algarvePLUS - November 2020 by Martin

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CHAUFFEUR

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SERVICES

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WEDDINGS

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MERCEDES S-CLASS, E-CLASS, V-CLASS AND SPRINTER, TESLA MODEL S & MODEL X, RANGE ROVER, MERCEDES CLASSIC 220 E

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07 E G 32 U U P F L 35 ST RO A A N 36 R HA YI T S IR NG 40 R EC TO SA 43 P F I DA RO PE E Y 50 O O PE N F 55 TH PH TH RT Y 58 O EM ST OT E S F O HE O A G 61 R W LF THE NT HA T C RA H 63 P M A HY DV TE HR O N IS 65 M V I T ER CE TM O H N 67 C HA AS UR EY TO 70 SH EX PP AG M R A E O P EN EN A PP CY TTE AT NE N D D S IN D R A C T S G FI O O UN N . . . A TS LL Y. ..

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F E A

Melissa Jane

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START OFF PLUS

SUSI ROGOL GOODKIND, EDITOR

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C O N T A C T S MARTIN GOODKIND

KIM COLLEY

Publisher +351 963 146 398 martin@algarveplusmagazine.com

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APT 1093, EC Olivas de St Ant (Loulé) 8101-904. Printed by Gráficas Piquer, Almeria Algarve Plus is published monthly. 6,000 copies are made available through a hand-picked distribution network from Faro to Paderne, Almancil, the Golden Triangle, Loulé, Sao Bras and Santa Barbara. Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any written material or illustration in any form for any purpose other than short extracts for agreed review purposes, is strictly forbidden. Algarve Plus does not accept liability for loss or damage to any materials submitted for publication. The views expressed by interviewees or contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or Algarve Plus. algarveplusmagazine.com

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This issue of AlgarvePLUS is the biggest yet. More pages, more special features, more things of interest and more advice from experts in different fields. What is exciting is that there is increased reaction every month – from readers saying they love it (thank you, thank you) to advertisers talking about the positive response they get. All of this adds hugely to the pleasure and pride we have in what is widely regarded as the best indepth read on the Algarve. It helps that we have a clear vision of the direction we want to take, and the support of our regular contributors who share the same passion for their adopted homeland. We’re already working on our big December issue which will be packed with inspirational articles and brimming over with Christmas present suggestions. If you have anything you would like to see included in our gift selection, get the details in fast and we’ll take it from there. And at any time, if you find a little gem worth sharing – a local restaurant, a new shop, a special service – let us know; if you love it, others almost certainly will. And that goes for entertainment, too – favourite Netflix offerings, for example; with long nights ahead, a roaring log fire and a few episodes of something special waiting (not forgetting a glass of red (see page 20!) staying home is a real pleasure. I hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we did creating it.

Welcome

NEWS PLUS

H E A D S TA R T

ALGARVE P L U S

Halo & Co is an awardwinning, design-driven brand loved by fashionistas worldwide for its avantgarde costume jewellery hair accessories. A beanie has been added to their portfolio. But not just any beanie;. the yarns are cruelty-free, sustainable and ethical – Blue Faced Leicester Sheep and alpaca blended to produce a soft warm luxurious yarn. Hand knitted and embellished with Swarovski crystals using couture beadwork techniques, each piece is an individual work of wearable art, €460. haloandco.com

F R O N T COV E R : This time of year Portugal's warming red wine come into their own

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In the Conde Naste Traveler’s 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards, more than 715,000 readers rated their travel experiences across the globe, placing the exclusive Porches resort hotel as the #14 destination spa resort in the world. “The results of this year’s survey, conducted at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, are a testament to the lasting power of a meaningful travel experience,” said Jesse Ashlock, U.S. Editor of Condé Nast Traveler. “The winners represent the best of the best for our audience and offer plenty of trip-planning inspiration for all the adventures we can’t wait to have next.” A member of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World collection, Vila Vita Parc enjoys a stunning clifftop location within beautiful subtropical gardens and incorporates Vila Vita Spa by Sisley, the first Sisley spa in Portugal. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE

Bear with us Everybody loves a koala so this adorable little chap will bring out the smiles. But he’s not just decorative… he’ll serve up a cuppa at a moment’s notice. This Aussie-made BPA-free silicone tea infuser reduces the use of wasteful tea bags, too. Just fill him with your favourite loose tea and hang him on the side of your mug. And smile. You can order direct at yellowoctopus.com

wish list

D ECO R M USTS

Chunky jumper, handknitted in 100% wool, €169, and lined wool croppedshort tweedy pants, €99, both by Portuguese designer Benedita Formosinho from Martina in Loulé.

LIGHT FA N S TA S T I C This rustic lamp that goes under the name Tall Guy is 89cm high, carved from natural tropical wood, and topped with a textured linen shade. From Simple Taste, Almancil and Albufeira, and online at simpletaste.pt. €179

SINGING THE BLUES

WHO WOODN’T LOVE THIS?

Potter Sue Binns whose jolly jugs are available at Côrte Real in Paderne, says she is fascinated by the way stripes create different visual impressions depending on their thickness and density. Her distinctive patterns are produced by brushing dilute cobalt over the dolomite glaze before firing to 1,2400C.

Indigenous Tree is a small company of crafts experts who travel across England to track down small local sawmills that can guarantee the provenance of the timber they supply. The company ships worldwide and all the items on their website can be personalised, and unique designs can be produced. Every piece is finished with coats of natural oil which can safely be used with food. Visit indiginoustress.com

NEWS PLUS

SHHHHHH… The secret to this good-looking sweater is the collar insert worn underneath it. With adjustable sidestraps to keep it in place, it will introduce a new dimension to your wardobe – and also makes a gorgeous gift. The company, Mimi’s Edit, ships worldwide and says you should allow 7-21 days to deliver in Europe. Find it on mimisedit.co.uk along with a host of other fashion firsts. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE

This month Charlie Perring is setting off on a 301 km non-stop trek of the Algarve to raise funds for the Wildlife Ranger Challenge – an initiative that supports the rangers who patrol the parks and game reserves of Africa to protect the wildlife. Charlie, who lives in the hills above Loulé, hopes the complete the traverse in five days, covering 60 km in each 24-hour period with short breaks for food and 40 winks! His challenge starts in Alcoutim and follows the GR13 and Via Algarviana trails, from the rolling hills of the Serra do Caldeirão through the barrocal farmlands, the mountainous section of the Serra de Monchique at Foia and down to Cape St Vincente. Charlie runs an adventure/ expedition business, Drift Adventure, so unsurprisingly he has done a fair bit of exploration right here on his doorstep. “Having walked sections of the Via Algarviana, ridden in the hills and paddled the Ria Formosa, it struck me how little people knew of Portugal’s interior,” he says. “In the coming years I plan to develop trips that explore this fascinating part of Iberia. Long Way Across is just a start but is primarily to raise funds for a cause of which I’m passionate about – protecting our planet’s wildlife.” Visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ Charles Perring to help raise money and read Charlie’s story in our December issue.

Os Agostos, the magnificent historic family-run estate nestling in the hills of Sta Bárbara de Nexe, boasts splendid grounds and real privacy, and has opened five charming rooms in the main building, each named after a family member or former worker. There’s Grandfather’s room, a suite with small hiding places used by grandfather Pinto in the old days and the adjoining old kitchen; Julia’s room – she was the seamstress of the family; Bá’s room – Bá was the last and most popular cook in the family service; Cadim’s room, named after the former babysitter to the numerous offspring of Catarina Pinto; and Albano’s room – he was a former house worker responsible for many of the renovation and recovery works and now working in the North of Portugal. This is a serious getaway-from-it option. Call Maria on 916 134 340 and visit osagostos.com for details.

LONG WAY ACROSS

TIME OUT

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This stunning bar stool in white and caramel leather is from the handsome new Nero collection by Vila Nova de Gaia-based design house, My Face. Visit myface.eu to be wow’d.

STAYC ATIO N

Beautiful

B E J A T H E A L E N T E J O I S O N O U R D O O R S T E P. GET IN THE CAR AND IN LESS THAN AN H O U R AN D A HALF YO U WI LL B E IN BEJA , THE MOST GLORIOUS M E D I E VA L S M A L L C I T Y I N PORTUGAL, AND ONE WITH A N OT- S O - S E C R E T S TO RY

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BRIAN REDMOND

Statue of Queen Dona Leonor, 14581525, after whom the museum is named

N 1669 a palm-sized book was published in Paris that caused a sensation and was so popular it was republished six times in its first year. The author was anonymous but the book was written in the form of five letters filled with the passion of unrequited love between a young woman and a French army officer. It struck a chord with Parisian society and captured imaginations across Europe. It was titled, Les Lettres Portugaises. The writer was rumoured to be a Portuguese aristocratic lady but in time it came to be believed that it was in fact a young nun, Mariana Alcoforado from Beja. There have been differences in scholarly opinion about the claim that Sorora Mariana was the author of the letters, but the fact is that she did indeed exist. She was sent to the convent at the tender age of 11 by her father who was a successful landowner and businessman. The convent, Nossa Senhora da Conceição, was run by the Franciscan order of ‘The Poor Ladies of Clare’ and was situated in the centre of the town; in Mariana’s time it was home to 300 nun novitiates and students, 150 servants, farm hands and day labourers, a doctor and a surgeon, priests, monks and a flock of 400 sheep. It was also a refuge for abused women; wives at the time were mistreated to an alarming degree.

Beja sits upon a 277-metre hill that overlooks the plains of southern Alentejo. It was founded by Julius Caesar as the southern capital of Lusitania and was called Pax Julia. It fell to the Muslim caliphate of Córdoba in the 8th century and became known as Beja. In 1031 it became an independent Muslim-ruled principality, one of many such Taifas on the Iberian peninsula until it was finally captured by the Portuguese King Dom Sancho II in 1234. His sucessor, Dom Dinis, ordered the construction of a castle

Battlements of the Castle of Beja

Rua de Pedro Soares 38 284 328 356

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The crown

Sorora Mariana Alcoforado lived out her life in the convent at Beja and died at the age of 83. Her young love may have been unrequited but she did, along with her Sisters, leave a legacy in Beja of culinary delights with many of them packed full of sinful sweetness. Beja’s Doces Conventuais not surprisingly have pork lard in the arsenal of special cake ingredients. Touchino de Ceu ‘heaven’s lard’ is a small almond cake and Abade de Priscos is a créme caramel prepared with lard, port wine. For those with a sweet tooth Beja has a lot to offer to satisfy that sugar urge. Mestre Cacau produces artesanal chocolates. The basic ingredient are chocolate chips sourced from Belgium but all the refinement and innovation is done onsite at this factory shop. Once again the flavours of the Alentejo are widely used. Rosemary, red wines, honey, aguardente, olive oil are all used to bring the chocolates to life. There is a tea room at the shop where you can enjoy the freshly-made cakes and biscuits all enhanced by the wonder of the cocoa bean.

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Left: ceiling in the convent Nossa Senhora da Conceição. Below: Beautiful ArabesqueManueline marble window and surround

The convent would have been a place of learning and sophistication where, besides their religious tutelage, the nuns were also instructed in the arts, music, and other genteel pursuits. Ironically, men who for the most part had mistreated their wives, would be regular visitors to convents at the time for recreation. They were encouraged by the Abbesses – who looked forward to their potential as benefactors – but would have to draw the line at some of the more zealous expectations of the men who became known as Freiráticos or ‘Nun Lovers’. Beja was a garrison town during Portugal’s Restoration Wars against Spain, and the French, who were mutual enemies of the Spanish, had a military presence in the town and it is with one of their officers, Noël Bouton, the Marquis de Chamilly, that the young Mariana became smitten.

Sweet things

DAYS OUT PLUS

The church of Misericordia

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Teatro Pax Júlia

The former Convent which houses the Regional Museum

Beja features an abundance of places of interest from grand art centres and great little places to eat local specialities upon the site of the Roman settlement. The castle, which can be seen from a great distance has the tallest keep, the Torre Menagem, of any castle in Portugal. It towers 40 metres in height. It is open to the public and is accessed by a 197-step spiral staircase. The views from the top are spectacular and accentuate your awareness of the town’s strategic importance. The labyrinth of streets as seen from above house a wealth of small traditional businesses. Resident here are metal workers, harness makers and ceramicists and of course there’s a great selection of eateries. But before sitting down to a meal or local sweettreat, there are certain attractions you must make time to visit: Museu Jorge Vieira Jorge Vieira was a celebrated surrealist sculptor, having learned his trade from none other than Henry Moore in London. Some 20 of his abstract works were donated to this gallery, now named after him, and form a permanent exhibit, while other spaces stage temporary shows for regional artists, and a studio for Beja’s artists. Largo Dr. Lima Faleiro 1

Pelourinho Pillories, where law-breakers were put on public display so that the locals could vent their feelings against them, are found in most Portuguese towns. Many featured elaborate stone carvings and a fair bit of marble. Beja’s one, constructed in 1938, is a faithful reproduction of the original (part of which can be seen in the Castle grounds) and incorporates rosettes, and an iron emblem representing King Manuel I and Portugal. Praça da República

Igreja de N Sra de Prazeres The interior of the 17th-century Church of Our Lady of Joy is worth seeing for the richness of its decoration. The baroque spirit is much in evidence in statuary, carvings, tiles and paintings, created over a 20-year period. Inside the church is the Beja Episcopal Museum, founded in 1892 to prevent religious artworks from the city’s monasteries and convents finding their way to other homes.

reopened in 2005 as the proud home to dance, musical productions, plays and film. Largo de S.João

Museu Rainha Dona Leonor Housed in the former Convent of the Conception is the Regional Museum of Beja, the oldest museum in Portugal. The architecture is breathtaking, and the decoration matches, with jewel-coloured frescos, glorious tiles – some going back to the convent’s construction in the 1400s – and a wealth of Flemish, Spanish and Portuguese artworks and Roman artefacts. Largo da Conceição

Núcleo Museológico da Rua do Sembrano Excavations in the centre of Beja in the 1980s and ’90s revealed signs of civilisation from as early as the Bronze Age, many in extraordinary condition. A small museum with glass floors has been built so you can see the layers of history beneath.

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R. do Sembrano

Teatro Pax Júlia Beja’s faux art-deco theatre, built in 1928 and abandoned in 1990, was

Museu Botânico If plants, plant life and objects made from

Pousada Convento

Special tastes Among the popular eateries is Pulo do Lobo a traditional Beja tasca that specialises in black pork dishes and incredible fresh seafood at modest prices. Praçeta da Rainha Dona Leonor 284 327 398

Luiz da Rocha has a pedigree that goes back nearly 130 years. Its menu is based on seasonal availability with Alentejo pork and beef first choice. It is also the home of a famous pasteleria and its award-winning Porquinhos Doces or Sweet Little Pigs, made from marzipan and coated in chocolate. R. Cap. João Francisco de Sousa 63 284 323 179

Restaurant Os Infantes has bundles of charm and offers local produce with a modern

Rua dos Infantes 16

WA N T M O R E . . .?

