Tomorrow Algarve Magazine - September 2023

A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR THE ALGARVE

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EDITORIAL

Sophie Sadler sophie@tomorrowalgarve.com

+351 912 176 588

SALES

Tom Henshaw tom@tomorrowalgarve.com

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DESIGN

Phil Harding phil@tomorrowalgarve.com

+351 916 606 226

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TomorrowAlgarve

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Editor's note

Dear Tomorrow readers,

This month has been rather difficult for me as I lost my dear dog, Fudge. He was seventeen and a half, which is an amazing innings for a dog, but nothing prepares you for the grief. We are animal lovers at Tomorrow magazine, so I hope, therefore, you will indulge me with this reflection on losing a pet.

We gave a home to Fudge after he was found as a puppy, living wild with his mother, who we think was kicked out of a home when she was pregnant. I remember the day we picked him up from the lady who rescued him in Silves. He sat on my lap the whole way home, shaking with fear. I felt this huge weight of responsibility; he was our first baby. The initial intention was that he was to be a guard dog and we built an enclosure outside for him. I think the exact time he spent in the enclosure was 2 hours 25 minutes before he moved into the house, found a spot on the sofa and never moved!

Of course, there are dog experts that claim it is unhealthy to treat dogs like humans and I hear you! But we can’t help ourselves, can we? It’s the human condition (well unless you are a psychopath!). We offer the same love to our animals as we do to our family and friends.

He was the most gentle dog you could ever meet. My human babies grew up with him. He was always submissive to other dogs and any child could pull his tail or ears without him flinching! I was reflecting on Fudge's life as he was passing away, and I found myself praying that his beautiful soul was passing now into some other being. I did not think I believed in reincarnation, but it was a feeling that suddenly hit me.

I was cheered up by the fact that our charity TACT recently donated 2000€ to Cadela Carlota to assist in their appeal to buy the land that is home to the abandoned animals they care for. You will be delighted to see on our charity page that they reached their target. In our animal and wildlife section, there is also another article on a wonderful charity Animal Rescue Algarve.

If you can’t commit to a dog full-time, then Cadela Carlota urgently needs doggy foster families (there will be an article on this in the October edition), or you can donate either money or time to these charities. All these dogs could be another Fudge with the right care and love.

Can I also give a huge thanks to Lars Ramquist and his team at Lagos Vet Clinic. Lars has now helped us through end-of-life care for five of our pets and always seems to hit the right note of compassion and professionalism. Thanks, Lars.

Now the initial pain of my grief is subsiding a little, I can reflect on all the wonderful times we shared with Fudge. It is easy to despair at humanity, but I think the best of us is shown in our love for animals.

Have a great month,

Sophie, Tom, Phil and the Tomorrow team

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The Surf Siren

Joana Schenker has become the local poster girl for Portuguese bodyboarding. A role model and ambassador for Portugal, it’s a huge achievement for a girl who grew up in the tiny hamlet of Pedralva, but it’s not hard to understand why when you meet her.

A world champion as well as beautiful, sassy, and just extremely nice, she embodies everything you’d hope a female sports person would be. But behind her diminutive frame and sweet personality, I sense a steely determination and discipline that has made her not only a sports champion but in demand for sponsorship deals and a social media phenomenon.

As her name would suggest, her parents are German, but Joana was born and grew up in the Algarve where her parents moved for a more relaxed lifestyle for their family. She has joint citizenship but says she feels more Portuguese. However, she admits she still has the German characteristic of liking to be on time!

Joana’s childhood home was the tiny abandoned village of Peldralva, where she lived with her mum, dad and three sisters before it became a boutique holiday destination. Her first job was at the renowned Pizza Pazza in the village. This remote rural location in Vila do Bispo is close to the surfing beaches of Amado and Bordeira, but her future was decided on the beaches of Sagres.

She attended Vila do Bispo school and followed the ‘cool’ kids to the beaches in Sagres as “there was nothing else to do”. Born in 1987, it was probably to her advantage that her childhood was just before the era of smartphones and it is unlikely that the wifi signal was strong in Pedralva in the 1990s. So, for an outgoing teenager, it was maybe inevitable that she started to be drawn into the bodyboarding crowd, catching her first wave at 13.

Does she think bodyboarding is less cool than stand-up surfing? “Actually, it’s the other way round. It’s sort of a niche thing, but, in this area, everyone was bodyboarding. It’s only since surf tourism took off that this area has become associated with stand-up surfing. All the locals were always bodyboarding because, in winter, there are such great conditions. We have a really cut-out coastline with small beaches and as the waves hit the rocks, they create wedges with hollow barrels, which are great for bodyboarding but not so great for stand-up surfing. So you go to the beach and you see your idols who are surfing so well and entering competitions and you want to copy them.” Due to the huge surge in the stand-up surfing industry, bodyboarding went into a decline in the 1990s, but Joana believes it is on the up again as it is more authentic.

WORDS Sophie Sadler PHOTOGRAPHY Francisco Pinheiro

Joana has had lots of moments that were frightening but never enough to put her off like many beginners. And it was that no-nonsense determination that I sense that kept taking her back. She says that if she was ever frightened, she just went back to the beach and took a deep breath. She was also competitive from an early age. “My two best friends were also surfing and we kept each other company but also tried to outdo each other, so it was healthy competition.”

Joana also attributes her success to the community that exists on the Vila do Bispo beaches. “All the locals who were always on the beach would take care of us and keep an eye on you. In this kind of group, no one lets you drop out. Yes, we were bodyboarding, but for me, it was about the community and camaraderie. Then you feel it’s fun and you want to get better but I never planned to be a champion I was just having fun. We’d hang out on the beach and it was like another family.” Part of this family was fellow bodyboarder, Francisco Pinheiro. They started dating when they were teenagers and are still together both romantically and professionally, as he is her coach.

She went on to attend Júlio Dantas senior school in Lagos, but all her focus and spare time went into surfing. From 13 to 14, she was taking part in junior competitions, so she would try to get to the beach every day. Gradually, everything she was doing was in pursuit of the sport, until the time came when she had to choose between university and bodyboarding – the latter won.

This was a turning point for Joana as, having made this choice, she knew she had to try really hard to justify it to herself and others. “But that doesn’t mean you are going to be able to succeed. There are many great bodyboarders who don't make a living from it. I thought at least I will try.”

After becoming a professional bodyboarder in 2013, her success kept growing and, from 2014, she has dominated the Portuguese National and European tour, winning both titles four years running. This led her to compete for the APB world title.

In 2017, all her hard work paid off. Winning the Sintra Pro was to be the most critical event of that year’s world tour, putting her at the head of the ranking. Then the final competition was critically played out on the beach of Nazaré, where she became the world champion. What did it feel like to win? “It felt surreal. It was, of course, a long-time goal and a childhood dream, but when it happened on the beach, I was just so relieved. The last event of the championship was in Nazaré and everyone was cheering and crying. I just felt so happy that I hadn’t disappointed people.”

Joana's victory was so celebrated as it was the first professional world title in any wave-riding sport for Portugal. “I only learnt that afterwards, so my victory blew out of proportion and changed my career completely. The bubble from the world title was insane. I had no idea it would have such an impact on my career. Maybe if I knew, I would have been more nervous!”

In fact, 2017 was the ‘perfect storm’ for Joana and she ended it as national European and World Bodyboarding Champion. It totally changed her life. The high profile that becoming World Champion has awarded her means she can now make a living from the sport through sponsorship deals and modelling. But Joana’s accolades didn't stop there. She was given the Portuguese Republic’s Order of Merit by the Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. “I don’t give importance to things like that, but when I look back at all the things I didn’t do because I was bodyboarding, it suddenly validated my decision. It’s like an official saying to me, 'yes you made the right choice’, so it actually meant a lot.”

The recognition also gave her the opportunity to champion causes that are important to her. Lisbon Oceanarium is one of her sponsors and she has been their ambassador for six years to promote a cleaner ocean through the Blue Ocean Foundation. When Lisbon hosted the UN Ocean Conference in June 2022, she went along as a representative of the Lisbon Oceanarium to communicate the need to clean up the ocean. Their joint project– ‘Schenker School Tour’ – has also been a huge success. Joana visits schools to talk to the kids about what she has learnt through competitions, the ocean and the life lessons it has taught her. The key theme is to have respect for nature. Any school can apply and she has so

far spoken to 12,700 kids in the hope of inspiring the next generation.

Joana's good looks have also enhanced her career: as well as modelling for fashion brands, she also is sponsored by a cosmetic range Avéne. She is particularly passionate about their suncream, which is coral reef safe, and the company invests in coral reef restoration. The suncream can be bought in any pharmacy and Joana uses it every day and encourages everyone else to do the same. “Even though the cost is more, a little goes a long way, both on your skin and to help the ocean.”

Joana is very active on Instagram, which she argues is a positive force for athletes like her who are trying to make a living from sport. She says it allows her to promote herself and gives her control of her image and the independence to grow and build her own portfolio. If you check out her Instagram feed, there are some beautiful images and reels mostly taken by her boyfriend.

Joana's ethos is to inspire others to enjoy nature while protecting it and living a healthy lifestyle. She is vegan and enjoys cooking for family and friends, but she confesses to enjoying sugar and the odd Sagres beer. “I try to be fit and healthy but I am a sugar lover!” Although the world tour and travelling to locations like the Maldives, South Africa and Morocco sound glamorous, she confesses, “It’s not a holiday. It’s exhausting and, in between competitions, we have the National and European tours.”

How does she train? Of course, a lot of time is spent in the ocean as waves are always different so she is constantly learning to surf different waves.

On a typical day, she wakes up and checks the waves and if they are good, she surfs all day. If not, she takes care of her admin and other projects. When in the ocean, she tries to prepare for the different waves and, when in a different country, she needs to adapt to local conditions. Francisco takes footage on the beach and they watch it back to assess her style. She does simple weight training at home, with exercises she can do when she is travelling. But she explains to me that Pilates has become more and more important to her in order to combat her injuries. She has had a lot of accidents and hurt her spine doing a ‘scorpion’ where her feet touched her head as she went head over heels on a wave. This has caused her a lot of lower back pain.

She attends Uno Pilates in Almádena twice a week and has been helped enormously by Miguel Silva, who teaches in the Algarve but is worldrenowned in the Pilates field. “It has given me a whole new understanding of my body. Every time I go, I feel like I am taller!”

Joana has competed in the world championships every year since becoming the champion. While only winning the title once, she is happy to stay in the top five. When we speak, she is currently in third place, but at the time of going to print, she had a disappointing round in the Maldives, so has slipped down to fifth place. She is not too dispirited by this. “These things happen,” she tells me.

Joana will arrive at competitions a week before the start to get over jet lag and train for the conditions. She then surfs every day until the competition starts. She competed in South

Africa for the first time last year, so she headed there ten days before to learn the conditions.

Competitions have rounds and it is an elimination process until the final, when there are just two surfers left. There are five judges who give you a score depending on five of the waves you surf. The athletes use fins to catch the waves and fight against currents. You are judged on quality, your manoeuvres, how you land, the difficulty and if you used the most critical part of the wave and, finally, if it was the right move for that wave. Joana explains it as a very tactical sport as you score higher points if you use the energy of the wave rather than using your body to force the move, while air moves get higher scores. Joana compares it to judging dancing and there is, of course, a level of subjectivity while split-second decisions are the difference between winning and losing.

When Joana is not travelling to competitions, she loves nothing more than to be in her home town of Sagres. She still rates its beaches as her favourite surf spot and Francisco runs the bodyboard association in Sagres and is a great bodyboarder and surfer too. They have been together for 20 years, but she has no plans to stop and start a family. She is trying to enjoy every second of the perks that come with her lifestyle.

How has Joana seen Sagres change since she hung out on the beach as a kid? “It has become so busy all year round, not just in the holiday season, with lots more young surfing people. It’s great for the local economy, but it is good to have quality tourism. We currently have a huge problem with the wild campers who don't really

help anyone and they leave rubbish, which ends up on the beach. They have no respect for nature and just want a free stay, but I feel the police have no manpower to go against them.” She regularly does beach cleanups organised with the câmara of Vila do Bispo but explains that most of the rubbish picked up is in the car parks and is left by wild campers. She is frustrated that Vila do Bispo is the only area where these wild campers are still getting away with it.”

She and Francisco previously ran a surf school which they had to close during the pandemic. They never reopened as she got too busy, but she hasn’t ruled it out for the future. She believes that bodyboarding is easy to have fun with right away compared to stand-up surfing. “Many people can't stand up and they get frustrated, but with bodyboarding, anyone can have fun. I think it is the perfect entry for any sport.”

I have to confess to not having been bodyboarding since I was a kid, but following this interview, I visited a well-known sports store in Portimão and purchased one for myself and one for my daughters. I guess, like Joana, I want to be a ‘cool kid’, but an hour in Joana's company also made me want to be more like her. She inspired in me a desire to enjoy the ocean we are privileged to live near while respecting the environment that gives it to us and that is maybe worth more than any sporting title.

Instagram @joana_schenker

www.joanaschenker.com

Joana's last event for 2023 will be in mid-October in Morocco, but if you would like to witness her talents closer to home, she will be competing on Praia Grande in Sintra from 6–10 September.

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Monchique Memories: The

Man Behind Monchique’s Iconic Scissor Chairs

The scissor chair, also known as the X-chair, has been an icon of Monchique since the Romans introduced them to this area over 16 centuries ago. However, one local artisan has been striving to preserve this ancient craft through his love for woodwork for over 35 years.

Senhor Manuel Alexandre has called Monchique home for 63 years. First and foremost, a carpenter, he worked for a local timber yard before branching off to make his own creations from wood to accommodate the foreign interest in Algarvian handicrafts.

With his extensive knowledge of carpentry, Senhor Alexandre established Casa de Alexandre in Monchique during the mid-1980s, serving as his workshop and handicrafts studio along with a cafe for local clientele. Keeping tradition alive, Senhor Alexandre specialises predominantly in crafting the traditional scissor chair or cadeira de tesoura, which gains its name from the way the chairs fold in a criss-cross action, resembling a pair of scissors.

Sitting on the terrace outside his craft shop overlooking the picturesque vista of the Serra de Monchique, Senhor Alexandre told me that the most basic chair takes around one day to produce, while more elaborate designs can take up to two or three days of intricate labour. Each chair is crafted from Portuguese elm (Ulmus minor mill) due to its flexibility and resilience. Originally, the chairs were made from alder (Alnus glutinosa), a lightwood which is found in abundance along the banks of the rivers which flow throughout the Serra de Monchique. At one time, craftsmen would buy alder wood from the land owners and transport the logs by horse or mule, but nowadays, probably due to the protective area of the Monchique mountain reserve, the wood is sourced from other nearby localities.

As tourists found their way to the hilltop village, taking in the outstanding beauty of the area, business flourished so much that Sr. Alexandre would take up a second residence along the main strip at Praia da Rocha, which is now in its 25th year, thus bringing his creations further into the tourist hub.

WORDS Luka Alexander

© Dave Sheldrake Photography

Once the chair of magistrates and nobles during the Roman Empire, these simple yet beautiful stools have become a popular souvenir for tourists looking for a unique addition to their home. The design of these folding chairs allows for easy transport, just as was intended centuries ago, but as Senhor Alexandre explained, over the years, with scissor chair craftsman in decline, and the added problem of baggage weight limits imposed by airlines, these typical souvenirs are slowly disappearing. However, this hasn’t stopped one of Monchique’s last remaining scissor chair crafters from carrying on and producing these local works of art, which have graced living rooms and city halls as far back as the rule of Caesar himself.

Walking through the shelved aisles of Casa de Alexandre, full of chairs, pottery and copper medronho stills, I note that Sr. Alexandre’s expertise isn’t just limited to scissor chairs but also scissor tables. Similar in design, they make the perfect fold-out table for any garden, each inlaid with glass and varnished to protect against the strong Algarvian sun, and are displayed with quirky banknotes from around the world. Senhor Alexandre’s abilities do not stop at handicrafts; even the tables and chairs in his cafe were made by his own fair hands. A fine tribute to this very talented woodworker.

Senhor Alexandre explained the difference between the traditional chairs and those which are much more contemporary in appearance. The Romanesque design is how one would imagine a Roman piece of furniture. The arched-shaped legs and oval back are similar to those which the likes of Augustus, Trajan and Caesar would have sat on in times gone by. On the other hand, its contemporary counterpart, which many in the modern day have opted for, is more angular, similar to the stereotypical film director’s chair, minus the canvas backing.

Historically speaking, the scissor chair is the descendant of the much older curule chair, popular amongst Roman emperors, European monarchs, and even Napoleon Bonaparte. These styles of chairs can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians, who are known to have placed them in burial tombs, but closer to home in Europe, the Italians spread their usage throughout the continent.

In Italian, the scissor chair is known as a Savonarola chair or Dante’s chair, while in Germany, they are called Luther’s chairs. But it was in Mons Cicus (now Monchique) where the Portuguese scissor chair, or should I say the cadeira de tesoura, was born, thus becoming the unofficial icon of Monchique.

While artisans have been in decline over the past few decades, Senhor Alexandre continues to work tirelessly to preserve this ancient tradition which has made its way into a handicraft all by itself through people’s love for history and local culture.

Senhor Alexandre’s modest attitude is that he is just doing something that he loves, while in reality, he is preserving a piece of local history almost as old as time.

