AlgarvePLUS - March '23 - VII

MORE BLOOMING GORGEOUS THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED

We had the rain – lots of it – the cold (if nothing else, a chance to bring out those long-forgotten sweaters and wooly socks and to see what damage the moths have done despite those hanging sachets that promised to ward them off). We had Carnaval (more than one, but still a delight, wherever the procession). And we’ve had exchanges of views about Harry and Megan and whether they owe apologies rather than demanding them. And if the UK will work its way back into the EU (and what that will cost). And we’ve questioned whether it is worth buying yet another monthly sub for yet another TV show provider (as the only household that has not seen White Lotus, I do feel a bit out of things). We’ve coughed a lot – hasn’t everyone – and moaned about food bills and electricity bills and the reduced-size portions in restaurants.

And then the sun comes out, the sky goes from grey-white to bright blue, and the beach beckons – if only for a walk and deep breaths of clean fresh air – but then drinks and eats at a favourite place overlooking the sea win out over the exercise possibilities.

Yes, life here is something to be appreciated regardless of the weather, or the politics we left behind, or the TV channels we can’t get. And especially appreciated are the comments and thumbs up we are getting from readers who like what we are doing, and want more. You make what we do worthwhile. Big thanks.

When is a console table not a console table? When it is more like a metal sculpture in steel and has a name, Exton, and a crystal top. 81x80x36cm, €470 from Simple Taste in Almancil and Albufeira. simpletaste.pt

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE EMAIL susi@rogol-goodkind.com

FRONT COVER:

Flowers are starting to show their true colours, making a walk in the countryside a real treat

Pick you colour and your pattern – there’s a huge choice at São Brás’s favourite homewares shop, Angeboutik, by the side of the municipal market. 1L pitcher, €21; tall mug €5.30. angeboutik.com

Get ahead. Going to pot and bringing on the smiles. Conversation piece, 26x34cm, €99.90, from Candilamp in Almancil and Olhão. candilamp.pt

Blue moods and casual with the right degree of oomph! From Lanidor, shirt €64.90; elastic-waist pants €59.90; scarf €19.60; chunky necklace €29.90. The new Loulé store is a real treat. lanidor.com/pt

Hand sculpted tribal terracotta vases, part of the new ceramics collection at Oliveira Décor, Tavira. Available to order, from €149. byoliveira.com

Pull-on-pull-off bracelet using the strength and resistance of bungee jumping elastic. 18K gold plated detail. From Alquatro in Almancil. €24.95. alquatro.pt

DELI-ICIOUS

As part of its €10million refurbishment of the resort, Four Seasons Fairways in Quinta do Lago has been revamping its mini market, which emerges this month as a stylish classic delicatessen, serving freshly-baked goods, and an array of seasonal, fine local produce including wine, vegetables, cheeses and meats. The design of the building, which features Portuguese influences, is as tasty as the products on display. fourseasonsfairways.com

From the stunning Spring collection at Kozii in Tavira, Lagos – brilliant cuts, colours and contrasting prints. koziishop.com

Pink amethyst is said to be a gentle yet powerful emotional healer, described as a 'crystal hug '. This large one is from Brazil and weighs in at 1,444g, and costs €211. Stilla has mini rainbow crystals from all over the world, which you can pick and mix each day and pop in your pocket. stillacrystals.com

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE EMAIL susi@rogol-goodkind.com

Sculpture, gold leaf on aluminium, by French visual artist Paul Sibuet, 80cm high, from Artcatto, Loulé. POA. artcatto.com

Tavira

The east Algarve’s jewe l

SOME SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT PLACE FOR THEIR NEXT CHAPTER AND THEN, ONCE SETTLED, HEAD OFF TO DISCOVER EVERYTHING ABOUT THEIR NEW SURROUNDINGS – THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVENTURE IS ALWAYS THERE. RIGHT NOW, GET TO KNOW THE TREASURE THAT IS TAVIRA

Words: DEBBIE REYNOLDS

GIVEN THE choice, we usually lay our roots in a place that fulfils most of our needs, be it a bustling city or a quiet country hamlet. Having done a bit of both, something in-between seemed to be the perfect antidote to an unexpected early retirement.

Tavira ticked the boxes, mostly because of its authenticity, fascinating history, colourful café culture and pristine spacious sandy beaches. Clearly, the obvious attractions are what you first hold onto and flaunt when visitors come calling – the 30-something churches (although I’ve never counted), the castle, the winding cobbled streets, the Moorish/Roman bridge, the salt pans and the tidal River Gilão which takes you to Tavira Island beach.

