for women to study STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects and secured her place as a prominent figure in Portuguese science history.
Gender equality
Despite Branca Marques’ excellent qualifications, her career progression was relatively slow. The fact that she was a woman in a profession
dominated by men was a major cause of
She is quoted as saying that men considered it an insult to have to work with women:
“[…] being a woman is worse than being a wild beast. People don’t want them […] they want to work with men. It is considered an offence to have a woman sent to work with […].”
Fortunately, organisations like A Associação Portuguesa de Mulheres Cientistas (The Portuguese Association of Women in Science) are working to address these issues, promoting gender equality and supporting the advancement of women in science and society. In 2009, the Lisbon City Council honoured Branca Edmée Marques’ remarkable accomplishments by naming a street in the university district after her, to make sure that her important contributions to science and society would not be forgotten. By doing that and addressing the ongoing modern challenges, Portugal can further empower women in science and unlock their full potential to shape the future.
Branca Edmée Marques and two collaborators at the Centre for Radiochemistry Studies of the Faculty of Sciences of Lisbon. Courtesy of Amonet (Portuguese Association of Women in Science) www.amonet.org
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Portugal a Dançar
Algarvian Dance School competes in the national finals
WORDS Felipe Trujilho
On 11 January, Dancexpression, an Anglo-Portuguese dance school located in Portimão, performed in the national finals of the dance competition Portugal a Dançar.
The competition dances were choreographed by Tiffanie Jorge and Heidi Silva. Hurt, choreographed by Heidi, explores the difficulties of connecting with a parent, while Mulher Máquina, choreographed by Tiffanie, is a contemporary, unique and original dance in which a trio tries to find friendship in an increasingly technological future.
Professional dancer Heidi Silva, who founded Dancexpression in 2009, described Tiffanie as “amazing” and “an asset to the town of Portimão”.
Heidi trained at her local dance school, the NYDZA School of Dance in West Yorkshire. She went on to study at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom, Surrey, where she gained a musical theatre degree and teaching qualifications with the ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing). After graduating in 1999, she starred as Bert in the German production of Sesame Street (Sesamstrasse) and performed in tours, casinos and cruises worldwide.
In 2004, while performing in a casino in the Algarve, Heidi met and fell in love with her husband and Portugal – a country she would later call home. Heidi has been living in Portugal for 20 years and feels “very much a part of the community”.
Heidi has taught dance in nine different schools in Portimão since 2009. After making a name for herself in Portimão, by 2018 she had gained enough students
to open her dance school in Pedra Mourinha. It comprises of two studios which allow her to work with other teachers, expanding the disciplines on offer to drama, musical theatre tap dance hip hop, contemporary, acrobatics, ballet and modern dancing, along with adult lessons for tap and ballet.
After the pandemic, Heidi believed her students were ready to take on more challenges and opportunities to “see the world”, so they started preparing for their first competition. Their first shot at Portugal a Dançar did not get them very far. Their second try got them to the Portimão finals, and their third attempt got them to the nationals. They have also competed in Dançarte and CND, where Dancexpression was recognised for five awards. These competitions give the dancers amazing experiences and accolades for the dance school.
In addition to the competition, as a part of each regional edition, Portugal a Dançar hosts workshops in three different dance styles, including – flamenco, ballet, K-pop and everything in between. This allows the dancers and competitors to work with other teachers and styles.
Since May, Dancexpression has invested countless hours in creating the choreographies. Although they did not win the competition, they believe that if their dances touched the hearts of the people watching, their performance was a success.
I leave you with Dancexpression’s motto; “My hearts lifts my feet, and I dance.”
The dancers
Lea Silva
Heidi’s daughter, Lea Silva is 14 years old and has danced since she was three. She practises ballet, modern dance, tap dancing, contemporary, musical theatre, acrobatics and drama, and dances for about seven hours a week and plans to “keep dancing until she grows old”.
Rebeca Pasarica
Rebeca Pasarica is 17 and has been dancing since she was four. She dances in many styles, including ballet, modern, musical theatre and contemporary. To Rebeca, the importance of being in the finals is the experience she gets when competing against Portugal’s finest dancers and the validation of the hard work they have put into the art over all those years. Rebeca dances for about three hours a week and hopes to continue dancing.
Iara Matos
Iara Matos is 16 years old and has danced since she was three. Her first experiences were with hip hop and ballet, but she later took on jazz, contemporary and break dancing, practising for over eight hours a week. And she would like to try out circus arts in the future. To Iara, Portugal a Dançar is an opportunity to create stronger bonds with her fellow dancers by doing what they love.
Lea Silva who danced the solo 'Hurt'
WHAT'S ON
Rare Disease Day
Walk in solidarity with local families who have children suffering from rare genetic diseases. They are counting on you and invite you to bring a friend.
Registration: €2
Registration with a T-shirt for the walk: €10
1 March 3.30 pm (meet at 3.15 pm)
Meeting point: São Gonçalo statue (Chão Queimado), Praia da Batata. The walk is along the Avenida.
To register and order a T-shirt, send a message to kat6aportugal@gmail.com
Walking Festival
The first Santa Bárbara de Nexe Walking Festival will take place from 7 - 9 February and is part of the Algarve Walking Season network, coordinated by the QRER Cooperative, which aims to promote the Algarve as a year-round walking destination. This event is inspired by the beautiful landscapes and the rich, popular culture of the parish of Santa Bárbara de Nexe, located in the inland area of the municipality of Faro, in the heart of the Algarve’s barrocal region.
7–9 February
Santa Bárbara de Nexe
walksbn.site (Register through the website)
What's on
Disclaimer: While
St. Vincent’s Church
Recycle Sale
St. Vincent’s Church’s annual Recycle Sale is a great opportunity to clear out your loft, garage and storage cupboards, and rehome your items. It’s also a great opportunity to find treasures of your own!! There will be items to make your house a home, fit out your kitchen and add to your closet.
Please support this community event and bring your friends and neighbours.
Tickets:
Sellers: €15 per table
Buyers: free admission
Saturday, 15 February, 11 am – 3.00 pm
In the salão (hall) behind Praia da Luz church
Contact Louise Player to reserve a table louisecplayer@gmail.com
+351 911 552 396
WhatsApp: +44 7827 945531
Love and Party
A pre-Valentine’s party, this festival will feature performances by the unmistakable Maria Leal, Ricardo Madeira and DJ Borisoff. The University of the Algarve is counting on your attendance for what promises to be a night filled with heart and lots of students!!
13 February, 10 pm
Open Amphitheater of the Penha Campus, Faro
Associação Académica da Universidade do Algarve @aaualgdesporto
Volcom Surf Happening
This exciting youth surf competition will bring together some of the best up-andcomers from Europe, showcasing their talent in an unforgettable atmosphere. Each competitor will surf two or three heats, and the event's Top three Best Waves and Top three Best Maneuvers will receive prizes.
In addition to the surf action, Volcom invites you to a special gathering at Three Little Birds from 7.30 pm on Saturday evening. Join the Volcom Surf Team for a surf movie night and live music from Candler – a local surfers' band.
Saturday, 22 February, with Sunday, 23 as backup, depending on conditions.
Possible locations for the event are Tonel, Beliche, Ponta Ruiva, or Mareta, based on the forecast
Follow @volcomhappening for contest updates
Family Entertainment
A Spanish company brings a fun and emotional version of the classic La Fontaine to Portimão this month.
Created through movement and gesture, with tender and childish humour, this show transports us to early childhood, where music, images and visual beauty play a fundamental role.
16 February, 4 pm
Tempo Theatre, Portimão
Reserve tickets at tempo.bol.pt (€5)
Life is a Painting
A retrospective of the Dutch painter Frans Bresser. His paintings are inspired by the landscape, the sea and the colours of the Algarve, combined with people, animals and objects that you would not expect, and therefore forming an exciting combination.