Casa Alexandre, Miradouro das Caldas de Monchique, Estr. Nacional 266, Monchique www.casaalexandre.com

Fruit Drying An Algarvian Tradition

WORDS Luka Alexander PHOTOGRAPHY Casa Manuel Teixeira Gomes

Fruit drying can be traced back to the fourth millennium BC in Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq, as a way to preserve fruits in the blistering Arabian sun and to enhance the natural sugars of the fruit to be used in various recipes.

This age-old way of preserving fruit would eventually land in Europe after the Arabian takeover of the Iberian Peninsula, where the Arabs cultivated the vast array of fruit trees to which we have become accustomed today. With Southern Europe sharing a similar climate to that of North Africa just a stone’s throw across the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas, it is no surprise that the fruits that once graced the Arab world would soon flourish and become an equally important part of Southern European cuisine.

When the Arabs departed the Algarve in the 14th century following the Reconquista, the fruit trees and the process of drying the fruit were preserved. Following the great earthquake of 1755, which saw the destruction of much of Portugal, the Algarve, through its seaport city of Portimão, began to slowly transform itself into a successful shipping hub for agricultural products which would later be eagerly sought after overseas during the dried fruit boom in the mid 19th century.

The Algarve was and still is famed for its carobs, figs and almonds. Growing in abundance, they made up not only the staple of many local dishes and delicacies but also brought employment to the struggling local economy.

In Portimão alone, there were several smokehouses or fumeiros, each dedicated to drying the many varieties of locally grown fruits and nuts. Although seasonal from August to December, the generally all-female workforce would dry fruit as well as work in the canning factories, which were equally as lucrative at the time. The main hub was the canning factory’Fábrica S. José, which was founded in 1892 and today makes up part of the Museum of Portimão.

The fruits would be sorted, dried and packed in baskets crafted from palm known as empreita, thus forming another workforce of local women who would weave the packing baskets on their doorsteps as a way to subsidise their salaries. This gave a range of employment for locals and made Portimão an industrial hub once again. This was aided by the seventh President of the First Portuguese Republic, Manuel Teixeira Gomes (1860–1941), who was in office from 1923 to 1925

and was born in Portimão and promoted the dried fruit industry.

As well as carobs and figs, there was also a large trade in almonds from the Algarve. There is a famous legend which tells the story of how the Algarve acquired so many almond trees, which was attributed to an unlikely princess. According to the story, an Arabian King named IbnAlmundium of Chelb (Silves) married a beautiful North European Princess by the name of Gilda, who had been imprisoned during the wars. The royal couple lived happily until the princess began to fall sick. Failing to find a cure, it was suggested that Princess Gilda was suffering from nostalgia for the snow she had always seen in winter back in her homeland, something very uncommon in the dry arid winters in the Algarve. King IbnAlmundim had a plan and planted almond trees throughout the kingdom to cover the land with white petals and simulate the tone of the snow.

Across the Algarve, farmers would harvest their crops to feed the dried fruit market, which had expanded and was exported around the world. Even high up in Monchique, fruit was dried, demonstrated in the fact that they created their own word, almêxár (translated as the process of sun-drying corn). The general misconception is that the word means to dry figs, but in Monchique, corn was much widely favoured due to the perfect growing conditions high up in the hills.

Taking advantage of the Arade river, which runs through Portimão out into the open seas of the Atlantic Ocean, the Algarve’s homegrown produce and regionally caught sardines were hitting the shelves of stores anywhere from London to New York, all passing through this once small fishing hamlet of Vila Nova de Portimão.

Like many industries, the aftermath of World War II saw the decline in interest for the once flourishing Algarvian dried fruits and canned sardines and, over time, the factories went out of business. Although a handful of hardy farmers still sun dry fruits on a small scale, it’s not as it was.

Today, figs and almonds are imported for use in some of the local delicacies, such as the famous Dom Rodrigo dessert, which is found in many of today’s pastelarias. If you look hard, you can also still find Algarvian-produced almond liqueur and maybe even the odd Algarvian dried fig in your local farmers market, but sadly just not on the scale that once brought Portimão into prominence.

Figs dryingat the almeixar, António Crisógono dos Santos Courtesy of www.fototeca.cm-lagos.pt

Fruit drying in trays and fruit pickers c. 1920

TheBand of Brothers

You might be unaware that in Vila do Bispo, there exists a band of brothers who put their lives at risk every day for their job. They battle the waves and elements on their mission to kill, descending cliff faces with knives to arrive in inaccessible positions along the craggy coastline.

What is their quest? Are they an elite military corp, a division of the police? No, these brave men are on a quest to seek out and capture … a small crustacean!

The goose barnacle, perceves in Portuguese, is a delicacy of the Iberian peninsular and particularly to Vila do Bispo. To those unfamiliar with this seafood, you will probably turn your nose up a the sight of the sea creature, which resembles a gnarled toenail. However, once you break off its foot and peel back the skin, you will be delighted with the fresh morsel inside. A delicious taste of the sea in a mouthful that will always leave you wanting more.

Lonely Planet distinguished the barnacles of Vila do Bispo, which it called ‘kisses of the sea’, as “one of the 50 secret wonders of Europe”. And if this species of crustacean is known for its flavour, it is also known for the difficulty of its harvest.

To find out more, I met Paulo Lourenço. As well as a perceves fisherman, he is also the president of the board of directors of the Association of Shellfish Gatherers of Vila do Bispo and the Vicentina Coast.

This organisation has existed since 2005 and has about 60 members, 40 of whom are professional shellfish gatherers. It was founded by six fishermen, including the first president Paulo Barata. Its modus operandi is to protect its members and lobby the government for better conditions. Shellfish gatherers are a regulated profession, with those holding a licence required to declare a minimum of 3,650€ of taxed income per year. The association is, however, unhappy with the conditions imposed on them by government departments.

According to the licences granted by the DGRM – General Directorate of Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services – they are not allowed to fish from 15 September to 15 December to allow the perceves to reproduce. “We work for nine months; for the other three, we are not entitled to any allowance or income,” explained Paulo. They also argue that, according to research from the University of Évora, May is, in fact, the most successful month for reproduction, so this rule does not make sense. “We don’t feel happy harvesting in May as we don’t want to damage the crop, but with only nine months to make money, we feel we need to.”

WORDS Sophie Sadler PHOTOGRAPHY Câmara Municipal de Vila do Bispo

Paulo Lourenço

The licence also only allows them to catch 15kg per day, which Paulo argues is unfair, as in other areas of Portugal, you are allowed to catch 20kg per day for 12 months of the year. He also sees evidence of fishermen without a special licence catching more than their legal quota of 2kg per day but rarely getting apprehended. As it is such a dangerous profession, it is almost impossible for them to get insured, so the association wants to see government-sponsored insurance policies along with rock climbing safety training. So far their demands have been ignored.

It would appear that a perceves fishermen’s lot is not a happy one. But it’s not all doom and gloom. The delicacy sells at 35€ per kg, so an average salary is 13,500€ from nine months of work. Not to be sniffed at, but as Paulo says, “It is a dangerous profession, and the sea is our boss.” They mainly catch on very low tides which are governed by the full and spring moon and occur every 15 days. These tides fully reveal the rocks where the biggest perceves flourish. “To find the best quality product, we have to climb down some cliffs, with the cables, sometimes in extreme rain and stormy conditions, with strong seas.”

The perceves brothers typically rise at 4.30 am. Working in groups and clad in wetsuits, they descend the cliffs on ropes with just their bónel (net bags) and arrelhada (knife). There are only three or four fishermen in the area who will dive below the water line to harvest the fattest specimens, but it is illegal to wear breathing equipment. The premium ones are the size and thickness of a thumb. The men work all day until 6 pm and then must sell their catch to restaurants or intermediaries. I picture them all meeting for a few beers after a successful catch, but Paulo says, “No, we are all too exhausted.”

Paulo’s passion for perceves started when he was 18 and he used to go along with his father to collect them. These were the days before licences were implemented in 2008. He has subsequently seen the supply diminish like all kinds of seafood. Today, in the area of the Costa Vicentina Natural Park, there are 80 shellfish gatherers, whereas 30 years ago, there were only 10.

As it is a physically demanding profession, Paulo, who is now 43, has decided to hedge his bets – he also works for a boat tour company – but he will continue as long as his body is able. “It’s not a job; it’s a passion,” he tells me. “I can’t explain the feeling of being at the top of the cliff, to have to understand the sea to know where to go on a given day. You feel totally free. It’s in my blood.”

The band of perceves brothers are all now working hard to prepare for the Vila do Bispo Perceves Festival taking place on the first weekend of September in the São Vicente school in Vila do Bispo. Since 2013, the town has celebrated the perceves with a gastronomic festival. This year will be the first since the pandemic. The fishermen have been fishing hard preparing to feed the festival goers who will occupy 900 seats. To feed all these seafood lovers, they will be serving an astounding one and a half tonnes of perceves To accompany this will be two tonnes of mussels, 2 kg of cuttlefish, 600 kg of prawns, 300 kg of limpets, 300 kg of crab, 280 kg of octopus and 300 kg of moray eel. And if you are still able to get up after this feast, there will be music and dancing and exhibitors’ stands to view. You will also be able to watch the fishermen cleaning the seafood to see how it’s done.

As one of the greatest gastronomic assets of the region, with its harvest being one of the most traditional economic activities in the municipality, the festival is an important occasion. The culmination of a busy fishing time for Paulo and his associates, the festival is sure to give a new flavour of the Algarve to residents and tourists alike. So join Vila do Bispo in a joyful celebration of the tradition and taste of this region's delicacy.

Left to right: Miguel Galhardo, Dino Lourenço, Ivo Francisco and Paulo Lourenço

A Tribute to my Mother

On the one-year anniversary of her passing…

Nikola packed her bags and set off to the European continent for the first time in her life with John and Anita. Joining them would be a Portuguese friend of John’s called Maria, who worked as a consultant PR for the Portuguese government of the day and her recently single brother. The self-nicknamed “Pedro the Iberian Wolf” had at this stage already seen a couple of pictures of Nikola and was smitten, or at least smitten enough to have written a few passionate and cheeky messages to the beautiful Nikola prior to their European jaunt.

If she were alive today my mother would undoubtedly say that these facts are not entirely correct. But they are as I remember them being recounted to me and how we lived them!

WORDS Mandy Azevedo Coutinho

Joan Brenda was born in Norfolk. She didn’t like being plain Joan and wanted a fun name. She made up the name Nikola Lorraine herself as a young adult. Later, in Portugal, she always preferred to be called Joana.

Nikola Lorraine was a wannabe film actress in the 1950s. Before inevitably becoming rich and famous, she decided to work in a petrol pump station in north London with other out-of-work actresses, filling up cars and cleaning windscreens on rollerblades! They lived off their tips.

Nikola spent her money on unwise purchases like paintings she fell in love with and bought on impulse or last-minute reduced tickets for the Last Night at the Proms. She lived in a bedsit in St John’s Wood, belonging to a charming “Jewish” couple who would later become great friends.

One particular chap, David, drove past the petrol station regularly to fill up with petrol but also to get a good glimpse of this darkhaired, blue-eyed, voluptuous beauty. She

was stunning but somewhat shy. One day he asked her to go to a rugby match with him. She accepted and turned out all dolled up, a little too dolled up for the occasion, but still a sight for sore eyes and a sight he never forgot, even in his later years!

Fast forward a few months and not only was Nikola engaged to be married, but she had also befriended John and Anita Garveigh, her landlords, who were planning a European tour. Nikola then worked as a special orders car delivery person, mainly delivering specially commissioned cars such as Jaguars and Rolls Royces to private clients nationwide.

She was also paying a little extra rent at this stage, which John and Anita held as credit towards her share of the costs for joining them on their European adventure. David, her fiancé, declined travelling with them, claiming quite confidently that Nikola should go and would come back, if it was meant to be. I guess he regretted this decision somewhat – I met David many years later and he told me he did!

When they all met up in Paris, it was “lust at first sight”! Pedro had just escaped an arranged marriage (the way it was back then) which had gone terribly wrong and he was looking for an outlet for his dented Portuguese ego. Nikola believed in love and romance, helped somewhat by the glamour of the trip – Paris was followed by Venice and Rome, including a visit to the Vatican to ask the Pope for an annulment of Pedro’s previous marriage.

By the time Nikola returned to the UK, not only were they helplessly in love, but also pregnant! So, she broke her engagement to a sad English fiancé and travelled from London to Norfolk to tell her parents her big news! When she arrived, she did not find the courage to drop the bombshell on Fred and Mabel Smith. She returned to London and phoned the news instead! Her somewhat bewildered parents then visited her in London to wave goodbye and wish her the best as she set off to a brand-new life in Portugal.

Reynolds

Black and white images, top to bottom:

1. Joan in 1954.

2. Joan and Pedro, Venice 1956 (on the back of the photo he writes: "will you, my darling Nicky, marry this Portuguese black wolf?...... Pedro").

3. Joan and Pedro with their first born Sandra, around 1957.

So starts my life story and that of my sisters: Nikola Lorraine, aka Joan Brenda Smith, and Pedro are our parents! Nikola never became rich and famous but instead settled in a remote fishing village just north of Lisbon called Figueira da Foz, where my father worked for a family business called Vista Alegre, the porcelain makers and where my eldest sister, Alexandra Maria (aka Sandra) was born. They later moved to Coimbra where their second child, Luisa Ana (aka Lou), was born.

At this time Pedro’s mother, my Portuguese grandmother, Maria Antónia was based in Oporto with her daughter Eugénia (the youngest of eight children). Despite an aristocratic background, they had no money, due primarily to bad investments from my grandfather’s side.

Avó (Portuguese for grandmother) was quite a formidable lady, but on meeting my mother, behaved like the “grand dame” that she was, took her own engagement ring off her finger and offered it to Joan as an engagement symbol from Pedro, who obviously could not afford one.

Thus, Avó accepted and welcomed Mummy into the family fold despite being presented with a very difficult moral and social situation (my parents living together and having two children before marriage in 1950s Portugal). My parents eventually married, a simple affair in Portugal.

By 1960, they were living in Mozambique, where both my parents worked for Sena Sugar Estates – it was an exceptional place and a unique time to live in one of Portugal’s colonies! My parents had two more children while living there, Ana Mafalda and me (Maria Madalena, aka Mandy). On the social side, my parents had a great group of friends and enjoyed a life of hunting camp weekends, beach holidays on Moz’s fabulous coast, golf and tennis tournaments, playing bridge and of course, lots of G&Ts.

One story in particular springs to mind about this time. My mother was quite a good shot, so when the Landrover got stuck in a half-dry riverbed in the African bush with my dad, my father thought nothing of leaving her behind to guard it, while he walked off to the nearest village to get some help. But he had only walked a few metres when he started to hear Joan’s hysterical screeches –he ran back to find her covered in leeches which had slowly crept up from the riverbed!

John Garveigh moved to the Algarve in the 1970s with his business partner, David Symington, to become one of the first property developers in this area. In 1973, my father was offered a chance to return to Portugal and work in Praia da Luz, running Luz Bay Club for John Garveigh and David Symington, who is from the Symington port family.

and I saw Mummy develop into an incredibly strong woman working through numerous setbacks to keep me fed and clothed and to stay above water.

She ran the Concha Restaurant in Burgau for a bit, then worked at the Boutique Capricho by the beach (belonging to the Mallings) during the day and at the Fortaleza Restaurant (under Mike Johnson) at night. She joined Peter Buckland and the Algarve News team a few years later, which she loved. She did a bit of everything from being the assistant editor to delivering newspapers once a month, an exhausting job driving up and down the N125 all along the Algarve before the A22 was built. We moved house a lot during these years, to wherever the rent was cheaper during the low season or for a spot of house and pet sitting in exchange for somewhere to live.

Eventually, John Garveigh and David Symington returned to Portugal to restart their development business, creating the Ocean Club. They also asked Joan to be their PA. She was an incredibly hard-working and ferocious guardian of their interests, and many people still reel in the memory of being caught on the wrong side of my mother! Joan worked for Garveigh and Symington until retiring. As a thank you for her loyalty, they gave her a prime plot of land next to the Barroca Restaurant in Praia da Luz.

After 20 years of experience in the construction industry, Mummy built her cottage. She was very particular with what she wanted: a “palace on a postage stamp”. and drove my brother-in-law Len Lane (a local builder who headed the project) bonkers! Once the house was completed, Joan decided she was bored and needed another job, so off she went to work as Robin Crossland’s PA at the Ocean Club. During these years, she would save like mad to travel, joining me in London where I was living before going off on joint adventures, including Marrakech, Amsterdam, Greece and, for her 70th birthday, a cruise down the Nile (this time with Mafalda and Len). We also went to Paris, Venice and Rome together, triggering her memories of my dad and their past life!

John was a widower, his first wife Anita sadly died quite young. He subsequently met my Aunt Eugénia, my Dad’s youngest sister, whom he married and they moved to the Algarve. She was known locally as Gina Garveigh.

At this stage, my parents adopted the surname “Peniche” (one of the Portuguese family titles) as it was simpler for the Brits to pronounce than “Azevedo Coutinho” ! Unfortunately, life back in Portugal did not go according to plan. Following the 25 April 1974 coup, John and David left the country to avoid persecution and Luz Bay Club was taken over by the workers. Not only was Pedro left without a job, but my parents’ marriage deteriorated and they separated.

