It’s February, and that means an abundance of love stories. Those of famous twosomes – some charming, some gruelling – tell a lot about the history and habit of a country (read Christina Moreno’s feature on page 34 and you’ll see what we mean), but in the heart of Portuguese culture is a Valentine’s tradition embodied in two iconic symbols: the Cantarinha dos Namorados (the Love Jar) and the Lenço dos Namorados (the Valentine’s Scarf), a charming couple in their own right.
The Cantarinha, from Guimarães, is a handcrafted clay jug adorned with shimmering white mica. Traditionally, when a young man was ready to propose, he would present this jar to his beloved, signifying his commitment and dreams for their future. If she accepted, the Cantarinha would store gifts from both families during their engagement, with its size symbolizing the couple’s future abundance. Today, while it may no longer serve its original purpose, the Cantarinha remains a cherished token of hope, love and abundance. And they are still made, and still enjoyed as a piece of decorative pottery
Partnering the jug is the Lenço dos Namorados from Viana do Castelo. Young women would hand-embroider scarves with vibrant motifs and love verses to give to the suitor they loved. If he accepted and wore it proudly, their love was officially recognised.
If the idea appeals to you, but sewing doesn’t, check online for the thoroughly modern versions. Get one framed and on the wall as an upto-date token of love.
The Pantone Colour of the Year programme engages the design community and colour enthusiasts to express a global mood and an attitude. For 2025 it is Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, a warming, brown hue imbued with richness like the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort.
Just released and perfectly timed, Heart & Love is a beautifully-crafted exploration of love, the universal emotion that has inspired art, fashion, and poetry for centuries. Parisian author Pierre Berville celebrates legendary romances, from real-life couples like Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg to the art of Klimt and the words of Neruda, capturing the essence of love in all its forms. Published by Assouline, €75. assouline.com
Love seat, perfect for two. It’s velvet, called Giulietta, and measures 170x90cm. From Equilibrio on Estrada de Vale do Lobo. equilibriointeriors.com
The Talie Single Sofa armchair, upholstered in Monet Pearl fabric, displays a voluptuous profile. Its backrest is slightly curved for added aesthetics and attached to a golden metallic support reminiscent of mid-century modernism design. From the always amazing Luxxu collection – high priced and absolutely worth it. luxxu.net
The ultimate fusion between the artistic design, authenticity of traditional Portuguese metal-work techniques, and creative craftsmanship, the Rainforest Floor Lamp features gold-plated brass coupled with hand-applied clear crystal glass, adorned with falling raindrops and butterflies. And you can order it to the size of your choice. castrolighting.com
The coffee shop at Casa Amor in Olhão opens for the new season on 11 February and yes, yes, yes, Walter’s Almond Croissants will be a highlight. Doors open at 09h00, so get there early for the treat of the day.
Exclusive to The Spa by Corinthia Lisbon, the Prism Light Pod is an innovative wellness therapy that allows maximum relaxation. You just have to lie down and let yourself be covered in a red light kind of sleeping bag. While the warmth of the little red lights regenerate your cells, you can have a facial. Benefits? Helps to regulate hormonal imbalance, sleep better and recuperate faster from jet lag. This is love at first session!
Lots of love and a Ladybug postcard from The Art Studio Tavira, reprinted from the original piece by Angelo E on recycled card stock. €5. theartstudiotavira.com
tavira - loulé - olhão - lagos
In the nick of time
HEADING OFF FOR AN ALMOST THREE-WEEK ODYSSEY TO THE CLOVE ISLAND OF ZANZIBAR, NICK ROBINSON LET HIS MIND WANDER ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES THAT LAY AHEAD, AND WHAT TO PACK FOR HIS TRAVELS
IDECIDED ON ten collared shirts for 14 days and looked around for extra t-shirts to fill the gaps. As I folded them, my mind began to wander. The forthcoming trip sounded so exotic, so Arabian, like I was living my book. Even though Roger Crowley’s The Conquerors wasn’t all about Zanzibar, it did feature the Swahili Coast and the towns of Malindi, Mombasa and other sections of the east African coast.
That was it; I could make a YouTube video comparing my trip to Vasco da Gama’s historical ‘discovery’ of India. Let’s face it, the Indians and the Arabians already knew about India and were trading up a storm with each other, but for the Portuguese, the India route was a big discovery.
I zipped up my suitcase and we loaded up the car and I thought of Vasco da Gama. Whilst we were driving from the Algarve to Lisbon, his preparations for the journey involved a good few days with King Manuel I and his advisors who briefed him in the Ribeira Palace. The palace was destroyed in Portugal’s 1755 earthquake but in 1497 it was very real and towered over what is now Praça do Comércio.
We stopped for a roadside coffee and I began to record a few opening bits of my video. It was cold and rain lashed at the windows as the Alentejo braced itself for some typical winter weather. 14ºC. Brrr. Vasco da Gama had proceeded from the palace westwards to near where the current Monument to the Discoveries looks out over the Tejo River. There was a proper procession with the military turning up in their finest, before the brave navigators boarded their three caravels and sailed the rest of the way down to Restelo docks. There they would go in and pray at the little chapel – this was before the
The Indians and the Arabians knew about India and were trading up a storm, but for the Portuguese, the route was a big discovery
Jerónimos Monastery was built and way before it was declared a UNESCO world heritage site – where the priests came to bless the fleet. A carrack had joined the three caravels to carry supplies and the crowds of Lisbon thronged around the ships and their seamen. Women wailed, aware that only around 65% of their men would actually make it back alive. It was a scary endeavour but there was the chance of buulding up personal riches…
In comparison, we arrived at Lisbon International Airport and sipped Champagne in the business-class lounge, delighted to hear that TAAG airlines, who were sponsoring this video, had upgraded us to first class. What a stark comparison to the hard wooden deck of a caravel! We were to fly from Lisbon to Luanda in seven hours. Vasco da Gama would take almost three months to reach a similar distance.
As I chatted with the pilots and the cabin crew of our Boeing 777 I marvelled at all the high tech equipment sparkling before me in the dark cockpit.
The Voyage of Discoveries crew, on the other hand, were busy loading up their astrolabes, quadrants, compasses, charts and logbooks.
Da Gama personally oversaw the final loading of supplies: barrels of salted meat, dried fish, wine, hardtack, fresh water, and precious trade goods like textiles and trinkets to barter with African and Indian rulers. We were offered a glass of Laurent Perrier and commenced with starters, mains and desserts accompanied by a buttery Chardonnay. I settled back into my reclining bed and revelled in my first ever, first class experience!
As we were taking off into the clouds above Lisbon, the fleet was sailing out the mouth of the Tejo unaware of what may lie in wait for them on the other side of the world.
SOAR POINTS
READY FOR AN UP-AND-AWAY EXPERIENCE? FROM THE SUN-KISSED ALGARVE TO THE ROLLING PLAINS OF THE ALENTEJO AND THE LUSH DOURO VALLEYS, THE COUNTRY’S STUNNING LANDSCAPE MAKE THE PERFECT BACKDROP FOR UNFORGETTABLE ADRENALINE-FUELLED ADVENTURES
Words: KAYLA MEIRINHO
Hot air balloons over the river landscape at sunrise in Monsaraz, Alentejo
WHETHER you are a thrillseeker chasing excitement, or looking to take in Portugal’s beauty at a slower pace on a scenic and relaxing flight, there is something special awaiting you, guided by experienced pilots who’ll share insights into Portugal’s rich geography, culture, and history.
Whether these activities are already on your bucket list or are something you know little about but are keen to investigate, this guide will cover everything you need to know – what each entails, where to go for the best possible experience, who they’re for, and how to prepare – plus those valuable tips to ensure you can make the most of your journey.
SKYDIVING
Skydiving offers the ultimate thrill, combining excitement and breathtaking views. At 10,000–15,000 feet, you’ll leap into a heart-pounding freefall at speeds of up to an incredibe 200km/h. Once the parachute deploys, the rush gives way to a peaceful glide, letting you soak in Portugal’s stunning coastlines and countryside.
Best for
Skydiving is perfect for adrenaline junkies, bucket list achievers, and nature lovers seeking a fresh perspective from way above.
What to keep in mind
Not recommended for those with severe heart conditions, recent surgeries, or, it goes without saying, a fear of heights.
Physical requirements: Meet weight limits (usually 90-100kg) and be able to lift your legs for landing.
Top Locations
Algarve: Fly over dramatic coastlines, golden beaches, and turquoise waters with Skydive Algarve in Alvor.
Évora (Alentejo): Experience inland beauty with vast plains, vineyards, and historic towns through Skydive Portugal. Castelo Branco: Enjoy views of the interior of Portugal, farmland, and Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede with Sky Fun Center.
What to Expect
Skydiving typically takes two to four hours. Pre-jump briefing: Meet your instructor for a safety briefing, gear fitting, and instructions on freefall and landing. The ascent: Board the plane and ascend
with anticipation building as you enjoy stunning views.
The jump: Strapped to your tandem instructor, you’ll freefall for 30–60 seconds at exhilarating speeds.
The glide: After the parachute deploys, you’ll float gently for five to seven minutes, taking in panoramic scenery.
Post-jump celebration: Many operators provide photos, videos, and certificates to commemorate your adventure.
Skydive Algarve skydivealgarve.com
Skydive Seven skydiveseven.pt near Alvor
Skydive Portugal near Evora skydiveportugal.pt
Sky Fun Center near Tomar skyfuncenter.com
PARAGLIDING
Paragliding is a thrilling way to explore Portugal’s breathtaking landscapes. After a short run from a hill or cliff, the wing catches the wind, lifting you gently into the air. Guided by a tandem pilot, you’ll soar through the sky, carried by natural air currents for a smooth experience.
Best for
This activity is perfect for thrill-seekers, nature enthusiasts, and solo travellers or small groups. Tandem flights make it safe and accessible for beginners.
What to Keep in Mind
Not recommended for: Those with severe fear of heights, heart conditions, or recent surgeries.
Physical requirements: Ability to run a few steps for take off and landing.
Top Locations
Arrábida (near Lisbon): Rolling hills and stunning coastline with Portugal Paragliding.
Algarve: Dramatic cliffs and golden beaches, including iconic spots like Praia da Rocha, with Fly Algarve.
Serra da Estrela: Portugal’s highest mountains and lush valleys, with Club Vertical.
Northern Portugal: Rugged terrain and lush landscapes close to the Spanish border with Landfor.
What to Expect
Paragliding typically lasts 30 - 60 minutes and includes:
Preparation: Upon arrival, you’ll meet your pilot for a safety briefing and an explanation of what to expect. After being fitted with a harness and helmet, you’ll head to the launch site.
Take off: With a short run, the wing catches the wind, and you’ll lift off the ground – a smooth and exhilarating moment.
The flight: You’ll soar through the air for 15–30 minutes, depending on the weather. Take in the panoramic views, feel the rush of the wind, and experience the sensation of weightlessness.
Landing: The adventure ends with a controlled landing guided by your pilot. Most landings are smooth and require just a few steps.
Paragliding paragliding.com.pt
Fly Algarve flyalgarve.pt Club Vertical clubevertical.org
Landfor landfor.pt/batismos-2
GLIDING
Gliding offers a peaceful, engine-free flight experience. A powered plane tows the glider into the sky, and once the towline is released, you’ll silently soar on natural air currents.
With no engine noise, it’s just you, the wind, and amazing views.
Best for
This activity is ideal for nature lovers seeking a serene escape, adventure seekers wanting something unique, and those who enjoy meditative experiences. Some pilots even let you assist in steering for a handson element.
What to Keep in Mind
Not recommended for: Those with severe fear of heights or motion sickness.
Physical requirements: Ability to sit comfortably and follow basic instructions.
Top Locations
Viseu: Experience tranquil gliding flights over Viseu’s scenic landscapes, including rolling hills and picturesque countryside with Aero Club Viseu.
Leiria/Torres Novas: Glide above historic castles, ancient olive groves, and charming cultural towns with Adventures Portugal. Braga: Soar above the lush valleys and spectacular hills of northern Portugal with Aero Club Braga.
What to Expect
The full gliding experience typically takes two to three hours, including:
Preparation: Upon arrival, you’ll meet your pilot for a full safety briefing and an overview of the flight you’ll be undertaking. You’ll also learn how the glider works and get fitted with any necessary gear for your journey.
Take off: A powered plane or winch tows the glider into the air. Once at the desired altitude, the towline is released, and you’ll glide freely, carried by natural air currents. The flight: Enjoy the peaceful silence as
you soar through the sky for 20-60 minutes, taking in panoramic views of Portugal’s stunning landscapes. Some pilots may even let you assist in steering, adding a hands-on element to the experience.
Landing and post-flight: Your pilot will guide the glider to a smooth landing. Afterward, you’ll have time to chat with the pilot, take photos, or simply savour the experience.
Aero Club Viseu aeroclubeviseu.com
Adventures Portugal adventures.pt
Aero Club Braga aeroclubebraga.pt/ index.php/services/
HOT AIR BALLOONING
Hot air ballooning offers a serene and magical way to explore Portugal’s landscapes. Using heated air to lift a colourful envelope and basket into the sky, the balloon floats gracefully with the wind, creating a tranquil journey.
Each flight is unique, as routes are determined by wind direction, adding a touch of adventure to the experience.
Best for
This slow-paced activity is perfect for couples, families, and small groups celebrating special occasions or seeking a unique escape. It is an absolute delight, looking down at familiar sites.
Whichever experience you choose, once you’ve been up and away, chances are you’ll be back for more and ready to try another option. The top companies here are hugely experienced and can advise on what is best suited for your energy and enthusiasm levels
What to Keep in Mind
Suitable for: Travellers aged 7+ who can stand for an hour; some operators offer wheelchair-accessible baskets. Not recommended for: Pregnant individuals, those with serious heart or back conditions, or recent surgeries. Weight surcharges may apply for passengers over 100–114 kg.
Key Locations
Alentejo: Glide over vast plains, Lake Alqueva, and the medieval village of Monsaraz with operators like Baloníssimo, UP Alentejo and Flydreams.
Algarve: Enjoy rolling hills, coastal vistas, and hidden countryside with Algarve Balloons.
Ribatejo: Peaceful greenery near Coruche, with Windpassenger offering scenic flights.
What to Expect
Hot air ballooning is a three to five hour experience, that includes:
Pre-flight: Start with a safety briefing and an introduction to the journey.
The flight: Enjoy approximately 60–90 minutes of serene gliding, taking in panoramic views of hills, villages, lakes, and coastlines. Morning flights are particularly popular, offering calm winds and stunning sunrises.
Post-flight: Celebrate with a toast of sparkling wine or local juice and transport back to the launch site. Many operators also provide complimentary photos, videos, and a flight certificate.
Baloníssimo balonissimo.com/pt UP Alentejo upalentejo.pt Flydreams Alentejo flydreamsalentejo.com Algarve Balloons algarveballoons.com/ Windpassenger windpassenger.pt/ they fly in multiple locations and you can even make a request
HELICOPTER TOURS
For a luxurious and fast-paced way to explore Portugal, helicopter tours offer unmatched aerial views. Whether it’s the dramatic coastline, historic cities, or lush vineyards, these tours are perfect for celebrating special moments, timeconscious travellers, or anyone seeking a thrilling bucket-list experience. Some operators offer custom routes or landings at a winery or other exclusive destination.
Best for
Ideal for adventurers, luxury travellers, and those short on time, helicopter tours are accessible to most people.
What to Keep in Mind
Not recommended for: Those with a strong fear of heights or motion sickness.
Family-friendly: Some operators allow children but may have age or size restrictions.
Key Locations
Lisbon: Soar over Belém Tower, the 25 de Abril Bridge, and the Alfama district with operators like Lisbon Helicopters.
Porto: Glide above the Douro River, Ribeira district, and wine cellars with Heliporto.
Douro Valley: Fly over terraced vineyards and the winding river in this UNESCO World Heritage site with Tivoli Douro Helicopter Tours.
Algarve: Admire the cliffs, golden beaches, and Benagil caves with Algarve Helicopters
What to Expect
Helicopter tours combine efficiency and luxury, lasting 15–45 minutes:
Pre-flight briefing: Upon arrival, you’ll receive a safety briefing and an overview of the flight route. Your pilot may share highlights of what you’ll see and answer any questions.
Boarding and takeoff: Once seated and secured, the helicopter takes off smoothly, offering immediate panoramic views as you ascend.
The flight: Most flights last 15–45 minutes, depending on the package. You’ll glide over cities, coastlines, or vineyards while your pilot points out key landmarks and provides context about the area.
Landing: The tour concludes with a gentle landing. Many operators offer the option to purchase professional photos or videos of the experience. Some tours include additional perks.
Weather-dependent: Strong winds or poor visibility may lead to rescheduling. Stay flexible. Group size: Some activities require a minimum number of participants; if not met, you may be offered alternatives or a refund.
Cancellation policies: Check refund options if your group needs to cancel or change plans.
Booking tips
Seasonal charm: There’s no bad time to fly – each season offers unique views.
Inclusions: Confirm what is included, like transfers, refreshments, or photo packages.
Insurance: Verify coverage through the operator or your own policy.
Reputable operators: Book through trusted platforms or directly with reliable providers. Special requests: Communicate any needs, such as private flights or accessibility, in advance.
How to prepare
Dress appropriately: Wear sturdy shoes, layers, and a hat for sun protection.
Pack essentials: Bring sunscreen, water, and a camera (if allowed) – some operators provide photos if cameras aren’t permitted.
Health check: Consult your doctor if you have medical concerns, recent surgeries, or other risks.
Fear of heights: Let your guide know – they’re experienced in helping nervous participants.
Post-flight tips
Explore the area: Visit nearby villages, markets, or landmarks you spotted during your flight. Ask for recommendations: Pilots and guides often share great tips for hidden gems and local attractions.
Plan ahead: Research the region for post-flight activities, like wine tasting, coastal walks, or hikes.
Media on Canvas
Don’t mansion it!
IT ’ S THE MOST ROMANTIC MONTH OF THE YEAR AND IT CALLS FOR GRAND GESTURES OF LOVE. OFFER THE KING/QUEEN OF YOUR HEART NOTHING LESS THAN THE PALACE THEY DESERVE (AT LEAST FOR A NIGHT OR TWO)
Words: SANDRA GATO
Family-owned and run Vintage Estoril is full of splendid details, not only architecturally, but in the sumptuous dressing of each area
IT IS THAT time again, when heart-shaped balloons decorate all kinds of public spaces, cakes are iced and candelled in pink, Netflix brings out those love-dovey favourites, and promises are made as well as proposals. Cards and candy may not do it for you, but twosome time-out certainly will. And what could be better than a couple of days somewhere fit for royalty? We suggest four mansions – three hotels and one restaurant – that are perfect settings to reveal, underline or reaffirm all the love you feel inside for your one and only.
Estoril Vintage Hotel
More than the architectural splendour and idyllic location, there is one moment that, for me, sums up the unique feeling of staying in this 100-year-old palace – or, more accurately, palacete (a smaller palace). It happened as soon as I checked in. When I was getting the key to my room, a lady approached me and said: “Welcome to Estoril Vintage Hotel, nice to have you with us, I am the owner”.