All this I still love, but scratch just below the surface and a city begins to reveal its true soul. I’ve discovered an understated artistic flair, a keen culinary revival, a taste for the traditional and a playful spirit – all enveloped in a strong sense of community.

So, these are a few of my favourite (and mostly, until now, somewhat secret) things.

The 11th century castle with its Moorish and Christian ancestry is where most tourists get a bird’s eye view of enchanting Tavira, but many miss the walk down past the archeological diggings, which perfectly represent the turbulent history of this fabled town.

If you exit the castle walls (because that’s all that really remains) and turn right onto Rua D. Paio Peres Correia, you’ll find yourself in an alley way that takes you past the excavation believed to be the medieval residence of the noble Côrte-Real family.

Famous for its involvement in the maritime discoveries during the golden Age of Exploration, the family came from Tavira and lived there in the 15th and 16th centuries. Underneath the Côrte-Real manor, were also found a Phoenician wall (8th century BC) and Turdetonian layers, including an ox hide-shaped altar (4th century BC) and Islamic residential structures (12th and 13th century AD).

Then, finding yourself on the Praça da República with its cafés and pretty gardens, cross the River Gilão via the pedestrian Moorish Bridge (although the locals still insist on calling it the Roman Bridge) and wander through the little alleys, where amongst the ubiquitous tourist trinket shops, under an arch of bougainvillea, you’ll find my favourite Kozii shop.

I might not always be able to buy, but browsing is just as inspiring as this brand is all about “honesty and sustainability”, unique and truly local. Kozii began its life in Tavira in 2015 as the vision of Cecilia and her partner Nuno, both of whom aspire to deliver “slow fashion in organic cottons, modal, silk, cashmere and other natural eco-friendly fibers”.

If you’re hunting down the perfect handmade gift, Kozii offers everything from jewellery to clothing and home textiles, all in exclusive prints.

A little stroll down the road and you’ll pop out on Rua Almirante Candido dos Reis, almost straight into the doorway of the quaint Berker Bazar shop. Unlike so many of the tourist-trap stores, this little hidey-hole stocks a thoughtful range of leather bags and belts, kilims, stained glass lamps and hand-painted crockery.

If it’s a different kind of art you’re after Tavira d’Artes at TV. Jacques Pessoa 8 (8800-374) is a gem, showcasing around 17 local, Portuguese and international contemporary artists.

Featuring paintings, photography and sculptures,

Tavira ticks all the boxes, because of its authenticity, fascinating history, colourful café culture and pristine beaches.

Previous page: Looking down the River Gilão out to sea; exquisite food at A Ver Tavira. Opposite page: the historic arcade of city hall, leading down to the Roman bridge. This page top: Tavira d’Artes; below: the Santa Maria do Castelo church

Tavira d’Artes is all about making art accessible and affordable, rather than elitist. A little like the town itself.

A short walk away, across the road from my favourite church, Ermida de São Sebastião, is Artina at Campo Mártires da República 8800-378, an Aladdin’s cave of everything arty and crafty. Besides being the best picture framers in town, the shop offers extensive art supplies; a large range of fabrics, wools, zips and buttons; everything hobbyist and some beautiful homegrown gifts, from porcelain pottery to paintings and much much more.

Talking beaches, Tavira Island is obviously a favourite as it includes a ferry ride, which adds to the attraction of an adventurous family day out. However, if you’re a local and want to miss the crowds, there’s a little stretch of paradise colloquially known as “the poor beach”. Its real name is Praia dos Tesos and it’s on the banks of the Ria Formosa across the way from the Praia de Tavira ferry landing.

Access to this beach near the historical Forte do Rato is by car or bike, as it is quite a walk from Tavira town, especially on a hot summer’s day. Its beauty is that it’s sheltered, with warmer and calmer water, ideal for kids and not-so-mobile people. You can also take your dogs and it rarely gets very busy. But take a picnic, as there are no shops or restaurants nearby.

No Tavira tale would be complete without at least some mention of food. There are literally hundreds of snack bars, coffee shops and restaurants, very few of which disappoint if you want simple, tasty and traditional food. I wouldn’t dare single out any, except to say that almost hidden on top of the hill near the Castelo is the city’s one and only Michelin-star restaurant.

A Ver Tavira, 13 Calçada da Galeria, 8800-306, is the love child of chef Luís Brito and sommelier and hostess Cláuda Abrantes. Their Michelin star (earned and kept over several years) pays homage to the couple’s goal to provide “the perfect experience”, from the sweeping city views to the contemporary take on traditional cuisine with two tasting menus and a wine pairing. For a special occasion it doesn’t get any better than this.