After my parent's divorced, my father eventually returned to live in Africa, but Joan stayed on in her adopted country. My eldest sister returned to Mozambique to marry her then-boyfriend, and Lou and Mafalda went to Canada to work as au pairs. As the youngest, I was still living at home

When Robin Crossland left the Ocean Club, my mother’s job also ended, and she lived quietly in her cottage in Praia da Luz till the end of her days. Many Luz locals will remember walking past and stopping for a chat, Mummy often cadging a cigarette (she never quite quit smoking) and offering them a glass of wine.

Mummy suffered a stroke late in 2019 and then dementia set in. She lived in her own home until just three months before she died, where we split her care between myself and my sisters. My sister Lou, who lived nearby, could also provide many extra hours of serene companionship that someone with dementia so dearly needs.

Joan Peniche died on 15 September 2022. She is survived by four daughters, two granddaughters and four great-grandchildren.

And Nikola Loraine never stopped loving Pedro the Iberian Wolf!

Joan in Cascais, 1963.

In Mozambique just before we moved back to Portugal, 1972/73.

Joan in Mozambique, 1964.

Joan and all her daughters in Mozambique, 1964. Mandy just been born.

The Instant Artist

Ken Dorr is driven by his irrepressible compulsion to produce works of art to encourage hope and the love of life in others. Working under the name of Kenario, he has created the most extensive collection of the unique type of art called Sculpted Polaroid Manipulation.

Originally from the US, Ken is now living in Lagos with his husband, Mario Marchiaro, while painting fervently. Inspired by his surroundings and loving relationship, his creative spirit flows abundantly, producing incredible works of art daily. Ken was born with his twin brother, Donny, in Berkeley, California, in 1957 into what his mother described (and used as the title for the book she later wrote) as “A Family up in the Air”. His father flew PBY air-sea rescue aircraft during World War Two and, although he later worked for IBM as a computer expert, he never gave up his love of flying. “I remember going on flying trips with my father from a young age. He owned many different planes. When I was seven, he bought a twin-engine PBY aircraft similar to the ones he had flown in the war. He converted it to a recreational plane that could land on water,” explains Ken.

Ken’s father was given the summers off in exchange for flying the IBM executives and their families in and out of lake areas for holidays. “As a family, we had the most amazing trips too. Consequently, my childhood was great fun!”

One day, when Ken was 12, disaster hit. His father had taken off in the PBY with John, Ken’s older brother who was 21, and 22 executives on board. Just after he had cleared the treetops, he slumped forward, having had a massive heart attack. A surgeon on board cared for him while a terrified John took over the controls. He had flown a plane before under the guidance of his father but had never landed one. A passing Boeing 707 was alerted by his May Day call for help and, following it to Port George, John circled until air traffic control found someone who could explain to him how to land it. Unfortunately, their father died on the way to the hospital.

Ken’s family were devastated. His mother, a professional storyteller and television show host, had to keep working to provide for everyone. Brother John became a father figure to his younger siblings, but bad luck continued for the

family. A year after his father’s death, Ken’s older brother Denny died and, the following year, his grandmother, whom Ken was very close to, also passed away.

John owned a white-water rafting company. Ken participated in the sport to distract himself from his family’s sadness. He and his brother rafted on many rivers in Idaho. Ken recalls, “Earlier lake and river trips with my father had initiated my enthusiasm for extreme sports. Going white-water rafting with my brother from 14 years onwards fuelled this passion and kept me out of trouble.”

Another distraction for Ken at this time was that he started experimenting with a Nikon camera inherited from Denny. “I experienced a clarifying moment where I wholeheartedly knew that photography was my vocational path,” declares Ken. “I have always been fascinated by how nature displays elements and patterns, including shadows, reflections, ripples and cloud formations. Once I received the camera from Denny, I happily captured these creations and many others on film.”

Entering photography school at age 18, Ken studied colour photography and continued his path to The Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. At 23, having qualified, Ken worked as a photographer for a construction company before moving to San Francisco, where he, ever ambitious, acquired his first art show in the Isis Gallery.

WORDS Helen Daniel

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“I needed to fund my art career, so I became a city cab driver for a few years, which ended after a major earthquake in 1989 when many people fled the city. Luckily, I then found work in the rental department of ProCamera and stayed with them for ten years,” he recalls.

When Ken was 39, he met Mario, a professional dancer, and it was instant love. They have since married and are devoted to each other. “We both quit our jobs and moved to Palm Springs. I opened an art gallery there, and in 1997, Mario and I formed a synergy of creative energy. Our team name became Kenario.”

Ken and Mario’s artistic partnership combines many photographic elements, image sculpting and painting. “We love to travel the world in search of dancing light and ever-changing natural patterns,” Ken declares. “With our unceasing experimentation with photographs and paint, we developed an inimitable process called “Sculpted Polaroid Manipulation”.

The Polaroid SX70 was the first reflex singlelens instant camera. It contained a mirror and a prism and was known as a one-step camera. Before this, photographers had to take additional steps towards the development process. All you had to do with the SX70 was wait. Kenario used this waiting to time enhance the photographs. “Before the emulsion on the developing pictures dried, we submerged them in hot water. Using various tools, including dental instruments and calligraphy tips, we pushed the imagery around. We created sculpted pictures, some of which we later painted using oils or inks, producing individual impressionistic pieces. Sometimes people are not sure if they are photographs or paintings.”

Ken and Mario travelled extensively for ten years, working with their sculpted photography method. They built up the world’s most exclusive

collection of this type of art, covering many topics: landscapes, architecture, florals, nudes and still life. “It was a captivating business venture, and we still own virtually all of them.”

In 2010, Polaroid stopped making the films for the SX70 and, as the batteries in them only last for six months, the ability to produce this type of sculpted photography stopped. It has become a lost art.

Ken recounts, “During this time in Palm Springs, I suffered a health complication that prompted Mario and I, in harmony with our spiritual path, to embark on a vegan lifestyle. I cured myself by going on an intensive plant-based retreat and, in 2011, I became a raw vegan chef. We have been vegans for 16 years and feel much healthier.”

In 2014, Ken accepted a position as The Executive Raw Vegan chef for the Optimum Health Institute in San Diego. “This experience was one of the most healing and educational in my life’s journey,” Ken states.

Over the 11 years Ken and Mario spent in San Diego, they gradually began to get fed up with life in the US. It started feeling too frantic for them, the politics got messier, and crime increased. “For a complete life change and without much research, in 2022, we moved to Lagos, Portugal.” Ken is busy most days. If he is not painting, he produces excellent vegan food for Mario and their friends. “In Portugal, I have no pressure to work and, with Mario as my muse, I can paint freely,” he says. “Having an unquenchable curiosity leads me to artistic exploration and discovery. I am influenced by rocks, the sea and the people

around me, and recently I have been trying out wood, palm leaves and cork as surfaces. While Mario works on the shows he will perform, I use my vibrant imagination to experiment with colours, paint types and surfaces.”

Ken will exhibit some of his work at the upcoming Portimão Art Exhibition this September. Mario remarks, “Ken looks at the world through the eyes of an artist. If you sit still for too long, he will paint you!”

Ken with husband Mario

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The apartment is conveniently located just a five-minute walk from the beach and other amenities. It features five bathrooms, air conditioning in all rooms, a gas fireplace, and comes fully furnished and equipped. The large terrace includes a jacuzzi and a table with a central fireplace. Additionally, it has an AL license and offers excellent profitability.

A Community Chorus

Alcoutim revisited – a model of collective cooperation

Not long ago, I wrote about the Festival do Contrabando and now I find myself revisiting Alcoutim for a different reason. Partly because this charming riverside town left an impression on me and also to announce another very good excuse to visit again later in the year.

But first, there was a nagging question from that article that was only partly answered about why there was ever a town built here in the first place. It really is in the middle of nowhere in one of the least populated regions of the country. After some further digging, an interesting discovery was uncovered. To the north of Alcoutim lies the now abandoned São Domingos Copper Mine. It had been mined from Roman times until the early 1960s (and possibly earlier) and the prize was iron and copper ore.

From the nearest river port of Pomarão, this precious metal was loaded onto boats and transported down the Guadiana river to the estuary at Vila Real de Santo António. The 8th century Moorish castle also suggests a more military origin, to defend the river border. This created a need for some basic facilities, which led to the building of a village over time. The rest is history, as they say, but no village in a remote area is going to survive without a resource.

Today, I am meeting up with some people who live and work here and it is very clear that collective cooperation is a major factor in how this community works, with more value than

any soft metal. My conversation with Paul, an influential member of the ex-pat community here, is relaxed and easygoing. I was impressed with both his passion for this place and his desire to give something back to the village that’s received him and others so warmly. He is doing this by organising a free music festival, and not for the first time either, but for the ninth. With a glint in his eye, he comments that having missed a year due to the pandemic, they will try to get away with calling it their tenth anniversary.

It is only a matter of days after our first phone chat and here we are already discussing how an art exhibition can be incorporated into a music festival, with others in the community, including officials from the freguesia, already briefed and in agreement with our initial plans. After just a couple of hours of walking around to look at

potential venues for showing art, the evidence that residents and visitors are well catered for is clearly seen. For such a small town to boast a beach that is fed with fresh water from a nearby lake, an event/concert hall for an audience of up to 150, a youth hostel and a library inside one of the town’s historical buildings (among other attractions) is impressive.

As my host for the morning points out, hospitality is the only real source of income for many of the locals and it is one that is taken very seriously. It was suggested to me that this kind of collaboration between the freguesia and the community it supports is unique, and it certainly makes a really refreshing change to what I usually come across when trying to organise things in summer. Very refreshing indeed!

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY Bob Tidy

Paul Doody, the principal organizer of the Festival

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

Another huge cultural factor here is music and it is clear that something about the area attracts musicians. If you are a musician you can go along to the big Sunday jam which is always popular with performers and audiences. As we pass the Praça da Republica in the town centre, equipment is being set up for one of the regular Wednesday concerts; to talk about other events held throughout the year would require another article. Residents, along with well-recognised bands from around the country, play here on a regular basis and the Guadiana International Music Festival in October will be another occasion when they will do so again. Visit their website musicaguadiana.org for more information.

For me, the event represents a shining example of what I am writing about, a group of people who are willing to give up their time, and share their resources and experience to give back to their community by arranging their own event with musicians who will perform for no financial gain and a local council that is willing to support their efforts. And it’s free for us all to attend and enjoy. Glastonbury, it won’t be: from the heart and authentic, it certainly will.

For the first time in its history, art will be included as an integral part of the event. The Artlink collective will be working in association with local artists and exhibiting there with the ambition of adding another dynamic for visitors and another level of collective collaboration.

On my way home (with the relief of air conditioning in the car), I found myself reflecting on how the history of the old Roman mines still resonates in the musical performances of today. Copper combines with zinc to make brass, which is used to make a whole range of musical instruments because it is more malleable and has better acoustic properties than copper or zinc alone.

The manufacture of brass or copper-coated guitar strings is a science in its own right and without them electrified guitar riffs and fingerpicking, acoustic blues just would not sound as good as they do. And of all the simple pleasures in life, this is among those that I can’t imagine living without.

My conclusion is simple, I have my hotel room booked.

One Love!

Although this was a Catholic Churchorganised event, with Pope Francis in town, there was an ecclesiastical buzz in the city and all denominations were involved in the organisation of an array of events.

St George’s (Anglican) church in Lisbon, part of the Diocese in Europe (as we are here in the Algarve), was asked to be a hosting centre for many talks and events over the course of a week.

In conjunction with a group called Chemin Neuf (from France originally, but very much global now), there were talks given by some wonderful speakers on the topic of 'Being One Church' – in other words, our ecumenical relationships. While you only have to go back a few decades or centuries in church history to see that there has been great disharmony over the years between church denominations, thankfully, today, there is new cooperation and, dare I say, love between church denominations. This harmony was the emphasis of the JMJ/ WYD week. It was wonderful to see so many young people (and us ‘oldies') coming together, not as Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, or Baptists but as Christians. And this is how all churches should be – it’s the ideal they should work towards.

In Luz church, we are fortunate enough to see that ideal in action. Firstly, the Anglican church community here has been welcomed by our Roman Catholic sisters and brothers for many years and has enjoyed the use of Nossa Senhora da Luz for decades. We try to have joint services in Portuguese and English a few times a year.

Secondly, the church services here will always attract many different denominations, including people who live here all year round, but also many visitors who are only here a short time and want to attend a service or two – and for me, that's a privilege also.

When I first took up post some six years ago, I had a preconceived idea that the congregation would consist of retired Brits, but I was soon pleasantly surprised by the cosmopolitan make-up of the congregation – we have Italian, German, American, Canadian, South African, Moldovan and Nigerian worshippers (to name a few) in Luz church. On one Sunday at the 8 am service, we even had six people from Hawaii turn up! That generally doesn’t happen in the average UK church! Perhaps then, we are fulfilling that imperative of loving one another here in Luz.

Fr Rob Kean is the Chaplain of St Vincent’s Chaplaincy Algarve and area Dean of Portugal and Madeira.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35

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WORDS Fr. Rob

Kean

Last month I was privileged to spend a couple of days in Lisbon for the Jornada Mundial da Juventude (JMJ) – or World Youth Day (WYD) in English.

Meet the Locals

Manuel Afonso

Manuel Afonso is 87 years young and has lived in Lagos since 1971. He has just been presented with a rare award that his family believes should be celebrated.

As the owner of the BP petrol station on the N125 between Lagos and Odiáxere, Manuel Afonso has witnessed many changes. He was born in Serra da Malcata, an inland municipality which has one of the highest elevations on mainland Portugal forming part of the Portuguese/Spanish mountain system of Meseta. He was one of six children (three boys and three girls). As was the norm in those days, he left school aged 10 when he started work. As a young man, Sr Afonso worked in Beja and was employed by Mobil, refuelling planes. He married his late wife Maria do Céu on 22 January, 1966.

While working for Mobil, he was offered the opportunity to move to Lagos and run their petrol station, which later became BP. As a result, he moved to the Algarve with his wife and one-year-old son José Manuel Gomes Afonso and has grown the business for the last 53 years. He also grew his family with a daughter: Fátima Maria Gomes Afonso, who was born in the Algarve.

From 1971, Manuel Afonso ran the petrol station as an employee before buying it in 2004. In 1991, his son José came into the business and started working with his parents. In 2002, José helped his parents expand the business and they bought Portimão petrol station. In 2008, Fátima joined the family business, working alongside her father in Lagos. Other petrol stations were subsequently purchased: Porches in 2010, Penina in 2013 and Lagos Avenida in 2018.

I ask Sr Afonso about the changes he has seen in half a century. When he arrived in Lagos, it was a small, quiet city with very few cars on the road. The roads were so quiet that, when José was a little boy, his parents would get him to count passing cars on the N125 as the sight was quite rare. Business and transit has changed a lot! In those days, the majority of vehicles filling their tanks were tractors and agricultural vehicles, while donkeys and carts would still have been a common sight on the roads. Slowly, he has seen more and more cars pass by his petrol station and this trend was greatly accelerated when the A22 came to Lagos in 2003.

He remembers that, in the 1970s, the main car brands on the road were Toyota, VW and Daihatsu. Technology has developed a lot since then. Back then, the pumps were manned by the employees of the petrol stations. In those days, diesel cost 2 escudos per litre, which is around 1 cent now, and petrol was 8 escudos, around 4 cents. He recalls

that the quality of the roads meant that you would struggle to be able to accelerate over 100 km per hour.

Manuel Afonso’s 50 years of service was recognised at BP’s Christmas 2022 meeting in Lisbon when he received a longservice award from the CEO Silvia Barata. He was accompanied by José and Fátima. It was a proud moment with a lot of emotion.

His daughter-in-law Sammie Afonso speaks for the family when she says, “We as a family are very proud of him and his ongoing work. At 87 he still works seven days a week at the Lagos petrol station. That’s dedication!!”

Today, Manuel Afonso and his family are big supporters of Tomorrow’s charity TACT and have donated large sums regularly at fundraising events. The octogenarian explains this generosity is because “it helps the local community”.

His daughter-in-law concludes, “My father-in-law is an incredible man as a father, father-in-law and grandfather; we are so blessed to have him in our lives. He is the most selfless person and always tries to help others, but family is his first priority.”

All of us at Tomorrow congratulate Sr Afonso on this monumental achievement. He is one of the early entrepreneurs of Lagos and we look forward to seeing his empire continue for many years to come.

WORDS Sophie Sadler

The BP area manager for Algarve Hugo Fernandes presenting the framed award

The three owners of the petrol stations Fátima Monteiro, Manuel Afonso and José Afonso

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A beautiful and well-designed private detached four-bedroom villa with spectacular views of the sea and caves of Ponta da Piedade. The property is located in Caliças, close to the historic town of Lagos.

The Portuguese Kids

Their hilarious live shows and YouTube videos have won them a worldwide following; later this month, they’ll hit our TV screens with their first series for RTP. Vaughan Willmore speaks to Derrick DeMelo from the comedy group, The Portuguese Kids.

WORDS Vaughan Willmore

What’s it like growing up in a Portuguese household? Well, with their comedy group, The Portuguese Kids, Derrick DeMelo and Brian Martins provide a wonderfully funny insight into a life few of us ever get to see or experience.