The exhibition will last until 28 February, Monday to Friday 10 am – 2.30 pm
Espaço+, Rua da Escola, Igreja Nova, Aljezur opintor2019@gmail.com
Exhibition of Arts
This exhibition features 81 local artists from Vila do Bispo and covers various artistic expressions, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, lines and dots, decorative arts, printing, installation and film. The works explore varied themes and different techniques, providing visitors with an enriching experience. The event will also allow you to learn more about the work of artists who have been contributing to local art and culture.
Running until 28 February
Centro de Interpretação de Vila do Bispo
List of participating artists: abre.ai/lQ3j
Fado singing
‘Sing Fado to life’ is the title of this concert which highlights the artist's versatility. In addition to her Fado roots, Helena Candeias surprises with new sounds on her new album. A complete musical experience for all tastes.
8 February, 9.30 pm
Centro Cultural de Lagos www.facebook.com/CentroCulturaldeLagos
Al-Mutamid Music Festival
With the expulsion of the Moriscos from Spain in the 17th century to North Africa, Andalusian music spread throughout the Maghreb and evolved in different ways under different names: Al-Alâ (Morocco), Gharnâtî (Algeria) and Ma'luf (Tunisia and Libya).
The Al-Qarawiyin Orchestra aims to take the audience on a journey through the Andalusian culture that has echoed for centuries in the most cultured and sophisticated places in al-Andalus.
In this show, the Orchestra will be joined by an Arab-Andalusian dancer who will delight the audience with dances from alAndalus during Muslim rule (711-1492) and the Morisco period (1492-1609).
Tickets are already on sale at Bilheteira Online, CTT ticket offices, Fnac, Worten, Auditório Carlos do Carmo, Centro Cultural Convento de S. José and Balcão Único da Câmara Municipal de Lagoa.
Albufeira: 8 February
Lagoa: 22 February
Lagos: 1 March
Olhão: 2 March
Silves: 15 March
Loulé: 28 March
www.facebook.com/FestivalMusicaAlMutamid
Lagos with Love
Love is in the air in Lagos! To mark Valentine's Day, the municipality has prepared some very special activities for couples who live in Lagos or are visiting. Celebrate love with Lagos!
Kiss of Love
Photography Corner
When:13–16 February
Location: Rua Porta de Portugal
Show cooking
A menu for a romantic dinner with Teresa Couto
When: 13 February 4.30 pm
Location: Cafeteria Salpicos (Municipal Swimming Pools). Participation is free upon prior registration using the online form.
It’s Not Love
This artistic dance project from Catarina Branco aims to address the issue of gender violence and to consider other markers that emphasise gender inequality.
When: 14 February, 9.30 pm
Location: Lagos Cultural Centre – Duval Pestana Auditorium
Guided Walk
A walk through the gardens and viewpoints of Lagos with Artur de Jesus.
When: 15 February, 10 am
Location: From Rua dos Bombeiros Voluntários to the amphitheatre of the Centro Ciência Viva de Lagos. Participation is free upon prior registration using the online form.
Market with Love
A handicraft exhibition with sweets, food, drink and musical entertainment with Filomena Batista.
A vocal quartet with Carmen Matos (soprano), Leila Moreso (mezzosoprano), João Rodrigues (tenor) and Leandro Moreso (baritone). Accompanied at the piano by Kodo Yamagishi, in an unpretentious atmosphere, they will perform various quartets and nocturnes by J. Brahms and H. Herzogenberg.
Ticket: €10 | On sale at the CCL reception or via BOL
7 February, 7 pm
Lagos Cultural Centre
www.facebook.com/CentroCulturaldeLagos
Lavender
Haze
The colour purple has been associated with royalty since ancient times. A regal colour symbolising extravagance and wealth, something for gilded palace hallways and hunting lodges rather than humble homes or contemporary interiors. This is partly down to the fact that purple was the costliest dye in history and commoners couldn’t afford it.
The first purple produced was Tyrian purple, created by the Phoenicians from the mucus of Mediterranean sea snails. Making the dye was a complex process that involved extracting the liquid while the molluscs were still alive and exposing them to sunlight until they became vivid purple. About 250,000 snails were needed to make a single ounce of purple dye. Since it took so many snails to produce the tiniest amount, the colour became extremely valuable and reserved for use by royalty, priests and nobles. In Rome, the Caesars declared it their official colour and claimed exclusive rights to its production.
WORDS Flora Kouta
Lavender is Portugal’s national flower and holds a special place in the country’s heart. With its delicate purple blooms and soothing fragrance, it has become an emblem of Portugal's natural beauty.
The lavender flower was chosen in recognition of the Alentejo region’s lavender fields – some of Europe’s largest and most beautiful. But the plant thrives all over the country, from the sun-kissed fields of the Algarve to the high rocky gardens of Madeira. And lavender is not just a pretty face. It’s become a symbol of resilience and perseverance because of its ability to withstand the harshest of weather conditions while always looking serene and beautiful.
When it comes to interior decorating, lavender is an often-overlooked colour. In fact, purple in all its shades is something we’re a little bit scared of. I think we see its deeper tones as a bit mysterious and intimidating, and its lighter ones are a touch sickly, like those violet creams my auntie used to love. When I told my husband I was doing a feature on purple this month, he said, “Yuck”. I thought that was a bit of an extreme reaction, but dark questions do loom when you think of purple. What colours go with it? Is it a bit witchy? Will it look like my granny’s bedroom? These doubts draw us away from purple and into the safety of pink or blue instead.
But fear not, and ignorant husbands aside, lavender is a gentle shade that conjures the beauty of nature and is perfect for relaxing spaces, bringing a touch of colour without overwhelming a room. Not only does it create a calm environment, but it’s also associated with spiritual growth and creativity, so bringing this uplifting colour into your home might just inspire your next big idea
HOMES & GARDENS
There are 45 different species of lavender, and the Portuguese Giant is a variety that gives off the most pungent smell and has the most vibrant colour. The oil from Portuguese lavender is also prized as being particularly antibacterial and antiviral. Some varieties of lavender can be used in the kitchen, too – culinary lavender is a versatile herb belonging to the mint family, so it adds a freshness and zing. With a floral flavour and a citrus edge it brings a boost of taste in both sweet and savoury dishes. And if you like your food to look a bit arty and colourful, the flowers add the perfect theatrical flourish to a plate.
The majority of Portuguese lavenders will begin to flower next month and continue to grow in all their glory until late June. If you’re planning a day out this spring, a visit to the lavender farms of Alentejo is a feast for the senses, with the fields a blazing purple and the air thick with the heady scent.
If you fancy making friends with lavender, but you’re not ready to paint a wall purple or travel up north, you could always embrace it in a more gentle way… Bring some vases of lavender flowers into your living room, hang a lavender watercolour on the wall, make yourself a fresh lavender lemonade and bask in a bathroom filled with the aroma of lavender oil. Aaah, you feel relaxed already, don’t you?
The monopoly on purple all changed in 1856 when chemist William Henry Perkins accidentally developed the first synthetic dye, a shade of purple later named mauve. From then on, we’ve all been free to paint our homes as purple as we like, but it seems we’re still shying away from the colour.
I think purple can be a fantastic choice if you’re careful and pick the right shade. Go too blue, and a room can be cold and austere; too red and the space feels cloying. A warm but muted lavender makes the perfect grown-up alternative to pastel pink. It can give a room some character while being soothing, creating an environment that’s graceful but with a slightly whimsical and original feel.