The lady of the house showed me around and told me that her family (Líbano Monteiro) used to inhabit the whole palacete. She had seven children – so they needed a big place – and then, a couple of years ago, with the kids all grown up, they decided to turn it into a hotel. Today, she and her husband live in the garden house and make sure the 15-bedroom hotel feels like a family house that, from the outside, could be located on the French Riviera.
And that is exactly what you experience when you notice framed family photos from different eras decorating the living room tables, Portuguese bed linen of the highest quality and, at the restaurant, a sophisticated menu that includes some family recipes, taught to the chef by the lady of the house, of course.
Estoril is quite near Lisbon – around 25km – but the Atlantic’s proximity makes one feel far away and detached.
Right and below: the very recently opened grand Palacete Severo, which boasts fine design and incredible dining opportunities
TIME TRAVELLING A
Opening the window of the room to the ocean front, or just enjoying its breeze while cheering to life with your loved one on the terrace, is the best gift of love.
And, believe me, the owner of the house will make sure everything is perfect while you are there... If you are unable to stay the night, have dinner in the magnificent restaurant or go for the five o’clock tea. There is a pretty good chance that this will become your ‘special place’... and for the real romantics, they organise private weddings. estorilvintage.com
Maison Albar – Amoure
When a hotel has Amoure on its name you know you found the ideal place to surprise the love of your life. You just have to drive them to the small village of Moure (near Braga) –hence the name: a pun addressing the location and the word for ‘love’ in French – and let yourselves be totally spoilled in this recently-opened palace.
Yes, it looks like an ancient building but is, in fact, totally new. From the outside it looks like a classic mansion; inside is the first surprise: the main inspiration here is the world of... luxury automobiles. The handrail of the lobby staircase is made of leather, like the wheel of a Ferrari, and the bar –with a great view of the hills around – is starred by luxury cars (real ones!). If your loved one is a fan of four-wheeled beauties, this is definitely the place to go. Besides that, there is a lovely swimming pool to lie back (if the weather allows) and an invinting spa to book an invigorating treatment. The rooms (26 in total) have all the comfort one desires and the restaurant L’Amoure serves the best local produce in the most stylish way.
maison-albar-hotels-amoure.com
Palacete Severo
Going up to Porto and staying at Palacete Severo is a many-great-things-in-one kind of experience: you get to know a historic building totally renovated that recently opened as a boutique hotel, you visit an art gallery, you dine at an amazing restaurant run by a great Portuguese chef and, in its lush gardens you can isolate yourself from the city’s buzz while still being right at the centre of it all.
Ricardo Severo was an architect and engineer, born in 1869, very much ahead of his time. This palace was his home and is, to this day, recognised for its historic value. Opened at the end of 2024 as a small charming hotel – with only 20 rooms and suites – it is one of those places that makes you board a time travel capsule as soon as you get in.
The rooms are cosy and comfortable – some even have direct access to the astonishing gardens (the perfect place to enjoy the silence with a book in the company of the one you love) and the common areas make you wish you could stay longer. The library and adjacent room are ideal for small events or for a good rest after a day out in town.
Another very special detail is the fact that Palacete Severo is also an art gallery – a branch of Perspective Galerie, created in Paris in 2002 by Géraldine Banier – that showcases several different art pieces (that can be bought) inside and outside the palacete.
And then we have the restaurants: Éon, led by Michelin-starred Tiago Bonito, where a meal – set in a beautiful wooden room – is a fantastic journey of flavour, carefully selected ingredients and collective memories. Bistrô Severo, on the other hand, presents a more informal experience, based on Mediterranean products cooked creatively.
Last but not least, two other reasons that will make you want to stay as long as possible: the spa – simple but warm decor and an exclusive French beauty brand: Olivier Claire. And the professionalism and kindness of the staff members that trully make you believe you have a new house in Porto. Palacetesevero.com
ROYAL TABLE
1743 Palácio Fonte Nova
If going away for a good few days is out of the question but you still want your special person to feel like royalty, make a reservation at 1743 Palácio Fonte Nova restaurant.
The date in the name refers to the the beginning of the construction of the farm to which the palace belongs: Quinta da Fonte Nova. More than 300 years of history recently transformed (it opened last July) in a fine dining Italian restaurant where chef Joachim Koerper (nine Michelin stars in total througout his career) and his wife Cíntia reveal all their talent in the incredible dishes that they bring to the table. Classic, delicate and elegant interiors matched by a romantic terrace where you can have your meal facing the French-style garden and feeling the fresh air that comes form the nearby Serra de Sintra.
An enchanted oasis not far from Lisbon where Joachim cooks premium ingredients (many imported directly from Italy) and turns them into dishes that mix Italian flavours with Portuguese ones, like the Carbonara à Brás (carbonara sauce meets Bacalhau à Brás). Cíntia takes care of desserts and presents jewels like Panna Cotta 1743, with bougainvillea – yes, the flower – and different textures of raspberries.
Beautiful food served in a beautiful setting, what can be more perfect for Valentine’s Day?
Tel: 927 932 859
Top and above: 1743 Palácio Fonte Nova, an enchanting eaterie close to Lisbon
Right: The splendid Maison Albar-Amoure, designed on traditional lines but with interiors that are anything but classic
TINY GREENS MIGHTY BENEFITS
WHEN IT COMES TO WELLNESS, WE’RE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SUPERFOODS THAT CAN PACK A SERIOUS PUNCH – TURNS OUT MICRO HERBS ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE HEALTH WORLD
Words: SALLY DIXON
BEING THREE years into a BSc in Nutritional Therapy means I’m hyper focused on what goes on my plate. Micro herbs weren’t even on my radar until I did a Natural Chef diploma in 2019 with the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London. Since then, I’ve been garnishing like crazy with the little guys. These mini greens may be small, but they bring mighty flavour, nutrition, and freshness to the table. From jazzing up your salad to giving your smoothie an antioxidant boost, micro herbs are here to elevate both your palate and your wellbeing.
What are micro herbs?
Micro herbs, also known as microgreens, are the tender shoots of vegetables and herbs harvested at a young stage, typically when they’re just one to three inches tall. They’re more than just cute, decorative garnishes – they’re nutritional powerhouses that deliver a concentrated dose of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Popular varieties include basil,
coriander, rocket, radish, mustard, and even broccoli. Despite their size, these tiny greens boast a flavour intensity that rivals their mature counterparts. Whether you want a peppery kick, a hint of citrus, or a burst of freshness, there’s a micro herb for every taste profile.
Nuno Clara is the green-fingered grower providing organic micro herbs to Algarvians in the know. Born and raised in the Algarve, Nuno always dreamed of having his own business. Ideas came and went but nothing really came to fruition, until in early 2018 a friend working in agriculture introduced Nuno to micro herbs. By the end of that year, spurred on by months of research, Nuno started to produce a small number of micro herbs. After much trial and error, he perfected his growing skills over the next few years, introducing quality seeds from Italy, Germany, Netherlands, and England. Overcoming cultivation hurdles is Nuno’s speciality, he remembers: “Initially, I had some problems with the temperature, particularly in winter when the temperatures drop quite low compared to the day. It’s too cold for micro herbs!” A break in production during the Covid-19 pandemic proved the perfect time to research new, more functional growing methods. Nuno now uses the aquaponic method to
grow the herbs, a symbiotic relationship that mirrors natural, sustainable growing cycles.
“I changed my production during Covid. I used the time when I wasn’t producing to perfect a better growing system. Before I was using hydroponics, but when I changed to the aquaponic method I saw the difference immediately, it was like day to night. The plants were much happier!”
As the health benefits of micro herbs become more widely known so, too, does the demand for Nuno’s greens. “More and more people in Portugal are becoming aware of the health benefits of natural foods and in particular micro herbs. I’ve also recently added edible flowers to my offering as they too have amazing health benefits. When I first started growing, I didn’t know about any of this. I was pleasantly surprised from my research just how nutrient-dense the micro herbs are, and so easy to add to a variety of dishes.” Pea shoots are a firm favourite with Nuno’s customers, but the choice doesn’t stop there. He has around 35 different varieties of micro herbs, including coriander, broccoli, mustard, rocket, and leek. Restaurants and health retreats are just some of the local businesses incorporating the tiny powerhouses into their meals.
Private clients will be pleased to know that Nuno’s herbs can last for around two weeks due to the coconut fibre he uses to deliver the germinated roots in. “If they water them and keep them in the fridge, they will last a long time,” he says. “I don’t cut the herbs,” he adds, “I sell them alive, so people cut them at home or in the restaurant and consume them fresh. It’s the best way to preserve the nutritional content. If I deliver them pre-cut, then they already start to lose their quality and nutritional value.”
Big nutritional benefits in a small package
Science is increasingly pointing to the health benefits of micro herbs, showing that these tiny plants may contain four to 40 times more nutrients than their fully-grown versions. This means that a small sprinkle of micro herbs can deliver a hefty dose of essential nutrients like:
Vitamin C: To support immune function and skin health.
Vitamin K: For bone health and blood clotting. Antioxidants: To help fight inflammation and protect against oxidative stress.
Minerals: Including iron, potassium, and magnesium, which promote overall wellbeing. Plus, they may also play an essential role in modulating the gut microbiome due to their flavonoid content.
How to add micro herbs to your diet
One of the best things about micro herbs is their versatility. Here are some easy ways to incorporate them into your daily meals:
1. Top your toast: Add a handful of radish or rocket microgreens to avocado toast.
2. Smoothies: Toss in spinach or kale micro herbs for an antioxidant boost in your morning smoothie.
3. Upgrade your salads: Mix in micro herbs like basil, lemon basil, or coriander to add colour, texture, and a herbaceous twist.
4. Garnish soups and stews: A sprinkle of micro herbs can turn a simple soup into a gourmet dish.
5. Enhance your eggs: Scrambled eggs or omelettes taste fresher and more vibrant with a touch of micro greens.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your meals, enhance your wellness routine, or simply try something new, micro herbs are a fantastic addition to a healthy lifestyle. Packed with flavour and nutrition, they’re proof that good things really do come in small packages. You can catch Nuno and his micro herbs at fairs and markets such Quinta Shopping Farmer’s Market (March onwards), Feira da Dieta Mediterrânica in Tavira in September, Feira da Serra in São Brás de Alportel, and the Mediterranean Garden Fair in Spring and Autumn. Find him on Instagram @nunoclara_microvegetais and by phone and WhatsApp +351 918 294 787
Nuno Clara’s herbs are ‘live’, which means you cut them as needed at home, ensuring their life span and freshness
SOUND SENSE
YES, WE ALL HAVE OUR FAVOURITES WHEN IT COMES TO MUSIC, MANY OF THEM REAL OLD RELIABLES THAT GET THE FEET TAPPING AND FINGERS DRUMMING. BUT TODAY, ADVENTURING INTO NEW TERRITORIES, WITH FRESH TALENTS LOOKING TO INNOVATE AND DELIVER THEIR OWN ORIGINAL SOUNDS... NOW THAT IS EXCITING
Words: DR PAUL FRANCIS
I’VE BEEN living in the Algarve for a few years. It’s good. I’m originally from the UK, and as a professional musician, I’ve had the good fortune to work with talented artists across international boundaries, some you may have heard of and some you probably haven’t. When I decided to move to the Algarve, I planned to keep working internationally, (which I do), but I also wanted to contribute to the live music scene here. The problem is, that much of the live music advertised here is cover bands. Is it just me asking where are the new or original artists? Where can you go to see new talent playing original music?
Perhaps, living here in the Algarve, the concept of booking a holiday seems like something you don’t have to do. When I was in the UK, I remember the enthusiasm of looking forward to that scheduled special weekend. A weekend dedicated to sitting down with a few glasses of red and asking: “Where are we going to go this year?”, and then deciding. For me, the list had to start with: “somewhere I haven’t previously been”.
There’s a pattern
Why? So I could discover and experience new places, new foods, new people and new cultures. It was always about the new things. Yes, there is comfort in returning to what we know but the excitement of discovering something new has an uncompromising place in my heart. It also makes tomorrow just a little bit more exciting.
When a new restaurant opens, with a talented aspiring chef presenting their ideas on food, people flock to see what’s going on. Is it just to mischievously ask friends: “Have you been to that new place yet? We have”. There are no guarantees of great food, service, and reasonable prices, with the inevitable bulging waistline and satisfied smile. When a new supermarket or shopping centre opens, (selling the same things as all the other retail outlets), without any guarantees that the prices will be lower, the produce better and the staff serving you will be more welcoming than the usual place you shop. On opening day the car parks are full. It seems
that with anything new, or when people get the chance to have new experiences, they can’t seem to get enough of it without any guarantee they will like what they are being offered.
So why is it different with music?
I want to make one thing clear. There are some original performers here, eg Juke Joint Blues, along with able musicians playing cover versions of your favourite songs, and we should continue to support them. Someone, somewhere, once said something about music being the food of love etc, etc, etc, and I agree with that.
However, if we don’t support new music and new artists, where will the next generation of musicians come from?
In reality, the cost of supporting new music is invariably the price of a couple of pints, (or, for the more refined of you, a G&T), far cheaper than most new things there are to experience. So why does there seem to be a reluctance to find an excuse for a few drinks with friends while getting the chance to discover new talents?
How many more versions of Valerie, Superstition, BrownEyed Girl and Sex on Fire, (or the usual repertoire the live
music scene here seems to offer) can there be? Is it just me who is ready to hear something new? Well, dear reader, I may have an answer, but before the big reveal...
When preparing this article I thought I’d better check if it is just me. Am I the only person who wants to see and support new artists? Am I the only one who is perhaps a little Valerie’d out? I decided to do my own (very non-scientific) survey. After all, and by now I’m sure this doesn’t surprise you, I have some experience of swimming against the tide, so I thought I’d take the following questions to the streets and put them to the people:
- Do you like live music?
- Do you go to watch live music and if not, why not?
- Would you like to see and hear new and/or original music from new artists and groups?
- Any other comments?
Here’s what they said:
Luisa, originally from South Africa and a preschool teacher, wife to Dane and mother to soon-to-be teenage son said: “Yes, we enjoy listening to live music, but here in Portugal it’s the same thing over and over”. Luisa wanted to give a big shoutout to the Fado scene, which she described as “great”, but in reality, many of those who now consider the Algarve home are unfortunately not fluent in Portuguese.
“There’s only so much you can listen to. I prefer listening to music that is more upbeat, something you can move to and
If we don’t support new music and new artists, where will the next generation of musicians come from?
not just another sad love song.” Luisa also added that, as a preschool teacher, who gets to hear Baby Shark a few more times than she’d like, perhaps her opinion wasn’t valid!
But for me it most certainly is. Why shouldn’t Luisa and her family get to dust off their dancing shoes and experience new music in their locality? As Luisa put it: “Much of the new stuff happens in Lisbon, Coimbra or Porto, which makes it difficult to watch live”.
Perhaps the most telling thing from Luisa came from her thoughts on the future. “For the new and upcoming performers, the younger generation needs to tap into old and new to evolve and progress the future of singers and songwriters. They need to not just do the same thing over again, otherwise, it will just continue with the same circle.”
Marc, originally from Germany, but now living here with his wife and teenage son, gave an enthusiastic: “Yes!” to the questions I posed. He also – perhaps unhelpfully, but probably correctly – told me my questions were too vague. However, with his responses came the distinction between large and small venues.
The Algarve, he reported, has many small venues that could
easily accommodate new acts and artists. Rather than being dismissive of such venues, as Marc so rightly points out, smaller venues are “unique in the reception of a show”. His response to my third question perhaps echoes mine: “I think that people interested in live music will also love to see new acts with original material”.
Francesca was next. A shop assistant from Faro, she is highly enthusiastic about live music. “Yes, I enjoy live music and I enjoy going to see it. It would be good if the people playing were professional musicians though, and not just playing for a hobby”. Just as her attention was taken by a child in a pram who looked like it was about to destroy what was now a very precarious-looking shop display, Francesca gave a thumbs up when posed with the question, would you like to see and hear original music?
And then came Tracey, a well-known and respected vocal artist based here in the Algarve, who shared her views. “What I do is just a notch above karaoke,” she said, “and although I love it, and so do some people, it’s about time there was more original stuff going on”.
There were many similar reactions to my non-scientific survey, but in the interest of balance, I do have to mention Tony. His responses to my questions perhaps prove the adage ‘every rule has an exception’: “With new artists,” he said, “you can’t sing along. I like a few pints and a sing-song”. Well, it takes all sorts and where would we be if we all thought the same? Anyway...
Where to get going
So where can you hear new and original music from some of the hottest talent in town? The answer, or should I say big reveal, is, OWTO (Out With The Old) and it’s coming to a place near you. OWTO is the Algarve’s newest original music project that brings together internationally-recognised and award-winning musicians to present new music. OWTO is made up of writer and producer, Dr PA Francis (UK) – that’s me; Grammy award-winning producer and guitarist, Rudy Valentino Jr. (USA); and Timothy Salt, bass (UK).
The long-term goal of the project is to provide new musical talent, across instruments, with a vehicle to showcase their work; OWTO invites melodic singers and/or lyricists to complete the circle. We have recordings in a Progressive Rock, RnB, Pop style to catch a vibe and we are hoping new vocal talent will make contact and share their style with us. If this sounds like you then contact cmusicagency@gmail.com
AlgarvePLUS has kindly agreed to support this new initiative and details of shows planned from April 2025 will be listed on the Agenda pages. Until then, if Marc from Germany is right, (and I think he is) you will be excited at the prospect of new or original music across cultural divides.
This project hopes to inspire others to follow in their footsteps and promises to be one of the hottest tickets in town. But for now, I get the chance to venture into pasture new and for once say, “No. It is not just me.”
The Algarve is ready for this. Are you?
MY PLACE OR YOURS?
EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN SPECIAL FAVOURITE – THE PLACE, OR THE OBJECT, OR THE TIME OF DAY THAT BRINGS OUT WARM SMILES AND TRUE APPRECIATION. WE ASKED AROUND... AND WE ’ D LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT YOURS, TOO
SÍTIO DAS FONTES DE ESTÔMBAR
Move away from the crowded beaches and busy shopping centres and come for a walk with me along the banks of the river Arade, at the hidden gem that is the Sítio das Fontes de Estômbar.
Located near Lagoa, the park has a restored watermill, a reconstructed traditional Algarve house, an open-air amphitheatre, a delightful picnic area, and a designated zone for physical fitness and exercise.
But it is the peaceful river walk that enchants visitors. Park in the free car park and follow the beautiful woodland path that follows the line of the river Arade. It is a fabulous place to walk your dog too as there are lots of rabbit trails to sniff! You can walk much further than you think … all the way to a rundown wooden jetty where you can enjoy spectacular views across the river.
The wildlife and flowers are wonderful at any time of year, with some rare and delicate plants hidden in the grass, including lots of wild orchids.
The picnic area can get busy in the summer at weekends, full of local people enjoying a relaxing picnic whilst enjoying the views over the lake. There are built-in barbecues, you can just bring your own charcoal or share with others.
There are toilets on site, and it is all very well maintained, with a security guard on duty during opening times. In the summer there is even a popular annual jazz festival. My tip though is to go there out of season, and just walk beside the river and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of a different side of the Algarve.