Derrick and Brian formed The Portuguese Kids nearly ten years ago, giving up well-paid careers to go full-time as comedians. As Derrick said, “When you’re in your early 30s and tell your Portuguese parents you’re leaving your job and setting up your own business as a professional comedian, you can expect quite a few interesting reactions!” Thankfully, Derrick and Brian had the courage of their convictions and are now reaping the reward with a new series about to launch on the Portuguese state broadcaster, RTP.

Born and raised in the city of Fall River (in Massachusetts, in the US), Derrick and Brian Martins share a lifelong friendship and a similar sense of humour. They also share a similar upbringing in that whilst they were both born in the US, they grew up in very Portuguese-orientated households. It’s from here that much of their humour derives, namely their wonderful ability to see the funny side of growing up as children of Portuguese parents, whilst living in a culture far different to that which their parents experienced back in Portugal. It also helps that they live in Fall River, a city

which Derrick describes as “something of a Portuguese enclave, with 60% of the population being of Portuguese heritage”.

Derrick and Brian’s humour is also very clever. Whilst they find comedy in their shared heritage, they could never be accused of making fun of that heritage. Rather, their comedy is endearing and gives a sense of how proud they are of their upbringing and connections to Portugal. Another notable aspect that has emerged from their work is how relatable their comedy is to all nationalities. Whilst set in a Portuguese context, it draws upon themes which are common to many nationalities and especially children of first-generation immigrants.

As The Portuguese Kids, they’ve performed in Portugal, the US and Canada, and gained a worldwide following thanks to their YouTube channel, which features nearly 300 videos, many of which have attracted over 100,000 views. The videos include relatable and funny topics such as ‘Portuguese Dad at Disney’, ‘Portuguese Parents Stuck in Quarantine’, ‘I’m not yelling, I’m Portuguese’ and ‘Dating in a Portuguese Home’. Derrick and Brian are the lead actors and writers, but there is often an ensemble cast of friends and fellow comedians, which gives their performances added energy and variety.

Their videos and live shows have proved so popular that, three years ago, they were approached by executives from RTP. Derrick explained, “RTP contacted us just before the pandemic. They’d seen our videos and were really keen to do something together. There was talk about reformulating our YouTube videos, but we wanted to do something more than that, so we produced a pilot episode of what we had in mind and RTP liked it so much they commissioned a six-episode series. It’s been fantastic working with them; the production values are out of this world and we’re super excited to see how people react.”

The series took two years to write and film and when we spoke, Derrick and Brian were in the last stages of editing. There will be six episodes, each lasting 25 minutes. I was keen to know in what language they’d recorded the show, given that their videos are in English (with a healthy sprinkling of Portuguese) and the series will be aired on Portuguese television. “It’s in English”, said Derrick, “because that’s where our fanbase is, albeit we have increased the Portuguese a little. We now call it our version of PortEnglish!”

These are exciting times for The Portuguese Kids and their many fans. To be offered a commission by RTP is a fantastic achievement and a just reward for their hard work and creative energy. Everyone at Tomorrow is eagerly awaiting their new series, which is scheduled to premier on RTP in the next few weeks.

Heads, Hearts and Hands

Can you imagine a school with no student textbooks, no exams until the 6th grade, and with limited modern technology in this day and age?

WORDS Natercia Godinho

Welcome to Escola Waldorf a Oliveira with its two branches, one in Figueira and another in Vila do Bispo. Children from first to eighth grade enjoy a pedagogical approach that awakens their spontaneous desire to learn by engaging head, heart and hands.

I went to visit the school to see Waldorf education in action and find out how we, as a community, can aid their expansion project. I was greeted by Lisa Marie Owsianiak, project manager for the expansion project at Monte Judeu. After preliminary introductions, I was invited to join a fifth-grade classroom with teacher Sérgio Martins. The students were standing up in a semicircle, with no desks visible. Sérgio picked up his guitar and the voices of boys and girls filled the humble classroom. The students were very excited at my presence and their shared wish for the school was to move to better accommodation.

I accompanied teacher Salome into a third-grade classroom where each child

was displaying to the school their final homework assignment of the year, i.e. model houses made of clay and other materials. I was informed that their parents had contributed to this project and that an outdoor building would be constructed on the school’s grounds so the children could apply their skills in real life.

Children and teachers appeared to have such a symbiotic relationship – the atmosphere was relaxed, playful and respectful. A few children told me that at the end of the day, they don’t want to go home and when they are ill, they miss school. One child approached me with a big smile and said joyfully: “I can now crochet!”

I spoke with her mother and asked her why she had chosen this school. “It’s very simple,” she replied. “She learns morals and freedom through playing and having fun. In this school, there are many children who speak different languages and the teachers help each child reach their potential.”

After visiting the Figueira branch, which educates children up to fifth grade, Lisa took me to Vila do Bispo, where the school is in a rundown building that used to be a hospital, then housed the GNR (Guarda Nacional Republicana). It now educates children from sixth to eighth grade. The building is very restrictive, with no outdoor space. The sound echoed through the corridors, the kitchen is old, and the carpentry room is very small. Despite these downfalls, I found a group of students and teachers so resilient and dedicated to making this project long-lasting. One student told me that they don’t have textbooks, and the teacher Marisa proceeded to inform me that topics like history, geography, science, mathematics and others are taught in blocks of four weeks, and the children are given the freedom to create curriculum-rich manuals with their own handwriting and illustrations.

Waldorf teachers work to nurture and engage each child through a collaborative and dynamic curriculum that integrates mathematics, geography, history, natural sciences, arts and crafts, languages, eurythmy, music and singing, with social and life skills taught beyond the classroom setting.

The project coordinator and teacher at Escola Waldorf a Oliveira, Pedro Miguel, explained how the school started in 2008 as a result of parents wanting to extend their children’s education beyond kindergarten within this pedagogical vision. Initially, there were only nine students and their parents paid to renovate an abandoned building. Now the school educates 124 children.

As the school’s success grew, this building became too dilapidated, so the non-profit association used its own funds to procure metal containers and turn them into vibrant teaching rooms that feel more like a home setting than conventional classrooms. However, these metal containers are no longer fit for purpose and, in 2017, the Camâra Municipal de Lagos gave permission for an old ice cream factory located in Monte Judeu to be converted into a school.

Lisa explained that the conceptual design of the future site of Escola Waldorf a Oliveira involves architectural changes that will take place in three phases. Phase one begins in September 2023, and phases two and three will happen later as funds allow.

The new school will provide children with adequate workshops, large classrooms and vast outdoor grounds, which will unite both school branches and take them to twelfth grade in the near future.

There are currently over 1,200 independent Waldorf schools around the world, and there are seven Waldorf schools and kindergartens recognised by the Ministry of Education in Portugal. Lisa explained that donors, parents and teachers have supported the expansion project but that they are also seeking funding from crowdfunding and private donors to be able to continue. For several years their budget has been balanced by the non-profit association as they receive no funding from the Portuguese Government.

The future Escola Waldorf a Oliveira will be next to its international kindergarten counterparts and, with the help of the community, the Waldorf curriculum will continue to develop and preserve its core values.

If you would like to contribute to this dream and support the Steiner movement in Portugal, particularly in the Algarve, please use the QR code at the top of the page. For more information on Escola Waldorf a Oliveira visit the link below.

www.escolawaldorfaoliveira.org

What are Waldorf Schools?

The first Waldorf school was founded in Germany in 1919 by Rudolf Steiner, who proposed that children should be given individualised attention in order to develop their creativity and personal interests. Two key concepts of the Waldorf curriculum include observing children in stages of sevenyear increments, which Rudolf Steiner believed were: 1) spiritual cycles and 2) themes where teachers create a curriculum to fit each child.

Did you Know?

Waldorf schools do not require students to be “reading” until the end of grade 3. This may seem shockingly late for many of us who are conditioned to push children to become literate at an early age, but research indicates that children exposed to this model of education, perform well academically and are well-rounded individuals.

Example of classroom first grade in Figueira

New building located in Monte Judeu

Buildings children construct as a first homework

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Back To School

WORDS Sophie Sadler

Nautiluz

Nautiluz Learning Center first opened its doors in 2020. Set near Bensafrim in the heart of a beautiful valley under majestic oak trees, their learning spaces are embedded right into nature to enhance learners’ experience.

Nautiluz sets curiosity and joy at the centre of each child’s learning journey. The innovative school focuses on supporting children in growing their autonomy and social emotional skills, and they practise bilingual learning through group and individual projects instead of lessons. In the last three years, they have seen their children and team of educators thrive, transform and grow. “It has been an incredibly rewarding, yet at times also challenging, journey!” says the school’s dynamic founder Christin Lidzba.

While the school hosts a very international community of children and families, Christin has been seeking ways to build stronger bridges with the Portuguese community.

“As part of this effort, we are building a strategic partnership for education, regeneration and social cohesion with Vicentina, an organisation that leads the regional development process for the Barlavento region.”

Leaving the best news until last, the school is currently still welcoming new learners with places available for the ages of four to nine years old.

A Ticket to Paying School Fees

Did you know that there is a method for paying school fees through a Portuguese company? There are several entities offering this, including Ticket, Coverflex and Ednered. It is a method for the employees of companies and institutions to subsidise the payment of expenses from public and private educational establishments, from junior school to university, as well as books and school supplies. There is no age or price limit.

So if you work for a company or own a company, it is a great tax benefit to pay your school fees through a company rather than from taxed income.

All you need to do is go to the website and sign up for the scheme with the company’s details. You will then input the employees who wish to benefit from the scheme and their fiscal numbers.

The next step is to generate a ticket for the amount that is due to the education establishment. The portal will generate an invoice to the company, which they pay by bank transfer.

Once this is paid, the employee pays the school directly from the portal. The only downside is that the education establishment needs to be signed up for the scheme, so ask them first.

A Space for Play

Portugal's highly respected Nobel Algarve British International School, celebrating its 50th anniversary year, is reinforcing its leading position in the Algarve through the expansion of its two campuses.

Nobel Algarve’s Almancil campus currently serves students from Pre-school to Year 10. Due to its remarkable success and growing demand, a second building is being launched in September of this academic year, 2023-2024. Among the state-of-theart features incorporated in the Almancil campus are a multimedia centre, a nextgeneration Science Lab, ICT suites and sensory gardens.

The expansion of Nobel Algarve’s Lagoa campus also has a scheduled inauguration for the next school year, in September 2024. The plan encompasses the construction of new permanent school buildings, a versatile multi-purpose gymnasium/ performance space, a bespoke pre-school, a brand-

new canteen, modern state-of-the-art classrooms, a staff room and a reception area. The upgrades will also include a new entrance for buses and improvements to the landscaping. It will enable Nobel Algarve’s Lagoa to continue its growth, ensuring that all students seeking a toptier international education in the Algarve can benefit from an exceptional learning experience.

This development is part of ongoing investment by Globeducate, one of the world’s leading K-12 education groups with 55+ premium bilingual and international schools and online programmes in 10 countries, educating more than 31,000 students.

Colégio São Gonçalo in Praia da Luz has extended its campus with a new outdoor space which they have named Campo das Descobertas.

On this land, the school has created a natural park with areas for recreation, leisure, an auditorium, picnics, paths, games, and music, all in an environment which they have kept as natural as possible. It also enables educators to have classes outside and play games with the children.

The school’s founder Idília Ramos comments, “It has been a personal goal for more than seven years to get a bigger outdoor space for our students, knowing that the time we spend outdoors and in nature is, besides being pleasant, also very healthy and peaceful. It was a huge battle, but we finally managed to acquire a plot behind the school. It will be an area where the students can play, study, run, jump and have lots of fun.”

Meet the Artist

Roger Bishop – The Oceanic Artist

You can almost smell the fresh sea air and feel the spray from the waves as you stand in front of one of Roger Bishop’s seascapes.

WORDS Alyson Sheldrake

A west-country boy from the UK, Roger had various jobs but always painted in his spare time. He moved to Devon and entered the hotel and pub trade, but the landscapes made him want to paint full-time.

He relocated to Looe in Cornwall with his wife and bought and renovated an old fisherman’s cottage on the riverside. Turning it into a studio and gallery, he started painting wildlife, particularly dolphins and whales. Painting in acrylic on canvas, he became known as ‘the whale man from Looe’ but, as he quips, “Not because of my size, by the way!”

After the success of his paintings, Roger decided to go into print with limited edition prints and a range of greeting cards. One night he was having a beer with a friend who was a supplier to Spar shops and asked his friend if he could arrange for him to sell his greeting cards in their shops. Roger’s friend agreed and told him he had to sign an agreement that he would supply all his shops. Roger continues with the story:

“After a few more beers, I asked him how many shops there were. He replied about 1,500, including some abroad. I thought that delivering them was going to take me a long time. So that was the end of that venture!”

His surname, Bishop, has created some funny moments for him, too. His wife was working in the gallery one day when a lovely lady came in enquiring about the paintings. Roger’s wife said all the ‘Bishop paintings’ were her husband’s work. “ My word,” the lady said, “How does he find time for his ecclesiastical work?”

After a very enjoyable time in Cornwall, Roger and his wife decided a move abroad to the

sun would be a good idea. After holidaying in the beautiful Algarve since 1986, it seemed the perfect place to relocate to. They made the move here in 2003, buying and once again renovating an old farmhouse inland.

Roger started painting again in a small studio in their garden, although he decided his wildlife subjects might not be so popular here. “I thought that the beautiful beaches on the Algarve would be a perfect subject. The amazing Spanish artist Javier Torices inspired me and I decided painting seascapes would be a wonderful challenge. Although very timeconsuming, it was very satisfying. It made me realise that budding artists should spend more time on their work and study the subject well. In order to sell my work, I knew I had to paint what the public liked and enjoyed. With the move towards conservation and cleaner seas, seascapes have become more popular.”

A friend from Lagoa who is a picture framer started selling his work. After having a sellout exhibition in Lisbon, Roger reached out to more galleries in Spain and along

the Algarve and the amazing west coast. He met a lovely family in the Artina art shop in Tavira, and he started supplying them with his work. They also made him very good-quality frames for his paintings. Other galleries followed, selling his greeting cards of marine life and seascapes.

A new phase of his artwork began when Roger began using reclaimed shutters as frames. These proved to be very popular: “Compared to England, framing here can be expensive, so using reclaimed wood seemed a good idea. I now have a range of driftwood paintings, also paintings on marine ply and canvas. After several coats of gesso and sanding, marine ply gives a very pleasant surface for detailed work.”

Roger exhibits his work at Izzy’s amazing beachside restaurant at Praia do Garrão, Almancil. His work is also for sale at the Lusitânia Handmade Gift Shop and Gallery in Carvoeiro, which only sells Portuguese art and crafts. And you can also still find his art at the Artina art shop in Tavira and the Art&Deco Chic shop in São Brás de Alportel.

The relocation from the west country in the UK to the Algarve was an inspiring and successful move for Roger, whose veins pulse with the ebb and flow of the sea as he paints.

“Getting my inspiration from going to the coast and photographing the beaches and seas, I now have a vast collection of photos from my favourite beaches, including Galé, Amado and many on the west coast. I consider myself very lucky to paint and live here. Let’s hope the beautiful Algarve inspires many budding artists to paint and sell their work and be as happy living here as I am.”

Roger now lives in Algoz. You can visit his home studio at the bottom of his garden and view his work by appointment.

The Stories of the Algarve

Located in a historic building in the centre of Lagos, Mar d’Estórias is an innovative space that combines the trade of quality Portuguese products with experiences inspired by culture as well as a restaurant and bar.

WORDS Tânia Soares

In this treasure trove, we have collected so many stories that it would be impossible to put them all in one book. However, we feel obliged to tell some of them. One story at a time!

We begin with someone who has a deep love for the sea, the element that unites all Algarve people. Meet Daniela da Silva Ferreira, an artist, researcher and art and design teacher. Her job is to research and catalogue the incredible biodiversity of Portugal’s Atlantic coast. She also pays homage to the fishing traditions of the region by immortalising the pattern of fish scales on paper and canvas. Daniela uses an ancient Japanese printing technique with squid or cuttlefish ink.

The artist’s creativity is far from over! A collection of necklaces, bracelets and earrings decorated

with amazonite stones forms the artist’s second project under the Luzalba name. Both are available in Mar d’Estórias.

From the sea, we pedal quickly ashore, following the wind and the stories told through the photos of the group The Understands. They are passionate about mountain biking, the Algarve and photography. They have recently compiled all the unique images they have taken over 12 years in the book BTMMTT (Bicicleta Todo, Mas Mesmo Todo, o Terreno). João Mariano, Joel Marques, Pedro Lessa Barradas and Sebastian Sennenwald have travelled to places in the mountains where few would dare to go, and now they share the beauty of the hidden places of the Southwest Alentejo and the Vicentine Coast Natural Park with all lovers of the Algarve through this book, available at the Mar d’Estórias bookshop.

The Choir

Daniel Fonseca is also one of the people who make the Algarve even more incredible. He makes everyone’s mouth water and mixes drinks full of Portugal like no other at the Terraço Bar in Mar d’Estórias. In his spare time, he gets lost in the slopes of the Algarve to capture moments with his photography.

He has won several photography awards and has worked with the Correio de Lagos newspaper. With his distinct vision, he captures the Algarve’s landscapes, customs and people authentically and engagingly. His inspiration comes from his father, who was a fisherman. Daniel adds a touch of authenticity to the art that reflects the soul of the Algarve. His postcards and prints are available at the Mar d’Estórias shop.

