Tomorrow Algarve Magazine - July 2023

In this edition

Marvellous Mimicat

Meet Portugal's Eurovision entry

A Sign of the Times

The story behind numeric street names

Cherry Picking

Picking fruit and the origins of a phrase

The King of Snails

An Algarve culinary journey

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Editor's note

Dear readers of Tomorrow magazine,

Welcome to the July edition of our monthly magazine. If you are looking for hot temperatures, festivals and live music events, you are here in the right month. There is a full range of activities on offer so as well as enjoying the beach, you may want to explore the other options this region offers.

As well as a superb range of activities, the Algarve is also famous for its food and culinary traditions and in recognition of this, we are serving up a delicious treat of interviews, history, things to do, events, health, beauty tips and new places to visit. Inevitably with so much on offer, July is one of the busiest months here and can offer challenges as well as delights, so we are presenting you some of our nuggets of wisdom for surviving the summer months.

NEVER go to the supermarket between 4 and 6 pm. You will find yourself in long checkout queues when you would rather be enjoying your free time. Make the sacrifice of getting up earlier to go before 9 am, so you are free to enjoy the rest of the day. OR discover the local markets, which will give you a lovely experience while you stock up with your fruit and veg for your stay.

NEVER wear less than factor 50 suncream. I promise you will still get a tan which you will build up gradually rather than burning and going home with peeling skin. And never sit on the sofa of your holiday apartment with sunscreen on, as it leaves a nasty oily stain.

ALWAYS book a table for dinner to avoid disappointment. Remember also that bars and restaurants on the beachfront will always be busier and you may wish to explore more local restaurants off the beaten track, which might have an inferior view but will provide a less hectic and more authentic experience.

ALWAYS be courteous to the local working population who deal with a huge influx of visitors in very hot temperatures, often on the minimum wage. Your dinner may be taking a while to arrive, but what’s the hurry? Remember to smile – thank you or obrigado (obrigada if you’re female) goes a long way.

ALWAYS put a bottle of water in the freezer every night so you have a supply of lovely cool water to keep you hydrated during the day’s heat.

So that's it from me but if you are visiting and enjoying the magazine you might be interested to know that you can subscribe to receive a printed copy, through the letterbox each month.

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From Sophie, Tom, Phil and the Tomorrow team

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The Marvellous Mimicat!

She’s the winner of this year’s Festival da Canção and reached the Grand Final of Eurovision, performing to a global audience of 150-million people. In an exclusive Tomorrow interview, we meet the sassy, sexy, and supremely talented, Mimicat.

WORDS Vaughan Willmore PHOTOGRAPHY Jorge Simão

What a few months it has been for the marvellous Mimicat. In March, she won RTP’s Festival da Canção, singing her own composition ‘Ai Coração’ (Oh Heart), a rip-roaring and boisterous song she performs with fantastic verve, often accompanied by four highly energetic (and attractive) dancers. It was a win which earned her entry to the semifinals of Eurovision and ultimately the Grand Final. It’s easy to think this is a story of overnight success but it’s not. It’s a story of hard work, fantastic talent and burning desire.

The artist we know today as Mimicat, was born in Coimbra and christened Marisa Isabel Lopes Mena. It would be an understatement to say she has always enjoyed music - she recorded her first song when she was just nine years old. Barely eight years later, she reached the semi-finals of the 2001 Festival da Canção, performing under the stage name of Izamena. Little did she know, it was an experience that would stand her in good stead for the years ahead.

In the years that followed, she went on to join the band The Casino Royal, where she was the lead singer and composed most of the songs. The band released five albums and despite finding a welcome home in Portugal and Germany, they never quite broke through to the mainstream. In 2014, she released her first solo album under the new stage name of Mimicat. ‘Where did that name come from?’ is a question she’s often asked. “Mimi is a name we use in my family as a term of endearment for godmothers. I’ve always liked the name but as a stage name, it needed something else. When I added ‘cat’, it sounded right. And I like the word ‘cat’. It reflects the sassy side of my personality. Today, away from the cameras, most people call me Mimi.”

Both the 2014 album, For You, and her 2019 album, Back in Town, were performed in English, a language she speaks exceptionally well. The two albums received critical acclaim and feature many excellent songs (check out the two title tracks and also ‘Saviour’), though neither elevated her to the commercial success she’s enjoying now with ‘Ai Coração and will undoubtedly enjoy in the future.

The glorious ‘Ai Coração’ was written nearly 10-years ago, initially in a more Fado style than the upbeat song it is today. She believed in the song from day one and had a clear vision of how it should be performed, along with a belief it was the perfect song for the Festival da Canção. It’s a competition that has been running for nearly 60-years and has been something of a closed shop in that artists had to be invited in order to compete. This all changed in 2018 when submissions from the public were considered. COVID19 interrupted things and it was only this year when the planets aligned and Mimi won entry to the televised semi-finals.

And what an entry it was. The song and her rendition proved a fantastic success, gaining maximum points from both the regional juries and the public vote. She beat off far more established stars to become the first artist to win the Festival da Canção having entered via the public submission process. It has been a long journey but as Mimi rightly said, “Life can be tough. I know that only too well. It can be helpful to assume that something you want to achieve is going to be hard work. When you achieve what you set out to do, it makes it even more rewarding.”

Mimi sailed through the semi-finals of the UK-hosted Eurovision to reach the Grand Final. In a final that was dominated by artists singing in English (eight of the Top-10 sang in English including the winning entry from Sweden), Mimi and her dancers accumulated 59 points and finished in a respectable 23rd place, two places ahead of the UK.

The reaction on social media and elsewhere has been overwhelmingly positive, with many Portuguese saying how delighted they are with the song and Mimi’s performance. As Mimi said, “I feel proud to be Portuguese. We received nothing but love and support. It was like the whole country was behind us.”

So, what was Eurovision like? “It was a magical experience”, said Mimi. “There’s a feeling of everyone being in it together. All the contestants were supportive of each other and I made many friends; friends for life I believe. There were 20 of us from Portugal and we shared a hotel in the city centre with two other countries.” After the first rehearsal, Mimi gave a fascinating interview, in which she was quite upfront about the rehearsal not going as well as she wanted, with problems with camera angles and a general feeling it could have been better. This desire to improve and the refreshing honesty is typical of Mimi. She told me that throughout her career, she’s never once lip-synced, despite being offered the chance to do so. And it’s good that she doesn’t because she has the most superb voice – check her out on Instagram to see her singing at home.

Since returning to Portugal, she’s been in demand, with numerous radio and television appearances, including as the headline act on the prime time The Voice Kids. What does the future hold for Mimi? “I’ll have a new single out very shortly and I’m working on a new album, which will be out later this year. We’re also busy scheduling concerts, both here and abroad. There’ll be at least one date in the Algarve, possibly more.” As for the new single, she was understandably tightlipped but did let us into a little secret, saying “It’s a fitting follow-up to ‘Ai Coração’.”

It was a pleasure speaking with Mimi. She’s worked hard to achieve her success and, as a songwriter and performer, she is most definitely the ‘real deal’. Refreshingly honest, funny, focused and sassy, everyone at Tomorrow will be cheering her on over the next few months and seeing her again when she performs later this year, here in the Algarve.

A Sign of the Times

The Story Behind Portugal’s Numeric Street Names

WORDS Luka Alexander

Many of us have probably sat in a cafe watching the world go by on Praça de República, but have you ever wondered why so many of our towns and cities have streets named after certain dates? To find the answer, we have to take a walk through Portugal’s historical timeline, which covers the freedoms and revolutions which have shaped the country into what we know and love today.

The famous Praça de República or ‘Republic Square’ graces many of our towns and cities. It’s the epicentre of local life and pays homage to the Repúblican Revolution of 1910, which saw the overthrow of the centuries-old Portuguese monarchy. But straying away from the town centre, you are more than likely to find yourself on a street named after a specific date. This may seem somewhat of an oddity to those of us from northern Europe, but the street names or ‘odonymies’ commemorating dates are more common than one might think.

I remember staying in my friend’s apartment in Moscow, Russia, on Oktyabr’skaya ultisa (October Street), which commemorates the Bolshevik (October) Revolution of 1917. Now I find myself walking along one of Portugal’s 583 streets named after the 5th October (Rua 5º de Outubro), which commemorate Portugal’s own revolution that overthrew the monarchy some seven years prior to the Russian revolution. The 1st of December also seems to be another common

date named on Portuguese streets. When I was learning to drive, my driving school was located on Rua 1º de Dezembro. The date marks not a republican feat but a monarchical takeover. The 1st of December recalls the victory of the Portuguese nobles who, in 1640, invaded and killed the Spaniard Miguel de Vasconcelos at the Royal Palace. On this date, Portugal’s independence was restored, and Dom João, Duke of Bragança, was proclaimed king of Portugal. It is no surprise that as many as 307 streets now bear the name Rua 1º de Dezembro.

With many streets named in association with Portugal’s dictatorial period – Estado Novo is found in at least 78 municipalities – 15 of them are named after the dictator himself, António Salazar. Even Lisbon’s famous 25º de Abril Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in Europe, was originally named after Salazar, who had ordered its construction in 1966. The bridge was later renamed after the Carnation Revolution, which saw the end of Salazar’s regime. The date is also associated with approximately 1,207 streets across the country, further celebrating Portugal’s new freedom.

The 1st May or Labour Day (also known as International Workers Day) is celebrated in many countries around the world, however, in Portugal, it wasn’t celebrated until after the Carnation Revolution. Since then, over 800 streets in Portugal have been named Rua 1º de Maio. Interestingly, this day is also reserved for protecting homes from evil for the year ahead, a tradition which shares similarities to the Gaelic Beltane.

If I were to mention Rua de 31º de Janeiro, many people would probably scratch their heads.. But it was on 31º de Janeiro 1891 (in Porto) that the first attempt was made to overthrow the monarchy and establish a Republic in Portugal. Although this street name is more popular in the north, it still preserves the story of one of the country’s many battles.

It would be impossible to write about every single street in Portugal dedicated to a historic event, but now you know a little more about the history of some of the ruas that we frequently walk down, often not taking much notice about how they got their name and the historical events they commemorate.

Praça da República Portimão Photo © Google Maps

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With a music career spanning decades and several notable accolades, Peyoti sat down with Niall Hilary to discuss his accomplishments and future plans.

WORDS Niall Hilary

Peyoti is a singer, songwriter and producer, originally from the UK and now residing in the Algarve, between Monchique and Lagos.

He began his career in London, performing around the vibrant local scene and writing in a variety of styles. Peyoti’s sound would best be described as ‘world-beats’ with a Latin flavour, fusing elements of world genres with a contemporary, popular sensibility.

Alongside his diverse collective of impressive onstage musicians, Peyoti gained memorable traction for energetic performances and a unique sound, and had the opportunity to play at renowned festivals, including Glastonbury (UK), Rockwave (Greece), and Woodstock (Poland), with audiences exceeding 20,000.

Also known by his stage name Peyoti for President, his music has been played on numerous radio stations, and TV appearances include a performance on the national TV station RTV (Slovenia) during peak-viewing time. He has performed alongside prestigious artists, including Manu Chao, Iggy Pop, Buena Vista Social Club and Portugal’s very own Mariza. Peyoti has also been featured in the music press, including The Independent (UK) and Rolling Stone Magazine (US).

In 2011, Peyoti moved to Barcelona and, after a year’s break, started surrounding himself with new musicians; slowly, he began performing low-key gigs around the city. Through chance encounters, Peyoti decided to move to the Algarve. Peyoti quickly fell in love with the lifestyle as well as the vibrant music and art scene, and felt at home. “Living in

Portugal allowed me a work/life balance that was almost impossible to achieve in London. I found the Portuguese ‘c’est la vie’ attitude very welcoming, and the countless local venues and gigs inspired me to keep coming back.”

Peyoti’s track ‘Yo No Quiero Trabajar’, from his debut album, was a huge success live and, in 2021, it was picked up by Super Music Vision, an LA-based company that compiled the music for the TV series Breaking Bad, amongst others. The song was used on an international Netflix show, Gentefied, a drama set in LA about a Mexican family struggling to achieve the American dream. “I was in contact with PEER Music, an international music publisher, about one of my songs that posed a copyright infringement with a well-known song they represent.

Photo © Marc Mennigmann

Far from bringing any court action, they decided instead to offer me a representation deal for five of my recordings! Through their contacts, the song reached the ears of Super Music Vision. I continue to work with PEER music and my new single, ‘Vamos A Nadar’, scheduled for release in June, is being pitched around the world as we speak.”

After this success, Peyoti decided to spend some time in Mexico writing new music, so flew to Mexico City for three months in early 2022. “The songs for the forthcoming album were mostly written by the sea during my stay in Oaxaca, Mexico. Bass lines, lyrics and trumpet riffs. All like a jigsaw puzzle which I started to assemble (and have continued to) once back in the Algarve. The broadly speaking ‘Mexican Cumbia’ vibe is very apparent on most songs, albeit in different tempos and styles.”

Peyoti is now back in the Algarve and work is underway on a new album, co-producing with close friend Marc Mennigmann, a local producer, musician and event promoter with Algarve Events. The first single from this album, ‘Vamos a Nadar,’ will be released on 23 June 2023.“The track brings the sound of dance floor Mexicanastyle to the streets for summer, with a truly unforgettable keyboard hook that is guaranteed to be your latest earworm. It features the vocal magic of lovely, albeit slightly ‘loca’ Ceci Meza, who was born and raised in Mexico City.” Peyoti plans to release more singles later this year and the full album in spring 2024.

You can hear Peyoti’s music on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms and see him perform at local venues and festivals such as Salema Blue, Sea Yo’ and Laundry Lounge. Peyoti is currently looking for funding partners and local investment for the new album to cover associated costs, including video making and PR hiring.

The Colours of the Church

This summer, I will be mostly wearing… green!

WORDS Rob Kean

Perhaps you have wondered why, when you go to a church service, from a communion service on a Sunday, to a funeral, baptism, or wedding, the priest is wearing a different colour stole (the scarf that priests wear) or chasuble (the vestment worn over the body –like an ‘apron’ I guess!) or that the altar has a different colour?

Well, within the church, each colour holds deep symbolism, reflecting different aspects of the liturgical seasons and events. We have emerged from Easter (white) and have had Pentecost (red), and we are now in what we call ‘Ordinary Time’ – green.

White is associated with the major feast days and seasons of celebration, such as Christmas and Easter. It symbolises joy, resurrection, and the triumph of Christ over sin and death. White vestments and altar cloths are used to evoke a sense of purity and to emphasise the holiness of these special occasions. We also wear white for baptisms and weddings.

The colour purple is primarily used during the seasons of Advent and Lent, as well as on some lesser penitential occasions. It signifies penance, preparation, and a time of self-reflection. Purple reminds the faithful of the need for repentance and spiritual discipline as they prepare to welcome Christ into their lives during Advent or commemorate His sacrifice during Lent. It is also worn by the priest at funerals (if you ever watch Father Brown on television, he seems to carry a purple stole around in his pocket for emergency use – which of course, he gets to use quite a bit in that series).

Red, the colour of fire and blood, represents the Holy Spirit and the martyrs. It is prominently displayed on Pentecost, symbolising the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. Red is also used on days that commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the Gospel. It serves as a vivid reminder of the courage and sacrifice that many have had to undertake to be part of this faith over the years.

year. It symbolises hope, life, and the ongoing journey of faith. Green reflects the continuous spiritual growth and discipleship of the faithful as they follow Christ in their everyday lives.

The colour rose is used only on the third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) and the fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday). It offers a brief respite from the penitential themes and signifies a time of joy and rejoicing in the midst of the respective seasons.

The Anglican community of St Vincent’s don’t actually have rose vestments, but our Catholic sisters and brothers do, and they always kindly offer to allow us to use them on those days.

The liturgical colours of the Church of England enrich the worship experience by providing a visual representation of the theological significance of various seasons and feasts. Each colour holds symbolic meaning that helps people to engage with the season that the church is currently in. By incorporating these colours into worship, the Church of England creates a multisensory experience that deepens the spiritual journey of its members and draws them closer to God.

My next wardrobe change will be in November!

God bless us all

peyotiforpresident.bandcamp.com

Green represents the growth and vitality and is used during Ordinary Time, which encompasses the majority of the liturgical

Fr Rob

 www.stvincentsalgarve.org

The Joy of

Colours

Jake Cleaver embarked on an adventure up to Monchique to find Meire Gomes – the mysterious artist who is brushing up the Algarve, painting it a better place – one electricity box, wall and bus stop at a time.

I’ve noticed while driving around Monchique that a lot of the bus stops are painted in the most colourful, wonderful ways. And, when I decided to take a closer look at some of the painted electricity boxes that I have spotted in all sorts of places over the years, I realised that many of these imaginative artworks were signed by the same person: Meire Gomes.