Your home can benefit from the smell, the medicinal properties and even the taste of lavender as well as the colour. Lavender has long been known to aid sleep, and reduce pain and inflammation. The botanical name for lavender – Lavandula – comes from the Latin lavare, which means “to wash” and the Romans loved a hot bath brimming with the stuff. In modern times, essential lavender oil has been found to be a powerful antiseptic that can not only heal wounds but also kill typhoid and offer an effective antidote for some snake venoms.
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Sports Round-Up
If you wish to publicise a sporting event, please contact our sports editor David Lugg: david.lugg@tomorrowalgarve.com
WORDS David Lugg
Athletics
Algarve athlete Isaac Nader has completed an excellent 2024 by setting a new national record at the São Silvestre 10k race in Lisbon. The middle-distance runner clocked a time of 28 minutes and 1 second to cap off a fine year. Nader, who is a seven-time 800 metre national champion, reached the semi-finals at the Olympics as well as a fine fourth place at a Diamond League event in Lausanne.
Cycling
The 51st edition of the Volta ao Algarve (Tour of the Algarve) will begin on 19 February. The five-day event is considered to be one of the finest road races outside of the three Grand Tours. The event starts in Portimão, where riders will face a gruelling 190 km of undulating Algarvian hills before an expected sprint finish at the Avenida dos Descobrimentos in Lagos. The 2024 edition saw Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel take overall victory. He went on to take the time trial gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games.
International football
The Portugal women’s team will play England in a Nations League group match in Portimão on 21 February. This is the first international match in the region since the men’s side played Luxembourg in September 2023. The group draw has not been kind to Portugal with matches against European Champions England, World Champions Spain and 19th-ranked Belgium. However, Francisco Neto’s side were unbeaten in 2024 and will go into the competition full of confidence.
Algarve football
At the halfway point of the season, the top two Algarve sides have continued their good form as they look to consolidate their positions in 2025. Farense began their Primeira Liga campaign without a win in their first seven games, but some good results throughout the autumn have seen them rise to 16th in the table. It was a similar scenario in the Liga Pro (2nd division), with Portimonense struggling near the foot of the table. However, a decent run of form before Christmas has also propelled them to 16th place.
Beach football
The Portuguese men’s team have completed a successful pre-season training camp at Praia da Rocha in Portimão. Mário Narciso’s side are the current beach football European Champions and will be looking to go one step further at this year’s World Cup on the island of Mahé in the Seychelles.
Rugby
Portugal begin their Rugby Europe campaign on 1 February with a home match against Belgium. The 2024 runnersup will then play Germany at home and Romania away before a play-off semi-final on the weekend of the 1-2 March. The top four teams from the competition will qualify automatically for the Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027.
Surfing
Surfers Joana Schenker and Yolanda Hopkins have been included in Forbes’ Top 40 Most Influential Sports Women in Portugal. Schenker from Sagres and Hopkins, who hails from Vilamoura, are the only Algarve athletes on the list. However, the list sees them in fine company among great athletes such as Olympic legend Rosa Mota and national football captain Dolores Silva.
Award winning diving centre in Lagos Marina with a professional team with over 20 years of scuba diving experience. From beginner to instructor level and 5 to 40 meter dives, safety is their priority.
Riding the waves of success
Joana Schenker is a name that is synonymous with talent, dedication and community spirit in the world of bodyboarding.
WORDS Sophie Sadler
PHOTOGRAPHY Francisco Pinheiro
I meet Joana Schenker in Luz’s pop-up News TV studio on a very wet January day to record another episode of the Talk about Tomorrow podcast. Fortunately, I am with someone who doesn’t mind getting wet! A former world champion bodyboarder, she is currently in the world’s top eight and spends most of her life in the ocean.
We last spoke in 2023 for an article in the September edition. But since then, she has achieved yet another accolade. Portugal Forbes lists her as one of the 40 most influential women in sports.
Joana’s German parents moved to Portugal after falling in love with the Algarve on holiday. They settled here and raised Joana and her three younger sisters on the golden beaches of Vila do Bispo.”Born in 1986 in Portugal, Schenker grew up in the tiny hamlet of Pedralva before it was redeveloped as a tourist village. Back then, it was inhabited by only a few remaining elderly residents along with the Schenker family.
One of Joana’s earliest memories is attending a small primary school (now closed) in Salema, where her teachers would take the class to the beach for lessons. In these idyllic pre-social media days, it is perhaps unsurprising that Joana discovered her passion for surfing at a young age on the beaches of Sagres and quickly made waves in the sport.
Schenker’s career highlights are impressive. She is a multiple-time national champion in Portugal and has also achieved success on the international stage. In 2017, she claimed the prestigious APB World Tour title, becoming the first Portuguese woman to do so. Known for her stylish and technical riding style, Schenker continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in women’s bodyboarding. Now aged 37, she has consistently been in the top eight since becoming world champion.
But it’s not just about competition for Schenker. She is also deeply committed to giving back to her community. Schenker is a passionate advocate for environmental conservation and is actively involved in numerous initiatives to protect the oceans and beaches she loves. She regularly organises beach clean-ups, participates in educational programmes, and works with local organisations to raise awareness about the importance of preserving our natural resources.
In addition to her environmental efforts, Schenker also works to empower young girls and women through sport. She serves as a role model for aspiring female athletes. Joana was even awarded a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll. The Barbie Awards is an international project by Mattel that celebrates and distinguishes women who inspire children and younger generations in their respective countries. Her Barbie and its bodyboard sit proudly on her shelf along with the Portuguese Order of Merit the Portuguese president awarded her.
Joana Schenker’s impact extends far beyond the waves. She is a true ambassador for her sport and her country, using her platform to make a positive difference in the world. We talked about all of this and more on the new episode of Talk About Tomorrow, which is out this month.
Instagram: @joana_schenker
A podcast where you can listen and watch a selection of interviews with some of the Algarve’s most interesting characters.
EP1 Talk About Tomorrow with... Tom Henshaw
EP3 Talk About Tomorrow with... John Aldridge
EP5 Talk About Tomorrow with... Cadela Carlota
Pro Bodyboarder
2017 APB World Champion
4x ETB European Champion
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW WITH JOANA SCHENKER
7x National Champion PT
EP2 Talk About Tomorrow with... James Plaskitt
EP4 Talk About Tomorrow with... Iberian Lynx Reproduction Centre
EP5 Talk About Tomorrow with... Hunter Davies
Affairs of the Heart
February is a month that often has us thinking about affairs of the heart. While flowers and chocolates might come to mind, it’s also the perfect time to think about the health of your actual heart – the organ that keeps you going every single day.
Heart health is about more than avoiding future problems. It’s about feeling your best every day and being fit to love your life. A healthy heart sets the foundation for a vibrant life, and regular exercise is one of the best ways to strengthen it. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
Movement is key, but it doesn’t need to be a fast run that gets you completely out of breath. Whether it’s a brisk walk, bike ride, swimming or a game of padel or golf, your heart benefits from regular activity.
Strength training, often overlooked, also plays a crucial role. Adding some strength training, such as lifting weights or bodyweight exercises, can further boost heart health by supporting overall circulation and metabolism. Even a couple of short sessions a week can make a difference.
Smoking:
A Threat to Every Organ, Including Your Eyes
Research shows that smokers face a significantly higher likelihood of developing vision-threatening eye conditions, including cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The Connection Between Smoking and Cataracts
Smokers are twice as likely to develop cataracts, the world’s leading cause of blindness. Early symptoms include blurred or double vision, faded colours, light sensitivity and poor night vision. Thankfully, cataracts can often be reversed through a remarkably safe and routine surgery, meaning any vision loss is usually temporary. Sadly, the same cannot be said for other vision-threatening conditions.