936 171 317

Behind an unassuming door lies another Beja eating institution in what was formerly a wine warehouse. Adega Típica 25 de Abril is a bustling restaurant with high terracotta ceilings and decorated with agrarian paraphernalia and great big clay wine urns. The menu is rustic with black pork and wild boar, grilled or roasted in the oven, served with migas alentejan, breadcrumbs soaked overnight in water, garlic and olive oil sometimes with paprika. Açorda de Bacalhau is another favourite on the menu. The daily specials vary but always have big flavours. There is a great buzz about the place and it’s good value for money too.

Then plan an overnight stay. The Pousada Convento de Beja, above, in a former 13th-century Franciscan convent in the heart of the historic centre, offers charming rooms with original features, attractive grounds and an outdoor pool and tennis court. Rua D. Nuno Alvares Pereira

Rua da Moeda 23

A short 20-minute hop away is Herdade dos Grous a secluded country estate that produces its award-winning wine. Gardens, a pool, an articifial lake, vineyards – naturally – and olive groves are a great setting for some time out, excellent food and the option of horseriding.

284 325 960

7800-601 Albernoa

churches with lush interiors, to the sites of Roman relics, and wines. You can pack so much into a single day trip.

Faithful reproduction of the Pillory

Roman finds beneath the Núcleo Museológico

The interior of the Regional Museum

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twist with dishes such as, peppers, figs, and plums stuffed with fresh cheese. Guinea fowl salad with grape jus and almonds, all sourced locally. And then there´s a house speciality, Serpa Cheese with caramelised nuts. This local cheese, which has a ‘Protected Designation of Origin’ status is made from sheep’s milk and, unlike other cheeses that contain animal rennet, it is curdled using an extract from wild thistles that grow in the region.

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raw, natural materials fascinate you, then a visit to this botanical museum at Beja’s school of agriculture is for you. The museum hosts ever-changing exhibitions demonstrating what can be done with the likes of resins, seeds, pigments, fibres, timber and more, proof of nature and man’s ingenuity.

A LG A RV E P LU S E XC LU S I V E

Meet the

T R A S H T R A V E L E R GERMAN MOLECULAR BIOLOGIST ANDREAS NOE TRADED IN HIS CAREER IN THE BIOMEDICAL /PHARMACEUTICAL I N D U S T R Y T O L A U N C H T H E T R A S H T R AV E L L E R I N I T I AT I V E . W E TA L K E D T O T H E M A N W H O I S L O O K I N G T O M A K E A DIFFERENCE TO THE FUTURE OF OUR PLANET

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SUSI ROGOL-GOODKIND

CHANGE PLUS

“When I arrived in Portugal, I spent every spare minute surfing,” he says. “Crossing the beach on the way to the sea and omce in the water, you are confronted with plastic; it is everywhere. If you think a beach is clean, take a really close look and you’ll find endless microplastic pieces; it is no longer possible to remove them all. I realised that I needed to start a campaign to raise awareness of the issue and make people, businesses and governments understand the urgency to concentrate on the development and provision of sustainable products rather than plastic.”

Lisbon-based Andreas quit his job and the financial security that went with it in order to protect the ocean. “I took all my savings. I was prepared to risk everything to develop the Trash Traveler project and change attitudes. We have to protect the most important eco system on our planet – the ocean.” Andreas was already conscious of the dangers of plastic and had rejected use of it years earlier, but it was when he made his first journey as a trash traveller that his ideas and vision for the future fused together as a concept. “I took my camper van from Germany, through France through Spain and on to Portugal. Everywhere I stopped, I picked up plastic and I produced a videoclip and ukulele song to gain attention and make a statement people would listen to. It is only with a positive and educational approach that we can enlighten others and redirect a mindset. That’s my belief.

Recognising the urgency

ago, if you were on or near the beach in Quarteira you will have seen a group of people working together gathering waste. They were from Almancil International Rotary Club who, under President Uschi Kuhn, plan to develop environmental awareness projects for local schools. Instructing them was Andreas Noe, aka The Trash Traveler [sic], pictured right. For just over a year now, Andreas has been journeying along our coasts, focusing on the damage that has been done to our land and seas by lack of knowledge and lack of caring.

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N A SUNDAY morning, just a few weeks

CHANGE PLUS

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Almancil International Rotary Club is already planning an on-going educational programme for schools here on the Algarve “In Portugal, I

travelled from “In Portugal, I travelled from beach to beach from north to south for seven months. Within that time more than 150 mini-videos and ukulele songs about the dangers of plastic pollution were produced. Demonstrating the problem in an educational way without finger pointing does make a difference. I carry my ukulele and make people smile while showing them the sad reality. “In cities, it is less of a problem as local councils naturally have an interest of keeping everything clean. However, once you get to remote beaches it is shocking. Water bottles, cups, yoghurt bottles everywhere. These have not been left by individuals, but are brought to the beaches by the currents of the oceans. “The problem we have is the production and consumption of plastic. Worldwide, only 14% of plastic is recycled; everything else which goes to the Ecopoint bins is burnt, or sent to landfill or to poorer countries in Asia or Africa. Our plastic is overloading their waste systems and entering the ocean on the other side of the world. “My journey is not about cleaning – the clean-ups only expose the problems we are facing; they won’t solve anything. We need to educate people and get everyone to refuse single-use plastic. Bars, restaurants and a whole range of businesses need to make the commitment to use sustainable alternatives. We have to adopt a different approach. If we are to safeguard our future, it is imperative that we invest in circular waste management. “The catastrophy is everywhere. Here in Portugal my Plastic Hike project has covered every centimetre from the river Minho in the north to the border with Spain in the south – 832 kilometes of coastline hiking in 60 days without a break. Together with more than 50 NGOs [nongovernmental organisations, not-for-profit] I collected 1.4 tons of plastic. “This is about doing something extraordinary to open the eyes of others. If I can suffer and hike the whole coastline, it should be easy to refuse single-use plastic. It is about community. I am now meeting all NGOs to create a network of environmentalists who can push sustainability forward. The more there are of us, and the more focused the effort, the stronger we will be in achieving our mission. “We are raised to believe that everything we put into the recycling bins will be recycled. But only a tiny amount will. Count the number of products in plastic on the supermarket shelves – there is no way that can all be recycled. On the beach you see plastic, but that is nothing compared to the plastic that is in the ocean and harming the wildlife. More than eight million tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans every year.”

More than eight million tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans every year damaging our plant and harming our wildlife.

The next stages The Plastic Hike is being filmed by Andreas’s team who are producing a wake-up call in the form of an awareness documentary. The resulting film will be released in 2021 in Portugal and shown at festivals, to businesses, to schools, and integrated into municipality activities. Supporting this drive will be a full programme of talks and workshops focused on the dangers of single-use plastic. At the same time, all trash collected from The Plastic Hike will be transformed into art pieces by the community of Portuguese artists who work with ocean plastic. 2021 will see a major exhibition in Lisbon, with ten artists are already confirmed. Without question it will attract international notice. The Plastic Wave, Andreas’ symbol for caring about the environment is the first art piece. It is a surfboard made of an old fridge, cigarette butts, plastics, and old trousers which will accompany him on a tour along the Portuguese coastline to meet professional surfers who will ride the board and push the awareness message even further. It is in its final stages now, and part of the worldwide upcycle contest of the Surfrider Foundation. “Spreading the word and changing habits are the essence of this project. As I said, it is not about cleaning. It is about living with different beliefs, sharing a sustainable vision, and refusing single-use plastic. I don’t want a Trash Traveler army who cleans all. We need to stop, look, listen and rethink modern-day lifestyles. The issue we are dealing with is at its source. To that end I am investing more time in education and awareness with kids, consulting companies and creating campaigns to convince politicians that action is essential to create a better world. I am seeking partners, investors in art, windows for educational workshops and special projects. We need sustainable solutions for packaging, and we need them now. “I have a team around me; a driver and logistics supporter who can move trash from beaches. All trash is counted and monitored – data is vitally important to a biologist like me in order to push forward regulations. And I have two more team members taking charge of the artistic collaborations ensuring that trash materials reach those giving their time and talent to create pieces that will tell the story. We have to work together – all of us – to make our world a better place.” If you want to get involved as a partner, investor, promoter, artist, contact Andreas at thetrashtraveler@gmail.com | @thetrashtraveler | thetrashtraveler.wordpress.com/

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+351 289 012 373 // +351 967 946 216 enquiries@casaverde-int.com QUINTA SHOPPING STORE 103 ON THE 1ST FLOOR 8135-024, ALMANCIL

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CHECK POINT THIS SEASON, MUTED BROWNS L E A D T H E WAY A N D P L A I D S P L AY A PA R T I N T H E B I G S T Y L E S T O R Y. EMMA CAMPUS SHOPS AROUND

01. H&M twill ‘shacket’ Mar Shopping €24.99 02. SANTONI leather Monk sneaker Fashion Clinic, Quinta Shopping €450 03. BURBERRY LONDON eau de toilette notino.pt €27.90 04. H&M wool/polyester scarf Mar Shopping €9.99 05. BURBERRY Check intarsia wool polo shirt €990 pt.burberry.com 06. ORLEBAR suede sneakers Dunas Lifestyle, Quinta Shopping €195 07. MASSIMO DUTTI slim-fit check shirt Mar Shopping €39.95

FASHION PLUS

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08. LACOSTE LEATHER WALLET Forum Algarve €85 09. ZARA checked cardi Mar Shopping 39.95 10. BRUNELLO CUCINELLI padded down gilet Fashion Clinic, Quinta Shopping €2,950 11. JACQUEMUS gilet €530 and pants €730 embroidered to create check effect jacquemus.com 12. MASSIMO DUTTI leather, wool and cashmere gloves Forum Algarve €49.95 13. ORLEBAR sunglasses Dunas Lifestyle, Quinta Shopping €295 14. ZARA MENS limited edition checked coat €129 15. HUGO BOSS checked sweater Quinta Shopping €159

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WINE PLUS

1. Cortes De Cima ‘Courela’ 2018 Alentejo The little brother to household favourite ‘Chamine’, this is another great wine from the Cortes De Cima portfolio, Alentejo typified at the low, low asking price of €3.75, at AlgarSuper, and Pingo Doce. Hard to believe, really, but it is another great example of what Portuguese wine makers can achieve from entry level wines right the way up.

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2. Nora Dos Velhos 2014 Douro I have to say that this is among the best wines I’ve tried in Portugal that come in at below €10 – a wonderful expression of Douro’s schist soil terroir, flinty and mineral with generous core fruit. A beautiful fine grain tannin coupled with the bottle age, allows the component varietals not only to marry together, but evolve as one. It can be found exclusively in supermarkets priced at aroubd €4.95. It drinks well above this price point, and I defy Douro fans anywhere to find me something not only better but even as good for under €12. I’m always happy to except when I’m wrong (on the rare and galling occasions that it happens) on this matter though I’ll brook no argument.

3. Evel 2017 Douro Another superbly priced and over-achieving €6-€7 offering from Portugal’s iconic north. Made from a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) grapes, this wine typifies the region. Dark berry fruit, schist -driven mineral back bone and a smoky, almost charred, finish on the palate. The wine has matured well in a short period and is testament to one of the Douro Valley’s first registered and accredited wine producers, Real Campanhia Velha, which has been making wines there for over a century. This wine is readily available in Pingo Doce, Apolonia and many other supermarkets.

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P O R T U G U E S E R E D S T H AT O F F E R N I G H T S T O R E M E M B E R AND CHANGE FROM A TENNER… HERE ARE SOME OF THIS C O U N T R Y ’ S B E S T- K E P T S E C R E T S – R A R E T R E AT S T H AT A P P E A L T O T H E PA L AT E A S M U C H A S T H E P O C K E T

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The Algarve has so many hidden gems, whether that comes in the guise of blue skies, sunshine, our quality of life, or fine wine at an affordable price.

5. Quinta Carvalhais ‘Gráo Vasco’ 2017 Dáo Coming in at a wallet-busting €3.69 in most supermarkets, based on a price:quality ratio this is one of the best red wines I’ve ever tried. From the Dáo, it is a medium-bodied red – smooth, supple but teaming with flavour and also perfect to serve slightly chilled on a sunny day with a lunch of cold meats or salads. It defies its price tag and scorns its over-priced neighbours on the shelf. Available in Aldi, Pingo Doce, Algar-Super and can be bought in individual bottles or great quantities, it is perfectly fine to serve to guests.

All of the wines listed here are also available at retail prices for next day deliver y from No Contact C atering.

wines at gretail for/next No T : 2 8 9 All 3 9 of 7 the 784 / E listed : n o chere o n tare a c also t c a available tering@ m a iprices l.com F B day : f adelivery c e b o ofrom k.co m Contact / n o c o Catering. ntactcatering/ instagram - @no_contactcatering

From Portugal’s most far-flung northern reaches, the very embodiment of ‘the diamond in the rough’ analogy. A rapidly-emerging region among wine enthusiasts and gaining gradual traction on a domestic market if not internationally as of yet, this is Portugal’s best kept national secret. Trás-Os-Montes is usually synonymous with white wine production, as with its northern neighbours in Vinho Verde, they are better known for their cool climate, altitude driven whites. This particular offering is made from old vines, a field blend made up of multiple typified varietals and a number of indigenous evolutions. Wild berry fruit, elegant mouth feel, fresh but beautifully integrated acidity and a persistent finish. This wine has a velvety character, layers of flavour, supremely complex and beguiling nose, it simply keeps giving till it’s gone. It will retail only in garrafeiras and can be found at the likes of Apolonia, Garrafeira Veneza and boutique wine outlets, at around the €10 mark. Certainly worth every penny.

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4. Mont’Alegre Vinhas Velhas 2016: Trás-Os-Montes

Just another reason to discover what Lisbon has to offer. Not just whites, and not just a nice place to spend time. There are more and more serious wines coming to the fore from what I perceive to be one of Portugal’s most progressive and exciting DOCs. Casa Santos Lima aren’t focusing on subterfuge, smoke and mirrors, just good wine making. Colossal, as the name suggests, is not designed for the faint of heart; it is a 14% blended bulldozer, softened down by coastal influence and canny craftsmanship. A blend of Syrah (among the most successful international grapes to be introduced to Portugal), Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouchet, Tinta Roriz, it sees long maceration times pre/post fermentation and ageing time of eight months in French and American oak. The overall effect is ‘New World’ – created by rich and robust red fruit, cinnamon and clove, oak ageing that gives a distinct but well integrated aroma and flavour of vanilla, toasty on the finish. You’ll find it at Pingo Doce, at around €9.95. So, to summarise: it’s no surprise that though winter is coming, the stark realities for the coming months do not have to include expensive wines, excessive rain, or grey days.

