Tomorrow Algarve Magazine - June 2023

A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR THE ALGARVE

In this edition

A Brave New World

An entrepreneur re-invents education

Aurea of the Algarve

The Portuguese singing sensation

The Healing Horses

Riding lessons giving hope to children

June 10

Why this holiday is linked to a poem

Giving Padel XO

With international rugby star Max Evans

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EDITORIAL

Sophie Sadler

sophie@tomorrowalgarve.com

+351 912 176 588

SALES

Tom Henshaw

tom@tomorrowalgarve.com

+351 919 918 733

DESIGN

Phil Harding

phil@tomorrowalgarve.com

+351 916 606 226

FOLLOW

Editor's note

Dear readers of Tomorrow magazine,

Welcome to the June edition.

Can you believe it, we are in Midsummer! Many think the terms Summer Solstice and Midsummer’s Day are interchangeable – but they are, in fact, their own special events. This year, the Summer Solstice is on 21 June. The longest day of the year will have 15 hours, 56 minutes of sunlight in the Algarve. Something you may wish to celebrate by watching the sunset with a sundowner!

On the other hand, Midsummer’s Day is on 24 June. One of several events that take place in the month of June as a celebration of the Portuguese Midsummer is the Marchas Portugal. This popular festival celebrated in Portugal commemorates the most admired saints during the month of June. It features colourful displays of traditional Portuguese culture, music, and dance. The festival originated in the Lisbon region in the 1930s and has now spread to other parts of the country with different variations and interpretations.

If you are planning to visit the capital, June is the month. In Lisbon, there are two weeks of festivities leading up to the feast day of the city´s patron, Saint Anthony, on the 13 June. The city is decorated with bunting and tinsel, which rivals the Christmas display. The festival culminates on the night of 12 June. A grand show happens in front of the city hall, where all the participating groups perform their routines in front of a huge audience, including tourists and locals. The atmosphere is vibrant and joyous and the sound of

traditional instruments, such as the accordion, drums, and guitars fills the air. The performers wear colourful costumes decorated with flowers, ribbons, and other embellishments, adding to the visual spectacle of the event.

Many municipalities will have a festival that will culminate in the procession of the marching groups, or marchas, which are made up of people from various neighbourhoods or villages. These groups compete with each other by showcasing their creativity and talent in their costumes, dance routines and songs. Each marcha has a theme and a story to tell, which is conveyed through their elaborate choreography, music, and lyrics in a theatrical presentation.

Lagos festivities will take place from 10-12 June. For more information, see the municipality´s web page www.cm-lagos.pt. On the date of publication, Portimão had not announced their June events, but you can check on their FB page nearer to the time –CâmaraMunicipal-Portimão.

And to cap off the celebratory vibe of June, the Tomorrow Summer Party will be a glorious celebration of summer on 10th June at the Duna Bech Club in Lagos. With the theme Viva Portugal, it will raise money for TACT-supported charities. For tickets, contact: tact@tomorrowalgarve.com

Happy Midsummer!

From Sophie, Tom, Phil and the Tomorrow team

SEDE: R. SENHORA LORETO LOTE 6 RC D PARIO CONVENTO 8600-683 LAGOS PERIODICIDADE: MENSAL . TIRAGEN: 6,500 TIPOGRAFIA: C/ AL MEDITERRÁNEO, 29, POLÍGONO DE SAN RAFAEL, 04230, HUÉRCAL DE ALMERÍA CIF: B04250056

Whilst we take every care to ensure details are correct the publisher will take no responsibility for errors or omissions. Where prices or dates are quoted they are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change. Links to third party websites are by no way an endorsement of the linked material and the publisher takes no responsibility for the content or security of any third party website. Unless specifically stated Tomorrow magazine does not endorse any product or service appearing in the directory, classified, editorial or display advertising featured on the website. Observação: os números de telefone presentes nesta publicação podem estar sujeitos a cobranças: números que começam por 2 chamada para rede fixa nacional e números começados por 9 chamada para rede móvel nacional.

A Brave New World

WORDS Sophie Sadler

Tim Viera has been a media entrepreneur, CEO, a shark and an honorary legend of South African Rugby - now he is looking to take the brave new generation forward to a unique learning experience with the help of AI.

When you meet Tim Vieira, you are immediately aware that you are in the presence of someone who knows what they want to achieve and has not a second to waste. He has an impressive energy and talks very quickly with a passion that is infectious. As the child of two teachers who had a very ‘traditional’ British education, I admit to arriving at the interview to discuss Tim's new Brave Generation Academy with a touch of scepticism. I am subconsciously challenging him to win me over.

Tim Vieira became known to the Portuguese public in 2015 after participating in the first season of Shark Tank Portugal. (The equivalent of Dragon's Den in the UK). Born in South Africa to a Portuguese father (born in Portimão) and a Mozambican mother, he moved to Angola with his wife in 2001.

Tim initially focused on media opportunities. In conjunction with his partners Nuno Traguedo and Odair Peres, they founded Special Edition Holding, one of the largest media groups in Angola, employing more than 400 people. Billboard advertising businesses, along with event rentals, brand activations, digital printing and media planning companies, are all part of his impressive business empire. The entrepreneur also has interests in companies that operate in Mozambique and Ghana and established one of the first independent microbreweries in South Africa. As former president of CCILSA (Portuguese-South African Industry and Commerce Chamber) and a member of the Nova School of Business & Economics Advisory Board, he encountered students who found it difficult to think outside the box. He began imagining an education system that was more relevant to the modern era of tech start-ups and a rapidly developing workplace.

“As an entrepreneur, I feel as if I have been educating people my whole life,” he tells me. He is the founder and President of Be Brave, an entrepreneurship booster association, and founder of Escolhe Portugal. “I found that many of the young people I was helping through this scheme had the certificate but none of the skill set that the modern workplace demands.”

Tim established the Brave Generation Academy (BGA) in 2020, which provides an online curriculum for 12 to 18-yearolds that is recognised by the world’s leading universities as the gold standard of international education. It aims to create a holistic learning experience to prepare young people for the future. Its goal was to set up hybrid hubs around the world, making education more accessible and flexible.

“Having been involved as an angel investor, I was always involved in entrepreneurship, so I came to BGA with a new mindset,” explains Tim. At the beginning, he used his own

three children as guinea pigs. He took his two boys out of an international school and found that more and more parents wanted to join his project. His firstborn will finish his studies at the BGA at the end of June. His second son leaves in November. Tim uses his own experience as a parent to exemplify the benefits of the new system “One is leaving the system at 16 and the other at 18, which shows how young people work at different speeds. My daughter loves BGA as it allows her to spend time doing her first love, horse riding.”

Tim, however, feels that traditional education is still essential up to the age of 12. “You need to go through the learning curve of how things work in your pier groups, learn alphabets and numbers, poke someone’s eye and get told off, then cry about it. But he firmly believes that 12 -18 yearolds are missing out in a traditional school. “For many, it’s the worst period of their lives. They don’t know why they are going to school, they get angry, they lash out. And many are just not happy.”

While Tim acknowledges that some kids thrive in traditional education, there are many that don’t. “We offer a different alternative for families whose dynamic has completely changed in the last generation. How we live, how we travel, how we watch movies. BGA allows families to enjoy nomadic lifestyles; we can allow young people to have new experiences but still get an education. We are great for sporty kids who need more time to pursue their interests but at the same time benefit kids who are super academic as they can move at a faster pace and take more subjects.”

Visiting the Lagos hub, I soon had to become familiar with a new vocabulary that would not be understood in traditional schools. Pupils are ‘learners.’ It’s not a school but a ‘learning hub’ with ‘learning facilitators’ who help the children instead of teachers. The children do not have lessons but engage in ‘self-directed learning’ on a ‘learning platform’ with live online workshops and tutorials. Thankfully I have Meghan Robinson to explain everything to me.

Initially a learning facilitator, Meghan is now the Development Coach for Southern Portugal and an enthusiastic advocate for the brand. She shows me the platform that the children log into daily using their own laptops. It looks very much like my own screen on an average working day, with documents stored in a google drive and a weekly schedule. Meghan explains that each pupil has a target; for example, obtaining a GCSE, they can input how quickly they want to achieve this qualification and algorithms then set the structure of their learning, which can be altered if they lag behind or complete tasks more quickly. A remote course manager is responsible for the content and platform, facilitating workshops and tutorials, which are advisable but not mandatory. Instead, the learners are encouraged to do their own research on the internet or help each other. All age groups work together. There is certainly logic in this approach when we consider how adults work today, i.e. many remotely, with co-workers of different ages and experiences while spending a lot of time on Zoom calls or Teams.

The learners’ google drive contains a weekly schedule including knowledge, skills and community. There is a weekly meeting with the learning assistants where targets and a checklist are set up. Meghan explains, “We set up a framework which gives them the tools to succeed.” Thinking of my own children, given a laptop, won't they just log in to Netflix? Meghan explains that they help their learners manage distractions. They have safes to lock away their mobile phones, which students do voluntarily rather than by coercion. Again this makes sense given that, as adults, we have to self-motivate. Meghan also stresses that the assistant’s main role is picking the children up when they fail and finding a working method to help them succeed. Again a vital life lesson!

The learning labs are deliberately set in appealing locations. The hub I visit is in the Lagos Marina. Tim's vision is that instead of a school campus, the hubs benefit from the community and the community benefits from them. “We

work with the community to get what we need. For example, we don't provide school dinners, so the kids use local restaurants and shops or bring a packed lunch. We want to do it in a way that the community loves us, and we give an advantage to the community. You don’t need school sports facilities if the municipality has tennis courts, a swimming pool and beaches. We thrive because municipalities want us there, businesses want us there and parents want us there.”

The academy was born in Cascais, where Tim now resides and which boasts six hubs. There are currently 40 in Portugal, while hubs are also found in Kenya, Mozambique, the USA, Bangalore, Valencia and Marbella, to name a few. Quite an achievement in two years. “We have worked hard,” says Tim.

The hubs open at 8 am and close at 6 pm. Learners are required to attend five days a week for five hours a day. However, you can come in at whatever time; as long as you hit the targets, everyone is happy. The school only closes for three weeks a year, with no school holidays. It is obvious why this would appeal to parents. No longer having to travel when holiday companies and airlines increase their prices and make travelling with your family unaffordable. Tim observes, “it reflects how we live today; everyone wants to be more flexible.” The flexibility would certainly suit people like Tim. In 2019, he went on a 118-day trip around the globe with his family. A true lover of sports, he is an Honorary Legend of South African Rugby.

The flexible working setup also enables learners to take exams at different times, up to three times a year. It has the advantage over traditional schools, where all pupils need to progress at the same speed. BGA can offer its learners the chance to sit exams when in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, and there is also a third date in the year available. Tim believes this takes a lot of pressure off the students.

Another revolutionary element of this new education system is that it breaks down geographical barriers. Learners can attend any of the hubs around the world. For example, Tim is on the verge of being approved as an independent school in the UK, which he is anticipating being very appealing to UK residents who are tied to spending only 90 days in Portugal due to Brexit. “We are currently planning our first UK hub in Hertfordshire. Many parents want this because it allows them to split their time between the UK and the Algarve. You can even do a week in one hub and a week in another, which suits parents who are separated.”

Another key aim is to prepare its learners for further education. From July 2023, BGA will be launching university courses after

forging an agreement with 142 universities. From the age of 16, learners at BGA can work with universities, completing two diploma years with BGA before attending a final year at the university when they are 19. Tim makes the point, “I think from the age of 16, we can identify what learners want to do and help them on their way rather than forcing a kid who hates maths to keep going with it. We need more vocational education. Some kids may want to be an electrician as it gives them a lifestyle of being their own boss and enabling them to travel. Or if someone wants to go into software design, we can focus more on that. We want to get kids onto their path earlier.”

So, does all this advanced technology come at a high cost? Although their fees are more competitive than International private schools averaging around 485€ per month, they are not all about profit and more about making a positive and sustainable impact on the community and environment. They also offer scholarships to those that can’t afford fees. Tim says, “Although our fees are competitive, we understand that it is tough times and sometimes parents can’t afford the fees, so we look at giving help where it is needed. If you want and need BGA, we believe it is our responsibility to give you BGA.”

There is a BUT! While BGA has Cambridge and Pearson accreditation, and most countries and universities recognise the academy, in others, you need to register as a homeschooler. And Tim has been defeated by Portuguese bureaucracy. BGA doesn't have a Portuguese licence, so their learners would not have the accreditation for a Portuguese university. Unsurprisingly, this hasn’t stopped Tim. They still have over 700 learners in Portugal.

As Tim points out, “parents recognise that sometimes you just have to go with what is best for the learner and the family. We have a system in Portugal where young people must attend a government-accredited school when often this is not the best option for them. In Portugal this year, we have seen 120,000 pupils unable to attend school as their teachers were on strike.

Parents aren’t happy, teachers aren’t happy, and something needs to change. It is a basic human right for parents to be allowed to choose their

children’s education. If you are going to force your child into a bad situation, this is not the way forward.”

When I have spoken to other parents about my visit to this new style of education, most voice their concern that their children would miss out on the social side of schooling. Tim dismisses this idea. “When learners join our hubs, we don't tell them to stop socialising with the friends they already have. They can still meet them and attend clubs. We really work on pier-to-pier learning, which has been proven to be effective, where the big kids help the little kids. But if you are in a school of a thousand kids, you won’t be friends with 1000 kids, and maybe 20 of those kids will bully you, so it’s not always a great dynamic for teenagers. We encourage all the hubs to get together. Every three weeks, we have events, sports competitions, team-building activities, community work, and even master chef challenges, all chosen by the kids. There will be a prom this year for the Algarve learners to socialise. Parents sometimes think the social element is an issue, but the kids never do. The learning assistants also work hard to ensure no child ever feels lonely.”

I asked Tim what opposition he has come up against from traditional educators who may feel threatened. Not at all! “Parents, teachers and universities know we need something different. Universities, in particular, want people to arrive with more independence and also more aligned with the course and what they want to do so there are fewer dropouts. Most people know there needs to be a change in education. We are offering solutions. I think many schools will start adapting to use our techniques.”

by showing educators there is an alternative and that excites me.”

Rather than being concerned over the debate of whether AI will allow kids to cheat, Tim is harnessing the technology in his educational strategy. They use AI to mark papers so the students get their results back faster. Not every learner gets the same questions as they understand that everyone is different. The AI can identify a particular area that you are struggling with and set questions or exercises to help you focus on your problem areas. If you don't understand the first example, it will give you a second example.

They can also help special needs kids by identifying and supplying them with their interests, which facilitates their development.

“We are in very exciting times,” says Tim. “Technology is moving so fast that everything we develop has already been thought of. We have 21-course managers in the back office to input data, but in the future, their work will become solely interaction with the learners. Eventually, AI will be inputting everything into the system, actually freeing up the teachers. Why are we worried about whether AI enables learners to cheat? We should be worried about how the younger generation convinces us; how they win arguments; what questions they are asking; what is their mentality on solving problems and how they work with other people? If they have a bad day, how do they perform the next day? Can they pick themselves up when things don’t go right? This is what is now important in education. Not if they can remember all the past Kings. Rather, what did you learn from how those kings ruled and how would you apply that to your life? It’s about turning things on their head and looking to the future.”

So what is there left to achieve? “I look at what we can do in Africa and South East Asia. Education isn't working in many countries. I think that little changes will make big differences.”

Brave Generation Academy is leading the charge into a brave new world for the future generation, but as Tim concludes, they have found that it’s not the younger generation that needs to be braver. It’s the parents!

Did Tim win me over? Well, I still have a mental block at the idea of my children learning on a laptop, but that is a result of a culture that has been ingrained into me from childhood. I have worshipped at the temple of ‘education’ my whole life and valued myself as its product. It’s not always easy to see someone trying to take something you know apart and build it back in a way that is unfamiliar to you. Tim's Academy is demonstrating what we probably all know. Just as the world has evolved at a faster pace than any of us could have imagined, so must our education system. We just need to be a bit braver!

Beneath it all, Tim has a great respect for teachers and their importance, which is why he feels there needs to be a rethink. “I see in the future there will be a lot of upscaling in traditional education. They need to get teachers away from the traditional marking, spreadsheets, and assessments and allow them to educate and influence kids again. These are exciting times and there is space for everyone. I think we are doing the right thing. We are focused on the learners. We are not perfect, but we learn every day. I think we will help everyone improve  www.bravegenerationacademy.com

For testimonials from young people that attend BGA go to the Tomorrow blog.

We serve freshly prepared food from breakfast through to dinner everyday. A full varied menu along with daily specials and fresh fish means there is something for everyone, including vegetarian and vegan options and a gluten free menu.

Our experienced bar tenders serve amazing drinks, from our cocktail, gin and wine lists including international and Portuguese wines not to forget a cool pint of Estrella served in a chilled glass plus our healthy smoothies.

DAILY FRESH FISH

From the Lagos local market, delicious specials, served from 12pm everyday

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Located on the beautiful Marina de Lagos with free parking, kick back, relax and watch the world go by.

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Alvor oysters and delicious fresh seafood

My Love Affair with Portugal

We used to get stuck behind horse-drawn carts all the way from Faro airport when we first started coming to the Algarve. It was the 1970s and they took your photo as you got off the plane and you could buy it as a memento of the exciting thing you’d done.

My parents came to Lagos in the late 1960s after a very good year at work. My dad, Hunter Davies, had been living with The Beatles and writing their authorised biography and my mum had had her second novel turned into a feature film. The copyright deals had gone to their heads and they splashed out on a year in Portugal.

They rented an old sardine factory in Praia da Luz and fell in love with the Algarve. Paul McCartney turned up there one day with his new girlfriend Linda and stayed in their spare room for three weeks, annoying all the locals by causing roadblocks as the press descended on the village.

Dad showed him all the sights and Paul let my six-year-old sister drive his car down the hairpin bends at Monchique (ridiculous, would anyone think that funny these days?). By the time I was born in the mid-1970s, they’d bought a place on the cliffs above Porto de Mós and we came every summer.