Smoking and Diabetic Eye Disease
Diabetes-related eye problems are numerous, and smoking increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
by up to 40%, making smokers more vulnerable to associated eye diseases. Diabetic retinopathy, for instance, occurs when weakened blood vessels in the back of the eye leak into the retina, cutting off its oxygen supply. Left untreated, the condition worsens, particularly if diabetes is poorly managed.
Smoking and Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Our sharpest, most detailed vision comes from the macula, a small area in the centre of the retina. AMD causes the macula to deteriorate over time, leading to permanent blindness. Smokers are three times more likely to develop AMD and are at risk of developing it earlier in life than non-smokers.
Vaping: Not the Safe Alternative It’s Touted to Be
E-cigarettes are often marketed as a healthier alternative to smoking, but the reality isn’t so rosy. Many of the
Eating a balanced diet rich in whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables and omega-3packed fish, will also greatly support heart health.
Reducing stress is also key to keeping your heart healthy. A good night’s sleep, moments of mindfulness, walking in nature, doing some yoga, or simply stepping away from stress for a while can all work wonders for your heart.
This Valentine’s Day, show yourself a little love. Small, sustainable changes can greatly impact your heart health and overall wellbeing. After all, a healthy heart is the best way to enjoy life to the fullest and will continue to carry you through life’s adventures.
Here’s to loving your heart while living with vibrancy and passion this February, making you fit to love your life.
Ann
+351 913 202 621 www.fit2lovelife.com
chemicals in vaping liquids have been linked to the same vision-threatening conditions as smoking. Simply put, there’s no truly safe or healthy way to consume tobacco.
Break the Habit and Prioritize Eye Health
Even long-time smokers can reap significant health benefits by quitting, including a reduced risk of eye disease. In addition to quitting, maintaining an active lifestyle, eating a nutrient-rich diet, and scheduling regular eye exams are essential for safeguarding your vision. Early detection is key to managing eye conditions effectively, so take charge of your eye health today.
João Albano is the Chief Optometrist and Technical Director of Algarvisão, a specialist in orthoptics, optometry, and advanced contactology.
de Jongh is a health and wellbeing coach
WORDS João Albano
WORDS Ann de Jongh
Portimão Lagos
Winter Warmers
Winter calls for comfort and cosy days spent at home, and nothing makes this season even more inviting than products designed for cosiness. From blankets to herbal teas, Portuguese brands have the power to transform this time of year, offering the perfect warmth to soothe the soul and senses on the chilliest of days.
Piri Piri Bandido
Founded in 2001, Quinta dos Jugais is a Portuguese company rooted in Serra da Estrela and driven by a passion for the region’s traditional flavours. The company initially gained recognition for its hampers filled with typical Serra da Estrela products, later expanding into the production of jams and marmalades.
Inspired by the same goal of showcasing Portuguese flavours and products, the Bandido brand was launched in 2021. Using natural ingredients, free from artificial colouring or preservatives, it has become a benchmark for artisanal products.
Bringing a special touch to Portugal’s shelves and tables, the brand offers four spicy sauces: jindungo, traditional piri-piri, jalapeño hot sauce and mustard. Bandido prioritises working with local producers, with the jalapeño sauce being the only exception, as it uses imported chilli.
100% produced in Portugal, Bandido promises to add heat to Portuguese homes this winter, staying true to its commitment to highlight the quality and authenticity of national products.
Criatura Infusions
Nothing beats drinking a comforting cup of tea to tackle the chill of winter while wrapped in a cosy blanket and wearing thick socks that warm you to the core. Raised in the northern mountains of Portugal, Diana Rego developed a deep respect for sustainability and environmental education early on, values she now applies to her work as she lovingly handcrafts the infusions by Criatura.
Criatura infusions use high-quality ingredients that might otherwise go to waste. With organic certification and a strong commitment to the environment, these infusions not only capture the essence of nature but also promote sustainable farming practices with blends such as rosemary, lemon verbena, and tangerine or rosemary, linden and apple.
Beyond the flavour and quality, the packaging stands out for its vibrant design, a collaboration with illustrator Teresa Rego adding an artistic and distinctly Portuguese touch to every product.
Burel
Mountain Originals Blankets
The brand’s story is closely tied to the Lanifícios Império factory, established in 1947. Initially, Burel started by renting space within the factory. In 2010, it acquired the machinery, wool, and the entire industrial heritage of one of the most significant textile factories in the region. This move saved an important chapter of Portugal’s history, preventing it from being lost forever. Thus, Burel Mountain Originals was born in Penhas Douradas, where it began infusing the country with fresh life through its unique products. Burel is a thick woollen fabric that was used for many years to ward off the harsh winters of Serra da Estrela. Today, it is used for various purposes, including wall coverings, footwear, clothing and, of course, its famous blankets.
Today Burel Mountain Originals effortlessly combines history with modernity. It is dedicated to preserving and revitalising Portugal’s industrial heritage and traditions.
Candles with Fragrances from Claus Porto
The story of Claus Porto began in 1887 when Ferdinand Claus and Georges Schweder founded Portugal’s first soap and perfume factory. The brand quickly distinguished itself through innovation and the design of its packaging. For decades, Claus Porto remained true to tradition, using artisanal methods, and expanded into international markets, always with superiorquality products.
Today, Claus Porto continues to surprise with its range of luxury products, like its scented candles. Made from a carefully balanced blend of pure paraffin and premium vegetable oils, these candles are designed to create warm, aromatic atmospheres. The natural cotton wick ensures the gradual release of fragrance, while the porcelain packaging, adorned with a diamond pattern, reflects the richness of Portuguese architecture. Lighting a Claus Porto candle, the soft glow of the porcelain transforms the atmosphere, making it cosier and perfect for cold winter days.
Focusing on sustainability and craftsmanship, these brands offer sensory experiences that make winter more cosy, elegant and genuinely Portuguese.
mardestorias.com info@mardestorias.com
WORDS Tânia Soares
RE/MAX Diamond celebrates the inauguration of their new space in Lagos
A Diamond Year A Man About Town
He once mingled with the rich and famous in Germany and the US, where he was the founder/ CEO of many very successful international companies, but now Dietmar Goetz focuses on projects that bring him joy and allow him to spend time with his young family.
A very popular man about town in Praia da Luz, Dietmar moved to the Algarve in 2018. He can often be heard singing opera in various restaurants where he is known as ‘the singing chef’. While not a traditionally trained voice coach, he gives lessons at a studio in Espiche. Dietmar believes everyone has the ability to sing and encourages all his students to unleash the power of their voices.
Dietmar also supports various charities. His work with autistic children has been very successful, and the Moore Memory School, which you can check out on YouTube, is another project close to his heart.
Along with his philanthropic ventures, Dietmar also offers his expertise to businesses struggling
On 9 January, RE/MAX Diamond celebrated the grand opening of its new space in Lagos. This milestone coincided with the group’s 16th anniversary, marking over a decade and a half of success in the Algarve real estate market.
The event brought together employees, partners, colleagues and special guests in a warm and celebratory atmosphere. The reception featured catering by Bolívar Concept and polished bar service by Divinho Sabor, creating a memorable and elegant gathering to mark this special occasion.
Speaking about the milestone, manager Cláudio Faustino highlighted the significance of this new chapter: “The inauguration of this new space represents a milestone in our history. With 16 years of dedication to the Lagos community, this new space is more than a physical milestone – it is a confirmation of our commitment to evolve and respond to the needs of a constantly changing real estate market. We want to continue to be a benchmark of excellence, helping our clients to make their dreams come
WORDS Liz Ryan
to reach their target audience at his television studio, LookAlgarve.tv, temporarily located in La Concha restaurant overlooking Praia da Luz beach. This is one of his latest projects, which highlights local businesspeople and invites them to grow and prosper through TV, video and film.