As we browse the shelves of Mar d’Estórias, we can only guess at how many stories of incredible people are hidden there. They are like treasures that often escape our attention, helping to make the Algarve and Portugal a truly fascinating place.

 www.mardestorias.com

The idea is to have a high-level choir of about 50 singers to work alongside the orchestra and join them on special projects. Apart from the mutual projects with the orchestra, the choir will work on its own repertoire under the conducting of Daniela Zlatkin. The choir’s first concert is expected to take place in December 2023.

The choir already has around 25 members and is still open for new members, preferably people with singing experience. People who cannot read music will get tutoring. Rehearsals take place in the Community Centre behind the Church of Penina, Alvor, every Wednesday evening.

The Algarve Youth Symphony Orchestra is an initiative of Daniela

Zlatkin, who has more than 35 years of experience working with youth orchestras. Daniela comments, “In the Algarve, there are several music schools, each with their own small orchestra, but what the youth here lacks is the opportunity to play in a big symphony orchestra that will give them orchestral experience and new social contacts with other young musicians from the region.”

The orchestra had a pilot on 10 June 2023, which was very successful. It will start regularly once a month beginning on 2 September.

orquestrajuvenilalgarve@gmail.com

To join the choir, you can send an email to danielazlatkin@gmail.com

The Algarve Symphony Orchestra International Choir is an initiative of Maestro Armando Mota, founder and conductor of the Algarve Symphony Orchestra (Orquestra Sinfónica do Algarve).

Large selection of craft beer

Natural Portuguese Wine

Tasty Cocktails

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

SPECIAL BEER LAUNCH: DOIS CORVOS BREWERY 28 September

QUIZ NIGHTS

7, 14, 21 September at 7:30pm English speaking, open to all

OPEN MIC NIGHT

All musicians welcome 4th and 18th of September 7pm to 10pm

SUNDAY SESSION MUSIC

Every Sunday 6pm onwards

in residence at The Collab Bao Buns | Wontons | Shake Shake Fries

Opening Times: Mon, Tue, Wed & Thurs 12pm - 11pm

Fri & Sat 12pm - Midnight | Sun 12pm - 10pm

Loja A (Bloco 1), Antiga Fabrica da Ribeira, Av. d. Descobrimentos, 8600-584, Lagos (Opposite Praia da Batata)

Women of the West Coast

The western Algarve is known for its bounty of talented musicians and artists, and those familiar with the local scene may have come across the soulful voice of Anisha, also known as Anisha Melody. With a stunning new video and single, Women of the West Coast, Anisha is establishing her place as a unique singer and songwriter.

Although Anisha was born close to Lagos in the Algarve, she considers herself to be a blend of several nationalities, with family in England and much of her time growing up spent in India, a country she still visits frequently. “Growing up surrounded by different nationalities has given me a unique outlook on life, as well as musical inspiration from a variety of styles. I feel, in our modern world, we are breaking down the barriers of nationalities and cultures. To me, this is what makes Portugal so beautiful.”

Anisha began playing the guitar and singing at a very young age, and some of her earliest memories are of congregating around campfires with her uncles and aunts, dancing and singing until the early hours. She also began writing songs in early childhood. “I started singing from day one and used to write about anything that was happening in my life, from bad days at school to holidays and relationships, anything that I was feeling at the time!” As Anisha got older, she began to perform around local venues and festivals in the Algarve, playing a mixture of original material and covers.

In 2018, Anisha moved back to the UK and began taking her songwriting and recording to a new level. She also discovered that her craft was incredibly therapeutic. “After a breakup from my first relationship, I locked myself away, developing my songs and experiencing a time of personal growth. Songwriting became therapy for me, I found I could express my emotions through music and lyrics, so I could better understand my feelings and move forward.” Anisha wrote and recorded some of her own material through this time and featured on tracks such as TV Ecstatic, which can be found on all streaming platforms.

Anisha has just released a compelling and dynamic new single, Women of the West Coast, which is an ode to her community of friends and neighbours here in the Algarve. “I am thankful to all the women throughout my life, single women who support each other as a community.

I remember watching these women dance by a fire one evening, alone yet finding strength in each other, and this inspired me to write Women of the West Coast as a celebration and thank you to these role models.” While the first verse acknowledges the women in her life, the second is a thank you to the men who have stood alongside her and have been father and brother figures, with poignant lyrics such as ‘Oh Brother, will you hold us in our tune’.

Musically, Women of the West Coast is a soulful and powerful ballad, incorporating instruments from all over the world, including African and Indian drums and even whale sounds! The song was released in early 2023 alongside a visually stunning music video directed by Julian Schupp. The video is set on the rolling cliffs of the Algarve and features many of the women and men who inspired the song. You can find this on YouTube and hear the song on Spotify and all other streaming platforms.

Anisha has recently embarked on a journey from the Algarve to Porto, then Paris, and back to the UK, where she will spend some time in Brighton. She will perform several gigs while travelling and will continue to work on her original compositions. Once back in the UK, Anisha will record and produce more songs with longtime collaborator Guy Dagul and hopes to put together a band to develop her live performances.

Anisha’s next single, Reason to Life, is a ballad fusing Indian and British sounds and will be released later in 2023.

www.instagram.com/anisha_melody

youtu.be/m10TizieYRM

WORDS Niall Hilary

Local Authors in Action at

Lagos Book Fair

WORDS Lena Strang

This month, Lagos will host one of its main literary events of the year. The 13th Book Fair (Mostra de Livros) will take place from 17–29 September at the newly refurbished Armazém Regimental (Military Warehouse) in the main Praça do Infante in Lagos.

Books by local authors will be exhibited and available for sale during the fortnight, from 11 am to 11 pm. Everyone is welcome to come in and browse and, of course, buy copies! The event’s highlight takes place each evening with book presentations, poetry readings, music and entertainment.

Don’t miss the opportunity to meet an illustrious line-up of authors from the foreign community on Wednesday, 27 September, from 7 pm. Coming from diverse backgrounds, they offer readers a kaleidoscope of experiences and flights of the imagination. Take your pick. There is something for everyone. Each author will do a short presentation and afterwards will sign books.

Wine and tapas will be available throughout the evening. Don't miss an unforgettable event!

On Friday 22nd September at 7 pm, two authors will have a special book launch. On behalf of Finbar Hanaghan, Barry Harris will launch his new book of poems and stories As I Rhymember It. John Reid will present the recently launched, The Revenge, his eighth book in the series of thrilling detective stories.

Peter Cain

Originally from Derbyshire, England, Peter arrived in the Algarve on his boat in 1999 and hasn’t looked back since. Besides writing books, he has skippered various vessels and, for 19 years, presented Captain Peter’s Seawatch Report for Kiss FM, Algarve. He also assists other authors in publishing their books on Amazon and other book publishing platforms. He will present his graphic story books PJ Squadron and Exploring the World through Colouring.

Ann Mcgarry

Ann McGarry is an Irish-born human development consultant, coach and artist. Her passion for developing human potential inspired her writings. Power of W, her second book, focuses on the Third Act addressing living more from the ‘authentic self’. This book emphasises the necessity of making space for deepening selfawareness.  It highlights the value of blossoming and enjoying this time in our lives whilst also making valuable contributions from a place of earned wisdom.

Emma Kirkham

An author and health coach specialising in women’s hormonal health, Emma has been a resident in the Algarve since 2021. She has written two books in the series Hormone Hell to Hormone Harmony and is working on her third. She aims to provide women with a better understanding of hormonal issues and provide strategies for tackling symptoms. A novel is also in the pipeline.

Alyson Sheldrake

The former editor of Portugal Letter magazine and feature writer for Tomorrow, Alyson also publishes her own monthly magazine Snapshot!. Alyson, a former police officer and Director of Education in the UK, moved to the Algarve 12 years ago with her husband Dave to ‘live the dream’. She is the author of the Algarve Dream Series of travel memoirs about their life here in Portugal and the author/curator of the Travel Stories Series of anthologies. She will talk about her three Algarve Dream Series books and her bestseller, Kat the Dog

Stephen Powell

Stephen was a journalist for Reuters for 27 years. He has lived and worked on every continent except for Antarctica and brings a deeply ingrained global perspective to his craft. His reporting has included war and coups in Africa and Brazil’s transition from military rule to democracy. He is the author of two books, The First Toast is to Peace, Travels in the South Caucasus and Walking Europe’s Edge, Reflections on Portugal. He moved from his native Wales to the Algarve in 2019 after walking the length of Portugal, a zigzag journey of nearly 1,500 kilometres. He will talk about his learning from a lifetime of travel.

Lisa Selvidge

Lisa has lived in the Algarve for almost 20 years and is the author of several novels and nonfiction books. She has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia and teaches creative writing online courses for the University of Oxford and in situ workshops in Monchique. She loves to travel and, after her son was born in 2012, she bought a campervan. Her travels have inspired a series of children’s books, The Magic Campervan, which she will present at the fair.

Peter Giacomini

Italian-born Peter Giacomini outlines his life experiences in The Cardboard Suitcase. How does a poor boy from a small town in northern Italy in the middle of the war manage to reach the highest echelons of the luxury restaurant business? His inspiring story reflects his courage, passion and perseverance and will take readers into the exhilarating world that only a hotelier can know.

Sarah Greenwood

As well as being a poet, Sarah is a Portuguese translator. Originally from Blackburn, UK, she migrated to the Algarve in 2005 and is the local coordinator for the multilingual poetry and translation festival Casa dos Poetas, which takes place in Silves each May. Her poetry has been published in several literary journals and anthologies. She will present her translation of the play The Door Closed and the House was Small by Quarteira-born playwright Ricardo Neves-Neves of Teatro do Eléctrico.

Lena Strang

Finnish-born Lena spent all her professional life teaching English in schools in Britain. Moving to the Algarve, she began working as a journalist for Tomorrow. Over the years, she has spent much time listening to people in the towns and villages in the Algarve, telling their stories as well as unravelling histories behind abandoned houses and historic places. These have been collated into two books: Touching Lives: Remarkable People and Places in the Western Algarve and the second one Crossing Cultures in the Western Algarve. The books are veritable treasure troves of stories, capturing the essence of the Algarve. Available in English and Portuguese.

The Spellbinding

Bookbinder

Loulé Design Labs Artist of the Month –Juliett Paola Sarmiento Nieto

They say never judge a book by its cover, but this month I met a bookbinder that has made me see things differently.

Juliett is from Barranquilla, Colombia. Her father taught her the ancient art of bookbinding when she was 15 years old. She went on to study Graphic Design and Plastic Art in Colombia before moving to Portugal four years ago.

After completing her Master’s programme in Contemporary Creative Art at the Universidade de Aveiro, she moved down to Loulé a little over a year ago, becoming one of the youngest members of the Loulé Design Lab.

Wherever she goes, though, Juliett always seems to find a way to, shall we say, ‘bind’ what she learns together with what her father taught her.

We met at the Palácio Gama Lobo, headquarters of the Loulé Criativo, and after a little chat, Juliett reached into her backpack – which was brimming with books and notebooks – to show me some enchanting examples of what she’s created over the years.

Let’s have a look …

What became immediately apparent as Juliett started to display her collection was that she

has a true love for tiles (or azulejos as they are called in Portuguese). It’s long been one of Juliett’s favourite pastimes to go for a little walk about town and catalogue any she finds on old buildings.

Portugal is a perfect place to do this. Juliett explained to me how she takes pictures and, with a little technological wizardry (no doubt garnered from her time studying graphic design), prints them out and turns them into the lovely patterns that cover many of her notebooks.

But it’s not just tiles that catch Juliett’s attention as she walks around town. Back in Barranquilla, Juliett made a fold-open book with all sorts of drawings and words that serves as a sort of ‘visual cartography’ of all the posters and publicity, as well as a few interesting characters she found on her trips around her home city.

For the final exhibition of her Master’s degree in Aveiro in 2021, Juliett made a bright and rather striking book called Entre o Dia e a Noite (Between the Day and Night), which was inspired by the Portuguese landscapes between Gerês and Madeira.

WORDS Jake Cleaver

Juliett Paola Sarmiento Nieto

Home city posters

Her latest work, she showed me, were two cute little notebooks she made for a local fair where the Loulé Criativo artists were displaying. Inspired by, and indeed called, Cores do Algarve (Colours of the Algarve), the first features a glorious orange sunset and the other, as if turning to look in the other direction, shows fading mountains stretching far out into the distant greens.

On the back of these latest little notebooks, Juliett was excited to show me that she has recently made her own stamp and can now leave a unique signature mark on her work.

Up and coming workshops

You know how there are those people who can gracefully glide through a piece of paper with scissors without even seeming to have to stop to snip? Or who can just casually tear a piece of paper into two perfect halves mid-conversation –because they feel the direction the punched strip of paper runs in? Well, it’s not me. I said as much to Juliett, who laughed and insisted that it’s just a matter of practice.

The right tools can help, too, of course. And Juliett showed me a little wooden paper creaser that last month’s artist, Wesley Sacardi, had made for her.

All this to say, if you aren’t one of those origami magicians either – don’t worry. Juliett is starting to give workshops at the Loulé Criativo and is happy to teach you all the tricks.

You’ll explore the various paper, postcards, cards and fabrics that help in the binding process, as well as getting to know the tools and glues used. And, in the end, she’ll teach you to make your own traditional hardcover notebook that you can take home with you.

A dull pencil is better than a sharp mind

How many of you keep a notebook? The human mind is meant for creating thoughts, not holding on to them. Having a place to write your ideas down (or simply sketch away and doodle) really helps you organise your work, rest and play – and keeps your mind free for what it’s good at.

That said, I think you are far more likely to feel inspired to put pen to paper if you have a nice pen and a beautiful notebook. And just imagine if you made it yourself!

While exploring Juliett’s Instagram page, I found a quote by a bookbinder called Antonio Galvan that says: “Binding is a clear demonstration of the love of the book – both for its content and what it contains.”

So, thinking about it, maybe we should sometimes judge a book by its cover. Or, at the very least – be in love with our notebook at hand.

To keep an eye out for upcoming bookbinding lessons with Juliett – or all kinds of other experiences by the Loulé Criativo – please visit: loulecriativo.pt/en/turismocriativo/experiencias

And find Julieitt on Instagram @juliettpaolart

Notebooks for Loule Criativo

Live in a sunset with

pink & orange

WORDS

I count pink and orange as one of my five a day; so long as my eyes get to feast on the beauty of these colours every day, then I am full to the brim. I took this picture of a building in Lagos last week. No filter, no increased saturation, just the beauty of Portugal at sunset! Give yourself some soul food and step into the colours of the sun.

Paint your own sunset

Next time you see the sun melting over the cliffs, how about picking up a paintbrush? I’m a full-time artist, so I love painting abstracts inspired by nature. You don’t need any particular skills for this, just mix up a lovely palette of colours and let the paint flow.

There’s a really well-stocked art shop called Arco Íris (Portuguese for ‘rainbow’) at the Aqua shopping centre in Portimão, where you can buy ready-to-hang canvas.

For my paintings, I always get the deep-edge, gallery-style ones because they are chunky and look so much more impressive on the wall. Then pick up some acrylic paints (they’re great because they’re cheap, quick-drying, and much easier to work with than oils or watercolours).

If you buy red, yellow, brown and white, you’ll be able to make a hundred shades of pink and orange. If you start by painting thick stripes across the canvas like a horizon and let each one run, you’ll soon be creating your own sunset.

1. Round mirror https://bit.ly/3CVEoO4

Sit in the sun

Watch the sun go down in a sumptuous blush velvet armchair from Maisons du Monde. Or, hang the sun on your walls with this mirror – its frame of woven cotton and vegetable fibres in shades of dusky pink and orange must surely have been inspired by the setting sun.

For a little shade from the ferocity of the midday sun, I found this handmade Balinese parasol.

At two metres wide, it provides plenty of shade while also being sassy and beautiful. Featuring a fuchsia canopy with handpainted gold inked detailing, hand-sewn tassels and ornament details, it’s truly a work of art.

Flora Kouta

2. Pink armchair https://bit.ly/3NpHFdi

3. Sunset canvas art www.florakouta.com

4. Garden parasol www.sundownparasol.com

Flower power

We are so lucky to have vibrant pink and orange flowers growing everywhere in the Algarve. This still-life painting was inspired by the beautiful Amaryllis laranja, which brings colour and warmth to winter days. It’s one in a series called Sunshine in a Vase, painted in celebration of Portugal’s blooms.

These textured ceramic jugs have so much personality. Handmade by Anna Westerland at her studio in Lisbon, they are dressed up for a night on the town with bright pink beads and jute tassels.

Wake up to sunshine

A perfect blend of pink and orange, ’flush’ is just one in a large range of sunny emulsion paints from Luxens, available from Leroy Merlin. It would be great for a feature wall in a bedroom. You’d feel so energised waking up to this colour every morning.

Introducing colourful textiles is an easy way to bring instant joy into your home. I love this set of five pink and orange decorative cushions and hand-woven organic cotton Turkish towels. Omer and his team will even customise them and embroider a name on each one if you ask him nicely.

1. Still life wall art www.florakouta.com

2. Ceramic jugs www.annawesterlund.com

3. Turkish towels etsy.me/3rxS8MK.

4. Cushions covers https://etsy.me/3XtDO3L

John Aldridge Charity Golf Classic

Helping the Community

We can’t wait for the upcoming 2023 John Aldridge Charity Classic! The event will take place on 15 and 16 September, and we’re thrilled to host another memorable tournament to support incredible causes in our community.

development of the brain and the central nervous system. The treatment she requires is complex and costly, but, thanks to the kindness of those who donated, she can continue receiving the care and attention that she needs.