Each year we’d spend a month moaning in Cumbria with the grandparents, counting the hours as the rain battered the windows and the wind howled across the fells. Then came the final two weeks of the school holidays in Portugal where we were allowed to spend whole days climbing across the terracotta roof tiles picking almonds, playing in the waves, making awnings from freshly picked bamboo, running to buy papo secos from the bread man who came round on his bike; it was idyllic.

The only thing I didn’t like was the enforced siesta that seemed to go on all day. My dad would emerge bleary-eyed from the bedroom at 5 pm, by which time we’d be so desperate to go to the beach we’d be crying. I think that’s why now I have my own children, we stay on the beach all day, every day. One thing I did take from my dad though was not allowing a Cornetto until the last day of the holiday. They were the most expensive ice cream on the board in those days. Now it’s a Magnum and my girls are most certainly not allowed one until day 14.

They sold the house in the early 1990s and we packed up our Portugal life. It wasn’t until 2006, when my dad was visiting an old friend and asked my husband and me to come with him, that we rekindled our love affair. He made us knock on the door of our old house and chat up the new owners. Before we knew it, he was poking around their bedrooms and reminiscing about old times. That evening after three caipirinhas and two bottles of vinho verde, he was looking in the windows of estate agents. The next day he’d had an offer accepted on a little house up the road.

My mum was furious, she thought it was a stupid thing to do. That part of their life was over, why was he going back? She never had any time for nostalgia and, by then, she was dying of cancer and wasn’t in the mood for a new property. But Dad has always been impulsive and has never cared what anybody else thinks.

Family with Paul and Linda on the beach at Luz 1960s

The whole family at old house in late 1970s

Flora with her husband Richard

Flora´s daughter Sienna (14) carrying daughter Amarisse (15)

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Thank god for his silly behaviour because he’s given me a whole new life in Portugal. My French husband fell in love with the Algarve in the same way I had and our children are now having the same romantic summers that we did. It’s the landscape of Portugal that inspired me to become a full time artist and leave my life as a TV documentary producer, the best thing I ever did.

Last summer, we drove from Lagos to my husband’s home town near Montpelier and not once, in the whole of southern Spain or France, did we see a beach that comes anything close to those of the Algarve. Where else do you see towering sandstone and limestone cliffs hugging golden sands that run for miles and miles? Where else can you find beaches with no bloomin’ paid-for sunbeds and free parking? Where else can you eat something as cheap and simple as sardines and potatoes and feel your mouth exploding with pleasure?

Porto de Mós has changed so much in the last thirty years. Gone are the campsites and hippies, now it’s all oversized LA-style concrete pads that look like morgues to me.

But the landscape has survived – from our balcony, you can see all the way to Sagres, the edge of Europe. You can lose whole days watching how the colours and textures of the cliffs change as the sun makes its way across the sky. Lives have come and gone, but the beautiful coastline stands strong.

Now when we arrive at the airport, there’s not a donkey in sight. The place is all sleek and shiny and the toilets smell lovely. We zip down the toll road and stop off at Ikea on the way. But some things haven’t changed a bit, the ocean is still as freezing as it ever was, the bougainvillea still so piercingly pink that it hurts your eyes, the wine we drink too much of is still as delicious and the Portuguese people still as outwardly unbothered by the ongoing infestation of Brits. I love you, Algarve!

Each month in Tomorrow, Flora will be sharing her shopping tips and home decor ideas … inexpensive and practical advice that will help you breathe new life into your living space and get it feeling fresh as the ocean and warm as the sunbaked cliffs! Go to the Homes and Property section for Flora's first article.

Mós for 12 years and never once touched it, sleeping on the same beds and eating with the same forks that the previous owner left behind. It’s been desperate for love and attention and finally, this year, we had enough money to give it what it deserved.

After much family fighting it was agreed I would be in charge of the renovations. I thought I’d won the battle, but that was just the beginning. My dad said he didn’t see the need for any of it. What’s wrong with the old kitchen? He rather liked the small airless room with the mock-mahogany units that went from floor to ceiling. “What do you mean by mixer taps?” asked my auntie. “You’re lucky to have taps at all.” And so it went on.

It wasn’t just the older generation. My sister thought it would be nice to have a carpet (you what?). My niece asked for a cinema room (you’ll be lucky) and my brother just rolled his eyes and said, “Do what you want but don’t make it too Flora-ish.” (Damn cheek.)

By that, he meant, do we really need to turn a stale, dark and gloomy dungeon into a beach house flooded with light and oozing with Portuguese tiles, rattan and linen, terracotta and palm trees and Mediterranean blue? Aaah, yes we do!!

I smashed up the old kitchen, opened up the walls and made the whole of the upstairs open plan. That left me with a blank canvas, a bit of a featureless box. That’s when I started to investigate what the Algarve has to offer in home decor. Where was TK Maxx when I needed it?

I got really excited when Ikea opened at Loulé a few years ago, but, for a region that lives much of the year outdoors, I was surprised to find their garden furniture range is very limited. I also didn’t have a budget for expensive local retailers, so I would have to search far and wide.

June 10:

An epic celebration

WORDS James Plaskitt

The public holiday on 10 June is usually referred to simply as Portugal Day. It is celebrated here and throughout the Portuguese diaspora. It is a day to wave the flag and to show pride in the country and its history. And it all dates back to an epic poem, published in 1572.

By the sixteenth century, Portugal had established its reputation as the home of global exploration through the ‘age of discovery’, when ships from Portugal found new lands and new sources of wealth, which became the foundation of the country’s empire.

One man – Luís Vaz de Camões – began telling Portugal’s story in 1556 in an epic poem, not finished until 1571. Not much is known about Camões’ life, even though he is regarded as the country’s greatest-ever writer. He seems to have had a turbulent youth involving street fights, which led to the loss of one eye, and eventually a pardon from the King which obliged him to serve in India. We know he survived a shipwreck. Aside from that, all that survives him is this remarkable work of 8,800 verses, often compared to the great epic poems of antiquity.

The work, Os Lusíadas, is central to the 10 June celebrations, formally known as the ‘Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Community’. The title refers to the ‘sons of Portugal’ and comes from the same root as lusophone, meaning the people who speak Portuguese. Camões dedicated his great work to the young King Sebastian, whose reign ended in 1578 when he was killed in battle aged 24.

Os Lusíadas tells the story of Portugal’s years of conquest and exploration. It opens with the gods debating Portugal’s thrust for exploration and whether it is justified or not. Written from an unashamedly Portuguese perspective, it goes on to tell of the resistance met from hostile natives to those explorers landing on their shores. Then, Vasco da Gama himself takes over as the narrator and recounts the full history of Portugal through a glorious interpretation. The poem then moves on to recount the discovery of India and its bounty after

the triumphant passage around the southern cape. It then covers Vasco’s triumphant return to his homeland and the adulation that greeted him.

As with any epic poem of this tradition, there are heroes and villains. The work’s greatest villain is Adomaster, who Camões presents as the giant ghost of the Cape of Good Hope (as it is now known). Vasco da Gama takes him on and challenges the giant to explain himself. He gives the famous reply:

I am that vast secret promontory

You Portuguese call the Cape of Storms

Here Africa ends. Here its coast Concludes in this, my vast inviolate Plateau, extending southwards towards the Pole

And, by your daring, struck to my very soul

At one level, Os Lusíadas is just a long, colourful, one-sided narrative of an era with central importance in the country’s history. But it has deeper themes as well, and many see in it a recognition of power shifting in Portugal from its nobility towards those with adventure, finding and amassing new wealth – and economic and ultimately a political revolution. That theme attracted an English scholar and diplomat, Henry Fanshawe, to make the first translation of the work into English, published in 1655. Fanshawe was close to the royal family and was the envoy sent to Portugal to oversee the marriage of Charles II and Catherine of Braganza. Fanshawe thought the moral of the poem to be highly relevant to an England then going through a civil war.

The poem both contains, and has been subjected to, politics. Under his dictatorship, Salazar first restyled the public holiday as being in honour of the

Portuguese race and later associated it with the Armed Forces. All of that veneer was stripped away after the 1974 revolution, when the day was once again returned to Camões and his great work.

Salazar should have taken Camões’ advice. At the end of the work, the poet advises those in power as to how they should conduct themselves. He tells them to take advice, govern justly, only reward those who deserve it, fight bravely and honour Portugal.

Political storms, like those swelling around the Cape, rise and fall. Like Vasco da Gama’s ships, great literature can withstand it all.

Happy Portugal Day!

James Plaskitt was an MP in Tony Blair’s government in the UK and is now retired in the Algarve.

Portrait of Luís de Camões by Fernão Gomes (Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Aurea of the Algarve

She’s topped the singles chart fourteen times; won a Golden Globe and two MTV Europe Music Awards. She’s been a mentor on The Voice since 2015 and even sang with Elvis. It’s been a remarkable career, and it all started here in the Algarve.

Áurea Isabel Ramos de Sousa was born in Santiago do Cacém in the Alentejo in September 1987. Since the age of two, however, she has lived here in the Algarve – in Silves. In fact, it was in the village of Armação de Pêra in the municipality of Silves where she first took to the stage in amateur fado nights. Singing came naturally to the young Aurea - she’s said that her love of music developed even before she was born. Her father sang and played the guitar to her pregnant mother.

While studying for a degree at the University of Évora, Aurea kept performing. She caught the eye of music impresario, Rui Ribeiro, who introduced her to Blim Records. It was the start of a friendship and collaboration. Riberio wrote nearly all of the songs on her 2010 debut album, the self-titled Aurea, which topped the charts here in Portugal.

In the last 13 years, she’s recorded a total of seven albums, all of which have made the Top 10, with three reaching the coveted number one spot. Her vocal performances have featured in movie soundtracks and television shows, including the long-running, Morangos com Açúcar. On the Portuguese version of ‘Viva Elvis,’ her vocals were added to that of the King on Love Me Tender. Since 2015, she’s been a mentor on The Voice and this year, she’s also mentoring on The Voice Kids, which airs Sunday evenings on RTP1.

If you haven’t yet ‘tuned in’ to Aurea’s music, then the singles Volta, I Didn’t Mean It, Starman, Busy (For Me) are a great place to start exploring her work. It’s probably best described as Soul, with a Jazz / Blues influence. She’s performed most of her songs in English, stating, “I think singing in English is better than singing in Portuguese because Soul music was born through English words.” She’s famous for singing barefoot. She states that when she’s performing she feels most comfortable.

With such a successful and prolific career, it’s hardly surprising that she’s one of the most followed Portuguese figures on Facebook and Instagram. Her beauty and distinctive look have led to her being the face of numerous brands, such as Mary Kay cosmetics, Dr. Wells, C&A, Seat, and Clarins. And yet, despite all her success, Aurea has never lost contact with her roots. She reportedly celebrates New Year’s Eve in the Algarve. Indeed, her parents still live here, and she’s known to visit as often as she can.

Aurea’s latest album, Moods, was released just a few weeks ago. Sold-out concerts in Lisbon have followed. There’s a tour scheduled for later in the year, which includes a December concert back here in the Algarve, where Aurea’s remarkable career first started.

Aurea will be performing in Portimão on Saturday, 17 December. More dates are likely to be added, including ones in the Algarve. Check out www:aurea.pt for more details.

WORDS Vaughan Willmore

I think singing in English is better than singing in Portuguese because Soul music was born through English words.

The Healing Power of Horses

Something wonderful happens three mornings a week near Bensafrim. Many people know nothing about it. Riding for the Disabled Barlavento (Associação de Equitação Adaptada do Barlavento) is a voluntary, non-profit organisation that provides horse riding lessons for disabled people. A committed and reliable team of horse managers and volunteers give their time to enriching the lives of adults and youngsters from the area.

RDB is based at the Centro Hípico do Quinta Paraíso Alto, owned by Jinny Harman. QPA Horse Riding Centre has been an established riding school and trekking centre since 1992.

In 2007, Jinny (RDB secretary) and Rod Frew (President of the General Assembly) formulated a plan to ride the Via Algarviana. “We organised a group of 20 horses and riders,” remembers Rod. “We rode 240 km from Alcoutim to Cape St. Vincent, raising 35,000€, which was divided between charities. A part was used to start RDB under the original leadership of Frank Bulmer.”

At QPA, Jinny owns many horses that range from reliable, trusty school ponies to competition horses. “We specially select those with calm and obedient temperaments for the RDB sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings,” she points out.

“Conscientious teamwork enables us to provide this service,” states Sue Wilson, who conducts the classes along with Angela Mesquita. Sue is the general manager of QPA and a fully qualified riding instructor with more than 30 years of equestrian experience. Angela is a dedicated and qualified adult and paediatric physiotherapist. Both have had extensive training and experience with disabled people.

Horse riding benefits pupils with multiple learning difficulties and those with physical problems. “Initially, each pupil must get the go-ahead from a medical doctor, and then we conduct our own assessments,” explains Angela. “We determine whether the applicant likes horses, can sit on one and is able to respond to instructions.”

Maddie Grossey, the committee president and a key member, devotedly organises the volunteers. “During the lessons, each rider has three helpers; two side walkers from our team of amazing volunteers and an experienced lead walker. Volunteers play a vital role; we need at least eight for each session. We are very much in need of more people to help.”

WORDS Helen Daniel PHOTOGRAPHY Dave Sheldrake

Luan

Incorporated into the lessons are fun games, which include stretching exercises. The games help the pupils with numeracy and letter recognition while providing a unique multi-sensory experience. The participants are encouraged to give orders to the horses and are obliged to follow instructions from Sue and Angela.

On horseback, the pupils connect with the animal. They feel the comforting warmth, smell the earthy scent of the creature, and hear the hooves on the ground and the noises of the animals’ breathing. The horses and riders get to know each other, thereby forming a rapport and a strong bond.

“The horseback activity invigorates the riders’ muscles and increases their stamina, coordination, concentration and balance. Riding simulates human walking motion, thus teaching rhythmical patterns to the leg muscles and strengthening the rider’s core,” relays Angela, the physiotherapist. “The pupils also enjoy being outside in the fresh air and nature.”

At the end of each lesson, some of the riders are encouraged to lie with their heads on a cushion towards the back of the horse. Many relax there for ages, calmly hugging and patting the animal. When the pupil dismounts, they thank the horse and the helpers. “If a pupil misbehaves,” mentions Maddie, “We take them off, and they are asked to apologise to the horse before they are allowed to mount again!”

The RDB team are incredibly kind to the riders, clearly conveying that they are proud of them. Encouraging and praising the pupils instils confidence and ensures they feel cared for and loved.

“We are very pleased that two of our pupils have been selected to represent Portugal in the Special Olympics World Games, which are held every four years,” remarks Sue. Athletes compete in regional

and national championships to be selected to participate. Lucelia Glória from Neci, a school in Luz, was chosen as part of the team of four riders who represented Portugal in the last World Games four years ago. Sue and Angela accompanied Lucelia to Abu Dhabi, where she brought home silver medals for the Working Trail and the English Equitation competitions. “Angela and I will join Cristina Silva, one of our riders, in June at the World Games in Berlin, where she will be one of four athletes representing Portugal. This experience is exciting for Cristina and we at RDB all support her wholeheartedly.”

Twins Alice and Mathilde, now nine years old, have been attending RDB lessons for the last two years. Ana, their mother, is delighted with their progress. “I am so happy that my girls come here for lessons every week. They really look forward to it. The parents of disabled people in Portugal get little financial support from the state. Children with Downs Syndrome develop well with help, but the help is expensive. They can integrate into society with guided professional assistance but are unlikely to without it. Coming to these weekly classes helps hugely with my girls’ development mentally, emotionally and physically. I am so grateful to RDB.”

These lessons are also beneficial for the children’s parents. “To see my girls happy makes me happy, “ says Valter, the twins’ father.

Luan is seven and has been riding with RDB for three years. He started on a Shetland pony and has progressed to riding Romeo, a handsome horse. Every week Luan gets stronger and his posture is now impeccable.

Tenney Cotton is RDB’s treasurer and a keen, reliable helper at the lessons. “As the bookkeeper for RDB, I see what a delicate position we are in financially. To function, we need monetary donations, volunteers and sponsors to be forthcoming. We have many disabled people on our waiting list but, unfortunately, we are unable to take on more.”

Group lessons are helpful for the participants’ socialisation, encouraging them to chat and to feel part of a team. Along with riding, they are also taught how to groom the horses.

Each parent, carer and all at RDB are delighted at the progress of every one of the riders. It is fascinating and beautiful to watch. Rosie Taylor, a volunteer for six months, loves coming to classes. “It’s exhilarating and uplifting to see how quickly some of these pupils’ balance and agility are improved. It is also fantastic to see the joy on their faces!”

Sue

Wilson +351 912 351 114 www.riding4disabled.com

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Moon Mania

Every month it’s the same. I feel extra anxious. I have a hard time sleeping. The extra light in the sky sheds an eerie glow over the garden. As if a spider web has been cast over the house, the shadows disappear. The trees and flowers are illuminated by a shiny silver hue, almost as bright as the sun.

At first, I didn’t realise my monthly uneasiness was related to the moon. I blamed it on bad sleep or work-related stress. But then I started to pay attention to the timing. It’s uncanny how every single month on the full moon, I feel strange. Not always bad, but different somehow. As if the world is slightly off-kilter. Unbalanced.

From the consistent complaints and observations of the other women in my yoga class around the full moon, I know I’m not alone. My mother, who worked in the ER for 20 years (A & E to the UK readers, which on a whole other note I find super odd as for most Americans that stands for Arts & Entertainment), always claimed that the full moon brought out the ‘lunatics.’ She insisted that the number of accidents rose and that night was always more hectic.

Even our language emphasises cultural beliefs surrounding the moon. The word lunatic itself actually originates from the Latin word for moon, luna. We also have looney, a derivative of the same root. Even moon madness exists in the dictionary and is defined as the lunacy that ensues from sleeping in the rays of the full moon.

The urban legends surrounding the full moon include werewolves, aliens and monsters galore. According to the myths, they all emerge more frequently on the full moon. And, of course, there is also the literary and religious symbolism that equates a full moon with feminine attributes, including the menstrual cycle, motherhood, purity (virginity), beauty and pregnancy (the rounded belly likened to the shape of a full moon).