Dietmar loves to share tips on building a business. His experiences are vast and varied, from starting out as a chef to opening his own restaurants and chain of bakeries, and introducing food products to the US market. He entered the textiles market on a grand scale in India and Pakistan, becoming the president of the World Trade Centre Corporation in Stuttgart and Cologne. As a civil diplomat, he was known for his negotiation skills, networking, and ability to act as an intermediary between companies.
He is also the founder of the broadcasting company International Studios, through which he interviewed stars from the world of film, music and politics.
true and actively contributing to the growth and appreciation of the region.”
With a team of seasoned professionals and a reputation for excellence, RE/MAX Diamond is celebrated for its in-depth knowledge of the local market and its customer-focused approach. The new space has been thoughtfully designed to create a modern and functional environment, reflecting the group’s values of professionalism, innovation and customer care.
RE/MAX Diamond remains a trusted choice for families seeking their first home, luxury property buyers, and investors exploring opportunities in the Algarve.
The community is warmly invited to visit the new space and discover how RE/MAX Diamond can help turn real estate ambitions into reality.
Rua Manuel João Paulo Rocha, nº 15, Cv dtª, Lagos diamond@remax.pt www.remaxdiamondlagos.com
Book a business consultation appointment or studio interview: +351 913 078 680 or dietmar.goetz@newsshow.tv
Check out his interviews on YouTube: NewsShowtv www.instagram.com/dietmar_goetz_the_singing_chef
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Alternative ways of going and staying green in the wine industry in Portugal
WORDS Candace Olsen
As I look at what’s new in wine in 2025, I am optimistic. Not only is Portugal producing prolific wines and increasing its worldwide reputation, but we are also at the forefront of sustainability.
Believe it or not, the wine industry in Portugal has traditionally been way ahead of the curve in continuing to invest in ancient traditions and modern futures in a green way. Here are just a few examples of what producers, from north to south, large and small, are doing to take the future into their own hands.
Covela
A winery I’ve been familiar with since the beginning of my sommelier career, it is not only certified organic but is the first Portuguese vineyard to be awarded the international seal for regenerative viticulture. Located in the Vinho Verde region, winemaker Rui Cunha is using an interesting and local alternative to sulphites.
Most winemakers use small amounts of added sulphites to protect the wine from vineyard to bottle, but it may not be necessary any longer. The alternative discovered here in Portugal in the last decade is chestnut flowers. Instead of using chemical stabilisers such as sulphites for their Covela Avesso Natur bottling, Rui is using the male flowers of chestnut trees that are growing around the quinta. Packed with antioxidants, fungicides and anti-bacterial properties, chestnut flowers can replace sulphites. They’re not allergenic and have no impact on the flavour or colour of wine. So those of you who are unusually sensitive to sulphites in wine can drink this wine without worry for just €17 online from their website.
covela.pt
Herdade do Cebolal
This multi-generational estate is located on the Alentejo coast, in the village of Vale das Éguas, and is possibly one of my favourite producers from the west side of the Alentejo. It is a fourth- and fifth-generation family-run winery working on regeneration and slowly converting its land into syntropic agriculture (an intensive form of agroforestry that imitates market gardening and slash and mulch agroforestry).
Over the last few years, the owners have been using eco-friendly philosophies based on agroforestry, syntropic agriculture techniques and permaculture design with low chemical intervention. One of the products the producer uses in their vineyard is the closest, most natural and most incredible benefits: seaweed. It’s free, it’s natural and is the perfect alternative to replacing industrial fertilisers. Our local seaweed contains nutrients that promote canopy root growth and enhance vine root growth by 50 to 60 per cent. All Herdade do Cebolal wines are special and worth popping the cork on. Check them out online, or you can find their wines at Mosto in Lagos or in Sul in Burgau.
herdadedocebolal.pt
Talha Mafia
This small adega, located in Vila de Frades, Alentejo, was started by a group of friends and family who were passionate about producing small lots of natural wines. They use a winemaking process that’s more than 2,000 years old. Together, they produce Talha (amphora) wine, preserving an ancient approach to wine that naturally uses less energy and less chemical intervention, and offers pure, unadulterated liquid joy.
Every year, Vila de Frades produces a specific wine they put in a box and it’s delicious! I realise boxed wine usually comes with a negative context as it’s been traditionally used for inexpensive everyday glug glug table wines. However, not all boxed wines are alike! Did you know boxed wine has a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional glass bottles? The manufacturing and transportation of boxed wine require less energy, resulting in fewer CO2 emissions. Also, how can one complain about having a wine on tap that’s easily transportable, storable and can last up to six weeks once opened? You can also recycle the box, re-inflate the wine bladder and hang it in your vineyard or fruit trees to deter the birds.
This adega is close to my heart as I’m a huge fan of Talha wine and this group of amazing people. You can find their wine in most wine shops and restaurants and the boxed wine online or at Mosto in Lagos for €39,90.
talhamafia.com
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Prior Lucas
An inspiring small independent winemaker with several small parcels scattered around Coimbra and the Bairrada region, Rui Lucas embodies ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’. As the founder, owner and winemaker, he cultivates dozens of plots that other winegrowers are abandoning. In my opinion, his mission is one to admire, follow and support.
By reusing wine bottles and wine shipping boxes from all over the country, he reduces the use of dry materials in packaging, contributes to the concept of a circular economy and consequently creates twice as much work for himself. Phew! But he believes
Dominó
A modest husband-and-wife project located in the Serra de São Mamede hills in the upper Alentejo, Vitor and his wife founded the business out of the desire to make wine and express terroir. They focus on creating low-intervention wines full of life and reviving old, sometimes forgotten vineyards, which are integral to their winemaking philosophy.
Although a small winery, they work with several other parcels in Colares, Bairrada and Portalegre. These vineyards, some with vines as old as 80 years, are farmed using organic practices. One of these, perhaps unusual, practices is using discarded whey and milk products from their local dairy. They use this whey to fertilise their vineyards. Whey and milk products used as fertilisers and sprays in the vineyard can effectively combat moisture and powdery mildew in the vineyard, which is potentially one of the biggest problems viticulturists face. The whey alters the pH balance of the leaves and soil, making it less hospitable to moisture and encouraging new, healthy microbial life. It is an amazing way to substitute a natural waste product that would otherwise be dumped for industrial herbicides and fungicides in the vineyard.
realportuguesewines.com
And lastly, this is not what you would have guessed, but you and I also have input on going green in the world of wine. By simply choosing a bottle with a real cork you will be doing your part to lessen the carbon footprint of wine. The cork trees themselves are ‘carbon negative’ and despite the process of manufacturing corks for wine bottles, using a cork still reduces a bottle of wine’s carbon footprint. Researchers have found that using natural cork to seal . That means a wine bottle sealed with cork can have half the carbon footprint of a wine bottle sealed with a screw top.
Cork forests are dry-farmed (another method of green and sustainable agriculture) and protected, eliminating the need for irrigation and encouraging biodiversity. Because cork is cultivated by removing the bark rather than cutting down the tree itself, the trees survive for centuries, so using cork is a win-win!
I am happy to report that there are many, many more examples of how winemakers here are working together and independently to be more conscientious. This article is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. I encourage you to tell me what other methods and wineries you’ve discovered.
Esporão
One of the largest estates in the Alentejo and, consequently, one of the largest certified organic estates in the country, Esporão boasts 441ha of vines and 93ha of organic olive groves while constantly proving its commitment to sustainability, biodiversity and a circular economy. Esporão is perhaps on the cutting edge of methods and techniques to implement these practices and a prolific estate to follow.