6. Casa Santos Lima ‘Çolossal’ 2016 Lisboa

INSPIR ATIONA L

I S L A N D I L H A D E S E R TA I S T H E L E A S T D E V E L O P E D O F T H E A L G A R V E ’ S F O U R S A N D B A R I S L A N D S , A N D A S O U R C E O F I N S P I R AT I O N F O R J A N E S K I N G L E Y, O N E O F B R I TA I N ’ S M O S T A C C L A I M E D MARITIME ARTISTS

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C A R O LY N K A I N

After making several more visits, Jane created huge dramatic canvasses capturing many aspects of the seafront beaches. She has also studied and painted the island’s lagoon shore. Here, the water laps more calmly and the sand is noticeably finer. Boardwalks protect the fragile vegetation where colonies of sandwich terns can be found nesting from late spring to early summer. “The views are incredibly serene,” says Jane. “The natural world seems entirely undisturbed. Worryingly, all of these low-lying landscapes are threatened by the melting of the ice caps caused by global warming. Their unusual ecology might disappear forever. I am glad to have taken the opportunity of painting Ilha Deserta while it still exists.” Similar barrier islands frame 13 per cent of the earth’s coastlines. They etch the eastern seaboard of North and South America, parts of West Africa and India, south and western Australia and along most of the North Sea coast of continental Europe. A few are located in southern Europe along the Mediterranean Sea, as well as protecting the Atlantic coastlines of Spain’s Costa de la Luz and the eastern limits of the Algarve. An exhibition of Jane Skingley’s recent paintings is currently on display at Galeria Côrte-Real in Paderne. Her work has also been selected by the Royal Society of Marine Artists to celebrate its 65th anniversary and displayed in London’s Mall Galleries. She has exhibited at Glyndebourne Opera House, the Henley Festival and across three continents.

GALERIA CÔRTE- REAL is signposted from Boliqueime, Ferreiras and Paderne O P E N : T H U R S D AY t o S U N D AY, 1 1 A M - 5 P M

T: 9 1 2 7 3 7 7 6 2 / c o r t e r e a l a r t e . c o m

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HE ALGARVE’S sandbar islands stretch along the coast for 45km between the tip of the isthmus known as Praia de Faro to Manta Rota in the east. All four share similar physical characteristics but they have developed in different ways. Ilha Deserta is completely uninhabited; the few dozen buildings that once stood there were demolished in order that it could be given maximum protection status within the Ria Formosa Nature Park. Permission was granted for a row of huts to be constructed for storing fishing tackle and a restaurant on stilts, Estaminé. There are no other man-made structures. Visitor numbers are restricted by the limited ferry service that departs from a jetty beside Faro’s city walls. The boat arrives on Ilha Deserta close to ‘mainland’ Portugal’s most southerly tip, Cabo de Santa Maria, marked by a lighthouse. Just across the water is another lighthouse on Ilha Culatra. Jane Skingley recalls her first visit to the island: “White-topped rollers were curling along the man-made piers throwing bubbles of foaming spindrift into the air. Fishing boats plied their way through turbulent rising crests and deep troughs. It was an exciting scene. “From the island’s Atlantic beaches the roar of waves was constant, and I noticed the water turning turquoise as it fell onto the coarse white sand. A huge variety of shells littered the shoreline, glinting like jewels along the beach.”

COLLECTION PLUS

A M A R A N T E A W A I T S ABOUT AN HOUR EAST OF PORTO, THERE IS A LITTLE T O W N T H AT F O R H U N D R E D S O F Y E A R S H A S FA L L E N A S L E E P T O T H E L U L L A B I E S S U N G B Y T H E TÂ M E G A R I V E R T H AT PA S S E S T H R O U G H I T S C E N T R E . G O T H E R E , B E E N C H A N T E D , A N D C E L E B R AT E L O V E

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ANNA ZIELANZY

HE SUN is rising above the river. A narrow

path, majestic trees, and a silhouette of the bridge emerge from the dead of the night. Single rays of light touch the surface of the water, shine and run through its essence into eternity. Another day is about to start in Amarante. The day when local sellers will go to their stands to sell sweets; the day when the smell of freshly-brewed coffee will attract passersby into one of the cafés with balconies that hover above the surface of the water; the day that pilgrims and wanderers are going to pass through this city, guided by Saint Jacob’s shells, an inexplicable power of the Universe. Sunrise is the best prize for getting up much too early. I can admire São Gonçalo bridge, shining in its full, massive splendour; there is no place for doubts… it is the crucial point of Amarante. You can see the bridge from almost every place, emerging

from the corner of the old buildings, presenting its beauty to the people, who stand on the bank of Tâmega, or shyly hiding behind yellow leaves on the tree branches. The name of the bridge commemorates the most important person in this city: Gonçalo. Even though he was beatified by the church, for Portuguese believers he is São Gonçalo – the Saint. This Dominican monk arrived in Amarante at the beginning of the 13th century and played a crucial role in the architectural development of this area.

The perfect name Amar is the Portuguese verb ‘to love’. Why and how did this town get that name? It is hard to say, but it seems like São Gonçalo is responsible for it. According to local stories, he was a perfect matchmaker. With his wisdom, he could find love for older widows and widowers, heal male impotency, and help singles to get married.

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This enchanted town that sits in a curve of the shimmering river has its own love story

The bridge was his main opus, connecting the banks of the Tâmega, creating an easy pass between two hills on either side of the river. After his death, Amarante blossomed, thanks to the pilgrims who went there to see vivid memories of the famous monk, and the many people who chose to live in the place where they could experience the power of the saint of fertility, and love life. The residents of Amarante rebuilt São Gonçalo’s bridge in 1763, after a flood destroyed the work of the monk. During Napoleon’s invasion and the civil war, Portuguese troops fought on this bridge and saved Amarante from destruction. A big church which, like the bridge, is also named after the saintly monk dominates the landscape of the city. It was created in 1540 on the place where São Gonçalo’s grave was located. With a majestic portico executed in the Baroque style, it is one of the most high-grade examples of sacral architecture in Northern Portugal.

The legacy of Gonçalo is still alive in Amarante. If you're looking for love, or want to heal your bed problems, no worries. According to beliefs, São Gonçalo has been helping lovers long after his own death. The small chapel, with a tomb located in the middle of it, is usually filled with the smell of fresh flowers. Carnations are the main decoration during national celebrations. Praying to São Gonçalo is supposed to help with all the problems you may have. In the church sacristy, the old sculpture of São Gonçalo can be found. Pull the tassel attached to the monk's robe and expect to get married within the year. Outside of the church, little carts are piled high with local sweet treats. Under the colourful umbrella, older ladies call passersby buy some of their delicacies. Teenagers giggle and point at the pile of phallic-shaped cakes. These are a local delicacy and come in different sizes and, as they are hand-made, also in various shapes. These specialties, which

DISCOVERING PLUS

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Top left clockwise: Sweet pastries that were once made illegal but today are very much part of Amarante's personality; the narrow backstreets full of charm; the amazing São Gonçalo Bridge that never fails to stun, whatever time of day

have a few names including colhões de São Gonçalo, caralhinhos, and quilhõezinhos, were illegal during the Estado Novo, when the government considered them amoral and banned them from being sold. According to tradition, a man should offer one to the parents of the girl he wanted to marry. Of course, the bigger the better. It's not clear where the custom came from. Considering that Amarante used to be a conservative town, with a rich Catholic culture, most probably it has its roots in the pagan cultures in which sexuality and fertility played a crucial role. Try the best caralhinhos at Confeitaria O Moinho.

The view from the bridge When you look down from the bridge, a rural scene appears. The waters of the Tâmega steadily flow, swinging boats that someone attached to trees with rusty chains. And you can't say you've seen Amarante if you haven’t had a stroll by the river. It seems like on the river level, Amarante is another world. A separated place, without the hustle and bustle of the town, without busy cafés and the old ladies loudly encouraging tourists to taste their wares. After steep stairs that lead from the bridge a few metres down to the bank of the river, the top part of Amarante seems to be very far away. An enormous wall keeps the soil and protects it from collapsing. Roots of the trees from the upper part wade through the stones, creating different shapes and reminding that they can find a way through all human creations. The narrow path that I follow for a while, enjoying the beautiful scenery, opens up to the natural lawn with old elms that proudly surrender to the soft caress of the wind. Brown leaves fall fast or in slow-motion, depending on the gusts, and stop under my feet, preaching the upcoming autumn. A few minutes by the river is enough to know that on the lower part of the city, water rules, showing its stillness on the open waterway and roaring with power on the steps near the beach. Here and there, the little island with willows creates a home for wild birds, interrupting the constant run of the water that stubbornly heads towards the ocean. Admiring the sunset that colours the water in intense shades of pink and red, I know that Amarante is a perfect place for all kinds of wanderers. It doesn't matter if you believe in São Gonçalo, or you just feel connected with nature. The city has it all to give a spiritually fulfilling time to all kind of explorers.

T R AV E L T I P S GETTING THERE FROM PORTO By car it’s a 60.5km run on the A4

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By bus, the journey is 50 minutes. Buses leave every two hours

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By taxi, allow €40€55 and 40 minutes

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WHERE TO S TAY There are many choices here, in every category, but Casa da Calçada Relais & Chateaux stands out as exceptional. What was a grand palace is five-star luxury all the way – lush and plush with amazing views and a Michelinstarred restaurant that is itself a reason to visit. +351 255 410 830 / reservas@ casadacalcada.com

WORTH VISITING The Romanesque Route: This tour takes in some 58 monuments, including monastries, castles churches and towers found around the rivers Tâmega, Sousa and the Douro. The four-day tour will provide you with a never-to-beforgotten experience, but of course you can settle for a shorter taster-visit, too. Find out more at rotadoromanico.com

www.taviradartes.com Visit us: Travessa Jacques Pessoa 8,Tavira, 8800-374 Call us: 962 012 111 Email us: taviradartes@gmail.com Follow us:

www.facebook.com/taviradartes

www.instagram.com/tavira.dartes

GARDENING PLUS

BURFORD HURRY HAS LIVED AND DESIGNED GARDENS IN THE ALGARVE FOR MORE T H A N 3 0 Y E A R S . PA S T P R E S I D E N T O F T H E M E D I T E R R A N E A N G A R D E N I N G A S S O C I AT I O N P O R T U G A L ( M G A P ) , H E K N O W S T H E VA L U E O F P L A N T S T H AT AWA K E N T H E S E N S E S

T H E P E R F U M E D G A R D E N

I THINK we can all agree that over recent

months our gardens have been peaceful sanctuaries – places where we can sit and dream, or read a book or have a relaxed breakfast or early evening drink. When creating a garden, the first thing that we normally think about is visual impact – the size of plants, colours, shapes, textures – but I would like to suggest that, because of its very nature, a garden should be more than a visual delight and provide different and special experiences. Think ‘beautiful garden’. Now shut your eyes and listen to the occasional tinkle of metal bells or the gentle clatter of wooden wind chimes, the splash of a fountain, a blackbird calling in a tree. Now, breathe deeply and imagine the fragrance of blossoms in the air. These subtle elements of

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BRIAN REDMOND

sound and scent are certainly not visual but they do add to the magic and charm of your garden. Think ‘perfume’ and the shrubs and climbers with their own, distinct and often heady, fragrance. Dama da Noite (Cestrum nocturnum) is the one shrub in the Algarve that has become synonymous with scent. On an evening walk in the height of a hot summer, I always come across a thick, wonderful draught of Dama da Noite – there is one planted in a large pot at the back of the Igreja Matriz in Loulé and the perfume fills the square. I’m sure there are many of these cestrums in our gardens. When driving through the Algarve in late winter and early spring, we are surrounded by the sweet perfume of orange blossom. Many of us, too, have stood under an almond tree in mid-January and noticed the delicate sweet smell of those fragile and lovely blossoms.

Then there are those old-fashioned fragrant annual and biennial charmers in the garden â&#x20AC;&#x201C; sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) and stocks (Matthiola hybrids), the latter which grow so well in this part of the world; freesias, the small highly scented bulbs that flower in February and early March in many colours, and the small grey-leaved pinks (Dianthus) with their pungent clove perfume to add to the mix. A particular joy of Mediterranean gardens is the wide range of aromatic herbs including mint, basil, sage, thyme, lavender and rosemary. Placed beside a path where movement stirs the aromas into the air, these plants have much to offer in return for very little water or maintenance. The enclosed spaces of more formal gardens gain most benefit from scented plants, as is evidenced in Islamic garden design. Together with cooling water rills, cypress trees, musk roses, almonds for their blossom, and jasmine, scent plays an important role in enhancing the

courtyard garden as a place for quiet contemplation. If you do not have a walled formal garden, it might be worth thinking about creating a small enclosed sun trap, for the winter months particularly. This will radiate heat at the end of the day and promote the production of fragrance from your plants. DonÂ´t forget to make room for an inviting bench or seat. When considering planting for scent, think in layers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; low-growing aromatic plants or herbs by pathways, pots on steps or stairways, climbing plants trained up into pergolas or on walls. And remember to plant under windows so that the perfumes can enter the house. As a garden is for all seasons, I suggest that you start planting shrubs and creepers that would provide a yearround fragrance; it is really not that difficult as there is an extensive range of fragrant plants which thrive in the Algarve. There is also a good book by Stephen Lacey, Scent in your Garden. The MGAP Autumn Fair had to be cancelled because of the pandemic. There is a list of recommended nurseries at mgaportugal.org/Nurseries.html where you can do your seasonal plant shopping. Please contact the nursery before your visit to arrange an appointment. This will give you the chance to pre-order your special plants and see the full range available. Please support our small specialist plant nurseries during this very difficult time and help ensure their survival for the future. Opposite page: Fragrant orange blossoms. This page, top left clockwise: old-fashioned roses; freesias that come to live in February; pots of sweet smelling flowers; slighty wild and full of charm

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Freesias, the small highly scented bulbs that flower in February and early March in many colours, and the small grey-leaved pinks (Dianthus) with their pungent clove perfume to add to the mix.

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ALGARVE P L U S

HE VAST open space of the Kit & Caboodle

warehouse-showroom in Almancil is packed with great-looking furniture and home accessories that for one reason or another are ready to take pride of place in a new home. It could be that the original owners are on the move, or ready for a revamp – whatever the cause, others have the opportunity to pick up tip-top, good-as-new stylish furnishings at brilliant prices. Need a new sofa? Want a mirror that dazzles? Ready for a contemporary dining room suite? What about a super-sized bed with all the top dressing detail? China? Glassware? Gifts galore? Whatever is on your would-like list, you’ll find it and more at K&C and best of all is that stock changes all the time.