But I’ve never felt the pull of a full moon as strongly as I do here in the Algarve. Maybe it has something to do with the crystals here. Or perhaps it’s related to the incredible tidal strength in the nearby Atlantic Ocean. I don’t know. All I can say is that from personal experience, every time the full moon rises between a pair of tall pine trees over my garden, I expect to feel weird. My sleep is always disrupted, my mood varies strangely and I generally feel odder than usual.

From the scientific research on the topic, there doesn’t seem to be much evidence that the full moon has a strong effect on human violence or aggression. And no one has ever proven the existence of werewolves. There is evidence, however, that it affects sleep cycles. Women are more affected than men by this disruption in sleep, and there is some evidence that the full moon affects cardiovascular conditions in the body.

If you consider that sleep disruption can affect hormones, which then can trigger headaches and migraines, then you can theorise that the full moon does actually affect your mood too. Aside from some studies finding a higher incidence of kidney problems during a full moon, higher birth rates and an increased volume of emergencies in the ER, I couldn’t find anything that gives a good explanation for the odd feeling I get here in Portugal when the moon is full. Why I feel this connection more strongly here in the Algarve than I have anywhere else in the world remains a mystery.

It’s possible it’s just an easy way to explain normal human emotions that are constantly shifting and changing. I don’t know. I don’t have any better answers than when I began my research into the topic. If anyone else, who has moved here from somewhere else and noticed the difference, I’d love to hear about it! For now, I’m just marking it on my calendar so I know when to expect more emotional turbulence than usual.

I’ve read that if you do suffer from the full moon, it’s a good time to harness that power in a different way. Some suggestions I saw include meditating, breathing exercises, eating a healthy meal, taking a walk in the moonlight and writing letters to burn and release.

Just being aware of it is a good start for me. Next month I may try brewing some moon water and setting some intentions for ‘moon manifestation.’ Wish me luck.

Meredith Price Levitt is a freelance writer and aerial silks teacher. She has just opened a new aerial studio near Lagos called The House of Honey, which was blessed just after the New Moon. An American expat, she moved to the Algarve in 2020 after spending 20 years in Tel Aviv.

WORDS Meredith Price Levitt

© Reuven Levitt

Calçada Portuguesa

A tradition cast in stone

Whilst walking around my home town of Faro and looking down at the wonderful calçada, I thought it would be good to find out something about its history and social significance. A very interesting story came to light.

The oldest evidence of covering large surface areas goes back to the land of Mesopotamia, now known as Iraq. Dating to around 4000 BC, these stones were discovered in the ancient city of Babylon. Made out of sun-dried mud bricks, they were literally as hard as stone.

Move forward a couple of thousand years and we find that civilisations such as the Mayans in Central America and the Egyptians built their classic temples, pyramids and cities out of raw stone. Therefore, by the time we arrive at the rise of the Roman empire, the skills required for building with stone were well established. The famous Roman “cobblestone” (from cobbled stone) roads began to spread across Europe in all directions, including, of course, Portugal.

These highways of transportation needed to be strong enough to carry the weight of a marching army, including heavy goods and weaponry, as well as providing a network for trade and communication. The technique of compacting small interlocking stones achieved this with great efficiency, while the spaces between the stones also

allowed for vital water drainage. Along with the bridges, castles and aqueducts of this period, these highways were built to last. But it was not a simple case of getting from A to B by the quickest route. It was about building an empire. Each stone laid was literally paving the way for expansion and development. It seems to me they also presented a statement of intent – we are here to stay!

Like the Romans, many civilisations have crumbled, but much of their stonework remains intact as a reference to their existence.

Clearly, the tradition of calçada Portuguesa was partly inspired by the Romans. But there is an additional element beyond strength, endurance and practicality: aesthetics. While not unique to the Romans, they were also masters of the art of mosaics. They used stone for beautiful decorative works of art, which was another obvious inspiration to draw from. Taking into account the occupation of other cultures over time and the social interaction through intercontinental trade, elements of Islamic and Moorish patterns would also have been a rich source of design inspiration for the calçada pavements. They originally started to emerge in the nineteenth century throughout the country. Before I look at this, a trip back to the fifteenth century provides another important chapter of the story –and it’s all to do with ships.

The Portuguese were doing some of their own empirebuilding around this time by sailing around the world and forming colonies. The problem was, in order to bring the rewards of these journeys back home, the ships had to leave

WORDS Bob Tidy

WORDS Bob Tidy

empty. The empty ships did not fare well at sea, but the solution was a simple one – take stones to act as ballast and then use them to build pavements and public squares in the new settlements. Many of the patterns and motives in the calçadas seen today in countries like Macao, Brazil, Timor and others reflect the maritime theme in remembrance of these voyages of discovery.

I can only assume that the limestone being used was easily available and the manpower to work it and transport it was affordable but I do question why they would go to such lengths. Why not just make use of the materials available in these new lands? In my opinion, it comes back to the essential considerations of design and a desire to create harmonious environments to inhabit. With the substantial wealth being brought into the country, these were prosperous times. Along with celebrating their architecture, the Portuguese passion for ceramic tiles and other decorative elements also left their mark. Their new colonies were the chance to make another bold statement about the wealth and success of their culture.

Apart from the tragedy of the horrific earthquake that destroyed Lisbon in 1755, when the resulting rubble was used to pave the new streets, little has been reported about the use of calçada until 1842. This is the year when a group of prisoners completed the first decorative calçada inside the São Jorge Castle in Lisbon, which served as a prison at the time. After the success of this venture, the same grilhetas were commissioned again to work on an area of over 8,000 m² in the now famous Praça do Rossio. Seen as a new concept in urban modernisation, this fusion of road-building techniques married with those of artistic mosaics became a trend that quickly spread across the whole country and the colonies. If you were one of the in-demand calçeteiros you would have had no problem finding work overseas and teaching your skills for a good income.

Looking to the future, some reports are not good for continuing this tradition. Due to the high cost of maintenance and production of the stone, it seems like it won’t be long before the use of cheaper materials will take its place in new urban projects. However, as I sat and watched a very hardworking man sweat under the afternoon sun, meticulously laying one stone at a time into place, a thought came to me. One day, someone else will be observing a team of automated calbots moving around town to find and patch up the misplaced stones with a level of precision that the Roman engineers of old would have admired.

The Wave of the Future

Highlighting the Start-Up Pitching Competition

WORDS Julian Putley

There is no doubt that the transformation from fossil fuel propulsion to an alternative is quickly taking place. Many countries are taking the initiative to ban the sale of diesel and petrol (land) vehicles by 2035. Can boats be far behind?

The Galaxia Electric Boat Show in Lagos teamed up with Yachting Ventures to invite new marine-related ideas and promote clean technology solutions. This show was the second annual event, which took place between 12 and 14 May.

The BlueEconomy is the term used by the World Bank to describe the “sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.” Battery development is happening at pace. Lithium/cobalt batteries are already in use and the challenge is to make smaller, lighter, more powerful units. At the moment, you can’t run a high-load vessel at speed using batteries – the power simply isn’t there. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is being researched for large commercial vessels, but there are challenges – one is that hydrogen cells require more storage space than traditional fossil fuels.

The first day of the event showcased a number of key players in the industry. Then it went on to provide a platform for selected start-ups, in the form of a competition, to describe and pitch to a group of national and international investors who are experts in the field and who are actively looking for investment opportunities.

After introductions by the marina manager and CEO, Martinho Fortunato, the proceedings got underway with

interesting commentary by Aqua Super Power. They can provide fully electric infrastructure in terms of shore-based supply, and they work with electric boat builders to ensure compatibility. Some boat owners argue that they can just plug into a home electrical outlet, but you may not want to wait three days. Marine outlets can cut your charging time to less than 90 minutes. Kempower owner Jesse Makkonen explained that the transition to electric power is currently accelerating, with more and more marinas and ports installing charging facilities. Torqueedo was another high-profile attendee displaying a large range of electric outboards.

SOMAR, an ocean conservation non-profit, provided a clear presentation. It concentrates on underwater acoustics and vibration that can impact marine life. Their mission is to protect sea life, particularly dolphins and whales and their habitat. As such, they are fully behind the electric revolution. The coast of the Algarve has recently been impacted by orca attacks on sailboats and the president of SOMAR, Rafaela Prodo, explained that this is under investigation with several possible reasons for orca interactions. Whale and dolphin watching is a major tourist attraction in the Algarve.

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The Start-Ups

Marine watersports have seen huge benefits in lighter, smaller and more powerful batteries. This was evidenced in the start-up competition. E Dolphin, a French start-up, has an attractive electric jet ski modelled after the aquadynamic shape of a dolphin that can run at a modest speed for about two hours on a single charge

Electro Nautic pitched their electric hydrofoil, Wave Flyer. The two-person pod looks comfortable and it has retractable foils for shallow water. The video looked impressive, albeit in glass-calm water.

Eco Works, a start-up that manufactures eco-friendly cleaning products, explained their mission to reduce ocean pollution. They have developed a range of products that use enzymes instead of acids. All the judges asked pertinent questions throughout the pitching process.

It was Level Hydrofoils, an Israeli company, that impressed the judges most. Their unique boards have extra facets that make them the best and most stable on the market. Normally a single strut hydrofoil is unsteady, but aero-space grade sensors integrated into the flight computer allow for instantaneous levelling and stability. This gyro stabiliser is

fantastic for beginners and when you get the hang of it, you can de-activate them. For watersports providers, this is the one to seriously consider. The company advertises learning time – 60 seconds! Repeat riders are almost guaranteed. Founder and CEO Arthur Yanai gave an impressive pitch, which won him first place with the judges and likely investment into the company to fund further research and marketing.

Day two of the show offered boat trips (on electric vessels, of course as well as demos of acrobatic skills and live music on the stage all day. Local artists and artisans attracted a lot of attention and stalls were busy throughout the three-day event. The evening show’s star attraction was TobyOne.

The final day, Sunday, was Family Day, with SOMAR organising clubs for kids. There were lectures on ecofriendly initiatives and sustainability. Later, a fashion show wound up the events of the day.

With the success of the show, particularly the Start-Up competition, the Lagos Marina is looking forward to the next Galaxia event.

Rua dos Celeiros, Rossio S. João, Condominío Luxury Adega, Loja 4, Lagos

Get your Shaka On

What do you get when you bring a group of like-minded surf addicts together? The answer is a surf shop that likes to help the community, pass on their knowledge about surfing and protect the ocean. Welcome to Jah Shaka.

I meet two of the Jah Shaka surf disciples, Griff and Eli, who are keen to explain why Jah Shaka is more of a religion than a commercial enterprise.

Founded in 2009, their shop is located in the heart of the old town of Lagos and has doubled in size since it began 14 years ago. From this welcoming space, with a live stream to the Meia Praia waves, you can acquire many of the top surf brands, including Rip Curl, O´Neil, Billabong, Oakley, Vans, Vissla and FCS. But the Jah Shaka crew emphasise that they are more about community than selling branded gear.

They offer a service to the surfing community and visitors that attempts to replicate the ethos of the sport. “Give and thou shalt receive.” In line with this mantra, they offer discounts on everything in their shop to all local surf clubs."To buy a wetsuit every year for a growing child is expensive, so it is very important that we are helping to make the sport more accessible and more sustainable," explains Eli. In line with this ethos, they also organise beach cleanups as part of their community work.

Rather than offering surf lessons themselves - they give their knowledge and guidance to those that need itdirecting you to the right surf school, finding you the right spot to surf, and matching you to the right board – giving their disciples the best possible experience. “We are

so surf addicted this is just natural for us,” explains Italian Eli, who has been a Shaka convert for three years. They are also a booking centre for any adventure activity you could imagine, like SUP, kayaking, skimboard lessons or kite surfing instruction.

But they are keen to stress that they are not corporate. “We like to give a service to the community and share our shaka vibes,” explains Eli. This extends to mentoring young surfers They offer a non-profit service for kids who are learning to surf. Helping to spread the surfing vibe are the Jah Skaka up-and-coming surfers, who receive sponsorship in return for promoting the Shaka spirit. Jah Shaka currently helps Alex Ferreira, Miguel Braz, Moreno Lelis, Benjamin Magalhães, Jack Smith, Ale Rista, Chirs Michalak and Tomas Alcobia, who are all chosen for their talent and shared values. “We want to support the young generations who are following their passion.”

The Jah Shaka mindset also includes recycling equipment, not just selling new equipment. They offer buybacks on boards, which they say is a big incentive for digital nomads who want their own board and then move on. They also have their own brand of surfboard called System Surfboards. They are designed and shaped in collaboration with local shapers in the Algarve. This year, in conjunction with Lagos Wake Park, they will host their second-hand market for surf and watersports equipment. Not only will they offer their own used equipment, but anyone is welcome to come with no longer-needed boards and wetsuits. Griff is really excited about the event that will be held on 4 June. “It will kick off the summer season - out with the old and in with the new. The Wake Park has just built a new skate ramp, so it will also be great for kids, with cash prizes for skate tricks. It´s really important to give kids a focus as well as adults, to keep them on the right path and away from other temptations.”

The event was a great success last year and incorporates food, a band, DJs and stalls for artisans. “To buy a wetsuit every year for a growing kid is expensive, so it is very important that we are helping to make the sport more accessible and more sustainable,” explains Eli. In line with this ethos, they also organise beach cleanups as part of their community work.

The Jah Shaka helping hand also reaches out to local artisans. They are enthusiastic about helping to display their products, so their event in June will feature craft stalls giving local crafters and artists a space to display their wares.

In a world where surfing has been grabbed and hung out to dry by the corporate world, experiencing the Jah Shaka energy is quite literally like being hit by a wave of positivity. So this summer, get your Shaka on and go and visit their shop. Otherwise, you might be all washed up!

 Follow Jah Shaka on Instagram for product information and event updates @jahskakashop

WORDS Sophie Sadler

When I was assigned to this article, I was beyond stoked. I, too, have a little window in my life where dance played a huge role in my teenage years. Taught and mentored for a few years in Nairobi by a New York Contemporary Jazz Dance teacher, I performed in a few shows there. To this day, the memory holds a special place in my heart.

Candace Olsen, who has three decades of experience on Broadway, has told me that In-za Jenny Odriozola Jacobsson’s jazz class is akin to a religious experience. When Jenny meets me at the entrance to The Movement Lab, her dance studio in Lagos, I am excited. I am drawn in by the undefinable spark in her eyes that instantly feels warm and welcoming.

Invited to watch their rehearsal, I am later told that all the performers are ex-professional dancers. Jenny is passionate about encouraging ex-professionals to ‘find their feet’ again – no pun intended.

As a teacher, Jenny is composed yet imbued with a liberating openness in her direction. Her dancers follow her with grace and respect. Her style explores every inch of the body, and there is a subtle and disarming understanding between her and the dancers. It is as though an invisible umbilical cord pulls them all together and then apart, all at the right moments. I can’t help but visualise the experience as each dancer being a different organ within a body, each with their own form and function, yet effortlessly moving in unison with one another.

I am mesmerised by the choreography and mainly the humbleness of the entire piece. It is very simple, yet it triggers an emotion in me and I find myself holding back tears. I am still unsure if peri-menopause has anything to do with this reaction, but I do feel that it is more the energetic exchange in the room that triggers it.

A Life in Motion

WORDS Nirali Shah-Jackson

When a professional New York Broadway dancer contacted Tomorrow and compared a contemporary jazz dance class at the Movement lab in Lagos to attending church, we were intrigued. Tomorrow sent Nirali Shah-Jackson to one of their dance rehearsals to discover more about the teacher she refers to and the experience behind this profound statement.

In my opinion, watching contemporary dance evokes different emotions in people. It can be both therapeutic and disturbing to experience, depending on the content and how it resonates with each individual. I believe this can only happen when the performers and choreographers are passionate about their work. In this case, it feels like they are.

After the rehearsal, I spoke with Jenny. Similar to the choreographed piece that I just experienced, she appeared humble but open and expressive. There is an undeniable ‘life force’ that generates from her. She strikes me as an enigmatic and powerful woman who could quite easily be intimidating, but she carries this with grace and no attitude, so you feel reassuringly at ease in her presence.

Jenny articulates her words like she choreographs her dance movements –– thoughtfully and with passion. She has a sense of complete balance about her and playfulness as well, yet a subtle and quiet heaviness keeps her somewhat intriguing. Both on and off stage, she is one of those individuals who is just naturally captivating, and I want to find out more.

Jenny was adopted at 10 months of age in the early 70s from Korea and brought to Sweden by a mother and father that showered her with love. At the age of three, she would have easily been mistaken for having ADHD with her constant restlessness, but luckily when her concerned parents took her to the doctor, he advised them to take her to a movement class, and that is when her dancing journey began.

Growing up in Sweden as a Korean, she really stood out from the normal blonde-haired blueeyed children and adults that surrounded her. She felt different, and was occasionally bullied for appearing different. She just wanted to hide. She found comfort in books and describes herself as a speed reader, covering 3 to 4 books in a week.

When I ask her what she would have become had she not found dance, she surprises me by saying, ‘a writer.’ Jenny shares that she has written a book that has yet to be published. She intends to write another, based on the confusion behind cultural identity as a consequence of growing up in Sweden as an adopted Korean. The lack of really belonging to any particular place can be a destabilising and a very lonely experience. I instinctively feel this would make a great read, as many of us, myself included, don’t have a ‘real’ place to call ‘home’ anymore, and this lack of belonging can feel isolating.

I wonder– of all the professions to choose for someone who dislikes the limelight– why Jenny chose dance. She explains that a lot of performance artists come from a broken place full of insecurities and are really trying to prove something of themselves and to themselves; she is no different.

After completing two years at Balettakademien between 1990-92, a professional ballet school in Stockholm, she quit to explore the Big Apple. Her six or so years in NYC were all about living from day to day, performing, teaching, and surviving the harsh and competitive scene that comes with the dance profession. She openly admits to indulging in ‘sex, drugs, and rock n roll.’

But Sweden called her back, and her sensible, level-headed side accepted a one-year contract in 1999 to dance at Skånes Dansteater. For a dancer to secure a contract is a dream so she

took the opportunity. She went from living day to day and in the moment to planning her career and looking to the future.