One small way they are moving forward is by modifying their vineyard practices and encouraging their vines to have a bit more of a sprawl instead of keeping tidy, neat rows. This small change helps to naturally mitigate sunburn during the intense summers. In combination with encouraging more leaf canopy, they spray their more susceptible vines with a white clay called kaolin, a sort of organic sunscreen for the vines. * Using the clay and decreasing the number of trips down the rows in tractors for pruning, the estate is lessening its dependence on and use of fossil fuels while also utilising natural products and encouraging biodiversity.
Visit their estate or even just their website to get the full picture of their incredible commitment to us and the environment.
*Harmless and easy to wipe off, you may have also seen this clay on a few of your melons here in the Algarve, as it’s used agriculturally as well
www.esporao.com
DID YOU KNOW
Candace Olsen is a wine consultant, sommelier and guide for wine-tasting tours and events. candyleacane@me.com
The Alentejo region has long been the guardian of Talha wines in Portugal. Here, the techniques developed by the Romans for making wine in the clay amphorae called Talhas have been safeguarded.
Valentine’s Menu
Get ready to surprise your love with a healthy, creative, and romantic vegan delight!
‘Love is in the air everywhere I look around!’ The perfect song for Valentine’s Day, and here I am with a delicious menu to complete your romantic evening. For this Valentine’s special, I created a beetroot soup as a starter, homemade ravioli stuffed with sweet potatoes for the main dish, and vegan panna cotta with coconut cream for dessert. To complement your dinner, I suggest a smooth French rosé, Longchamp, from the international wine selection of Lita’s Concept Store.
Happy Valentine’s evening!
Instagram: @lalitanavegankitchen
Instagram: @litasconceptstore
Beetroot soup
Ingredients
• 3 cooked beetroots, medium-sized
• 1 big potato
• 1 red onion
• 4 garlic cloves
• 400 ml water
• 1 tsp vegetable broth powder or stock
• Salt and pepper
Preparation and cooking
Chop the onion and garlic, fry them in olive oil, and let them cool. Peel the potato and cook until soft. Put the beetroot in a blender, add the onion, garlic and potato, along with a drop of water and olive oil, and blend until creamy. Put the mixture in a pot, add the seasoning, broth powder and water, and let it boil.
Sweet Potato Ravioli
Ingredients
Ravioli dough
• 150 ml of warm water
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp salt
Ravioli filling
• 1 sweet potato
• 1 red onion
• 1 tomato
• 5 garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp paprika powder
• ½ tsp coriander powder
• Salt and pepper
Ravioli sauce
• 2 tbsp vegan butter
• ½ bell pepper red
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 pinch of nutmeg
• Salt and pepper
Preparation and cooking
• 2 ½ cups of whole wheat flour or wheat flour
1. Combine the flour and salt in a bowl. Add the oil and warm water, and knead until the dough is thick and elastic. Cover and let it rest for 30 minutes.
2. Cut the sweet potato into small cubes. Slice the onion, smash the garlic, and halve the tomato. Put everything in a baking pan. Add olive oil and the spices, and bake for about 30 minutes. Let it cool a bit, and mix it in a blender.
3. Roll out the pasta as thinly as possible with the help of a rolling pin (This recipe should make 10 ravioli squares.)
Cut the dough into equal squares and put a teaspoon of filling in the middle. Fold the filled dough into triangles and close the ravioli with a fork. Repeat the process with the rest of the pasta dough and filling.
4. Cut the bell pepper into small cubes and fry them in a pan with the vegan butter. Add the spices and put aside.
5. Fill a large pot with salted water and boil it. Add the ravioli and cook for 5–7 minutes. When ready, they will float. Remove them from the water and pour the warm sauce over them.
Vegan panna cotta
Ingredients
• 200 ml coconut milk cream
• 300 ml coconut milk
• 2 tbsp agave syrup
• 2 tsp agar agar powder
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• 6 strawberries
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
Preparation and cooking
1. Combine the coconut cream and coconut milk in a pot, and cook on medium heat until the coconut cream is completely dissolved.
Add the agave syrup and mix well. Add the agar agar powder and cornstarch, constantly stir for 5 minutes, then turn off the heat. Pour immediately into the pots of your choice and let them sit at room temperature. Once cool enough, move them to the fridge and let them rest for at least 4 hours or overnight.
2. When you are ready to serve, cook the strawberries with the sugar, pour the mixture over each pot and decorate with strawberries or other fruit.
Top tip
You can find agar agar and cornstarch at Intermarché. Prepare the soup and the dessert one day before.
Medronho
From Fruit to Bottle
The Algarve is famous for its coastline of beaches, tourist attractions, hotels and restaurants, but few people know that Portugal’s celebrated medronho brandy is largely distilled in the region of the Serra de Monchique.
WORDS Julian Putley
Marmelete is central to this industry, where a recreation of a distillery and a detailed explanation of the process can be seen. Not only that, but it also offers a glimpse into Portugal’s village life. Here the beautiful and fertile landscape, sustained over centuries, can be experienced.
Medronho production is a cottage industry with many distilleries (perhaps ten or more) operating in the region. An association of distillers makes sure that standards are kept to a high level, with attention to cleanliness and alcoholic content within specified guidelines.
The picking of the fruit, the medronho berry, begins in October. Each distiller’s smallholding/quinta has its own land (or sometimes leases land) where the medronho trees grow. In a good season, the branches of the trees are loaded with red/orange bunches of fruit. Several pickers from the village take part and care must be taken to pick only the ripe fruit with no twigs, leaves or green berries. This ensures a good fermentation. Three or four weeks later, the remaining green berries will turn into acceptable fiery orange/ red and will be picked for the next fermentation. When the large sacks or buckets of berries are full, they are taken to the distillery room.
Eleutério Torrado, the president of the freguesia, and Clara Estevão were most helpful in showing us the mini-museum and the distillery, and willingly explained the pertinent details. “The medronho berries are transferred from the pickers’ containers to the fermentation tanks,” explained Sra Estevão. “This part of the process is critical, with berries added at various stages as the fermentation continues. The natural sugars in the fruit cause the fermenting mush to boil or bubble. The process takes from 45 to 60 days.”
When the fermentation is completed, the distillation begins. But a ceremonial act takes place first. The
boiler has been sealed since the previous year, and an inspector must remove the seal for this year’s distillation, which is a moment of celebration. Once the seal has been removed from the boiler, it must be thoroughly cleaned. The head (the apparatus with the crooked neck), which is made of copper, goes through the same cleaning ritual.
Now that everything is ready, the distiller can fill the boiler with the mash of fermented medronho. The fire is lit, the head is placed on the still and the resulting vapours are led into a tube that runs through a tank of cold water. The resulting condensed liquid becomes the famous medronho brandy.
Finally, the medronho must be sent to the University of the Algarve for analysis. Once it is certified, the brandy or aguardente can be bottled, labelled and marketed.
The production of medronho is a part of Portugal’s cultural heritage; it goes back generations. As a cottage industry, it brings villagers together through cooperation and celebration. Tastings and discussions are part of the process, and the resulting camaraderie and fellowship are an important part of village life.
Throughout Portugal, a common custom in the morning is to have a shot of medronho with a cup of coffee, either added to the cup or on the side. Many bars and cafes offer medronho cocktails, and a popular medronho offshoot is the medronho melosa, which is a sweet medronho with the addition of honey and flavourings. It is often served as a digestif or liqueur after dinner.
A visit to the Serra de Monchique is highly recommended if you’re in the Algarve. Marmelete, in the Monchique district, is a village in the heart of the medronho region and embodies the atmosphere of Portuguese village life.
Mood Drinks
Recently (2014), two ‘rural entrepreneurs’, Ludovic Gago and Andréa Revez from the University of the Algarve, won an award for enhancing the value of the region’s special fruit (the medronho berry) through the creation and marketing of attractive and smooth libations ,with an alcoholic content of 5%.