On the other end of the scale, if you like cooking yourself and want that extra special zing that only organic vegetables bring, look no further than the Maria Flaminga Organic Farm (down the lane from the Aldi supermarket on the N125 and away from the bustle of the local market.)

Offering a huge range of seasonal organic produce, this no-nonsense farm stall is my go-to for everything from veggies and herbs to just-laid eggs. There’s something soulful about filling up your basket with fresh farm-totable produce.

One last suggestion from this Tavira ‘insider’ is try to catch a sunset over the River Gilão at least once. I know that it won’t be your last.

Also worth visiting

OKAY, SO WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THE POPULAR SITES THAT ARE ON EVERY TAVIRA VISITOR’S CHECKLIST. SECRETS THEY ARE NOT, BUT DEFINITELY WORTH SEEING FOR NEWCOMERS.

JO Ã O EDUARDO SPENDS THE DAY ON THE TOWN

TAKE A TUK TUK

This is a great way to see the city and its surroundings, discover where to shop, and eat and take photos. Maria’s Tuk Tuk (should be Tuk Tuks, as there are two!) is part of the furniture of Tavira and the guides who do the driving speak Portuguese, Spanish, English and French. They know the back streets and are hugely enthusiastic, which adds to the enjoyment.

Maria’s Tuk Tuk

T: 968 995 275

E: info@mariastktk.com

W: mariastuktuk.com

SOUNDS GREAT

Fado com História is a very special experience. This is not your regular sitdown-and-listen concert, but a performance in every sense of the word. First, there’s a multi-language video presentation that serves as an introduction to Fado; then a live performance with Portuguese guitar, viola and voice – and the voices of the team are wonderful – followed by a taster of local wines and nuts. There are shows in the auditorium, Monday to Friday at 15:15, and on Saturdays in the beautiful Igreja da Misericórdia right next door. Tickets are €10, children under 12 go free.

Fado com História

8800-343 Tavira

T: 966 620 877

E: fadocomhistoria@gmail.com

W: fadocomhistoria.com

SEE HERE

Câmera Obscura – aka the Tavira Eye – is where you’ll take a stunning voyage over Tavira and experience the principles and the laws of optics, which created the basis of photography. The old water tower, built in 1931 to supply water to the whole city, was renovated in 2004 after a public referendum to preserve it, and is where the first Câmera Obscura in the Algarve was installed. Some historians attribute the discovery of optical laws to Mo Tsu, a Chinese thinker, circa 500 B.C.; others see the Greek philosopher Aristotle, 384-322 B.C., as father of the first

clear description of the camera obscura. Leonardo da Vinci compared the human eye to the camera obscura. What you’ll see is how the revolving lens projects telescopic images of the town below onto a large concave screen. Fascinating stuff.

The Tavira Eye is open Monday to Friday, 11:00–15:00. Visits are approximately 30 minutes. Adult tickets are €5, children €3.

The Tavira Eye

T: 281 322 527

E: info@cameraobscuratavira.com

W: cameraobscuratavira.com

SWEET TREATS

Time for a chocolate break. And there’s nowhere better than the artisan chocolateria iBelle where the menu of bonbons and cakes will have you in taste heaven for their mix of regional ingredients and fine Belgian chocolate. Sit and have a coffee or snack while you make the buying decision – there is so much to choose from. Open Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 19:00.

iBelle

T: 925 463 925

E: ibellechocolateartesanal.eatbu.com

W: ibellechocolates@gmail.com

THE ISLAMIC MUSEUM

Part of the impressive Municipal Museum of Tavira, this small Islamic Nucleus houses a vast and impressive collection from the Islamic period. Built on what was one of the few surviving Islamic buildings in the Algarve, it sheds light on the Muslim history of the town, through displays, films and found objects that result from architectural digs in and around the city. One outstanding piece is the Vaso de Tavira, which has clay figures of men on horseback and musicians on its rim. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 09:30 to 16:30 (closed for lunch 13:00 to 14:00. Tickets are €2 for adults, €1 for 8–18 year olds and over 65s; children go free.

The Islamic Museum

T: 281 320 570

E: museum@cm-tavira.pt

W: museumunicipaldetavira-cm-tavira.pt

Tuft love

FRANCO-PORTUGUESE COUPLE, EMILIE CAVACO AND MARCOS ALFARES, ARE TAKING A CENTURIES-OLD TECHNIQUE AND USING IT TO CREATE INTERIOR DESIGN PIECES WITH A CONTEMPORARY ART TWIST. THINK COLOUR, INSPIRATION AND HOW A MUCH-LOVED HOBBY TURNED INTO A BUSINESS

Words: SALLY DIXON

There seems to be no end to the explosion of creative thinking of the SÖNMUN twosome who use colour, shape and texture to tell each story. Their pieces are certainly today’s must-haves and will become collector’s items of the future

SÖNMUN is a conceptual brand born out of years of combined experience in the textile industry. A project started only last year by two creative minds with a passion for colour and texture, their feel-good palette of ocean blues and sunset reds and oranges brings a distinct personality to the vibrant and eye-catching three-dimensional designs.