While in Sweden, she was interested in all forms of body movement and experimented with yoga. The first time in the downward dog asana, she cried and could feel that yoga had a power she’d never experienced before. Determined to explore this new emotion, she set off to India in 2001, where she met Spaniard Igor, who was in a bungalow next to her. They have been together ever since. They have a 16-year-old daughter, who was born in Sweden but brought up in Portugal, after their move here in 2010.

Both Igor and Jenny, who is now a qualified Yoga Alliance teacher, started the Lightroom Yoga studio in Lagos in 2010 (now called Inlight). Financially, it proved to be a difficult venture. In the years that followed, as her daughter grew up, Jenny wanted to attend ballet classes and joined Gwen Morris Ballet school. It was there that she slowly found herself teaching dance. She realised then how much she loved and missed it.

Just before the pandemic hit, Jenny was offered the opportunity to run the Movement Lab, which was attached to a guest house in the middle of Lagos. The guest house has now closed and Jenny runs the Lab herself with the intention to one day open an academy to support dancers of all ages. First, duty calls; she will return to Sweden in August for two years in order to support her daughter, who wants to pursue a career in music, and to help care for her elderly parents.

There are hundreds of different stories about her professional career as a dancer and teacher but

one that stands out here in Portugal is when she was invited by Nelda Magalhaes from Theatre Experimental de Lagos to write a piece as part of the Ventania Festival entitled ‘The Clean Water Act 1st Edition.’ Unfortunately, one week before the premiere, the whole country went into lockdown. Once the COVID measures were dropped, she was contacted by Agrupamento Escolas Bemposta in Portimão. The show finally premiered at Tempo Theatre, Portimão, in May 2022. A bilingual rap/jazz piece, it was performed by ex-professional dancers and watched by Algarve’s Regional Director for Cultural and National Arts.

The Movement Lab will continue without Jenny and will be run by the current ex-professional dancers that already teach different classes here. Jenny wanted to create a safe space for dance to be expressed and experienced in the Algarve and she leaves her legacy in safe hands until her return. Before she leaves for Sweden, she has organised a performance, An Ode to Dance, in June, at a venue to be confirmed. If you would like to watch this, follow The Movement Lab on both Facebook and Instagram for more information.

At the end of our conversation, I ask Jenny what dancing gives back to her. After a moment of quiet contemplation, she replies that she experiences a sense of “god’ when she dances.  I finally understand why Candace, the Broadway dancer who introduced us to Jenny, feels like she is going to church when she dances with her. It all makes sense now!

Class at The Movement LAB

A little story of Love with Aylamiquel 1 2021

Jenny Hendrix house by Tim Feldman Copenhagen 2003

Rua Lançarote de Freitas, 18, 1 Andar 8600-605 Lagos

LAG S CHIROPRACTIC

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LOCATION: In Lagos, just off the Lidl roundabout, next door to Chávena Dos Cafés

Dr. Adam Rich (DC)

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WORDS Alyson Sheldrake

Meet the Artist Inga Olej

Artist Inga Olej was born and raised in Berlin. She trained at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, learning theatre design and painting from the sculptor Michael Jastram. It was, however, in the Algarve that she found a deeper connection with nature that took her on an exciting journey into art and the celebration of the female form and eroticism.

Inga discovered the Algarve after studying social work and completing an internship here, which is when she fell in love with this country.

Inga noticed that her connection to nature was stronger here in the Algarve. Then she became a mother and it no longer felt right for her to live in a big city with a small child, so she moved to the Algarve in 2018. Both motherhood and living here have helped her to ground and stabilise herself, as she explains:

“I tend to get totally lost in making art. I then forget to eat and sleep. And my daughter makes my day much more structured, and the connection to nature also keeps me connected to my body, so I am not totally dissolving into my artwork.”

Her desire to create started at a young age: “Even when I was a little kid, I used to paint a lot. My greatest passions and what brings me the most happiness have always been painting, drawing, crafting, modelling, building and being with animals.” Today, Inga paints with oils on canvas, designs linocuts and prints and also does commissioned work, such as creating copies of famous paintings or murals.

When asked why she paints, she replies honestly. “I make art to express myself. I am a highly sensitive person (HSP). This means that I am more aware of stimuli such as noises, colours and feelings and need longer to process them. I need a way of releasing all the sensations and experiences from inside me. For me, making art is an opportunity to share my inner world and my perspective on the world. If people are touched by my art, then the artwork represents

a bridge between me and the viewer. I believe that art can be a visible representation of the inexplicable connection that occurs between people.”

In 2022, Inga dedicated herself to the topic of female archetypes and painted a series of 12 oil paintings. She described this as a very exciting journey into the different aspects of herself as she painted each piece. She has also created a series of paintings around the theme of Shibari, which is the Japanese art of erotic rope bondage. Her work certainly pushes the boundaries of art and challenges the viewer’s assumptions and beliefs.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s quote particularly resonates with her: “Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

She explains it can be difficult to know when a painting is finished. “You can actually paint an artwork dead, i.e. take away its liveliness, if you miss the point to stop in time.”

Inga loves the work of Vincent van Gogh, Egon Schiele, Rodin, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. She is inspired by courageous, strong women who go their own way: “Not necessarily only artists, but also spiritual teachers who have found their way back to the primal female power. Good films and music also inspire me. I always paint listening to loud music. Contemporary artists like Marina Abramović and Lady Gaga greatly impress me because they are so committed to art and follow their own path.”

Inga’s path is certainly unique. She also creates erotically sensual linocuts of couples, explaining that she enjoys

creating “an individual, unique and handmade artwork that immortalises a snapshot of their love”. Linocuts are an interesting medium for an artist. Inga creates her pieces by cutting out all the areas of a linoleum sheet that are later to appear white, leaving only areas of black. Only black and white is possible. There are no nuances or shades of grey. “These contrasts create an abstraction, and the result is very expressive. I can’t afford any mistakes either. If I cut something away, it’s gone. I absolutely love that about it, that absoluteness. There is a special power in a linocut.”

You can view and purchase Inga’s art, and she is also available for commissions. You can contact her via her website or Instagram.

www.ingaolej.com

ingaolejniczak@yahoo.de

www.instagram.com/ingaolej

Animus The Artist The Virgin

Marta Lourenço

If you’ve ever been to the weekly vegetable market on Saturday mornings in Loulé, you may have noticed an intriguing stall with a lady selling all kinds of local herbs that she’s picked or grown herself. There are herbs for tea, smudging, aromatherapy and even herb-filled ‘dream pillows’ that release a relaxing fragrance to help you drift off to sleep at night.

The lady’s name is Marta Lourenço and when she’s not in the midst of this hustling and bustling market, she’s a resident artist/designer at the Loulé Criativo Design Lab.

Back to the palace

To find out more about her, I headed back down to the Loulé Criativo headquarters, located at the beautiful Palaçio Gama Lobo. I met Marta in the ‘store’ where the artists at Loulé Criativo showcase some of their creations. I was surprised to discover that Marta’s project didn’t involve herbs as I had initially suspected.

I soon discovered that the natural world is still very much involved, but Marta showed me how she has developed the most wonderful range of

children’s clothing from birth up to seven years old.

We made our way upstairs to her workshop, where she has her pedal-powered sewing machine, and sat down for a chat about her life and how this blend of passions came to be.

Let’s start from the beginning … Marta told me how her parents emigrated to France and only returned when she was 11 years old. They got a place near Santa Bárbara de Nexe and Marta grew up helping her parents grow food and selling it at the market.

Her mum would always be suggesting this wild plant or another as a home remedy for all sorts of ailments. Her interest in nature and the plants that spring up here in the countryside started to grow from there.

Marta studied in Lisbon to become a kindergarten teacher and taught at a school on the island of Culatra for 10 years – taking the ferry back and forth every day!

She took a course to learn about the wild plants that grow here and again became fascinated by the medicinal, almost magical healing power of herbs. She was thrilled to discover that the benefits of the plants her mum had told her about when she was little had been proven scientifically.

She started to sell the herbs that she collects, mainly in spring, at the market in Loulé, where she’s been a familiar face for many years.

The baby business was born

Being a mother, Marta didn’t want to dress her children in modern synthetic clothing and wanted clothes made of more natural fabrics, but since these proved almost impossible to find, Marta decided to make her own.

Parents would see Marta’s kids looking all snazzy and comfortable in their natural clothes and would ask if she could make some for their children too. Things just evolved organically from there.

WORDS Jake Cleaver

Loulé Design Labs Artist of the Month

Pool pumps

PURE natural comfort

Marta is passionate about dressing children in 100% natural fibres that won’t irritate their sensitive skin and will help them feel at one with the natural world.

She works exclusively with linho (linen), algodão (cotton) and lã (wool). She sews shirts, shorts, jackets and the most lovely jumpsuits (that can be adjusted as your child inevitably gets bigger).

There are also accessories like sun hats, neckerchiefs, and the cutest little shoes (made from compressed wool). She uses colours that match the seasons and has a line of clothes for the autumn/winter and for spring/summer.

Mother Nature has the best crayons

The natural dying process sounds a little complex, with various stages to ensure the dye doesn’t simply wash out, but Marta simplified it a little for me by explaining that it’s a little like brewing tea.

She manages to create a range of natural soft colours by placing them in water with nets filled with things like stinging nettles, black beans, azedos (Oxalis pes-caprae – the yellow flowers that highlight the countryside in spring) and red cabbage, which provide surprising and often wonderful results.

One of her favourite natural dyes comes from onion skins. She told me the fruit and veg farmers know she needs them and very kindly come and find her after the market and give her the bits left at the bottom of their onion boxes.

Herb pillows

Marta found that she had all sorts of offcuts from the fabrics she uses to make her clothes, and it seemed a real shame to waste them, so she has found a way of using them to unite what she calls her three great passions: herbs, natural fabrics and dreaming. She puts seven very carefully selected herbs into these dream pillows. They release a very pleasant aroma throughout the

night and help you relax and get a good night’s sleep.

Where to find her?

Besides the Loulé market, Marta also has her herb stall at the Jardim Manuel Bívar in Faro (next to the marina) on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday evenings from 6 pm onwards.

Marta doesn’t keep any stock, but this means she will be able to make something special to fit your child’s exact specifications. Contact her directly.

belovedbynature@gmail.com

www.purebelovedbynature.pt

www.facebook.com/pure.belovedbynature

www.instagram.com/belovedbynature

The Bookworm

I’m Not There by Rob Gittins

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

WORDS Annie O’Dea

An exquisite, heartbreaking story from an international bestselling author that speaks to women everywhere about the things that matter most.

Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels, including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale.

The story was inspired by the life and memoirs of Andrée de Jongh, a Belgian Countess and a member of the Belgian Resistance during the Second World War. Under the alias of Dédée and Postman, she organised and led the Comet Line to assist Allied soldiers and airmen in escaping from Nazi-occupied Belgium.

Kristin Hannah opens her novel with a letter to the reader, explaining her sources of inspiration and why she was compelled to write their story. She writes, “ Sometimes a story sneaks up on you, hits you hard and dares you to look away. That was the case with The Nightingale. In truth, I did everything I could not to write this novel. But when research on World War Two led me to a story of a young woman who had created an escape route out of Nazi-occupied France, I was hooked. Her story - one of heroism and danger and unbridled courage - became the starting point. “

Exploring themes such as family loyalty, the power of the human spirit, and the will to survive, The Nightingale centres around the story of two sisters in very different circumstances who must do everything they can to survive. The novel debuted to overall critical acclaim, winning Goodreads Best Historical Fiction Novel for 2015. The book also won the coveted People’s Choice award for best fiction in the same year and was named the Best Book of the Year by Amazon.

In her direct opening address to the reader, the author reflects on what is at the heart of this story - the questions that still as relevant today as they were in 1940s war-torn Europe and the world - poignantly honing in on the truth: “In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are. And sometimes, perhaps, we don’t want to know what we would do to survive.”

WORDS Dan Costinas

PHOTOGRAPHY www.robgittins.com

An excellent, perfectly structured dark murder mystery that gets the reader hooked in order to understand two mysterious, similar disappearances – one 20 years previously and the second in the present day. Is it a coincidence, or is DI Lara Arden the missing link? Two decades ago, Lara and her sister Georgia, two little girls, were in a crowded moving train with their mother. Their mother went to the buffet trolley in the next carriage to collect some crisps and drinks and never returned.

Back to the present day, 26-year-old Lara is now a middle-rank detective and she is called out to a similar case, except this time a little boy is left behind. Is it a curse? Do the victims have anything in common? DI Arden and her likeable coffee addict partner Jordan are going to solve this impossible case together and discover the truth behind the mystery.

I have to admit that I easily devoured the 420 pages of the book in less than three days and kept guessing until just before the last unforeseen twist. After this marathon, my only suggestion for all the crime thriller fans is: do not miss this gripping first-rate crime novel!

I’m Not There is the first book in a trilogy set on the idyllic if occasionally sinister, Isle of Wight. I have already decided to read, very soon, the sequel The Devil’s Bridge Affair, and I am curious and restlessly eager to get it.

About the author:

Yes, your guess is right: Rob Gittins the novelist, is the Rob Gittins, the award-winning British TV and radio top screenwriter and producer. He has written for some top-rated TV dramas, including Casualty, EastEnders, Tiger Bay, Stella, Vera, Heartbeat, The Bill, The Story of Tracy Beaker and Emmerdale – to mention just a few.

As a littérateur, Mr Gittins knows exactly how to deliver an impeccable story plot, to introduce the intriguing characters to the reader, and of course, when and where to insert the most unsuspected turns of events.

If, after this wordy consideration, you still want to discover Rob Gittins' I'm Not There, you can find it on Amazon.es from 0€ (KindleUnlimited) up to 12.47€ (paperback), or at Bertrand Livreiros with 11.57€ (paperback).

Swapping the Maple Leaf for the Cork Oak Leaf

John P Gibson is a Canadian author who settled in the Algarve in 2012. He had planned a year-long trip around the Mediterranean countries. Then, being mesmerised by the spectacular views of the Algarve and the (European) Atlantic coast, he never left.

I have heard some authors say, “Oh, no, I don’t read. I write…” The question is: Do you read, John?

Yes, I do read. My mother taught me from a young age when I used to pick up a book to look at the pictures. I still read today, having up to three novels on the go at any given time. Of course, there is also the proofreading of the books I write.

When did you start writing?

My first attempt at writing would have been when I was about 11 years old. One of the teachers had asked me to direct a play we were all involved in. As we went through the play, acting it out on stage, I figured there should be some changes made. I cannot remember the name of the play, but back then, I didn’t realise it was a famous work and could not be changed.

You have published 25 books in 10 years! That means more than 8,000 pages. How did you achieve this prodigious performance?

I made a commitment early on that I would write every day, and I have held to that rule (apart from a few days over the years.) I originally set a goal to write 20 books before I passed on, and the target is now up to 50 – as I have completed 36 to date.

How many do you plan to publish this year?

To keep on schedule, I need to publish five this year; as, on average, I go for three books per year.

Do you think writing is a gained skill rather than a natural talent? What’s your dream project?

A gained skill: the more you do it, the better you get at it. That is why I write every day. My dream is to write the perfect novel. I am not sure what that

Crime Paradise, by John P Gibson

After reading a ton of British mysteries and professional police procedurals, all of them full of constables, sergeants, inspectors, DIs, DCIs, superintendents, commanders and commissioners, Mr Gibson’s book came like a breath of fresh air in the smoggy atmosphere. I realised how much I missed them – all those broken, messy, sarcastic, often addicted to bad things, sometimes tough, but always brainy private investigators who seem to be invariably handy when needed.

“I am a private investigator that has a hard time paying even the smallest of my bills. (...) I am going over some paperwork while I do my best to get my caffeine rush off the lousy coffee in front of me. I can only pray some great looking young woman passes by me and gives me a smile. Not that it has ever happened, of course. Not to a nerdy looking forty-something year old guy with greying thinning hair and a crooked nose.”

might be, but sometimes I think, while writing some of my books, that I am on the right track. As many of my books tell, it would be about the way we live on this planet and how this affects everything.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I very much like to walk. It is something my father instilled in me when I was very young. While I have two legs that are still working moderately well, I will continue to walk. The furthest hike I have done in one go was 22 kilometres.

What advice do you have for an aspiring author?

I think everyone has at least one book in their brain. So, start writing; pen to paper makes it come true. Once the book has been read by several friends and family, their input will help with further editing.

Thank you for sharing with us bits of your worldly-wise experience. Is there any question you would have liked to answer but never had the chance because I didn’t ask?

Yes: how do I feel writing will be in the future? I am concerned –seeing so many cell phones being looked at on my ventures. I occasionally get a sense of relief spotting young people reading books.

What is your message to the readers of Tomorrow Algarve Magazine?

Enjoy what you read and see in the magazine, as it is a very good publication when it comes to our beautiful home, the Algarve.

Meet Jerry Domino, an American hard-boiled private eye hired by a rich entrepreneur to find a couple of bad guys who fled to Europe, choosing Lisbon and Venice as their destinations. And, of course, you will also bump into a likeable great-looking young woman teaming up and assisting him for more than boring paperwork; being fluent in Portuguese and Italian is one of her important assets. Our friend Jerry never left the USA before and, of course, apart from loving the combo pizza-beer, he cannot speak any foreign language – but, as I read it, it’s less a feature of the detective character, but more an aspect of society in general. Furthermore, it is a universally accepted fact – in fiction, anyway – the more twists and turns, the better the detective story. And Crime Paradise is one brilliantly engineered example. A light book, two days for a slow reader, with the large print and generous line spacing formatting that definitely make reading easier. The language is casual and spontaneous and unquestionably appropriate for young adults (16+) and up.

If, after this wordy consideration, you want to discover John Gibbon´s Crime Paradise by yourself, find it on Amazon. es for 9.49€ (paperback), or Amazon. co.uk for £7.47 (paperback).

A longer version of this review can be found on the Tomorrow blog.