The wildlife and flowers are wonderful at any time of year, with some rare and delicate plants hidden in the grass, including lots of wild orchids.
Alyson Sheldrake
The reservoir formed by the Cabril dam is my favourite place in the Central Region of Portugal. In the summertime, people visit from far and wide to enjoy the floating swimming pool and relax at one of the outside cafés. In the quieter months, locals enjoy walks along the tracks either side of the 20km² reservoir, taking in the views and inhaling the scent of pine and eucalyptus.
The impressive dam and hydroelectric system at Cabril was completed in 1954 as part of the Novo Estado’s initiative to produce more of the country’s energy from within Portugal’s borders. Thousands of workers constructed the massive dam using stone quarried from the hillside above but few could have imagined the beauty they were creating until the water level of the Zêzere river rose and the reservoir was created.
The N2 road over the new dam linked the Castelo Branco and Leiria regions, forming an umbilical cord between Pedrógão Grande and Pedrógão Pequeno, attractive towns each with an age of history. History and functionality apart, the reservoir is a calm haven where huge fish rise, boats glide by and birds of prey circle.
Mysteriously, the café area at Cabril being my ‘second office’ in the summer months, all the most important news, confirmations, phone calls and messages, both personal and business-related, have arrived when I have been enjoying a cooling lunchtime drink and one of Portugal’s famous bifanas. For me, this makes the location special, lucky and remarkable.
PAUL REES
I was born in Heidelberg, Germany, a city steeped in history and charm. From there, life took me to Cape Town, South Africa, where I grew up surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture. Over the years, I worked hard, travelled far, and experienced the wonders of the world. Yet, it wasn’t until I
arrived in Portugal that I felt a deep sense of belonging, as if everything had been leading me to this moment.
Portugal gives me everything I could ever want: natural beauty, a rich culture, and an inviting simplicity that feels like a warm embrace. It is a place of inspiration and reflection, where the joy of everyday life blends seamlessly with the excitement of discovery.
After a lifetime of exploration and living in different parts of the world, I have finally found my place in Portugal. It feels like coming home – a place where my roots have grown stronger and my heart feels at peace. Sunset from my terrace, looking down from the hills on Loulé, never fails to thrill and delight.
It wasn’t until I arrived in Portugal that I felt a deep sense of belonging, as if everything had been leading me to this moment.
Uschi Kuhn
MALHÃO, NORTH OF LOULÉ
Sometimes, the weight of life’s troubles feels unbearable – a clenching in my stomach that won’t ease. When it all becomes too much, I know I need to get away.
The drive north is my remedy, winding through rolling countryside and the lush green hills that embrace the area around Loulé. In just 30 minutes, I can leave the chaos behind and reach the serene peaks of Malhão, which seem to stay verdant no matter the season.
Being here feels like a balm for the soul. The moment I arrive, the stillness begins to soothe. I bring a book sometimes, knowing I won’t be interrupted. Other times, I walk three calming laps around the Buddha temple monument, letting my worries melt away with each step.
For the more adventurous, there are hiking trails weaving through this tranquil haven. Though I haven’t explored them all yet, I often find myself tempted by their promise of discovery. Even in the heat of summer, the air here feels lighter and fresher, carrying a quiet magic that restores my spirit.
The lone café, run by warm and welcoming owners, adds a simple charm to Malhão. They’re always happy to chat with the occasional visitor stopping in for a tea or coffee.
Malhão is my sanctuary—a grounding, peaceful retreat where silence sings and time seems to pause. It’s a place that reminds me to breathe deeply, let go, and find serenity in life’s still moments.
After 32 years of calling Armação de Pêra home, it is the eight-kilometre stretch of beach that remains my favourite place. There’s nothing quite like it – the endless golden sand, the sound of the waves, and the sense of space that lets you breathe.
I love walking along the shore, the sand soft beneath my feet, relaxing in the sunshine, or watching the fishermen bring in their catch.
The promenade is another favourite spot. It is where people gather – families walking, children playing, and friends meeting for coffee.
Over the years, I’ve seen Armação de Pêra grow and change, yet the essence remains: the mix of locals and visitors, the warmth of its people, and a rhythm that reminds you to slow down. There are hidden corners I still adore, like the cobbled streets behind the main promenade, where small cafés and family-run restaurants feel untouched by time. For me, it’s not just a destination; it’s home. Armação de Pêra holds a lifetime of memories – lazy beach days, shared meals with friends, and sunsets that take your breath away. It’s a place that invites you to pause, look around, and appreciate its quiet beauty.
Even after all these years, I can’t imagine anywhere else feeling quite as special.
SOPHIE HARRISON
KATHRYN BARNARD
Last month marked my third year anniversary of living full time in the Algarve with Tavira being my home base, and I am still discovering the lay of the land and how Tavira lives and breathes as a small fishing village in the East Algarve. I’ve become acclimated to this quaint town that I call home and that I see developing and changing for the better with a good mix of both Portuguese small businesses and a more international mix.
With all the concerts, markets and fairs happening across the bridge, there is still plenty to explore on the east side. Here are a few of my favourite places to stop in and say hello, buy a coffee, snack or an authentic gift for friends and family.
Mr Portuguese Bakery is a small bakery, opened a year and a half ago, dedicated to reducing food waste and using quality ingredients. This is the place to go for gluten-free options including bread, cakes and daily baked goods – I get my weekly rustic bread there and always enjoy the conversation, good coffee and a cinnamon roll to go along with it. Alexandra and Pedro are always incredibly
welcoming and I love the community vibe they have built within their time here.
Casa Jasmin is very new and a great place to find small gifts for special occasions – handpicked traditional Portuguese products in thoughtfully designed packaging ranging from tuna and sardine tins to toothpastes and soaps. After shopping you can step across the street to Santa Lucia bar owned by the same couple. They have a great smash burger among the food options, and really great cocktails.
Hands down THE BEST roasted chicken in all of Tavira, at Churrasqueira A Caracolinha. It’s take away only – add rice or fries and a salad and you’re set.
So much flavour and done to perfection. The best day of the year is when they reopen from their muchneeded holidays.
The Art Studio Tavira is one of my favourite places, but I am biased because I am half of it! If you want to do a workshop, get a painting or photograph for the house, or just get a small token to take home, our studio is a fun place to stop by and say hello.
They say the best things in life are free and they, whoever they are, may well be right. Living in Portugal brings an abundance to living an outdoor life like nowhere else. Long-term benefits to being outside are evident. We are embracing this more than ever. Especially walking, which is the gentlest form of vertical exercise, I know. Since moving into the hills above Loulé, we have discovered walking routes all around us which are so well mapped and very easy to follow. They vary in length and gradient and cover pretty much most of the Algarve. Just in Loulé alone there are many to choose from depending on where we fancy going and how far our legs might take us. Simply signposted but clear and concise, these trails have been carefully mapped out and well trodden. There’s lots of local flora, historic buildings, bird life and much more of interest along the way to keep us inspired. Beehives, wild flowers, olive groves and great views. As the seasons change, no one walk ever looks the same. Peaceful and calming, invigorating and challenging, it is a pastime pleasure we have adopted for good.
For many the road to Javali begins in São Brás de Alportel, a road that is the epitome of that Beatles classic. The journey provides many stop-off points to look back and marvel at the landscape that is rural Portugal, with many vantage points from which, on a clear day, you get a coastal view of Faro.
Once you arrive in Javali there is nothing there and that, my friends, is its magnificence. There are a few houses, one of which is mine. There are paths leading to nowhere and back again, with examples of Portugal’s flora and fauna. Sounds of birdsong and sights of seasonal floral displays like the explosion of the rock rose in the spring months.
In the early hours of the winter months, as you don your most comforting of winter coats, you get to go for walks and wrestle the howling winds that a lad from Yorkshire, UK, can feel at home in. You then get to look down on the mist-covered valley below and pretend you are in a Spielberg-like wonderland, before returning home to a log fire which provides a welcoming backdrop for wriggling toes. In the summer months, just before you utter “It’s too hot here”, you feel your slightly damp brow being caressed by a refreshing hillside breeze.
DR
PAUL FRANCIS
LEGENDARY LOVERS
PORTUGAL ’ S HISTORY IS RICH WITH CAPTIVATING LOVE STORIES OF COUPLES THAT TRANSCENDED THEIR TIMES AND OVERCAME OBSTACLES. FROM DEFYING UNIONS TO PASSIONATE AFFAIRS AND TRAGIC ROMANCES, YOU CAN GLIMPSE INTO THE PERSONAL STRUGGLES, SOCIETAL NORMS, AND HISTORICAL CONTEXTS IN WHICH TWO PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO PROVE THAT TRUE LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES
Words: CHRISTINA MORENO
ABLOVE STORY CAN captivate us because they reflect our innate desire for connection and fascination with love’s transformative power. They allow us to vicariously experience love’s emotional spectrum without any real-world risks.
These couples proved love’s ability to challenge conventions, inspire art, and influence national identity. Their legacies, immortalised in literature, architecture, and popular culture, remind us that in the face of adversity, love itself can be the most profound and enduring act of all.
QUEEN MARIA II AND FERDINAND
In a time when royal unions were usually devoid of personal connection and instead orchestrated to forge alliances, secure dynastic succession, or expand territorial influence, the arranged marriage of Queen Maria II of Portugal and Ferdinand of SaxeCoburg and Gotha, Germany in 1836 was a loving exception. Unusually, the couple had forged a deep, personal connection
from the start, with Maria expressing fondness for Ferdinand even before meeting him. The royal pair’s love manifested in tender gestures, such as exchanging letters adorned with flowers during separations. Together they prioritised family life, dedicating time to their children’s education and enjoying leisure moments together in nature. Ferdinand also became the Queen’s most trusted advisor in matters of state, resulting in a collaborative approach to leadership.
Their 17-year marriage defied the typical transactional nature of royal unions. Ferdinand planned to transform the ruins of the Royal Monastery of Our Lady of Pena in Sintra into a summer palace for his beloved Queen. He wanted to blend romantic and Moorish styles and add gardens inspired by Germany’s Black Forest.
Sadly, Queen Maria never got to see the completed palace. Their love story ended prematurely with Maria’s death giving birth to their 11th child at age 34, leaving Ferdinand devastated. After her death, he briefly abandoned the Pena project, but later finished it in her honour at the suggestion of his second wife. Today, the whimsical and vibrant Pena Palace stands as a testament to their love, showcasing Ferdinand’s vision and Maria’s cherished memories of Sintra summers.
In 1860, King Ferdinand II was in Lisbon attending a performance of Verdi’s A Masked Ball, when he unexpectedly became enchanted by Miss Elise Hensler, the Swiss-born American opera singer two decades his junior. As it seems, King Ferdinand was a hopeless romantic. It may come as no surprise that soon after Elise would begin visiting him. Knowing they would be met with an enormous wave of societal disapproval, the couple sought refuge in the Pena Palace where their romance blossomed from their shared passion for literature, music and botany. After nine years of nurturing their relationship, these two lovebirds were married in 1869. Elise was bestowed the title of Countess d’Ella. Not only did they finish the Pena Palace restoration project as mentioned above, butnthey also built their own fairytale-like chalet – designed by the Countess herself – in Pena Park. Though their union had always faced so much criticism, their story remains a cherished part of Portuguese cultural heritage, once again a testament to love’s power to transcend societal boundaries and royal expectations.
DON PEDRO AND INÊS DE CASTRO
Portugal’s most famous love story unfolds in the 14th century, beginning with the arranged marriage of Prince Pedro, heir to King Afonso IV, to Constança of Castile. However, fate intervened when Pedro fell deeply in love – and at first sight – with Constança’s lady-in-waiting, the beautiful Inês de Castro.
This led to an affair which lasted beyond Constança’s death in 1345, after which Pedro and Inês began living together as a couple in Coimbra. Despite Pedro’s claims of a secret marriage, their relationship faced fierce opposition. Fearing Castilian influence over Portugal,
King Afonso IV ordered Inês’s execution in 1355. She was killed at the Monastery of Santa Clara-a-Velha in Coimbra, in front of her young children. Surprisingly, this was not where their love story ended.
The tale takes another dramatic turn after Pedro’s ascension to the throne. Consumed by grief and rage, he carried out a brutal revenge on Inês’s killers. In an extraordinary act of devotion, Pedro had Inês’s body exhumed, crowned her Queen posthumously, and forced the court to pay homage to her corpse by kissing her hand.
Today King Pedro and Inês’s bodies remain in side-by-side tombs at Alcobaça Monastery, where they lie facing each other, symbolising their eternal bond. This tale of extreme devotion is often referred to as Portugal’s Romeo and Juliet. It has since gone on to inspire many works of art and literature.
HENRIQUETA DA CONCEIÇÃO AND TERESA MARIA DE JESUS
In the shadowy margins of Don Pedro and Inês’s story, a tale of obsessive love between two women emerges. Henriqueta da Conceição and Teresa Maria de Jesus shared a passion that even more defied 19th-century conventions, culminating in an act of grief that echoes Dom Pedro’s own macabre devotion. When Teresa died of tuberculosis in 1868, Henriqueta’s love took a grotesque turn: she secretly decapitated her beloved’s corpse, keeping the head as a memento beneath a glass bowl in their shared home. Unlike Dom Pedro’s posthumous coronation of Inês, Henriqueta’s actions led to her arrest. She ended up being released by the judge who saw her act not as desecration, but as one of profound devotion. Today, their
tomb in Prado Repouso Cemetery remains the only 19th-century grave still adorned with fresh flowers – a chilling testament to love that refuses to be constrained by life, death, or societal norms.
CAMILO CASTELO BRANCO AND ANA PLÁCIDO (STATUE)
Around the time our first royal couple were defying expectations, a passionate affair between two brilliant writers, Camilo Castelo Branco and Ana Plácido, was challenging the rigid moral codes of Portuguese society. Their story unfolded against a backdrop of strict Catholic values and laws that criminalised adultery.
Ana, already married, met Camilo in 1850. A talented writer herself, Ana published articles and novels under male pseudonyms, a common practice for female authors of the time. Their forbidden love led to imprisonment in Porto’s Cadeia da Relação in 1860 on adultery charges.
During his year-long incarceration, Camilo wrote his masterpiece, Amor de Perdição (Doomed Love), in just 15 days. After their acquittal, Ana sacrificed her literary ambitions to support Camilo’s career, becoming his wife, mother to their children, and literary assistant. Their relationship, lasting until Camilo’s tragic suicide in 1890, proved to be a catalyst for one of Portugal’s most prolific literary careers.
Previous page: Don Pedro and Inês de Castro. Opposite page, top left clockwise: Amália Rodrigues and César Seabra; Queen Maria and Ferdinand; Pena Palace in Sintra; the tomb of King Pedro and his beloved Inês, side-by-side, at Alcobaça Monastery
FERNANDO PESSOA AND OFÉLIA QUEIROZ
Few love stories are as strikingly poignant and bizarre as that of the poet Fernando Pessoa and his only love, Ofélia Queiroz. It is one of the most talked about love stories in Portuguese literature. Their romance began in 1919 in Lisbon, igniting a passion expressed through lots and lots of love letters. Pessoa would pour his heart and soul into these letters, revealing a side of himself that contrasted sharply with his tormented genius.
Their relationship unfolded in two distinct phases – first from 1919 to 1920, and then again from 1929 to 1930. Though their time together was brief, it is immortalised in some of Portugal’s most important literature.
The passionate love letters exchanged between Pessoa and Queiroz still exist today. Preserved among Fernando’s belongings and marked by Ofélia’s delicate handwriting, the letters express love, longing, and concern, offering a unique window into the personal life of one of Portugal’s greatest literary figures. Some of these letters have been published in collections such as Cartas de Amor de Fernando Pessoa. While the specific collection may not have a direct English translation, many of Pessoa’s love letters to Queiroz, have been published in various forms and compilations. For instance, some of the letters are included in the book The Selected Prose of Fernando Pessoa, edited and translated by Richard Zenith.
AMÁLIA RODRIGUES AND CÉSAR SEABRA
How could we talk about the most famous Portuguese love stories and not wonder about the love life of the Queen of the most passionate and romantic Portuguese traditional form of song?
The Queen of Fado unexpectedly found enduring love with César Seabra, a Brazilian engineer and businessman, whom she married in Rio de Janeiro in 1961. Unlike her previous romantic partners, César became a devoted husband, offering profound respect and unwavering support for the fadista’s artistic career while managing her professional affairs. He also protected her from industry pressures while encouraging her creative spirit to flourish.
In the 1960s, the couple acquired a breathtaking property on the Costa Vicentina, where they built their dream retreat. Eugénia Afonso, who served Amália for 25 years, described lazy mornings, beach walks, and simple meals of grilled sardines and codfish. The property, now known as Herdade Amália, operates as a boutique hotel, offering guests a chance to experience the singer’s legacy firsthand. With its private access to the shellshaped Praia Amália, a swimming pool reflecting the Alentejo sky, and interiors that echo Amália’s simple tastes, the house serves as a living tribute to the couple’s love.
Amália and César’s 36-year marriage lasted until his passing in 1997 and was a testament to a love that transcended fame, culture, and the typical challenges of a high-profile relationship.
Blending historical fact and romantic legend
1
Mosteiro Real de Alcobaça
This monastery houses the ornate tombs of Pedro and Inês, depicting scenes from their lives.
2
Quinta das Lágrimas
Located in Coimbra, this estate is now a luxury hotel but was once the setting for Pedro and Inês’ secret meetings. It features the Fonte dos Amores (Lovers’ Fountain), believed to be where Inês was killed. University of Coimbra students continue a tradition of stealing kisses in the Quinta das Lágrimas botanical garden, honoring the lovers’ legacy.
3 Os Lusíadas by Luís
Vaz de Camões
This epic poem tells stories about dangerous sea voyages and the discovery of new lands, peoples and cultures, and includes references to Pedro and Inês.
4
The statue, Amor de Perdição, by Francisco Simões
The proud statue in the square of the same name in Porto depicts Camilo Castelo Branco and Ana Plácido.
Cozinha da Sónia, Portimão
DAVID CAMPUS OF AUSTA IN ALMANCIL TOOK TIME OUT LAST MONTH TO GO ON A JOURNEY OF SPICY DISCOVERY IN THE BACK STREETS OF PORTIM Ã O, AND FOUND A LITTLE TREASURE WHERE FLAVOUR COMES FIRST AND BOTH VEGETARIANS AND VEGANS WILL LOVE
IT’S A RANDOM Wednesday lunchtime in January. Cloudy but calm. The kind of day when the Algarve feels like it’s resting quietly in the stillness of winter. Most restaurants are closed for the season, so, having also closed our own for a couple of weeks of recuperation, I’m on a mission to find something warm and comforting for catch-ups with an industry friend, someone whose opinion I respect and whose career as deputy director at one of the Algarve’s longest-standing and most revered hotels, makesthe stakes high to choose something delicious.