Carefully handcrafted in the heart of the Algarve, SÖNMUN revives the age-old tufting technique (what on earth is tufting you might be thinking, but more of that later) as its signature and aims to give each piece a unique and disruptive personality, blurring the lines between rugs and wall art. A lockdown trend that looks like it’s here to stay, tufting was made popular again during the pandemic thanks to Instagram and TikTok. Tufting exploded onto the social media scene in 2020, heading up a home-crafting boom when we were all banished indoors. Basically, if you weren’t making banana bread then you were making a rug instead.

Fashionably late to the party, musician and composer Marcos says, “Everything started around two years ago, when I wanted to find something as a hobby besides music. I wanted to find a craft that I could pour my creativity into. I was searching on the internet and fell in love with the tufting technique.” After a combination of self-taught learning and taking an online course, Marcos decided to put his tufting into practice in early 2022.

So, what exactly is tufting? In simple terms, it is an ancient form of textile weaving commonly used to make rugs. It reached its peak in the 1960s only to fall out of fashion. Cue the pandemic, people being ‘locked down’ for months, and the need for a creative outlet and as a result tufting became hot news once more. A certain level of skill and investment is required (not to mention patience) due to the equipment needed for tufting at scale.

The talented duo that make up SÖNMUN combine their skillsets to create captivating, feel-good home décor that captures the beauty of Algarvian dawns and the female form.

Marcos was born in the Alentejo and moved to Portimão as a child with his family. A talented musician and composer, going under the name goldcobra, he is an independent indie artist with a mixture of pop, synth, synthwave and retro 80s style (check him out on Spotify).

Emilie, born in France to Portuguese parents, came to Portugal when she was 14. A graduate of Communication Sciences and

and style. It’s a lot of the south of Portugal but also Southern Europe and North Africa when it comes to colour. Style-wise, we felt inspired by some French artists, Henri Matisse, Paul Cézanne, etc.” While Emilie works on the designs and colour palette, she’s happy to leave the tufting part to Marcos, trying it once and realising it wasn’t for her!

The couple launched a capsule collection in late 2022 as a presentation of the brand and their personal style but the strength of their work is that they are happy to receive other people’s ideas and develop them.

Collaboration is the next step for the brand with the duo open to working more closely with clients, interior designers, boutique hotel brands and restaurants in creating something unique for individual spaces. “Our focus is to work with other inspired talents and businesses because it’s more personal and special when you go to a hotel or someone’s home and see handcrafts and unique pieces of art on display. It’s like having a painting at home but it’s tactile. A piece of art you can touch,” says Marcos.

One look at their website and you will see how versatile tufting can be. “We shot the pictures on our website in a specific location to showcase how the pieces can be used in different areas within the home. The common perception is that tufting is just a rug but in reality, it can be wall art, it can be table accessories, and so much more,” says Marcos.

From a hobby to a side hustle to a full-time dream, SÖNMUN is gaining traction. So, what’s

Imaging Consulting, Emilie met Marcos when she was 23 and convinced him to move to Paris with her two years later. Together they worked as visual merchandisers on the launch of the American brand, Forever 21, into Paris. They stayed in Paris for five years before returning to Lisbon for work. With both sets of parents living in the Algarve, the pair soon decided to return to their roots and move full time to southern Portugal. As a project/décor manager for architect and interiors studio, Saudade Algarve, Emilie gained a newfound love for home décor and a hobby in digital illustration.

Emilie showed her digital drawings to Marcos, he saw the potential for them to be realised through tufting and a fusion of creativity was born. Emilie says: “We started to imagine a collection where we could show what our Universe is like in terms of colour

next for the brand, where does tufting go from here? Emilie says: “I would love to have some furniture in the collection, like a bench or a chair with tufting. Our goal is also to work on bigger pieces, like large scale rugs up to two metres.” Sounds like Marcos is going to have his work cut out!

And the name… it’s a play on the words ‘sun’ and ‘moon’ but also incorporating the word ‘son’ as a tribute to their own son. A brand built with love.

Prices start from €60 for the table accessories. Selected pieces can be purchased at Zé e Maria, Olhão. SÖNMUN atelier in Loulé is open for viewing by appointment only.