Lots to love Also up there in the best-of-all category is a special service run by Philippa Taylor whose passion is upcycling and whose pride is giving something old a sparkling new personality. One side of the showroom is Philippa’s domain, where style is a priority and green is the ethos. “Pieces of furniture would come into the warehouse and you could see that a fresh coat of paint would turn them into something desirable,” she says.

The discovery of chalk paint which is waterbased, free of harsh chemicals, and can be used on wood, ceramics, fabrics and even marble, opened doors to new possibilities. Philippa hopped on a plane, headed for the UK, and took courses on different techniques including blending, raised stencilling, gilding, whitewashing and image transfer. The daughter of talented commercial artist father, and a mother into all-things arts ’n’ crafts, Philippa then dicovered her own creative side. “I like detailing – something that you can make pop with a bit of silver gilding wax or gold leaf – but mostly items that although looking a bit neglected and tired have hidden qualities that are just waiting to come to life with a bit of TLC. “I follow a number of other furniture painters and refinishers and get a lot of inspiration from them and I will also place a few project pieces in the upcycling area as this will prompt comments from visiting clients such as: ‘Oooh, I’d love that if it was in a moss green,’ or ‘Can you do that in a distressed old white look?’ I’m happy to oblige but if it doesn’t turn out as they pictured, there’s no commitment on their part. We’ve chalk painted chairs, vases, lampshades and even outdoor plastic furniture but I particularly like to work with wood as so many different looks are possible.” You can watch the various planning and production

W H AT WA S P R E L O V E D C A N N O W B E R E L O V E D W H E N P H I L I P PA TAY L O R OF KIT & CABOODLE TURNS A R E J E C T I N TO A M U S T H AV E . T H I S I S N E W F R O M O L D AT I T S B E S T, T H A N K S T O C R E AT I V E T H I N K I N G , DESIGN EXPERTISE , AND POTS OF T H E R I G H T PA I N T S

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TIME AROUND

PRELOVED PLUS

Learn from the expert If you are now looking at your bedside chest or drawers and hall table and wondering what magic can be worked to turn the disadvantaged to the delightful, you’ll be pleased to know that a workshop programme is on the drawing board for when Covid-19 allows. There will be afternoon and evening sessions for groups of up to 14 people with each workshop lasting three to four hours and probably involving food and wine! In addition, classes are planned to which keen ‘students’ can take a small item – a stool or wood chair perhaps – that they’d like to see re-done and learn about different techniques and the products that will do the job. You’ll come away inspired and looking to make your own mark in painting, blending, using craqueleur and glaze. Now about that headboard…

K I T & C A B O O D L E O P E N : 1 0 A M - 6 P M M O N D AY T O F R I D AY a n d 1 0 A M - 1 P M S AT U R D AY T: 2 8 9 3 9 4 2 5 7 / E : s a l e s @ k i t a n d c a b o o d l e . p t / k i t a n d c a b o o d l e . p t

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processes in the Upcyling Centre at the warehouse but more often than not the project Philippa is working on gets reserved before it is finished. And while she takes on special commissions, she prefers originating her own pieces. When selecting an item to revamp and rejuvenate, she looks for a challenge. A recent project called for breathing new life into an elderly Portuguese dressing table with a marble top. “It was tricky because some of the drawers needed fixing and the whole unit was desperate for a really good clean – I think it had been stored in a basement for a number of years. The sheer weight of the whole piece was a problem in itself. I removed the drawers to do some side stencilling and the structure started to bow! And I also had difficulty removing the hardware as it was fixed tight and was in danger of breaking. The painting part was the easy bit!” Chalk paint is a preferred medium for so many projects. If you are keen to go the DIY route, Philippa suggests you get started on with the RustOleum range of chalk paints that are sold in Leroy Merlin. Her favourites, though, are Annie Sloan and Dixie Belle which she orders from the UK. Both companies offer a wide range of colours and also sell all the little extras for finishing touches like wax, gel stain, glazes and varnishes. Algarve Express ships Philippa’s orders over.

Depending on the techinque and materials you opt for, you can produce distinct finishes that show your own handwriting. There’s real fun to be had, too, in achieving something special

SAFETY PLUS

10 TOP TIPS

FOR WINTER CRIME PREVENTION

1 M a k i n g y o u r h o m e s a f e Protecting your home against burglaries does not mean turning it into a fortress. Protection should reflect the risk and also be cost effective. Remember, security is only as good as the weakest point, so having a top-quality front door with security locks while the rear door is made of aluminium with a standard lock makes no sense. Physical security should always be matched by commonsense practices.

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H O M E S T H AT A R E N O T P R O P E R LY PROTEC TED O R LEF T EM PT Y A R E A N O P E N I N V I TAT I O N T O O P P O R T U N I S T S LO O K I N G FO R C A S H , ELEC TRO N I C E Q U I P M E N T, G O L D A N D O T H E R M E TA L S . H E R E ’ S H O W T O S TAY S A F E

2 I n s t a l l i n g a s e c u r i t y a l a r m It is advisable, especially in more rural areas, to install a security alarm using a reputable 24-hour monitoring and response company. Obtain at least two quotations and draw up a list of points they need to know before recommending a particular system. There are many discounted off-the-shelf systems available, but one size does not fit all. Having an alarm installed without taking into account that you have two large dogs may result in false alarms. Also, be aware that it is against the law to have CCTV covering approach roads or public areas.

3 I n s t a l l a s a f e Your safe needs to be well secured to a wall or floor and used. Keep valuables out of view from windows.

4 Check your house is secure b e f o r e l e a v i n g In terms of opportunistic property crime, the most frequent means of access is through open windows when the property is unoccupied. Spend five minutes before going out checking that windows and doors are closed and locked, lights are switched on at night, and cars locked if kept in a driveway or open car port.

5 D i s c a r d i n g p a c k a g i n g Buying a new TV or laptop? Take care when disposing of the packaging, especially at rubbish bins, that receipts are not left inside and your name and address are on the parcel.

6 W h e n y o u a r e a w a y It is important to create the impression that a property is occupied when in fact it is not. Use timers on lights and even radios, set to

activate at variable times. If the house is unoccupied over a longer period, register it as an empty property though the GNR or PSP websites or by visiting your local police station and completing a simple pro-forma. A neighbour visiting two to three times a week, drawing curtains and moving a car in a driveway, helps create a ‘lived in’ impression.

7 S o c i a l m e d i a If you are going to be absent for a time, do not advertise the fact on social media; posting holiday snaps to the world is a giveaway. There are those who monitor sites to check for opportunities when a property may be vacant. Do not post personal details on social media – I recall a person who displayed his driving licence on Facebook – an open invitation for identity theft.

8 P o s t b o x e s If you are away for some time, ensure that mail does not build up in your postbox. This is a sure sign that your property is unoccupied. Ask a neighbour or friend to collect mail regularly for you.

9 S e c u r e g a r d e n s Do not neglect your garden – increasing hours of darkness means increased crime opportunities. Ensure tools or bikes are locked – in an outbuilding if possible. Keep swimming pool pump rooms locked – water pumps are sought after. If you are going away, ensure that the lock on your garden gate works – a chain and key is a sign that the property is unoccupied.

1 0 F r o m f i r e s t o f l o o d s Plan ahead for the next rural fire season and start preparing your land. If you are planting small trees or shrubs, ensure these are not in a place where they could pose a fire risk – they will grow. We have experienced a very dry spell, in some places months without rain. When it does come, the effects can be severe with heavy rain falling on hardened ground, coupled with high winds causing floods and damage to property. Clear rainwater drainage systems and remove aggregates and other objects that can create obstacles to the free flow of water. Check for trees that could fall, that loose structures such as scaffolding are properly secured and lastly the property’s roof tiles and chimneys.

For a free newsletter E: i n f o @ s a f e c o m m u n i t i e s p o r t u g a l . c o m and for more info W: s a f e c o m m u n i t i e s p o r t u g a l . c o m

HEADLINES PLUS

FRINGE BENEFITS

Fringes work well with most styles – a bob, a cropped pixie, shag cuts and layered cuts, and even slicked-back ponytails. Just be sure it doesn’t overwhelm your face-shape.

J i m H a i r A r t i s t i s a t E s t r a d a V a l e d o L o b o 9 4 7A / T : 9 1 4 4 5 2 3 1 5 / W : j i m h a i r a r t i s t s . c o m

trim to remove damaged and split ends that cause breakage and tangling, and use products designed to protect against any damage that could result from heated styling tools. Increased hair shedding can also be caused by stress, so why not try to do some exercises like yoga or Tai-Chi and make a little ‘me’ time each day. Eat healthily, try herbal teas and last but not least discover aromatherapy. So what about the hair trends for autumn and winter? Autumn is the fringe season be that fringe wispy, blunt, or overgrown – just be sure it doesn’t overwhelm your face-shape. Fringes work well with most styles – a bob, a cropped pixie, shag cuts and layered cuts of all lengths, and even a slicked-back ponytails. And do take your choice of headwear into account when deciding on your new season’s cut – hats, beanies, caps, head scarves and accessories like hair clips and curvy combs all dictate what will work to best effect. And of course, there are face masks to consider, now very much part of our style. When it comes to hair colour think about those autumn leaves and consider adding warm reds or copper babylights or balayage for brunettes – from caramel to hazel and honey – to add a richness and warmth to summer shades. In between hair colour appointments it’s important to use a gloss treatment (it’s a semi-permanent colour) to make sure that your hair maintains its shine until your next hair colour appointment. And always, please, use sulphate- and pharaben-free products.

ALGARVE P L U S

E’RE STILL in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis but regardless of how much time we spend at home, we still need to pay attention to our beauty routines – at least that part of our lives can continue as normal. It’s November, mid-Autumn, the time when the leaves on the trees change from green to red, orange, yellow or brown before falling (that’s why in North America they call the season fall).It’s also getting colder and there is less sunlight so many plants go into a winter rest. I guess nature takes its course everywhere... at this time of year, we humans notice that there’s slightly more hair than usual left on our hairbrush and often panic, worrying about the possibiity of serious hair loss. Stay calm and don’t worry – shedding more hair in the autumn months is normal. Our bodies hold on to hair to protect the scalp from the strong summer sun and goes into the process of hair renewal in the autumn, when the hot weather is over. So before the long winter kicks in, make sure your hair and scalp remain healthy and protected throughout the colder months ahead. The key here is a weekly deep conditioning treatment that not only helps prevent excess hair loss but it also reduces scalp itching and irritation. Importantly, make time for your monthly

T I M E F O R A N E W L O O K . T H AT C O U L D B E A WA R M I N G C O L O U R B O O S T E R O R A S H A P E LY C U T B U T E I T H E R W AY, A FR I N G E S H O U LD B E FI RST C H O I C E . . . A F TER YO U ’ V E G OT YO U R P R O T E C T I O N P L A N I N P L A C E , S AY S J I M VA N H E K

TASTE PLUS

Rose harissa chicken and apricot pilaf W I T H T H E F L AV O U R S O F A M O R O C C A N TA G I N E , T H I S Q U I C K A N D EASY ONE-POT IS PERFECT FOR A MID -WEEK SUPPER. CHEF A I N S L E Y H A R R I OT T U S E S A R E A DY- M A D E H A R I S S A PA S T E TO A D D A D E P T H O F F L AVO U R A N D A S M O K Y C H I L L I K I C K .

RECIPE

M ET HOD

50g pistachios or flaked almonds 2tbsp olive oil 1 red onion, cut into 8 wedges 1tsp ground turmeric 8 skinless and boneless chicken thighs 1–2tbsp rose harissa paste 350g basmati rice 80g soft dried apricots, halved 700ml chicken stock, plus extra as needed 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half 2tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6 2 In a large casserole over a medium heat, toast the pistachios or almonds for 1–2 minutes. Keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t burn. Remove to a bowl and set aside. 3 Heat the oil in the casserole over a medium heat, add the red onion and cook for 4–6 minutes until softened but not coloured. Add the turmeric and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. 3 Add the chicken and cook for 4–6 minutes, turning until browned all over. Stir through the harissa paste, then add the rice, apricots and stock. Add the cinnamon stick, season with salt and a generous grinding of black pepper, and stir. 4 Bring to the boil, then remove from the heat, cover with a lid and bake in the oven for 20–25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender. Check halfway through the cooking time and add a little more stock if needed. 5 Remove the cinnamon stick, stir in the toasted pistachios or almonds and chopped coriander, and check the seasoning. Serve garnished with coriander sprigs.

WORTH KNOWING

Rose harissa gives a special sweetness and aroma, but you can use ordinary harissa if you prefer and you can add more or less depending on how spicy you like it.

AINSLEY HARRIOTT IS A REAL FAVOURITE AND HIS NEW MEDITERRANEAN COOKBOOK (EBURY PRESS) SERVES UP SUPER-FAST, EASY-DOES-IT RECIPES USING THE FRESHEST INGREDIENTS. €23.40 FROM FNAC

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I NGR E DI E N TS

ALGARVE P L U S

of th e month ...

SERVES 4

Wo rd s :

EMMA CAMPUS

ROOM with

VIEW W E ’ R E TA L K I N G I N S I D E V I E W HERE. WE HAD

LOT S O F A S K S -TO -

S E E M O R E A B O U T T H E R E N O VAT E D P R O P E R T I E S F E AT U R E D I N O U R O C T O B E R I S S U E , E S P E C I A L LY A B O U T W H AT G O E S O N B E H I N D C L O S E D DOORS. SO HERE’S A TOUR OF T H E P I G R O O M AT C A S A B R AVA , A BOUTIQUE GUESTHOUSE JUST A FIVE-MINUTE DRIVE FROM LOULÉ

HE BEAUTIFUL Casa Brava takes on its namesake

sentiment, brava being the Portuguese for ‘wild’. Located in the hills of the Algarve, this lovinglyrestored stone farmhouse has been given a new lease of life by its owners Julie and Marc Pinto, originally from Paris. October is one of the most beautiful months in the Algarve especially in the hills, and these rooms are surrounded by open vistas of countryside ready to get lost in before cosying up with a book borrowed from the house library or with the evening sun on the roof terrace. Surrounded by a variety of cork, carob, and olive trees, Casa Brava Eco BnB and organic farm is a truly special place with rooms that encourage a slower pace and minimal style. Renovated with careful consideration of its authentic character, Marco and Julie have created a luxurious setting housed in what was originally a farmer’s lodging.