I’d heard about Cozinha da Sónia on the grapevine from other confidants, a hidden hole-in-thewall spot in the heart of Portimão that serves up authentic vegetarian Indian cuisine – and I trust them enough to take a punt. In a country where pork and shellfish are staples of nearly every menu, it’s a diamond in the rough, and within minutes of
sitting down at Sónia’s cosy, familyrun spot, it’s clear this isn’t your average vegetarian offering of tomato and onion salad or mushroom risotto.
We arrive with a bottle of sparkling wine in hand – 2020 Grande Cuvée from Weingut Franz Keller, a German espumante I’d picked after weeks of searching for something festive and fun, and a perfect pairing for this cuisine.
At Cozinha da Sónia, the BYOB policy is a welcome touch. For a small corkage fee, you can bring a bottle of your choice, and it’s one of those little details that can transform a cosy filling into a special feast (call ahead to ask, of course).
Ordering pani puri is our first port of call as we both arrive hungry. The tiny, crisp and hollow spheres of fried dough come with a spiced potato filling and a tangy tamarind water. The magic lies in the assembly: you crack open the puri, fill it with the potatoes, and pour in the tamarind water just before eating. The result is a delightful burst of crunch, tang, and
FOOD
Vegetarian, vegan, authentic Indian –all prepared right in front of you
DECOR
Small, simple, homey... you’re there for the food, not the decor PRICE
Reckon on €20 a head for starters, mains and puds €
spice. We are immediately impressed.
Next comes the linsen dahl, a rich, creamy lentil curry that was deeply satisfying. The spices are warm and subtle, letting the earthiness of the lentils shine through. Each dish is hearty and comforting, perfect for a winter’s day. We mop it up with warm garlic naan, soft and just charred enough to scoop up every last bite of the dahl.
Then came the shahi paneer – a firm Indian cheese that swims in a cashew curry that is fruity, rich and velvety. The sauce is delicately spiced, with hints of cardamom and cinnamon adding a touch of sweetness. By this point, we both agree that this is one of the best Indian meals we’ve had in a long time, and we hadn’t missed the meat for even a second.
What makes Cozinha da Sónia even more remarkable is its inclusivity not only for vegetarians, but vegans, too. Every dish on the menu can be made so, which is a rarity in Portugal. The menu is medium-sized, with thoughtful daily specials, and anyone who loves flavourful food will find something to love here.
For anyone in the Algarve, especially when the rest of the region feels quiet and closed, Cozinha da Sónia is worth seeking out. Bring someone you love to eat with, maybe even a bottle of something sparkling, and let the spices and surprises of this little gem work their magic.
a dream
Rebuilding
QUINTA DO PINHEIRO, IN LUZ DE TAVIRA, IS A SMALL ‘HOTEL-CUM-HOME’ OWNED BY MONIQUE, A FORMER JOURNALIST FROM AMSTERDAM, WHO, AFTER WANTING A CHANGE OF FOCUS, HAS MADE PORTUGAL HER SECOND HOME AND NEW-FOUND PLATFORM FOR INSPIRATION
Words: EMMA CAMPUS, Design Escapes Portugal
IT’S JANUARY, but the Algarve seems to have skipped ahead, teasing the promise of spring. Over the past few weeks, the landscape has awakened, shaking off the muted tones of winter. The air carries a hint of warmth and the days feel as though the calendar itself knew we needed this quiet renaissance. It’s the perfect time for my first-ever solo trip. No friends, no family, no partner – just me. I’m on a mission for rest and reflection, a chance to slow down and reconnect with myself after a long first summer running our recently opened restaurant. My destination: a brand new design-led retreat, already starting to be whispered about by those who appreciate understated luxury and thoughtful design.
I arrive at dusk to meet Monique. The rugged pathway lined with olive trees leads past knurled vines and a landscape bathed in the soft, golden hues of the setting sun, the sky behind the farm a watercolour wash of lavender and peach.
As I get out of the car I soak in glimpses of the crisp white traditional façade initially built between 1870 and 1875, decked with its revived original terracotta tiles, and an already minimalist air, as the estate sits in perfect harmony with the surrounding countryside.
Monique greets me warmly at the entrance, dressed in charcoal cargo trousers and a tank top, draped in a cashmere cardigan – a look that exudes that enviable northern European Van Duysen style perfected by the Dutch and Belgians. With the light lingering, she leads me around the property, her passion evident in every word as she describes their project
achieved over the past years. She shares the story of how the retreat was a crumbling farmhouse when her and her husband Martin bought it a few years ago. Originally a 35-hectare estate, it included homes for those in wine production and agriculture, supporting the local community. She and Martin worked with the architect behind the architecturally-awarded Herdade do Freixo near Estremoz, Alentejo, to transform it into the sanctuary it is today. The quiet renovation has preserved the property’s rustic charm while introducing modern touches and finishes.
Mixing old and new
Inside, the interiors are a beautiful blend of history and modernity. Monique has carefully curated objects found during the renovation, many of which tell the story of the property’s past. Once owned by the wife of an Army General, each of the five self-catered houses spread across the estate consists of two to four bedrooms, filled with their photography, old camera collections, and beautiful pieces of furniture, cupboards, and pots. The General created a small museum within the home, showcasing his collections, much of which is still here, although the museum has been transformed into a bright airy space, perfect for yoga retreats. Monique’s thoughtful touches ensure these elements feel like a respectful reflection on the past, presented with her quintessential minimalist style – something that is often tried but rarely works in an elevated way like it does here. While I’m staying on my own, as we walk through the rooms, I can already imagine returning again for gatherings with friends or family.
We stop exploring to chat over tea in the kitchen; about her journey together with her husband, sharing tales about ruins renovations, big family gatherings here, and her never ending pursuit for personal balance, before she bids me farewell to let me tuck into my house for the weekend. Once inside, I wiggle my feet on the cool terracotta tiles, and drink in my weekend abode surrounded by natural materials and earthy tones – in an atmosphere like a hug of calm as the stars begin to twinkle outside my window.
That evening, I cook my own dinner in the small but perfectly equipped kitchen. It’s a meditative process, easing myself into the solitude of the weekend. There’s something grounding about relying solely on my own decisions, movements, and timing. By the time I sit down to eat, the stars are beginning to appear in the clear night sky.
New day, new way
The next morning, I wake early and step outside to the crisp air, tinged with the faintest promise of another brilliant day. I tread out to the pool – a renovated tank at the front of the property – surrounded by winding paths dotted with olive trees. It’s too cold for a leisurely swim, but I determinedly steel myself for a brisk dip. The shock of the cold water is invigorating, and as I climb out, my skin tingling, I can already imagine how unmatched this spot will be in the summer.
Breakfast is served in the old stable, a space that has been transformed into a cosy dining area. The spread is as beautiful as it is delicious: homemade cakes and pastries, jams made from the retreat’s own orchard, and avocados plucked straight from the tree that morning. I flick through pages of my book, distracted by my view of the dew that lingers over the property catching the light in a way that makes everything feel fresh. By midday, I’m ready to stretch my legs. The retreat is perfectly situated near the Ria Formosa Natural Park, our sprawling coastal lagoon on the East Algarve. I set out on foot, following sandy paths that wind through salt marshes and tidal flats.
The Ria is alive with the sounds of nature – the gentle lapping of water, the rustle of reeds, and the occasional call of a seabird. I pass fishermen tending to their nets and locals harvesting razor clams, their connection to the land and sea evident in every movement.
As the afternoon stretches on, my tummy rumbles at the scent of the charcoal grill fired up at my favourite spot in this area, Marisqueira os
Fialhos, a simple, family-run seafood restaurant. It’s unassuming, with wooden tables and nautical touches, but the food is the star and the tide is in, meaning I continue my love affair with eating with a view. I order clams in garlic and white wine, followed by grilled octopus with roasted potatoes washed down with a €4 goblet of wine. Fresh and unpretentious. To work it off, I march back to the Quinta before collapsing back in my house.
Perfect after hours
That evening Monique has organised a massage. The therapist, a local woman with years of experience and an extraordinary energy, greets me with a smile that seems as if she immediately understands the emotional turmoil I brought on myself this year and my throat fills up. I decide to work off the sensation by letting her get to work to remove any tension, surrounded by flickering candles.
Afterwards, I linger in the garden with a cup of herbal tea as the night envelopes. The evening air is cool but pleasant, and I find myself lost in thought, the quiet of the retreat wrapping around me like a blanket. Inside, an actual blanket calls and a fire crackles softly, so after dinner I help myself to a couple of Monique’s books and settle into bed.
My final morning arrives all too quickly and as I make my own breakfast, I savour every moment knowing it will be some time before I experience this kind of peace again. Quinta do Pinheiro has offered more than just a getaway; it has been a mini journey inward, a chance to reconnect with myself in a way that’s often difficult in the noise of everyday life.
Before I leave, Monique joins me to say goodbye as she’s onsite for a meeting with her architect about future plans and phase two of this incredible undertaking. Discussing early plans and ideas to renovate the old watermill into a restaurant, and to create a Hammam too, something intrinsically linked to the ancient history of the Algarve when linked to its Arabic past. We speak about her vision for the retreat, her love for the Algarve and the challenges of balancing design with sustainability.
Her passion to create something special here is evident, and it’s clear that this place is more than a business to her – it’s a labour of love to create something that will last not only for her, her partner and her daughters – but for people from all over the world to gather within and create their own stories for future generations.
THE RIGHT CHOICE
WINE EXPERTS ARE OFTEN ASKED WHAT WINE PAIRS WELL WITH A PARTICULAR DISH OR IS BEST SUITED FOR A SPECIAL EVENT, OR FOR SUGGESTIONS OF THE PERFECT WINE FOR A ROMANTIC DATE. HERE ’ S A GUIDE TO THOSE SPECIAL TASTES
Words: LÍVIA MOKRI
VALENTINE’S DAY
Dom Ferro Super Reserva Brut 2007, by Quinta do Ferro
The sound of popping a delicious bottle of Espumante is probably the most theatrical way to celebrate your love. Sparkling wine is fantastic with an antipasti platter, prawns, oysters, and other seafood dishes. This white sparkling wine from Vinho Verde was produced from the Avesso grape variety and has intense and fresh citrus fruit aromas. Its fine and persistent bubbles reveal optimal acidity. e-dega.com/en/product/ sparkling-dom-ferro-superreserva-brut-white/
Quinta da Lapa Pinot Noir Reserve Red 2020, by Quinta da Lapa
The versatility of a light-bodied red wine pairs with almost anything from earthy mushroom dishes to glazed pork or grilled salmon. From the Tejo region, it presents an elegant bouquet of ripe red fruit aromas, cherries and blackcurrants with balsamic notes and hints of dried herbs. The mouth is fresh and juicy with silky tannins, leading to a
pleasant lingering finish. granvine.com/en/quintada-lapa-reserve-pinot-noirred-2020
Esporão Aragonêz Red 2016, by Herdade do Esporão
This delicious red wine from the Alentejo region has an intense and lively nose with dominant ripe black fruit, such as aromas of ripe plums, some coffee notes and dark chocolate. Elegant, with ripe tannins well integrated, which together with its acidity provide good volume, body and freshness. Lingering finish dominated by ripe fruit aromas. It’s a great choice for red wine lovers, especially if there is steak, lamb, pasta with a rich tomato sauce, or pizza on the menu. garrafeiranacional.com/ en/2016-herdade-do-esporo-aragones-tinto.html
Villa Alvor Sauvignon Blanc, by Villa Alvor
The best Sauvignon Blanc grapes form the personality of this Algarvean wine. Intense aromas of grapefruit and
If you’re planning a hot date this month, we have some cool wine recommendations to help you set the mood.
passion fruit and the elderberry flower appear smoothly on the nose. The harmony between acidity, structure and complexity of aromas enchants the most demanding palates. It pairs well with seafood dishes, such as grilled fish, steamed clams, and salt and pepper squid. garrafeirasoares.pt/pt/ portugal/vinhos/vinhobranco-villa-alvor-sauvigonblanc-75-cl/item_10506. html?id=36&cat=0&pc=1
Bacalhôa Moscatel de Setúbal 5 years, by Bacalhôa
This light, sweet and fruity Moscatel wine is a wonderful date night partner. Golden topaz in colour, with intense aromas and flavours of orange blossom, citrus fruits, bitter orange jam, raisins, figs and nuts. In the mouth is a full palate with an excellent balance between acidity and sugar richness. It can be served on its own as an aperitif or it’s also excellent with fragrant Asian or spicy Indian food. And, of course, its sweet flavours pair wonderfully with desserts. bacalhoaonline.pt/moscatelde-setubal/101-bacalhoamoscatel-de-setubal-5-anos. html
CARNIVAL
This vibrant celebration, held before the solemnity of Lent, is characterised by lively parades, extravagant costumes, and an indulgent atmosphere. Every region in Portugal has its way of celebrating, (2-4 March is the big Loulé event) and each comes with its local wines that capture the ethos and atmosphere of their version.
MADEIRA
In Madeira, Carnival lasts an amazing two weeks (26 February to 9 March) and brings the streets to life with music, dance, and joyous feasting. Many locals enjoy Malvasia, a luscious sweet wine that pairs beautifully with the rich, spicy flavours of the region’s cuisine and sweet and salty combinations like Bolo do Caco (a sweet potato bread).
My choice: Madeira Vintners 5 years Malvasia Sweet
The wine from hand-picked Malvasia grapes aged in wooden casks for five years in high temperatures boasts intense aromas of honey, raisin, figs, caramel and dried fruits. A full-bodied, very balanced and pleasant wine with good acidity. portugalvineyards.com/en/ full-rich/14682-madeiravintners-5-years-malvasiasweet-5606654021603.html
THE MINHO
Heading onto the mainland, the Minho region is famous for Vinho Verde – a light, slightly effervescent wine of Alvarinho and Loureiro grapes that pairs wonderfully with local dishes such as the Francesinha sandwich, and petiscos (tapas), including seafood delicacies and chouriço. A chilled glass of Vinho Verde is all you need to toast the spirit of Carnival, invigorating both body and soul as you dance the night away.
My choice: Quinta da Calçada Reserva Branco
Fermented in stainless steel tanks, the resulting citruscoloured wine with slight golden nuances has persistent aromas of white fruits, floral notes, good minerality, and crunchy acidity. vinha.pt/vinho/vinho-brancoportal-da-calcada-reserva-201675cl-vinho-verde-doc-47198/
BAIRRADA
As we travel into central Portugal, specifically the Bairrada area, Carnival becomes a blend of rustic charm and traditional merriments. The region is famous for its Espumante, which rivals the best sparkling wines in the world. Carnival here features parades, and when it comes to foods, leitão (suckling pig) takes the limelight. The bubbles in the Espumante cut through the richness of the pork, making every bite even more delightful.
My choice: Marquês de Marialva Bical Arinto
Reserve Brut Sparkling 2019, by Adega de Cantanhede
This sparkling blend of the Bical and Arinto grapes presents intense and complex aromas of dried fruits and light toasted notes. On the palate, fruity, crunchy, fresh and elegant mousse with a long finish. cavelusa.pt/loja/espumantee-champagne/espumantes/ marques-de-marialva-bical-earinto-reserva-bruto-branco/
LISBON
white pulp fruits. A harmonious and elegant wine with a fruity flavour is a good match with fish, seafood, and grilled white meats. garrafeiraportugal.pt/pt/lisboavinho-branco/13831-vinhobranco-doc-bucelas-cavesvelhas-bucellas-arinto-75-cl.html
ALENTEJO
In the Alentejo region, the rhythms of rural life are celebrated. Traditional songs and dances fill the villages, and the local cuisine highlights the use of quality meats, cheeses, and rustic bread. Wine in this verdant land is usually robust, with the full-bodied reds emerging as the champions of the region.
The Alentejo wines, primarily produced from Aragonez and Trincadeira grapes, are known for their smooth, fruit-forward profiles, perfect companions for the hearty fare of Carnival.
My choice: Já Te Disse Alicante Bouschet
This special edition of red wines from the Alicante Bouschet grape presents a medium purple colour in the glass. Intense sweet tobacco and black pepper aromas, blended with notes of black plum, black cherry and blackberry. jatedisse.com/produto/vinhotinto-alicante-bouschet-ja-tedisse/
ALGARVE
Lisbon’s Carnival, 4–9 March, is a true cosmopolitan affair, drawing influences from around the world and combining them with local culture. The city transforms into a dazzling spectacle of music, dance, and creativity. The city’s wine bars and taverns buzz with the excitement of Carnival, serving glasses of aromatic, young wines from Bucelas, known for their smooth tannins.
My choice: Caves Velhas Bucellas Arinto White 2023, by Caves Velhas
Typical of the Arinto varietal, this one has a defined citrus colour with slight greenish hints. Predominant aromas of exotic and citrus fruits, flowers and
With a glass of crisp Algarve white wine in hand, locals and visitors mingle as the celebrations unfold. The local wines are refreshing and fruity, with white varietals such as Arinto and Verdelho favoured. My choice: Tesouro Arinto/ Verdelho Single Barrel 2020, by Quinta dos Santos
The Arinto and Verdelho grapes are fermented separately, then racked and mixed in a single barrel. The result is a fresh, elegant white wine with citrus and tropical fruit aromas, a delight with cataplana, risotto with clams, or duck breast. garrafeirabaco.pt/pt/tesouroarinto-verdelho-single-barrel2020-075-lt
Surreal skies
CASTING A HUGE VARIETY OF COLOURS AND FORMS, THERE IS NOTHING MORE DRAMATIC THAN AN ALGARVE SUNSET. USING THIS FOR INSPIRATION, ARTIST ANDREW ALLANSON ALLOWS HIS IMAGINATION TO RUN RIOT. HIS GORGEOUS ARTWORK IS ON DISPLAY AT GALERIA CÔRTE-REAL IN PADERNE AND THE NEW GALLERY AT CASA AMOR IN OLH Ã O
Words: CAROLYN KAIN
to Sunday, 11h30–16h30
in Olhão’s boutique hotel,
where the work of 15 other Corte-Real artists is represented. OPEN: Thursday to Saturday, 10h00–14h00 / 961 528 679 / corterealarte.com
GALERIA CÔRTE-REAL is signposted from Boliqueime, Ferreiras and Paderne. OPEN: Thursday
The new gallery is located
Casa Amor,
THE EFFECTS created as the sun descends are often referred to as surreal, a word that came into common use following the First World War. After experiencing so much death and destruction, artists tried to reimagine the landscape of a fractured world. Becoming the topic of an intellectual manifesto and an art movement, nowadays the word surreal is used to refer to anything with a dreamlike quality that seems unreal or unbelievable. Although sunsets often look like an illusion, they are in fact entirely real. By contrast, the sky seen through the mind’s eye of a creative painter is a different matter. Andrew Allanson is stimulated by four actual cloud types and the 27 subtypes identified by nephologists –scientists who study clouds. Examining the types that are observable in the sky on a particular day, he filters this visual information to create his own individualistic interpretation. Taking it one stage further he will mix cloud formations from a variety of days into one painting and reflect them onto water. That process really is surreal!
Seen throughout the four seasons in a bright blue Algarve sky, there are often wispy, feathery cirrus clouds. Formed at high altitudes where there are low temperatures and low levels of water vapour, they are made entirely of tiny ice crystals. Combining the appearance of these delicate clouds, Andrew might amalgamate them with the hazy darkness of towers made from ominous cumulonimbus. Rising high above the skyline, they grow lighter as their bulging upper sections flatten at the top into the shapes of anvils or plumes.