W: sonmunstudio.com

E: sonmunstudio@gmail.com

The talented duo that make up SÖNMUN combine their skillsets to create captivating, feel-good home décor.

Treasure hunting

WELL, MAYBE NOT TREASURE IN THE GRAND SENSE OF THE WORD, BUT AT LOCAL ANTIQUES AND FLEA MARKETS YOU HAVE A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE OF PICKING UP A LITTLE GEM THAT IS READY TO BE RELOVED

Words: @LAURA_LOVES_TRAVELLING2021

WE ARE spoilt for choice in Portugal when it comes to municipal markets full to bursting with great fresh produce. Buying your weekly fruit, veg, fish and meat from local producers is absolutely worthwhile, and knowing you are supporting the community and possibly saving on costs adds to the pleasure. You might also pick up the odd artisanal tasty treats, like nutstuffed figs and home-made biscuits, or a box of soaps or candles often more appreciated by your dinner host than a bunch of flowers.

But there is also an often overlooked way of shopping that could spice up your weekly routine, and that is the local flea market. I love a good car boot sale, but always assumed it was weekend treat available only in the (brief) English summertime. So you can imagine my delight when I stumbled across several fantastic offerings here in the sunny Algarve. Go once,

enjoy, and it could well become an obsession. Knowing that each week you might discover something wantable is appealing enough, but you cannot overlook the benefit of recycling items in the current climate. Save money and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by visiting any market in your area. And don’t think that shopping this way is slumming it, you will find loads of brand new items, and you can treat yourself to a great cup of coffee when your feet need a break from all that walking!

There are literally dozens of market choices across the Algarve, from Via do Bisbo in the west to Vila Real de Santo António in the East. Just remember to take loads of shopping bags with you.

For all first timers, I would suggest a visit to the Algarve Stadium (near to Mar shopping) market that usually takes place on the first and third Sundays of the month. A sprawling car boot sale that offers everything from brand new plant pots and trainers to beautiful antique lamps and chairs that need a bit of attention, this is a great place to go hunting. There is ample free parking, several vans set up selling drinks and snacks plus fruit and veg vendors so everyone is catered for.

These markets do open early, you can enter from 07:30 and most vendors start to pack up and head home by 13:00 so don’t make the mistake of arriving too late – regular shoppers get there at the start, intent on picking up the best. Have a look for any bits of furniture that you could envisage upcycling and then head to Kit & Caboodle in Almancil

You need to get to the antique and flea markets and car boot sales early, otherwise you could be missing out on real choice and some great bargains. Serious shoppers could well cover more than one market in a morning, and they’ll grab furniture first

(@kitandcaboodle_algarve) for help, inspiration and even a full paint job (they are the Annie Sloan Paint distributor). If you are interested in selling on some of your own no-longer-needed treasures, book yourself a pitch in a place of your choice – and get the best of both worlds, by selling and shopping on the same day!

There is an excellent flea market on the first and third Sundays of each month in Portimão, in the Parque de Feiras e Exposições de Portimão, on until 14:00, and another, across the water, in Ferragudo on the second Sunday of the month, 08:00 to 13:00.

If you fancy making more of a day of it, head east to the Tavira. The selling area is near the big municipal market in the heart of the city, so it is easy to find and offers plenty of stops for a refreshing drink and home-made nibbles. This location can become hectic, with regulars getting there early and sifting through the wares on offer, so jump in and enjoy it, ask for prices and haggle when something catches your eye. On the first and fifth Saturday of each month, you will find stands set up with antiques and collectibles such as glass and jewellery, and then on the fourth Saturday it’s a car boot-style flea market. The combination of fresh air, sunshine and the beauty of the location will make the hours fly by, and before you know it, it’ll be lunchtime. From the market wander along the river front where there is a myriad of perfect places for a bite to eat.

For more bargains, Fonte do Bispo in Tavira stages a later starting boot sale, 09:00 to 14:00, on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, where you can find some excellent second hand clothing items, including handbags, scarves, jackets and accessories from labels you are familiar with. There are plenty of sellers who need to have a clear out at home and are hoping to make a bit of money in the process, so you can often find items with the original tags on those that have had minimal wear.

Shopping this way just takes patience and a keen eye. I do feel better rescuing clothing or accessories and buying second-hand, as we keep being told about the pressures facing our world due to overproduction of so many objects. One tip is to never go to a flea market or boot sale with something specific in your head, because I guarantee you will not find it on that day! Keep an open mind, have

Old mirrors, glassware and lighting are among the many flea market finds that once spruced up look a treat. Leather-bound books make for great decoration, too

a look at everything, and try to imagine the potential in items that you would usually overlook. Most of all, enjoy the atmosphere and have fun with it.