The Soup Kitchen:

This non-profit organisation (previously operated by the Mustard Seed) provides daily cooked meals to families in need in Lagos. We were able to donate 3,000€, which will aid them in carrying out their mission to support vulnerable families. The Soup Kitchen is more than just a place that serves food. It is a place where people can come together, build connections, and receive support in a safe and welcoming environment. The staff and volunteers at the Soup Kitchen work tirelessly to ensure that everyone who walks through their doors feels valued and cared for. Thanks to the donation, the organisation will be able to continue providing this vital service to the community, enabling families in need to access nutritious meals.

Cadela Carlota:

Cadela Carlota is a non-profit organisation that provides a shelter for abandoned cats and dogs. To ensure that they can continue their mission of rescuing these animals, they launched a fundraising campaign to raise 85,000€ to purchase the land on which their shelter is located. Thanks to the community’s generous support, they reached their goal, and we were happy to help with a 2,000€ donation. With the purchase of the land secured, Cadela Carlota can now continue to provide a safe haven for these animals and help them find loving homes.

CASLAS:

I am grateful to be able to help those who need it most in the Lagos and Luz area. As a frequent visitor, it warms my heart to see firsthand the impact that the money we raise has on these amazing causes. Here’s to another great event this year, and let’s hope we can raise even more money to help the community. YNWA

John Aldridge

As we reflect on last year’s tournament, we’re proud to say it was an overwhelming success. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our participants and sponsors, we were able to raise a significant amount of funds to support a wide range of causes in our local community:

NECI:

A donation of 2,000€ was given to NECI to support their fantastic work in helping individuals with disabilities. The donation will help to ensure that NECI can continue to provide the necessary resources and services to those who need it most, including specialised equipment, therapy and support for daily living.

Constança:

A heartwarming gesture of generosity was shown by those who donated 1,500€ to support the ongoing specialist treatment of a beautiful little girl. She is suffering from KAT6A, a rare gene mutation syndrome that impairs the growth and

We were able to help the CASLAS children’s home with a 500€ donation so the children were able to attend a week-long summer camp. This is an amazing opportunity for the children to learn and grow, while also having fun and making new friends. Additionally, another 1,500€ was donated to support an appeal to raise funds to repair structural issues on the roof of the CASLAS home. This will ensure that the children and staff can continue to have a safe and secure environment to live and work in. It is heartwarming to see such generosity and support for this important cause.

This year, we’re excited to continue our tradition of community support and charitable giving. We’re committed to making this year’s tournament even bigger and better than before, with more opportunities to give back and make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

WORDS Phil Harding

What's on

For more events and activities check our online calendar:

www.tomorrowalgarve.com/calendar

Sounds at Twilight

Gitarra Kvarteto is a quartet of guitarists from the Algarve including Gonçalo Duarte, João Mendes, Ricardo Batista and Rui Mourinho. In another "Sounds at Twilight" concert, the quartet will perform a virtuoso and eclectic repertoire, from the classical music of Johann Sebastian Bach, through the Spanish sound of George Bizet's "Carmen" and the Latin rhythms of Sérgio Assad, to the gipsy-jazz style of Django Reinhard.

When: 30 September 9.00 pm

Where: Santa Maria Church

Molonga of the Moon

A cultural event that aims to enhance the Algarve's cultural heritage, specifically tango. There will be a performance by tango teacher António José Pimenta and Sevillian TDj Pibe de Medina. In this new concept, a very special small group can enjoy drawing and painting exhibitions, a conference, live music with Argentine singer José Martin, and dancing or listening to tango music in a magical and unforgettable experience.

When: 29, 30 September and 1 October Where: Messe Militar de Lago (Praça do Infante)

Participation is free with compulsory registration by email: milongaeduardacoutinho@gmail.com

Fisherman’s Festival

As tradition dictates, Albufeira dedicates the first weekend of September to the Fisherman's Festival, which reflects the spirit of the town that was once a fishing village. For the past 18 years, the population has gathered on this date to socialise around a table full of typical local delicacies and Portuguese music. This year the event returns with local associations presenting the most varied delicacies and sweets. The climax will be on Sunday night with a performance from Bonga, considered by many to be one of the greatest ambassadors of African music.

When: 1,2 & 3 September, 6 pm–1 am

Where: Praça dos Pescadores, Albufeira

www.facebook.com/albufeira.pt

Nights on the Quay

Set against the backdrop of Lagos' ramparts and the starry sky, this initiative offers unique evenings in a special, relaxed atmosphere. The historic Cais das Descobertas is transformed into a stage for two nights of music and dance with Quorum Ballet and fado music.

By fusing fado with contemporary dance, "Correr o Fado" breaks with the traditional way of seeing, hearing and feeling the genre, demystifying its nostalgic and melancholic connotation. Quorum Ballet has toured internationally since February 2012.

When: 2 - 3 September 9.30 pm

Where: Jardim da Constituição, Lagos Tickets: 5 € (8 € two-day pass with MARO concert on the 2nd). Available for sale through BOL, at Fnac and Worten counters or at the venue on the day of the show from 5 pm.

F.O.I. Festival

The F.O.I. Festival – Festival of Performing Arts in a Village Context – is a program of events created by the community. Taking place over three days, the themes include the arts, astronomy, heritage trilogy and the dichotomy of the sea and the land.

When: 29 and 30 September and 1 October

Where: Municipality of Lagos

questao.repetida.producao@gmail.com www.cm-lagos.pt

Tickets: Associação Impacto Ímpar 10€ (50% discount < 18 years)

Exhibition of Chairs

A call for artists. The Art Academy Marina de Lagos is organising its next cultural event, which includes live music.

The academy would like you to participate in this show full of chairs: homemade, repainted or upcycled. After the exhibit, there will be an auction of the chairs.

When: 23 September

Where: The gallery Marina de Lagos, located in Nucleo Gil Eanes, in front of Pontoon J

www.kasiawrona.com

FB: @artacademymarinadelagos

Unveiling the Magic of Coffee

The very first Algarve Coffee Festival is an event that promises to be a celebration of all things coffee like never before! The festival is the brainchild of The Beany Bunch, who are a group of passionate coffee enthusiasts and members of the community. They are excited to bring together a diverse group of coffee lovers, consumers, baristas, and businesses to revel in the joy and wonder that coffee brings to our lives.

When: 9 -10 September

Saturday 12 pm–12 am

Sunday 12 pm–9 pm

Where: The Collab Bar, Lagos

For more information, please contact Shan at beanybunchteam@gmail.com

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LAGOS

Open 11:00 - 22:30

howard@fri3nds.pt

R. José Afonso 3D, 8600-601

Never Ending Summer

Bárbara Bandeira, Jorge Palma and an Abba tribute are the headliners of the Never Ending Summer Festival, which will bring entertainment, music, gastronomy, art and sport to the Albufeira marina. The public can also enjoy handicrafts and bars, street food and confectionery, as well as a wine exhibition with a space dedicated to wine tasting, cooking displays and presentations.

Sport is another of Never Ending Summer's hallmarks, with sailing, mountain biking, walking and running events.

Also returning is the Classic Car Show, which will occupy part of the Never Ending Summer site. On the morning of 17 September, the vehicles will set off on a tour through the streets of Albufeira.

When: 15–17 September

Where: Marina de Albufeira  www.facebook.com/marinaalbufeira

Creative Ape Outdoor Cinema

Creative Ape Outdoor Cinema is very proud to be hosting the premier screening of Ground Swell, a brand new surf film featuring Nic von Rupp, Kai Lenny, Matt Bromley, Torrey Meister and Bianca Valenti tackling the monstrous waves in Nazaré: Jaws, Pipeline, and Mavericks. The event and film are sponsored by Monster and Hurley Europe, who will be bringing big prize giveaways for all ticket holders. There is a potential personal appearance from Nic von Rupp himself, so long as the waves are not calling! DJ sunset session (with headsets) and food served from 7 pm–9 pm.

When: 6 September

Movies start at sunset

Where: Lagos Marina

Tickets: creativeapecinema.com/tickets

FAVA

In addition to the food and drink, The Algarve Environment and Vegan Fair – FAVA, contains clothing and crafts sections. Companies, brands and associations will also exhibit solutions for sustainable agriculture, the circular economy, renewable energies, electric vehicles and animal protection. FAVA also hosts artistic shows, from music, circus and theatre, as well as informing their visitors through exhibitions, lectures and show cookings.

It has been scheduled during the European Week for sustainable mobility and is part of the European car-free day. There will also be a stage for the 1st regional meeting of electric bicycle users.

When: 22 and 23 September 6 pm - 11 pm

Where: Loulé

benfazer.pt/eventos

Grill and Chill BBQ

Dr Chris and Tricia Wells have offered their blueberry farm property (next to the lake) for an afternoon of barbecued delights, wine/beer and other drinks, smooth music, and fun fellowship. All are welcome!

When: 30 September 2.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Where: Quinta do Pincho, Bensafrim

Tickets: Admission by tickets purchased in advance. Adults: 25€ / children: 15€

Please contact Louise Player for tickets & location pin: louisecplayer@gmail.com

Lagoa Motorshow

The biggest car and motorcycle festival in the Algarve is back, with new areas and exhibits. In addition to car and motorcycle shows, exhibitions, shopping and dining areas, the Lagoa Motor Show will also feature a 450 m2 gaming and virtual reality tent, live street art, a kids area, camping, music and entertainment!

When: 15–17 September

Where: Parque das Feiras, Lagoa

Tickets: lagoa-motorshow.bol.pt

 geral@lagoa-motorshow.com

Festival F

Intended as an end-of-summer party, Festival F is a cultural initiative that brings together established and emerging Portuguese artists for three days in the city of Faro. It also hosts workshops, stand-up comedy, plastic and performing arts, with handicrafts and street food on offer.

When: 7–9 September

Where: Faro

Tickets: blueticket.meo.pt

 www.festivalf.pt

Art Expo Algarve

An event for both established and emerging artists, galleries and artist collectives to exhibit and sell high-quality artworks directly to the public. Choose from traditional and contemporary style work. Painters, digital artists, mixed media artists, photographers, ceramics, and glass and sculptors are all represented.

When: 21–24 September

Where: Portimão Arena

 www.artexpoalgarve.com

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The Lions of Faro

Sporting Clube Farense are aiming for success both on the football pitch and in the local community.

In May, Sporting Clube Farense (Farense) secured promotion back into the top tier of Portuguese football and, this year will be lining up against the likes of Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, and Porto. They’ll also be renewing their rivalry with Portimonense, the only other Algarvian team competing at the elite level. As important as the season will be on the football pitch, Farense – known by their supporters as the ‘Lions of Faro’ – will also be continuing their excellent work in the local community.

The Lions are a club which are embedded in the community and not solely the immediate locality of Faro. The club sponsors Clube de Ciclismo de Tavira, one of the most popular and successful cycling clubs in the Algarve. They also have a walking football team (for players of 50 years and more), a basketball team, a futsal team, and even an Esports (video games) team. In May this year, the club won an award from Premeira Liga, for their exceptional work in the community: their players often visit schools and attend workshops, educating local children about the club and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. The club also works closely with Refood Faro, donating food and equipment.

For club director José Pedro, working at Farense is more than a job; it’s a way of life. Born in Faro and a supporter from a young age, José played for the club’s youth team before turning his attention to marketing and advertising –he’s now the club’s Director of Marketing and Communications. It’s a role he’s held for three years and includes liaison with the local and national media, marketing, supporter engagement, and management of the club’s social media presence. José understands the club as well as anyone and worked for Farense when they were last in the Primeira Liga. I asked José

what lessons had been learned from the last time the club were in the top tier. “Looking back, we can make even better decisions this year”, said José. “I think last time we were a little rushed in how we did things with certain aspects of the club. We have learnt from that and are in a good place for the new season.”

As preparation for the new season, Farense played the Saudi Arabian team Al-Nassir, who have recently attracted worldwide attention due to their signing of Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo. They also played Roma, who are managed by a certain José Mourinho, and they have made good progress in the Taça da Liga cup competition, albeit Farense’s opening day defeat at home to Casa Pia highlighted how tough the 2023/24 Primeira Liga season will be.

They’ve also been busy in the transfer market, bringing in players with proven experience. Just as importantly, they’ve been able to keep the services of the players who helped them secure promotion. Another key factor in the club's success is their head coach, José Mota. This is the man who only joined the club in February and took them on a fantastic run, securing promotion. To have his services and experience onboard for the new season can only be a good thing and gives added confidence for the year ahead.

It promises to be an exciting season for The Lions of Faro. We wish them every success both on and off the football pitch.

September will see mouthwatering home games against Sporting Braga (19th) and Sporting Lisbon (30th). Ticketing information is available on the club’s website.

www.scfarense.pt

WORDS Vaughan Willmore

My greatest wish is that Farenses in the future unite, motivate and fight, because only united and without self-interest can we achieve our great common interests: Success with honour and credibility.

João Rodrigues, Club President

President welcomes new signing Bruno Duarte

Hassan Trophy SC Farense x AS Roma

SPORTS ROUND UP

Men’s Rugby

Portugal have defeated the USA 46-20 in a World Cup warm-up match at the Estádio Algarve near Faro. After repelling some early USA pressure, the first half proved to be a very tight affair, with a late try giving the home side a somewhat flattering 22-13 lead. The two sides traded early tries in the second half before four unanswered scores from Portugal gave them a comfortable victory and the ideal platform for their opening world cup match against Wales on 16 September.

FIFA Women’s World Cup Football

Despite a valiant effort, Portugal failed to progress from the group stages at their firstever World Cup Finals in Australia and New Zealand. Their opening match against the Netherlands was a cagey affair, with a solitary goal from Dutch defender Stefanie van der Gragt separating the sides. Better things were to come in their second game against fellow World Cup debutants Vietnam. First-half goals from Telma Encarnação and Kika Nazareth gave Portugal their first-ever World Cup win. Needing an unlikely victory against four-time winners USA to progress to the knockout stages, they came within the width of the post of causing one of the all-time great upsets as Ana Capeta struck the upright in the 91st minute before the game ended 0-0. The Portuguese women returned home knowing that they have made huge strides in promoting the game in a country that has previously given it little publicity.

Motorcycling

The FIM Superbike World Championship will once again return to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve near Portimão. The three-day event will see many of the world’s best motorcyclists battle it out at a circuit renowned for its thrills and spills. Current world champion Alvaro Bautista has a commanding lead in the championship. The Spaniard will be looking to repeat his victory in 2022, which saw the top five riders separated by just 8.4 seconds.

 Tickets can be purchased via the World Superbike website: www.worldsbk.com/en/event/POR/2023

Cycling

The Algarve town of Loulé has hosted the finish of stage 3 at the Volta a Portugal (Tour of Portugal). This is the first time that the race has visited the region since 2018. The 191.8 km stage was won by Portuguese cyclist João Matias in a bunch sprint.

Surfing

Yolanda Hopkins has won the Boardmasters surf championships in Newquay, Cornwall. It was a dominant display from the Algarvian athlete after she won all her heats before progressing on to beat British surfer Alys Barton in the final. Cornwall is proving to be a happy hunting ground for Hopkins as her victory sees her win the title for the third time in five years.

WORDS David Lugg

Photo © José Cabelo Photography

Photo © Podium Events/ Matias Novo

The team was congratulated by Portugal's president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Belém, courtesy of www.fpf.pt

Photos © World Surf League (@ wsl) and World Surf League Qualifying (wsl.qs)

Football

The Pine Cliffs Resort in Olhos de Água has announced the opening of an Elite Football Centre that focuses primarily on professional football teams. The 72-hectare centre of excellence features a full-sized pitch, a half-pitch and a 150 m² gymnasium, making it an ideal pre-season training platform. Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo visited the resort in July with his Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr. The team stayed for three weeks before taking on Benfica, a match that finished 4-1 to the current Primeira Liga champions.

International under-19 and under-21 football

The Portugal under-19 team was beaten 1-0 by Italy in the final of the UEFA under-19 Championships. After four straight victories (including a 5-1 demolition of Italy in the group stage), they fell short in a match of very few chances.

The Portugal under-21 side has crashed out in the quarter-finals to eventual champions England. Portugal had their chances to win the game, but an Anthony Gordon strike in the 34th minute was enough to separate the teams. England beat Spain 1-0 in the final to become UEFA under-21 European champions.

International men’s football

Portugal will take on Luxembourg in a UEFA Euro qualifier at the Estádio Algarve on 11 September. The match is a repeat of the World Cup qualifier in October 2021 that saw Portugal beat the minnows 5-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo. After four wins from their opening four matches, fans will be hoping for another five-star performance against a side ranked number 89 in the world.

Algarve football

The two Algarvian Primeira Liga teams have suffered a nightmare start to their league campaign. Portimão side Portimonense were hammered 5-0 away to Gil Vincente, whilst Faro-based Farense fared little better, losing 3-0 at home to last year’s surprise package Casa Pia. Both teams are still in transition as they look to bolster their squads, but, on this evidence, it could be a tough season ahead for the Algarve sides.

Journey to 5.5 Update

WORDS Ann de Jongh

Last month I was 55, so I decided to set myself a target of reaching my 5.5 handicap.