WORDS Dan Costinas

PHOTOGRAPHY ©John Gibson

Charity Bonanza

WORDS Tracy Lee

Palmares Golf members raise money for charity through two fun-filled social events

The Winner Takes It Ball

Cascade Wellness Centre was the perfect backdrop for this Abbathemed charity event held on Sunday, 7 May. The sun shone as drinks were served on the terrace.

Steve Marsh kicked the evening off with another round of Abbathemed Heads and Tails. Robert de Bruin was victorious! This was followed by the presentation of the February, March and April monthly medal prizes.

The buffet was exceptional and plentiful. Everyone enjoyed the food and visited again to replenish their plate on a number of occasions! So all there was left to do was dance off the calories.

I had the honour of introducing the Vocal Duo AbbaDivaz and immediately, the dance floor was full and remained so throughout the night, with everyone enjoying the amazing music and atmosphere. The raffle raised €1170 for The Mustard Seed, which helps provide food for the homeless and disadvantaged in Lagos?

Thank you all for attending and supporting the event and especially to the team of ladies that helped to create the decorative elements that added to the night’s spectacle. Every member that attended the event were, “The True Winners That Made It All “, the most amazing event.

A ‘Masterful’ Charity Evening

The Augusta Masters-themed Palmares Annual Prize Giving Dinner was held on 27 March. It was kicked off with a round of Masters-themed heads and tails questions, thanks to Steve Marsh. Paul Daly and Marco Andrade presented the winners with their Trophies.

The tables were all named after the holes at Augusta, each displaying a small golf green complete with the master’s infamous yellow pins, yellow flags and a golf ball for good measure.

The raffle raised 840€ for The Mustard Seed Association. Fabulous tunes from The Protons provided the music for this amazing evening and the band ensured the dance floor remained full all evening.

Thank you to all 80 members and non-members that attended. The evening was a great success, with excellent food and service provided by staff at the Tivoli under the watchful eye of Luciana.

Thank you to the local businesses and golf members that donated raffle prizes to both events, including; Mosto Wine Shop Lagos; Beleza Luzitana Beauty Salon in Luz; E’Clipz Hair & Beauty; Studio BurgauBurgau Sports Centre; Sophies Golf Shop; Pinto @ Elite Golf Academy; Cascade Wellness Resort; Za Zu Resturant in Luz; Fiona & Duncan; Tim & Anne and Mike & Ann; Deli Dar Bar, Quay Lagos; Raul Milhano Hair Salon; Tivoli Hotel Lagos; Hand made pottery by Nina; Palmares Golf & Leisure resort and Fabienne & Christophe.

Tracy Lee and chairman Paul Daly delivering the €840 euros to the charity in Largos

Caught on Camera

Madrugada Association is pleased to announce that it will publish a 2024 Wall Calendar entitled ‘Birds of the Algarve’ to help raise funds and awareness for its vital work in the community. Twelve captivating images of our feathered friends will feature in the publication, which is due to be on sale from mid-September.

This means entrants must get snapping now if their images are to be sent in time for a chance to be considered. The deadline is 31 July.

A panel of judges will select the best images from those received and the winning 12 will receive a prize for their efforts.

Proceeds from the sale of each calendar will go toward the cost of end-of-life hospice-at-home services provided by Madrugada.

The 2024 calendar will go on sale in September 2023 and will be available to pre-order (so that’s

Bobby ‘90

Saturday 24 June is a red-letter day for anyone who loves sport and wants to help the children of Refugio Aboim Ascensão.

WORDS Vaughan Willmore

For nearly 20 years, the Sir Bobby Robson Celebrity Golf Tournament has been bringing sporting celebrities together. The event celebrates the life of former England football manager, Sir Bobby Robson, and raises funds for the Refúgio Aboim Ascensão.

Sir Bobby Robson and his wife, Lady Elsie, lived in Portugal for three years. At that time, Sir Bobby managed Lisbon and Porto. They loved it here and always wanted to repay the kindness the Portuguese people showed them. Supporting the Faro-based, Refúgio Aboim Ascensão, has been one way of doing that.

Staff at the refúgio look after up to a hundred local children who have been abandoned and, in some cases, abused. They do fantastic work, creating a new home and new lives for children badly in need of a helping hand. Their philosophy is simple yet compelling: “Every child has a right to be loved.” The annual Sir Bobby Robson Celebrity Golf Tournament has raised over €1.3 million for the children’s home.

This year’s tournament once again takes place at the Pestana Vila Sol Championship Course in Vilamoura. Amateur and celebrity golfers will be competing throughout the day, before settling down for a Gala Dinner and charity auction. This year’s theme is Bobby ‘90. Mark Robson, Sir Bobby’s son and event organiser, explained. “This year would have been my dad’s 90th birthday, so as a celebration of his life, the ‘90 theme seemed appropriate. But it’s also something more, as it harks back to the Italia ‘90 World Cup when my dad led the England team to the semi-finals. It’s generally considered one of the most significant tournaments in recent history, for the way it helped popularise football in England.”

Please go along Saturday, 24 June, to show your support and, if possible, donate to Refugio Aboim Ascensão

another stocking filler sorted!). Each entrant can submit up to three images in landscape orientation via our dedicated competition email address: madrugada2024calendar@gmail.com

You must identify yourself clearly for each entry submitted and include your name as you would like it to see it credited on the calendar.

Terms and Conditions for entry are available to download from the Events area of the Madrugada website: www.madrugada-portugal.com/events/ algarvemoments. To be eligible for entry, you must confirm in your email submission that you agree to the Terms & Conditions.

Creation Media and Tomorrow magazine have kindly offered to support this initiative.

The Belavista condominium, in Praia da Luz, is a collection of modern, linked villas nestled within a serene, gated community. Enjoy the beautifully landscaped gardens, refreshing swimming pool, sauna, and spa. There are 30 villas in the complex, some boasting breath-taking ocean views, and conveniently located near the beach and amenities. Each unit benefits from a multipurpose basement and an individual garage box. New to the market, with 1/3 already sold, these villas are selling like hot cakes!

What's on

For more events and activities check our online calendar:  www.tomorrowalgarve.com/calendar

Marchas Populares Lagos

June is the month of the lively Santos Populares. A national Portuguese festival that celebrates the popular saints. Each municipality will host several events and you will find plenty of festivities, dances, musical entertainment, food, drink and parades.

10-12 June 7pm

www.cm-lagos.pt/municipio/noticias/11046-marchaspopulares-2023

Piano and Violin Concert

João Pedro Cunha (violin) and Gonçalo Duarte (guitar) present an exciting virtuoso programme covering the works of Italian violinist and composer Paganini and Spanish composer Pablo Sarasate, passing through the sensual and passionate gestures of the musical works of Piazzolla and Manuel de Falla.

3 June 7 pm at the chuch of S. Sebastião, Lagos Tickets 10€ www.cm-lagos.pt/municipio/eventos

Lagoa Neon Run

A 5km run with a difference! Get your neon running gear on and run or walk amidst the lights, the sound, and the company of many others as part of this new sports/ entertainment concept. Enter as an individual or a team and there is a prize for originality! The Neon after-party will be animated by DJs, and you will be able to conclude this unique experience by sharing the light of your smile.

4 June 8 pm

Tickets 15€ including a neon kit: neonrun.pt/inscricoes

GC32 Racing Tour

Lagos will once again be one of the epicentres of world sailing, hosting the GC32 Racing Tour - Lagos Cup, an international competition for the spectacular "flying" catamarans. With two stages held in Lagos. Several teams will be competing for the coveted world title.

The 2nd stage of the competition is held between 21 and 25 June and the world competition is between 10 and 14 July.

 www.facebook.com/gc32racingtour

Feira do Mar

With many aspects related to the sea, from gastronomy to water sports, workshops and live music the Sea Fair is an exciting new event to celebrate the sea.



30 June to 2 July, Sagres

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064700887740

Summer Dance Recital

A varied programme of dances will be performed by Lagos Dance School´s gold medal-winning dancers who recently excelled at the Destination Dance Competition Finals in Coventry, in England. The School was recently awarded Best Dance School at the International Art Without Borders Dance Competition 2023.

The programme will include wonderful dances, including ballet, ethnic, modern jazz, urban and contemporary, choreographed by some of the most prestigious national choreographers and beautiful costumes will make this an event to remember.



23 June at 7.30 pm and 24 June at 4.30 pm at Lagos Júlio Dantas school

Available on the day on entre 10€

www.facebook.com/CentroCulturaldeLagos

Melodias de Primavera

A celebration of spring presented by the Gwen Morris dance studio, accompanied by violinist João Pedro Cunha and singers Catherine Ageorge and Marie Beatriz Lucio.

9 May 4 pm and 10 May 8 pm at the Lagos Cultural Centre www.facebook.com/CentroCulturaldeLagos

Band Festival

Featuring the ACULMA Filarmonnic band from Lisbon and the band of the volunteer firefighters from Aljezur.

3 June 4 pm at Praça d’Armas, Praça Gil Eanes and Praça do Infante, Lagos www.cm-lagos.pt/municipio/eventos

Harry Potter Meet

Magical community, get your brooms, portals, or floo powder ready because after three years it’s time to spread magic around the Algarve again because the VII Harry Potter Meet is back on June 10th, 2023 at the Silves Castle.

10 June 11am at the Silves Castle

Tickets 5-7€: academiadefeiticeiros.bymeoblueticket.pt

Useful Numbers

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Homes Interiors

Bring a Little Sunshine into your Home

Flora Kouta looks at the best the Algarve has to offer in home decor and shares her tips and ideas to breathe new life into your living space. This month – gardens.

Whether you have twelve rolling acres or a tiny balcony, now is the perfect time to get your outside space ready for those long hot summer days.

Last week I stumbled across a new cheap and enormous home decor store driving through Odiáxere. My friend refused to get out of the car because she’s a snob. After half an hour of waiting, she found me dribbling over the gorgeous garden wall art and had to admit that, between the Chinese factory-made goods, there were some real finds. (And what’s wrong with Chinese factory stuff anyway? Half the expensive retail chains in the Algarve have the same goods but at triple the prices.)

They’ve got everything from furniture to swimwear, cushions to garlic crushers. Want neon pink sewing thread? They’ve got it. Fake vines or pads to stop chairs scraping? Yes and yes. They haven’t got a website, of course, but if you Google ‘Hiper Lagos’, you’ll find it on a map.

I bought this decorative table and chairs for my dad, who insists on sitting at the front of the house in his underpants each morning to catch the early sun. He’s forever moaning that he has nothing to put his muesli on, this set is perfect for him and you can leave it out all year because it’s metal.

Flora Kouta

Back in Lagos, I found this Moroccan lantern solar light in Bricomarché. Not really that cheap at 23€, but the patterns of light it gives are so beautiful, I look forward to it getting dark each night now.

At Casa, in Portimão, I picked up these garden chairs, made of plastic. They are really light and comfortable. I love wooden furniture, but I’ve learnt the hard way that the Algarve winds and ocean spray ruin anything left out … plastic and metal are the only way to go.

Leroy Merlin has some new sun lounger pads that are really fun, I couldn’t resist this bright green palm leaf one. It’s plain green on the other side if the pattern gets too much!

Staying with the palm theme, I got home to find my sister had made this lovely mosaic wall art from sea glass she found on the beach at Meia Praia, perfect for outdoor walls!

Flora is an artist inspired by the spectacular coastline of the Algarve. Living in grey noisy London, she’s always itching to get back to the family home in Lagos for a good fix. “A large dose of shocking pink bougainvillea, a long walk on the burnt orange cliffs and a swim in the crashing waves is better than any medicine in the world,” she says.

Flora’s coastal, abstract and botanical prints sell all over Europe to art publishers, retailers and individuals looking for a way to bring a little sunshine into their homes. When Flora’s not painting wall art, she is painting the walls themselves, designing textiles and soft furnishings or searching for beautiful things for the house. You could say she’s a little bit obsessed with interiors.

 www.florakouta.com

WORDS Flora Kouta

A Piece of Paradise

They bought the land with a ruin in 1986 but did not move to the property permanently until 2001. Sonja showed me a photograph of the original ruin and what is now the garden – all you can see is a hillside covered with sticky Cistus, which has beautiful white flowers with a maroon spot at the base of the petals. A solitary cork oak sadly became an accidental victim of the new house build.

The ground is extremely rocky with very little topsoil, so their first task was to bring in two–three tons of topsoil from Monchique each year as they developed different parts of the garden. Sonja spent many years living in Italy, which influenced her planting choices. Very early on, she planted two pines, some cypresses and olives to give structure to the garden. An Atlantic cedar (fortuitously mislabelled as a prostrate juniper) was also planted by the entrance gate to the garden and now 30 years old, it makes a dramatic statement.

A path leads you beside the house with flowerbeds and raised beds on the left-hand side planted with Cannas, various bulbs, pinks, lilies, Salvias and Sonja’s precious roses, which are her passion. In front of the house is a small lawn and beyond that, an enticing shady pergola divides the garden from the swimming pool.

We sat and chatted under the pergola, which is Sonja’s favourite seating area and for good reason. Like me, she loves dark foliage in a garden and from this vantage point, you get a beautiful view of a large border with a copperleafed cherry tree at the far end and a purpleleafed shrub Euphorbia and a smoke bush (Cotinus coggyria ‘Royal Purple’) creating structure underplanted with the spectacular Aeonium Schwarzkopf. The border actually slopes down to a lower level and cleverly makes the transition with a beautiful succulent rockery with some unusual specimens.

Walking back towards the house via the lower path beside the rockery, Sonja has planted some lovely bottlebrushes, which were in full flower. Higher up the hillside, the garden is less formal, but there is a path you can follow which has more surprises, including a superb white wisteria which was at its peak for my visit.

I asked Sonja about her successes and failures. She told me that they planted a monkey puzzle tree too close to the house, which had to be removed due to its invasive roots. She’s also disappointed that irises do not like her garden, but she has managed to keep an iris going that originally came from her mother’s garden, which I put down to sheer determination.

Her successes are many, but she is justifiably proud of her huge rose collection with over sixty varieties. Her favourite rose is Chandos Beauty, a bush rose with heavily scented creamy salmonpink coloured flowers. Another of her passions is succulents. She started with six different ones over 20 years ago and now has over 175, which really is impressive.

I ended my visit sitting in a shady corner admiring the vista and listening to melodious bird song and the wind rustling through the trees and reflecting on their amazing creation from such unpromising beginnings.

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.

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY Tamsin Varley

Sonja and Peter are the custodians of a marvellous mature garden north of Lagos which they have created and developed over nearly 40 years.

Chandos Beauty © Sonja

Giving Padel XO

A few years ago, I challenged myself to participate in as many different sports as I possibly could, regardless of their obscurity. The thinking behind this was the old mantra that if you don’t try, you never know. Perhaps I could have found my niche and been the next British yak-polo champion (yes, it actually is a sport). And so began a long journey of sporting discovery from archery to zorb football and everything in between.

Having moved to Portugal, a country renowned for its all-encompassing love of football, I didn’t have high hopes of extending my list of untapped sports. But a chance encounter at Loulé rugby club changed this for the better. Ex-Scottish international rugby star Max Evans, had just achieved promotion to the 2nd tier of Portuguese rugby for Loulé. We began chatting about sporting life in the Algarve before he explained his new-found love of padel, a sport that had remained very much under my radar. A challenge was set and we agreed to meet for a future match.

If, like me, padel had largely escaped your attention, let me bring you up to speed. Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world and combines the disciplines of tennis and squash. Its main appeal is that it is a social game (usually played in doubles) and is based less on power and more on guile and precision. That said, there is no shortage of competitive edge, but it is, on the whole, an adaptable sport that is suitable for all ages and skill levels.

WORDS David Lugg

Tomorrow's Sports Editor, David Lugg, trials a new sport under the guidance of Ex-Scottish international rugby star, Max Evans.

As match day approached, it dawned upon me that I may be out of my depth. I was a half-decent football and cricket player in my day, but I will reluctantly admit that changes in my lifestyle have greatly affected changes in my pace. Entering your forties and having a baby is not conducive to playing sport with international rugby players. Especially one who recently had a successful stint on Dancing on Ice, a British ice-skating show with a television audience of over six million people. No pressure, then!

When the day arrived, I felt relieved to know that Max and I were on the same team. Before we started, he gave me a 10-minute lesson (Max is a level 2 coach) about the basics, such as positioning and ‘learning the walls’, where, for example, you can play the ball off your own back wall. Before I had time to take it all in, our opponents arrived and the match began.

I quickly learned that teamwork is an imperative feature as we raced into a 3-0 lead, before realising that I was far from the finished article. We lost the set 6-3.

Cheered on by the vociferous crowd (my girlfriend and baby), the second set was a tight affair. At 5-4, we fashioned out a set point. Our opponent played a great shot down the line, which I just about got the racket to. The ball arced high, but it lacked distance. All four players stood motionless as the ball dropped down on top of the net cord before falling agonisingly into our half of the court. There were cries of relief and despair depending upon perspective, but it was all in good humour, as is the nature of the sport. We went on to lose the set 7-5, but there were handshakes and hugs all around.

The experience offered a sharp learning curve, but above all, it was fun.

After the match, I sat down with Max to discuss his passion for the game as well as his involvement in promoting the sport to a larger audience. It transpired that padel is far more than just a hobby; it is now a major part of his life. “I first discovered padel in the summer of 2018 when I had just finished Dancing on Ice. I immediately fell in love with the game.”

I started playing at The Campus at Quinta do Lobo. They have panoramic (glass walls) courts with beautiful carpets. I then went back to the UK and I played on a terrible court which affected the experience of Padel in a negative way.” Far from being put off by his experience, Max saw the lack of high-quality courts as an opportunity to grow Padel in a developing market.

“I formed PadelXO as a ‘best-in-class’ Padel service provider. We supply courts, covers, rackets, booking systems –anything you would need in the Padel industry, whether you are setting up a club or just want rackets. The courts are Portuguese-manufactured and the rackets are made of Portuguese cork. I now have the licence to sell in the UK, Ireland, South Africa and hopefully soon a few others.”