These clouds predict thunder and a storm, but before the lightning strikes Andrew may merge rows of small, white patches known as ‘cloudlets’ to complete his vibrant skyscape.
about the artist
What time of day/colour of sky inspires you most?
Early morning or evening when the sun is low.
Is it ever too cold, or too hot to paint? Yes. I’m afraid I can’t create work effectively unless I’m reasonably comfortable and temperature counts.
High altitude atmospheric waves, the clarity of the air and the position of the sun influence the colours reflected by herring bone clouds, polar bands and the rippling undulations of a mackerel sky; they are generally observed as shades of grey and white, but Andrew often adopts impulsive colour combinations that you would not expect to see in the sky. This aspect of his work is characteristic of surrealist art. The randomness, unpredictability and an unconstrained thought process sometimes contribute to an unnatural appearance.
Andrew doesn’t consciously adopt a surreal style or use a fixed method of working, preferring to be guided by each composition as it unfolds. Instead, he enjoys the immediacy of producing ‘en plein air’ but does not stick stringently to the colours that he sees. To create such unusual pictures, Andrew employs a variety of paint-handling techniques with brushes and knives, sometimes using oils, acrylic and mixed media approaches to suit a certain subject. He has been a professional artist, painting a huge variety of subjects, and a recognised sculptor, throughout his working life.
Galeria Côrte-Real is delighted to represent his work.
Do you swim in the sea often? No, I don’t often swim in the sea. Though I enjoy spending time exploring the coastline, finding inspiration for paintings.
Your favourite medium? My favourite medium is oil, often on board but
I use canvas, too. I may sometimes use acrylic for the under painting.
Do your artworks evolve and is a final piece very different to your original vision? I usually already have a clear idea of what I want to achieve when I start a painting.
E for EXHILARATING
WHEN IT COMES TO CYCLING, THE CHOICE IS VAST AND YOU WANT THE BEST FOR YOUR BUILD, YOUR ENERGY LEVELS, AND YOUR TRAVEL PLANS. NEED EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS? GO SEE THOSE IN THE KNOW. WE VISITED MARTINS E-BIKE IN ALMANCIL WHERE THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 MODELS IN STOCK AND READY TO RIDE
Words: JOÃO EDUARDO
IT WOULD be hard to find a better place to cycle than the Algarve. From challenging mountain trails to easy-does-it circular routes to by-thebeach boardwalks, we have it all. The views are spectacular, the places to stop for a snack or a photo opportunity are never ending, and there is parking available everywhere, a bonus in itself.
Jan Doove of Martins E-bike knows the territory better than most and handpicks models that he knows will perform. “We are happy to be part of the cycling evolution,” he says. “We follow the latest developments in the e-bike industry very closely. It is a constantly evolving
dynamic with new models, better batteries, stronger engines, more features of value.”
The store itself, recently redesigned and renovated to deliver the space required to support the large number of e-bikes from the top manufacturers that Jan partners with, is ideal hunting ground for those looking to buy or rent the best. And the staff, all trained and certified specialists in the field, are there to assess customers’ needs and wants when it comes to electric dreams, and to suggest the most appropriate models. Brands including Riese & Müller, Victoria, and Conway and Klever are among those available, with prices starting at around €2,000, and second-hand options are always there to consider, too.
Take a look at just a few examples at Martins E-Bikes...
These six bikes are just a taster
Read more about them on the Martins E-Bike website
CONWAY XYRON S5.9
Category: E-MTB (electric mountainbike) for the more sportive biker.
Ready for a proper ride? The e-full suspension bike looks good on fast downhill sections and steep uphill climbs. The robust equipment and solid aluminium frame make it a great choice.
Great for: riding the hills of Monchique or similar uneven terrain around Loulé.
VICTORIA AVYON 6
Category: E-Trekking
All AVYON models are equipped with the new Bosch drives, air suspension forks and sturdy thru axles at the front and rear, which provides a very safe riding experience right from the get-go.
Great for: This all-round bike is suitable for every aspect of the Algarve beach and countryside.
RIESE & MÜLLER TINKER 2 VARIO
Category: Compact e-bike
Easy to take everywhere, whether on public transport, up a few steps, or quickly stowed in the car, you can move around the city carefree and explore new places effortlessly.
Great for: If you live in an apartment or a house with not too much of storage space, this could be the perfect bike for you.
RIESE & MÜLLER SWING 4 SILENT T
Category: E-City
A traditional roadster e-bike that takes you as comfortably around town as out into the fields and forests. Its suspension fork and suspension seatpost ensure excellent riding comfort, while its powerful Bosch Performance Line motor packs a real punch.
Great for: The wooden boardwalk (via Ria Formosa) to Faro Island, Faro city, or the Vilamoura/Quarteira area.
KLEVER X PINION 45
Category: High speed bike
Designed for urban commuting and beyond. It features a Pinion C1.12 gearbox, offering a wide range of speeds to tackle various terrains, providing a smooth riding experience.
Great for: People who want to commute from one town to another in the fastest possible way. Because of the speed of this bike, a licence plate is mandatory!
RIESE & MÜLLER LOAD 4, 75 VARIO
Category: E-cargo bike
Combining riding dynamics and load options like virtually no other cargo bike. Hit the town and country with a good conscience, as its frame is made from around 35% recycled aluminium.
Great for: Taking the kids to school, going to the beach or to the supermarket. There’s also room for a dog.
Bacalhau à brás
HERE ’ S ONE OF THE BEST-KNOWN AND MOST-LOVED OF PORTUGUESE RECIPES.
AWARD-WINNING CHEF VITOR SOBRAL ADDS HIS OWN TWIST TO TRADITION AND PRODUCES A DISH THAT WILL DELIGHT YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
ADJUST THE QUANTITIES ACCORDING TO YOUR NUMBERS
month...
SERVES 10 35 MINUTES
INGREDIENTS
1.5kg desalted codfish
1kg onion, thinly sliced
30g garlic, thinly sliced
Bay leaf
Black pepper
800g matchstick potatoes
20 eggs
Chopped parsley to taste
100g black olives, chopped very fine
Extra virgin olive oil, as needed
For Parsley Olive Oil:
80g parsley
200ml extra virgin olive oil
For olive oil with olives:
80g pitted black olives
200ml extra virgin olive oil
For the parsley olive oil, blanch the parsley in boiling water, then immediately cool it in ice water to retain its vibrant colour. Drain thoroughly and blend with the olive oil to create a smooth emulsion.
For the infused olive oil, dry the olives in a preheated oven at 100°C for 1 hour, and blend with the oil.
METHOD
1 Finely shred the dried cod with your fingers, removing any little bones. Soak the cod in cold water to remove the excess salt and moisten it. This is a fairly quick process that can take place while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. When the cod is softened, tip out the water.
2 To prepare the base, heat olive oil in a large pan. Add garlic, onion, bay leaf, and black pepper and sauté until fragrant.
3 Add the shredded codfish to the pan and cook for a few minutes until well combined and heated through. Beat the eggs and mix with chopped parsley. Pour the egg mixture over the cod, stirring constantly to prevent curdling. Once combined, gently fold in the matchstick potatoes.
4 Mix in the chopped black olives and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.
5 Serve the Bacalhau à Brás on a large platter, drizzled with parsley olive oil and olive-infused oil for added flavour and an elegant touch.
More, of course!
YOU NEVER STOP LEARNING. OR ENJOYING, ESPECIALLY WHEN GETTING INTO A NEW SKILL. WHATEVER YOUR INTEREST, WE WILL FIND THE PERFECT OUTLET
Words: LUCY MAYER
then you may want to head to The Campus at Quinta do Lago. The popular sports site, based in Avenue Ayrton Senna da Silva, has brand new indoor Padel courts as well as outdoor one, which can be booked for 60 minutes (€38) or 90 minutes (€57) at a time. As well as court rental, there is also racket rental, private and group coaching, and an annual Campus Padel League Tournament. Taking part in the tournament is a great way to exercise your competitive streak or to make new friends, and it’s open to non-club members. This eightstage doubles-only competition issues prizes for each stage winner with players split into three categories: M4, F4 and Level 5. For non-members, the
PADEL
It’s the game which has been taking the sport world by storm over the past few years. Padel has experienced exponential growth this decade and now boasts over 25 million active players in 110 countries according to the latest figures from the International Padel Federation and, as it is worth around €2 billion annually, shows no signs of slowing down. There are over 40,000 Padel courts globally, and that represents a 26% compound annual growth rate.
Padel is a racket sport that is thought to have been invented in Mexico in 1969 by Enrique
Corcuera before making it over to Spain and Europe where its popularity has boomed thanks to its wide-ranging appeal to players of all ages and skillsets.
Although Padel shares the same scoring system as tennis, the rules, strokes, and technique are different, and the game requires similar balls but with less pressure. The main difference between the two is that the Padel court has walls and the balls can be played off them much like the game of squash, and that solid, stringless bats are used. The height of the ball being served must be at or below the waist level.
If you are looking to take up the sport for the first time or simply improve your game,
cost is €25 for one category and €45 for two. campus@quintadolago.com / 289 381 220
CREATIVE WRITING
It was author and journalist Christopher Hitchens who said: “everybody does have a book inside them, but in most cases that’s where it should stay.” But if writing a novel has always been a dream of yours, then why not go on a Portugal Writer’s Retreat? Enquiries have opened for the next event which will take place 12-17 November in Olhão.
Retreat host Jacq Burns commissioned books at Random House and Harper Collins prior
to setting up as a literary agent and co-director of London Writers’ Club. She now hosts writer’s retreats in Portugal and Morocco.
Have you ever wanted to write a book, have a book proposal but don’t know how to format it or even how to pitch it? This is what Jacq’s retreat is all about. With over 30 years of experience of writing, as an agent and publishing, and with hundreds of books published and millions of words written, she’s set up her retreats with the aim of helping people fulfil their literary dreams. Jacq says that common ‘head problems’ often crop up when we sit down to write; these include a lack of focus, an inability to match the words on the page to what you had imagined, as well as the age-old issue of a lack of time thanks to our busy lives.
The retreat takes place at Casa Fuzetta, in the heart of Olhão, the perfect environment to rest, heal and nourish your body, mind and spirit with all of life’s most important things. Each morning at the retreat will start with a leisurely breakfast before participants gather for a curated group session covering
all aspects of creativity and publishing. Lunch will follow and then budding writers will have the chance to reflect, and most importantly, write. There’s also time for a 1:1 session followed by an evening meeting for brainstorming and Q&A over drinks before dinner.
This year’s retreat is open to everyone, whether it’s a work of fiction you have planned, a short story or a memoir. Guests at this year’s retreat are chef and author, Rosie Sykes, and a guest literary agent to be announced. To find out more, email jacq@ londonwritersclub.com where you can also join her mailing list for news on upcoming events, retreats and more. londonwritersclub.com
TEXTILES
In Portimão, there is an Atelier in Vale da Rainha run by an artisan called Maria Pratas who has a passion for promoting the art of Textile Basketry. Born in Coimbra in 1970, textile artist Maria says she felt that her degree in Visual Education was two dimensional and observational, and she wanted to
indulge her curiosity and passion for raw materials and the items you can create with them – in other words, three-dimensional work – so Maria dived head first into the world of textiles, more specifically basketry, and is now more than happy to impart her knowledge to those who are keen to learn the art.
Also known as Basket Weaving, basketry is the process of weaving or sewing pliable materials into three-dimensional artifacts, such as baskets, mats, mesh bags and furniture. Under Maria’s guidance, you’ll learn the coil basket weaving technique which involves sewing by hand, using natural textile fibres and wool. You’ll enjoy a drink and typical Portuguese snacks as you work. But be aware that Maria’s workshops get booked up and you need to register a minimum of ten days before the one you’d like to attend. They run Monday to Sunday at the Atelier between 09:00 and 20:00. Each workshop lasts four hours and costs €138pp, and classes cater for up to 12
people. To find out more, visit subcultours.com where you can view availability from February onwards.
WINE MASTERCLASS
Taberna by Lucia Ribeiro is a new restaurant situated in the busy Estr. Vale Formoso in Almancil. Born in Armação de Pêra in Silves, Lucia, a mother of two children, graduated in International Management in London, where she lived for more than half of her life and worked with some of the great names in food. Here in the Algarve, she worked with Dieter Koschina at Vila Joya before becoming head chef of MIMO Algarve, at Pine Cliffs Resort. Her own venture has a varied menu with a big focus on locally sourced ingredients. But perhaps one of the biggest selling points of Taberna, apart from Lucia herself, is the fact that it offers cooking and wine workshops. Themed classes on offer include The Algarve Table (a
three-hour course where you will cook a full meal from starter to main and desert before sitting down to enjoy it in the restaurant for €105pp); The Best Cataplana in the World (a 1.5 hour course where you will learn all about the famous Portuguese dish, €75pp) and Let’s Go To The Market and Indulge Ourselves (a morning course starting at 09:00 and only available on Saturdays where, for €125pp, you’ll head off to bustling Loulé Market to meet food producers and learn about their origins before you head back to the restaurant to prepare and cook your threecourse meal).
With the cooking classes, Taberna says the aim is to challenge people in the kitchen, whether they are novices or more accomplished, to embrace all aspects of Algarve cooking and test their skills to create their own meal. Hands-on experience is a key part of the class and local ingredients and recipes feature. Most importantly, the team at Taberna want you to go away not only with the skills to create and improve dishes, but with memories that will last you a lifetime.
The emphasis is on locallysourced ingredients because, as Chef Lucia says: “with bad ingredients, you can’t create good food.” Lucia says she truly believes that local and seasonal ingredients are the best as they “respect the land, the season, the region and the culture and the customs of the people.”
Lucia also believes that you can only truly know a place if you know its food, and she has a passion to combine all aspects of Algarve dishes from the mountains to the sea. She will also share with you her own treasured Algarve family recipes as you embark on your food adventure.
Wine tastings and workshops focus on single variety wines and those specifically from the Algarve. Taberna encourages participants to challenge their tastebuds and senses while learning about the different types of Portuguese grape varieties. You’ll discover how the different territories, altitudes and geography of the country determine how the wine is produced and how it gives every batch its own unique taste. There will be a chance to indulge in the industry and learn traditional recipes. Classes are based on a minimum number of participants, depending on which one you choose.
Taberna’s specially-curated Wine Dinners feature guest producers and winemakers from the North to the South of Portugal who will come and impart their knowledge to you as you enjoy a fabulous wine pairing menu. There are usually six to seven taster courses and the costs is €75pp including the beverages.
The next workshop dates are 1 February at Quinta da Venda and 15 March at Convento do Paraíso.
968 567 373 tabernabylucia.pt
SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT
Luís Carlos Figueiras began his musical studies in lyrical singing ten years ago and today offers private classes for all ages through LAC (Laboratório de Actividades Criativas) in Lagos. Workshops staged by LAC include ceramic sculpture, photographic printing, mosaics and stencilling. Visit lac.org.pt to see the programme for the year ahead
Assisting expatriates with their fiscal matters for over 30 years
We understand your tax implications in Portugal, advise you of the alternatives and help you achieve your goals
www.eurofinesco.com . info@eurofinesco.com
This exceptional villa has fabulous views over the Pinhal Golf course in the renowned resort of Vilamoura, which is part of the ‘Golden Triangle’ and has grown to be a cosmopolitan centre, with exclusive shops, cafés, restaurants, nightlife and, a worldclass marina. Vilamoura has purpose-made walking, running and cycling paths through green landscaped gardens, much used by residents and locals.
The villa has 5 bedrooms and is on two levels plus an underground garage and storage area. Two security gates make this villa very private. The interior architecture features stunning regional stone ceilings throughout and the general feel is bright and airy. An outdoor pool completes the villa which is on a plot of 1211 m2, and has a construction area of 595 m2.
€2.800,000
Five Star Lda | 7A Church Square, Old Village, Vilamoura 8125-429 Call: +351 289 302 762 (24 hr: +351 965 392 755) | www.fivestar-vilamoura.com Email: info@fivestar-vilamoura.com
Luxury Villa Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal
THE WORLD OF WOOL
BUREL IS A NAME THAT THOSE IN THE KNOW, KNOW REALLY WELL. THE WOOL PRODUCTS THAT CARRY ITS LABEL ARE IN A CLASS OF THEIR OWN, MADE IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS BETWEEN LISBON AND PORTO IN THE NORTH USING TIME-HONOURED METHODS
APortuguese brand, Burel Factory is dedicated to the preservation and regeneration of the industrial heritage of the wool industry that crosses generations, culture and traditions.
What makes their Burel so special? Picture this: happy sheep grazing on the lush upper plateaus of Serra da Estrela, where the grass is softer than a cloud. These well-treated animals provide the exceptionally soft wool that becomes Burel. The shearing process is done manually, preserving both animal comfort and ancestral traditions.
Burel’s unique properties come from a specific manufacturing sequence. After shearing, washing, spinning, and weaving, the fabric undergoes a process called pisoar in a machine known as Pisão. This transforms the fabric, making it tighter, more resistant, and waterproof, the very signature of Burel Factory’s instantly recognisable clothing, accessories and home décor collections.
Opposite page
Those with a passion for personality sweaters will love the Melange sweater with its contrast-colour thumb-holes that keep your sleeves in place, warming your hands. €151
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The wool for this belted overcoat comes from a small flock of
They are
Churra sheep that live free at Quinta do Nuno and da Julieta in Miguel Choco, a mountain village.
the happiest sheep in Serra da Estrela, a heritage with a future. The Churra coat is €276
The Landscape sweater shows off a motif of mountains and flocks of sheep. Perfect for warming up on cold days. €179
WHY CHOOSE BUREL?
Sustainability: From happy sheep to eco-friendly production, Burel is a win for the planet.
Durability: Thanks to its unique manufacturing process, Burel products are built to last.
Versatility: Whether it’s fashion or home decor, Burel adapts to various uses.
Cultural Preservation: By choosing Burel, you’re supporting a centuries-old Portuguese tradition.
If you’re in the mood for ultimate comfort, look no further than Burel Factory’s Bouclé Marble Blanket
This luxurious piece is not just a blanket; it’s a work of art that will keep you warm through countless Netflix marathons
Up in the Serra de Estrela, you can stay in one of the two boutique hotels owned by Burel Factory: Casa de São Lourenço casadesaolourenco.pt and Casa das Penhas Douradas casadaspenhasdouradas.pt And you can book a visit to the factory
ALAMAYA Rua João de Deus 26, Loja B, 8135-159 Almancil
DECO . WITH SOUL . ARTISANS OF THE WORLD.