Just who is this prolific artist who seems to be slowly but surely adding a touch of joy to everyday objects around the Algarve? I thought it was about time I found out ...

Up into the hills

Meire very kindly invited me to come and visit her atelier located in the centre of Monchique. On route, I was pleased to get a better look at the bus stops, which seemed to feature anything from local wildflowers and apple trees to hovering hawks and even the Caldas de Monchique.

It felt a little like I was following a trail of colourful breadcrumbs up the mountain to Meire’s door. And indeed, as I walked up the road past the local school and was just thinking I must be getting close, I came face to face with a huge mural on the side of a house. There was an old lady in one window, a cat in the other and somebody knocking on the door. I later found out, the council had asked Meire to paint it as a homage to this sweet lady who sold bifanas and sardines outside of her window and who is fondly remembered by the town’s residents who were children at the time.

Meire welcomed me into her atelier. The room was filled with all sorts of bright and beautiful artworks but not, it turns out, by the artist herself. You see, Meire is an art teacher and most of the work was done by her students, some of whom, I found it hard to believe, were children as young as six.

A little background …

Meire comes from a little town called Floresta Azul in Bahia, Brazil. She was adopted and, even though her early experiences around art weren’t very positive, she was always a creative and free spirit. She fell in love and got married at just 15 years old and she told me it was only when she separated from her husband when she was 26, and suddenly had to find a way to support her three children on her own that her creative life truly began.

WORDS Jake Cleaver

In order to be able to pay for their schooling, she struck a deal to be the art teacher at the school. In addition to decorating all the books, maps and whatever else needed painting, she very much enjoyed teaching the children what little she knew.

In 1999, her financial situation made her decide to come to Portugal. She moved to Albufeira, where she worked in cafés, restaurants and kitchens, sending any extra money she could back to Brazil to help her children through university. With the help of an art pallet she brought with her on the plane (and that she still uses to this day), she would paint on her days off and, putting her fresh artworks under her arm, went around town cheerfully asking people if they wanted to buy them.

She eventually got a job in animation in a hotel which allowed her to once again indulge her two passions: working with children and being artsy. She created murals for the hotel and things just snowballed from there and, after only three years of moving to Portugal, she’s been working for herself in some sort of artistic capacity ever since.

Making the everyday extraordinary

It was only when I sat down with Meire and she showed me pictures of her work that I realised just how much she’s done. Indeed, it’s even difficult for her to keep track.

Silves and Ferragudo are hotspots for her work. She painted the wildbird stage at Zoomarine and over 50 golf-themed electricity boxes for the Pestana Golf & Resort in Lagoa. She even showed me a woman’s face with a bougainvillaea bush for hair in Armação de Pêra.

Meire likes to decorate around where she lives and now that she’s moved up to Monchique she’s not only made waiting at bus stops more interesting but nearby Alferce apparently has some great big murals, as well.

Art classes and eyebrow-raising exhibitions

Before I left, two little girls turned up for their art class and set about working on their Frida Kahlo’s. Meire greatly admires the Mexican artist and, when the children had their exhibition, was even planning to dress everybody up as fearless Frida – unibrow and all.

Meire teaches children art classes here in Monchique most afternoons, but she still goes down the Escola de Arte de Lagoa (where she’s taught for many years) and, if you’re interested, she also teaches adults.

Meire is such a joyful lady. I’m so happy to have finally discovered who this mysterious artist is and to hear how she’s overcome such adversity and is leaving a trail of colour in her wake to brighten people’s day.

Facebook @Atelier Meire Gomes Instagram @meiregomesantos

Subliminal Advertising

Are you old enough to remember the days of videotapes?

Personally, I grew up with them and I remember that at the beginning of A Fish Called Wanda, John Cleese’s socalled “twin brother” came on to give ‘A Very Public Service Message’.

He warned against the dangers of subliminal advertising, but as he spoke, the word ‘Schweppes’ would, unbeknownst to him, appear on everything from the bottom of his shoe to the lining of his jacket. Slowly but surely, it gets more and more ‘in your face’ until, finally, the advert ends with the brand’s name being written in huge flashing lights behind him. John Cleese then suggests that before we start the movie, we “sit back, relax and, if I may be so bold, pour yourselves a glass of the first non-alcoholic sparkling beverage that comes to mind. Whatever it may be.”

I always found this hilarious but also particularly interesting because, growing up in the south of Portugal, this subliminal message already seemed rather familiar to me. Indeed, and this might be more of a challenge: is there anybody old enough to remember a time when these charming Schweppes tile advertisements (usually of a chimney or beach) were not around?

Time travel back to a slower pace of life

It turns out they date back to between 1956 and 1965 when Schweppes commissioned the Fabrica Aleluia de Aveiro to produce them. They all say ‘Algarve e … Schweppes’ (Algarve and … Schweppes) and were often strategically placed by a café on the roadside where a weary traveller, who in those days was quite possibly making his way by donkey and cart, might decide to stop for a refreshment and do, well ... exactly as John Cleese suggested.

Jaguars and cowboys

But it wasn’t just Schweppes adverts that this factory created. The more eagle-eyed amongst you would no doubt have noticed a few other old tile adverts around. However, these brands haven’t had the same lasting longevity as Schweppes.

Jaguar Refrigerantes, for example, only operated briefly in the 1960s before rebranding. However, its striking adverts featuring a jaguar roaring inside a red circle were also clearly hoping to subliminally sway anybody passing by the local watering hole – as you can often find them ‘ready to pounce’ close to a Schweppes advert.

You can also still spot the black cowboy set against a yellow-tiled sky for Nitrato do Chile, a natural sodium nitrate fertiliser from Chile that was used a lot in Portugal back in those days.

There’s also Mabor Geral, Firestone and a few others. But unlike Schweppes, which seems to be exclusive to the Algarve, the rest can be found all over the country.

WORDS Jake Cleaver

Keep your eyes peeled for the signs of a wonderful blast from the past.

Reported sightings

I thought it might be nice to hunt some of them down and decided to put a shout-out on the ‘Everything and Anything Algarve’ Facebook group. I asked people if they’d seen any and if so, could they please stop and take a picture and tell me where? It soon became clear by the huge amount of likes and comments that people have a lot of love for these old signs and I received reported sightings from Olhão all the way to Monchique and beyond.

Seek and you shall find

To be honest, I was a little surprised that the internet couldn’t just tell me exactly where they all were. But it turns out that, of course, I just hadn’t looked hard enough. A group of three friends from the north of Portugal, who also grew up seeing these tiles, thought that it was about time that there was a place that catalogued and celebrated them. Together they created a project called Azulejo Publicitário Português, where people can send in pictures and the location of any they find.

Endangered sch-pecies

The trouble is these old signs are becoming increasingly endangered and aren’t maintained. Since they are on private property, they are often removed, covered up or abandoned. Now, you could argue that “enough is enough! Schweppes got a pretty sweet deal already. They could probably get into the Guinness Book of Records for the longest-running advertising campaign”. But at this point, I think we can all agree that these quaint and charming advertisements have moved beyond mere publicity and are now a fascinating part of the Algarve’s history and should be cherished.

And the hunt goes on …

I’ll let you in on a secret. I’ve looked closely at the map of all the signs that Azulejo Publicitário Português has managed to catalogue so far and judging by all the messages I received, there are still a few ‘wild Schweppes’ out there yet to be captured!

So please, visit www.azulejopublicitario.pt and if you think you’ve seen one that they haven’t yet mapped, let them know.

If you do that, I think you definitely deserve to sit back, relax and, if I may be so bold, pour yourself a glass of, well … you know ;)

If you want to remind yourself of John Cleese's hilarious sketch, you can find it on Youtube youtu.be/bMCsm1IFkds

A Pioneering Leader of Organics

Navigating Portugal’s uneven and challenging terrain

WORDS Becca Williams

As modest as he is, he'd probably not call himself a pioneer. But, by all accounts, Pedro Gonçalves is a thought leader and doer in expanding the slowly growing organic movement in Portugal.

While you're able to find some organic foodstuffs at many grocery stores and markets across Portugal, Pedro explains that the country lags behind the rest of its EU neighbours. Much of this has to do with the former dictatorship – more on that later.

Meanwhile, Pedro Gonçalves is playing a pivotal role in helping Portugal catch up. He and his business partner and former wife, Ana, opened the country’s first all organic online grocery store in Portimão back in 2007. Since then, they have worked tirelessly to develop and expand the availability of organics over these last 16 years. Just last year, they opened their second all-organic market, Mercearia Bio, in Lagos, making it the centrepiece of their online and store business.

According to Pedro, every item in their stores and online presence is certified organic – that is, with the exception of a new line of fresh bread. But, he adds, this is deliberate on his part – organic fresh bread is elusive in Portugal, so he’s nurturing a small bread-making business to move into organics. It’s working as the baker is now producing organic baguettes.

An “organic” renaissance man

This makes Pedro part start-up mentor, part entrepreneur, part environmentalist, and full-on organic purist. As a son of Portugal, he studied hospitality in Porto and earned his business chops in the world of big hotel and food and beverage management in London, Brazil, and Kazakhstan.

But his work and travel with hotel behemoths like Hyatt were not compatible with raising a family – not to his and Ana’s standards. So, in 2007, the two decided to align their business acumen (Ana is the finance and human resources person) with their sustainability values of protecting the environment and the planet.

“This is not just about food, but it's about how you live, whether you have practices that are environmentally friendly,” says Pedro. “It’s about your habits, how you manage

your waste, how you create waste, if you choose to buy bottles of plastic or you choose to reuse. We did this because people need options for healthier things and practices. So our concept is not only food itself, but it's a more holistic concept."

As we say, they put their money where their mouth is – not only in their commitment toward organic but, more broadly, their commitment to creating an organic infrastructure in Portugal.

From organic to chemical and slowly back to organic

The country has essentially come full circle with organics. Portugal was a closed country during the dictatorship that ruled from 1933–1974, with limited trading or financial exchanges with other countries. Because of this, most of the production in Portugal was organic simply because most of the country’s producers didn't have access to chemicals. Pedro points out, “Chemicals (herbicides and pesticides) then came at the end of the dictatorship when the borders were open and Portugal entered the European community.”

Once trading was allowed, the pendulum swung as Portuguese farmers and producers had access to herbicides and pesticides to control plagues that threatened their crops. Then along came the 1990s and early 2000s, when the European community embraced organic practices realising how chemicals are undermining the health of the people and the planet.

Yet research shows that Portugal continues to lag deeply behind this movement as there’s a giant disconnect in getting the food from farm to table. Pedro, working as a middleman and tireless advocate, is doing his best to address this issue by using his organic grocery venues as a connection for Portuguese farmers to get their goods distributed and into the hands of people who want them.

Becca Williams is settling into smalltown living in Lagos, contact her at AlgarveBecca@gmail.com

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Dancing to the Music of Time

As I arrive at the forlorn-looking school building in Almádena, there is no clue as to the grand vision that two successful artists have for this former village school. The paint peeling off the walls and an air of neglect is in stark contrast to the energy and vitality of Daniel Matos and Joana Flor Duarte, who I meet at the site.

Daniel started performing at eight years old in the Teatro Experimental de Lagos Association and studied performing arts in Lisbon before becoming a choreographer. He now creates and directs shows touring in national and international venues and festivals. Joana graduated in Artistic Studies from the Faculty of Arts, University of Coimbra. She carried out her professional internship at the Teatro Experimental de Lagos Association, where she had the opportunity to develop her credentials, working as a production director and assistant while learning skills in sound design and photographic and video recording. She is also a

writer of short stories along with producing and managing Daniel's work.

At the time of our interview, Joana and Daniel are preparing to perform Daniel's show VÄRA in Montemor-o-Novo to a panel of international directors who search for shows to take to auspicious venues such as Sadlers Wells. Daniel's show is an experimental production in sound and movement and was one of only 18 selected to be presented to some of the most eminent figures in dance. He develops his work through multidisciplinary practices, always focusing on the body as a biographical, physical and emotional research field, questioning and redesigning the idea of limit. VÄRA, without doubt, questions limits as the performers are naked.

Daniel and Joana founded CAMA in 2017 to decentralise artistic creation and stimulate cultural opportunities outside the large national

metropolitan centres. While they have both studied in Lisbon and travelled Europe with their studies and performances, they tell me that the Algarve is their spiritual home and where they find their inspiration. They wanted a space which would support their artistic endeavours along with bringing other artists to this area while at the same time bringing art into the local community.

Lagos City Council decided to cede the premises of the former Almádena Primary School to their cultural association, which needed a fixed space. Daniel and Joana's vision is to create an artistic hub that will act as a magnet for creative endeavours. Daniel says, “Through my work abroad, I took lots of artistic residencies in other locations, so I started to dream of bringing the same concept to my hometown: to find a creative space which we share with other artists, to share ideas and bring like minds together.”

An old school building is the centre of a new initiative to turn the western Algarve into a centre of culture and dance.

WORDS Sophie Sadler

© Filipe Correia © Filipe Correia

Limoeiro - Daniel Matos © Carolina Pereira

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CAMA has already produced several shows in performative and visual spheres and workshops linked to local communities. Last year, they were invited to be artistic co-directors of the dance festival in Lagos called Pedra Dura. It featured contemporary dance performances, as well as film screenings, DJ sets, masterclasses, lectures and even a night sky observation. It was so successful they were invited to return this November, presenting shows and workshops for artists from around Portugal and abroad.

In CAMA’s new home, Daniel and Joana want to develop a base to continue to develop this work and to go further in the fields of creation and diffusion, cultural programming, sustainability, audience education and development. “There is a lack of cultural education here in the Algarve. If you attract artists here, the local population will learn from them and they, in turn, will find inspiration from the local community.” This innovative pair have even established a relationship with the Lagos Science Museum to form a bridge between performance and science concepts.

They are now re-imagining the space, which retains the dusty remnants of an antiquated school room complete with coat pegs, blackboard and even the old stove in the corner. They want to create an office space where they can work and invite visiting artists to join them. However, one corner of the space will provide a base from which to pursue their other vision, i.e. to catalogue the history of Portuguese dance. Many new waves of dance have started in Portugal, including Nova Dança Portuguesa, which appeared in the 1990s and questioned contemporary dance. Encontros Acarte in Lisbon attracted artists from abroad, but documentation about this period is not easily accessible, especially since it is a project organised by a private entity. Joana and Daniel wish to consolidate records for future artists to refer to and Lagos Library has agreed to subsidise them in building a research section.

It is difficult to see beyond the junk left by the scouts who previously used the building, but Daniel and Joana see new windows, a library, and sofas, with an area to store technical equipment and costumes. Outside, there will be a bar and cooking area which they will also invite the local community to use. Then, in the old school playground, they need to build a studio. Daniel tells me that heated spaces are a particular rarity in Portugal, with dancers often injuring themselves rehearsing in cold studios. They envisage light and heat and maybe even some lodgings for visiting artists.

Needless to say, this will all require money. CAMA is currently exploring avenues for cultural funding, but Joana and Daniel are also keen to attract private entities and sponsors to share in their vision of bringing culture to the south of Portugal. “We are trying to be contemporary while respecting cultural heritage,” explains Joana. “We do feel there is a new cultural movement in this area which could tie in with tourism, but it’s a slow process.”

I have found myself carried along by their excitement and I wish to help them succeed. Sadly, I don't think offering my painting skills will be quite enough but, with the south of Portugal attracting more and more artists who find inspiration in the natural light, beauty and traditions, Joana and Daniel’s vision seems to follow a new cultural trend. Their new hub may no longer be a school; however, I hope it will eventually become a centre of learning, creativity and enlightenment.

© Joana Duarte

VARA (ensaio palco) Lagos 2022 © brunosimao_

Joana and Daniel outside the old school in Almádena

Cherry picking

Picking fruit and the origins of a phrase

With the mountain range of the Serra da Estrela as a backdrop to the north, the sweeping valleys and fertile lands of the truly beautiful Fundão region lie in the heart of Portugal. This is a land of historic stone villages, sheep grazing in fields, wild boars roaming free and the delightful sound of bird song.

It is a place worth visiting at any time of the year, but early springtime brings coachloads of visitors from around the country to witness what the region is famous for: the annual display of cherry trees in bloom. It is simply wonderful. However, after just a couple of weeks, the show is over and the fruit starts to develop and ripen. Now the land is ready for the next invasion, the fruit pickers. It’s May and it’s harvest time.

For many of the locals, this is the most important time of year for their income, not only from picking the cherries but also from the making of preserves, pickles, liqueurs and a whole range of other products to sell in markets across the country, in local village stores and to trade with their neighbours. Honey is another delight to add to the list, as many of the farmers keep their own bees with hives that are moved around the land to ensure maximum pollination.

Then there are the commercial growers with thousands of hectares of land that come together to form the county’s largest cherrygrowing region, generating millions of euros into the region’s economy. So

why does this rural industry flourish in this particular area?