Max is particularly keen to sell the virtues of the handmade rackets. “From an orthopaedic point of view, the cork rackets have an ability to absorb vibration. I get a lot of messages from people with tennis elbow asking me about the qualities. In fact, if I don’t use a cork racket, I will get pain in my elbow, so I’m excited to be part of the Padel racket growth story.”

You get the sense that Max has every opportunity to succeed. He has a laudable blend of experience and enthusiasm combined with a competitive drive that is ingrained in every professional athlete. “All I want to do is grow this sport of Padel. It’s a sport that I’m always going to love. It’s not going away.” Nor, it seems, is Max Evans. Good luck to him.

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Cricket

Portugal has won the European Cricket Network T20 Championship in Gibraltar. Facing Malta and Gibraltar three times over the three-day tournament, Portugal won all six of their matches to finish top of the table. Most Portuguese cricket is centred around the Lisbon region, though many sides do visit the Algarve on tour to benefit from the fine weather.

SPORTS ROUND UP

Basketball

The Portimonense men’s team have secured a historic promotion to the Betclic National Basketball Division by defeating ABC Santo André. After winning the away leg 71-70, they lost at home 73-86, meaning that a tiebreaker match was required. A tense game at the Pavilhão Gimnodesportivo de Portimão saw the Algarve side win 85-79 in overtime and achieve promotion to the top division for the first time. Back in September 2021, head coach Carlos Almeida told Tomorrow that his biggest goal was to “promote basketball for our young people.” His hard work appears to have paid off as half of the squad have come through the academy.

Imortal basketball club of Albufeira suffered an agonising defeat in the final of the Portuguese Basketball Cup by 75-74. The match against Benfica was decided by a free throw from Tony Douglas with less than six seconds to go. The victory sees the Lisbon side win the trophy for the 23rd time

Ice Hockey

The Portugal men’s ice hockey team has taken part in the Development Cup in Slovakia. Defeats against Colombia, Liechtenstein, Ireland and Argentina saw Portugal finish bottom of the five-team group. However, for a side that only played their first international in 2017, they can hold their heads high. As would be expected, the sport is still very much in its infancy, not least because the country does not yet have a full-sized ice rink!

Bodyboarding

Algarve athlete Joana Schenker has finished third in stage 1 of the Professional Bodyboard World Tour in Jacaraipe, Brazil. Schenker lost her semi-final in agonising fashion as Japanese surfer Namika Yamashita scored highly with the last two waves of the heat. Schenker will take solace in the fact that the result moves her to number three in the world.

Wrestling

Wrestling is back in the Algarve! APW REGRESSA has been organised by the Portuguese Wrestling Association and will take place at the Centro de Treinos in Portimão on 11 June.

Para Cycling World Cup

Luís Costa has finished in an extremely credible fifth position in the men’s H5 class time trial at Ostend, Belgium. In wet conditions, he then backed it up with a sixth place at the men’s H5 road race. After the event, the Portimão resident noted that he was “happy with my performance” though acknowledged that there was “room for improvement.”

Rhythmic gymnastics

An outstanding team performance from Brazil saw them win their first-ever World Challenge Cup gold medal in Portimão. With a large vocal support, the roars of appreciation were evident from the moment they entered the arena. Their faultless, energetic routine was a joy to behold as they became deserved winners. On an individual level, German gymnast Darja Varfolomeev lived up to her star billing by winning four golds and a bronze.

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

WORDS David Lugg

Rugby

The Loulé men’s rugby team have pulled off an astonishing escape to stave off relegation and remain in National Division 1. After a tough first half to the season, the league was split into two, with the Algarve side battling against teams in the relegation group. With just two games to go, Loulé were bottom of the league and knew that only two victories would give them a chance of staying up. They duly obliged with a wonderful 27-3 win over league-leaders Setúbal, followed by a 45-15 victory over CDUP.

Football

Eighteen-year-old Manuel Mendonça from Loulé has signed a new contract with Sporting Lisbon. The central midfielder is the captain of the under-19 side and is also an under-18 international. Mendonça initially joined the club in 2017 after previously playing for Algarvian sides AD Geração de Génios and Louletano.

Farense are on course to win promotion back to the Primeira Liga. The Faro-based side are on a fine run of form, having won five matches in a row at a crucial time of the season. They require four points from their remaining two games to guarantee them a return to the top tier of Portuguese football. If they do so, they will play against fellow Algarve side Portimonense in what will be a fiercely-fought local derby.

Motorsport

Kalle Rovanperä has won the Vodafone Rally of Portugal with a dominant display, taking victory by almost one minute from Spaniard Dani Sordo. The defending world champion produced a masterclass in what is his second consecutive Portuguese triumph. The Finn won five of the 19 stages and never looked like relinquishing his lead. Armindo Araújo was the leading Portuguese driver in 17th, a little over 20 minutes down on Rovanperä. Algarvian driver Ricardo Teodósio, who won the Rally of Algarve in April, finished in 28th position.

Pro Tip

The Straight Back and Through Putting Stroke Drill

WORDS João Tomaz

Arc vs Straight Putting Stroke

Every putting stroke, especially those required for longer putts, has at least a little bit of a natural arc. Simply put, this means that the clubhead of your putter does not move in a perfectly straight line when going back and then forward through the ball. In fact, the club head will move a little on the inside both during the putt’s backswing and also in its follow-through. This is simply due to your physiology as your hands are, of course, attached to your body with one arm on each side.

There will be times, however, when you may need to favour a straighter putting stroke. Below are instructions on how to remove the arc in your putting stroke if it becomes problematic.

Place a golf ball on the putting green at the start point from where you would like to practise your straight putting stroke.

Place three tees on the ground parallel to the target line outside the ball in your stance and three tees likewise, but inside the ball.

Ensure that both tee lines are parallel to each other and also to the target line. Be sure that they are spaced enough from each other so as to allow your putter’s clubhead to travel without hitting either one.

Practise hitting putts from this middle channel, taking care to move your putter head back and forth, always staying in the centre of the channel.

It is important that your left eye is positioned over the line of the ball.

This technique will increase consistency and generate fewer pulled or pushed putts.

A straight back and through putting stroke can be far more reliable and consistent than one that involves the use of an arc.  In fact, a putter head that is kept straight and square going back has much more chance of being square at the impact position. This is in contrast to an arc putting stroke where the putter head is actually in an open position during the backswing. The ability to bring the open clubface back to square requires much more precision.

Top Tip - Especially Useful in Small Putts

A straight putting stroke can be crucial and work better for shorter putts. Obviously, shorter putts require the least amount of distance for the putter.  Hence the natural arc is much less of a factor and it should be easier to hit a straight back and through putt in these instances.

João Tomaz is the golf pro at Espiche Golf

Mistiming issues can create an open or a closed clubhead, resulting in pushed or pulled putts.

Tech Neck

Tech neck is the most common problem we see in teens and pre-teens. Children spend too much time in poor posture, seated with their shoulders hunched, ribcage collapsed and neck bent forward. It's the posture for studying, drawing, writing, reading, and you know it — using devices.

Postural habits learned in childhood can last a lifetime. Here's how to get children to straighten up.

1. Start the day by stretching

Take five minutes to practice long, deep yoga moves like downward dog and warrior. Think of stretching the whole spine, not just the neck, with slow rotations. Make a game of it by having your child "draw" circles with their nose on the wall while standing or on the ceiling above them while lying down.

2. Adjust their position

When your kid is playing on a phone or tablet, encourage them to bring the device to their face, not their face to the device. Demonstrate how to brace their elbows against their ribs for better support. If they're sitting at a desk, keep the keyboard at elbow height, the top of the monitor at eye level, and their feet flat on the floor.

3. Practice proper sitting

Most chairs aren't the right height for children, so see if you can adjust the seat to the height of your child's kneecap. This will allow the small of their back to assume its natural position. You can also show how to sit on the front edge of a chair to allow your shoulders to relax.

Of course, we at Lagos Chiropractic can help ensure poor posture is corrected before it becomes a real problem.

Chiropractic is for kids too!

The Power of Prayer

Connecting with the Divine

Prayer is a practice that holds immense significance for many people around the world, regardless of their religious affiliation. Many of us (as I once did) probably think that church prayers are pretty shallow, only using a repetition of set words, but think again!

Long before the popularity of Mindfulness (which I fully love and endorse, of course!), the Christian Mystics were ‘being mindful’ in their contemplative prayer lives. Learning to pray may initially seem daunting, but with patience and guidance if needed, is of great benefit and personal well-being. Prayer provides a way of keeping in touch with the divine, fostering a sense of connection, and opening oneself to God's guidance and presence. By incorporating prayer into our daily lives, we can experience personal and spiritual growth, finding solace, peace, and strength in our relationship with the divine.

Prayer is a way of keeping in touch with a higher power, a means of connecting with the divine. But many individuals struggle with understanding its purpose and how to engage in prayer effectively. If you find yourself in this position, feeling like everyone else knows how to pray except for you, take heart. You are not alone, and there are numerous benefits to be gained from prayer.

Firstly, it is essential to acknowledge that prayer is a deeply personal experience. Just as each individual is unique, prayer manifests differently for each person. Christians, for instance, engage in various forms of prayer, such as contemplative prayer, Lectio Divina, and Prayer at the end of the day.

Contemplative prayer involves seeking a quiet and reflective space to commune with God, allowing His presence to fill the mind and heart.

Lectio Divina, on the other hand, is a practice of meditative reading and reflection on sacred texts.

Lastly (although there are a wealth of other ‘styles and practices’ that I haven’t mentioned here), prayer at the end of the day allows individuals to review their experiences, express gratitude, and seek guidance for the days ahead.

One of the fundamental benefits of prayer is its ability to foster a sense of connection with

God. Just as communication with loved ones helps to maintain relationships, prayer serves as a means of staying in touch with the divine. It is a conversation where individuals speak to God and, in turn, listen to His guidance and wisdom. In this way, prayer becomes a twoway dialogue, deepening the bond between the individual and the divine.

To fully experience the benefits of prayer, it is crucial to establish a state of readiness and calmness. Often, our minds are cluttered with distractions and racing thoughts, making it challenging to focus on prayer. Creating a peaceful environment and finding a comfortable posture can aid in achieving a state of attentiveness. Engaging in deep breathing exercises or repeating a calming phrase like "Be still and know that I am God" can help quiet the mind and centre one's focus.

Once the mind is calm, the prayer can begin. Sometimes, it is enough to simply bask in the awareness of God's presence without uttering a word. At other times, it is necessary to express one's thoughts, feelings, gratitude, or concerns to God. There is no need for formality; we can speak to God in our own words, whether silently or aloud. The key is to be genuine and authentic in what you say.

Prayer is an ongoing conversation that requires patience and time. It is not a onetime event but a continuous practice that can be incorporated into daily life. Many Christians make it a habit to pray every morning and evening, allowing for consistent communication with God. As you develop a regular prayer routine, it becomes more natural and rewarding. The benefits of prayer extend beyond the mere act of speaking to God; it encompasses personal growth, spiritual nourishment, and a deepening of faith.

Prayer is a powerful and transformative practice that offers numerous benefits for everyone, whoever you are and whatever your life is like at present.

“Lord, teach us to pray” - Luke 11:1

Father Rob Kean oversees the Anglican chaplaincy in the western Algarve and is based in Praia da Luz.

WORDS Adam Rich

WORDS Rob Kean

C R M Lawyer

Van-tours to the Benagil Cave and the Algarve West Coast €45 Including lunch, drinks and gorgeous beach locations

All the details @ vagabundotravel.net

WhatsApp: +351 916 802 338

Brodiesfreewalkingtourslagos

Carla Martins

+351 282 085 544 | 964 165 814  crp.advogados@gmail.com Praceta António Henrique Balté, Lote 27

Living Well Made Simple

A Happy Gut = A Happy Life

WORDS Paula Rey

These microorganisms, collectively known as the microbiome, inhabit our gut, skin, mouth, and other areas of the body. They help break down our food, regulate our immune system, and even produce neurotransmitters that affect our mood.

It’s essential to keep our microbiome healthy, diverse and happy! One of the best ways to do this is through our diet. The food we eat can directly impact the composition and function of our microbiome, and the more diverse our diet, the more diverse our microbiome will be.

One way to feed our microbiome is by consuming prebiotic foods. Prebiotics are types of fibre that can’t be digested by the human body but serve as

Postoperative Care

WORDS Donna Groom

food for our gut bacteria. Foods high in prebiotic fibres include chicory root, garlic, onions, asparagus, bananas, and oats.

Another way to promote a healthy microbiome is by consuming probiotic foods. Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed. They can be found in fermented foods like yoghurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and miso. When consumed regularly, probiotic-rich foods can help improve digestion, boost the immune system, and even reduce inflammation.

In addition to prebiotics and probiotics, a diet rich in whole, plant-based foods can also support a healthy microbiome. Fruits, vegetables, legumes,

and whole grains are rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals that our microbiome needs to thrive. These foods also contain antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation and protect our gut lining.

On the other hand, a diet high in processed foods, added sugars, and unhealthy fats could harm our microbiome. These types of foods can cause inflammation, disrupt the balance of bacteria in our gut, and even lead to chronic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

It’s important to note that everyone’s microbiome is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. That’s why it’s essential to listen to our bodies and pay attention to how we feel after eating certain foods. Keeping a food journal can be a helpful tool for tracking what we eat and how it affects our bodies.

Remember, our microbiome is a community and, by nourishing it, we can thrive together!

Paula Rey is a holistic health coach, hypnobirthing childbirth educator, cacao ceremony facilitator and embodiment practitioner.

 pauladelaselva.com

Facebook/Instagram @delaselva.holistic +351 933 821 554

Whatever the reason may be, surgery can seem daunting and often frightening. Postoperative care is a must when it comes to a healthy and successful recovery.

I recently came across a very talented lady in her field of post-operative rehabilitation care. Her passion and enthusiasm for what she does radiate from her every pore. Her knowledge and experience are second to none.

Silvia moved from Brazil to Portugal three years ago and regularly goes back to update her methods. She also spent some time in Italy before deciding to bring her groundbreaking techniques here to Portugal. Every patient is different and has different needs, but her ethos remains the same: to provide the best treatment with care and love. Her approach ensures a speedy recovery minimizing any risks which can be associated with surgeries.

Silvia, who is based in Lagos at Studio Pilates 4U, is entrusted by some of the very best surgeons, such as Dr Tiago Baptista and Dr Rui Lima, who rely on her to rehabilitate their patients in order to get the maximum results from their operations.

Silvia explains that she likes to see her patients before surgery to check for allergies and to make sure their posture and body are prepared for surgery. This is so her work can begin immediately after their operation. Silvia uses specific taping methods and an abundance of machinery to minimise bruising and takes particular care in ensuring the lymphatic system flows correctly to avoid blockages, swelling and complications. She regularly attends the operations in the hospitals, so she is ready to start her magic from the minute the operation finishes.

Her gentle and calm approach totally puts you at ease and combined with her innovative methods, makes her a valuable asset to the healthcare industry.

Donna is a beauty therapist at the Kutting Room in Praia da Luz.

Silvia can be contacted at +351 938 330 551 | sylvinhacosta@hotmail.com

donna.medicalbeauty@gmail.com

Our body is an ecosystem, teeming with trillions of microorganisms that play a vital role in maintaining our health.

Living in Portugal has so many benefits, but while we are all so fortunate to be here, what happens when we need or choose to have surgery?

Coping with Anxiety

Anxiety is prevalent when we close down and stop seeing the joy and abundance in life. So, get into the habit of getting rid of the things that cause you to feel fear and anxiety. Then fill your life with positive things instead. When you make lots of small changes, you will soon find that things that once caused you stress will no longer bother you. Here is a technique to minimise anxiety in your life.

De-stress technique – controlling your reaction to stressful situations

Whenever a problem or stressful situation arises, don’t immediately react in a negative way. Take a few very slow, deep calming breaths and suspend your judgement.

Imagine you are stepping out of your body and viewing the situation from above. Remain detached from any emotion or judgement.

When you are calm and composed, take a few more deep breaths and think about how the problem can be resolved. If it is not resolvable, think of things you can do to improve the situation. If nothing comes to mind straightaway, affirm that your mind

Golf and Menopause

With the average age of a golfer being in their 50s, it means that there are a lot of female golfers who are going through menopause.

Staying active is one way of improving symptoms and overall well-being during menopause:

Golf is a great way to increase your steps. It can work both muscles and the cardiovascular system, keeping your heart healthy and your bones strong while promoting balance and flexibility.

Spending time outdoors in nature has been linked to lower stress and better moods.

Golf is a great way to build social networks for support and to share with each other. Understanding how others are feeling and knowing that you are not alone is such a great comfort.

Unfortunately, menopause can also have a negative impact on our golf, both from a mental and physical point of view.

• Increased muscle aches and inflammation in your joints can affect your swing.

• Fatigue, due to interrupted sleep, can lead to tiredness on the course.

• Brain fog and loss of concentration can cause you to not focus on shots as easily.

• Anxiety and feeling low can lead to you doubting your swing or not playing with the same level of confidence.

• At times, menopause can make us very emotional, and this can lead to us feeling frustrated and upset with ourselves when we are not playing well.

Being aware of our symptoms and learning how to deal with them on the course is so important:

• Creating a good warm-up to keep our bodies moving freely is vitally important as we age.

• Recognise, in particular, the symptoms which can affect our mindset on the course. It is easier to deal with them when we are aware of them so we can continue to enjoy the game. Meditation and breathwork can help maintain focus and reduce anxiety.

will find solutions when the time is right. Be proactive in dealing with the problem as best you can at this time.

After dealing with the problem, imagine you are back in your body. Then ask yourself what you can learn from this situation. There is always a lesson to be learnt from every difficulty we face in life.

Daily Habits:

• Push yourself out of your comfort zone occasionally, and live your life with more courage and self-belief.

• Be proactive and make changes to situations that repeatedly cause you stress.

• Eat healthily and exercise regularly.

• Get into healthy sleep patterns by switching off all devices early and prioritising early nights.

• Build a daily meditation practice.

Glenn Harrold is one of the world’s most successful hypnotherapists. He has helped thousands, including many celebrities, in a 20-year career and has sold over 10 million hypnosis CDs, MP3 downloads and Apps.