Fuseta’s flea market to try on the first Sunday of each month, at the Junto ao Parque de Campismo. Wander through the sprawling lanes lined by those peddling a huge array of goodies. This is a great spot to pick up sets of delicate vintage wine glasses and hand painted bowls.

Something that can easily become a guilty pleasure is to buy second hand interesting kitchenware and fill your cupboards with beautiful mismatched bits. You’ll be able to grab good quality brands at bargain basement prices and you don’t need to stick to a certain theme.

I love this look, and it has the huge advantage that if a piece were to get broken, I know I haven’t ruined a complete set! If you are needing to furnish a holiday rental or are planning a big party, then pick up glasses on the cheap when you see them. If you have a crafting project list, always keep in mind things that you might need and get them when you come across them.

Opposite the EB1 school in Quelfes (on the N398 past Olhão) you will find another market worth taking up your fourth and fifth Sundays each month. There are often big pieces of traditional furniture here – sideboards, sets of chairs, hefty frames mirrors, etc, which could be reborn with a fresh paint finish. And in São Brás de Alportel on the third Sunday, there is a large car boot sale at Park Roberto Norte.

It has to be remembered that the fun of car boot sales and bric-a-brac markets is that you never know what you are going to come across, and you could just discover that little gem, bizarre or charming, that makes you smile, and that once cleaned up becomes something of a conversation piece. And that’s what makes the pleasure more so.

And if you are planning a wedding or special party, a market could be the perfect hunting ground for DIY decorations. Pick up vintage suitcases and globes for a travel-themed wedding, or start filling a box with clown wigs, fancy hats and funny props for a kids’ or grown ups’ dress-up party – you will save yourself loads of time and money, and afterwards you can always donate those items to your favourite charity.

In the meantime, good shopping!

Check these websites for listings of all the markets in the region:

algarvedailynews.com/algarve-markets taviratoday.com/markets/ pigletinportugal.com/markets/ myguidealgarve.com/usefulinfo/markets-on-thealgarve

GRAPE expectations

JOANA MAÇANITA

DOURO

While studying agricultural engineering at the Instituto Superior de Agronomia in Lisbon, Joana Maçanita worked at a number of wineries in Portugal, before interning at Australia’s prestigious McLaren Vale.

Back in Portugal, along with partners, she created an Oenological Consulting company to support producers of new projects in the Douro, Alentejo, Lisbon and Algarve regions. The wines that resulted have won awards over the past ten years and been applauded by critics worldwide.

Joana, a judge at the International Wine Challenge in London, and Wine Masters in Estoril, developed a training project in 2009 for the restaurant and bar courses operated by the Azores Tourism and Hotel School. And in 2011, she started her wine project, Maçanita Vinhos, in the Douro, with her brother António Maçanita, investing in native grape of the region, such as the red Negra Mole and the white Crato.

In 2012, she took over as Project Director for five wine producers in the Algarve region –Cabrita Wines, João Clara Vinhos, Edd’s Quinta do Barradas, Quinta da Malaca, and in 2016, Morgado do Quintão joined the portfolio.

Nominated for ’Young Winemaker of the Year’ in 2018, and for ‘Breakthrough Winemaker’ in 2019, Joana went on to produce her first book Branco ou Tinto, a guide to how to buy, serve, taste and harmonise wine.

My suggestion to taste: antoniomacanita. com/en/wines/vinhos-macanita/wines/ gouveio-by-joaninha

THIS MONTH WE CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN ’ S DAY, SO IT IS THE IDEAL TIME TO LOOK AT THE LADIES’ CONTRIBUTION TO THE WINE INDUSTRY HERE IN PORTUGAL... AND TO SALUTE THEM FOR CREATING THE BEST

Words: LÍVIA MOKRI

PENÍNSULA DE SETÚBAL

Casa Ermelinda Freitas winery needs no introduction and has long prided itself on being managed by women.

Ermelinda Freitas was a kind of Dona Antónia Ferreira (of Port fame), first in the Setúbal Península, now in the Vinho Verde region, and in the Douro.

The winery was established in 1920 by Leonilde Freitas, continued by her granddaughter, Germana, and later by her great-granddaughter, Ermelinda Freitas, who on the premature death of her husband, passed control over to her daughter. In the early 1990s, the public health professional knew nothing about wine, but she inherited 60 hectares of vineyards in Setúbal and grew her family income from tens of thousands to a turnover of millions of euros, moving from unbranded wines sold in bulk to bottled and branded wines, with the first brand of red Terras do Pó.