As I write this, it would appear that I have ‘failed’ in my challenge. Whilst I haven’t got to the actual handicap, I have achieved so much that I do not feel it is a failure. Having the goal has helped me in so many different ways, not just my golf game.

I have been making big changes to my swing – this has proved to be the hard part – changing a swing that you have had for over 20 years takes much more time and practice than I ever thought it would – along with changing my whole mindset about training. My ‘old’ swing still appears, especially when under pressure or when I don’t think about the foundations enough. But I have got much better at accepting that I will never have the Instagram perfect swing. It will always be my swing with its little quirks. The most important thing is delivering the clubface correctly at impact and getting the ball flight I want.

One of the best techniques I have found in the last couple of months has been to practise my swing super slow to really allow my body to ‘groove’ the new feeling, even hitting a whole bucket of balls at a super slow pace, rather than just a few at the beginning of the practice.

I also had ‘proper’ putting lessons for the first time, which has been quite gamechanging. It has also meant that the time I set aside to practise has massively increased as my putting practice is no longer just five mins before teeing off. If you have never had a putting lesson, it is one thing that I highly recommend you to do.

As a yoga teacher, we teach about acceptance and in golf, I believe this is the single most important part of the mindset that we need out on the course. Acceptance does not mean we accept ‘failure’; rather, it is about accepting outcomes, not dwelling on those missed putts, bad shots or lost balls, and not taking negativity with us onto the next shot.

I have now started working one-to-one with golfers on their fitness and mobility but also taking on a holistic approach looking at their nutrition, mindset and overall health and well-being.

And as for my challenge, I will just change my target to be whilst I am 55, which gives me another 12 months!

If you are interested in reading more about Ann's journey to 5.5, a longer version of this article is on our blog.

Ann de Jongh is a golf and fitness specialist.

www.fit2lovelife.com

facebook.com/fit2lovelife instagram.com/anndejongh

WINE

Facial aesthetic procedures

Facial aesthetic procedures have been growing exponentially in the last few years. Non-surgical treatments grew by 33%, with botulinum toxin (also known as Botox) being the number one procedure. Surgical procedures have grown at a slower rate (7.3%, ISAPS), with eyelid surgery being the first choice. Chronological ageing no longer matches our psychological behaviour, which is now the main reason for the increased search for facial rejuvenation.

The effects of ageing are a consequence of both intrinsic (genetic) and extrinsic environmental factors (sun exposure, stress, smoke, weight shifts and human behaviour).

Skin is the first to present changes – the rhytids, related to the atrophy of our normal glands, hair follicles, and the decreased production of collagen and elastin fibres, which results in thinning and loss of quality of the skin. Bone, with time, suffers volume loss leading mainly to cheekbone atrophy, producing the big nasolabial fold and lower eyelid ageing and descent.

Fat tissue includes deep and superficial adipose pads. The deep one provides support, and the superficial gives shape. The ageing of the first will make the superficial anatomy get loose and “fall down”, again contributing to the folds and the aged empty look. While the skin loses its structure, its bony and fatty support, cells renew themselves much less and slower.

A non-surgical approach rejuvenates the skin through biostimulation and regenerative treatments. The main procedures used are tissue volumising with hyaluronic acid, treatment of wrinkles with botulinum toxin (Botox), mild skin repositioning and tensioning with threads and thermal devices. Other techniques, including PRP, microneedling and peelings, work on stimulating cell renewal, prompting new cellular growth and slowing down ageing, along with nourishing and hydrating the skin Mesotherapy (injections), skin

Free Yourself from Overwhelm

WORDS Glenn Harrold

nutrition, and oxygen therapy can also be used for a full-face treatment plan.

On the other hand, surgery is most often sought in the later stages of the ageing process, with the goal of repositioning the tissues, re-establishing the lost volume and eventually changing some of the features mentioned above:

Plastic surgeons have two goals in facial aesthetic procedures:

• Rejuvenation re-establishing facial youth characteristics

• Facial beautification through changing facial anatomy

• The main surgical techniques are: Blepharoplasty (a type of surgery that removes excess skin from the eyelids)

• Mini facelift

• Neck reduction

• Endoscopic facelift

• Lip lift

• Stem cell facial regeneration

It is, therefore, very important that patients understand the basis of facial ageing and the several possibilities of medical treatments to move in a safe way for a procedure. Choosing a certified physician is a safe decision and beware of a price-driven search that can lead to absent or disastrous results. My goal is to warn patients that low prices can most often be misleading or worse.

Tiago Baptista-Fernandes is a specialist in plastic surgery.

For more information on this topic scan the QR code to view the video

In a world that emphasises staying busy and doing more, it is no wonder that many of us feel overwhelmed on a regular basis. Use these tips below to invite more calm and ease into your daily life …

Lower Your Expectations

Being organised and creating a structure to your day can increase productivity and minimise feelings of overwhelm. If your to-do list makes you feel overwhelmed, you might be expecting too much from yourself. Move non-essential jobs to another day and remember to ask loved ones for help when needed.

Unplug!

Are you suffering from ‘technology overwhelm’? Let go of the pressure to reply to messages and emails straight away and regularly turn your devices off, to avoid being constantly available. Schedule ‘technology-free’ days and ensure that you have a cut-off time every evening, at least one hour before you plan to go to sleep.

Learn to Say No

How often do you say yes, when you really mean no? This is a quick way to burn out and feel overwhelmed. Understand that your time is sacred and you are allowed to say no. Release all feelings of guilt and obligation and learn to set healthy boundaries.

Slow Down

Slowing down can have a profound effect on our health and well-being. Rushing through life increases feelings of anxiety and often, it makes us less productive. Make a conscious decision to move more slowly and allow extra time to complete your daily tasks.

Meditate

Relax your body and calm your mind with meditation. Even ten minutes a day can offer you all you need to feel calm, centred and in control once again. This allows you to experience deeper clarity and overcome challenges with more confidence and ease.

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, including his Ultimate Hypnosis App.

WORDS Tiago Baptista Fernandes

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

Tues 9.30am Vinyasa Yoga

Wed 9.30am Yin Yoga

How a Simple Test Save Lives

Prostate cancer affects around 5000 men in Portugal every year, 1800 of whom will die.

WORDS Brett Ashmore

The prostate produces a substance known as PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) in very small amounts. Prostate cancer produces the same antigen. Therefore, when the PSA exceeds the recommended limit, it’s worth having a check-up. There can be several reasons which may not be cancerous, but it needs to be checked.

Living in the Algarve since 2004, I’ve always had yearly blood tests for PSA. Unfortunately, with COVID and moving house, I guess I just plain forgot until July 2022, when I developed a backache. The doctor did a blood test and included PSA. Although the backache turned out to be not connected, my PSA was very high.

The next day was an MRI scan which confirmed my prostate was enlarged and had a lesion on it. The thing to do now was a biopsy. The biopsy takes a tiny slice off the prostate and, if cancerous, a pathologist will give your cancer two grades.

First, it is scored on the Gleason Scale (from 6 to 10), six being low-grade cancer, seven a medium and eight to ten, a high grade. The second scale goes from stages one to five and predicts whether the tumour is slow to fast growing and the chance of it spreading to other parts of the body such as lymph glands or bones.

My results could not have been much worse. It was Gleason nine, stage five: a really aggressive cancer with a strong chance that it had already spread. It was terrifying, but we had to find out if it had spread and where to.

A PET scan was booked. This scan takes quite some time. An isotopic liquid which reacts with cancerous cells is injected into your veins and the scan highlights where the cancer is. You can see in the photo the small orange marks on the pelvis.

I was lucky that the cancer was still local to the prostate and, to everyone’s amazement, had not apparently spread. My doctor realised the urgency and found the earliest appointment with an oncologist. It was obvious now that surgery was the only choice.

Just 12 weeks after the first blood test, my prostate, eleven lymph modes, two seminal vesicles and a small growth were all removed. Only the seminal vesicles showed signs of spreading, all the others were negative (but we didn’t bother putting them back).

Following surgery, in theory, the PSA should be zero (no prostate, no cancer, therefore no antigens). But this was not the case for me. Three months after surgery, the PSA started to rise again, and more monthly blood tests showed an increase to six times the limit. Some cancer cells left behind had started to multiply.

I returned to the oncologist, who prescribed medication and injections which stop the cancer cells from multiplying. My PSA became undetectable, but we knew the cancer was still there somewhere!!

So this time I had a bone scan, another isotopic injection (I should glow in the dark!). But nothing was found. Another MRI scan also came back negative. Another PET scan was done, and it too came back clear? The only conclusion is that some cells remained in the ‘pocket’ or the ‘bed’ where the prostate used to be. The cells are now shrivelled by medication, so the scans can’t see them.

By the time you read this article, I will have just finished radiotherapy (five days a week for seven weeks), blasting the ‘pocket’ or ‘bed’ to hopefully kill what cells were left. After 13 months of stress and not knowing, there is still no certainty it’s over.

This all came about because of a simple blood test that I did not do. If you’re over 50, please, don’t go through what I have been through. Get yearly PSA tests.

A massive thank you to the SNS in Portugal, who have been fantastic.

Menopause Versus Our Skin

WORDS Donna Groom

As we enter into the menopausal phase of our lives, many factors go against our skin. Studies have shown that we lose 30% of our collagen in the first five years of menopause. If that’s not depressing enough, we lose a further 2% every year thereafter! The skin’s firmness and elasticity diminish due to our falling oestrogen levels.

Along with this soul-destroying news of sagging skin, the alterations in hormone levels can start to make the skin feel dehydrated and very itchy!

The best vitamins we can take during this stage are hydrolysed collagen and vitamins B, D and E. When it comes to skincare, look for ingredients with ceramides and peptides. Try not to use anything

too harsh, as this can cause the skin to react and have breakouts. If you feel your skin is dehydrated and you don’t want to load the skin with more cream throughout the day, facial mists containing hyaluronic acid are a great way to soothe and hydrate the skin, particularly during the summer. If you’re suffering from hot flushes, the facial mist evaporates off your skin, cooling you down at the same time as hydrating.

Eat lots of fruits, including apples, berries, grapes, peaches, pears and plums. Nuts, such as sunflower, flaxseeds, wheat germ and barley oats, are a good source of nutrients. Rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc, these tiny superfoods can help ease menopause symptoms and effects.

Now here’s the good news … drink plenty of liquids derived from plants: these include olive oil, coffee, tea, beer and red wine. Yes, you did read that right!

There are also so many procedures available, such as Botox, fillers, non-surgical procedures and even small surgeries to help lift, tone, smooth and minimise lines. These techniques can give back that fresher and more youthful look if done subtly. Enhancing your features and still looking like you but a brighter you!

Donna is a beauty therapist and medical micropigmentation specialist. She works at the Kutting Room in Praia da Luz.

 donna.medicalbeauty@gmail.com

Three Magic Words

Sometimes you just want to get it done. Right? Notwithstanding the slower pace of Portugal, either you're pressured or maybe on a deadline. Maybe you are frustrated or irritated that you need to be doing it in the first place. And this can be at home, at work, or simply taking care of something over the phone. And you want it done now! Sure, you can be a brat about it. Push, push, push. “I hope we can do this quickly because I’m in a hurry!”

I’m suggesting something different. I’m suggesting that you give people the benefit of the doubt that they’re going as fast as they can for you. Mostly, I find that people want to be helpful – the people you work with, your partner, a friend.

So here’s where those three magic words come in: when someone close to you or somebody at a service desk says, “I’ll take care of that for you right away!” then you say(get ready for it: “Thanks. Take your time.”

your time” and “could you hurry it up” is radically different and resets the energetic boundary between you and the other person. Think about it, when someone tells you to “Take your time”, doesn’t that lift the pressure and put you in a different frame of mind?

In my experience, the person you just said that to is not going to work any slower. But you’ve initiated a whole new dynamic. It also makes you a kinder person and when you offer generosity to another, it makes you feel good.

I invite you to try patience as a daily practice. As they say in the Algarve, amanha! And the Portuguese have the right idea, this attitude can be a real bonus for your intimate relationships – because it feels good to the other person when you’ve extended that kindness. And kindness begets kindness.

The three (magic) words that help you to make friends and influence people  Becca@emotionallib.com

How often do you hear someone say, “Take your time?” The phrase serves two valuable purposes: first, the dynamic between “take

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

WORDS Becca Williams

Reserva da Luz:

Premium Coastal Living

Near the picturesque village of Praia da Luz on the stunning western Algarve coast sits a hidden gem called Reserva da Luz.

The project is home to elevated, south-facing plots allowing for the creation of bespoke homes that capture the commanding panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean in one of the most beautiful and authentic regions in Portugal.

Praia da Luz, which is within walking distance of Reserva da Luz, boasts a range of shops, restaurants, and all the essential amenities, including supermarkets and medical clinics, making this area the perfect base to explore the delights of the wider region, including the natural beauty, local cuisine and world-renowned golf courses.

According to the chairman of DDM & Reserva da Luz, Gerry Fagan, the site is a dream come true to manage. Since taking over the project in late 2022, Gerry and his team have already sold 14 plots, one of which is his own slice of custom heaven. “I’ve been on the go and developing in the Algarve for over 25 years and I came across Reserva da Luz when I started as part of our quest in the region. My first impression was

that it stood out as being exceptional in terms of what I’d seen along the coast. Strangely, this particular project hasn’t lost its charm in all these years. Planning so close to the ocean is a rarity in Portugal and these 38 plots are gaining serious attention from young families, digital nomads, retirees and remote workers, to name a few.”

The site’s large plots all have ocean views and range from 1,450 to 2,950 square metres. This allows for spacious 300–400 square-metre homes across one or two floors, excluding basement and garage areas. The plots are competitively priced from 600,000€ to 780,000€.

According to Gerry, the current clients are in no way controlled by interest rates and inflation, and tend to have the financial situation to enjoy this calibre of dream home. He observes that their demographic prefers to shy away from ostentatious behaviour in favour of supporting local Portuguese businesses and keeping a low profile while out and about. Previously these clients leaned toward places like Quinta do Lago

but are now increasingly setting their sights on Reserva da Luz for its natural surroundings and the area’s authenticity.

In line with the group’s aim to deliver breathtaking homes, a team of experienced service providers and qualified constructors are on hand to transform plot owners’ dreams into reality with significantly lower restrictions on the final product than in other areas.

Gerry says, “Rather than handing people what we think they want, we provide the plots to let people design and construct exactly what they want. It’s all down to the client who we assist with our spectacular turnkey team. The local Portuguese team comprises of architects, project managers, and constructors who guide clients through local customs, laws, and planning regimes.”

Based in nearby Lagos, Vitor Vilhena Arquitectura is taking on architectural planning through their team of incredible architects who have delivered a significant portfolio of work across Portugal. Once ready to build, the experienced construction team at MAE will use their 20 years of experience in the construction world to realise clients’ wish lists thanks to lead contractors Ricardo Antunes and António Guimarães. The Reserva da Luz turnkey team will be managed by the project manager, Rui Mateus, who will oversee the process from start to finish. Rui has managed several projects worldwide, namely in the US, Russia, Denmark, Cape Verde, Ireland, Italy, and in Portugal. Thanks to his innate understanding of sustainability, legal and applicable rules, and technology regarding the planning, licensing, and construction phase, Rui has proved himself time and again to ease any and all stresses that tend to occur with these processes.

For more information on plot availability or to plan a visit, contact the team at Reserva da Luz and get ready to transform your dreams into a reality.

www.reservadaluz.com

+351 967 336 914

sales@reservadaluz.com

Celebrating 20 Years of Global Success with GC Partners

Today, we are raising our glasses to GC Partners as they mark two decades in foreign exchange. Founded by Martin Cox, GC Partners has grown with offices in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Dubai, and Hong Kong. Their growth story is one of unwavering commitment to clients and has been the key to their success.

A Timeline of Success

GC Partners’ journey started in 2003, with their headquarters in the UK, at that time called Global Currency Exchange Network. They soon branched into Spain in 2004, Portugal in 2005 and Dubai in 2006. A name change in 2019 to GC Partners coincided with possibly the company’s biggest decision to date – to become an Employee Ownership Trust. Most recently, they ventured into Hong Kong in 2022.

Building Trust, One Transaction at a Time

Last year, GC Partners successfully transferred over $20 billion for their clients. Their track record of success has led to over 150,000 global clients who trust GC Partners for their international transactions. GC Partners’ commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction is evident in their outstanding Trustpilot rating of 4.9, a testament to the exceptional service they provide.

Portugal: Building Lasting Relationships and Expertise

In Portugal, GC Partners’ 18-year presence has enabled them to foster strong relationships with

lawyers and estate agents. They understand the intricacies of buying a house in Portugal and have deep knowledge of the local banking landscape. They believe their dedicated teams worldwide make them different from their competitors.

Business Development Manager Rachel Canales emphasises the importance of having a local presence: “Our location, first-class service, and strategic partnerships within each country have been invaluable in helping our clients seamlessly navigate the foreign exchange markets. Our local knowledge and close contacts with all involved in the property purchase and sale transaction makes the process much simpler for our clients.”

A Future Full of Promise

As the company celebrates 20 years of service, its commitment to innovation and our clients remains stronger than ever. With a proven track record and a solid global presence, GC Partners is poised to embrace future opportunities.