LITTLE GEMS PLUS

Worth knowing is that the stone also acts as a natural temperature controller and humidifier meaning that the room in which it sits is left cool at all times of the day in summer, and warms the room in winter. This is renewable energy with style!”

Outdoor living There are beautiful terraces and outdoor spaces at Casa Brava for enjoying a delicious organic vegan breakfast to the sound of the crickets and birds, and later spending the evening sunset in the hammock with a glass of organic wine. The private covered outdoor stone patio is a magical spot throughout the day and features a wood burning stove, perfect to take the edge off chilly evenings while you listen to the quiet hum of the farm’s tranquil and wild surroundings. And if that is not enough, you can enjoy the gorgeous Mediterranean style rooftop lounge and telescope to take in the beautiful evening and shooting stars synonymous with the clear Algarvian sky. Emma Campus began her inspiration instagram account @designescapesportugal in order to share the most stylish, secret, special and slow places and rooms that bring a new depth and subtlety to travelling in the Algarve

Rates at Casa Brava start at €89 a night for two. Marco and Julie also have a showroom full of wonderful natural products – handmade soaps, limited-edition stone soap dishes, wood spoons and more. Visit casabrava.pt for booking information and to shop.

The pig room The Pig Room is wonderfully simple in design, with regional furniture and neutral tones and textures, in keeping with the authenticity of the rest of the property. “It is the old pigsty that we unfortunately had to destroy because carob roots were growing in the walls weakening the structure,” explains Marco. “Our house remains, above all, a summer house and we wanted to create a new bedroom that differs a bit from the main building while maintaining an Algarve style. Some walls are made of wood to create a lodge atmosphere while improving thermal insulation, thus offering real comfort without air conditioning.”

The bathroom “We have always preferred houses with a history and a soul,” says Marco. “Knowing that we have a house that was built in the 19th century on a rock by a farmer with the strength of his arms and with materials and stones present on site enchants us even more. We wanted to keep elements present in the old pigsty, such as this masterful stone around which we created the shower area.”

ALGARVE P L U S

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of the month

40 l ALGARVE P L U S

PROPERTY

STYLISH LIVING, STUNNING VIEWS... IT I S R A R E TO CO M E AC ROS S A P RO P ERT Y O F TH I S C A LI B R E , A FRO NTLI N E A PA RTM ENT OV ER LO O K I N G TH E R IA FO R M OSA N AT U R A L R E S ERV E PA R K 

Between Olhão and Tavira in the Eastern Algarve, within walking distance of the beach

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Four beautiful bedrooms, three of which are ensuite; family bathroom

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Contemporary fully-fitted and equipped kitchen

Spacious living room with generous dining area  Beautiful gardens landscaped to blend in with the natural surroundings 

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Elegant entrance hall

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Covered south-facing terraces that bring the outside in to your home

L-shaped, 25-metre infinity pool surrounded by lawns and sun terraces

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Children's pool

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Double glazing, air conditioning and heating

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Built in 2015, construction 200m2

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EC: A

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Price: €1,200,000

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Ref: LHA-1510

T O V I E W : T: +3 5 1 2 8 9 3 0 1 2 9 4 / E : i n f o @ y e l l o w h o m e s . c o m / W : y e l l o w h o m e s . c o m

Peace, quiet and breathtaking surroundings in this luxurious condominium that looks out across landscaped gardens to a dazzling vista down to the sea itself

PROPERTY PLUS

BEDROOMS

Four bedrooms, three with ensuite bathrooms

PAR KI N G

Garage and two parking spaces in the basement

TERR ACES

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South-facing covered terraces with splendid views out to sea

ALGARVE P L U S

POOL

Communal infinity pool

Vilamoura Office EN125 Benfarras Boliqueime 8100-068 Boliqueime T: +351 289 301 294 Tavira Office Rua Dr. Jose Padinha 178 8800-354 Tavira T: +351 281 320 281 AMI: 6232

AL O L PE W N IN TE R

Here to help 2020 has been a challenging year, but our currency transfer services are something you can always rely on. If you need to move money to or from Portugal, benefit from: Excellent exchange rates No transfer fees Personal account management Flexible transfer options Expert insights

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk currency Algarve office Ave 5 de Outubro, No 246, Almancil, 8135-103 +351 289 395 739 algarve@currenciesdirect.com

Find out more at currenciesdirect.com/portugal ÂŠ Currencies Direct Ltd, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AA, United Kingdom. Registered in England & Wales, No.: 03041197. Currencies Direct Ltd is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as an Electronic Money Institution under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011. Our FCA Firm Reference number is 900669.

PO18329EN

PO18329EN - Algarve Plus magazine advert v1.indd 1

13/07/2020 12:51

READS PLUS

FULLY

booked

Book of the month

By Captain Tom Moore Publisher: Penguin Genre: Autobiography I wish I could give this wonderful man a huge cuddle and ask him lots of questions. What a splendid, marvellous, fabulous chap he is. Captain Tom Moore needs no introduction – he is the true definition of a legend. He raised over £33 million for the NHS (plus a further £6 million in Gift Aid) by walking around his garden; has been promoted to Colonel; has been knighted by the Queen; has become an honorary member of the England football team; had a Number One single; and celebrated his 100th birthday. It is fair to say that Captain Tom has become an example of what is good in the world during the horrible pandemic that has affected so many people and he has remained cheerful and optimistic throughout. This book is the story of his life and we learn of his wartime exploits, his love of adventure and motorcycles, flight to the summit of Everest and, most bizarrely of all, his appearance on Terry Wogan’s Blankety Blank in 1983. There are plenty of photographs in the book of our hero’s life and there is plenty of humour throughout. When interviewed recently, he said that that the book would make a “good Christmas present for someone you don’t like”. It would also make a great present for anyone you do like. This is the story of an amazing man, an incredible life and kindness.

THE ASSEMBLY OF THE SEVERED HEAD: A NOVEL OF THE MABINOGI By Hugh Lupton Publisher: Propolis Books Genre: Fantasy The Four Branches of the Mabinogi are the oldest stories of the Island of Britain. It’s thought they were first written between 1100 and 1200AD, though their roots go back to prehistoric times. Using a little poetic licence, we have to imagine the tales being committed to velum on the orders of Llywelyn the Great after the brutal attack on Gwynedd by King John in 1211. Though Llywelyn had sent his bards to safety, John’s mercenaries tracked them down and slaughtered them, throwing their heads into the sea. By this means, the Norman king had hoped to extinguish the power of the bards who ‘carry in their songs the secret heart of the land’. One bard survived and, though severely wounded in the neck, recovered enough to tell his stories one last time. Without the survival of this one man, the novel suggests, the entire ‘Matter of Wales’ would have been lost. The author says: “We will need a mirror that we can look into and see all of Wales reflected: its people, its places, its memories, its creatures, its dreams and follies, its half-forgotten gods”, and this marvellous book is a shrine to those myths of over a thousand years ago.

ALGARVE PLUS

TOMORROW WILL BE A GOOD DAY

FRO M TH E AU TO B I O G R A PH Y O F E V ERYO N E’ S H ERO, C A P TA I N T O M , T 0 J O H N L E C A R R E ’ S L AT E S T S P Y TA L E , D AW N A N N A N D A L E H A S B E E N B U S Y T H I S M O N T H , R E A D I N G H E R WAY T H R O U G H T H E G O O D , T H E B E T T E R A N D T H E B E S T. O U R F I N A L C H O I C E S A R E F O U R - A N D F I V E - S TA R C L A S S B E C A U S E AU T H O R A N D B O O K C LU B H O S T DAW N H A S D O N E T H E S I F T I N G A N D S O R T I N G F O R U S . I T ’ S R AT H E R L I K E H AV I N G YO U R O W N L I B R A R I A N

ALGARVE P L U S

READS PLUS

THE HEATWAVE

THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB

By Kate Riordan Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Genre: Psychological suspense

By Richard Osman Publisher: Penguin Genre: Easy reading, whodunnit

Kate Riordan has the knack of turning an everyday situation on its head – morphing it into its most sinister and evil. Without spoiling things, the book flits between the end of the Sixties and 1983, following the story of a family living in London, Paris and the southern countryside. The descriptions are emotive – incredible in their depth: I could feel the heat, smell the flames; the tension was tangible, the manipulation stung. This is one of those books that kept giving until the bitter end but I’ll give the game away if I say any more. A situation totally plausible, real and 100% identifiable. Having read this book, I’ll definitely look out some of Ms Riordan’s other titles as the suspense she created kept me intrigued until the bitter end.

Utterly marvellous! In a peaceful retirement village, four friends meet every Thursday in the Jigsaw Room, booking a two-hour slot between Art History and Conversational French to investigate unsolved murders. They are the Thursday Murder Club. But, when their files of old mysteries turn into a very real murder right on their doorstep, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim launch their own investigation to catch the killer – before it’s too late. Such a delightful, charming story. It’s Enid Blyton for adults mixed up with Miss Marple and Tommy and Tuppence. Osman has created a cast of endearing characters: Elizabeth, the unofficial Murder Club leader, the calm and intelligent guiding force that keeps the group three steps ahead of the police; Joyce, the newest member and exnurse; ex-psychiatrist Ibrahim; and ex-trade union leader Ron. This book resonated because I can just imagine my grandpa sitting with his chums discussing ancient crimes. It feels real and when a book is totally relatable our imaginations are captured with that feeling of familiarity and comfort. I adored it.

THE GIVER OF STARS By JoJo Moyes Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books Genre: Chick Lit This book is set in America during the Depression, quite different to anything else written by Ms Moyes, and actually based on true events. Alice married to get away from her life in England, only to find herself in a cold relationship in America far from everything that she knows and understands, until one day she volunteers to join the newly established ‘travelling library’. Here she finds the oddballs of her small town and they form an unlikely friendship group; their library opens a new world and an appreciation of reading to the children of the town and the people living in the surrounding area. An intrepid group of women head out on horseback to bring books back to their homes in the Kentucky mountains. I found it both compelling and absorbing as the book worked its way through themes of the importance of friendship and the amazing power that books can have when shared. I can see this being a hugely successful film with a Kate Winslet type character as the main protagonist. It was lovely, touching, but, also interesting and I really had no idea this actually happened.

AGENT RUNNING IN THE FIELD By John Le Carré Publisher: Penguin Genre: Spy thriller Le Carré is a bit special, isn’t he? His books are all about intrigue and imagining what really goes on in the world of subterfuge and poison-tipped umbrellas. His latest offering is compelling and totally believable in this turbulent world. Nat, a veteran of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, thinks his years as an agent runner are over but MI6 have other plans. To tackle the growing threat from Moscow Centre, Nat is put in charge of The Haven, a defunct substation of London General with a rag-tag band of spies. His weekly badminton session with the young, introspective, Brexit-hating Ed offers respite from the new job. But it is Ed, of all unlikely people, who will take Nat down the path of political anger that ensnares them all. Le Carré is at his usual mind-games fabulousness so if you are already a fan you know what I mean and if not – read it!

Your Personal Landscaper DESIGN | CONSTRUCTION | MAINTENANCE

T: +351 289 397 165 E: info@cape-gardens.com W: cape-gardens.com

C AT H Y L I E B M A N , O W N E R O F L I V I N G E X P L O R AT I O N S , T R AV E L S THE WORLD TO DISCOVER SPECIAL PL ACES AND SHARES HER F I N D S W I T H A D I S C E R N I N G A U D I E N C E W H O W A N T O N LY T H E P R O V E N B E S T. H E R E S H E TA L K S A B O U T H O W T H E B U S I N E S S C A M E I N T O B E I N G , W H AT I F O F F E R S , A N D W H Y T H E A L G A R V E I S S O V I TA L T O T H E M I X

ALGARVE P L U S

worl d

EXPE R IE N CE S

IME IS PRECIOUS. We curate Living

Explorations in Portugal with the knowing sensibilities of being global travellers ourselves. High thread-count linen, fine hotels, stellar service, and a love of great not good food has been an intrinsic part of our coupledom DNA since we met at Sydney’s former celebrity hotel, the Ritz-Carlton over 25 years ago. Alan, my husband, is a workaholic – businessman, visionary and global leader in the field of hospitality, while I have this undeniably raw passion for dreaming, and a belief that you can achieve anything you put your mind to. My first career was as a practising dentist, the polar opposite of travel. Nevertheless, small details are equally important in both professions. Alan is the Yin to my Yang! Alan’s corporate life with Kerzner International spanned two decades and in parallel our family vacations each summer were spent in the Algarve. His career and professional profile, coupled with relentless hours and corporate travel, amazes. He was the youngest general manager, at the age of 25, in the history of Ritz-Carlton, and chief executive officer for Kerzner International with the growth of Atlantis and One&Only brands worldwide. Yet it was our summer escape to the Algarve where we rebooted family connections; ate some of the freshest seafood in the world; paid for chicken piri-piri and clams à bulhão pato in escudos,

where we woke each morning to azure blue skies; spent our days lingering on the beach and wilfully rambled the unmarked roads searching for local markets and discovering towns. Sounds ridiculously clichéd but, 20 years on, we still love the same things. We have more choices today and knowingly it is the warmth and friendliness of the local Algarvians which is an asset to the tourism industry. Summers in the Algarve were a way for friends and family to spend quality time with us. We delighted in planning itineraries for them, sharing our discoveries, and basically running our home like a mini-hotel. Yes, toilet paper origami is a norm, as is freshly laundered and pressed clothes and always, always great local food and wine. The ultimate luxury today is time and space. How we spend it, who we spend it with and what we experience along the way. This has always been our family credo, and now forms the basis of our business.

It is the warmth and friendliness of the local Algarvians which is an asset to the tourism industry.

A passion for perfection

While Living Explorations may be fairly new, we are not new to the hospitality industry. Our approach and philosophy is simple. We use our personal experience and expertise to work for our clients. We never propose that we know everything; however, what we offer has been tried and tested. We can give an authentic and honest opinion. We want to meet and exceed expectations; create those WOW moments out of the blue; and realise that word of mouth is the best form of marketing.

HOSPITALITY PLUS

A WORLD OF WONDERS

Private dinners in wine cellars surrounded by thousands of bottles of Portuguese and international wines

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Sending a helicopter from Lisbon for dinner with friends before a night in the penthouse at one of the region’s finest hotels And the challenging task of co-ordinating with chefs during Christmas as clients had severe peanut allergies and kept kosher

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A group staying in Salema wished to provide the perfect 40th birthday gift for their biker friend – the use of a Harley Davidson on his arrival. Surreptitiously, obtaining a copy of his licence, the Harley was delivered together with obligatory leather jackets and perfect-fitting helmets

SO WHAT HAVE WE DON E FOR CLI EN TS?