The power of one
MOST OF US GARDENERS IN THE ALGARVE WOULD AGREE, WILLINGLY OR UNWILLINGLY, THAT IN ORDER FOR OUR GARDENS TO BE WATER-WISE AND REALLY SUSTAINABLE THEY SHOULD BE LAWN-FREE AND LEAFY RATHER THAN FLOWERY. BUT THEN, THERE ARE THOSE OCCASIONAL BURSTS OF COLOUR THAT TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY
Words: BURFORD HURRY
YOU WILL already know by now that I am lyrical about leaves, and so my shrubs, trubs and trees provide me with a luminous and perennial backdrop wash of green. Those colours in turn blend with the beige and sandy colours of the pebbles and calçadas below them. This backdrop of reassuringly subtle and permanent shades have the quality to sooth and calm me both in summer and winter. However, the garden is never dull because I have tried to create several ‘viewing gardens’, each with a plant or plants with the power of one to set that part of the garden alight. As a result there is always a single plant or a pot or a group of plants – a star – which occasionally once throughout the year quietly excites, stimulates or even announces the changing of the season to provide a single, dramatic contrast to the wash and permanence of the big picture behind it.
For example, on the top terrace most of what I look at for much of the year is green except for one small tree, a pomegranate, and as she is deciduous she changes colour with the seasons. That is part of her charm and whatever the season she is always lovely and is immediately noticeable. However, I felt she needed an extra subtle element so I have done some judicious pruning on her, and over the years my pomegranate
If I had a different sort of garden, a Naked Lady (Amaryllis belladonna) or two would give me the nudge that autumn was approaching.
Previous page, top left, clockwide: Guzmanias; aloe arborescens; Diospyros kaki. This page below: pomegranate; bottom: New Guinea impatiens
has become ‘my private dancer’. Now in summer she dances, bare shouldered, her swirling skirt rich in emerald green and with handsome bright red flowers while later she is studded with heavy, red pomegranates before she loses her yellow leaves to reveal her weeping branches and her hundreds of silent castanets of twigs. Each look of hers is not permanent but it is always good to see.
Staying in shape
Of course it hasn’t just happened. Every year in winter I trim her bigger branches and then her new shoots again in spring and summer several times as they appear and grow. My trimming of the pomegranate was inspired by the way Japanese gardeners have always looked at plants as raw material, and armed with secateurs trimmed them, frog leaping the years, to produce plants that look as if they have been shaped over time by rain or wind.
Before the leaves of my pomegranate change colour and fall, there is another star, on the other side of the garden, in the form of a small, narrow, rectangular clay pot filled with lacy, pale pink nerines which in autumn burst into a small cloud of flowers. Their colour stands out in front of the green and grey foliage behind them so that for a couple of weeks your eye is immediately directed from the pomegranate to them. Not only do they have the power of one, but they are a gentle, beautiful reminder that autumn has arrived.
However, a sign that the season is changing has already been given a couple of weeks earlier in a miniviewing garden at the front entrance by a handful of wind flowers (Zephyranthes candida) in a clay pot under the lemon tree.
Here comes Autumn
If I had a different sort of garden, a Naked Lady (Amaryllis belladonna) or two would give me the nudge that autumn was approaching. A cluster of bulbs is certainly worth planting near shrubs or at the edge of a thicket. Their translucent pink flowers will give a sudden dramatic burst of colour in autumn. Make sure they are planted in a sunny spot as their bulbs need summer warmth to flower. A suitable single tree or interesting shrub, like my private dancer, could also provide a dramatic focal point. Early to blossom, a blackthorn tree (Prunus spinosa) is native to Portugal and grows in a very attractive way.
In early spring she carries a cloud of lovely snow-white flowers above blackish bark and dense branches. Plant her slightly in front of your green wash of leaves. Watch out for suckers and remove them unless you want to have a thicket of black thorns.
Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus) would be another candidate. She is a mediterranean native trub with midsummer spikes of blue flowers and attractive leaves. She may have rather less dramatic appeal than the blackthorn but is nevertheless lovely. However, keep the secateurs handy to keep her to the size you would like.
A persimmon (Diospyros kaki) normally found in a fruit orchard also has star quality. Her sumptuous summer leaves, interesting bark and unusual growth draws one’s eye to her and in autumn her leaves would provide a splashy show of gold, yellow and red leaves followed by glossy orange fruit.
Another exceptional trub is the crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica). She, too, grows in an interesting way and her thin bark is shed every year, giving the trunk a marbled effect. Deciduous, her leaves drop before each winter, but only after an awesome colour parade of bottle green leaves which turn yellow, orange and red.
If you are looking for a low shrub with a stunning and bold display of yellow through orange to scarlet as her flowers mature, think no further than the Marmalade bush (Streptosolen jamesonii). She loves the climate of the Algarve and provides a brilliant burst of colour in late spring.
For a late winter show grow a yellow or bright red Aloe arborescens. Her strong growth and architectural jade green leaves and spears of red or yellow would provide a strong focal point in any garden. Monitor her growth with your secateurs to ensure that she grows in the way you want her to.
There may be a spot in your garden which needs to be brightened. I have a patch of red Neoregelia Bromeliads growing in pebbles at the foot of my olive tree that catch the morning sunlight and glow like red hot coals. They need sunlight to glow but little else as they are epiphytic.
Do you have a shady corner in your garden that needs a focal point? Why not try a Guzmania (Bromeliad)? I have a veteran of 24 years in a large embossed clay pot. She stands alone on a large rectangle of herring-bone Santa Catarina clay tiles. Her one metre swathe of prickly leaves following by the occasional tall scarlet and blue flowers makes an impressive statement. Guzmanias only flower once, then they die but they are surrounded by pups that quickly replace the dead plant. My plant is thornier than the modern ones, which tend to be smooth-leafed so I wear gloves when extracting the dead plant and leaves. But she is worth it.
For shade you might also consider growing a large Impatience (New Guinea impatiens). Go for broke, and plant it in a decorated ceramic pot. I have one under a cypress tree in a large, heavy white Chinese pot with a painted dragon twisting around it.
However, whatever kind of garden you might have, why not consider lighting up corners of it with the power of one plant? Once done you will feel closer and even more connected with the trees and plants in your space.
t. +351 917 203 850 . design@suzisteinhofel.com . www.designworks.com.pt
Dive & thrive D
HIGH ON THE WELLNESS TREND LISTS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, WILD SWIMMING IS A CENTURIES-OLD ACTIVITY, WITH PORTUGAL’S DIVERSE GEOGRAPHY OFFERING A PARADISE FOR WILD SWIMMERS OF ALL LEVELS
Words: SALLY DIXON
IPPING MY toe into true wild swimming as an adult happened in 2019 on a family trip to the wilds of the west coast of Scotland. Ploughing into the freezing cold (even in August) Loch at 8am was one of the most invigorating and joyful experiences. Spurred on by my fellow swimmers, the agony going in was worth the endorphin-triggering, mood-boosting after effects. I was an instant fan.
Cut to life back in London and in January 2022 I was drawn back to wild swimming by an enthusiastic and uplifting group of lovely people called the DIRTEA tribe to take the plunge into Hyde Park’s The Serpentine Lake. Not quite the wilds of Scotland, but equally as cold on a snappy, one-degree January day. There was something soul invigorating about stepping into icy waters at sunrise with a group of fun and supportive individuals. The post-immersion shakes and group laughter
amplifying the euphoric mood boosting effects of a cold plunge. So, what’s all the buzz around wild swimming? If you haven’t heard of Wim Hof (Google him) then you’ve been living under a rock. Thanks to his one-man pursuit of making cold-water immersion cool and the COVID-19 pandemic causing people to seek outdoor activities and new ways to exercise, wild swimming has become ‘trendy’. Not only that, it’s proved itself to be a firm fixture in the fickle world of wellness and longevity trends for the last few years. Growing scientific research into the health benefits, and the rise of wild swimming tourism and guided experiences, is only making its star shine even brighter.
This is the place
The Algarve region stands out as a wild swimmer’s haven. Here, hidden coves carved into golden limestone cliffs provide natural swimming pools filled with crystal-clear Atlantic waters. Notable spots include the Benagil Sea Cave, where swimmers can glide through a natural cathedral of rock, and the secluded Praia da
Marinha, where natural rock pools form during low tide. Inland, the Serra da Estrela mountain range offers pristine river pools, while the Minho region’s ancient Roman thermal springs in Northern Portugal provide unique swimming experiences in mineral-rich waters.
In Portugal, wild swimming isn’t just a pastime – it’s a sensory experience that blends adventure, tranquillity, and wellness. From the shimmering (and somewhat bracing!) coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the serene lakes and rivers further inland, Portugal offers a year-round paradise for wild swimmers of all levels.
Whether you prefer ocean swims or calm freshwater pools, you’ve got it all. I caught up with André Santos, Founder & CEO of SwimTogether, the Portuguese specialist swimming holiday company, to find out what the buzz is all about.
For nearly three decades, André’s life has been intertwined with swimming. Though he once despised the sport as a child, everything changed when, at 15, he discovered a passion for competitive swimming. After a few years of competing, his enthusiasm led him beyond the confines of pools and into the open waters along the breathtaking Cascais coastline.
open water swimming lessons on the Cascais coastline.
Flying in for a Portuguese holiday and fancy adding some wild swimming to your itinerary? André is your man. “Wherever you want to swim in Portugal, we can arrange someone to swim with you; we have local teams up and down the country as well as in the Azores and Madeira,” says André. “In terms of safety it’s super important to have someone swim with you; we know the currents, the tides, the weather conditions, we learn how to read the predictions,” he adds.
André’s top tips for swim safety:
Never swim alone
Know the currents (even in rivers), the tides, and the boat traffic
Always swim parallel to the shore
Know the water temperature and swim in a wetsuit, neoprene socks, and a cap, particularly in winter
Wear a bright swim cap
Use a dry bag safety buoy
Take warm tea with you in the car!
Interestingly, most of André’s clients are female swimmers, solo travellers aged between 40-50. (Seems like I’d fit right in, sign me up!). André laughs, “Wild swimming is great to keep the spirit up, and to keep alive!”
On that note, wild swimming does indeed do more than refresh you on a hot Portuguese day – it has profound effects on physical and mental health. Cold water immersion, in particular, has gained attention from researchers worldwide for its ability to enhance overall wellbeing. A 2023 study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that immersion in natural water environments significantly reduces stress hormones and increases the production of endorphins, our body’s natural mood elevators. Feeling down? A dip in the ocean might be just what you need. Cold-water swimming may alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Many swimmers report a post-swim “high” (which I can attest to!), characterised by feelings of euphoria and calm.
Regular swimmers develop a stronger sense of resilience and adaptability and are more capable of handling stress
No longer content with simply swimming between piers, André ventured further from shore, uncovering hidden caves, natural arches, and the beauty of the surrounding seascape. What began as a modest Facebook group and Instagram page soon evolved into a vibrant swimming community. While pursuing a master’s degree in management, André devoted his efforts to crafting a business plan that would transform SwimTogether into a fully-fledged enterprise. Launched a year before the pandemic, the venture benefited from a surge in interest, as many sought the freedom of open-water swimming over public pools in the post-pandemic era.
SwimTogether’s swim holidays are the star of the show; organised trips of maximum ten people with two expert guides to stunning swimming locations in Madeira, Azores, Algarve, and Sesimbra. If you just want to dip your toe into wild swimming, then André and his team also cater to full and half-day tours. If you’re up in Lisbon, you can catch the team at one of their daily
Courage required
Swimming in open water – especially in the colder months – requires courage and mental fortitude. Over time, regular swimmers develop a stronger sense of resilience and adaptability. Facing the challenge of cold water can translate to improved mental strength in other areas of life, making wild swimmers more capable of handling stress and uncertainty.
Wild swimming is a triple therapeutic threat (in a good way!) –exercise, exposure to nature, and cold-water immersion. If you’re ready to take the plunge, there’s no better place than Portugal’s enchanting waters. Always remember that responsible practice is essential. Local swimming communities, like SwimTogether, promote safety guidelines and environmental awareness. They emphasise the importance of never swimming alone, checking tide times, and weather conditions, and respecting marine ecosystems. So, grab your swimsuit, find a local group, a hidden cove or sparkling river, and dive into the natural beauty, and wellness, that wild swimming offers.
SwimTogether offers full and half-day tours, training sessions, and swim holidays. Their Swim Camp Algarve takes place this year 15–20 June. Email info@swim-together.com or go to www.swim-together. com for more details and private group bookings over ten people. @swimtogether_pt
and Care Home
The tranquil village of Monte da Palhagueira in the sun-dappled Portuguese hills has elevated luxury retirement living to new heights.
A traditional development of beautiful villas, houses and apartments, Monte da Palhagueira offers luxury independent retirement living with the added reassurance of qualified medical assistance on hand should it ever be required.
Our English Nursing and Care Home offers a wide range of professional services. From convalescent and respite to full residential care with 24/7 Nursing safety. We offer tailored Person-centric holistic care: it is all about you and your needs.
Contact: Alexandre Neves
mdpmanager@amesburyabbey.com
montedapalhagueira.pt
Tel.: +351 289 990 900
anti-warPortugal’smessage
AT THE START OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR, PORTUGAL DID NOT IMMEDIATELY UNITE WITH THE ALLIES. THE COUNTRY HAD BEEN A REPUBLIC FOR FOUR YEARS BUT THERE WAS STILL A STRONG BODY OF PEOPLE WHO FELT DOM MANUEL II – NOW LIVING IN BRITAIN – SHOULD BE REINSTATED AS KING
Words: CAROLYN KAIN
MANUEL’S REQUEST to reign but not rule was reasonable and made in good faith but it resulted in an intermittent state of civil war in Portugal. Monarchists were willing to stand up for the King, and in a country that remained unstable they believed that joining the war in Europe would be a mistake. Their views on Europe were supported by anarchists, moderate republicans and Catholics – “It’s not our war”.
The Army, especially the officer class, held similar views, citing the continuing hostilities in Portugal’s African colonies where they were already in conflict with Germany. There was a lack of modern equipment that would be needed to fight in Europe, and like the wider population the soldiers were politically divided, many of them holding the opinion, “It’s not our war”.
The Democratic Party’s Government had a different outlook, arguing with Parliament that the war would unify the people, and that backing the Allied forces would help to defend the country against the Spanish monarchy that loathed the Portuguese Republic and had intentions of creating a united Iberia.
Organisations of armed civilians, some of them with underground groups in military establishments, were followers of the Democratic Party and were willing to use violence to support their cause.
Although the Government had not declared war against Germany, when they arranged the partial mobilization of the Army some monarchists and militant civilians were suspicious of their aims. In a dramatic and public gesture, known as the ‘Movement of the Swords’, many Army officers handed over their swords to the Minister of Defence. Their message was loud and clear, “It’s not our war”. With the support of their regiments and the mutiny of the cavalry in Estremoz, the government collapsed.
In 1915–1916 there were more Governments in quick succession. The war raged on in Europe while anti-war and pro-war protesters in Portugal came to blows. There were attacks on the offices of political parties, private homes, public buildings, theatres and universities.
requested that the Portuguese confiscate all German vessels in their ports. Britain was calling upon the longstanding Treaty of Windsor, knowing that the Portuguese population could not blame their own Government for simply doing as they were asked. They were, after all, only complying with the longest peace treaty in the world.
Within a matter of weeks, 72 German ships were impounded, and as anticipated in retaliation the German Reich declared war on Portugal. Now there was no argument, Portugal could not remain neutral and became a participant in the so-called Great War.
In all 55,000 troops were involved. The CEP (Portuguese Expeditionary Corps) underwent four months of strenuous training with British forces before joining the Western front where they were under the orders of General Sir Douglas Haig. By February 1917, a year after the first German ships had been confiscated, Portuguese troops left for France. Fighting was fierce on all fronts but for the Portuguese in Flanders, the Battle of La Lys, which took place close to the river of the same name, was catastrophic. One division of 20,000 soldiers had been deployed for more than six months defending a front of 11km. In the trenches, on either side there were twice as many British and American soldiers and the Portuguese line of defense was recognised as a weak spot by the German High Command.
Under a new Government led by Afonso Costa, the Democratic Party was secretly determined that Portugal should join the Allies.
The bloodiest assault was prompted by the Carbonária, supporters of the Democratic Party. This was the same group that had murdered the King and Crown Prince in 1908. Its attack on the Escola de Guerra resulted in the brutal assassination of two cadets and an officer. In all, there were more than 200 deaths and 1,000 people injured but it did nothing to convince the Army or the anti-war movement that Portugal would be better off if it declared war on Germany. “It’s not our war”.
1916–1918 saw the return and fall of the Democratic Party. Under a new Government led by Afonso Costa, the Democratic Party was secretly determined that Portugal should join the Allies. Using a covert agreement drawn up with Britain and France, they turned the tables so that Germany would declare war on Portugal.
In February of 1916, Prime Minister Herbert Asquith
Two days before the already exhausted Portuguese division was due to be relieved, the Germans launched a relentless bombardment for four and a half hours, using mortars, shells, phosgene and mustard gas. There were 1,700 guns facing 88 Portuguese guns, some of which had already been packed away ready for the exchange of divisions. 100,000 Germans made a direct attack on the Portuguese lines with many instances of bayonet combat. Three hundred officers and 7,000 soldiers were lost in a single day; half the total losses of all the Portuguese sent to France. Six thousand Portuguese officers and soldiers were captured.
In Portugal, political unrest continued and Major Sidónio Pais, together with cadets from the military academy, staged a coup. Sidónio had been the Republic’s ambassador in Berlin; he was a charismatic character, anti-war and popular with the monarchists. Eight months after the disaster of La Lys and following elections he was declared President.
It was too late for his new Government to withdraw the remaining troops fighting in France and Belgium but no new soldiers were deployed. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party together with the assistance of the Carbonária, made protests against this new policy resulting in more deaths on the streets of Lisbon.
President Sidónio was assassinated in Apolónia railway station, but his demise did nothing to bring Manuel II back to the throne or to save the lives of soldiers still voicing their objection: “It’s not our war”.
Even when the Great War ended on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, 1918, in Portugal bomb attacks, street violence, sabotage and strikes continued and the economy sank into further decline.
1926 brought the inevitable conclusion. Finally, when the Army lost respect for all the political parties and their ability to govern, it staged a coup and Portugal’s First Republic was dissolved.
GLYNN PARRY
LOVE 2025
Vilamoura, January 2025
Camera Nikon D5
JM: “This nice, clean striking still life of the letters LOVE, slanting pleasantly into the frame. A clean background with a pool of light heightens interest for the viewer and helps the letters ‘pop’.”
1st place
Love these
Travel and landscape photographer and freelance writer from St Louis, Jenn Mishra performed the judging duties this month. This year, the Algarve Photographers Group has opted to award points of merit to the chosen images, positioning them from one to five
INA TANZER
STILL HAND IN HAND
Albufeira, 2017
Camera Sony A7
JM: “A wonderfully edited image that resembles a pencil sketch and adds to the storytelling, nostalgic and dreamlike element of the image.”
2nd place
TIMURHAM TASTUTAR
VALENTINE’S DAY
Tavira Island, 2024
Camera Nikon z7 II
JM: “This is a creative image that is a challenge to achieve. It has wonderful colours, as the image was likely to have been taken during or close to the ‘golden hour’.”
3rd place
KEVIN SAUNDERS
LOVE ON THE CALÇADAS
Olhão, December 2024
Camera iPhone 14 pro
JM: “Another creative image that is simple yet powerful for this theme. The hand-drawn heart on the smooth textured stone against rough cobbles indicates warmth and love, appropriate for the theme.”