In 1999, confident in the commercial results achieved, the company launched the Dona Ermelinda and Quinta da Mimosa brands. And in 2001, the top-ofthe-range Leo d’Honor was introduced and met with great success.

The area of vineyards has continued to expand. Currently, more than six million bottles are produced and there is a capacity for the fermentation of ten million litres in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats.

My suggestion to taste: ermelindafreitas.pt/en/wines/7/32/leodhonor/

FROM BAIRRADA

Filipa Pato is a viticulturist in Bairrada. With a degree from the University of Coimbra in chemical engineering, she refined her skills not only with her father, Luís Pato, ‘the Baga rebel’, but as a winemaker by harvesting in Bordeaux in France, Mendoza in Argentina and Margaret River in Australia.

In 2001, Filipa launched an experimental wine that brought Belgian William Wouters, chef and sommelier, into her life as her husband and business partner.

The couple share their experiences and the magical and inexhaustible culture of the world of wine with great wine producers, sommeliers and wine lovers from all over the world. Focusing only on traditional Bairrada varieties, they work exclusively with Baga, Bical, Arinto, Cercial and Maria Gomes grapes. The vineyard is their priority, and early on, they abandoned the use of herbicides in favour of soil health and biodiversity. In the cellar there is minimal intervention, the grapes are selected in the vineyard, they ferment with indigenous yeasts, and use ancestral methods such as wooden presses and amphora. They create ‘Terroir’ wines, uniting knowledge, art and nature, so each wine has its own character. And 20 years later, their Nossa wines are present in more than 40 countries.

Filipa was awarded the Winemaker of the year 2020 title by Revista de Vinhos, the leading Portuguese wine magazine.

My suggestion to taste: patowouters. com/en/vinhos/info/our-history_52/

DÃO

Julia de Melo Kemper, a Lisbon-based lawyer, was called back to her family vineyards which she inherited, in 2000. But she held out, and it wasn’t until 2003 that Julia responded to the call of the land, and began farming organically at the Quinta do Cruzeiro.

The Quinta is located among the Dão mountains, where vineyards are treated according to organic and sustained agriculture. It is also the place where modern and ancestral grape treading techniques are aligned to transform the crops into fantastic wines.

The Melo family has grown grapes in the Dão region for several generations, but the wines began to be sold internationally in 2010 when the first red vintage (2008) hit the market. And after ten harvests (2008– 2018) Julia Kemper wines are known and sold across the world, and Julia herself is recognised as one of the top producers in the Dão region in Portugal.

Julia Kemper Wines continues to produce some of the best organic wines in its rustic Portuguese cellar adapted to modern winemaking.

The company’s main goal is to produce top wines, using biodynamic and organic techniques, which implies constant work and learning; and, above all, dedication and passion.

The unusual quality of the Julia Kemper wines has been recognised nationally and internationally, and the recipient of a number of honours and important prizes.

My suggestion to taste: juliakemperwines.com/wines/juliakemper-reserve-white/

CATARINA VIEIRA ALENTEJO

Catarina’s relationship with wine began with the land and the vineyard, although she‘s not sure if it was the bicycle rides with her grandfather to the vineyards when she was little that determined her passion for wine.

She took an agronomy course, which gave her a concrete perspective and a focus on sustainability at all stages of the wine-making process.

In 2013, her husband, Pedro joined the winery, and together they develop wines that are elegant and with a freshness and minerality, but also gastronomic. Slowing down the impact of climate change is a vital priority.

The investment in winemaking began in 2000 with the Herdade do Rocim, situated between Vidigueira and Cuba in the Baixo Alentejo, a vast estate of some 120 hectares, of which 70 hectares are vineyards.

The first years were dedicated to the restructuring of the estate, with the planting of new vines and the introduction of new wine grape varieties. Then, the cellar was built and the production of wine with its own brands started.

Today, Rocim is renowned for the quality of its wine and cellar and speaking of its history is speaking of a dream. The main goal of the company is customer satisfaction, but special attention is given to technical training and improvements in communication technologies.

Winemaking at the Herdade do Rocim is inspired by the minimum intervention philosophy. All the viticulture operations are carried out manually, from the winter pruning until the harvest.

They combine the expertise of modern oenology with ancestral winemaking methods such as Alentejo talha wines and the grape treading on stone wine press.

My suggestion to taste: rocim.pt/ product/herdade-do-rocim-alicantebouschet-2/

Jim’s

Beautifully styled turbans, used as part of your cancer treatment or simply for aesthetic well-being.