• Learning acceptance on the course is something we all need to do, and it can help us not to be so frustrated with our game.

There is no doubt that getting out in nature, walking and moving around the course and spending time chatting with our playing partners is a great way to help us to navigate this time. It is also a great time to take up the sport if you never have. Menopause is a time when we often want to make changes, try new things and become more active, so if you do not play, why not give it a go?

Ann de Jongh is a health and well-being coach.

 +351 913 202 621 www.fit2lovelife.com

instagram.com/anndejongh

WORDS Ann de Jongh

WORDS Glenn Harrold

Plastic Surgery

The Truth Behind the Mask

WORDS Tiago Baptista-Fernandes

I grew up in a family of doctors, and my grandfather, Professor Baptista Fernandes, was the pioneer in plastic surgery in Portugal.

After World War I and II, due to massive numbers of injured and burnt patients, Professor Archibald McIndoe and Sir Harold Gillies (the father of Modern Plastic Surgery) developed the concept of Plastic Surgery as an autonomous medical speciality. They launched training programs in England, teaching the technique and science, and several surgeons from various parts of the world joined them.

My grandfather graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon in 1941. He always had an interest in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, a speciality not yet recognised in Portugal. During his general surgery training, he found that the knowledge was simply not enough to fully treat the patients. Between 1948 and 1949, he completed a specialisation in plastic surgery with Professor McIndoe and Sir Gillies. Years later, he kept returning for more training and improvement, developing techniques that he introduced in Portugal.

Between 1955 and 1962, and without a plastic surgery hospital service created, he circulated among the various hospitals in Lisbon, identifying patients for whom there was now a treatment solution. He operated on them on Sundays, the only day available. This was something extremely painful because, for a Catholic, Sunday should be the day of rest and spending time with family.

The first cosmetic surgeries in Portugal were performed in the late 1950s. In 1961, after proving his capabilities, he created the Portuguese Plastic Surgery Society.

In 1965, this medical-surgical speciality was finally recognised in Portugal and Dr. Baptista Fernandes was responsible for educating and training several specialists. The first Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery service was finally created at Hospital de Santa Maria in 1977.

In addition to his great professional and pedagogical career, performing more than 30.000 surgeries, he acquired a professional competence recognised by his peers, being acknowledged as the main developer of plastic and reconstructive surgery in Portugal.

I have always been inspired by my grandfather’s experience. The impact

he had on so many lives is amazing. He inspired me to follow in his footsteps becoming a plastic surgeon myself. Even now, many of my patients praise his work.

The definition of health by the World Health Organization in the 1950s states that “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Can we distinguish between Physical Health and Mental Health? I don’t believe we can. Plastic and Reconstructive surgery play an important role in correcting congenital or acquired physical deformities. Essential to maintain physical function, it is also vital to the acquisition of aesthetic harmonisation and beauty.

Mental Health is a hot topic, and Cosmetic Surgery should not be considered futile. We work on shaping, restoring and recovering a patient’s face and body. We help a person to feel more confident in their image and more empowered. Achieving an emotional, psychological and social well-being allows each individual to feel more integrated in their family, work and among friends.

Today, the world has changed. The impact of cinema, television and social media has created a new desire in patients: people just want to look perfect!

Having the right expectations is the key to success. A patient simply has to know and understand what plastic surgery can and cannot deliver.

The importance of choosing the right plastic surgeon and the right hospital cannot be underestimated. Safety is a must. In Portugal, we have amazing and highly trained Plastic Surgeons. Private Hospitals also follow strict national standards and deliver highquality health services.

It was with great pleasure that I have accepted the challenge of collaborating with Tomorrow magazine. Over the next few months, I invite you to join me in discovering the beauty of this surgical speciality. We will address interesting topics, share news about this art, demystify some ideas and give you a true picture of plastic surgery.

I invite you to follow this column and please leave me your questions and interests at tiago.baptistafernandes@upclinic.pt www.upclinic.pt

Lagos Outdoor Cinema

This summer Creative Ape Outdoor Cinema welcomes guests to come and enjoy epic family movies under the stars.

Located in the heart of the Lagos Marina, the open-air cinema also features a festival-style bar and chill-out area offering beer, wines, cocktails and soft drinks, sweets, snacks and popcorn for the show.

Sponsored by Quicksilver and Corona, the bar has a lounging area overlooking the lights of Lagos and the boats moored in the Marina. It’s a great place to enjoy a sundowner and meet up with friends.

Order your evening meal from our menus (by Marina Bar & Wa Sushi Lounge), and your food will be delivered to you. Why not let the kids go and watch the film while you relax and enjoy your meal at the chill-out area? Or get your food directly to your deckchair and feast with the family whilst watching the film!

Every ticket purchase includes a Bluetooth headset and comfy deck chair to sit back, relax and watch your favourite films on our huge AIRSCREEN® movie theatre screen (blankets are available, but warm

One on One

Born in South Africa to Portuguese parents, the birth of their first grandchild led Emidio Pregueiro (known to many as Mitch) and his wife, Paula, to relocate to Portugal in September 2022.

Emido has been in business since a very young age. His hospitality career began when he coowned a hotel, a liquor store and clubs for eight years. He helped design and owned the first Steers fast food drive-through (a South Africanbased fast-food franchise like Mcdonald’s). The experience allowed him to later open his own fast-food chain, Stars, as well as a children’s playground, Fun Land. For the past 18 years, Emido was the General Manager of a security and cleaning company in South Africa that employed over 500 people.

Meanwhile, Paula has been an educator her whole career and currently teaches at an international school in the Algarve.

As the beautiful country of Portugal, with all its culture, traditions and breathtaking landscape, continues to attract more tourists, the demand for car rental and transfer services has therefore

increased tremendously. Emido's passion for human interaction has been the driving force behind his decision to start a transfer and rental company. Initially, it is here in Algarve, but he is looking to expand to the rest of Portugal and beyond in the future.

His vast experience in various industries has allowed him to develop the skills necessary to provide exceptional customer service. “I am really looking forward to this exciting new chapter in our lives. Our mantra is to offer the community of the Algarve our one-on-one service beyond customer expectations.” Whether it’s a simple airport transfer, special executive tours or a longterm car rental, he offers tailor-made solutions that are designed to meet each client’s unique requirements.

The new company prides itself on having a fleet of purpose-specific vehicles consisting of only

clothes are recommended for chilly evenings).

Films range from the latest releases to all-time classics suitable for the whole family (ratings advertised).

Doors open at 6.30 pm for drinks and food. Movies begin as darkness falls on Tuesday and Friday evenings from June - September; please check the website for the latest showings.

We look forward to seeing you for this year’s first outdoor movie experience on 30 June 2023, at the Lagos Marina. Get your tickets online directly from the website or use the QR code.

www.creativeapecinema.com

Instagram: @creativeapecinema

creativeapecinema@gmail.com

+351 935 327 821

new 2023 models, so clients are guaranteed quality beyond their expectations! The company’s website is a testament to its commitment to delivering excellent customer service. With detailed information about their services and easy-to-use booking options, clients can easily book online or phone directly. The team is available to answer any questions and give assistance.

Check out their special launch rates on their website.

www.1on1renandtrans.com

bookings@1on1renandtrans.com

+351 911 99 69 39

Facebook: @1on1renandtrans

 Instagram: @thatasianhomecook joyentry@gmail.com

That Asian Home Cook Lemongrass Chicken

In keeping with the ‘cooking on a budget’ theme, another great meal to have at home is this lemongrass chicken.

This is a Vietnamese-style dish that is absolutely to die for. If you love lemongrass and the inimitable Vietnamese fish sauce, then you’ll want to master this recipe for your repertoire. I cook this dish in the air fryer, but you can also pop your chicken into the oven.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs

• 4 cloves of garlic

• 2 shallots

• 1 tablespoon fish sauce

• 1 stick lemongrass

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon chilli flakes or eliminate if you prefer non-spicy

Instructions

Bring together all the ingredients in a food processor and blend them into a paste. You can also create a paste using a pestle and mortar if you fancy.

Next, massage the marinade into the chicken thighs. Ideally, leave them overnight in the fridge, if you have time. Otherwise, at least two hours of marination is required for the best results.

Don’t forget to bring the chicken to room temperature before cooking. Lay in a single layer on the air fryer rack and cook at 200°C for 25 minutes. Flip the chicken halfway if you like to create a crunchy crust on the skin on both sides.

I always opt to use baking paper in the air fryer to trap all the juices, which creates a sauce to drizzle on your chicken at the end. It also saves time with the cleaning. If you do not have an air fryer, you can do the same in an oven at 200°C for 20–25 minutes on a pan, flipping halfway.

Sprinkle some spring onions and some of the sticky sauce at the bottom of the paper or pan before serving, with a side of hot steamed jasmine rice.

Local cocktail master Gonçalo Baltazar Santos has kindly allowed me to pair one of my dishes with a very special cocktail, ManggaSoul, featuring lemongrass, to mimic the flavours in this very special chicken dish.

ManggaSoul

Cocktail

Ingredients

• 50ml Alma gin

• 25ml lime juice

• 12.5ml lemongrass syrup

• 37.5ml mangu puree

• 3–5 basil leaves

• Pinch of salt

• Pinch of black pepper

Instructions

This cocktail is super easy to make! Bring all the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker with a cup of ice. Shake, sieve and pour to enjoy!

Gonçalo is bartender extraordinaire at Bon Vivant, Rua 25 de Abril 105, Lagos.

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

Religious Desserts

Exploring The History of Portugal’s Convent Sweets: Doces Convento

WORDS Luka Alexander

Last month, I tried my hand at shedding some light on the unusual name of the famous Molotof pudding. This month we’re taking a look at some very historic and somewhat religious types of desserts known as Doces Convento.

Doces Convento (Convent Sweets), or Doçaria Conventual Portuguesa, are a selection of sweet cakes. As the name states, its origins lie in the historic convents of Portugal. Tasked with unravelling their history, we have to go back to the 15th century, 100 years before the construction of the Convento de São Francisco in Portimão– near where I write this story.

Many of the nation’s best-loved sweets can be traced back to the kitchens within the convents of the former kingdom of Portugal. Prior to conventual confectionery, sweets did not include sugar until Portugal’s sugar trade in the mid16th century. At that time, sugar cane was introduced to Brazil from the island of Madeira. It was Prince Henry the Navigator who first imported sugar cane to Madeira from Sicily in a bid to increase revenue due to Madeira’s location, climate, and soil. By the end of the 15th century, Madeira was the world’s greatest producer of sugar.

For sweet tastes, prior to the importation of sugar, honey and dried fruits were used as a sweetener ingredient and introduced to Portugal by the Arabs centuries earlier. This was documented in the 13th-century writing “a treatise on cuisine” by Muslim-Andalucían scholar Ibn Razin Tujibi in 1293.

It is believed that convent sweets or Doces Convento were created due to the plentiful supply of egg yolks. The egg whites were used as a purifier in the production of wine, a watering agent for ink made with crushed charcoal and as an aid for ironing the clothes for noblemen, clergy and nuns’ habits. Often, the leftover egg yolks were used as animal feed or even thrown away altogether, which for those of us who solely like the yolk of an egg, seems a terrible waste.

With so much surplus egg white and the need to raise money after the hardships of war, the nuns eventually realised they had created a lucrative business selling sweets and the name Doces do Convento available at the time, recipes were changed and improved over the years, with many being unique to certain convents.

Across the border in Saville, Spain, the historic 14th-century Convento de San Leandro made a name for itself selling its famed Dulces de Convento, which are still sold today using the traditional Torno system whereby customers order from a serving hatch, so as to not come in direct contact with the nuns of the Order of Augustine which was first founded in 1295.

Back here in Portugal, it was in the 17th century when the mass production of sugar in Brazil created the ability to use a new and inexpensive ingredient, further popularising the Doces do Convento. 150 years later, between the 18th and 19th centuries, Portugal became the largest egg producer in Europe, thanks to the country’s convents and monasteries’ agricultural abilities.

The ruins of the 16th century Convento de São Francisco in Portimão which was abandoned following the extinction of the religious orders in 1834 © Bextrel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The iconic Pastel de Nata © Luka Alexander

Up and down the country, various convents produced some of the best-loved Portuguese sweets that we know and love today. The popular ‘egg strands’ which we see on many desserts are known as Palha de Abrantes, which was created by the nuns of the Convento de Graça in Abrantes. Another treat is Brisas do Liz, a small glazed sticky yellow-coloured ‘cupcake’ which originates from the city of Leiria, where it was first created by the nuns of Convento de Santana. It is also the origin of the Brazilian sweet Quindim, which uses shredded coconut instead of the traditional almonds as one of the three parts of the basic recipe of eggs and sugar.

Meanwhile, the origins of one of the Algarve’s favourite tourist treats, Dom Rodrigo marzipan sweets can be traced back to the 18th-century nuns of the Convento de Nossa Senhora do Carmo in Lagos. Legend has it that the nuns made these beautifully crafted sweets as a gift to the then Governor General of the Algarve, Dom Rodrigo de Menezes. Over time the governor’s name became associated with the sweets and in turn, became a cultural aspect of the city of Lagos and a typical edible souvenir for any tourist or local alike. Its popularity is so widely known that in 2019 the world’s largest Dom Rodrigo sweet was created. It was judged by Guinness World Records and weighed in at 125.4kg.

However, it wasn’t just the convents which produced some of the nation’s best-loved sweets; in fact, it was the monks of the Jerónimos Monastery in the parish of Belém, Lisbon that created arguably Portugal’s favourite sweet, the Pastel de Nata. The monastery, which stood in the same grounds as the former Order of Christ, better known as the Knights Templar, created the iconic Pastel de Nata in a bid to raise money to survive due to difficulties caused by the liberal revolution of 1820. By 1834, the monastery closed and the head chef sold the recipe to a Portuguese entrepreneur from Brazil, Domingos Rafael Alves, who patented the name and the original recipe as Pastéis de Belém. Yes, that’s right folks, our beloved Pastel de Nata was thanks to the successors of the Knight Templar, and you can’t get any more Portuguese than that!

You might also be interested to know that my ancestor Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland, fought on the Seventh Crusade under King Louis IX of France and later made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, where he baptised his eldest son James.

Over time it became common practice for convents and monasteries to offer their sweets to visiting guests. The convents of the Order of Santa Clara and the Carmelites gained a great reputation for their hospitality. One of the most famous sweets, Pastéis de Lorvão, an almondbased tart often dusted with icing sugar, giving a smooth nutty flavour, has roots in the Monastery of Santa Maria do Lorvão in the municipality of Penacova and has an impressive historical association. It is said that during the French invasion of Portugal in 1807, the 1st Duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley (1769 – 1852) stayed overnight at the Monastery and fell in love with the Lorvão pastry.

It is worth noting for our British readers that, unfortunately, Madeira cake isn’t of Convento Doce heritage and it’s not even from Madeira. In fact, it’s a truly British invention that takes its name solely from the Madeira wine, which is used in its recipe. However, Bolo de Mel or Honey Cake, a favourite on the island, did originate in the kitchens of the Convento de Santa Clara da Madeira in Funchal.

It wasn’t just nuns who were creating such delicious delights in the convent kitchens. Many daughters of noblemen joined convents due to a religious calling, family pressures, or even when marriage was not possible. Noblewomen in the convent were normally given kitchen duties alongside maids and chefs, thus given a place of education and refuge.

Following the end of the Liberal Civil War in 1834, the extinction of religious orders was decreed and Portugal’s historic convents slowly fell into decline and only remained in operation until the last nun died. Often nuns sought refuge with welcoming families of

the parishes and their recipes were shared or even sold to pasty shops in exchange for a small fortune. It is also without a doubt that some noblewomen also shared the once-secret recipes after the convents closed their doors. While many recipes survived and were often altered, other recipes which were specific to certain convents were either lost in time or purposely burned and destroyed, never to be heard of again. Thankfully many of the once-named Doce Conventos have been preserved and today, they make up the display cabinets of many cafes and pastry shops across the country and continue to be enjoyed centuries after their accidental creation.

Convento de Santa Clara, Funchal © www.visitmadeira.com

Largest Dom Rodrigo 2019 © Município de Lagos

Dom Rodrigo © Município de Lagos

Patas de Veado © Luka Alexander

Open from 12:20 to 22:30

N +351 282 799 445 F I

Rua Silva Lopes 14 . 8600-623 Lagos

Cosy winter meals by the replace or sunny lunches in the covered terrace

Lunch menu with a wide choice of meals including fresh sh, grilled over wood

An à la carte menu for evening meals featuring fresh local ingredients.

Open Mon to Sat for lunch 12pm to 3pm and dinner 6pm to 10pm. Sun for lunch 12 to 3pm

Tel: 282 789 503 / 927 130 757

Estrada da Atalaia, Lagos

Albufeira’s Natural World

Part One: Albufeira’s Hidden Valley

WORDS Marina L Mildenstein

Albufeira has a wonderful secret in its midst: a valley filled with wildlife, overlooked or unknown to most. I first discovered it when walking my son to school up a secluded road.

This valley is an old riverbed whose course ends at the beach near the Inatel Hotel. You only realise the sheer depth of this valley when standing on either side of it. There are some condominiums that overlook the valley and through the middle is a rough path created by people using it as a cut-through to the Avenida dos Descobrimentos. On each side, little trails beaten by dog walkers crisscross the terrain, winding around the thick foliage and affording magnificent views.

On a typical winter afternoon, this unspoilt channel is filled with greens of all shades, dotted with carob and almond trees; wildflowers pepper the undergrowth with cheerful colours of fuchsia, yellow and lilac.

On a summer’s day, the greens have turned to ambers and browns, but the appeal does not fade. Watching the sunset, catching a glimpse of the ocean, each day a different hue of blue, and hearing the wildlife moving undisturbed amongst the flora are food for the soul. As twilight creeps in, the branches of the carob trees turn into witches’ fingers, black against the pink sky. The sounds become nocturnal noises: a rustle here, a movement there but with the dusk disguising who and where.