4th place
DARYL GABIN
HEARTS & PETALS
Quinta do Lago, February 2023
Camera Oneplus 11
JM: “I like the colours in this image: red, warmth and hearts are all synonymous with Valentine’s. The sweets are carefully presented on the plate and they are all begging to be eaten.”
5th place
My customers know and value my necklaces as they are unique and affordable. February is the month I have time to spend in my atelier, to look through my boxes of gemstones, chains, pendants and pieces I have collected over time.
I have an abundance of ideas and sketches and my passion and energy for this subject make it easy to start.
Necklace after necklace will be created and later displayed in my shops and I feel honoured when customers compliment me on my design. The question of how to keep the pieces sparkling often arises, so here are some tips:
Minimise contact with perfume, lotions, sun cream.
Avoid getting your jewellery wet as it will tarnish slowly over time.
Remove jewellery when working out - sweat can damage it.
I recommend small plastic zipper bags inside a closed drawer or box to keep your favourite pieces shiny.
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n and accESSOR i ES: Rua
OPE n : Monday - Friday 10.00-13.00; 15.00-18.00; Saturday: 10.00-14.00
HOMES: Rua das Lojas, Rua 5 de Outubro nº 68
Fa SH iO
José Fernandes Guerreiro, nº39
CARE to SHARE
WE ’ VE ALL BEEN THERE. YOU HAVE JUST TAKEN A LOVELY PICTURE ON YOUR SMARTPHONE OF YOUR FRIENDS ON A WALK IN THE COUNTRY OR ON THE BEACH, BUT THERE IS NO PHONE SIGNAL OR WI-FI. HOW DO YOU SHARE THE PHOTO WITH THEM WITHOUT MAKING THEM WAIT UNTIL YOU GET BACK ON THE INTERNET?
Words: CHRIS PARTRIDGE
THERE ARE many times when it is useful to be able to swap pictures, documents, websites and other data directly between phones. Usually, connecting directly is a matter of convenience, speed and minimizing the impact on your expensive data plan, but sometimes it is a matter of security: sensitive personal material should not be transferred via unknown and possibly insecure servers.
Relatively small items such as photos, short video clips, short audio clips such as songs and individual documents can be sent by Bluetooth directly to nearby devices unless the phones are incredibly ancient. Android phones have a system called QuickShare and the Apple equivalent is AirDrop.
Unfortunately, because of Apple’s obsession with imprisoning its fans within its ecosystem and keeping everyone else out, QuickShare and AirDrop do not speak to
each other. As a result, swapping files between Apple and Android phones requires fiddly and tiresome workarounds that I will come to later.
Connecting Devices Offline
The first step when using both QuickShare and AirDrop is to switch Bluetooth on in all the devices involved. For Apple devices, go to Settings > Bluetooth. For Android, go to Settings > Connected Devices or search ‘Bluetooth’ in the settings search bar. Most devices automatically become discoverable when you open the Bluetooth menu. If not, look for a ‘Make Discoverable’ option.
Select the photo or file or whatever you want to share and press the sharing icon at the bottom of the screen. It is that strange little Y-junction shape with three dots. Press on the QuickShare or AirDrop icon. After a moment or two, all the devices should appear on the screen. Select the ones you want to send to. All the recipients will get a notification
that a file is on its way, and will need to approve it. The transmission takes just moments for small files. Once everyone has got used to the system, it really is incredibly quick and easy.
However, one of the draws of QuickShare and AirDrop is that the devices do not have to be paired for the system to work.
If you want to send documents directly via Bluetooth to another device, enter the Bluetooth menu and select ‘pair new device’. A list of nearby devices will appear. Select those you wish to pair with. You may be prompted to enter a passcode (often 0000 or 1234) or confirm a pairing code displayed on both devices. Tap ‘Pair’ or ‘Connect’ to finalise. Then you can transfer files using the file management system. This seems a bit fiddly but only needs to be done once. Unfortunately, iOS refuses to play nice with Android using this method, as well.
Android and iOS will communicate via third-party apps like Snapdrop or Feem but these usually work online, which means you might as well post the images you want to share on social media anyway.
Another practical method of transferring files from one phone to another is to invest in a memory stick or thumb drive with a usb-c connector. Just plug it into the phone you want to send from, where it will appear as a drive. Load the file onto it, transfer the thumb drive over to the other device and upload the file. You can get a big enough thumb drive for under a fiver, and if you get one that can be put on your keyring you will always have it available.
It is also possible to transfer files by connecting the phones using a QR code or by contactless (NFC), but again these solutions are a bit fiddly.
It is theoretically possible to transfer files using Wi-Fi Direct, a system mainly used for connecting directly with printers. I have never managed to get this working to transfer files between phones so I suggest you don’t bother.
It is probably least nerve-frazzling to use Quick Share or AirDrop if you can, otherwise just wait until you are back in Wi-Fi coverage.
Apple’s obsession with imprisoning its fans in its ecosystem means that QuickShare and AirDrop do not speak to each other.
wait for it...
CES 2025
The world’s biggest consumer electronic show – the Consumer Electronics Show or CES, has been an annual occurrence in the US in January since Ug the Caveman invented the wheel. Among this year’s notable launches were:
Lenovo ThinkBook Pro Plus Rollable
The first laptop computer to have a rollable screen which expands from a standard 14in landscape display to a massive 16.7in portrait display. Just press a button and the screen lifts to reveal the extra real estate. Rollable screens have been around for a while and created a bit of excitement in the mobile phone world, but Lenovo is the first manufacturer to have discovered a really practical use for the technology. The downside is the price – when it launches in the next couple of months it is likely to cost well over €2k.
Anker Solix Solar Beach Umbrella
Some inventions are so out of the box that you can’t believe they hadn’t already been invented. Anker’s Solar Beach Umbrella is one such. Why has nobody already made a beach umbrella with a solar panel on top? It’s so obvious. It keeps your gadgets charged and it keeps your mobile fridge operating while sheltering you from the sun’s rays. So practical! It will be arriving in Europe by the summer at a price to be announced.
Roborock Saros Z70
One of the lesserknown drawbacks to robot vacuum cleaners is the need to clear the floor of all the stuff that you leave lying about such as discarded socks, towels and odd bits of clothing.
The Roborock Saros Z70 features a camera-controlled arm that can pick up the bits and bobs you have left lying on the floor and take them away. It can even pop them in the loom basket. An artificial intelligence system makes a stab at identifying the offended objects but it’s not entirely reliable. The machine will be available later this year at an undisclosed but substantial price.
ADELE
Singer-songwriter Adele, born Adele Laurie Blue Atkins in Tottenham, London, is credited with the revival of the ‘breakup ballad’. She has won innumerable awards, including 16 Grammys and 12 Brits, and was awarded an MBE in 2013. Adele was brought up in Brighton and started singing when she was four years old. She learned to play the guitar and originally planned a career discovering and nurturing new talent for record companies.
When her single Hometown Glory, written when she was 16, hit the charts, she became a star herself. Her ability to mix all genres, from pop to soul and jazz to r‘n’b, brought her worldwide fame.
In some ways Adele is an unlikely superstar – she has confessed to stage fright, dislikes flying and has said that she feels homesick for London when she is away. Her three albums, 19, 21 and 25 all topped the charts. She also wrote and performed the title song for the James Bond movie Skyfall in 2012 and the song sold five million copies worldwide. She headlined the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury in 2016, but last year announced that she was taking a break from music. Adele had a son with partner Simon Konecki in 2012. They married in 2018 but divorced in 2021 and Adele became engaged to US sports agent Rich Paul last year. She has owned several properties in both London and California, plus a Tudor mansion in Sussex, and is involved in many charity campaigns, including supporting the firefighters who attended the Grenfell fire in 2017.
Where are they now?
ONE NEVER REALLY KNOWS WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THOSE IN THE SPOTLIGHT HAVE ROLES TO PLAY TO AN AUDIENCE THAT OFTEN ONLY WANTS TO DISCOVER THE NEGATIVES RATHER THAN CELEBRATE THE POSITIVES
Words: JILL ECKERSLEY
BEN AFFLECK
American actor Ben Affleck came from a modest background. His single mother was a teacher and they lived in a series of small apartments in Massachusetts. Attending a local school, he met a distant relative, also destined for fame, named Matt Damon, and the pair became fast friends. Ben was always interested in acting and made a start by appearing in ads for Burger King and children’s TV programmes. In 1998, he and Matt Damon collaborated on a film script…which became the hugely successful movie, Good Will Hunting. This was released in 2005 and won an Oscar for the Best Original Screenplay to the astonishment of both young men who were, as they said, “Just two guys who had never even won a raffle!”
Ben had considerable success after that in ‘action’ roles and also appeared alongside Gwynneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love. He married actress Jennifer Garner with whom he has two daughters and a son, but they later divorced and he married singer Jennifer Lopez, who he had appeared with in her Jenny from the Block video. He has also had success as a director with Argo, which was released in 2012.
He is now divorced, very publically, from Jennifer Lopez and reportedly close to his first wife. He is a charity campaigner, supporting research into children’s cancers. He currently lives in a fivebedroom, six-bathroom ranch-style home in Pacific Palisades, California, which is reputed to have cost US$20million.
BOOKS
In many areas, technology seems to have taken over the world – we have mobiles and iPads, satnavs and smarteverything so that we can control our home appliances from the other end of the country and make video calls to family and friends in the USA or Australia.
We haven’t lost our taste for a ‘good story’ though, and the rise of the Kindle could have meant that books with turnable pages would disappear from our brave new world. But has that happened? It seems not. Actual books are still very popular with e-books trailing a long way behind.
In the UK in 2022, for example, the sales of printed books of adult fiction were actually up five percent while sales of e-books fell by ten percent. In 2023, print books in the UK made £1.2 billion in sales and e-books a mere £292 million.
US findings are similar – a 2021 survey found that 68% of the 18-29 age group preferred ‘real’ books. Why should this be?
US findings in a 2021 survey found that 68% of the 18-29 age group preferred ‘real’ books.
We can all see the advantages of e-books, particularly for travellers, who can load stories onto a Kindle or Ipad instead of cramming paperbacks into their holiday luggage. That may be true, but for everyday use, books haven’t lost their appeal. Colour printing increases the popularity of items like cookery books. Readers say that printed books look and smell better. Young children like to hold books, turn the pages and play with them. A book is something you can hold in your hand…and even, if you’re lucky, get it signed by your favourite author. It seems as though ‘curling up with a good book’ will be with us for a while yet…
2000s
JAMES CORDEN
The description ‘all-round entertainer’ might have been written for James Corden. He is an actor, comedian, writer, singer and TV presenter, although probably best known in the UK as Smithy in the much-loved British TV sitcom Gavin and Stacey that first appeared on our screens back in 2007. He was born in West London and admits to little academic ambition! His first appearance on TV was in the show Fat Friends back in 2000, which was where he met his co-writer Ruth Jones. He then appeared on stage in the Alan Bennett play The History Boys.
From 2013, he was invited to present The Late Show on American TV where his style caused some controversy. After three years, he returned to the UK as he wanted his family – he is married with three children – to be nearer their grandparents. Gavin and Stacey remained hugely popular on British TV screens, and the finale, specially written for Christmas 2024, was a huge hit, attracting 12.3 million viewers on Christmas Day – most, no doubt, eager to know whether the hapless Smithy would get his girl Nessa in the end!
James has said that the show’s success was simply because it “depicted people like us falling in love” and that there is nothing better than getting “a round of applause for turning up to work.”
He and his family have homes in North London and Berkshire.
PINETREES
CENTRO HÍPICO | 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.
For Coffee Lovers
Discover bean17 in Loulé Market! Savour house-roasted Speciality Coffees like espresso or cappuccino, indulge in organic kombucha, and treat yourself to heavenly homemade cakes. Take the magic home with freshly-roasted organic Arabica beans from Peru and Ethiopia. Craving more? There are healthy breakfasts, light lunches, and a curated selection of premium products, including Portuguese olive oil, flor de sal, and more. Come for the coffee, stay for the joy!
Seasonal Affective Disorder
AS THE DAYS ARE SHORTER AND TEMPERATURES DROP, MANY INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCE FEELINGS OF SADNESS, FATIGUE, AND A LACK OF MOTIVATION THAT CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT ONE ’ S MOOD AND QUALITY OF LIFE JALENA PAL AT THE FAMILY MEDICAL CENTRES EXPLAINS
SEASONAL Affective Disorder (SAD) is believed to be closely linked to reduced exposure to sunlight during the winter. Our bodies rely on sunlight to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter critical for mood regulation, sleep, and appetite. When sunlight becomes scarce, serotonin levels can drop, leading to depressive symptoms.
In addition to low serotonin levels, diminished sunlight can disrupt our circadian rhythms, the internal biological clock that regulates sleep-wake cycles. This disruption can result in fatigue, irritability, and difficulties concentrating, often leading to increased sleepiness, cravings for carbohydrates, and social withdrawal.
Interestingly, while the onset of spring can bring relief for some, others may suffer from ‘spring fatigue,’ characterised by lethargy as they adjust to longer days.
fosters community and interaction, providing support that can reduce feelings of isolation. Making plans with friends, participating in local events, or simply enjoying the outdoors can create a sense of belonging and joy.
For those who experience SAD or spring fatigue, several strategies can help mitigate its effects. Light therapy, which involves exposure to bright artificial light, can simulate natural sunlight and help regulate mood.
And in addition, mindfulness practices, such as yoga or meditation, are known to enhance emotional resilience and improve overall mental health.
Engaging in physical activities is a scientifically-supported method for alleviating SAD symptoms.
Living in a country like Portugal, which enjoys over 300 days of sunshine each year, can serve as a powerful antidote to SAD. The abundant sunlight boosts serotonin production and enhances vitamin D levels, which are crucial for mood regulation. Studies indicate that individuals with higher vitamin D levels tend to report better moods and fewer depressive symptoms.
Moreover, Portugal’s vibrant lifestyle and stunning natural beauty encourage outdoor activities, from hiking along the coastline to enjoying leisurely meals outdoors. Engaging in physical activities is a scientifically-supported method for alleviating SAD symptoms, as exercise releases endorphins, the body’s natural mood enhancers.
Social connections also play a vital role in combating the effects of SAD. The warm and inviting culture of Portugal
While Seasonal Affective Disorder can be challenging, understanding its underlying causes offers pathways to effective coping strategies. Living in a sun-drenched paradise like Portugal not only provides a natural remedy but also inspires a lifestyle rich in activity, community, and joy.
During the winter months, embracing the sun and seeking connection can help combat the winter blues, reminding us that brighter days are always just around the corner.
JELENA PAL, MA, Clinical Psychology, has a deep commitment to fostering healthy relationships and promoting overall wellbeing. She invites individuals and families to explore the transformative power of coaching sessions in a safe and nurturing environment at the Family Medical Centre.
Manuela, a German beautician with 30-years experience, offers the latest technologies at her Almancil salon, including:
Your money
RICARDO CHAVES OF ALL FINANCE MATTERS IS HERE TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS ALLOWABLE – AND NOT – WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCIAL MATTERS IN PORTUGAL. AFM EXPERTS ARE THERE TO ADVISE YOU ON THE BEST WAYS OF DEALING WITH BOTH BUSINESS AND PERSONAL TAX MATTERS TO ENSURE YOU ARE IN THE BEST POSSIBLE POSITION
QWhen you sell your home, what commission should the real estate agents receive? Is there a fixed percentage? Also, if you give an agent exclusivity and they then decide to involve other companies, why should that cost more in commission than agreed for exclusivity?
In Portugal, most real estate agents charge a commission of 5% of the sale price, but this can be lower depending on the sale price, the agency and the specifics of the agreement. When you give an agent exclusivity, the expectation is that the agent will manage the sale process themselves.
If you later involve other agencies, before cancelling the previous contract this may result in an increase in the commission you will pay, due to the fact that the previous agent can still claim their commission.
Should you decide to involve multiple parties, please consult a lawyer before confirming details to ensure that you will not incur in any additional costs.
Please make sure that the agent who sells the property issues the invoice for their commission in the name of the owners (one invoice for each owner) identifying the property and your fiscal number, so that you can offset this cost in your personal income tax return, to reduce your capital gains tax liability.
However, if the agent has additional costs because they chose to go with other agents in this sale, they should split the commission. You, the seller, are not obliged to pay any additional commission.
If the agent wishes to change the terms agreed they need to have your permission prior to the sale.
QMy maid, who has been with us for many years and been paid very well including for two extra months, is now demanding a big increase which, quite honestly, I cannot afford, or would want to. Is there a general rate one should allow for? I pay her monthly, in cash.
There is no fixed rule for how much you should pay a domestic worker in Portugal, but the wage should typically reflect the worker’s experience, responsibilities, and the hours they work.
You may also want to ensure that the salary meets the minimum wage requirements for domestic workers in Portugal. If you pay her monthly in cash, it’s important to comply with tax and social security obligations as well as with the work accidents insurance.
If you pay an hourly rate and depending on the number of monthly hours worked, the range is from €8 to €13 per hour. The amount due to social security starts at €24.96 per month for a minimum of 30 monthly hours worked (regardless of the hourly rate agreed).
QDo I get tax relief on charity donations; and what if a good cause does not have official charity status?
In Portugal, donations to registered charities (those with official charity status) can qualify for tax relief under certain conditions. This can include deductions from your taxable income. If the cause does not have official charity status, it may not qualify for tax relief.
The tax relief can be up to 25% of the donation, with a cap of 15% of the tax payable, in case of an individual. In case of a company, depending on the donation given, the tax relief is typically 30% of the amount paid by the company to this charity.
QI am thinking of selling my house of 20+ years but accept that it does need a bit of upgrading. Can I offset the cost of new windows, etc, against capital gains tax that will be due. When selling your home, you are required to file a capital gains tax return in the year following the sale.
The costs of improvements made during your ownership can typically be deducted from the capital gains, reducing the taxable amount. This includes expenses for upgrades such as new windows or other significant renovations. To claim these deductions, it’s essential to properly document the improvements.
Be sure to keep receipts or invoices for all work done, and make sure the invoice is legal and includes your NIF and the property address. The costs are accepted if incurred in the last 12 years previous to the sale.
Send questions you may have to info@afm.tax for possible inclusion in AlgarvePLUS.
To consult directly with the experts at AFM, email info@afm.tax
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STORAGE
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• Shop online with any furniture retailer and have your items delivered the following week
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• One/multiple items of furniture
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• One box to full house removals
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QWhat is the legality about animals in the home, in Portugal? A new neighbour has arrived, with no fewer than six dogs, and is in the ground floor apartment that has a small garden. The noise at certain times is deafening. I did knock on the door to try to discuss the disturbances that seem to be daily, but the owners/tenants literally closed the door on me. I don’t want to cause problems, but I also do not want to live like this. What do you suggest?
AThere are rules in Portugal that relate to the conditions and number of pets that can be kept in an apartment. The rule states a maximum of three adult dogs or four adult cats; the total number of animals cannot exceed four, unless your neighbour has a special permission, which is not easy to obtain.