The introduction of the cherry tree to the Fundão is not established, but it seems the species is not native to Portugal and originally came here from the east. According to one horticultural website, like most temperate-latitude trees, cherry trees require a certain number of chilling hours each year to break dormancy to bloom and produce fruit. I can’t help but smile at the description “chilling hours”, because, when I was visiting the region in March, the word I would have used to describe the temperature was “freezing”... However, because of this cold-weather requirement, no members of the genus Prunus can grow in tropical climates.

I recently caught up with a friend who is currently working on one of the plantations. As we talked about his days of working in the fields, some interesting reflections on the classic “cherry picking” phrase came to light. He told me the cherry pickers always start at the top of the tree, where most of the better clutches of fruit are found, and work down to the lower

level. The main objective is only to pick the fruit that is ready now and in the best condition, and leave the rest for when the next team comes through in a few days.

We can all think of examples of “cherry picking” in life: instances when someone selects the very best of something – or the easiest option – for themselves while leaving others with inferior items, or at a disadvantage.

Fortunately, the strict regulations implemented by the cherry producers, combined with a history of consistent quality control, means the cherries from the Fundão region are as good as they get. Cereja do Fundão has been successfully promoted as a brand for the region and the annual Cherry Festival is, dare I say, “the cherry on the cake”. At the beginning of June, the third invasion of visitors finds its way to enjoy the gastronomic delights of the fruit. It is also good to note that a fair-trade policy means that the producers receive the value paid by the customers.

Another interesting aspect of the fruit is the claims of its anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Research is underway to give credibility to such claims and it will be interesting to see what kind of wonder drugs will come to light from the humble cherry in the future.

All I can say is thank you very much to the traveller from the east who planted the first trees over here – springtime in this part of the country would not be the same without them. I’m sure that the bees would agree.

WORDS Bob Tidy

PHOTOGRAPHY Carlos Tidy

The event was a major success with fifty-six ladies participating in the Am Am tournament. The overall prize-winners were Susan Denman, Denise Bruce, Denise Arundel and Diana Martin with 91 points.

The Espiche Golf Team and Clube de Golf de Espiche would like to thank everyone who contributed in making our Mr Captain Ladies Charity Golf Day a major success! We could not have asked for better weather, or a better group of golfers, sponsors and volunteers to help bring this event to life.

We are thrilled to announce that our 2023 golf fundraiser raised €2252 for the Associação Oncológica do Algarve.

A big thank you to all Sponsors, Players, Espiche Golf Friends and Members. Laws – Mediação Imobiliária Lda, Abacoz Algarve, Casas do Barlavento, Austin Chapel Financial Advisors UK (Keith and Janet Clissold), Kathleen and Andy Goodwin, Invicta Partnership (Penny and Douglas Dawson), Susan and Chris Dawson, Nevada Bobs, Candy and Geoffrey Varga, Carolyn

Eastwood, Roger Sundberg, Vale do Lobo Golf, Penina Golf, Golfe Santo António, Alvor Golf Shop, Lagos Golf Shop, Espiche Golf Professional João Tomáz, Grappol International Wines, Ping, Green Lamb, Sophie’s Golf Shop, Srixon, Clube de Golfe de Espiche, Maria Jilken, Espiche Campo de Golfe.

Our Ladies Charity Golf Day will now be annually with next year’s event on Monday 6th May 2024.

Espiche Golf Club turned pink on Wednesday 31st May as players and staff helped to raise awareness and funds in the fight against breast cancer. Santo

The Man Who Strolled a Thousand Miles

An interview with author Stephen Powell

Aljezur. He radiated happiness. He loved his life in Aljezur and I think we are all moved when we encounter a blissful fellow human. It feeds hope. My worst experience was my own fault, over-indulging in sangria in Porto and needing a few stitches in my head after a fall.

What else do you do when you’re not hiking or writing?

I read a lot – it goes with the territory of being a writer. I travel. I am just back from two weeks in Sicily which I adored. In Sicily, you go back to the ancient world with such ease. The cathedral of Syracuse, a living place of worship, contains Greek columns put up in the fifth century BC. Amazing! I am a person of enthusiasms, but I do think everyone should see Sicily. D. H. Lawrence was so smitten by the beauty of Taormina, under the shadow of Etna, that he stayed for three years.

Otherwise, I like chilling with those who are dear to me, preferably over a glass of wine, cooking, visiting food markets and planting trees. Oh, and some Tai Chi these days.

You have already published two books, The First Toast is to Peace, Travels in the South Caucasus (2018) and Walking Europe’s Edge, Reflections on Portugal (2021). What is your next project?

Stephen Powell worked as a Reuters journalist for 27 years. In semi-retirement, from autumn 2018 until spring 2019, he walked the length of Portugal from north to south, nearly 1,500 kilometres. He now lives and writes in the Algarve.

After living and working on every continent (except for Antarctica), how do you explain the pull to Portugal?

Motivation can be hard to fathom. My walk through Portugal began in my head as a journalistic assignment. At the outset, I had no intention of moving to the country. My best analysis is that a deep preference for warmth and change uprooted me from Wales and pulled me to Portugal. When I talk about warmth, I’m thinking about both the climate and the people! The move has been a real change but not an absurdly radical one. I tell myself that I have moved from one part of the Roman world to another.

What were your best and worst experiences during your Portugal walk?

I had a lot of good experiences – I met kind people at every stage. One memory that stands out is meeting a retired Swiss sea captain in

I want to go to Mozambique and write about that. I speak Portuguese and that should help communication. I think the country is underreported and everyone tells me the coast is sublime.

What is your message for readers of Tomorrow?

I do accept the view put forward by a number of scientists and spiritual teachers that humanity is at a crunch time. Those of us alive now have the privilege and the responsibility of being around at probably the most important period in human history. After many years of trashing the planet, our species is at a crossroads.

Recently I watched a video interview with the writer Robert Temple, author of The Sirius Mystery. He talked about humans being on the border between great creativity and madness. It is clear to all of us that we have sublime music, literature, and architecture, but we can kill one another by the tens of millions. What will come next? For me personally, it makes sense to be hopeful and to avoid fear. But I take issue with the advice of some spiritual teachers: “Don’t watch the news.” Democracy is fragile and surely it functions best with voters who are informed. I would say, “Watch the news with discernment, don’t let the bad stuff overwhelm you. Keep your faith in a positive future and use the gifts given to you to make the world better. Create joy.”

WORDS Dan Costinas

PHOTOGRAPHY ©Stephen Powell

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Book Review

Walking Europe’s Edge: Reflections on Portugal,

by Stephen Powell

In J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, there is a poem that starts with the words: “All that is gold does not glitter, /Not all those who wander are lost”. After reading Walking Europe’s Edge, I fully understood the meaning of John Ronald Reuel’s second line: Mr Stephen Powell is way too far from being lost; he is rather a traveller who is constantly on the move to somewhere new and interesting.

“Sometime in the mid-afternoon, I entered a Spanish village that seemed dead as a doornail. Without any announcement at all, beyond some bunting strung above the road, this sleepy settlement turned into a Portuguese village. On the Portuguese side of the border there were some signs of life – a café with tables and chairs outside offered the chance of a beer and conversation with the locals. This is an unusual village. Astride an international border, it has to cope with two time zones. When I arrived in September it was GMT+2 on the Spanish side, Rihonor de Castilla, and GMT+1 on the Portuguese side, Rio de Onor.”

This was the auspicious beginning of a lifechanging adventure. It is a fair guess to say that five years ago, before travelling on foot the length of Portugal, Mr Powell didn’t know he was going to settle here. The fascinating people and places he met must have changed something inside him and had contributed to this decision.

If I can be sure of one thing after reading Walking Europe’s Edge, it is that even the most idle homebodies will have a sense of desire to go backpacking. This is much more than a travel memoir. It is a life-exploring tale about the joy of being at one with the sheer universe, and each chapter is flavoured with endearing reflections on imperial and modern dynamic Portuguese historical facts, on depressing rural emptiness, then on politics and the incredibly welcoming environment. The reader is also invited to acknowledge that walking is accessible to everyone, being maybe the easiest way to get more active, cleanse the mind and the nervous

About Stephen Powell

system, lose weight and become healthier.

For, being a small book (less than 200 pages), it is a miracle how many comprehensive new experiences it includes. That is why I recommend it as a must-read for anyone who has anything to do with Portugal: locals, foreign residents, visitors, journalists, sociologists, or those who just want to improve their general knowledge of Europe’s southwestern edge.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” so the saying goes, but this time I shall do it: it is a great choice. I have a soft spot for 5-star books with 5-star first covers, and Walking Europe’s Edge is one of them. I was told that Megan, one of Stephen’s daughters, designed the cover using a picture taken by the author himself while walking through Coimbra.

If, after this wordy consideration, you want to discover Stephen Powell's Walking Europe's Edge by yourself, find it on Amazon. es for 20.41€ (paperback) or Amazon.co.uk from £3.99 (Kindle edition) up to £10.99 (paperback).

Dan Costinas: “There are no good or bad books; some resonate more with certain minds, while others resonate with others. Therefore, I am not entitled to tell anyone what they should and shouldn’t read. What I do is invite you to ponder whether this or another book resonates more with your mind. It’s as simple as that.”

An Oxford University graduate and multilingual Welsh-born journalist and writer, he loves the open roads and enjoys the challenge of long travels. His choice was to retire in the sunny Algarve.

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An Algarve Culinary Journey

I Love Snails; I Don’t Like Fast Food.

began serving snails, a long-time cultural summertime snack or appetiser. With Suzele’s expertise, snails became a firm favourite on the menu.

In 2009, Hendrik had the opportunity to purchase a property at their present location on Rua Engineer Duarte Pacheco. It was very run down and had to be completely demolished. Willem designed and built the present restaurant from the ground up with three floors. The local stonework and traditional ceiling are all his work and, together with the unique interior décor, fixtures and fittings, contribute to the warm ambience and local flavour.

Immediately upon seeing the restaurant’s façade, it became obvious that this was an interesting eatery. Its location, near Portimão’s maritime museum, is appropriate since many of the dishes on offer are from the sea – except their most famous menu item: snails.

The Dutchman is Willem Hendrik and his journey began in 1987 when a camping trip found him on Portimão’s Vau beach. His gregarious nature and mastery of several languages got him a job on excursion boats in the fledgling tourist industry. Soon afterwards, he met his wife, Suzele, and never left.

One of Willem’s favourite pastimes was, and still is, fishing and Suzele, who comes from a long line of Algarvian fisher folk, knows the fishing history of Portimão and how to cook and prepare the region’s celebrated fish and seafood dishes. Their first foray into the restaurant business was in a small snack bar at the back of Portimão’s

When Willem learned of my assignment, he invited me and my wife, Monique, for a guided tour of the premises. The kitchen on the top floor was busily in action, with Suzele preparing some cod’s roe fritters and a batch of caracóis (small snails) for the evening rush. They easily sell 200 litres of the popular snail on a busy day. The caracóis are well washed, perhaps three or four times, until the water is clear, and then soaked in lukewarm water.

We looked at the large pot of snails, now slowly simmering in boiling water. Willem tossed in about a dozen large garlic cloves, some oregano, thyme and salt. “I don’t need to measure anything,” he explained. “I’ve been doing this so long it comes naturally.” He turned off the caracóis after two minutes; they were ready. He scooped out a portion for us to try along with the cooking liquor. They were served with toast. They are a delicious snack, although patience is needed to extract each tiny morsel from the shell. An ice-cold beer or glass of wine is an almost essential accompaniment.

While we were there, a couple came in and ordered a dozen of the grilled caracoletas, the large snails. They were served with lemon and garlic butter and, judging by the comments from the couple, the dish was much appreciated.

WORDS Julian Putley

The Holandes dos Caracóis (Dutchman’s Snails) restaurant in Portimão has been much talked about recently, so we sent Julian Putley to investigate.

Caracois

Willem, known locally as the King of Snails, explained an interesting aside.

”Now we are accessing Moroccan snails because we found that sometimes the local snails have a bitter taste caused by pesticides. The Moroccan snails come from mountainous areas and are free of this imperfection. They are imported, inspected and tested, and are guaranteed to be wholesome.”

We are right in the middle of the snail season (May to mid-September), so now is the time to take advantage of this Portuguese delicacy. The restaurant is closed in the off-season and I asked Willem what he does. “Fishing,” he said. “I love fishing.” I congratulated him on his wisdom.

Suzele arrived at our table while we were chatting. She brought several more samples from their menu, each one a local speciality passed down from generation to generation. “The fishermen would stay at sea for days, perhaps a week, whilst small boats would retrieve the catch daily and bring them to the market or cannery. My grandmother would prepare fish lunches to go out to the fishermen whilst they were at sea. Portugal was a very poor country in those days. Some of the cannery workers had pockets sewn into their undergarments to take a few fish home and to trade with farmers for eggs or milk,” she explained with a laugh, “I learnt so many recipes from my grandma.”

We dug into some of the menu items. It was such a pleasure to see such exuberance and creativity from this couple, whose goal is to maintain the local Portuguese cuisine and tradition. There was horse mackerel (carapau) in a tomato sauce, octopus (polvo) in a vinaigrette with

chopped onion and tomato, fried cod’s roe, fresh anchovies, stuffed squid, steamed and grilled octopus and much more – each more delicious than the last. The chicken wings were the best ever!

We had explored the Portimão museum on a previous occasion but the fishing exhibit is a very worthwhile look at the Algarve’s recent history. And since the Holandes dos Caracóis is just around the corner, a combined visit would make an excellent day out.

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Caracoletas Mouras

Suzele in the kitchen

Polvo Vinaigrette

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Keeping Safe on a Night Out

Then a reminder not to leave your drink unattended with strangers!

In the same way that you would never entrust your smartphone to a stranger, you should never lose sight of your drinking glass when with strangers or even so-called “friends”.

The PSP posted a warning again in March this year, but since then, we have heard of several reports that have been passed to the police of suspected “spiking” of drinks more common in late-night drinking establishments, such as in Albufeira, Lisbon and Porto, but maybe other areas as well.

Prevention

• Be aware of any strange flavours and colours in your drink.

• Only drink out of bottles that are opened in your sight.

• Don’t share drinks or accept them from strangers.

• If someone wants to buy you a drink, go to the bar with them to be sure what you get.

• Watch how much you drink. The more you have to drink, the less likely you are to realise that you’ve been spiked.

• Travel with friends you trust, and use the GOV.UK Travel Aware ‘Stick with your mates’ campaign to watch out for each other.

Occasionally Safe Communities receives reports that a person’s drink was spiked. But how can you tell and what should you do if you suspect it has? More importantly, how can this be prevented?

Spiking of drinks has been around for a long time and occurs in many places around the world, particularly where there are nightlife establishments.

As long ago as 2006, the police in Portugal reported it “as a very recent phenomenon almost always happening in bars and clubs, but also at private parties”, a Commander of the Criminal Investigation Division of the PSP reported. At that time, the PSP explained that sedatives were the most used substances, including antidepressants or muscle relaxants.

Since then, many new drugs have emerged internationally, such as Rohypnol and Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB).

What is a spiked drink?

A spiked drink is when alcohol or drugs have been added without your knowledge, making you feel drunk or drugged without realising why. You might pass out and be unable to defend yourself, or remember what happened afterwards. Drinks can be spiked as a prank or with the intent of robbing, hurting, or sexually assaulting you, so it’s imperative to know the facts about them.

How would I know if my drink was spiked?

Unfortunately, it can be hard to tell, and for that reason, it is difficult to determine the extent of the problem.

Often, if your drink has been spiked, it will not affect the colour, taste or smell of the drink, so it can be hard to notice. Some warning signs, however, include: feeling dizzy or faint, sick or sleepy, feeling really drunk or confused (even if you have only had a little alcohol to drink), or passing out.

• Remember, non-alcoholic drinks can be spiked, too, including tea and coffee.

If you think your drink has been spiked

• Tell a friend, bar staff, security staff, or the police right away.

• Try to tell more than one person, as you may not know who has spiked your drink. Ask them to stay with you and look after you.

• You may need to go to hospital. The effects of a spiked drink can worsen very quickly, so make sure to get help immediately.

• If you don’t feel well and someone tries to separate you from friends or takes you somewhere isolated, then resist as much as possible.

• Don’t accept help from strangers or someone you don’t feel comfortable with.

Have a safe night out.

David Thomas is the President of Safe Communities Portugal

WORDS David Thomas

Young Algarve

Writers

How can you motivate your students in the classroom and, at the same time, improve their English skills? Manuela Istrate, an English teacher at Escola Básica e Secundária de Bemposta in Alvor, came up with an idea: get students to talk to ‘real’ authors to inspire them to write their own stories. “I started the project hoping it would help them better understand the English language and improve their vocabulary and writing skills. I also wanted them to meet native English speakers,” Manuela explains.