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ALGARVE PLUS

Since 2017, the USA has historically been our largest market, with 30% of our clients referred from travel agents, and the remainder hailing from the Middle East, UK and Australia. It’s a benefit for our US partners that we understand the US market – the way they travel (hit the road running), their hotel preferences (spacious bathrooms), and direct access to our staff during their stay (a client left his bag and passport in a taxi).

HOSPITALITY INTERIORS PLUS

Many people query how we source our experiences. Today’s travellers are more discerning, look for authenticity, follow trends, social media and colleagues’ recommendations. To a point, we are no different and spend worthwhile time and finances on site inspections. Nevertheless, we steer clear of press releases and sponsored articles and without limitation, try everything! You can’t expect, what you don’t inspect! We set and demand standards, pay attention to details and are committed to our clients. Being of Asian heritage, that cute idea of packet noodles as an in-room amenity was unique and welcoming. Yet, it becomes worthless when there is no access to boiling water. Do you really want to call the front desk asking for chopsticks and an electric jug when you’re jetlagged at 2am? Or the time I was stuck in the shower when I swung the door the wrong way. We will not be recommending that room! In our books it’s not good enough to read about the trendiest new restaurant or contemporary hotel. Protocol states that our staff must lay their heads on pillows, and put to the test each facet we will promote. Authenticity and more meaningful engagement, often with traditional craftmanship, is becoming more relevant, yet clients need to understand what this entails. We often advise our local partners how to go that extra mile in terms of comfort and expectations. We’re in this together. We all want to promote this region, from the most beautiful beaches in the world, to internationally-rated greens; the natural diversity of the landscape, its gastronomy and wines, culture and traditions. Authenticity and luxury may not necessarily go hand in hand, however we are striving to close those gaps with some fine-tuning. Our clients demand a seamless experience and the flexibility to change their schedule on a whim. In the back of my mind, I am pushed to think: “WWAW?” (What would Alan Want?”). Our services include meeting clients planeside on arrival, escorting them through customs to their chauffeured car curbside. We do our utmost to reserve the requested table in a Michelinstarred restaurant, at the least pushing our guests to the head of the waiting list. Private tours allow flexibility as interests and attention spans differ. Affluent consumers value their privacy, and demand personalised experiences. We are with our client each step of their itinerary – silently reconfirming, updating our guides on preferences.

A piece of paradise

ALGARVE P L U S

A Casa de Praia is an exceptional property where no expense has been spared to create a luxurious boutique hotel environment where quality is the top priority

In 2020, we’re still obsessed with providing the best we can for clients, yet it’s a year like no other and we have used this time for some serious smart thinking and adapting to the times. Our portfolio will add value not volume and with the luxury travel sector being the first to bounce back, Living Explorations will have the exclusive listing for A Casa de Praia, located in the Algarve. Currently undergoing a full refurbishment, this five-bedroom villa is a rare beauty with direct access to the beach. With its own gym, steam and sauna rooms and numerous outdoor spaces for dining or relaxing, this haven offers privacy and safety with all the features of a boutique hotel. The home with its lift, infinity pool and jacuzzi will also include your own butler and personal chef... and I failed to mention a walk-in cellar. Explore the beautiful Algarve, and picturesque Portugal with Living Explorations, where we only work with trustworthy partners who understand our standards of service. Be inspired and we guarantee that you will love this place just as much as we do. Not only do we offer luxury home rentals and bespoke travel design within Portugal but also in the US, in Aspen, Colorado, and the Bahamas.

E: p o r t u g a l @ l i v i n g e x p l o r a t i o n s . c o m to discover more

Some people are thinking of Christmas, but I am thinking even further ahead, planning the direction for my fashion collection 2021. As always, I have been hunting for timeless clothes – dresses, trousers and tops which last longer than a single season and will never look dated or out of trend – made of natural and/or eco-friendly fabrics. My fashion approach is about comfortable pieces and stylish designs that you will love to wear again and again. The two traditional textiles best suited for our Portuguese climate are cotton and linen, but there are many new fabrics which are equally breathable, natural and sustainable. Two fabrics, which are used more frequently now by eco-friendly design houses are Cupro and Lyocell.

and leave a small carbon footprint. And at

The first, Cupro, is a silk-like and

new fashion collection with special accessories -

soft material, which is made of cotton

hand-crafted necklaces and earrings.

linter, a waste product of cotton. The key feature of Cupro is its soft touch and high absorbability. The second fabric of choice is Lyocell, obtained by dissolving wood pulp with biological

the same time, I am busy complementing my

But yes, Christmas is coming, and I am already working on special items that will make your gift shopping a pleasure. I look forward to seeing you.

solvents and then spinning it. It is breathable and has 50% higher moisture absorption than cotton – great for long hot summers. I am excited about my choice of four fashion labels for next spring, which come from Holland, Italy, Spain and Portugal and focus on sustainability

Rua 5 de Outubro nº 68 . Loulé . +351 964 222 612 Instagram: www.instagram.com/martina.loule/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/martina.loule/ www.martina-loule.com

CAROLE STILLO A WORLD OF HIS OWN WHERE Loulé, MedFest WHEN June 2019 W H AT ' S S P E C I A L The pure concentration and peacefulness he seemed to show amongst all the noise and crowds surrounding him CAMERA Olympus Stylus 1 - my old buddy

I N T E R P R E TAT I O N S

M U S I C W I L L E N H A N C E , E N C H A N T, I N S P I R E , I M P R E S S , E VO K E O L D M E M O R I E S A N D C R E AT E N E W O N E S . H E R E A R E S O M E FAVO U R I T E I M AG E S F R O M T H E P O R T F O L I O S O F M E M B E R S O F T H E A LG A R V E P H OTO G R A P H E R S ’ G R O U P – A L G A R V E P H O T O G R A P H E R S G R O U P. O R G

ALGARVE P L U S

A DV I C E Don't be in a hurry, be patient, it's worth it. I'm not always patient but I try

ERNST NEIDHARDT S TA C C AT O WHERE At home WHEN Corona time, in the spring W H AT ' S S P E C I A L Triple exposure CAMERA Nikon D810 with AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm 1:2,8 mm E ED VR A DV I C E Experimenting is fun. Make the time to create special effects

PHOTOGRAPHY PLUS

FRED BOS SA XOPHON E SOLO WHERE On the terrace at home, Soalheira WHEN September 2020 W H AT ' S S P E C I A L Taken outside, against the night sky. CAMERA Nikon D80 A DV I C E Standing on the stairs leading to the basement gave the impression that the saxophonist is on a stage. A spotlight from the side imitates stage lights

RUTH VERA

GOVERT SAKKERS

STREET MUSIC

BETO K ALULU

WHERE Marseille

WHERE The Museum of Sรฃo Brรกs

WHEN July 2016

WHEN 2015

W H AT ' S S P E C I A L Fantastic atmosphere

W H AT ' S S P E C I A L This famous man always makes the show

CAMERA OLympus E-M 1 Mark II A DV I C E Take advantage when you are happy to be in the right place at the right time. Be ready to grab the moment

CAMERA Canon 80D with Tamron 16-300 mm lens A DV I C E The background has to fit the subject

I N T H E 1 9 6 0 S A N D E A R LY ' 7 0 S S O M E O F P O R T U G A Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; S POOREST PEOPLE MOVED TO FR ANCE IN SEARCH OF A B E T T E R L I F E , R E T U R N I N G A N N U A L LY T O T H E I R P L A C E S O F B I R T H , V I S I T I N G R E L AT I V E S A N D E N J OY I N G T R A D I T I O N A L F E S TA S . T H I S Y E A R , B E C A U S E O F T H E PA N D E M I C , FA R F E W E R M A D E T H E J O U R N E Y

T H E

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F R E N C H

C A R O LY N K A I N

ORTUGAL has seen far fewer foreign-

registered cars this year, noticeably during summer months when large numbers of French-registered vehicles normally frequent our roads. These regular visitors, usually driving from Paris and elsewhere in France, are unlike most other tourists, many of them having Portuguese roots. Today, some 80,000 people with Portuguese origins live in France generating as much as three per cent of that countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GDP. Portugal is a very different country from the one they left more than 50 years ago. There was an authoritarian dictatorship under Salazar and Caetano and no political parties or unions were permitted. Strict rules were enforced by the hated State-run police (PIDE) and the incarceration of political prisoners generated a great deal of fear. Informing on your neighbours if they broke the rules was commonplace. The majority of the rural population here survived as subsistence farmers but wages for workers in urban areas were low and their economic prospects grim. Meanwhile, the French were actively encouraging migrants to fill comparatively well-paid job vacancies in industrialised areas, especially in factories around Paris. People from their former colonies in Africa were one source of labour and other workers were encouraged to come via immigration bureaux. Set up in poor European countries such as Portugal, the system allowed French doctors to check out the health of prospective workers, examining their teeth and general well-being; those who passed the medical tests were issued with work contracts and their names sent to factories in France.

conn ect i on

HISTORY PLUS

Being unpopular with the French was only one of many problems. Police from the PIDE infiltrated French factories searching for young men avoiding military service in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea. They looked out for others who might return home with left-wing political ideas that could challenge the dictatorship. Even in France, the migrants needed to be cautious; it was unwise to criticise the political system in Portugal as there could be reprisals against relatives back home. Archive photographs show the dreadful living conditions that people endured in Champigny-sur-Marne but for many then it was still considered a preferable alternative to Portugal. After more than a decade, it was the newly-appointed Mayor of Champigny-sur-Marne, Louis Talamoni, who recognised that the migrants’ circumstances needed to be improved; a communist who came from Corsica, he worked tirelessly to provide proper services and housing. Talamoni’s legacy is not forgotten and a monument in his honour was unveiled in 2018 when the Prime Minister Antonio da Costa and President de Sousa were present. They acknowledged his contribution towards the care of Portuguese migrants who had been failed by their own country.

THE FRENCH EMBASSY IN LISBON Facing the River Tagus between downtown Lisbon and Belém, the Palácio de Santos is a magnificent edifice, occupied in succession by members of the Portuguese Royal Family, a Brazilian Empress and the aristocracy. Whilst waiting for his own ‘palácio’ to be built on the seafront at Cascais, it was rented by the first Duke of Loulé and his wife Princess Maria Ana de Braganza. Owned by the French since 1909, it was purchased by the government and became the official residence of the Ambassador. It is occasionally open to the public when the extraordinary Porcelain Room can be viewed. Containing 261 blue and white Chinese plates from the Ming Dynasty, the collection is unique in Europe. Even more remarkably they are fixed to the ceiling and the walls forming a pyramid of priceless porcelain.

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People intending to take up this employment then had more bureaucracy to deal with. Firstly, the Portuguese authorities were often reluctant to give them permission to leave and migrants required residency permits to live in France. In Lisbon, the Palacio de Santos – still considered to be the most lavish French embassy anywhere in the world – processed the legal paperwork. In many cases illiterate peasants were intimidated by the bureaucratic formalities and as a consequence some of them found it easier to arrive in France without official documents. People-smuggling became a popular alternative and as happens today, the migrants often found themselves in the hands of corrupt gangs. However, once in France there was immediate employment and easy-access to residency permits. Accommodation was a different matter and difficult to obtain. Ramshackle shanty towns without sanitation, gas or electricity sprung up wherever the Portuguese settled. The biggest community was on the outskirts of Paris at Champigny-sur-Marne where as many as 15,000 Portuguese residents were living by the end of the 1960s. Shunned by the locals and criticised for living in unhygienic hovels, there was no alternative but to ‘graft hard’ and ‘keep your head down’.

Opposite page: Hands and Face 'Monument en hommage à Louis Talamoni' at Champigny-sur-Marne. This page: shocking shanty-town dwellings where some 15,000 Portuguese were forced to live in the 1960s

established 1984

PINETREES CENTRO HĂ?PICO | RIDING CENTRE

Off road riding through the Ria Formosa Forest Training from beginners to experienced riders wishing to prepare for competition, horse ownership or exams Riding gear included in the prices. Located between Vale de Lobo and Quinta do Lago Tel: + (351) 289 394369 | + (351) 919363190 riding@pinetrees.pt | www.pinetrees.pt Bev Gibbons, BHS Int. Teaching Certi cate Facebook: Pinetrees Riding

Association of British Riding Schools

GO MOVES

A family-run business based in the Algarve. Full/part house removals with or without pack and wrap service. Collection and delivery service from any shop in the Algarve to your house. No job is too big or small. We cover the Algarve, Portugal, Spain, France and may consider other countries. enquiries@gomoves.eu 913 318 990 | 913 206 015

GO MOVES

PRESSIES PLUS

FESTIVE THINKING SENDING CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO TH E U K COU LD B E A LOGISTICAL PROBLEM , E S P E C I A L LY T H I S Y E A R , A N D ORDERING EVERYTHING ON A M A Z O N O R E B AY S H O W S A L A C K O F I M A G I N AT I O N . W H AT Y O U N E E D A R E T H E SPECIALISTS…

ITH TRAVEL looking more unpredictable than ever this winter, people are going online for shops that can deliver Christmas gifts directly to friends and family in Britain rather than risk taking them personally or posting from here. Not the same thing as handing a brightly-wrapped parcel over on the day, but certainly better than than worrying if something will reach the intended recipient on time and in good shape. British retailers have risen to the challenge of cyber shopping. Everyone from the giants such as John Lewis to individual artists and craftsmen producing handmade gifts items are now delivering. You want choice, and the least trouble – Christmas shopping should be pleasure, not a chore.

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CH R I S PAR TR I DG E

Best for mobile tech clove.co.uk was founded by Chris Love in Poole back in 1992 to sell the new generation of mobile tech such as the Psion Organiser (remember that?). Now the site sells everything mobile from smartphones to dash cams to wearables, but still retains its customer service ethic. They even stock Planet Computers’ Gemini PDA, the new successor to the much-loved Psion Series 5 pocket computer.

Best for desktop computers novatech.co.uk, based in Portsmouth, is the place to go for PCs that meet your individual requirements at low cost - be it a no-frills device for email and basic word processing, or a no-holds-barred ruthless gaming machine. You can get computers built to your requirements or supplied in bits for assembly at home. And, of course, you can order components such as graphics cards or memory modules to upgrade your existing set-up.

Best for craft produce notonthehighstreet.com is the classic kitchen-table idea, to bring together small creative businesses in the UK to sell their wares through a common online store. Now they have 5,000 partners making stuff from jewellery to leather goods to chocolates. Take a look at their letterbox gifts, packed so they go in almost any front door slot. Ideal for people you know are never in.