There are various authorities that can act in these circumstances; if you were our client, we would probably advise that among those you should choose the police, as their involvement and presence creates a bigger impact – uniformed officers in someone’s doorway, rather than civil administrative authorities, is a message in itself.
When it comes to noise created by animals, the law states that no disturbance is permitted from 23:00 to 07:00; once again, the police authorities have power and jurisdiction to order that the noise is immediately stopped.
Our general advice is that you contact police authorities because, said above, they have the power and the jurisdiction to act. Gather whatever evidence, photos, videos,
GOING LEGAL
LEGAL EXPERTS NELSON RAMOS AND ROBERTA RAMOS WHO, TOGETHER WITH THEIR SPECIALIST TEAM AT RAMOS & ASSOCIADOS IN ALMANCIL, ADVISE CLIENTS ON VARIOUS ISSUES. THIS MONTH, THE LEGALITY OF PETS IN THE HOME, AND PROPERTY BUILDS THAT MAY NOT BE ALLOWABLE
noise recording and call or go to the nearest police station and report the matter. That way you will not need to get personally involved with your neighbours.
QI live in the Portuguese countryside in a house I had built more than 30 years ago. A piece of land near me, where there has never been a building, looks like it is suddenly being developed. A water tank is in place, a bit of a fence has gone up, and cars have been parked there during the day. Surely this is illegal? What can I do to protect my peace and quiet and view?
AIf there is not an official sign on the piece of land identifying the holder of the construction licence, the builder and what type of construction that is going to be built, you are probably right in assuming that you may be dealing with an illegal construction.
It is not of general knowledge, but by law you can personally order the construction to be stopped, addressing the owner, or whoever represents him, verbally and in the presence of two witnesses. You then have five days to file the request in court.
Obviously, this type of action can have limited effect, as it is a private person issuing an order to another private person. But this procedure is set out in the law, and so you can use it, and even if it is not effective straight away, it can be used as a starting point for the judicial action.
Before you act, you should obtain details as to whether construction is allowed there. The simplest away to do this is to ask advice
from a knowledgeable architect or engineer; you can also consult the website of the city council; in some sites it is relatively easy for an individual to obtain the information, but not in most. You may also be able to address the city council personally.
Even though some city councils are not always as efficient as they should be, in our opinion, the most effective way of dealing with this matter is to report your concerns to your local city council, as they have the means, the power and obligation to act, as by law they can order any illegal work to stop. They can also apply fines and even order the demolition of whatever structure was built.
Their official representatives usually go onsite and issue a report to their superiors, who will notify the owner, probably issue a fine, and can even order the demolition of the structure.
There are two options open to you. The first is to go through the judicial courts –that way you can be certain that a decision will be taken, but costs will be involved and the process will always take time, even if you file for an injunction to prevent the works from progressing while the matter is being decided.
The other option is to complain to the local city council. They have the power to act, order the owner to stop, apply a fine, and order the demolition, as said above.
The city council can also, if the owner does not comply, report him/her to the public prosecutor and he or she can be charged with the crime of disobedience.
Email questions for Ramos Associados to martin@algarveplusmagazine.com
WANT TO GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY? LOOK INTO HOW YOU CAN HELP ONE OF THE INCREDIBLY WORTHWHILE ORGANISATIONS HERE. FROM STAFFING THE SHOPS, RAISING MUCH NEEDED FUNDS, OR PUTTING A NEW SKILL INTO USE FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS, OUR LOCAL CHARITIES WILL WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS
Words: LAURA SHEA
II
CRUZ VERMELHA, RED CROSS, PORTUGAL
Gettinginvolved
Created in 1865 along with several other nations, the Red Cross in Portugal works daily for those in great need due to active conflict, natural disasters and other catastrophic events such as disease outbreaks. Not only there to assist in Europe, but worldwide, the workers and volunteers are the crucial component to ensure that the Red Cross can provide aid for those who rely on them. Committed to alleviating suffering and maintaining dignity for all, the organisation never stops working for humanity. If you think you have any skills that could be of use, and you want to devote your free time to supporting people in need throughout the community, then get in touch via the website and the volunteer registration form. The Red Cross believe in helping all those involved to develop further, so training and collaboration is a big part of getting stuck in. You will meet new friends, learn a range of skills and make a real difference to peoples’ lives, which is a pretty wonderful way to start off 2025. cruzvermelha.pt
UNICEF PORTUGAL
Part of the United Nations specialising in supporting children in need across the world, UNICEF has been operating since the 50s in over 190 countries. Relying completely on donations and grants from
governments, the group is most active at the ground level, working constantly on the mission of supporting the humanitarian rights of children.
Known for their large-scale projects in the community for childhood development, health and education, UNICEF offer help in person as well as through the website. A huge selection of learning opportunities and manuals are available on a range of topics for anyone invested in helping young people around them.
If you are interested in going a step further and volunteering then UNICEF recruits via the United Nations Volunteer Programme. Bear in mind this is a huge commitment, as you can opt in to be deployed across the world. You can get in touch with your local committee to find something a bit closer to home, or why not organise a family fun day to raise funds for UNICEF and get your children learning how important it is to donate our time to a worthy cause? unicef.pt APAA
The Association for the Protection of Animals in the Algarve provides help and support for pet owners who need funds for vet treatment, medication, surgery or sterilisation for their animals. Having a pet is a commitment, especially on a financial level, and today more than ever many owners are finding it harder to pay for what their animal needs.
The cost-of-living crisis has seen a rise in costs for everything, and food and vet treatment are no exception. For many families an unexpected accident resulting in injury or a long-term illness could mean the horrifying thought of giving up their beloved pet if they can’t afford those bills. APAA are on hand to help in these situations and can also help with the cost of spaying and neutering to ensure populations are kept down and no surprise litters drop on your doorstep!
APAA rely completely on the public to keep going and there are a range of ways in which you can help if you want to get involved. You can donate funds online or visit one of the two charity shops located in Silves and Alvor. You can donate unwanted items for them to sell, or go for a little shopping trip of your own, with all proceeds going straight into the charity. Get in touch via events.apaaportugal@ gmail.com to go onto the mailing list to ensure you never miss a fundraising event. And don’t forget to offer your help if you have spare time! apaaportugal.com
AHDPA
The Humanitarian Association for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Patients of Quarteira was created in 1998 by Mr Vitor de Sousa, and the day centre which offers support and guidance to those affected opened in 2018. Located in Vila Sol, the charity is working on expanding the day centre in order to accommodate more guests. Their mission statement is to provide help for family and carers, as well as those suffering with a range of neurological difficulties. The AHDPA strive to support those who need an extra hand coping with daily tasks and issues, as well as being a friendly and welcoming environment for all those who may be seeing a loved one struggle with a diagnosis. Offering a fantastic weekly programme of events for day visitors, the centre focuses on rehabilitation
AAPA focuses on the social happiness of the young people who attend, and actively involve family and the community to create a welcoming environment.
and care. If you have someone in your life who is affected by one of these diseases and want to offer your help, then have a look at the website. You can make financial donations, create a fundraising page via Facebook, or perhaps come up with your own unique way of getting family and friends involved to raise some cash.
ahdpa.pt
ASCA ALMANCIL
The Almancil Social and Cultural Association uses a couple of important images in their branding, drawing inspiration from history and Portuguese customs. Firstly, the symbol of the well in Almancil as one of its emblems, representing the importance of this structure in providing for the community and as a meeting hub for villagers. A restyle then brought the image of the stork, with young in the nest, to represent the importance of immigrants and family values in Almancil, highlighting the warm, welcoming mentality of the area.
Created in 1992 to tackle the lack of social support in the town, the organisation aimed to improve the lives of residents by providing a day centre, a home for the elderly and a kindergarten, among countless other projects. For families in Almancil, there is an excellent social care and support scheme, as well as cultural activities and fun days throughout the year. If you would like to get involved with the ASCA then visit the website, email asca@asca.pt or pop into the community centre located next to the community garden. asca.pt
ASSOCIAÇÃO ALGARVIA DE PAIS E AMIGOS DE CRIANÇAS DIMINUÍDAS MENTAIS
The Algarve Association of Parents and Friends of Mentally Disabled Children was founded in 1968 and works to help people with intellectual needs through the use of therapy sessions, recreational activities and continuous support. They also offer support to young people who may be at risk of being excluded from daily life on a social basis, and they tackle this with sporting events, cultural days and training opportunities.
AAPA focuses on the well-being and social happiness of the young people who attend, and actively involve parents, family and the community on a wider scope to create a welcoming environment. If you want to contribute to the amazing work that AAPA carries out on a daily basis, send them an email or sign up to their newsletter online. If you think that you have valuable skills or experience in this field then let them know and ask to join the team. aapacdm.com
Premier Italian Dining Experience
Set in a beautiful setting with an adjacent lifestyle and furniture shop, enjoy thin-crust pizzas, homemade pastas, and fresh salads from our very own garden.
Kitchen: open daily from 12h -23h for dining, takeaway and delivery. Shop: open Mon-Sat 10h-23h & Sun 13h-23h
ALBERT WATSON
In The Pink Praça da República, Loulé in-the-pink.com
The Splash of Pink exhibition has opened to much applause. It includes captivating photographic works by Albarrán Cabrera, Albert Watson, David Yarrow, Derrick Ofosu Boateng, Paolo Roversi, Philipp Keel, Rankin, Robert Popper, Saidou Dicko and Vee Speers. Here, Albert Watson’s Clara McSweeney with Flowers, ‘Dreamscape,’ New York City, 2016. 142x107cm
In these workshops you will consider ways of drawing the nude or semi-nude model; exploring ways of seeing from the most basic but often difficult observation of proportion and location to more subtle observations of form characters in space, rhythm, harmony, and composition.
€30 per person
República 14, Olhão
republica14.pt, Reservas@republica14.pt 19h00 and 21h30
8 February, 19h00 and 21h30 ANDRÉ ROSINHA TRIO
With André Rosinha on double bass there will be João Paulo Esteves da Silva on piano and Marcos Cavaleiro on drums.
15 February, 19h00 and 21h30
LEON BALDESBERGER’S MEERSALZ
Meersalz is a project by the Portuguese-Helvetian trumpeter and composer with Desidério Lázaro, baritone saxophone; Léo Vrillaud, piano; Luís Henrique, bass; and João Melro, drums.
22 February, 19h00 and 21h30 PEDRO JÓIA
In addition to themes from his latest album, Mosaico, Pedro will go through the repertoire of previous works, which includes music by Carlos Paredes, José Afonso and Armandinho as well as the obligatory passage on flamenco guitar.
Valentine’s celebration
Museu do Traje, São Brás, 966 329 073, amigosdomuseu.com
16 February, 16h00–18h30
Amigos de Música
Os Agostos, Santa Bárbara de Nexe, amigosdemusica.org 18 and 20 February. Doors open at 18h00 and concerts start at 19h00
The new season for the Amigos opens with Jeonghwan KIM, a talented young pianist from Korea, now living in Berlin, who has won numerous awards and has played in some of the most prestigious concert halls around the globe, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Sydney Opera House. Wine,
fruit juices and canapés will be available for self-service before the concert and in the interval. For programme details, visit the website. To book, email reservasconcertos@gmail. com. Entry donation including refreshments is €30pp for AMIGOS guests and nonmembers, payable in advance by bank transfer.
EXPERIENCES
Figs On The Funcho 969 335 749 hello@figsonthefuncho.com figsonthefuncho.com 22 February, 11h45–15h00
Master the art of vegetarian Mediterranean cuisine infused with Middle Eastern flavours at this exclusive Brunch Workshop.
ORANGE FAIR, SILVES
Fissul
14 and 15 February 10h00–24h00 16 February 10h00–20h00
Organised by Silves Municipal Council, the 9th Silves Orange Fair will take place over three days, promoting local poducers linked to citrus growing, so expect wines, regional products, sweet things and gastronomy. Lots to see, and taste, and some pretty good entertainment.
Fight club Tuesdays, 10h00, Fitness Centre
Tennis group coaching Mondays to Fridays, 09h00, Tennis Academy
Morning yoga on 11 and 25 February, 10h00, Well
Astronomy observation 7 February, 19h00, Parque do Golfe
Love me Duo – Beatriz Pereiras and Nuno Martins – will present a mixture of ballads and popular music, whilst you enjoy a traditional afternoon tea of sandwiches, homemade scones with jam and cream, plus a variety of cakes – all from a professional caterer – with a complimentary welcome drink. This event is primarily a Members + Guest function and numbers will be limited. But from Monday 3 February you can call the office to put your name on the reserve list for any spaces that become available.
Junior Golf Academy 17-21 February 14h00–16h00, Golf Club
Make the most of the Half-Term holidays by enrolling your child in the Junior Golf Academy. Young golfers will have the
chance to refine their skills and techniques on the golf course through personalised lessons led by the experienced golf professional from Vale do Lobo. This is the perfect opportunity for children with some experience in the sport to advance to a new level and, who knows, challenge their parents to a round at the weekend!
Pre-registration: 289 353 465
OTTOLENGHI INSPIRED BRUNCH
Loulé Criativo
Promoting the revitalisation of cultural heritage, handicrafts, art and design. Visit the website at loulecriativo.pt to check out the classes and courses on offer. And there are by-appointment sessions so you can fit a new interest into your existing schedule.
WORKSHOPS
INTRODUCTION TO THE POTTER ’ S WHEEL
1 and 22 February, 10h00–13h00
Oficina do Barro, Loulé Partner: Catarina Gonçalves Registration: catarinagoncalves. ceramics@gmail.com
BEGINNERS ’ SEWING COURSE, LEVEL I 6, 7 and 8 February
Gama Lobo Palace, Loulé
Coordination: Verónica
Tomé and Ana Guerra
Registration: v.tome@sapo.pt
Schedule: Thursdays and Fridays from 19h00–21h30 Saturday 09h30–16h30 Cost: €140
Flea markets/carboot sales
ALBUFEIRA
Caliços, Albufeira
2nd & 3rd Saturday of the month
In front of the municipal market
São João, Albufeira
4th Saturday of the month
Near the municipal market
Olhos de Água
1st Sunday of the month Torre da Medronheira
ALJEZUR
Aljezur town
1st Sunday of the month
Elementary School Primária dos Vales
LAGOA
Lagoa town
4th Sunday of the month
08h00–13h00
FATACIL showground
Ferragudo, Lagoa 2nd Sunday of the month: 08h00–13h00
Ferragudo centre
Porches
3rd Sunday of the month Associação Cultural Desportiva Recreativa
LAGOS
Lagos city
1st Sunday of the month
Sports ground car park
Barão de S. João
4th Sunday of the month
Next to the football field
Chinicato
2nd Sunday of the month
LOULÉ
Almancil, Loulé
2nd, 3rd & 5th Sunday of the month
Near the school, Escola C+S
OLHÃO
Fuzeta, Olhão
1st Sunday of the month
By the campsite
Quelfes, Olhão
4th and 5th Sunday of the month
In front of the school EB1 PORTIMÃO
Portimão city
1st and 3rd Sunday of the month
Parque de Feiras e Exposições
SILVES
Silves city
3rd Saturday of the month
By the municipal pool
Algoz
1st Saturday of the month
Largo da Várzea
S. BRÁS DE ALPORTEL
São Brás de Alportel 3rd Sunday of the month
Park Roberto Nobre
TAVIRA
Tavira
1st and 5th Saturday of the month
Municipal Market
VRSA
Vila Real de Santo António
2nd Saturday of the month: 10h00, Praça Marquês de Pombal
Monte Gordo, VRSA 4th Saturday of the the month: 10h00
By the tourist office
Vila Nova de Cacela, VRSA 1st Saturday of the month
Campsite, Caliço
* Details provided by MyGuide, Algarve
And finally
NEVER HAD ANTHONY MARTIN PEGGED AS A ROMANTIC BUT IT SEEMS HE ’ D LIKE A RETURN TO THE DAYS OF EXCHANGING SWEET WORDS, SMILES AND HEARTFELT AFFECTION RATHER THAN OVERPRICED GIFTS OF FLOWERS AND CHOCOLATES. WONDER HOW HE IS SPENDING VALENTINE ’ S DAY THIS YEAR
AH, FEBRUARY. The month with a day when teenage boys are purposely late for school as they wait at home for the postman, hoping to intercept a lovestruck Valentine from that frecklefaced girl in pigtails. Or that’s how it was in my day.
Fast forward to now, and Valentine’s Day isn’t so much a celebration of love as it is a synchronised wallet-draining extravaganza. St Valentine would probably roll his eyes – and maybe call his accountant.
Somehow, what began as a sweet nod to a guy martyred for love has spiralled into a global shopping spree. Roses, chocolates, heartshaped everything – it’s enough to make Cupid trade his bow for a barcode scanner.
This cash cow didn’t materialise overnight. It dates back to the Middle Ages, when people started associating February 14th with romantic love, thanks to poets who apparently had a lot of spare time. But the real turning point came in the 19th century, when Victorian England realised it could mass produce greeting cards faster than you can say “Be mine”, and love went from handwritten sonnets to “two shillings per card, mate.”
And while Cadbury may have started the trend, Ferrero Rocher is the one living the dream – because nothing says “I adore you” like overpriced chocolate wrapped in gold foil. Jewellery companies, not to be outdone, have turned diamonds into love’s ultimate scoreboard.
And let’s not forget social media, the modernday pressure cooker of romantic expectations. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have elevated the Valentine’s stakes to dizzying heights. Watching influencers flaunt private helicopter rides, candlelit dinners on exotic beaches, and diamond-studded love letters makes the rest of us wonder if love now requires a six-figure budget – or at least a strong Wi-Fi signal.
Florists must get a gleam in their eye knowing they can charge triple for what’s essentially garden shrubbery
Since then, it’s been a business free-for-all. In the United States, they spend a staggering US$25 billion annually on Valentine’s Day. Marketeers, of course, are the real masterminds here. They’ve managed to convince us that love isn’t real unless it comes with a receipt.
Take red roses: they’ve been weaponized into symbols of passion, thanks to ad campaigns that jack up prices every February. Florists must get a gleam in their eye at the start of the month, knowing they can charge triple for what’s essentially garden shrubbery. Chocolate, too, has become a Valentine’s Day staple.
And marketeers don’t stop at couples anymore. They now include singles, friends, and even pets. Enter ‘Galentine’s Day,’ a celebration of female friendship, and ‘Paw-lentine’s,’ because apparently your dog needs a heart-shaped chew toy.
Don’t have a romantic partner? No problem – brands are ready with “self-love” spa packages because nothing screams empowerment like a glass of Champagne while sitting in a scented bath.
But not all commercialisation is bad. For some, the act of giving a gift truly does bring joy, and the holiday can inject a bit of much-needed cheer into mid-February. Plus, local businesses and artisans often benefit from the increased spending, so there’s a silver lining somewhere in the glitter-covered chaos.
But maybe we don’t need to break the bank to show affection. A handwritten note, a homemade meal, or even a heartfelt “I appreciate you” can go further than the most expensive bouquet. After all, love shouldn’t require an itemised receipt.
Amidst the shopping sprees and the ads, there’s still a glimmer of authenticity. Whether it’s a shared laugh, a quiet moment of gratitude, or a handwritten note, love doesn’t have to be bought.