Enter Captain Peter. Originally from the north of England, P. D. Cain is a well-known character in the Algarve. He retains his ‘Captain’ title, having worked with boats for many years. He did the ‘Weatherwatch Report’ for Kiss FM for a long time, but now his main interest is writing books for children. Manuela asked Peter to present his latest series of books, PJ Squadron, to her class at the school. It went down a storm. The students were receptive and keen to be part of the writing project.

Manuela arranged for him to contact Noel José da Silva Lopes at D. João II School in Alvor, and the two schools joined in the writing venture. A competition was launched, with the winning entries published in Tomorrow magazine. It created a certain amount of excitement! Peter believes participating in the project is important, “teaching youngsters to enjoy books and inspiring them to learn languages – and most importantly be proud of their achievements.”

Manuela is well-versed in language learning and knows the importance of motivation and creating the optimum condition in the classroom. Previously an English teacher in her native Romania, she arrived in Portugal ten years ago with her husband and two sons. She was soon fluent in Portuguese and having obtained the right qualifications, she worked in tourism management. After the pandemic in 2021, she considered her options and returned to teaching.

The response of the students heartened her. “I will continue the project and invite other English writers to present their work. Together we will develop further interesting projects and activities. A Young Writers Club is also on the cards”, Manuela said.

One of the winning entries by 15-year-old Felipe Trujilho is published on the next page. Well done, Felipe! Another entry will appear in the August edition.

My name is Felipe Castilho Trujilho. I was born in Brazil but left my home country when I was nine years old. From there I moved to Ireland and it became my home for five years. There I learned English and discovered my passion for music, theatre, and writing. I am 15 years old and live in Portimão. I attend the school Bemposta, and next year I hope to follow a professional theatre course.

For this story, I was inspired by Arcane Academy stories, set in a shared universe of stories. At the end of one of those stories, the main characters find themselves part of a school, or an “academy” of magic, and secrets of the unknown or “arcane”. In this story, I reference myths from known cultures such as Greek, Roman and Portuguese, but my story is an original retelling.

WORDS Lena Strang

SOLAR POOL PUMPS

Crystal clear water. Electricity s aving and

The Mystical Sand

WORDS Felipe Trujilho

Many millennia ago, before the emergence of the first humans, when the world was ruled by powerful and merciless gods and mystical beings roamed freely in the wild, and before the great war between gods and titans, two lesser gods, cousins, lived on the southern coast of what we now call Portugal, but was then called Lusitania. One was the son of the great Pontus, the primordial god of the sea and its creatures, and he disguised himself as a fisherman. The other was the son of one of the great Ourea, primordial goddesses of the mountains, and he disguised himself as a giant. There was a rivalry between the cousins, but after centuries, they came to terms. The fisherman would live in the sea, and the giant in the mountains.

This was until one day when a mermaid who had travelled a very long distance arrived on Portuguese shores and lay to rest. The fisherman, who had witnessed what had occurred, came to meet her. “I don’t know who you are, or where you come from, but I must warn you, all that you see before you belongs to me, for it was the sea which created it, and I am the son of the sea!”

The mermaid smiled in a way that soothed the fisherman and then answered: “Hello fisherman, I come from a distant land, a very distant land, so distant that you might never have heard of it. I have been swimming for so long, and when I saw this beautiful beach, I decided to lay down and rest, and now it seems I have fallen in love with your beach.”

“What is your name?” asked the fisherman. “I have travelled so far and for so long that even my name I have forgotten, I am but a simple mermaid.”

“Then welcome, you may rest now, for this beach is now yours,” answered the fisherman, enchanted by the mermaid.

At the same instant, a deep and fierce voice echoed: “Don’t give away what isn’t yours, fisherman! This land is mine, it was the mountain that made it, and I am the son of the mountain, and so, all you see is mine!” The giant had climbed down from the mountain peaks to interfere with the scene.

“Then maybe you shall be my mate, oh great giant!” answered the mermaid.

After the explosive entry of the giant, a fight had broken out between the two gods, to decide who would marry the beautiful mermaid and be the owner of the beach. In the sea, enormous waves were forming out of control, and in the mountains, the ground had started trembling, the trees shaking, the rocks cracking, and the mountain appeared like it was moulding and remoulding itself to match the waves.

The fight between the two gods seemed inevitable until the mermaid calmed them down by ordering: “Don’t be enraged! Bring me proof of your love for me and show me what you can offer for mine. I will wait for you here, now go, I am tired and must rest.” The two gods hesitantly left to search for their offerings, the fisherman submerged by the sea, and the giant hiked up the mountain. The fisherman was the first to arrive with his offering; he brought with him the sea. The beautiful, mesmerising ocean coloured with shades of blue and green, accompanied by the wonders of countless beautiful fish and other marine wildlife, the scent of seaweed spreading through the atmosphere. “Look! Oh, beautiful mermaid, this is all mine, and if you come with me, it can be yours as well.” The mermaid gazed with wonder.

Then, suddenly, the giant spoke: “Here I am, and I offer you the graceful rock at the top of the world, where the earth meets the sky. I

have already asked our uncles and aunts for their support, the sun shall keep you warm, the fountains shall refresh you, and the wind shall lull you to sleep each night. You will be the queen of the mountains!”

“You are too late; I have already made my choice. I shall be the queen of the sea!” answered the mermaid.

Enraged by the rejection, the giant made it so that huge rocks rolled down the side of the mountain cliffs, down to the beach, and surrounded the mermaid, trapping her inside a type of natural prison. Another fight broke out between the gods. The giant hurling boulders, one after the other, down to the beach and the fisherman creating waves large enough to swallow ships whole, crashing against the stone prison, trying to break the rocks but without success.

And so, they fought on and on, day after day, night after night. Until one day, the mermaid, unable to decide, magically turned into mystical sand, the finest and thinnest of all sands. At that moment, the gods ceased their fighting, realising their mistake, and to honour the mermaid, created a natural shrine to her, both with the power of the sea, and the mountains. Legend says that if you go to that same beach today, find this natural shrine and listen very closely, you can still hear the gods fighting and the poor mermaid weeping.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Have you ever heard the sound of the Portuguese guitar? I hadn’t until last night. Marco Miranda is a friend of my partner, and he invited us to his concert. It was an experience I will never forget.

WORDS Birgit Kunzli

PHOTOGRAPHY Diogo Grilo grilointhepocket.pt

The concert took place inside an old prison in the centre of Lagos. The space was a long room with the stage at the back; at the entrance was a little bar and sound mixer. Marco arrived with Carina, his wife, and a big smile. He immediately took a glass of red wine from the bar and went behind the stage to get ready.

Marco prepared for his performance: the stage, his guitar, the computer, the guitar mixer pedals, and the two backpacks containing all he required for that evening. Everything was ready: the room, the people, my heart. The show was about to begin.

Marco cued a guy on a mixer, and instantly, the room became darker. Silence. In that silence, I sensed something very important was about to begin. All eyes in the room were looking at Marco’s fingers, expecting him to start.

As Marco touched the strings, my whole body got covered in goosebumps while I felt tears welling inside me.

Behind Marco was a screen showing black and white images he had personally selected. Those images, mixed with the magical sounds, took me somewhere far away.

Marco was born in Lisbon in 1979, and he has been creating his musical identity since early childhood, always accompanied by the Portuguese guitar. He was taught by his grandfather, who initially would play with him.

You can also detect the tradition of fado in his music.

Marco is not just a player, though. He is also a composer and producer. You can hear in his albums his experimentation with different sounds and genres. He mixes the classical Portuguese guitar with some electronic sounds and enchanting dynamics, which takes you to another place. His music seems deeply inspired by the natural environment of the Algarve, where he lives. In his rhythms, you can hear all the sounds of nature, like the rain, the wind, and the ocean.

The concert I attended was promoting his 13th album, which is a blend of tradition and innovation. The more I listened, the more I was taken away. I closed my eyes and that’s when the real magic happened. In one instant, it felt like I was flying over deserts and oceans. It felt like being transported somewhere else.

As well as a talented musician, Marco is a technological physics engineer working in biophysics. He has dedicated research into studying the effect of music and auditory stimuli on the human brain waves. This last part interests me as I do the same through the impact of meditation on the human brain.

It’s not easy to find magic, but with Marco, you can fly far away on his magic carpet of sounds. Enjoy!

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You can find more on Marco, his music, and his research on his website m-pex.com

www.instagram.com/mpex_music

Facebook: M-PeX

Spotify: M-Pex

www.youtube.com/user/mpex79

www.youtube.com/watch?v=skBAkCJIbzU

WHY CHOOSE O&O

daily

Meet the Artist

Tracy Carson – The Portrait Artist

WORDS Alyson Sheldrake

Yoga teacher Tracy Carson developed her dream home from a derelict old farmhouse. The move gave her the creative space to develop a skill in portraiture and create art and yoga retreats that appeared on the TV programme, A New Life in the Sun

Tracy first came to the Algarve 15 years ago and initially displayed her artistic sense in the property’s design: “It is open plan and there’s so much light it’s the perfect place to create.” And create she does! Tracy specialises in portraits working on private bespoke commissions, as well as creating work for exhibitions. Her studio at home is a special place: “I’m very fortunate to have a studio space in the upstairs part of our villa with huge open patio doors to allow the sun to stream in. My view is the Portuguese countryside, with a gentle breeze to cool me as I paint.”

Tracy Carson was born in Liverpool and moved to Scotland when she was eight years old. She left home aged 18 and studied fashion and textiles, first in Glasgow, then at Edinburgh College of Art. She spent most of her adult life living in Edinburgh until she discovered Portugal.

“When I was a young girl, my happy place was with my sketchbook and my pencils. I was a very quiet child and spent a lot of time just drawing. I go into the flow state where time stands still when I am working. It’s very therapeutic and meditative. I always surprise myself with the finished result, as if somehow somebody else has created it.”

Using various mediums, her work is full of colour and vibrancy. Influenced by David Hockney’s early work and the pop art movement, she loves to paint with acrylics and sometimes uses mixed media to add texture and depth to her pieces. When she works with pen and ink, she uses hatching and pointillism techniques to create

wonderfully animated and realistic drawings.

Her method of working is fascinating: “I look at an image, dissect and then reconfigure it like a jigsaw puzzle. I break it down into tonal pieces created by the negative and positive spaces surrounding the sitter.”

Tracy works personally with each sitter, aiming to capture their true self, that little spark that makes each artwork truly unique. Ideas for a painting can come from anywhere.

“My inspiration sometimes comes from a photograph I have taken. Or when somebody is just sitting minding their own business and I see a reflection or the way the sun catches their hair and I ask if I can take their photograph.”

Tracy is currently enjoying working on some larger-scale commissions, and for the first time, she has created something other than portraits. Taking her inspiration from the flora and fauna of the Algarve in all its beauty and vibrancy, she recently finished a commission, which was a large 2m x 2m piece called ‘Eden’. “I don’t have a favourite painting. It’s so difficult to choose, like asking me to choose my favourite child. It is sometimes hard to give them up, though and sell them. I have one that I will never sell. It was the first big piece of my son, Lucas, called ‘Head in the Clouds’. It was the first painting I did during COVID and it helped me get through those difficult times when I couldn’t travel to see my children.”

Tracy also occasionally runs classes, teaching people how to create their

own portraits. These are held at her villa, or at the Kit and Caboodle secondhand store in Almancil. Tracy is also a yoga teacher and hosts retreats at her villa. She often incorporates art therapy within the retreats and uses it as a way to meditate and create. You may even have seen her on Channel 4’s A New Life in the Sun programme last year. They filmed her yoga retreats and Tracy creating artwork for a local restaurant near Boliqueime called O Lavrador.

This talented local artist is one of the five members of the Quinta Art Collective. They are a diverse group of artists and friends with work ranging from fine art, portraits, fibre art, sculpture and mixed media artwork. They currently have an exhibition running until 14 of July at the Museu do Traje in São Brás de Alportel.

www.quintaestrelamontes.com

www.facebook.com/tracycarsonart

www.instagram.com/tracycarsonart

www.instagram.com/quinta_art_collective

Pink Ladies Day

Pink Ladies Day is a charity ladies' golf day on Silves Golf Course when the course is lit up by ladies in pink.

All the proceeds of the Pink Ladies Day are donated to the Oncological Association of the Algarve, a much-needed service in the Algarve. Mobile units travel to smaller towns and screen people across the length and breadth of the Algarve. This enables earlier diagnosis and thereby speeds up access to treatment for various forms of cancer, including breast, respiratory and skin.

Around 120 ladies have already registered to play on 7 September. The game is a pairs better ball with prizes awarded down to 6th place together with numerous nearest the pins and longest drives.

The ladies are looking for well-known names in golf and local businesses to support this great day and help a well-deserving Portuguese charity. Pestana has donated the use of the golf course; however more offers of sponsorship or prizes are needed for this event.

The entry fee for Pestana members is 25€ and non-Pestana members 35€.

w.emrich@hotmail.co uk

+351 919 701 777

Fred's Tears

At only 21 months old, Fred has had a difficult childhood so far. He was born with hip dysplasia, which fortunately got better with treatment. Then at only ten days old, he caught the VSR virus and was hospitalised for eight days but fought hard and recovered.

He was also born with strabismus and blocked tear ducts, which constantly cause rashes around his eyes, especially if he has a cold. He doesn’t sleep well, always waking up with his eyes closed and dry from the rashes. He needs two operations: first, to fix the problem with his tear ducts and then to sort out the strabismus.

www.gofundme.com/f/fred-operacao-aos-canais-lacrimais www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093536135638

He has been on a waiting list at the public hospital in Portimão since September 2022, but nothing has been done. His father, João Carapinha, explains, “There is no movement on the waiting list whatsoever.”

That is why both he and Fred's mother, Patrícia Lage, decided to take matters into their own hands and start a Gofundme page to see if they could carry out Fred’s operations at CUF in Lisbon. To cover all costs they will need 8,000€.

They are asking for help to give little Fred the happy, healthy life he deserves and are grateful for any contributions.

Calling all Amateur Photographers

The clock is ticking if you want to participate in Madrugada’s latest photographic competition for their 2024 wall calendar entitled ‘Birds of the Algarve’.

Eagle-eyed snappers must submit their images by the end of July to be in with a chance of featuring in the publication. Alan Vittery, veteran ornithologist, intrepid traveller and author of many books on avian life, including ‘Birds of the Algarve’ will join the professional judges Susan Howard and Dave Sheldrake to help whittle down entries to twelve captivating images.

Alan commented that the huge variety of bird life here in the Algarve gives people a great opportunity to record the wonderful diversity and beauty of our feathered friends in some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. “I am hoping to see

some unusual species as climate change has created an influx of birds not normally seen in this part of the Iberian peninsula.”

Why not show off your photographic talents and, in the process, contribute to a very worthwhile cause? All proceeds from the sale of the calendar will help to cover the cost of Madrugada’s free-of-charge, end-oflife, hospice-at-home care services. Watch this space for details of where to buy the calendar, which is scheduled to go on sale in September.

Your high-resolution landscape orientation entries (up to three) must be submitted in jpeg format to madrugada2024calendar@gmail.com. Full Ts & Cs can be found at www.madrugada-portugal.com/events/ algarvemoments

On Saturday, 10 June, Tomorrow hosted the Viva Portugal Summer Party to raise funds for two very worthy causes in conjunction with Tomorrow Algarve Charity Trust (TACT). The event was held at the Duna Beach Club, where 150 guests enjoyed an evening of fun, food, dancing, and a drink or three!

The festivities began with welcome drinks courtesy of The Little Tipple, while traditional folk dancers provided entertainment. A sumptuous BBQ buffet followed and, during the meal, raffle tickets were sold for prizes donated by many generous local businesses and a signed helmet from Portuguese Moto GP star Miguel Oliveira. The raffle raised a total of 2.000€.

Music was provided by the fantastic Protons, who got everyone up and dancing, smiling, and having fun.

The night was a tremendous success, and we would like to thank everyone for attending and for their generosity.

Thanks to Casas do Barlavento, BP Garages, and an anonymous individual who all helped sponsor the party, along with ticket sales, raffle ticket sales, and a donation from the John Aldridge Charity Golf Classic, TACT raised a total of €5.000.

A special thanks go to Vicki Harding, Samantha Afonso, and Sarah Neves, who worked tirelessly to help organise the event. We are also grateful, as always, to the Tivoli Hotel, the Duna Beach Club, and all their staff, who do such an incredible job at hosting these events.

 See all the event photos: bit.ly/3XwqpYR

Finally, thank you to the Bombeiros and Constança for allowing us to support them. Here’s some more information on these two very worthy causes:

Bombeiros

The Bombeiros are raising funds to buy a three-wheel motorbike with specialist medical equipment. The bike will be able to get to emergency call-outs in the narrow streets quicker than their usual ambulance, potentially saving vital minutes to get to the emergency.