Best for personalised gifts prezzybox.com, based in a farmhouse in Warwickshire, has a huge range of personalised gifts

Christmas gifts should be about good fun – like these socks from prezzybox.com. Next month, we focus on festive gifts to buy right here in Portugal

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PRESSIES INTERIORS PLUS

from engraved boxes to bespoke Blue Plaques (‘The Inventor of Predictive Text liver herpes froth 19841999’) and your very own brand of Prosecco at very reasonable prices. Topping their Christmas list are Hot Chocolate Bombes and the Zymurgorium Gin Experience pack. The site also features a Secret Santa service – worth knowing!

Best for stationery presentandcorrect.com is run by a couple of graphic designers in East London, and sells possibly the coolest selection of pens, papers, prints, notebooks, diaries and stuff anywhere. My favourite item is the designers’ own Alphabet of Endangered Species, from adder to sonata tooth fungi.

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Above: Bettys for tasty treats; Alphabet of Endangered Species print from presentandcorrect.com; Retro mini TV console from firebox. com, Insta Glam accessory pouch from Mollieandfred.co.uk. Below: Cardboard wreath Kit: winter leaves (white) from theshopfloor.com

Best for oddball gifts firebox.com is another long-established site, and one that has a very characteristic line in British humour (they sell a Coronavirus cuddly toy, and if that isn’t gallows humour nothing is). Loads of festive fun with gifts at all price levels.

Best for babies cottontailsbaby. co.uk is a one-woman business making and selling soft toys from some excellent brands including Moulin Roth and Gluckskafer, plus cuddly rabbits made by the proprietor herself, and letterpress printed cards.

Best for original art theshopfloorproject.com stocks a huge range of paintings, ceramics, prints, fabrics and other arts and crafts. My favourite is the Bluest of Blues project, featuring the very first photographic technology cyanotypes. The characteristic blue prints were made by placing flowers or ferns on paper impregnated with light sensitive dye, and letting the sun shine on them for a few hours. The results are delightful blue prints. You can buy a book on the process, sheets of ‘nature print sun paper’ and handmade prints of plants from agrimony to wild strawberry.

Teenage nieces, nephews and grandchildren? You’re best off to ask them what they want, get their parents to order, and transfer the dosh!

Best for sweet treats bettys.co.uk is the online outpost of the legendary Harrogate bakery and café chain, offering everything festive and fattening from goody bags and gift boxes to the Christmas Extravagance Hamper – a calorie-laden £500-worth of cakes, puddings, biscuits and booze in a huge wicker hamper that they claim is “perfect for storing logs or magazines once Christmas is over". Bettys is probably the only online store that stocks Yorkshire Fat Rascal Scones.

Best for home mollieandfred.co.uk was founded by three women based in Lincoln, selling a huge range of Christmas stuff as well as the homewares it sells year-round, much of it customisable with the recipients’ names and messages for them. It also has a ‘Secret Santa’ section. The site includes products from small British craft suppliers as well, which is nice.

DESIGN . ENTERPRISE

C O M M U N I C AT I O N

Branding Brand Strategy Naming Logo design Brand Identity

Digital Web Design Web Development Social Media Online Advertising Newsletters emailings

Brief: to update branding in line with company evolution

Brief: produce a be tting catalogue for art gallery event

Brief: to create a calling card that will be remembered

Brief: Create a hardwearing but luxurious room directory

Graphic Brochures Catalogues Lea ets Advertising Stationery Outdoor billboards Stands Signage

Production Copywriting emailings Photography Printing Merchandising

Brief: create upmarket brochure to case study projects

Brief: create an of ce interior to meet client expectations

Brief: create a harmonious sign system to locate villas

Brief: create an upmarket magazine for members in Quinta do Lago resort

designworks . t. +351 917 203 850 . design@suzisteinhofel.com . www.designworks.com.pt

PAST PLUS

MARGARET TRUDEAU

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60s

Being a ‘flower child’ in the late 1960s and early 1970s wasn’t particularly unusual, but being a flower child married to a Prime Minister most certainly was. Margaret Trudeau, whose father was a Canadian MP, was on holiday with her family in Hawaii aged just 18 when she met Pierre Trudeau, a politician almost 30 years her senior. He became Canada’s PM in 1968. Their romance was kept secret until they married in 1971. Margaret was quoted as saying she wanted to be “more than a rose in my husband’s lapel” but her free-spirited ideas certainly raised eyebrows during the six years the couple were married. They had three sons including Canada’s current PM Justin. When she and Pierre separated, he was granted custody of the children. Margaret’s lifestyle gained her even more of a ‘wild-child’ label after she was photographed at New York’s Studio 54 night club and her name was linked to a string of celebrities including Ryan O’Neal, Ted Kennedy and the Rolling Stones. She remarried in 1984 and had another son and a daughter. Tragedy struck in 1998 when their youngest son, Michel Trudeau, died in an accident, sending Margaret into a deep depression and she was eventually diagnosed with bi-polar. Together with her Trudeau sons she was at her former husband’s bedside when he died in 2000. She now lives in Montreal, near her daughter, and is a charity campaigner, concentrating on support for those with mental health, and WaterAid.

W H AT E V E R H A P P E N E D T O … W E A L L G E T T H O S E S U D D E N F L A S H E S – A FAC E O R N A M E O R FA D F R O M T H E PA S T T H AT W E R E M E M B E R … S O R T O F. T H E Y M I G H T H AV E D R O P P E D O U T O F T H E P U B L I C E Y E O R C H A N G E D D I R E C T I O N S – Y O U O N LY K N O W W H E N Y O U S TA R T L O O K I N G

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JILL ECKERSLEY

SIR CLIVE SINCLAIR

70s

Everyone who has a computer owes a debt of gratitude to Sir Clive Sinclair, inventor and pioneer of consumer electronics back in the 1970s and 1980s. The Sinclair ZX80 was the first home computer that could be bought for less than £100 and the ZX range eventually sold five million copies. Sir Clive’s company, Sinclair Radionics, founded in 1961, produced an early pocket calculator as well as pocket radios and TVs. He had started inventing as a schoolboy and wrote articles for magazines such as Practical Wireless instead of going to university. In 1985 he branched out into personal transport, producing what he hoped would be a revolutionary one-person car, the Sinclair C5. Unfortunately, this proved to be a step too far and was not a commercial success, although it is said that original C5s now sell for twice the launch price. Undeterred, Sir Clive continues to invent, most recently the A-bike, which folds up for easy portability. He was knighted in 1983 and currently lives in London, claiming that his greatest achievement was “seeing the future 40 years ago”. Who knows, with electric vehicles becoming more and more necessary, he could have a point! Interestingly, the computer pioneer says he prefers not to use the Internet, as being surrounded by too much technology distracts him from inventing….

50s

GEORGE TAKEI Japanese-American George Takei will be known forever to TV viewers as Mr Sulu, helmsman of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek. He was born in Los Angeles shortly after the coronation of the UK’s King George V, after whom he was named. When the USA joined the Allies in the Second World War, his family was interned and he later lost relatives in the bombing of Hiroshima. He planned to be an architect but ended up studying theatre instead and began by doing voice-overs in English for Japanese films. Being offered the part of Sulu by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry in 1965 changed his life. He appeared in many series and also in the Star Trek films, combining his acting career with involvement in local politics. Always a supporter of LGBT rights, he came out as gay himself in 2005 and three years later married his long-term partner Brad Altman. He has also become very active on social media where he has an estimated 10 million followers, attracted not only by his liberal views but also by his sense of humour. His own childhood experiences have led him to campaign against the threatened internment of so-called ‘illegals’ in the USA. A practising Buddhist, George also says he loves Britain and visits as often as he can. He has appeared on British TV as a contestant in I’m a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here and with Brad in All Star Mr & Mrs.

He has become very active on social media where he has an estimated ten million followers, attracted by his liberal views but also by his sense of humour.

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60s

Anyone who went to school in the 1950s and 1960s will remember afternoons in the school kitchen making a batch of jam tarts. Naturally this only applied to girls, except in the more progressive schools; boys learned metalwork or woodwork instead. All were regarded as ‘soft’ subjects, better suited to lessacademic pupils who might struggle with Latin or physics. Over the years, the idea of teaching cookery in schools has caused controversy. Should schools really be teaching something kids could be learning at home? Should the curriculum be widened to include other household skills? Should ‘domestic science’ be re-named? It often was: it first became ‘Home Economics’ and later ‘Food Technology’ and ‘Food Preparation and Nutrition’. Some highlyacademic schools lost their kitchens, so that cookery could no longer be taught. TV chefs like Jamie Oliver campaigned for better school food generally and there were calls for all children – primary and secondary, boys and girls – to learn about basic nutrition so that they didn’t grow up relying on ready-meals and takeaways. According to the Department for Education: “Cooking and nutrition is now a discrete strand of the national curriculum for design and technology and compulsory in State-maintained schools for ages five to 14.” A food preparation and nutrition GCSE was introduced in 2016; exam papers include questions on adapting recipes to make them more nutritious, and understanding food labelling. It’s a very long way from that batch of jam tarts…

DOMESTIC SCIENCE

EXPAT INFO PLUS

PLANNING AHEAD

How will it be spent and when? You might want to establish some control over when your heirs receive your legacy and how they can use it, without incurring an expensive and lengthy probate process. This could be important if you worry your heirs might spend their inheritance unwisely, or you may have reservations about their marital stability and who might end up getting your legacy. It is possible to structure your capital in such a way as to provide tax-efficient benefits for you during your lifetime while also proving control and certainty after you are gone. This could enable you, for example, to delay the timing of an inheritance until your heirs reach an age where they are likely to be financially mature. Ask your adviser about suitable solutions for your particular objectives and family circumstances.

W h o w i l l p a y I n h e r i t a n c e Ta x ? Unlike the UK, where Inheritance Tax is usually paid by the Estate before changing hands, in Portugal each recipient pays. The Portuguese equivalent of Inheritance Tax – stamp duty – is relatively minimal in both scope and cost. It only applies to assets like real estate, vehicles and shares located in Portugal and passed on as an inheritance or lifetime gift. Spouses and direct ascendants/descendants are not liable, but

gifts to anyone else attract a fixed rate of 10%, wherever they are resident. Those who have remarried or have more complex families should note that Portugal’s fairly traditional view of the family means unmarried partners, step-parents and step-children could face stamp duty on Portuguese assets inherited/gifted between each other. However, exemptions are available through measures like adoption and proof of cohabitation. As in Britain, inherited assets cannot change hands until the tax is paid, so some heirs may find it difficult to pay within the six-month deadline on higher-value inheritances.

W h a t a b o u t U K I n h e r i t a n c e Ta x ? As UK Inheritance Tax liability is determined by domicile rather than residence – and domicile is an incredibly ‘sticky’ concept – it continues to affect many Britons living here. Those captured face 40% UK Inheritance Tax on their worldwide Estate, as well as Portuguese stamp duty on assets located here (although measures are available to prevent double taxation on the same asset). Domicile law is highly complex, so take specialist advice to establish your position and plan accordingly.

What about your own needs? Although you want the best for your heirs, make sure you can enjoy your wealth in the meantime. The trick is to ensure the right money passes to the right hands at the right time while still meeting your retirement objectives. Look for Portuguese-compliant opportunities that let you make the most of what you have, providing tax advantages during your lifetime as well as for your heirs in the future. Estate planning is a complex area, especially when you have to consider the rules of two countries and how they interact, and Brexit may complicate things further. Take specialist, personalised advice for peace of mind that you have the most suitable, tax-efficient approach in place, for you and your chosen heirs for years to come.

Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; individuals should seek personalised advice. You can find other financial advisory articles on Blevins Franks' website

T: 2 8 9 3 5 0 1 5 0 / E : p o r t u g a l @ b l e v i n s f r a n k s . c o m / W : b l e v i n s f r a n k s . c o m

Unlike the UK, where you are free to leave your Estate to whomever you choose, Portugal’s ‘forced heirship’ succession law dictates how assets are passed on. For Portuguese residents, this means that your spouse and direct family could automatically inherit at least half of your worldwide Estate, regardless of your intentions. This is a relatively new concern – before August 2015, the default position was that the law of your home country applied to your Estate. Now, under the ‘Brussels IV’ EU regulation, Portuguese forced heirship automatically applies unless you specifically nominate the relevant UK law in your Will. So if you have not updated your Will since 2015, urgently review your arrangements. While your ability to override forced heirship in this way will not change post-Brexit, doing so could trigger unwelcome tax implications, so take care to explore your options.

ALGARVE P L U S

Who will receive your legacy?

I T I S L I K E LY Y O U H A V E P U T M U C H T H O U G H T I N T O Y O U R FI N A N C IA L PL A N N I N G TO S E T YO U U P FO R TH E LI FE YO U WA N T. B U T H AV E YO U D O N E T H E S A M E F O R YO U R F U T U R E H E I R S W I T H C A R E F U L E S TAT E P L A N N I N G ? A G O O D S TA R T I S A S K I N G S O M E K E Y Q U E S T I O N S A D V I S E S M A R K Q U I N N , PA RT N E R , B L E V I N S F R A N K S

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ADVICE PLUS

YOUR money

It is coming up to Christmas. Can I buy Christmas gifts for clients and is this chargeable as a business expense? I am a sole trader with a number of local clients whom I invoice monthly. If this is allowable, is there a limit on what I can spend and do I just need to keep receipts of everything marked with the name of the intended recipient?

With Brexit looming, is there anything I need to do regarding my UK interests – I have a bank account there, an apartment (which is rented out), a car, etc. I am very conscious that once the date has passed, I could be facing problems. What happens about income tax, for example. Several UK banks have announced that they are closing banking facilities for EU residents as they will no longer be allowed to provide services to them without the right banking licences. This is known as passporting, a system for banks in the EU which allows them to trade freely in any other state in the European Economic Area (EEA) without the need for more authorisation. You should seek advice as your investments in the UK may also be affected by this. Regarding taxation, the Double Tax treaties in place should not change with Brexit.

Email your finance questions for Ricardo to martin@algar veplusmagazine.com for inclusion in the first available issue of Algar ve Plus . To c o n s u l t d i r e c t l y w i t h R i c a r d o C h a v e s e m a i l r i c a r d o @ a l l f i n a n c e . p t

This is a question that we receive every year as we near the Christmas season. Traditionally, companies offer souvenirs to their customers, suppliers or employees and organise Christmas dinners. Although in most cases relevant values are not involved, it is relevant to define the tax framework for companies, sole traders and employees. If we are talking about offers to customers and suppliers, these expenses are accepted as a cost for a business. If we are talking about gifts to a sole trader, only if they are not in the simplified regime. The reason for the Finanças accepting these costs, is because they are considered to be incurred to obtain or guarantee the income subject to taxation. Please note that these expenses must be duly proven (ie through invoices) including the identification of the recipients to whom the offers were made in order to prove the relationship with the company’s activity. This type of offer does not imply the obligation to settle VAT. The cost of Christmas dinners organised for employees can also deducted for corporate tax, and sole traders who are not in the simplified regime can also deduct this cost. In both cases, the VAT is not deductible. Finally, when we are talking about gifts to employees, please note although these are fully deductible as a cost to the company, they are also considered as income to the IRS. This means that the employees will be taxed on the gifts received, either if they receive it in cash or other kind.