I have had many encounters with the natural inhabitants of this magical micro world. The first was a long, chunky snake sadly flattened, perhaps a victim of roadkill. I couldn’t believe such a big snake could share the route I walked with my son each day. I believe it to be a horseshoe whip snake. Another time, when I stopped next to a palm tree, a long, thin, darkskinned snake slithered speedily down the trunk, past my sandals and into the undergrowth!

One day I found I had company: an enthusiastic wild rabbit scampered alongside me, just a metre away. It is a skill to spot the wild rabbits as they really blend in with the foliage, sitting still as stones. You would not know they were there unless you were looking for them.

I frequently see groups of azure-winged magpies as they zip around, always in pairs and more often in groups of eight or ten, the air filled with their trills and whistles. They scuffle in the tall palms, then suddenly fly together across the valley to find a new place to perch. There is always a sense of a playful chase going on.

I think my most thrilling experiences have been with the owls. A few times, I have seen a large, tawny owl (Strix aluco) and also little owls (Athene

Noctua) that perch on big, white stones at dusk and are quite visible. One step too close and they are gone; you blink and miss their slick and silent flight.

One evening I could hear a cacophony from a group of blackbirds, shrieking excitedly and hopping about in front of me because a little owl was sitting among them. I got within a couple of metres. It was as if the blackbirds were trying to understand who this intruder was on their patch.

The valley’s upper side has a large water tunnel passing under the road and exiting on the lower side, a sure reminder that this is a dry water channel. Boys scramble down the embankments to peer inside this creepy subway, scaring each other with bets.

It would be great if Albufeira Câmara would tidy the valley up (it has been subject to some thoughtless fly-tipping), add in some scenic benches and create a nature reserve park to be enjoyed by all. Whatever its future, it is my fervent hope that this wonderful, tranquil haven for wildlife and walkers will never be taken away.

Wild rabbit top of the valley

Almond blossom in the valley

Main track through the centre of the valley

Sunshine on the valley

The Pleasures of Modern (Air)Travel

After a five-hour layover at our Caribbean international airport, we were more than ready to board our flight to Gatwick, London. It was a nice new plane, but the airline’s economy experts must have advised the builders to cram in as many seats as possible to aid the bottom line. Once we were seated, a battle ensued as to who could use the armrest for their elbow since there was only room for one. I was in the middle of a row of three, so my battle involved two armrests. I lost both battles.

As soon as we took off, the movie selection appeared. I chose the latest Oscar winner Everything Everywhere All at Once. It highlighted stress, Kung Fu and ended in All You Need is Love. I was just getting into it when the guy in front of me eased his chair back, so the screen was almost touching my nose. End of the movie; I switched to watching glimpses of the flight path, possibly more entertaining than the other choices anyway.

Lunch arrived and I chose the chicken. I had not perfected the art of eating a meal with a knife and fork whilst my elbows were tucked under my armpits. The plastic knife they supplied wasn’t up to the task of cutting the tough old bird. It broke in two and, in the process, knocked over the plastic cup of red wine, which soaked one leg of my khaki trousers. I very patiently waited for my neighbour in the aisle seat to finish her meal before I asked to be extricated to go and clean up in the toilet cubicle. She was not happy to be disturbed. I waited in a long line for my turn in the toilet – it was then that I noticed the others in line were not there for normal ablutions but had a similar problem to mine – they were all waiting to clean off portions of lunch from their clothing.

Back at my seat, I must have nodded off...

Finally, we arrived. The walk to the immigration counter was about three miles (it seemed) and after queuing for 20 minutes, we arrived at the desk where the immigration officer examined my new UK passport. He started asking

numerous questions, which included: Where have you been? Where were you before that? Why were you there? How long were you there? What were you doing? Where are you living? I smiled and nodded in as friendly a way as I could muster and said ‘yes’ to most of the questions. My poor wife Monique, from Brazil, had it even worse than me. His hand hovered near the red button, which, once pressed, means that you are escorted into a private room with dogs, where they do whatever they do in interrogation rooms.

We had another five-hour layover to wait for our next flight. We were both dog-tired; we needed coffee. At the rather posh coffee bar my wife selected, I asked the guy behind the counter (a Barista, it proclaimed on his lapel) for a coffee with milk. He pointed to a menu on the wall with about 12 choices of coffees, most of which I hadn’t heard of, and asked me for my selection. Just a coffee with milk, I said, to which he replied with a smile: oatmeal milk, almond milk, soy milk or coconut milk? I was tired and irritable, so I said rather loudly, I want a regular coffee with regular milk from a cow! I finally got what I wanted, albeit with a heart inscribed on the top of the frothy milk, to justify the five pounds cost, I supposed. I remembered nostalgically when, not long ago, five pounds could buy a three-course steak dinner for two with wine.

At last, we were notified of our departure to Faro, Portugal. The almost 3-hour flight was uneventful, with the seats being rather larger than the sardine-can type on the longhaul transatlantic flight. We arrived on time and our transfer BMW was waiting at the exit. The weather was warm and sunny and the driver was pleasant and efficient. We arrived back at our home in Praia da Luz and breathed a sigh of relief. Portugal! What a pleasure…

Julian Putley is the author of Yes, No Bananas featured in Tomorrow magazine and available on Amazon and kindle

WORDS Julian Putley

2060 m� Plot

4 Bedrooms 292 m� Built area Luz/Lagos

• For sale is this beautiful villa with pool and garden. Centrally located and with all the amenities of a city like Lagos just a 8 minutes drive away, this villa offers excellent value for money and should be on your viewing list.

• The property has been built in 2009 in a classic style and is in an impeccable state of conservation and maintenance. The lush garden features several plants, including fruit trees and offers lots of possibilities for social or family gatherings and activities.

• Features include: solar heated pool, electric gate and garage doors, central heating with pellets, fitted wardroabs, A-Level energy Certificate a total of 3 bathrooms and an additional kitchen on the upper floor.

The Dangers of Walking the Dog

As a dog owner, there are times when an extending dog lead can be extremely useful, especially when training and preventing escapes. However, they should always be used with extreme care.

WORDS Anne Hodges

We all like to think of ourselves as responsible citizens, avoiding unpleasant situations when we could unwittingly endanger others. And it means that we also enjoy sharing our pleasure with others in common open spaces in the countryside. I once witnessed a nasty accident caused by an extended dog lead. A cyclist was approaching a dog walker from behind and couldn’t see the thin line of the extending lead – and he hit it at speed. The dog in question was large and heavy, resulting in the cyclist going straight over the handlebars and ending up in the hospital.

The man walking the dog suffered panic attacks for months afterwards because he felt that he hadn’t acted quickly enough and that it was his fault. If the cyclist had had more consideration for others using the same path, he would not have been travelling so fast – or he would have alerted the dog walker to his presence (where have all the bells gone?). The whole situation could have been easily avoided – and both parties would have enjoyed their time in the countryside on that sunny day.

A week or so ago, a jogger approached me from behind on a very windy day. I was

completely unaware of his presence. My two terriers were trotting along by my side, sniffing here and there. Suddenly, the jogger jumped over my dogs and ran on – he gave no warning of his impending presence.

We didn’t hear him due to the wind. This frightened my dogs, who were keen to protect me from this ‘thing’ that had jumped over them. So they ran after the jogger, barking furiously. He continued running and tried to kick them, which made the situation worse. Fortunately for the jogger, I quickly got my dogs under control. He ran off shouting at me about unruly dogs. He didn’t stop at any point.

I went home angry and shaken – very much relieved that the incident hadn’t been worse. Mutual consideration and collaboration are required by everyone when sharing public paths – then we should all be able to enjoy the countryside together.

Anne Hodges is a volunteer at Cadela Carlota, a charity that cares for abandoned dogs in the Algarve.

www.cadela-carlota.com

Socorro Dove Project

Zoo de Lagos has made a positive step towards saving the Socorro dove from extinction.

The Socorro Dove, endemic to Socorro Island (Mexico), is extinct in the wild (EW). In an attempt to increase its numbers, zoos are coming together to maintain this species.

Lagos Zoo has created a space with aviaries for the Socorro Dove Project. The final objective is to send doves to Socorro Island for repopulation. This new Project has already borne fruit! Zoo Lagos is delighted to announce that one of their mating couples has already had two chicks. You can meet the Socorro dove on a visit to the zoo.

Parque Zoológico de Lagos

Quinta Figueiras - Sitio do Medronhal 8600-013 Barão de S. João Lagos – Algarve zoolagos.com

SPECIAL NIGHTS

DRAUGHT

In Praise of the Gull

WORDS Becca Williams

… you just can’t not pay attention to these loud, clever, smart birds…

They’re like one of those people you’re not really crazy about, but at the same time, there’s something about them that’s hard to ignore –and you may even come to admire.

“Most people don’t like gulls,” says Gui Réthoré, field guide and bird expert in the Algarve. “They can be aggressive, they can steal your food, they poop everywhere – so most people don’t really like them.”

Yes, let’s put that on the table right away.

Nonetheless, here in the Algarve, we all share much of our outdoor space with gulls – specifically, according to Gui, the yellow-legged species. Ron and I live in Lagos town centre on the 4th floor of an old apartment building. We’re perched on one of the highest points behind the old fort walls of this seaside town.

And gulls are everywhere – everpresent, soaring and swooping above and around. We wake up to their plaintive calls that drone into the day and laugh into the night. They keep an eye on us from the adjacent roofs and we keep an eye on them as they preen and jabber

and endearingly share food with one another.

We see them shuffling with their little yellow feet on the narrow street below, choosing which garbage bags they’ll rip apart to look for goodies. We spy crowds of them bobbing atop the shallow beach waters waiting for god knows what to happen – but of course, probably something to do with food.

Survivors to Thrivers

Unlike other birds in Portugal that are endangered due to the destruction of their ecosystems (there are more than two dozen), gulls have adapted exceptionally well.

In addition to their omnivorous diet, gulls also have the remarkable ability to drink saltwater thanks to a special desalination gland above their eyes. You can just hear them saying, “So what if I don’t have fresh water to drink? Nah na na na nah”.

Booty Call Galore

They also have what might be an ideal open relationship. They’re promiscuous – but faithful at the same time. While some birds mate for life, gulls tend to have multiple partners during their

breeding season, which ensures they produce as many offspring as possible. Yet, they also stick with the same mate (or mates) and nesting site year after year.

They’ll breed anywhere, according to Gui – they’ll even do the deed on people’s balconies. (And they can get quite aggressive if you try to put a stop to the show.)

To top it off, they don’t bother constructing complicated nests like other birds. They just pop them out wherever! Gui observes, “They lay their eggs on the ground, in stones, or on a cliff.” And while their eggs only take about a month to hatch, they can live more than 20 years under the right conditions.

Awesome Skills Set

In the end, gulls have a diverse skill set that would impress any head of human resources. You could say they’re stand-outs in the bird world. They swim and shallow dive, they fly high and catch wind currents to glide and hover, and they walk – or run – one webbed foot in front of the other.

Gui, the bird expert, reminds us, “They’re pretty adaptable’ that’s why

they’re so successful!”

“Success” means they’re survivors … and in this respect, they’ve survived human failings. For example, we’ve overfished our seas, so they come for our garbage – and they’re not picky. They eat almost everything. And since humans are so good at littering, you could say we’ve created a monster. In fact, if you believe gulls are pests, we only have ourselves to blame.

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

Note: Gui Réthoré is available for bird-watching experiences at ecotourism company A Rocha Life arochalife.com

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Beaver Tales

Recent evidence of beavers was found in the River Tormes, only a few miles from the Portuguese NorthEastern border, near Bemposta (Bragança District). There were also reports of beaver populations on both the Douro and Tagus river basins, but these are located considerably further away from the Portuguese border, deep in Spanish territory.

The traces now found near Bemposta triggered excited reactions from naturalists and wildlife enthusiasts who see this as a promising indicator that, in the not-too-far distant future, we might have beavers living in Portugal once again.

Unlike other semi-aquatic mammals like otters that have numerous species around the globe, there are only two species of beavers that are very similar in both appearance and behaviour: The Eurasian beaver and the North American Beaver. Primarily of nocturnal and crepuscular habits, they are the second biggest rodent in the world, with only the mighty capybara of South America taking first place.

Unmistakably recognised for their flat round tales and friendly faces, beavers are known around the globe as the laborious architects of the natural world. Famous for their dam building, tree chopping and water-homes creations called lodges, these hard-working animals change and modify sections of a river or stream by creating barriers (dams) that flood the surrounding areas. The results are large aquatic ecosystems that benefit numerous species of animals and plants, provide excellent nursing areas for fish, and ideal habitats for aquatic reptiles and amphibians. The flooded areas are also excellent natural fire barriers so important to our forests.

For their building materials, beavers use tree logs, branches, twigs, leaves, soil and mud that they can

transport overwater to their building sites. Lodges have a main and secondary underwater entrance that prevents raids from natural predators. Lodges are also perfect pantries, nurseries and winter shelters that keep a dry, insulated, warm and cosy nest.

Once widespread throughout their native territories in North America, Europe and Asia, beavers have been sadly persecuted by humans since the dawn of mankind and to near extinction levels last century.

In Portugal, it was no different. Beavers were hunted to complete extinction in the XV century for their fur, meat, leather (tails) and Castoreum. The latter is a scented gland from the animal’s “back-end” that produces an oily secretion that smells of vanilla. So much so that it has been used as a natural flavoring in food, in perfume-making since Roman times, for the beauty industry and as a traditional miracle cure for all sorts of medical conditions.

Luckily, enough beavers of both species survived centuries of trappings and today, with the decline of fur hunting, animal rights awareness and preservation of natural habitats, beavers are making a slow comeback to ancestral grounds. Some countries like the UK have gone one step further and created programs to release beavers back into their forests. Although better accepted by local communities when compared to reintroductions of top predators like lynx, wolves or bears, the reintroduction of beavers still generates some controversy as local farmers can see their lands flooded and crops lost. With very little population density and agricultural activity in most of the rural/ inland areas of Portugal, this should not pose too much of a problem should Portugal decide to embrace a similar project.

Beaver Fact Sheet

Species: Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) and North American Beaver (Castor canadensis)

Habitat: Freshwater systems (lakes, rivers, streams, etc.)

Weight: Up to 40K;

Length: up to 140 cm

Lifespan: usually around 10 years

Food: Herbivore (leaves, roots, fruit, flowers, stems)

Classification: Rodents

Curiosities: The large front incisor teeth are rusty-orange in colour as they come with an iron-rich layer of enamel. These teeth never stop growing, so the constant wood chipping helps to maintain a good dentistry.

Could the extraordinary Beaver make a surprising comeback to Portugal nearly half of a century after it disappeared?

WORDS Luis de Teves Costa

Beach Jellies!

With summer temperatures here since the beginning of May, beaches all over Portugal and especially in the Algarve, have, unsurprisingly, attracted thousands of beach-goers. Every year and with ascending frequency, people have been reporting jellyfish sightings and the occasional sting, so here is what you need to know.

The Atlantic Ocean brings cool waters to refresh those who enjoy a swim in the sea. A favourite day out for residents and visitors of all ages, the beach offers plenty of fun and relaxation, but we should always pay attention to the potential dangers as we are stepping into a natural environment.

The IPMA (Portuguese Institute for Sea and Weather) published a communication in April this year, warning people about the presence of a particularly dangerous creature found along the Portuguese shores –the Portuguese man o’ war (Physalia physalis). Often called a jellyfish, this is, in fact, a colony of organisms working and living together. Each organism has a specific function, like eating or mating and cannot live independently. They live at the water’s surface, kept afloat by a balloon bladder filled with gas that resembles the shape of a Caravela sailing ship used by the Portuguese during the Portuguese maritime expansion (XVXVI).

Much like the vessel, this “animal” also comes heavily armed and poses a great threat to those who cross its path. The Portuguese man o’ war has a distinct violet-blue sail above water and long stinging tentacles that can reach 30 meters and are used for catching little fish and crustaceans.

Without other means of propulsion, this caravela goes wherever the currents and wind take them. Strong winds can sometimes blow these dangerous creatures to our beaches and here is where we need to be extra

careful. Unintentional stings will cause pain, skin irritation, burning, swelling, fever and nausea.

What to do if you see one:

• Do Not Touch!! Even dead ones can still sting you

• Alert people around that might not be aware of its presence

• Inform the lifeguard or call the local maritime authorities

What to do if you get stung:

• Rinse the area with sea water – Do not use fresh water or alcohol disinfectant

• Do not rub

• Remove any bits that are still in contact with your skin – don’t use your hands

• Don’t rub the area

• Seek medical assistance (medical anti-venom emergency number: 800 250 250)

Although the Portuguese man o’ war poses the biggest threat, there are also a number of other true jellyfish and jellyfish-like creatures in the Portuguese waters. Not as toxic as the Caravela, the recommendations above must be taken to all encounters with these jellies as most of them have stinging tentacles that must be avoided.

The most common sightings in Portugal include the big Calpean jellyfish (Rhizostoma luteum), which is a large type of barrel jellyfish with a bell (head) up to 60cm in diameter; The Compass Jellyfish (Chrysaora hysoscella), usually spotted off the south coast (Algarve); The Jelly Blubber (Catostylus tagi), another large

jelly whose Latin name comes from the river tagus (tagi) where it can be found in abundant numbers around Lisbon; and perhaps the most common jellyfish in Portuguese waters, the By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella). The latter is sometimes confused with the man o’ war for its bluish appearance and above-water sail but much less toxic.

An interesting project launched in 2016 called GelAvista studied these invertebrates and created an App and website in Portuguese and English. There, you can find out more about these animals and take part in this scientific project by reporting sightings spotted anywhere in Portugal.

 gelavista.ipma.pt/en

Did you Know

Worldwide, there are over 2000 species of jellyfish and jellyfish-like creatures, including one found in temperate and tropical waters around the globe that is biologically immortal! The Turritopsis dohrnii is a thimble-sized organism commonly referred to as the immortal jellyfish. They can be eaten and killed by predators but will not ever die of old age.

WORDS Luis de Teves Costa

Rhizostoma luteum © Ângela Firmino

Catostylus tagi © Sílvia Tavares

Portuguese Man O'War

Portuguese Man O'War © Nelson Vitorino