Constança

Constança is a beautiful five-year-old girl who has an extremely rare KAT6A gene mutation syndrome, of which there are only 500 known cases worldwide. The condition impairs or alters the growth and development of the brain and the central nervous system.

Constança requires specialist treatment and therapies, all of which are not covered by the Portuguese health system. She needs to undergo intensive treatment at a specialist centre in Braga. Each visit is for eight weeks and has a cost of €10,000.

The funds raised at the summer party will help both of these causes, and we will publish updates in the coming months.

Winter Ball dates will follow very soon ... keep your eyes peeled!

“What a fantastic evening-great company, great food, great music, great venue etc. Thanks a mil to the organisers for an enjoyable Summer Ball, all done for a good cause.”

Paul Gii Homes

WORDS Phil Harding

Photos © Fátima Vargas (@fatmavargas)

What's on

For more events and activities check our online calendar:

www.tomorrowalgarve.com/calendar

Theatre of Life

Street Animation

The centre of Lagos will once again be filled with music as artists animate the Saturday nights of the Lacobrigense summer.

Duna Beach Sunsets

Summer surely cannot happen without some proper quality sunsets! How about enjoying the experience around a pool, on a beach, cocktail in hand with world-class DJs? You're in luck as Duna Beach year two kicks off this month to provide three stunning SUNSET SHOWS on behalf of Tivoli Hotels and curated by local dropout Toby "One" Millage.

Headliners include Joe Goddard (Hot Chip), Nightmares on Wax and Tash LC along with world-class support from The Heatwave, M.Dusa & Chubby T.

Tickets for guest list open one week before each event but VIP tables are already open to book.

When: From 19 July

Where Duna Beach Club, Lagos +351 282 790 325 / l.rio@tivoli

American Cars Algarve Association

Never has a retail car park been so interesting! You will be able to admire American vehicles, from classic to new muscle cars, at Sudoeste Retail Park this month. With the arrival of the vehicles at midday, you can admire true works of art on wheels. Some of the cars planned are the 1939 Plymouth, 1967 Ford Mustang, 1968 Pontiac, 1989 Camaro, among many other models.

Lunch on this day will be offered by the retail park’s restaurants: Burger King, Bifanas de Vendas Novas and O Seu Bitoque and is a way to get American car owners together to catch up with each other before the annual main American car event in Faro that will take place on 4, 5 and 6 of August at Figuras leisure park.

If you intend to participate with any American vehicle, please contact the organisation.

Culture Market by Candlelight

The eighth Mercado de Culturas à Luz das Velas® will take place in Lagoa this month. The cultural theme is “Cultures and Rituals of Ibero-America” and the main symbols of Ibero-America will be depicted with thousands of candles.

When: 6–9 July

Where: Lagoa

Facebook: @mercadoluzdasvelas www.cm-lagoa.pt

When: 8 July

Where: Sudoeste Retail Park, Alcantarilha www.americancarsalgarve.pt

Lagos Food Fest

Lagos Food Fest will showcase some of the best and most original Portuguese street food. There will also be lots of entertainment.

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When: 13 to 16 July 12 pm to midnight

Where: Praça do Infante and Jardim da Constituição

Teatro de Vida is an exhibition by Antonio Saint Silvestre, described as a presentday Molière. His art pieces, sculptures and installations show an acute vision of our daily life from an artist who has distinguished himself on the international art scene.

The exhibition can be visited until 27 August at the following times:

Tuesday from 2.30 pm to 6 pm Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm until 31 July

During August, from Tuesday (7.30 pm to 11 pm), Wednesday to Saturday (1 pm to 11 pm) and Sunday (3 pm to 11 pm)

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Where: Portimão Museum

www.museudeportimao.pt

Including Carlos Agapito (7 July), Fábio Muchacho (14 July), Fernando Pereira (21 July ), Eurico & Cristina (4 August), Paulo das Vacas (11 August), Humberto Silva (18 August ), Ana & Edgar (25 August), Ricardo Glória (31 August) and Cláudio Rosário (8 September). On 14 September the party will be even bigger, in a show with all the artists who have passed through this stage.

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When: 7 July to 14 September 9 pm

Where: Praça do Infante, Lagos

Vineyard Nights

An unforgettable evening of dinner, live music and wine in a vineyard setting. Quinta dos Capinhas is partnering with the restaurant Gaspacho & Migas to bring you an intimate dining experience in the heart of the vineyard with stunning sunset views and live jazz music.

Advance online booking is required. 65€ per person, Wine Club members receivee a 10% discount.

When: 7 & 14 July at 8 pm

Where: Quinta dos Capinhas quintadoscapinhas.com/events/ Gaspacho & Migas +351 282 039 183 Quinta dos Capinhas +351 969 289 148

Lota COOL Market

The sustainable market promises to spread a "Blue Fever" in Portimão this month. In addition to the sustainable brands participating in the event with handicrafts and design, there are regional producers and food trucks with delicious offerings, including street and finger food, international cuisine, sweets and drinks. One of the new events this year is the creation of a space dedicated to young artists who will give workshops and exhibit their work there: the COOL Young Vibe. There will also be plenty of entertainment with great concerts. Their partner Choque Frontal ao Vivo will feature national artists throughout the night.

5 - 9 July from 6 pm - 1 am

Antiga Lota de Portimão

www.facebook.com/coolmarkets

Summer concerts

14 July: The Artistic Laboratory of the Orquestra do Algarve is presenting some of the most distinguished vocal talents in the Algarve. The summer programme includes some of the most iconic moments from The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

15 July: A comic opera by composer Sophie Gail will be performed for the first time in Portugal. The concert continues with the irresistible music of Debussy, with his famous Arabesques, followed by one of the most irresistible symphonies of Haydn.

Tickets available at Centro Cultural de Lagos or through BOL.

When: 14 & 15 July 9.30 pm

Where: Antigo Ciclo Preparatório in front of the Paços do Concelho 21st century building), in Lagos

Ticket: 6€ per performance

Loose Ends

Why be alone just because you are on your own?

This growing social group enjoyed another great evening of drinks on Porto do Mós beach, followed by dinner at Campimar. Don't miss out on future activities.

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Contact Tom on +351 919 918 733 or Kiki +351 964 822 276

Festival do Bacalhau

This year’s highly popular cod festival features Portuguese singer Rosinha and her show 2023 – Barrote… on tour and Humberto Silva, Marco António, and Roberto Bernardino, three accordionists and performers from Portuguese dance music. There will also be performances from other artists.

Three-day bracelets for the festival are available for sale from 1 June to 19 July at Junta de freguesia de Armação de Pêra, Junta de freguesia de Alcantarilha & Junta de freguesia de Pêra 

When: 21, 22 & 23 July

Where: Rua 25 de Abril, Alcantarilha casadopovoapap@gmail.com www.facebook.com/casadopovoapap

Lagos Open Air Cinema

Creative Ape is hosting a summer of family movies screening new releases, blockbusters and classics for the whole family. Extensive bar and refreshments, food, popcorn and chill-out area.

When: July to September, every Tuesday and Friday. Bar and food from 6.30 pm, with the movie starting at 8 pm. Where: Lagos Marina

Find the programme of movies at www.creativeapecinema.com

Useful Numbers

Sounds of the Convent

The Sounds and Flavours at the Convent is a project developed by the Choral Group Association of Lagos for the summer

The events combine three components: music, education and local heritage.

When: 11 July to 29 August

Where: Nossa Senhora do Carmo Church (Nuns Church), Lagos Free entry

For the programme of events go to t.ly/Iu48

Dive Into a

Turquoise Swimming Pool with

WORDS Flora Kouta

My husband caught me in the act last night. I had thought he was safely tucked up in bed when suddenly he thundered downstairs in search of midnight snacks. There I was in the kitchen, dripping in turquoise paint. “No More Blue!” He barked, “I’m putting my foot down!” Ah, bless him, as if.

I’ve painted at least one wall turquoise in every single room of our house. I feel like I’m diving into a swimming pool each time I walk into a room. It’s so fresh and uplifting I can’t get enough of it. He, on the other hand, cares not for colour. He could happily live in a black hole. It gets on his nerves the way people say, “Oh, I feel like I’m on holiday” when they step foot in our house. I love it, of course, because that was the very idea.

An Obsession with Blue

My blue obsession started during the lockdown in London when our only social life was standing at the front door of our Victorian terrace talking to the neighbours. The crusty old rustcoloured paint really got me down. One morning I woke up to find someone in our street had had the audacity to paint their house turquoise. It was the most exciting thing that had happened all week. Where did they think they lived, eh, Notting Hill? I was in awe. It was painful to find out the colour was ‘Dix Blue’ from Farrow & Ball. You know that paint brand that, for some reason, costs more than three times any other paint you’ve ever picked up? Yes, that’s the one. But I had to have it.

If you’re thinking of going turquoise, be careful when choosing paint, so many claiming to be ‘aqua' look like sludge when you get them on the wall. And never be tempted to paint at night.

You always end up with patchy bits in the morning, even if you haven’t had a bottle of wine!

My favourite paint this season is ‘Azul Cristalino’ from the Spanish brand Bruguer. You can buy it at Leroy Merlin (online or in the Portimão, Albufeira or Loulé stores). Their Bienestar range is a washable emulsion that comes in 32 pure fresh colours and this is just one of their blues.

Sit in an ocean of blue

Ikea has a seating range in a beautiful pale turquoise: ‘Vimle’ is big and chunky and very comfortable. I couldn’t find it at the Ikea in Loulé, so I bought ours online. I stopped myself buying the blue because I was trying to think of other people in the family and their boring tastes. I went for a sofa bed and two armchairs in the dull beige. I can’t wait for someone to spill something oily on them so that I have an excuse to buy the loose covers in blue.

1. Bienstar Turquoise Emulsion bit.ly/3qfoc7d

2. Ikea’s ‘Vimle’ range in blue

Accessorise in blue

This cotton and jute area rug from Maisons du Monde combines natural tones and pure fresh colour beautifully. They have a store at the enormous Mar Shopping Algarve Mall in Loulé, but like Ikea, the instore range is more limited than their website.

I love watching paint dry, especially on fabric, so I often paint designs on plain white cushion covers. You do need to have a steady hand and patience, and I have neither, but these cushions are two of my successes.

The Algarve has quite a few good art and craft shops. Sitio Das Artes in Faro has 63 colours of fabric paint available to buy online.

This turquoise leather pouffe could go in any room of the house. I love its modern cube design and shipping is free to Portugal.

My new range of blue abstract art prints is a great way to bring a beach house vibe into living rooms and bedrooms. This one is ready-to-hang canvas, so it’s great for bathrooms too.

An oasis of blue

For the garden, Casa Moro has this beautiful decorative fountain with a peacock motif and arabesques, and it’s got hidden wheels underneath so you can move anywhere you like!

In my garden, I got tired of the old grey concrete planter, so I gave my big Yucca a treat and painted the pot with acrylics – you can buy acrylic paint from any craft shop or even pound shop. It’s cheap, quick drying and water resistant.

I love these handmade octagonal Moroccan wooden tables with their handpainted patterns from Casa Moro.

This set of three abstract prints is one of my best sellers, it’s really calming and always makes me think of the sea at Porto de Mós in the early mornings when the water can be still as glass.

I hope you’ve been inspired to bring a little swimming pool blue into your home and colour yourself happy …

(Next month, I’ll be looking at how to feel serene with greens …)

Make a splash in the kitchen

For a splash of colour in the kitchen, I love this turquoise glazed earthenware pitcher handmade in Portugal by Ethnic Zone Creations in Lisbon.

These blue and white Portuguese tiles from Isabel Amorim at Tile Passion Shop in Lisbon are gorgeous, each one hand-painted individually following age-old methods. They would be great for kitchen splashbacks. You could even make your own tiled coffee table by glueing them to a wooden tabletop.

1. Blue Leather Pouffe etsy.me/3IQaEWe

2. Geometric cushions in shades of blue that I painted myself. Turquoise fabric paint bit.ly/43QU5Sg

3. Blue & white Portuguese tiles bit.ly/3qifRjn

4. Turquoise earthenware pitcher/jug etsy.me/3C3UapP

5. Blue Moroccan side tables and blue decorative fountain (Casa Moro) www.moroccan-furniture.co.uk

6. Blue abstract wall art and turquoise wall art set of 3 www.florakouta.com

If you are a well-trained individual, think your skills are not being properly appreciated, want to give your professional life a push, and can’t say no to a good challenge then this vacancy is for you!

English speaking and a valid driving license are also absolutely indispensable... easy social related and communicating skills would give a good help.

Position based on a commission scheme and a good and professional environment.

If you think this position if for you, contact us and tell us what your thoughts are and what you would expect as a motivated sales team member!

Fabulous

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Tamsin Varley

Plants

The top of the list has to be the bird of paradise shrub or Erythrostemon gilliesii (formerly known as Caesalpinia gilliesii). It is not related to the Strelitzia at all, but belongs to the legume family. It is native to South America but is mainly found in Argentina and Uruguay. It has fern-like foliage and grows up to two and a half metres tall and about one and a half metres wide. I prefer to grow my plants as a standard so it forms a stem about one and a half metres high, topped by a rough ball of foliage which I keep lightly trimmed to stop it from going too leggy.

Starting in May and lasting for several months, the bird of paradise has spectacular flowers emerging from massed buds. They are yellow with very long bright red arched stamens and are really eye-catching. The good news for us in the Algarve is that once established, it is quite drought tolerant, requiring a deep watering every two weeks or so. It is easy to grow from seed too. Just harvest the pods, ensure you pour boiling water over the seeds and leave overnight before sowing.

My next head turner is a bulb commonly known as the Knysna lily (Cyrtanthus obliquus), which comes from South Africa and belongs to the Amaryllis family. It has slightly twisted green-blue

strap-like upright leaves and, in early summer, sends up a single flowering stalk topped with drooping tubular yellow, orange and green flowers. As it is right by the main gates to the property, it always gets comments from visitors because it is so unusual.

My final eye-catching candidate is the Arabian Jasmine (Jasminum sambac) which is native to tropical Asia. It has glossy green leaves and fabulous, very fragrant, white flowers with a long blooming period which are used to flavour tea and in leis (a Hawaiian garland of flowers). A slight drawback is its untidy habit, so it does need to be tied in and trained either as a sprawling shrub or climbing vine.

I shall stray slightly from my theme here as I want to highlight the extension I have made to my vegetable patch, which is looking great right now. Between my raised vegetable beds and my potting area, there used to be a pomegranate hedge, which was planted about twelve years ago. The four bushes were very successful to the point that I was pruning them up to three times a year and getting my arms shredded in the process. I decided enough was enough and arranged to have them dug out.

I’ve replaced them with three large red plastic containers about thirty centimetres deep with a diameter of seventy centimetres. I filled these with a mixture of potting soil, river sand, horse poo and my own compost, plus some fertiliser. They get sun from early morning to early afternoon and are then shaded by my potting area. I’ve planted one with tomatoes and a courgette and the other two have one cucumber supported by a trellis at the back and then three chillies each. Early indications are promising. We are already harvesting cucumbers and courgettes, several tomato tresses have set already and my chillies are just starting to flower.

Tamsin Varley is a member of Clube Dos Bons Jardins, a small, friendly multi-national garden club that meets at different locations around the Algarve on the 2nd Tuesday of every month except over the summer with an optional lunch afterwards.

That burst of life and colour from spring is behind us now, but there are still some real head-turners vying for our attention in the garden right now.

Bird of paradise shrub

Knysna Lily

Arabian Jasmine

New Veggie Extension

Musings of a Mountain Biker

Hi, Gilly here. Missed you last month whilst visiting family; it’s good to be back.

After one of those rare wet Algarve mornings, getting soaked through to my pants, my spirits were lifted spending a very enjoyable afternoon musing over all things BTT (all-terrain biking) with a fellow addict, Luís Barros. Of all places, I was in Almádena! Nothing against Almádena, but who knew this little village on the N125 was a hotbed of BTT activity?

Back in January last year, in my first musings, I referred to the Lagos cycling groups that helped to build and maintain the fantastic BTT trails around the city and the forest in Barão São João. Imagine my joy at chatting over a coffee with an active member of one of these groups, Associação Amigos de Almádena and Team Cucas (formally Team Bar Six). A kindred biking spirit, it was great to hear Luís speak with such enthusiasm about his involvement in local BTT events.

In the ten years from 2007 to 2017, the association hosted an annual ride, part of the Algarve Cup, where the whole village pulled together to welcome and feed c300 riders, lay the tracks in and around the forest, marshal the route on the day, manage the traffic, pick up the litter, etc. etc. etc. It sounded like a great fun event and a chance for the bike club to put themselves firmly on the BTT map.