There are four drink flavours in the Mood range: the natural medronho, the citrus fruits, orange and lemon, and the red fruits of raspberries and strawberries. With the indigenous medronho berries and the Iberian peninsula’s famous oranges and lemons, the combination couldn’t be more Portuguese. The drinks are carbonated to give a special zing to your mood and uniquely shaped bottles add extra appeal. The company assures us that no artificial dyes, chemicals or colourings are added.
www.medronhobottle.com
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A Valentine’s Dinner Date
Feed your romance at No Patio restaurant
WORDS Peter Cruiming
Location: hidden treasure in the heart of Lagos
Tucked away in a charming alley in Lagos, at R. Lançarote de Freitas, lies No Patio Restaurant Lagos. From the street, you’ll only see a narrow entrance, but once inside, you’ll be enchanted by a stunning restaurant with an intimate atmosphere. This culinary hotspot in Lagos is an absolute must-visit for food lovers.
Restaurant: fine dining at its best No Patio Restaurant Lagos offers a unique experience. With a semi-open kitchen and an idyllic courtyard in the summer, it feels like stepping into a dream. The tables are elegantly set with linen, and the ambience exudes romance and sophistication. This fine dining restaurant in Lagos truly knows how to create an unforgettable evening.
Atmosphere: romantic and relaxing
The cosy interior and warm service make you feel at home instantly. The couple behind the restaurant, German chef Sven and his Brazilian wife Walkiria, combine passion and expertise. Walkiria is a fantastic hostess, charming you with her extensive wine knowledge and infectious smile.
Culinary perfection: Michelin-level restaurant in Lagos Chef Sven honed his skills in Michelin-level restaurants, and you can taste this expertise in every bite. This is one of the best finedining restaurants in Lagos, beloved by both locals and tourists. Dining here is a true treat for your taste buds.
The menu: something for everyone
At No Patio diversity is key. In addition to
refined fish and meat dishes, there are delicious vegetarian-friendly and vegan options, including vegan risotto with plantbased cream (€18.50), ravioli with goat cheese (€20.90) and potato tart with garlic spinach (€18.00).
For dessert lovers, don’t miss this one: White chocolate with plant-based cream and pistachios (€8.50).
Tasting menu Lagos: Michelin experience at a friendly price
The highlight of your evening? The sevencourse Tasting Menu Lagos for only €59. Each dish is a masterpiece, perfectly balanced in flavour and presentation. An unmatched value at this culinary hotspot in Lagos.
Service: warm and personal
The service is exceptional. Walkiria and her team ensure everything runs smoothly. They take the time to explain the menu and recommend perfectly paired wines; their cheerful energy makes the evening even more special.
A dream destination in Lagos
No Patio Restaurant offers everything you’d expect from a top-notch evening: mouthwatering dishes, a romantic setting and friendly, personal service. This Michelinlevel restaurant in Lagos is more than just a place to eat – it’s a venue where memories are made.
Tip: Book in advance! This is a culinary hotspot in Lagos you don’t want to miss.
Review by Peter Cruiming, www.HotspotsAlgarve.com
Christmas Countdown
If you are suffering from the postChristmas blues, then what better way to snap out of it than booking for Christmas 2025?!
Boavista opens their bookings for Christmas and New Year on 1 February, so you can begin your Christmas countdown and benefit from an early bird discount.
Boavista's annual Christmas feast of turkey with all the trimmings, by popular request, will be served as a buffet this year. The lunch is normally sold out by the summer, so don't delay. As well as a festive atmosphere with fellow diners and the hospitable Boavista hospitality team, you will also enjoy live music, entertainment and, of course, great food.
You can also bring in the New Year with a welcome drink, a five-course meal, music, and a dance show, culminating in an epic fireworks display at the golf resort. The food is international cuisine to suit all nationalities. For all this and much more, don't leave it too late to book this unique event.
Christmas at Boavista is €95, reduced to €85 with the early bird discount.
New Year at Boavista is €170, reduced to €150 if you book in February.
What a great evening! The food, entertainment and fireworks were excellent!
- Carla Lopes
Excellent New Year's Eve Party - rictpaxis
A truly unique New Year's Eve. The food was wonderful, the dances, the music, and the fireworks were just for the customers. Amazing. We will definitely be there again next year
- Kjell Jonsson
Flirting
WORDS Luis Teves Costa
When was it that flamingos became love symbols? Their long legs, crooked necks and odd-shaped beaks do not automatically make them stand out from the other animals in St. Valentine’s arena of romance! Well, maybe it’s not all about the looks! Perhaps it’s their pinkish feathers? Maybe their flamboyant synchronised mating dance? Or simply because two flamingos can entwine their necks into a heart shape? Whatever the true reason might be, it is undeniable that this animal is now, unintentionally, a love icon with hints of tropical romance.
As for the bird itself, flamingos are a group of wading birds called Phoenicopteriformes. In Portugal, they were not particularly common until the 1980s when these birds started to show up in greater numbers and have since taken up residency in the country’s coastal lagoons, salt pans and estuaries. Despite the abundance of flamingos, the species did not breed in Portuguese territory until 2021. It was then that a nature reserve in Castro Marim (Algarve) saw colonies building mud nests where they laid their eggs, resulting in the hatching of over 500 flamingo chicks.
The greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), the most common species found in Portugal, is also the most widespread of flamingos, with a large distribution that ranges across Europe, Africa, South-West Asia, the Middle East and even South America. The largest of flamingos, it is an impressive and exotic-looking bird that can weigh up to 3 kg and has a wingspan of 170 centimetres. Standing 1.5 meters in height, it is as tall as a small person. In the wild, they can live for 50 years and longer in captivity.
It is an easy bird to identify due to its distinctive features: long red legs, a white body stained with pink, “coat hanger” neck and a thick, downward bent bill. When resting, flamingos will often curl up their long necks around their bodies and stand on just one leg. When taking off to the skies, these elegant birds will open and flap their wings. To gain momentum, they use their legs against the water, giving the impression that they are briefly running on water.
Very social creatures, flamingos often flock in large groups, sometimes in their thousands. They spend a lot of time feeding. With the heads down at water level, or even submerged and sweeping their heads side to side, they use the unique bill to filter the water and capture a variety of algae, small crustaceans and fish.
One of the most recognisable behaviours is the group synchronised mating dance. Whole colonies start to walk around closely together, necks stretching, bowing, twisting their heads side to side abruptly, opening their wings to reveal the striking red and pink underwing feathers, all these while vocalising loud cackles. This fantastic natural display triggers
FUN FACT
A group of flamingos is called a colony, stand or, very appropriately, a flamboyance.
Flamingos
hormonal stimulation throughout the colonies and results in the whole group actively mating at the same time.
Their nests are simple mud mounds with space enough for one large egg. When the chicks are born, they do not show vibrant colours but are a dull light grey colour that blends effectively against their mud nests and banks where they rest in the first weeks of their lives. All the colony’s chicks are born around the same time and stay together in large crèches. During this time, parents produce and feed their chicks a milk substance they produce and regurgitate to the hatchlings until they are able to feed themselves.
Worldwide, there are six different species of flamingos that all share distinctive common traits: long legs, curved bills, red or pink plumage and question mark-shaped necks.
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PETS & WILDLIFE
Sitting with Dogs
WORDS Anne Hodges
When people think about the possibility of helping at a dog shelter, they immediately think of walking dogs. But for many people, this is simply not possible. They might be extremely willing to help, but the limits of their physical capabilities prevent them from doing so.
I have been a volunteer at the shelter for three years now and I never walk the dogs. But I am always busy helping in some way or another. I have the privilege to witness the dog-changing results that can be achieved with our ‘shy’ dogs. Sadly, it is certainly not an ‘instant’ transformation.