Hayley McKay, their Business Development Manager, commented: “As we have grown over the years, our focus has always been on looking after the core property buyers and sellers who trust us with their transactions. But, as our reach expanded, so did our dedication to serving the needs of a broader audience. From expats seeking seamless money transfers to businesses and investors with international interests, our mission remains the same: to provide personalised and reliable financial solutions to all

clients. We take pride in being a trusted partner for every individual and entity, ensuring their financial journey is as smooth and successful as possible.”

The GC Partners’ Difference

If you would like to find out more about GC Partners’ currency solutions and how they might be able to help you with your property purchase or overseas transactions, contact them on +351 282 768 136 or in the UK on +44 (0) 203 974 4738.

You can easily open your account online in just a few minutes at www.gcpartners.co/register or in person at one of their offices.

Ride in Style

We wanted to write a testimonial about the wonderful Emilio, who made us all feel incredibly special.

Emilio contacted us whilst we were going through passport control with precise, clear and concise instructions of where to meet: it could not have been easier.

From the ‘meet & greet’ to the bottle of bubbly, beers, soft drinks and snacks for the journey, everything was simply perfect. The

seven-seater vehicle was very comfortable and spotlessly clean.

Throughout the drive, Emilio was knowledgeable about the surrounding areas, which made our transfer a pleasant experience. The whole experience was an amazing start to our family holiday.

Alison Daun, Director of Operations

Tom’s Tastebuds

Tom has been out and about in Lagos, selflessly sampling new culinary adventures for the readers of Tomorrow magazine. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it! This month his had his tastebuds tantalised at Buteo.

WORDS Tom Henshaw

Julie and I had the pleasure of dining in a new restaurant which is receiving rave reviews. Located in the centre of town on the main street (Rua Lima Leitao 15) where the old Piri Piri restaurant was situated. Our first impression was of a welcoming space with great access on both sides and an outside seating area to keep the people watchers happy too.

We felt immediately at ease as the restaurant offered a calm ambience and not the usual chaos experienced in so many restaurants and bars at this time of the year!

In fact, we both commented on the fun and chatty waiters, not at all ‘in your face’ but helpful

and there when you needed anything. Ricky, Bea and Michael are partners in this new business. Michael is the senior chef ensuring the kitchen domain is totally organised as they develop their theme of typical Portuguese food with a modern twist.

Each of the range of dishes was outstanding and very reasonably priced! Their menu suggestions are slow-cooked Iberian pork or spicy piri piri chicken. The crispy cod cakes were absolutely delicious and I could easily have eaten two portions had Julie not stopped me! The pork cheeks were to die for, while the lovely sweet potato fries were the best I have ever had. I must stop here before I start salivating over my

Flavours of the Algarve

The desserts were also ‘spot on’, and we ended up sharing a delicious chocolate mousse, all washed down by a complimentary drink!

All in all, Buteo scored top marks with me and we have already been back for second helpings!



+351 914 282 356

Facebook: Buteo kitchen and bar buteokitcheandbar@gmail.com

Rua Lima Leitao 15, Lagos

Sardines

WORDS MIMO Algarve chef Joana Apolónia

Grilled sardines, accompanied by potatoes, bread and a salad, is the summer meal in Portugal.

The sardines should be salted for about 20 minutes before going to the coals. As a general rule, a little coarse salt added directly onto the gill is enough.

The grill on which the sardines are placed should be as hot as possible to prevent the fish from sticking. Choose a good quality coal with large briquettes.

The coals should burn for 30 minutes before receiving the first sardines. Never add any kind of oil to the fish before you bake it. Do not pour oil on the grill.

The sardines only need to be grilled for a short time. Avoid over-cooking the fish, which will make them dry. Grilling for five minutes on each side is enough.

Try eating them like the locals on top of some fresh crusty bread drizzled with olive oil.

MIMO restaurant is part of the Pine Cliffs resort with Michelin-star chefs and a focus on Portuguese cuisine. They are keen to welcome outside guests, groups and corporate events.

Photo © Algarve Tourism

Can You See the Wood Through The Trees?

This fashion activist lingerie and swimwear brand is attempting to save our planet – one garment at a time.

When she was living in Leeds, Nicole Neaber, the founder of Colieco Lingerie, had a bright idea for a part-time student project and developed it in her parents attic.That project has now blossomed into something beyond beautiful.

A trip down memory lane …

If we flick back a few chapters in the creation of Colieco, we find ourselves in the year 2011. After completing university, and with a degree in fashion design under her belt, Nicole gained experience by doing a few work placements with low-key sustainable clothing brands – she was on her way. Bouncing around from her parent’s attic to her grandparent’s attic, this fashionista was an attic addict as well as a fashion addict!

Fast-forward to 2016, when Nicole found herself working on her craft in another attic – this time in Portugal. Unfortunately, her creativity was thwarted by the lack of space. After travelling to 30 European countries together, Nicole married

her partner in 2015 in the UK. The couple moved to the coastal town of Sagres, Portugal. Here they finally opened their first in-house studio. Nicole wanted her brand to be “fun and wearable” and, above all, to be more “environmentally conscious in the production process.” She became more involved with the ethics of clothes production and seeked to bring those values into Colieco, ensuring the clothing line was “sustainable and ethical at the same time.”

Defining fashion … or can it be defined?

I threw this question at the world-saving stylist. Nicole’s reply was enlightening: “Fashion can mean anything to anybody.” At Colieco, the belief is that fashion is a form of self-expression: from completely art-centric, avant-garde to the catwalk or people who prefer a plain t-shirt and shorts.... The brand specialises in customisable garments. Adaptability is at the forefront, with various prints and a rainbow of colour choices. Colieco empowers women to decide what is cool

WORDS Saor-Ide Dolan

Vogue Model Kristina Menissov wears Colieco Araya set complete with adjustable Araya leg harness for a shoot for ecovocateur

for them. If you want a high cut or low cut, it’s no problem with the boundless brand! They don’t hold stock, every garment is made to order. Your new lingerie or swimwear is not only pressing pause on the global climate crisis, but it is also one of a kind.

Spinning straw into gold

Every garment is made by Nicole herself, with her husband giving a helping hand. She described the process of making a garment to me in detail. “We cut it out, make it and then send it. So that means, because we don’t make it until the customer has ordered it, we save on fabric wastage. If you’re outside the standard size range, for example, maybe you’ve got a smaller waist and a bigger hip ratio or the other way around, we can fabricate the garment to suit each individual with no issue.” Made from scratch, not born from any old factory, every single item is personalised.

Who or what inspires you when you’re creating designs?

“As a company, we work a little differently from most fashion houses. Normally you get inspiration from nature or some shape or colour. We work with desolate fabric. We often don’t know what the fabrics are going to be. We don’t choose the fabrics, the fabrics choose us. We use whatever has been thrown away by the fashion industry. Often we’ll start by looking at the fabrics that we've got, see what colours they are and see what inspires us from that. What shapes we can create with certain thicknesses or floatiness or whatever qualities the fabrics have. The fantastic fabrics that we save from landfill give us ample inspiration!”

TENCEL™, Colieco’s secret weapon

While the brand strives to spin straw into gold, the main material used at Colieco is called TENCEL™. All TENCEL™

Lyocell fibres are derived from sustainably grown wood harvested from certified and controlled sources and processed using a closed-loop system which recovers and reuses the water and solvents used. The result is that the production of TENCEL™ Lyocell requires 85% less water than the production of cotton. This is one reason why fabrics made from TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres are widely

recognised as being amongst the most environmentally friendly options for clothing.

No cutting corners

Colieco, the brand name, comes from a cute nickname Nicole’s family gave her when she was a kid, “Colie.” Could you get any closer to home? Nicole, as a stylist, is not cut from the same cloth as mainstream fashion designers. Standing proud in the serenity of sunny Sagres, Portugal, the brand is soaring. Colieco is hard to define. Each piece is far from boring and is as sustainable as possible. Personalisation is embedded in the tapestry of this clothing line. Every garment sewn is something you can call your own. It lets your individuality be the reason you shine!

So, what are you waiting for? Get in line! Dive right into their ethically and sustainably made swimwear, lingerie and underwear at coliecolingerie.com

Facebook: @ColieCo Lingerie Instagram: @colieco_lingrerie coliecolingerie.com

Tencel process

Saving Animals Educating People

Staff from Animal Rescue Algarve are educating the young people of today to help build a better, kinder future for our animals.

councils, so that they will do more about animal welfare.

Animal Rescue Algarve (ARA) is a fantastic organisation which provides a safe and welcoming shelter for up to 100 dogs and 50 cats. It’s resplendent with heated catteries and kennels, spacious play areas and swimming pools. As important as their work is dealing with the ‘here and now’, their founder and main benefactor, Sid Richardson, knows that finding homes for abandoned and badly treated animals is not enough in itself. As Sid said to me, “Dogs on chains. Abandoned puppies and kittens. Undernourished and poorly treated animals. The key to dealing with this is legislation, education and willpower!’’

Sid is helped in his endeavours by 12 permanent staff and an army of enthusiastic volunteers, including 20 from overseas who live onsite at the Cabanita shelter, on the outskirts of Loulé. His general manager is the charismatic 28-year-old João Ferreira. João lives on-site at the shelter and, in addition to running it, he cares for five impaired dogs of his own. In a groundbreaking initiative, João and his colleagues have reached an agreement with the local council to visit schools and teach children about animal welfare. As João said, “It’s all about changing attitudes amongst the young so that the future will be better for all animals.”

There are two main aspects driving this work with schools. Firstly, the belief that, by educating young people, they will grow up to be responsible adults with a sound understanding of animal welfare. Secondly, they will develop the skills to bring about change, by educating and challenging others, including members of their own families. It is also hoped that by galvanising young people, it will also bring some pressure to bear on local

A YouTube video (link below) shows Sid, João, and colleagues on a visit to Loulé high school, accompanied by two disabled dogs named Mago and Spirit. João talks to the students and teachers about the work of ARA and provides real-life examples of how animals and people have benefited from developing close, loving relationships. João talks to them about the principles of good animal care they should initiate if they see an animal in distress. There’s an opportunity for the students to ask questions and learn about volunteering at the shelter. They’re energetic and fun visits with children encouraged to interact with the dogs. More than ten schools are currently participating, with more expected to follow.

Sid’s ambition is to expand the educational programme to other areas of the Algarve and perhaps even to the rest of the country. Can they change attitudes throughout Portugal? Now that would be quite something. It’s a bold ambition but Sid and his talented team have already achieved so much, I’ve every confidence that, with their drive and determination, they will help create a better, kinder future for our animals.

How you can help

Make a one-off donation or a regular donation to help pay for food and veterinary care.

Donate high-quality fashion and/or furniture to a WOOF charity shop (based in Loulé and Almancil). All proceeds go towards the upkeep and development of the shelter.

Help out at the shelter or at one of the WOOF shops.

Take out a Legacy Pet Plan whereby for a donation of your choosing, ARA will care for your pet should you no longer be able to.

Adopt a dog or cat (subject to home checks by the ARA team).

Visit to Loulé High School: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Sonw7xvZdBc

www.animalrescuealgarve.com

+351 289 462 384

Bank Account: PT50.0033.0000.5526891995.05

“The future depends on what you do today” –

Mahatma Gandhi

WORDS Vaughan Willmore

Life in the Algarve can be simple

Offering

Heavenly Himalayas

Scaling the Heights in Bhutan

Bhutan is like no other place you will ever visit, or as my husband says, Bhutan is just a bit different.

I am in love with Portugal, and most of my travel articles will highlight the many hidden gems we are lucky enough to have on our doorstep, but every now and again, it is good to look further afield, particularly for that ‘once in a lifetime’ trip (well maybe twice...). Bhutan is quite a bit further afield - the only flights into Paro leave from Delhi, Bangkok, Nepal and Singapore. We flew from London with a direct flight from Delhi but Delhi, Singapore and Bangkok are quite easily reached from Lisbon with Emirates with a quick connection in Dubai, so it is very feasible.

Just getting to Bhutan is an adventure in itself. We flew via Delhi, a busy, bustling, exhilaratingly frantic place that was the exact opposite of the vibe we were heading for. Instead of sleeping through jet lag and time zone adjustments, we spent half a day on a tour of New Delhi with a personal guide – Mr Singh. Although it was mostly a whistle-stop tour of the great sights, we also

spent an hour in a temple learning about Sikhism and its unique approach to community work –including a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of kitchens and communal dining rooms. Delhi was a vibrant and beautiful assault on the senses – it left us wanting to book another trip!

Flying to Paro airport is another noteworthy amuse-bouche to the Bhutan experience. After a short stop at Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital, the flight passes across five 7K+ Himalayan giants, including Everest. We were lucky – clear skies and pre-selecting the right seats on the plane ensured we spent about 20 mins of the short flight collecting our jaws from the floor. The approach into Paro is notoriously tricky for pilots to navigate. Only eight pilots in the world are certified to land there – we simply admired the unusual sight of fields and hillside at eye level as you come in to land. The effect is strangely emotional, and many of our fellow passengers were having a moment of spiritual delight on the tarmac (or maybe it was the sheer relief of having made it!)

Bhutan is a small kingdom in the Himalayas, wedged between India and China, and with a culture and approach to tourism wholly its own. It has resisted modernisation for most of the 20th century, focusing on ‘gross national happiness’ instead of industrialisation and technology. Buddhism, Bhutan’s state religion, infuses everything, and the influence of its king and royal family looms large – in temples and roadside signs. There is no ‘global swarming’ or ‘surtourisme’ here: accessibility and relatively high visa cost ensure that overall tourist numbers are low, and profits are invested in sustainability and maintaining the Bhutanese way of life.

WORDS Ann Botterman

We did a seven-day tour with our amazing and super knowledgeable private guide Kencho and driver, which gave us the opportunity to see not just the surface glamour of incredible landscapes and culture but to get underneath the skin of this unique place. ‘Unspoilt’ is probably the most overused phrase in the travel and tourism business, but Bhutan comes closer than anywhere else I have seen. The first two days, part of you is thinking, “Okay, this is all great, but I am sure you are just showing us the pretty bits.” And then you realise there are no light industrial estates, motorways or even trains – the whole place is just like this: temples, hills, gorgeous local houses and dzongs (a dzong is a distinctive type of fortified monastery architecture mainly found in Bhutan and Tibet). Time and history are different here: Kencho would talk about that thing that happened in the 8th century as if it was literally yesterday.

The tension between the old ways (TV was only officially introduced here in 1999) and the modern world is, of course, increasing, and the little black rectangles in everyone’s pocket are changing things here as well. On our first walk through Thimphu, we noticed groups of teenage girls going through a strangely similar and familiar ritual – they were recording TikTok routines in much the same way our teenage daughter did a few years ago. Walking back from a temple visit where we marvelled at young monks studying ancient scrolls, we came across those very same teenagers laughing and goofing around on video calls and social media as they walked into the village below.

Our first night was at the Druk Hotel, which was charming, comfortable and had an excellent restaurant. Bhutanese food is great and different from Indian or Chinese traditions. Pesticides are banned, and small-scale farming produces simple and delicious produce that feels very close to home. Special mention goes to momos, fat dumplings filled with veg. As an aside, you can visit one of the many Nepalese restaurants in Portugal to get a good approximation of Bhutanese cuisine ...

Unless you are into birdwatching (we met several tour groups who were), the main activities in Bhutan are hiking and temple visits. By design, most temples are at the top of hills and (smallish) mountains, so the two go hand in hand. Before we left, we were a bit apprehensive about the amount of walking and the higher altitudes, but in reality, anyone of moderate fitness can easily enjoy the amazing valleys, forests and mountain paths. We never ventured much above 3000m Momo – if mountaineering is your thing, Nepal will probably be more your speed.

The pictures from this trip tell the story better than I can in this article. From the monasteries of Taktsang, Cheri and Gangtey, the dzong and the ‘divine madman temple’ at Punakha, nature walks through Phobjikha valley and innumerable stupas, iron footbridges, white flags and prayer wheels, it was all so beautiful and authentic in a way that is hard to describe – except to say that I can still see, smell and taste the spirit of Bhutan months after our trip.

The crowning glory of any Bhutan trip is the walk up to Taktsang, or Tiger’s Nest, a monastery of preposterous beauty at the top of a 3200m forest trail, a stunning two-hour hike up the mountain with about 950 steps at the end. A pilgrimage site for Buddhists, it is the kind of place that is special, whichever god you believe in. Walking back into the valley, we were a bit giddy and lightheaded from the combination of exertion, awe and sense of achievement, ready to relax and unwind from a very intense and special week of adventures.

As luck (or an organised travel planner) would have it, I had booked us into the Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary in Paro for our two last nights. During our trip, we stayed in a range of three and four-star hotels and guesthouses, and all of them were good to great. The Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary was exceptional: a five-star hotel with delicious gourmet food, wonderful views, and a spa with a difference. We were prepped for our final climb to Tiger’s Nest with herbal tea, which might help with altitude sickness (reader, it worked!), but the main attraction was the hot stone bath afterwards. A cross between a sauna and a very, very hot bath, it uses menchu, which means medicinal water and consists of fresh water and Artemisia absinthium (wormwood) leaves. The combination is heated with river stones that have been roasted over a fire until they are burning hot. It was an incredibly effective way to soothe sore muscles and relax our overstimulated senses.

Bhutan is not easy to get to, and you will need to put your walking boots on, but, as so often, accessibility is a trade-off for quality of experience. It is so worth it, and I can honestly say that our Bhutan trip will remain with us for a long time.

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