After a natural break due to the pandemic, this year, the association, in collaboration with the Câmera Municipal and another active club, Grupo Popular das Portelas, planned and delivered a new, bigger event – the Lagos Bike Aventura. Held over three days in April, it includes a 4km time trial in Lagos centre and two longer distance races (c75km each). It attracted a very respectable 70 riders, a fantastic result and the start of a new annual event.

As an avid explorer, the really interesting bit for me is the role Luís and his Cucas buddies play in riding out on a weekly basis to explore and ultimately set one of the 75km routes. We could have chatted for hours about finding new sections that build on the brilliant BTT routes, taking the riders to new corners of the forest and beyond and utilising the variety of landscapes for a challenging and exciting ride. We chewed the fat over the increased number of blocked trails, the supportive landowners and the highs and lows of GPS-led routes – I was in my element. Thanks, Luís for your time and wonderful conversation, and to your crew for the great work you do supporting BTT.

The joy of Almádena just kept giving! Following a tip-off from my buddy Deb, I called in to see the progress of a new project in the village – Musette. bike. I had the pleasure of meeting Jerome Pannier. Originally from Belgium, Jerome has been in the Algarve for 12 years and is in the

process of moving one of his businesses, a cycle hub, to Almádena.

Jerome has an impressive CV, with a Masters in Sports Science, is an avid surfer and snowboarder, has coached his national snowboard team and has years of experience in sports tourism, including established bike tourism here in the Algarve – how lucky are we to have more investment and expertise in this sector on our doorstep!

I was given a guided tour of the work in progress and take it from me, it is going to be good. There will be a café, terrace and on-site patisserie (Belgium beer and Belgium chocolate – what’s not to like?), bike clothing and accessory sales, bike sales and rentals, mechanics, bike wash, secure bike parking, e-bike charging and shower facilities, TV streaming of bike races and events, community riding groups, the list goes on.

The project is set to open in early July and you can follow the action at www.musette.bike –definitely, one to incorporate into our routes, I wish Jerome and his team all the best.

As always, safe riding and have fun!

If you have a BTT club, event or associated business and would like to share your details, please get in touch at ridinginthealgarve@gmail.com

WORDS Gilly Grateley

Looking for some underwater

Força Portugal!

Portugal head to the World Cup finals

WORDS Vaughan Willmore

The FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off on Thursday, 20 July and for the first time ever, our national team will be competing in the tournament.

Since playing in last year’s 2022 UEFA Women’s European Championship, the team’s form has been nothing short of outstanding, winning all five of their World Cup qualifying games, scoring 15 goals along the way and conceding just four. They finally clinched qualification back in February in a nail-biting match against Cameroon.

While the team is heading to the World Cup in fine form, it’s certainly not going to be easy. Portugal is ranked 21 in the world rankings and faces the daunting task of playing their opening games against the Netherlands (ranked 8) and the USA, who are officially, the best team in the world. Nevertheless, under the guidance of their excellent head coach, Francisco Neto, anything is possible and whatever the results on the pitch, his emphasis on learning and development and delivering performances that inspire the nation will continue.

One thing the team has in its favour is a great team spirit. In last year’s tournament, held in England, the British media described them as ‘the plucky Portuguese’. As team captain Dolores Silva told me, “As Portuguese women, we are not as tall or as muscular as players from other countries and so we have to rely more on our skill and attitude. We are not a team of stars, but by working together, we are a good team.”

They also have very talented players. The names to look out for this summer include Jéssica Silva. Twenty-eight years old and playing for Benfica, she’s at her peak and could become a worldwide star. Kika Nazareth is another. Just 20 she’s already won three league titles with Benfica and is the first female player to have the renowned Jorge Mendes as her agent, someone whose client base includes a certain José Mourinho.

So what are the team’s ambitions and how far can they go in the tournament? “What I can promise,” said Franciso Neto, “is that Portugal will be a team that the Portuguese will be proud to see. We want to be competitive and, if possible, fight until the last game. We want to depend only on ourselves in our last game with the United States.”

Qualifying for the finals of the World Cup has been a tremendous achievement, boosting the team’s reputation and improving their world ranking. As we look forward to what promises to be a fantastic tournament, everyone from Tomorrow magazine will be cheering on the team – Força Portugal!

www.fpf.pt/pt/selecoes/futebol-feminino/selecao-a

What I can promise is that Portugal will be a team that the Portuguese will be proud to see.

Francisco Neto

Professional and reliable transfer service: Intercity, Airport, Tours

For more information: +351 282 358 236

geral@tenniscarvoeiro.com www.tenniscarvoeiro.com

□ 10 Tennis courts (5 floodlit)

□ 4 Padel courts (4 floodlit)

□ Studio classes (14 per week, including LBT, Yoga, Pilates, Dance and Bootcamp)

□ Coffee shop and snack bar

□ 500 sqm fully equipped Gym

□ “The Bungalow” wellness centre offering Thai massage, manicure, pedicure, facials, microblading and more.

□ Large Swimming pool with lounge area.

Márcio Filipe Rosado Henrique Agência de Viagens | NIF: 217737579 | RNAVT: 10990 | SEDE: Rua de Camões n: 12 8600-250 Odiaxere

SPORTS ROUND UP

Netball

For the first time, the Algarve Sevens incorporated a netball tournament this year. Among the twelve teams, the Lagos Fireballs and Leoas de Tavira competed against the UK sides. The Fireballs achieved a heroic feat against much younger trems to come 4th overall.

Cycling

The Algarve town of Loulé will host stage three of this year’s Tour of Portugal. The tour returns to the Algarve for the first time since 2018 and to Loulé for the first time in twenty years. The organisers have announced that the stage will be the longest of this year’s edition and will run from 9–20 August.

João Almeida has become the first Portuguese rider to finish on the podium of a Grand Tour event for 44 years. The 24-yearold took third position on the Giro d’Italia behind winner Primoz Roglic and runner-up Geraint Thomas. Almeida took overall victory in the young rider classification for athletes under twentyfive years of age.

Rugby

The ‘Algarve Sevens’ returned to the Sports Complex of Vila Real de Santo António for another exciting tournament between many of the world’s best teams. In the men’s tournament, Ireland put together six straight victories, including a 19-10 win against surprise finalists Georgia to take the title. France beat Great Britain in the third place play-off, while hosts Portugal beat Germany to finish in fifth. In the women’s competition, a dominant French side came from behind to beat Great Britain 19-7 in the final. Ireland took third place after brushing aside an emerging Poland side, while Portugal finished in tenth position.

Football

Men’s football

Farense are celebrating promotion back to the top flight of Portuguese football after finishing second in the Liga Portugal 2. The Faro-based side finished their season with eight consecutive victories to comfortably hold off the challenge of third-placed Estrela Amadora. Promotion sees the Lions back in the Primeira Liga after a two-year absence. Aside from highprofile matches against Porto, Sporting and (newly-crowned champions) Benfica, Farense will be pitted against Algarvian rivals Portimonense who finished their season in 15th position. Meanwhile, Farense manager José Mota has signed a new contract to lead his side into the 2023/2024 Primeira Liga season. The 59-year-old only joined the club halfway through the campaign, but an astonishing run of results meant that the club offered a contract extension which they described as the “best decision for success”.

Women’s football

The Algarve’s top women’s team, Guia FCF, have suffered relegation from Nation Division Two on the last game of the season. Needing a draw to prolong their stay in the league, they were comfortably beaten by UR Cadima, who leapfrogged them to safety. Relegation will be tough for the Algarve side who operate on a tiny budget, but they will be confident of an immediate return if they are able to keep hold of their best players for the 2023/2024 season.

Farense have announced their intention to start a much-delayed women’s team. Following discussions with the Câmara de Faro, local mayor Rogério Bacalhau announced that there was not currently a suitable option but they would allocate a piece of land in the city that they would cede to the club. The formation of another women’s team would be hugely beneficial to a region that is severely lacking in women’s football sides.

Basketball

In an exciting all-Algarve playoff final, Immortal B (Albufeira) pipped Sporting Clube Farense (Faro) to win the national south division one men’s title. Farense went into the match as favourites after finishing top of the league at the end of the regular season, but the strength in depth of Immortal proved decisive as they took the title by two games to one.

Surfing

Algarvian surfer Joana Schenker remains in third place overall, following stage two of the Bodyboard World Championships in Chile. Despite losing her quarter-final to home favourite Paloma Freyggang, Schenker took fifth place and will now head to the Maldives, for the third stage in August.

If you wish to publicise a sporting event, please contact our sports editor David Lugg: david@tomorrowalgarve.com

WORDS David Lugg

Surfing the Coffee Wave

Quicksilver in Lagos has just opened its new café to give you a healthy boost while you are making your all-important retail decisions.

Your one-stop shop for all your surfing and wardrobe requirements offers the latest trends to get your summer wardrobe ready, whether you are a surfer or want to get a holiday vibe going. And now they have added a new dimension to their retail space with a cosy coffee shop, designed for people to meet, chill out, get inspired and enjoy healthy and delicious beverages and snacks.

The new café offers specialist coffee, featuring a unique blend from local roaster The Studio in Luz, and there is a fast takeaway service. This new concept harnesses the powerful qualities of adaptogenic mushrooms and ingredients to create delicious coffees, drinks and snacks. The super drinks are designed to elevate your performance and productivity, enhancing your cognitive and physical power for hours. One of them – the Lightbulb Moment – is made from

bulletproof coffee (with cacao butter and MCT oil), lion’s mane mushrooms and turmeric. The healthy snacks are made without refined sugar, dairy or gluten, e.g. CBD brownies. Next to the coffee shop, you will find more than 200 surfboards for all levels and surfing styles.

“We are not just a regular shop. We try to create a whole Quiksilver Lagos experience together, with our great employees and amazing events bringing together the community,” says the store manager.

Quiksilver Lagos also often collaborates with local businesses to promote well-being activities and community events, including skate competitions to provide fun for the young generation. This summer, the store is also sponsoring the creative APE outdoor cinema in the marina.

Practice Yoga

Why

WORDS Ann de Jongh

It is called yoga practice for a reason. In any sport you practise to improve and it is the same in yoga.

Yoga practice refers to the ongoing process of learning and growth that takes place. Yoga is a journey rather than an end goal. As we practise, we deepen our understanding and connection with our bodies and the world around us. Whenever we come to our mat, we do our yoga practice, not our yoga perfect.

When we start on our yoga journey, it can be very overwhelming, but as is the same with anything, the more we practise the easier it becomes. We learn acceptance, knowing when to push our bodies and when not to. Especially as we age, there may be some poses our bodies just can not do due to joint restrictions, but that is absolutely fine. The important thing is we practise with consistency.

If you practise, you will see improvement. If you don’t, you won’t. Yoga is a journey; along the

way, we will see our flexibility improve, aches and pains can start to disappear, and we move with greater ease and feel stronger. We learn to connect with our breath and to quieten the mind. We start to understand how to find balance in our body as well as awareness, understanding and acceptance in our mind.

It is not always huge changes we see, but slowly, as we practise, the changes will start to appear and become more noticeable. Yoga is the same as anything else; when our practice becomes consistent, that is when the habits form and the changes occur.

Ann de Jongh is a health & well-being coach

+351 913 202 621

www.fit2lovelife.com

www.facebook.com/fit2lovelife

www.instagram.com/anndejongh

For any updates, promotions and events, follow their Instagram page @quiksilver_lagos

Ayurveda

The oldest form of medicine

WORDS Lena Strang

Having searched for a year to find a solution to her debilitating condition, with all orthodox medicine failing, she unknowingly came across Ayurveda. With a changed diet, the use of herbs, yoga and exercise, within three months, Noeline felt more grounded and healthier, with more energy than she’d ever had in her life. “I started my own healing journey and began helping others too. I firmly believe that ‘your blisters can become your bliss’!”

Ayurveda is a holistic approach to health which helps people live long, healthy, balanced lives. The name comes from the Sanskrit words ayus, meaning life or lifespan, and veda, meaning knowledge. Practised in India for at least 10,000

years, it has recently become popular in Western cultures. The basic principle is to prevent and treat illness by maintaining balance in the body, mind, and consciousness through proper drinking, diet, and lifestyle, as well as herbal remedies.

Just as everyone has a unique fingerprint, each person has a distinct pattern of energy, a specific combination of physical, mental, and emotional characteristics. Ayurvedic practitioners also believe there are three basic energy types, called doshas, present in every person. Many things can disturb the energy balance, such as stress, an unhealthy diet, the weather, and strained family relationships, often leading to disease. Ayurvedic practitioners prescribe treatments to bring the doshas back into balance.

Yoga teacher Noeline Oldham became interested in Ayurveda in the 90s when she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.  +351 963 614 499

longer, depending on the condition and the imbalance. Ayurveda therapy continues to support the client until they reach a state of balance.

You can find out more about this subject in an interview with Noeline on our blog www.tomorrowalgarve.com.

Noeline holds sessions in her healing room at Espiche as well as yoga sessions at Boavista Golf Resort. Therapies can be as short as three sessions lasting a minimum of 90 minutes or

What is Vitiligo?

WORDS Donna Groom

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that affects our skin. The melanocytes in our body that produce the melanin are destroyed, turning those areas a milky white. It can appear just about anywhere on the body and can have a symmetrical feature on the body.

The skin affected can also make the hairs lose their colour and are prone to burning because of the lack of melanin, so sun cream must always be applied. Sadly, when it is something so visible, it can have a profound effect on confidence and self-esteem.

In some cases, the condition can change the colour of your eyes and affect your hearing. Currently, researchers have not come up with a cure for this autoimmune disease, but they are trying to find a link to why this happens.

Whilst there is no cure, there are treatments available now to help restore the colour that has been lost. Micropigmentation can only be carried out if the affected area has been dormant for a minimum of seven years. Medical micropigmentation is an option that can put colour back into the skin. Three treatments are

www.zengardenretreats.com

zengardenretreats@gmail.com

recommended every four to six weeks as the colour needs to be built up until there is a similar match to the natural skin tone. This procedure can be carried out on most areas of the body. A colour test Is used first to determine what the skin grabs before following with the treatment. Immediately after each treatment, the skin goes red but calms down after a few days, leaving the colour implanted.

We can use different techniques to mimic the skin, such as shallow, mosaic and acrylic techniques. All these techniques over each visit ensure a natural look using medically graded pigments specially formulated for camouflage.

The colour lasts between one and three years and will fade over time, so a colour boost is recommended every year to ensure the colour tones with your skin.

donna.medicalbeauty@gmail.com

Donna Groom is a beauty therapist and medical micropigmentation specialist.

Freeze the Day

WORDS Helen Daniel

The benefits of cold immersion have been recognised and practised for centuries. Dutch-born Wim Hof (The Iceman) has structured an easy-to-follow cold therapy and breathing technique that can be included in your daily routine.

A few months ago, I attended a one-day course at The Lemon Lodge in Aljezur to learn the basics of the method and have followed the routine ever since. To find out more about the technique, I spoke to Alex Vliege, who is a trained Wim Hof Method (WHM) instructor and co-owner of The Lemon Lodge, “Everyone should try the Wim Hof Method,” enthuses Alex. The international athlete manager and extreme sports enthusiast from The Netherlands now lives in Aljezur.

Alex is passionate about his hobbies, including surfing, paragliding, hydrofoiling, kitesurfing and martial arts. He has a busy life managing athletes and as an active partner in The Lemon Lodge, which hosts workshops and offers ecofriendly off-grid accommodation. One of his main passions and his motivating force in life, though, is the conviction that the WHM benefits our mental and physical well-being, and his mission is to spread the word. “There would be fewer illnesses and less stress in this world if more people practised this method,” he affirms.

Alex explained to the ten participants at the workshop I attended that how we breathe has a powerful effect on us. “Our lungs provide our bodies with oxygen which is vital for all our functions: moving, digesting food and even thinking,” explains Alex. “Our lungs discard the carbon dioxide produced as a waste product from these functions. By mastering breathing techniques, you can stimulate oxygen flow into all your body’s cells, and dispose of carbon dioxide efficiently, thus creating more energy, lowering inflammation and controlling your nervous system.”

Alex taught us two breathing routines that are easy to learn. Going about my daily life, I am now more aware of my breathing, often reminding myself to inhale more deeply through my nose. “70 to 80 per cent of us breathe in a shallow way which causes our bodies to create adrenaline and cortisol, making us feel stressed,” Alex informed us. “Practising the Wim Hof breathing exercises teaches us mindful breathing.”

Cold immersion is easier than it sounds. I feel the cold terribly, and I still cannot believe I get in a cold shower for at least two minutes every day, and I even look forward to it! “Modern life has made us delicate,” claims Alex. “When we get cold, we wear more clothes or turn the heating up, but we can adapt to low temperatures. It is beneficial to be exposed to cold for short spells. It increases our ability to create more elasticity in our veins, decreasing our chances of cardiovascular disease, the biggest cause of death in the Western world.”