Long-term abuse, in whatever form, causes longterm damage to a dog’s confidence. And this can result in our dedicated volunteers spending hours, weeks or months (and sometimes years) to enable our ‘shy’ dogs to be ready to find their forever home. Sitting with dogs takes hours of love and never-ending patience. This is just one aspect of volunteering which makes it so rewarding.
Rocky Kanaka is an American who spends hours of his life doing just this ‘sitting with dogs’ – like our
‘shy’ dogs. It does not take a lot of physical effort, just patience and commitment, but the results are truly amazing. You can see this for yourself if you visit the internet and search on YouTube for Sitting with Dogs. Be prepared to shed a tear in the first instance, but I can assure you that it is a truly uplifting experience.
If you personally have the time and the love to help our ‘shy’ dogs on the road to a normal life, we will welcome you with open arms. If you have a lot of free time but are finding that you need a new impetus in your life, our dogs can provide this – and will be delighted to welcome you into our international team. Every one of our volunteers has something different to offer. But, we all have just one aim in life. To see our dogs leave our care, together with a delighted new owner, on their way to their forever home. With just one aim in mind –how can any good team fail?
Anne Hodges is a volunteer at Cadela Carlota.
cadela-carlota.com
Pet's Mate
WORDS Lars Ramquist
Brrrrrrrrr. I am not prophetic enough to know the weather as you are reading this article, but at the time of writing, it is chill-y. I am typing while wearing those fingerless gloves made famous by Fagan and Michael Jackson.
With the dip in temperatures, some of us are feeling our knees, hips, wrists and other arthritic joints seizing up and giving some pain. Without giving away their secrets, this is happening in your older, arthritic pet, as well.
Throughout the last few weeks, we have been happily administering injections to dogs and cats to give them respite from their arthritic pain. In dogs, the injection is called Librela® and in cats, it is called Solensia™.
For arthritic joints, we have a myriad of other treatments. The two main ones are KimiMove supplements and Cartrophen Vet. Google this last one, for sure. It is the only medicine seen to slow down the effects of arthritic progressive changes.
The other thing that the cold snap has brought to our attention is the processionary caterpillar (see the lovely photo attached).
In the last few weeks, these hairy little chaps have come down from their pine tree houses and scuttled around on the ground. This is where our nosey canine friends will pick them up in their mouths. As their hairs imbed in the dog’s mucous membranes, a full-on anaphylactic reaction ensues. The tongue, especially, will swell to absurd sizes, often taking up the entire oral cavity with its swollen engorgement.
I was very afraid of humans, but I always protected myself and my seven babies until we were all taken to Cadela Carlota. It took almost two years for me to become used to humans, walking on a leash and socialising with other dogs. I am very calm and would like to find a home with someone who prefers a quiet life like me.
need to get to a vet clinic for treatment. But as soon as you can, clean the oral cavity with a damp towel and try to remove as many of these hairs as you can to minimise further swelling.
So, look out for hairy caterpillars, and if you are the proud owner of a retirement-age cat or dog, consider coming to your vet for a pain-relieving jab for your little furry mate.
See you in March!
These injections last for four weeks and are sideeffect free. They also confer better arthritis relief than standard anti-inflammatories and cortisone, without the side effects which these can carry with them. All clients have reported fantastic results from these injections. Lagos Vet Clinic - LVC lagosvet.com +351 282 782 282
No jokes; this is a serious condition. If you see your dog’s tongue swelling, lots of drooling and the dog pawing at its mouth, call your vet! You
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We all need special treats, don’t we? Last year, I began a quest to visit pousadas in Portugal. These hotels are based in reconverted castles, convents and other historic buildings in places of special interest. My first stay at the Pousada de Palácio de Estoi near Faro last February was superb, which gave me an incentive to explore more.
As it happened, my partner received a voucher for a twonight stay at a pousada for his birthday, so we were ready to take advantage of it. But where to go next? There are 34 pousadas in the country (mainly state-owned but run by a large hotel chain), each with its unique charm, but it didn’t take us long to decide. It had to be easily accessible from the Algarve and have interesting places nearby.
In mid-December, we set off in brilliant sunshine for the Pousada Castelo de Palmela, 40 km south of Lisbon. After a smooth journey, we approached the town of Palmela and noticed the castle perched high on a hilltop, clearly offering spectacular views.
Arriving up the steep cobbled slope with hairpin bends already held promises. The Pousada, our home for two nights, is a former convent adjacent to the castle. Stepping into the hotel felt like travelling back in time.
Hugo, the receptionist, greeted us warmly and said he would assign us a room on the second floor with the finest views. A lovely welcome! And he was right about the views. The spacious en-suite bedroom provided stunning vistas over the countryside and the ocean beyond. There are 28 bedrooms, seven suites, and seven superior rooms. Ours was a standard room, but I still felt spoiled by its amenities and setting.
The first thing we did was explore the hotel itself. How has an austere convent been transformed into a modern and comfortable space without losing its essence? Vaulted
galleries have been converted into leisure areas, tastefully adorned with tapestries and chandeliers. I also spotted a well-stocked library and small conference rooms. Later in the evening, we had an apéritif in the bar, lounging in one of the oversized armchairs facing the courtyard. The former friars’ refectory houses the restaurant, containing the original pulpit where religious readings were held during meals. I imagine dinners are enjoyed outside in the courtyard on balmy summer evenings.
A history lesson
I was interested in the castle’s history and its link to the nearby convent. I discovered that it has a complex past that reflects the nation’s turbulent past. Standing on the ramparts, 240 metres above sea level, I understand why this location was fiercely contested. The stunning 360-degree panorama is incredible. The castle is ideally situated between the estuaries of the Tagus and Sado Rivers with expansive views including the Arrábida Mountains, the Atlantic Ocean, and the surrounding plains and vineyards.
Fertile land for cultivation attracted settlers, and evidence suggests it was inhabited in prehistoric times. Because it provided an advantageous position for defence, it gained
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strategic importance during the Muslim occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. The Moors began constructing fortifications in the 8th and 9th centuries. Due to the terrain, the castle features an irregular polygonal plan, with walls reinforced by turrets.
Palmela was reconquered from the Moors by the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques (12th century), with assistance from the Knights of the Order of Santiago de Espada. As a reward, the town and its domains were granted to the Military Order of Santiago. A convent was established within the castle, the headquarters for this religious and military order.
The 1755 earthquake caused extensive damage, and at the beginning of the 18th century, a new convent was built – the one we are staying in.
The place was declared a National Monument in 1910, and significant restoration was undertaken. In 1945, the former
convent was classified as a guesthouse and, in the 1970s, it joined the Pousadas de Portugal chain.
Besides being enchanted by the view, other aspects can capture one’s interest. Within the castle walls, you can visit the Church of Santiago, the municipal museum and the ruins of St. Mary’s Church.
The surrounding area
Although we thoroughly enjoyed our breakfasts, we chose not to dine at the pousada and ventured into the charming town nestled beneath the wooded hill. Its narrow alleyways led to the illuminated town square, exuding a unique charm. I was captivated by the life-sized figures of local residents positioned on pavements and street corners, celebrating community achievements – from a woman promoting literacy to an ice cream seller, a town crier and a street vendor hawking his goods in his red horse-drawn carriage. A hearty meal in a family-run restaurant was most welcome.
We visited the splendid National Palace of Mafra, located 40 km north of Lisbon, during our stay in Palmela. I had always wanted to go there, and this was the perfect opportunity. It certainly did not disappoint.
Palmela is centrally located, so other day trips are possible. For example, you could spend the day in Sintra, just 25 km away, or walk in the nearby Arrábida Natural Park.
We concluded our two-day stay at the Pousada Castelo de Palmela feeling refreshed and energised. And guess what? I’ve already booked our next pousada stay.