ALGARVE P L U S

How does one set about opening a business here? There seem to be many shop premises empty and up for rent and I thought perhaps now would be the time to start a company of some sort – either a middle market fashion and accessories shop for women, carrying labels you do not find here, or even a bookshop specialising in English language books? We had planned on retiring here but I sense there are opportunities for Non Habitual residents. Where would I start? There are many ways you can start a business in Portugal. The easiest one is to register the activity as a sole trader, but you can also decide to incorporate a company here. You should plan ahead and decide what it best to protect your interests – remember that as a sole trader, there is no distinction between you as a person or you as a business; you share the same fiscal number and liabilities. If you incorporate a company, you are separate and you are more protected. Taxwise, as a sole trader, your income or your profit will be liable for tax under the progressive IRS rates; this means that the higher the taxable income, the higher the tax rate applicable. When trading as a company, the corporate tax is fixed (17% on the first €25,000 of profit and 21% above this) and in many cases it can be lower than the IRS rate. As an NHR there is a list of selected professions, where the personal income tax is fixed at 20% irrespective of the level of income. These professions do not include opening a shop, but the solution here would be to incorporate a company, and as a director you would be taxed at 20% IRS rate on your salary. If you are NHR, one of the opportunities could be to open a business and if it covers one of the eligible activities, you could opt to be taxed at 20% on the profit of the business. This way, the company would not pay the corporate tax and you would pay 20% on the profit.

R I C A R D O C H AV E S O F A L L F I N A N C E M AT T E R S I S O N T H E PLU S TE A M A N D H ER E TO A N SWER YO U R Q U ESTI O N S O N TH E I S S U E S T H AT A F F E C T Y O U R L I F E S T Y L E O N T H E A L G A R V E . T H I S M O NTH , O PEN I N G A B U S I N ES S I S O N E O F TH E K E Y TO PI C S

MADE IN

BRITAIN

THE VERY BEST IN RANGE COOKING

To discover more, visit or contact: AGAbrรกs, Lda, Rua Boaventura Passos, no. 18, 8150-121 Sรฃo Brรกs de Alportel T: 91 781 2155 | E: info@agabras.com | W: agabras.com

EXCHANGE PLUS

MANAGING YOUR FINANCIES W H AT A C T I O N C A N Y O U TA K E WITH U K BA N K S C LOS I N G E XPAT S ’ A C C O U N T S ? J O S E A L M E I D A TA L K S T H R O U G H S O M E O P T I O N S

Currency wallets With our wallet facility you can buy currency and hold it in a digital currency wallet until you need it. You can have multiple wallets in multiple currencies, and you also have the option to move money between wallets. There’s no limit to how long you can hold funds in a currency wallet and making a transfer from your wallet is quick and easy.

2 4/ 7 t ra n s f e r s Our online service gives you the ability to send and receive international payments 24/7. Simply create an account with us and you’ll be able to check live rates, check our bank details, make payments and set rate alerts. We even offer a handy App so you can manage your international payments on the go in a couple of taps.

L a r g e r t ra n s f e r s A number of our customers have mentioned needing to move their savings abroad ahead of their UK accounts being closed. If you need to make a larger transfer you can move your savings into your wallet and our expert team will help you pick the best time to convert your money. You can also utilise handy services like limit orders, where you set the rate you want to achieve and your transfer occurs automatically as soon as the market moves to that level.

Refer a friend If the closure of UK bank accounts is likely to impact someone you know, you can also refer them to us and benefit from our refer a friend offer. With our offer you’ll receive a £50 Amazon voucher every time someone you refer registers with us and transfers over £5,000 (or the equivalent). Currencies Direct has helped over 325,000 individuals and businesses move money abroad since 1996. It has an ‘Excellent’ Trustscore on Trustpilot, over 20 global offices and a team of more than 500 currency experts.

For more detailed information , please contact the loc al of fice T: 2 8 9 3 9 5 7 3 9 or register at c u r r e n c i e s d i r e c t . c o m / p o r t u g a l to get regular updates on the currency markets , ( U s e A l g a r v e P L U S m a g a z i n e a s t h e r e f e r e n c e) .

If you need to move money abroad on a regular basis (transferring a pension, for example), we can automate these payments for you. With our service, you’ll always receive a great exchange rate and you won’t be charged transfer fees, making your money go further.

R e g u l a r ove r s e a s p ay m e n t s

ALGARVE P L U S

N SEPTEMBER thousands of expats living in Europe were told that their UK bank accounts or credit cards would be closed by the end of the year as a result of Brexit, with Lloyds, Halifax and Barclaycard among the banks planning to close accounts. Other big-name banks have also refused to rule out account closures for expats. The reason for these closures is the likely impact of Brexit on ‘passporting’ arrangements. Passporting refers to UK banks providing services to customers based in other States of the European Economic Area (EEA) without direct authorisation. As it stands, passporting rules as we know them will end on 31 December 2020 unless a new agreement with the EU is reached. This means that UK banks will need to have separate authorisation in every EEA country they want to operate in, resulting in some banks deciding to close their accounts in some countries. According to one financial expert in the UK: “It is not immediately clear how many are affected by the closures. Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland have said they plan to close 13,000 accounts in total, though others haven’t given figures. But it’s possible larger numbers may be affected in due course, with many Brits resident in Europe; according to recent estimates from the United Nations, some 1.4 million people born in Britain live in the EU.” The situation can vary depending on where you live in Europe, but it is understandably unsettling with many expats now scrambling for an alternative means of managing their money. In light of this, we wanted to outline some of the ways we at Currencies Direct can help you control your international finances.

DATELINE PLUS

THE agenda T H I S M O N T H ’ S S P E C I A L S E L E C T I O N O F T H I N G S WO R T H S E E I N G

Anneke Bester A R T C AT TO, LO U L É , O N N OW

This enchanting bronze sculpture, 70cm high, is entitled Bill Spinning and has a a manual rotating mechanism that allows it to live up to its name.

A R T

MIGUEL REDONDO Tavira d’Artes, Tavira On now

ALGARVE P L U S

This fine artist, originally from the north of Spain, describes his work as a sensory experience, sculpting on to the canvas to create abstract, poetic compositions.

Roman Markov G A L E R I A C Ô R T E R E A L , PA D E R N E , O N N OW

Monochrome studies, a series of new paintings by Markov who plays with black and white, making his objects more intense and more graphic, more attention-getting.

LADY IN RED RUI AND BRUNO

Fresco Gallery, Almancil From 19 November Part of another collective, with concrete art by Silvia Cavelti, oils from Floriana, conceptual works by Bob Van Persie; Faro’s brother act Rui and Bruno are showing their off-the-wall mix of photography and collage.

L AG OA , U N T I L M I D - N OV E M B E R This is the final 2020 exhibition of the Sovereign Art Foundation Students Prize, a contest which was established in Portugal in 2017 to inspire and reward young artists from our community. All pieces are on display at Lady in Red, where they can be voted for and auctioned. The amount raised by this initiative will be divided between the young competitors, and the charity project chosen by Sovereign – NECI – an institution that runs several art workshops for teenagers and adults with disabilities. For more information visit sovereignartfoundation. com/art-prizes/student-art-prize/portugal/

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE

THE agenda P H O T O G R A P H Y

M U S I C

SILHOUETTES. REFLECTIONS. SHADOWS ALGARVE PHOTOG R APH E RS G ROU P M U S E U D O TR A J E , SÃO B R Á S , O N U NTI L 2 5 N OV E M B E R

Exhibition of dramatic monochrome images, voted for by visitors on the opening night of the show. ‘Mushroom’ by Nigel Moore was the out-and-out winner.

AMIGOS DE MUSICA Piano recitals Os Agostos 10 and 12 November

ALAALGARVE P L U S

Observing all the required safety regulations, there will be both matinée and evening performances this month when French pianist Helen Tysman takes to the stage on the Tuesday and Thursday. The additional concerts will allow more music lovers to attend, with social distancing respected. Do check before events, in case restrictions change. amigos-de-musica.org

GALA CELESTE RODRIGUES Teatro Lethes Faro 15 November, 4pm

LETHES BLUES Faro 27 as 28 Noevmer, 9.30pm

Two nights of magic if you are a blues lover. Great music and adding the the atmosphere there’ll be dialogue on stage between musicians and audience so you can learn about their journey. Tickets €10 for one dia, €18 for two. 289 878 908 to book tickets.

The Algarve Fado Association has renamed this event to remember its founder who passed away recently. If you love true Fado, this is the concert for you, bringing together fado singers and guitarists from across the region. Tickets are €10. 289 878 908 to book.

DATELINE PLUS

Beach clean up

E X P E R I E N C E S

VA L E D O LO B O B E AC H 1 4 N OV E M B E R , 1 0 A M -1 P M

The Campus, Quinta do Lago, 15-21 November

A five-day, six-night get-away-from-it-all opportunity to de-stress and put the demands of everyday life on one side. The mind and body relaxation programme is run by the resort’s health and wellbeing experts. To find out more, email retreats@quintadolago.com or phone 289 381 220

The final round of this year’s big motorcycle event. You can buy day or weekend passes and tickets for children age 8 to 14, accompanied by a paid adult, attract a 50% discount. motorsporttickets.com/engb/motogp/portugal/tickets

special offer

FELTING WOOL WORKSHOPS

GUIDED DONKEY TOUR FOR ADULTS AND KIDS PA D E R N E

Donkey Tours Algarve has put together an exclusive package for our readers – a unique tour riding and/or walking through the beautiful countryside. This special experience includes lunch, drinks, olive oil tasting and a fascinating talk about donkeys, culture, history and nature. Special price is €55. For full details call 916 017 061.

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE

Loulé Criativo, Gama Lobo Palce, Loulé 21 November One of our favourite artist/ artisans, Manoli Ortiz de la Torre, (see her wonderful handprinted clothing and accessories at Colectivo 28 by Loulé market) is running two workshops – 10am-1pm on felting with a needle, and 2pm-5pm felting with soap and water. To register email ze.manoli@gmail.com of call 960 382 196.

Autodromo International do Algarve, Portimao 20-22 November

YOGA AND WELLBEING RETREAT

MOTOGP GRAND PRIX OF PORTUGAL

ALGARVE P L U S

This partnership between Vale do Lobo and Associação Vida Nativa marks the National Sea Day. There will be a short walk along the beach to collect the garbage that is spoiling the health of our oceans and shores. Volunteers should wear comfortable clothing and have a hat, sunscreen, and water.

HUMPH PLUS

AND finally G I F T- S H O P P I N G S H O U L D B E A R E A L P L E A S U R E , A N D F I N D I N G T H E R I G H T G I F T A N A DV E N T U R E I N I T S E L F. B U T N OT FO R ANTH O N Y MARTI N WH O HA S HA D A LI FE TI M E O F BAD EXPERIENCES OF GIVING AND RECEIVING

ALGARVE P L U S

ELLS BELLS, Christmas is getting closer and I have to think presents. Not that I’m a great present giver at the best of times, after all I’m the guy who bought his wife a present which was identical to the birthday present he had bought her the previous month. And at that time I was far short of the third age. And even earlier than that, as a kid, an aunt who lived in Bournemouth, would make her yearly Christmas visit to see the family. She would arrive at my parents’ house and after the normal pleasantries, delve into her capacious bag saying: “What do we have here then?” and with a flourish she would pull out an envelope – “and this Anthony is for you. I have bought you some stamps”. Now what schoolboy didn’t like stamps? Wonderful colours and shapes that conjure up images of far-off, little-known countries. Sometime franked with magical names that made you rush to an atlas (remember atlases?). My young head imagined some Zulu warrior putting his Assegai down long enough to lick a stamp with his tattooed tongue, or a beautiful young girl lying on a beach in Mauritius writing to her lover and attaching the coveted 1859 pale blue Dardenne 2d. But Auntie, who knew not little boys, was far more practical – my stamps were all one colour, with the head of the Monarch and not franked. They were bare of any marks, not a Swanage, a Portsmouth, or even a Studland Bay. “Now be sure to use these to write to me and let me know how you are getting on at school” she said. I dutifully raised my head and pecked at her chin. “Yes, auntie, and thank you so much”. This, given her dottiness, was understandable but there are many of us guilty of stupidity when it comes to giving presents. And years later, none more stupid than the girlfriend who, at Christmas, gave me a leather cigarette case. Until then I had never smoked; it was a work of art and she had obviously been watching old films of the 40s and wanted her boyfriend to be as debonair as Bogart, Belmondo, or even a tall Claude

Rains. These guys could smoke and seduce at the same time, so who was I to argue? If all it took these heroes to get laid was to light a cigarette and place it in the lips of this wannabee Bette Davis, then smoke I would. I enjoyed 23 years of coughing before I kicked the habit. How often have you heard the plea ‘what do you buy for the man who has everything’? Well, a few Christmases ago I was that man. I didn’t know it at the time, as far as I was concerned there were still many things in this world that I wanted and didn’t have, but an acquaintance of mine obviously disagreed which is why he sent me the present he did, one Christmas Eve. As he lives in Belgium, he is unlikely to read this. Therefore I feel quite at ease bringing to you the most useless gift known to man: the breast pocket car tyre pressure gauge. This is a chromed pen-like object that one is supposed to press against their tyre valve to give a pressure reading. Now the first thing you do when you unwrap this item – that is after you have tried to write with it – is blow in it to see if it works. No, don’t ask me why, for surely everyone over the age of eight knows that human lungs cannot exert a pressure of 30lb per square inch, or as we now say, 2.5 bars. That apart, what is wrong with the tried and tested method of giving the tyre a good kick? But gizmos have to be tried out at least once so on the Christmas morning in question, with a cheery shout of “Just off to check the tyre pressure, dear” I wandered outside. I was then fussy about tyres and kept them at front 1.9, rear 2.3. Following the instructions of this gizmo, I crouched at the wheel, unscrewed dust cap A, applied end B to valve C, et voilà, – a sudden rush of air and the tyre instantly deflated. Merci bien, Jacques. But Jacques and I have a lot in common. I in my procrastinating ways also wait until the last minute to buy presents, so come 24 December if you see someone on arthritic knees limping around Mar Shopping looking for something – looking for anything – say hello and season’s greetings. It will be me.

The stamps weren’t even franked. Not a Swanage or Portsmouth in sight

REF: 7Q20225

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