Alex has an exciting life story that led him to discover the Wim Hof Method. He was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, but when he was nine, his family moved 30 km south to the coast, where his father owned a boat. “My father took me out sailing often, which initiated my love of the ocean,” remembers Alex. “At age 23, after gaining an International Marketing degree, I owned and ran a kitesurfing and wakeboarding school.

The summers were fun and financially rewarding. I explored different continents during the winters, participating in many adventure sports.”

In 2005, Alex accepted an offer from Red Bull to be a surf event organiser. The lucrative and secure work gave him some free time to kite surf. “Out of the blue one day,” he divulges, “I received a phone call from a friend in Cape Town asking if I would like to set up a guest house with a kite and surf school there with him. It was a huge risk but a business opportunity I couldn’t turn down. So I chucked in my job with Red Bull and went to South Africa.”

Alex spent 14 years in Cape Town, running five guest houses and kite schools and employing 20 instructors. It was the most prominent school of its kind in South Africa. “Life was intense for me, and I needed to find a way to relax. I discovered freediving first as a way to unwind and then yoga and meditation resulting in my interest in breathing techniques.” When a friend introduced Alex to the WHM in 2014, he was keen to try it, and his experience was so powerful that he decided to become a qualified instructor to share this life-enhancing technique with others. “I carried out my Wim Hof instructor course in the US mountains of Oregon, where I met Mr Wim Hof himself and accompanied him on crazy icy cold excursions, wearing only my boxer shorts!”

Alex began teaching the WHM in Cape Town, undertaking three or four workshops a week. He was the only instructor in Africa, so he was in popular demand. “I had to reduce the number of classes I took as it became overwhelming. My motivation for taking the Wim Hof instructor course was to help people learn the technique, not to make money.”

In 2019, Alex was staying at a friend’s house in Cape Town when two armed robbers broke into her home. He fought them off using his martial arts skills while she escaped. Two more attackers appeared, and with four assaulting him with intent to kill, he sustained many injuries. Alex knew the only way to escape death was to run for the ocean. He fled the house straight into four-metre waves, where he stayed and waited, reckoning correctly that none of them would follow him. Alex was severely injured, and during his long recovery, he and his wife Helena questioned whether they should continue living in Cape Town. One day they wanted children, and, although fantastic for many sports, Cape Town has a high level of crime, and South Africa has a precarious currency. In 2020, they moved to Aljezur, Portugal.

The WHM involves daily

• Breathing exercises.

• Briefly immersing yourself in a cold water

• Having a determined mindset

Alex is a great WHM instructor and is passionate about what he teaches. I attended the course with nine others, which included a yoga session guided by Helena. Incredibly, at the end of the afternoon, we took turns to immerse ourselves in an ice bath for two minutes. The feeling after was powerful and positive for us all, and I never believed I could do it. “This method, scientifically proven to be good for us physically, is also fantastic for our self-esteem and confidence,” Alex told us.

Ever motivated, Alex still frequently travels to South Africa for extreme sports events, where he combines coaching professional athletes and teaching Wim Hof workshops. “After all this travelling and still much more to do, my home is most definitely here in Portugal,” he declares.

After putting into practice what I had learnt, I now agree with Alex and many others that practising the technique daily helps you feel healthier, stronger, brighter and more capable of dealing with life.

All the information is online, so attending a WHM course is optional. I enjoyed the workshop so much, though, that I will attend another one in the summer when hopefully, I can get in an ice bath again!

+31 610 081 026

alex@northasg.com

Trains, Planes and Automobiles

WORDS Adam Rich

So often, when people are on holiday and out of their normal routine, they can end up causing themselves unnecessary discomfort and stress by injuring themselves. We see many patients within hours of them leaving Faro airport!

Before you go on holiday, you should choose your suitcase wisely. Buy the lightest case possible with wheels; hard cases tend to weigh quite a lot before you even start filling them. If possible, take two light suitcases rather than one, so you can distribute the weight more evenly. Many wheeled cases encourage you to pull the case handle from behind, but this makes the upper body/back twist. If possible, push the case in front of you or use a trolley making sure you choose one from the stack which does not have ‘wonky wheels’, as keeping it on track will not do your back any good! It’s important to get a good night’s sleep before travelling as tiredness

increases your chances of injury, so try and be organised to avoid last-minute rushing around.

Many back problems are caused or aggravated by poor driving posture. If you’re driving to your holiday destination, ensure the seat position is slightly backward so that it feels natural and that your elbows are at a comfortable and relaxed angle. Relax at the wheel, as this reduces stress on the spine and allows your seat to take your weight. Stop and stretch your legs (and arms!) at least every two hours. If you're stuck in traffic, exercise in your seat. Try buttock clenches, side bends, and shoulder shrugs and circles.

Avoid alcohol before and during the flight, as this will cause you to dehydrate and, in turn, exaggerate any muscle pain. Drink plenty of water instead. You will be restricted to your seat for most of the flight, but avoid stiffness

by doing shoulder shrugs, buttock clenches and foot circles. Take the opportunity to get up and stretch your legs whenever you can. Avoid ‘travelators’ to allow you every opportunity to get your joints moving after a flight.

If you’re heading to the sun loungers in search of the perfect tan, try not to lie on your tummy with your back and neck arched back when reading your book or magazine. Put the reading matter on the floor so you can view it over the edge of the sun bed; this should allow you to keep your head and neck in a more neutral position.

Of course, having a pre and post-holiday checkup at Lagos Chiropractic is always a good idea!



+351 282 768 044

www.lagoschiropractic.com

Bouncing Back from Upset

WORDS Becca Williams

Let’s say you’re going along just fine and suddenly, out of nowhere, somebody says or does something – or an errant thought grabs you –and you are triggered! Strong emotions such as anxiety or anger begin shooting through you.

Will they take over, sucking you into an inward gloomy silence or push outward with distressing physical sensations and causing you regrettable outbursts?

What you do next is vital – for your own wellbeing and those around you. You might continue to let the emotion consume you or you learn to stay present with what’s coming up so you can process and release the feelings and get back to calmness.

Rescuing Ourselves – Nobody Else Can

The art comes in not trying to suppress the emotional energy – but learning the skill to let that yucky energy move through you so it can be released and you can get back to a better place.

In emotional inquiry, self-awareness is the key factor. The skill is training yourself to pay attention to the emotions that surface, the

thoughts that go with them, and the physical sensations. Of course, all of this can be unpleasant in the early stages because we don’t want to be present with those emotions. But the pay-off is no longer being a slave to them.

How to Cultivate Self-Awareness

The key to cultivating self-awareness is becoming sensitive to observing your emotions. The way to do this is through meditation. Before you roll your eyes and dismiss it with “I don’t like to meditate!” know there’s another approach besides sitting in silence.

Try out the “Unmeditation” Meditation

I call it the "unmeditation" meditation – it respects the fact that traditional mindfulness meditation can be challenging for people who wrestle with incessant pounding thoughts. I invite you to give it a try by going to beccawilliams.org/awareness/

Becca Williams is an emotions therapist and clinician who helps people free themselves from emotional burdens, traumas, and limiting beliefs to live more fulfilling lives.

 becca@emotionallib.com

I like to call it: “Surfing the waves of uncertainty with grace and perseverance.”

Your trip, your choice

In May I had 14 friends come to visit from the UK and we decided to go on a catamaran with Marina Boat Charters.

Marina Boat Charters was founded in 2018 by Derry Jones and Ana Nunes. Together, they have built a company that offers a very personal exclusive type of charter.

Derry is originally from County Kerry in Ireland and was involved in sailing boats from a very young age. He sailed dinghies in Fenit from the age of seven. Ana is from Alvor in the Algarve and joined Derry straight out of university in 2002. They have worked in the maritime tourism business together for 21 years.

Ana says, “Years of experience have taught us what our clients really want from a proper charter: a relaxed atmosphere, professional service, beautiful scenery, and great fun.”

“A lot of people come to Portugal and never see the most amazing coastline the Algarve has to offer,” adds Derry. “Ponta da Piedade, Praia do Vau, Benagil, Praia da Marinha and Praia da Ingrina to name but a few. We have personally experienced all these treasures of the Algarve and are delighted to share them with our clients.”

Marina Boat Charters supplies everything from towels, paddleboards, snorkels and flippers to refreshments and snacks. Every detail is thought of for you to relax and enjoy the trip. “Your trip, your choice” is their slogan.

Marina Boat Charters has several types of boats to offer their clients for a varied selection of trips, including a beautiful Sun Odyssey 49D sailing boat for up to eight people, an exhilarating Fairline Targa 43 powerboat for up to ten and a catamaran Fountain Pajot Helia 44 for up to fifteen.

Marina Boat Charters experienced a bumper season in 2022 and is looking forward to a fabulous 2023 season.

The service we received from Derry, who was captain for the day, was second to none. Our other two hosts Mandy and Cynthia served us fabulous snack food and our glasses were never empty and the wine was very good. We anchored in Ferragudo and some of our friends went on paddle boards and swam in the sea which was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. We then took a taxi boat to the shore where we had a fabulous lunch booked for us.

I would thoroughly recommend Derry and his team to anyone wanting to charter a catamaran for the day or half day and we will definitely be using them again

Jill Weekes

If you want to get the most out of your investment, have you considered entering into a yacht charter agreement with a reputable charter company? If not, it’s worth exploring the benefits of doing so.

The Journey Behind the Bottle

Natural wine is a process of wine-making that goes back to ancient methods and back to basics. By using no synthetic herbicides, pesticides or fertilisers and only natural yeast on the grape to help with the fermentation process, natural wine is exactly what it states on the ‘tin’ – bottle – completely natural.

Unlike natural wine, organic wine is produced on an industrial scale and can be manipulated in the cellar. There is also a tolerated percentage of commercial chemicals that can be added to organic wines while still remaining within the range of “organic”.

I am lucky enough to be invited to an event hosted by Madame! Wine Shop in Aljezur, a natural wine bar and shop that hosts and encourages producers to showcase their wines at special events set up to allow more people to understand the story behind natural wine.

When I first walk into Madame!, it feels like I am instantly transported to an underground, exclusive club that could be in Berlin, London, Copenhagen, San Francisco – anywhere but the quiet back streets of Aljezur. It is refreshing to have this feeling.

I had the opportunity to meet Silvia Bastos and Nadir Bensmail, the duo who started the natural wine movement in Portugal when they opened the first wine bar in Lisbon in 2005, showcasing small-scale winemakers. They have now closed the bar and instead work with seven countries and 150 European wine producers, importing wines. Tonight they are showcasing the inaugural vintage of their project, Tomaralma.

Silvia says, "We have a humanist approach to our business, visiting all producers, and we feel more like an association than just importers. We travel a lot and drink a lot, which is great." She laughs, "And we work a lot in the field".

After some research, I understand that the natural wine bar scene is prevalent around the world and especially in America. It is associated with an alternative pop culture that seeks more than the elitism associated with the tradition of old-school wine experiences. The clientele is well educated – the ‘millennial bohemia’ – and are hardcore believers of going back to basics. Art plays a huge part in this scene as the bottles are labelled appropriately to encourage a cult following of each brand through not just the wine but also the label.

I imagine Madame! is very much like the bars in the cities I mentioned above. The owners, Ruben Menezes and Diane Grossot, have created a space that enhances an atmosphere of warmth and wealth with their designer touches, low-level lighting, vintage display of collectables, and a raw wooden structure that encases the entire surround of the bar, sort of giving the impression that you are inside a barrel of wine!

Madame! was initially called Madame Granel, and sold locally sourced organic products in bulk. They also stocked a small selection of natural wines and realised that selling and representing local natural wine producers was where they wanted their focus to be. The shop slowly ‘de-phrased’ as Diane puts it, and stocked less and less food and natural hygiene products and more natural wines. They are now a full natural wine bar with a wine club attached to it where you can access their collection during the week by collecting it at their farm in Aljezur.

Ruben was a son of a career diplomat and travelled more than most as a child. He then became a political advisor to a Member of the European Parliament in Brussels. He met Diane there 20 years ago while she was working for a non-profit organisation with EU funding. The experience of living in many different cities and countries resonates with the atmosphere they’ve created at Madame! As does their general disposition – intellectual, positive, and forward-thinking.

At the tasting, Silvia pours me a white wine that, to be honest, I don’t particularly like. It is very acidic and sharp and leaves a strong aftertaste in my mouth.

WORDS Nirali Shah-Jackson PHOTOGRAPHY Robert Hawcroft

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She explains that the wine I have tried comes from the "Fernão Pires grape, the most famous wine grape in Lisbon”. I try more of their range and enjoy a red wine that tastes woody and smooth. I am experiencing what is known as a “flight tasting” session, where four wines can be sampled for €15 per session. I listen intently to both Nadir and Silvia, who enthusiastically share stories behind the natural wine movement in Portugal and then realise, as with most of my articles, that I would need to write a book to explain everything I am being told.

It appears to me after this event that drinking natural wine is not just about the taste. It is about the journey through the bottle, the history around the production, the process, the labelling, and the culture that has formed behind the bottles – a culture of obsessive (in a good way) advocates of natural wine who want to do nothing more than re-educate the end-user on the way wine should be enjoyed and to deconstruct preconceptions of how wine tastes.

The natural wine movement hopes to re-inform consumers to appreciate what wine actually tastes like when not tampered with and when it effectively comes straight from the ground to the glass. The owners of Madame! and the duo I met there are beyond passionate when striving to explain to the consumer the whole story behind the bottle. Diane and Ruben are not just natural wine enthusiasts but activists for a bigger movement that is happening in the wine scene today.

I believe that it isn’t possible to deliver what they do without understanding the intricacies of customers, producers, and cultures, as what they are running is not a business or an entrepreneurial idea. It is a passion that goes beyond a fix to ‘earn money quickly’. It is more a life’s calling, especially for Diane, who comes from a family of winemakers in Fleys, France. She was brought up on an estate called Domaine Grossot that still produces Chablis wine (her sister Eve is now in charge of this estate).

Diane is a unique character, full of unfaltering knowledge that fascinates me. After a three-hour-long conversation with her, I’m reeducated on the behavioural psychology behind the whole process of cultural attitudes towards wine, the class system, and how this has an impact on how wine is bought and consumed.

From what I gather after our conversation, the entire culture around wine needs to be slowly broken down so that we can come back to the basic, pure essence and taste of the untampered grapevine.

Silvia is no different. She explains that a lot of the soils where estate wines were grown were losing their nutrients due to the overuse of chemicals. Wines stopped tasting like the owners of these vineyards remembered when the wine was being produced by their grandparents. She explains, "It was this lack of character and identity that made these producers think, 'I have to go back to a wine that doesn’t have the chemicals in the vineyards and in the cellar' ".

Commercialisation changed the industry and standards were sought that took the pureness away from wine and instead gave a very uniform and predictable taste, of course, all generated with precise laboratory formulas and a whole load of chemicals.

Dissatisfied by the lack of variety and taste that their grapes were now producing, vineyard owners who had inherited the estates from their parents were now interested in bringing back the methods of their ancestors and making wine taste how they remembered. She explains, "Actually, everyone thinks natural wine is a modern movement, but we are, in fact, going back to ancient methods".

And so, from nostalgia, the natural wine movement slowly came into being again in Portugal. Unlike conventional wine, where yeast strains can be produced in laboratories to ensure consistency of taste from batch to batch, with natural wines, each batch of wine tastes slightly different and is produced on very small vineyards that typically grow biodynamically – meaning the earth is nourished with the help of compost from plants grown on the same soil and then broken down into compost and used again to feed the ground. Or it is grown on soil that carries no, or little trace, of chemicals from farming.

I am made aware that we are all so used to our favourite wine and how it should taste we don’t actually realise that we aren’t drinking ‘wine’ anymore but a combination of great marketing, amazing laboratory work, and more concoctions of chemicals than we care to think about. Basically a bottled headache right there.

The morning after my natural wine-tasting experience, I wake up with trepidation, waiting for that banging headache that I am accustomed to with practically all consumption of wine – and instead, I just have a cloudy head that can’t wake up as quickly as normal. With very low sulfite levels and naturally occurring yeast to help with fermentation, natural wine is a winner for those of us who suffer from nasty hangovers.

If you truly love local Portuguese wine, then it is worth re-educating your palate because there is nothing more authentic than a natural wine-tasting experience. Follow Madame! and its wine club on Instagram for upcoming events.

That Asian Home Cook

Satay, Peanut Sauce and Fried Rice

So we are back in BBQ season again!

One great thing to slap on the grill is a meat skewer. How about an Asian skewer called satay?

This barbecued meat skewer is super popular in Malaysia and Indonesia and is typically served with a spicy peanut sauce, which I will also teach you here. I am even going to teach you how to do a five-minute nasi goreng recipe to pair with your satay so it is a complete meal for you. I won’t lie, this will be a laborious process, but it is worth your time, I promise you.

Satay ingredients

• 10 wooden skewers soaked in water

• 1 large chicken breast chopped into small bitesized ½ inch cubes

• 1 tbsp curry powder

• 1 tsp turmeric powder

• 1 tsp chilli powder if you fancy spicy

• ½ tsp cumin powder

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 tsp vegetable oil

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and set aside for at least a couple hours for all the flavours to take. When you are ready to skewer

your chicken, simply pierce the sharp end of your wet wooden stick through four or five pieces of chicken just at the top portion, repeating until all your skewers are done. Soaking your wooden skewer ensures they don’t burn and break when you place them on a hot grill.

Place your satay sticks on a preheated BBQ and grill for around ten minutes, flipping them over a couple of times. It’s as easy as it gets.

Peanut sauce ingredients

• 1 tbsp finely chopped onions

• 1 clove garlic grated

• 1 cup peanut butter – smooth or crunchy for texture

• 1 cup water

• 1 tsp chilli flakes or piri piri powder

• 1 tsp fish sauce

• 1 tsp lime juice

• 1 tbsp freshly crushed peanuts

• 1 tsp vegetable oil

Instructions

Heat a spoonful of oil in a pan and fry onion and garlic until it has just softened but is still translucent. Add the peanut butter, water and

whisk over low heat until sauce thickens. Add the remaining ingredients, stir once more and then take off the heat. That’s all it takes.

Nasi goreng ingredients

• 2 cups of cooked rice

• 1 cup of your favourite mixed vegetables

• 4 garlic cloves minced

• 1 tsp fish sauce

• 1 tsp oyster sauce

• 1 tsp soy sauce

• 1 tsp vegetable oil

• Pinch of salt if required

Instructions

Heat your wok with a spoon of vegetable oil and fry garlic until golden brown. Once fragrant, add the vegetables. A quick sauté is required here before you add the rice and all your sauces and seasonings into your wok. Stir vigorously for a few minutes to combine all the flavours over a high heat.

Voila, your nasi goreng is done! It does not get any easier than that. This recipe serves two.

Joy Entry is a Malaysian home cook based in Lagos who is obsessed with the provocative, unapologetic flavours of South-East Asian cuisine

SPECIAL NIGHTS

DRAUGHT

The Adventures of Bobo the Cat

Part 1: Bobo in the Lady of the Green

WORDS June Jorgensen

Bo Didley, or Bobo for short, thought himself a courageous boy that hot summer. He went on a wild adventure that used up at least one of his nine lives!

His journey began one June day above the coastline in the Algarve, southern Portugal, when his human mom June, drove from their home in Alvor north towards the hills of Senhora do Verde (Holy Lady of the Green), a distance of 12 kilometres.

“Where is our human mom taking us now?” thought Bobo, a handsome orange and yellow striped three years old feline, as he stared in wonder from the carrier window, mesmerised by the green agricultural land that zipped past the car. He licked his tiger sister Bella in the carrier beside him, her fur quivering in the sunlight.

When June pulled into a long driveway, angry dogs almost ripped down a fence trying to get at the car. “Be quiet!” shouted Ana, running from the house and chasing them back.

The two ladies walked towards a long narrow building framed with wooden posts, covered with wire fencing. Inside were several rooms with little connecting tunnels. Eyes, hidden in dark shadows, followed their every movement. Low growls and deep murmurs echoed in corners.

Bella let out a deep growl and cowered in her carrier. Bobo, with his soft, feminine-like face, calmly surveyed the enclosure.

“Why were they in this strange place?” he thought. “And what’s for lunch?” He licked his lips.

“How many cats do you have? asked June.

“Oh, about 24, maybe more,” replied Ana, shooing a big grey cat off the carrier.

“Everyone is dropping off kittens, senior cats, injured ones, cats nobody wants. Oh boy, I can hardly keep up,” said the tired-looking woman with salt and pepper braided hair.

“Thanks for caring for my cats while I’m on holiday.”

Ana nodded, “You want to let them out?”

“Are you sure the others won’t hurt them?”

“No, they are used to new cats.”

When the carrier door opened, Bobo stuck his head out cautiously, his green eyes bulging and shiny, waiting for a pack of cats to pounce on him. None did. He eyed an old grey tomcat with a mangled ear sizing him up at a safe distance. In slow motion, he stepped out, surveying every crack and corner. Suddenly a soft meow broke the silence. A slender white cat walked up and winked at him, and he calmly followed her to the food bowl, sharing some biscuits. It was a flirtatious gesture – considering he was snipped – but he still enjoyed the chase.

Bella hightailed to a corner and was surrounded by two large cats. She hissed loudly and swatted the nearest male cat, who immediately cowered back.

“I’ll see you in two weeks,’ Bobo heard his human mom say as she closed the door.”

He laid on a pillow with his lady friend, his sad eyes fixated on the door, longing to go with her.

He thought of the day his human mom had rescued him from underneath the caravan at the camp, along with his brothers and sisters. He was so sick that she gave him awful stuff to drink and stayed with him. They grew to love each other. Now she was gone for the first time in his life.

Over the next few days, a feeling of heightened nervousness was felt among the new arrivals and its residents.

One morning, all hell broke loose. After feeding them breakfast, Ana left and closed the door. It jammed against a feeding bowl. Bobo and Bella ate their breakfast while the others silently looked on. Rolf, a black alpha male, growled furiously at Bobo and pounced, swatting his ears. Fur flew in the air, along with bowls and biscuits. Howls and screeches resonated throughout the enclosure.

“Stop it,” Ana shouted, rushing back in.

Bobo focused on the mayhem and realised it was now or never. When the dust had settled, Ana saw two furry bums slip through the partially open door, one being a ginger bum.

“Bobo, come back,” she yelled futilely, watching his yellowstriped tail disappear into the tall grass. She ran into the bright sunlight scouring the green fields. But the handsome ginger was long gone.

Ana searched until nightfall. As the sun set over the Serra De Monchique mountains, casting a red shadow on Foia, the highest peak in the Algarve, she whispered to the wind, “Should I tell her?”

Two green eyes followed her as she went back into the house.

A ginger tail bobbed in the fields as darkness descended over the Lady of the Green.

(to be continued)

June is a writer, author, and artist.

The story: ‘The Adventures of Bobo in the Lady of the Green’ is one of June's adventures rescuing cats in Portugal and will be in her second book:

Crossing the Pond – Tales of Adventure The book is a sequel to her first book: I Heard the Alps Call

His Name

 junebugmjorgensen.com

Albufeira’s Natural World

Part Two: Tales of a Tawny Owl (Strix Aluco)

WORDS &

PHOTOGRAPHY

Marina L Mildenstein

A large tawny owl arrived in my life in quite an extraordinary way – by seemingly jumping into our swimming pool and then perching soaked on the pool ladder. From this moment on, Tawn, as I affectionately call it (I know, not very original), has become a regular feature in my life.

Where I live in Albufeira, there is a beautiful communal garden with a shared pool. This was the backdrop for my first introduction to Tawn. Early one August morning, I opened my backdoor shutter and sleepily noticed something large and dark perched on the pool ladder. A tentative investigation found a rather wet but incredibly calm (perhaps shocked?) owl sitting on the top rung in the gentle morning sunshine.

Had the owl mistakenly landed or slipped into the pool? Had it just fancied cooling off? I read later that tawny owls are not unknown to take a little bath now and then. This owl was so docile; I got very close and it did not object. It actually seemed to have its eyes closed. I did not know what type of owl it was at the time. I have had a little owl as a back garden friend for a few years, but this one was far larger and very different.

Now, they say that owls visit you to impart wisdom. This is comforting as many believe an owl appearing to you can mean doom and gloom. In my experience, it is the opposite. They do seem to turn up when you need some guidance.

The next time we were to meet was about a week later as I went for a walk in the valley near where I live. It was already getting dark and there was no one much around. Suddenly a distinctive hoo hoo hooooo really made me jump, the call of the tawny owl. It came from the upper side of the valley, so I headed that way to see if I could spot the owl.

Another hoot, but from behind me, I walked back and then one even louder right above me. I looked up into a tall palm tree and I could see a large, darkish shape (was it part of the tree?), but it was an owl: big, quite regal, dark grey in colour with sort of streaks of lighter colour on its front. I imitated its hoo hoo hooooo and when I hooted again, it looked straight down at me intently with black eyes. I felt spooked by the sheer size of him, being used to little owls, but I also felt a connection, so I began chatting. He may have been listening, but it was only when I hooted at him again that he looked directly down at me with a snooty air of, “You call that an impression of me?”

There have been various exciting encounters with this owl since, mostly close to the valley. One evening, I rushed off up the dusky hill with a strong feeling I might see Tawn. I

glanced up at his favourite lamp posts and other possible perches – there was nothing. I reached the crest of the hill and there was Tawn, just sitting on the thin branch of an alfarrobeira tree as if waiting for me. My skin prickled as I pondered how the skinny branch could hold Tawn’s weight.

The owl was so close (maybe 1.5m from me) and that evening, it felt like something changed: the owl was not so haughty and I was not so unnerved. For the first time, I felt a friendly vibe between us. So I chatted, and every other moment Tawn would look at me out of those dark, dark eyes. Eventually, I had to say goodbye. After a few steps, I glanced back and he had gone. So beautifully silent I had not heard him depart.

A favourite perch of the owl, top of the valley

Mysterious owl on my pool ladder

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Melides Magic At Vermelho by Louboutin

WORDS Ann Botterman

Five-star luxury and cutting-edge design are not the first things you associate with the Alentejo, traditionally home to cork oaks, olive trees, vineyards and pig farms. But turn towards the Atlantic and you will find a newly fashionable stretch of coastal Alentejo, from Tróia and Comporta down to Melides – expanding further south every year.

We travelled down from Lisbon a few weeks ago and decided to skip the efficiency of the A2 motorway and discovered ridiculously pretty beaches, delicious contemporary food options, and a string of luxury hotels that will have you checking local estate agents’ windows.

Comporta is no longer up-and-coming of course – it has been the favoured beach getaway for Lisbonites, socialites and minor royalty for years now. The rustic-chic Sublime Comporta opened in 2014 and its small-scale, feet-inthe-sand approach to high-end hospitality will make you go ‘oooh’ as soon as you drive up the long winding drive through a mature pine forest. Individual suites and villas are dotted around as if contemporary architecture was made to coexist with the ancient landscape of sand dunes and umbrella pine trees.

We stopped for lunch in Tasca da Comporta, one of the on-site restaurants. Think highend bistro with proper Portuguese roots, we loved the seared tuna salad with crazy-good tomatoes and the crab croquettes. We would have happily spent the rest of the afternoon working our way through the menu.

We stopped in the village of Comporta, which was a lot more charming and low-key than I had imagined. I am sure weekends and summers turn this sleepy village surrounded by rice fields into an unlikely see-and-be-seen hotspot, but when we passed through, it was mostly locals getting ready for the season. Hippie-chic boutiques, trendy bars and restaurants are in evidence, but the busiest spots were the no-frills churrasqueria and little coffee bar on the cute central square. About those rice fields – you may have heard they exist, but it still feels weird to see rice paddies in Europe!

Drive north from Comporta and you are on the Tróia road – miles and miles of sand dunes and empty beaches. That was not our destination this time though, and we continued south towards Melides, until recently best known as a summer camping destination. That changed this year when fashion designer Christian Louboutin opened a boutique hotel in the centre of the village. Famous for killer heels, outrageous designs and jaw-dropping price tags, the French designer has fallen hard for Portugal’s charms. Private houses in Lisbon and a country retreat close to Melides itself were not enough – he decided to build Vermelho, a 13-bedroom luxury hotel.

If, like my husband, you did not know that red (vermelho in Portuguese) is a Louboutin signature colour (apparently all Louboutin designs feature a red sole), there is no mistaking his intention as soon as you walk into the reception at Vermelho.

Every room and shared space shows off unique pieces of furniture and art from the great man’s personal collection

A riot of red floor tiles is underfoot, combining traditional materials and shapes with fashion-forward colours and textures everywhere you look. The building itself looks like Louboutin and his team painstakingly renovated an 18th-century palace and then went a bit creative on the finishing touches; it is a new purpose-built shrine to Portuguese traditions and personal creativity. Every room and shared space shows off unique pieces of furniture and art from the great man’s personal collection. You will not find generic high-end corporate fixtures and fittings anywhere – discovering quirky and unique artefacts is part of the appeal. It is a bit like a sophisticated treasure hunt for grown-ups.

Special mention goes to the spectacular bar, which features a custom-designed silver counter, signature cocktails and a lovely terrace overlooking the garden. Flowers are mostly red, of course, and although seemingly right in the middle of a village, the view towards the valley beyond the garden makes the pool and garden area feel like the grounds of a stately home.

Our room had beautiful Portuguese tiling, custom cabinetry and retro-futuristic light switches which may prove a challenge after a few too many of the signature cocktails. There are only 13 rooms, most with big terraces and bold bathrooms that will undoubtedly feature on many Instagram posts (if that is where fashionistas post these days – must check with people in the know).

Oh – and the food. It was delicious and served in a rectangular dining room which felt big and intimate at the same time. Everything you see and touch feels like it was carefully curated. Chairs and tables are traditional Paris bistro style, but in colour combinations that are more kaleidoscope than a coffee shop. It turns out Louboutin liked them so much he decided to buy the company –Google Maison Gatti to get an idea of the vibe. The bar and restaurant are open to non-residents as well, which is the easiest way to dip into the Vermelho ambience.

The next morning we had breakfast on the terrace, trying to decide if we would add another stop to our trip back to the Algarve. As always – when in doubt, head for a Portuguese beach! The day before, Joana, the super friendly front office manager, told us to try and find Pinheirinhos beach. A stunning drive through pine forest turns into a beautiful walk across sand dunes that seem to stretch forever, opening up to miles and miles of pristine Atlantic beach. Not a beach bar or toilet block in sight – but if you like the idea of a picnic in paradise, this gets pretty close.

So who is this corner of Alentejo for? As so often with Portugal, it will quietly give you whatever it is you are looking for – whether you are a fashionista, beach lover, foodie, or part-time explorer of the good things in life.

Ann is a personal travel planner who can help organise and book the trip of a lifetime, a weekend away and everything in between.

 ann.botterman@notjusttravel.com

Festa dos Tabuleiros

WORDS Vaughan Willmore

We take a look at the Festa dos Tabuleiros, one of Portugal’s oldest and grandest festivals.

Did you know...

Tradition dictates the trays be the same height as the young girl carrying it. They are decorated with paper flowers, greenery and ears of wheat, along with thirty bread rolls of a specific size and weighing 400 grams. On the top, it is adorned with the Cross of Christ or a Dove of the Holy Spirit.

The Festa dos Tabuleiros (Festival of the Trays) is such an elaborate and magnificent occasion that it only takes place every four years. The good news is that 2023 is one of those years.

The beautiful city of Tomar (pronounced too-mar) is the home of the festival, which this year will run from Saturday, 1 July to Monday, 10 July. Located 145 kilometres northeast of Lisbon, Tomar is one the most enchanting of all of Portugal’s cities, resplendent as it is with a glorious 12th-century castle, narrow cobbled streets, beautiful parks and the Nabão River, which winds through the centre of the city.

The ten days of the Festa dos Tabuleiros comprise a multitude of separate processions, concerts, tournaments, traditional games, and fireworks. It culminates in the magnificent ‘Great Procession’ of Sunday, 9 July, for which all of Tomar’s streets and houses are bedecked with colourful handmade flowers and buntings. Tens of thousands of villagers flock into the city, bringing it to life with colour, food, and the noise of generations of families.

The highlight of the Great Procession is the fantastic trays carried by young women from the locality. Dressed in flowing white gowns with brightly coloured belts and sashes, they walk one after the other, balancing beautiful

towering platters of bread and flowers and wheat on their heads. They’re each accompanied by a young man who helps lift and lower the trays and can step in should their partner grow tired in the often intense summer heat. In addition to the carrying of the trays, the procession is interspersed with local livestock, marching bands, and local dignitaries, making it a truly unique event and one well worth savouring.

The festival is the culmination of months of planning and intense work, which, for 2023, has been overseen by event organiser Dídio Santos. I asked Dídio what he wants to achieve this year and he said, “I want all Tomarese to be proud of the festival that we have prepared for during these long months in order to preserve this great tradition which is considered one of the oldest and greatest religious and cultural manifestations in the world.” As for any messages for readers of Tomorrow magazine, Dídio said, “I ask that they come to Tomar. The best-known event is the Great Procession on Sunday, 9 July, but it is not the only reason to visit. On Saturday, 8 July, we also have a very similar parade, but does not have the religious connotations.”

Tomar is one of the most beautiful and intriguing cities in Portugal. It’s worth visiting any time of the year, and especially during the Festa dos Tabuleiros.

www.tabuleiros.com.pt

www.instagram.com/festadostabuleiros