Private salon with complete discretion and care.

chapter

Casa

Amor

WHEN, WHEN, WHEN, THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING. WHEN WILL CASA AMOR BE READY TO WELCOME GUESTS WHO WILL STAY, THOSE WHO ARE THERE FOR A MEAL, OR A DRINK, THOSE WANTING THE TASTE OF WALTER’S PASTRIES? EACH MONTH, AS WORK PROGRESSES, BRINGS THAT DAY CLOSER

Consultations by appointment on Saturdays.

Words: ELAINE JOYCE

LAST MONTH, the intrepid twosome explained the work that was taking place on the ground floor, including the change of plans for the entrance of the building, and some of the more unwelcome surprises that showed up weaknesses in the structure. But Jack and Walter, it seems, let nothing dampen their enthusiasm, knowing that every problem will become a pleasure.

Right now, the building team are focused on the upstairs and the nine rooms on the first floor, and the one on the roof top. “They all have natural light now, that enters through new large French windows designed to perfectly compliment the façade,” says Walter. “There are two rooms that overlook the patio and the newly instated grand olive tree, and each of those has a large private balcony with seating so one can relax in the calm.”

The smallest room is Walter’s favourite, presented as the room of lovers or for happy singles. With its queen size bed, it has a special charm. There are two other rooms that overlook Rua Bombarda, both of which are large. These corner rooms of the previous owners, they are now light

HAIR ARTIST | HAIR PIECES | PRIVATE GYM

and wonderfully bright and will be dressed with fine linen curtains that are currently being made. The other rooms that overlook Rua Alfredo Keil or Rua Dr. Pádua are between 18 and 32m². “We chose to have large bathrooms throughout the boutique hotel to create another attribute to its character,” says Walter. “But we have kept the original walls.”

And what about decoration? “The bathrooms are simple and bring together the best of classical features. We have a light sandstone on the floor, pale tiles on the wall, the white basins are rest on Portuguese stone, towels sit on wooden shelves, and taps are chrome and stylish. And within the bathrooms there are large areas to actually put things – an important feature that sadly is ignored in so many hotels today. There is space for everything in the bathrooms at Casa Amor, from toiletry and makeup bags to personal things like medications and reading material,” says Jack.

In the bedrooms themselves, the message is one of chic simplicity. Northern pine flooring, white walls, porcelain buttons for light, linen curtains; colour will be introduced by the paintings the couple love like lithographs by Cocteau. White custom-built cupboards with natural cane doors hide

a refrigerator and a safebox; the old furniture has been beautifully restored in readiness of its new chapter.

But the most important thing is the bedding. After a considerable amount of research, the boys chose Molaflex, a Portuguese manufacturer not far from Porto, that equips luxury hotels. “The company has an environmentally friendly policy and this is important to us,” explains Jack. “And of course we have tested and approved them.”

Through the large bay window and up to the next level, you arrive on the roof top with the pool from which you feel you are diving into the heart of the white cubic city. There are blue and white upholstered sunbeds, white masonry benches covered with cushions, shady natural cane pergolas, corners to rest, an honesty bar, a shower and a cloakroom. And from there you can access the mirador with its breathtaking views, and the large sumptuous suite with its private 71m² terrace. “It is a suite to enjoy life outside and where you can even sleep under the stars,” says Walter.

Ready to book? Our two friends are cautious, they hope to open their doors this summer but they are aware that in Olhão the summer lasts a very long time...

Slowly but ever-so-surely, the personality that will be Casa Amor is emerging with fine details and perfect finishing touches that will make this boutique hotel an outstanding feature of Olhão itself

Amara now has an outdoor terrace for al fresco dining with beautiful views over the golf and pines. And the chef is currently busy adding some exciting flavours to the delicious 2023 menu.

Horse drawn

WE’VE TAKEN YOU MOTOR BIKING, CYLING AND WALKING. NOW IT’S TIME TO GET ON HORSEBACK FOR A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE, AND ONE THAT COULD NOT BE BETTER THAN HERE ON THE ALGARVE

PINETREES RIDING CENTRE

RNAAT license nº 328.2020

Where: Corgo da Zorra, Almancil

Ride duration: 1 hour

Suitable for: All standards of riders, from 8 to 70, weighing up to 90kgs.

How it starts: The first part, in the arena, helps to build rapport with the horse, improving the rider’s balance, flow and confidence. For the second part you ride directly out into the pinewoods on the nature walk on undulating sandy paths.

What you’ll see: The rides will take you through sandy trails through pine forest, cork and carob trees and prickly pear cactus. You’ll see azure wing magpies, hoopoes, butterflies, beetles, the green ocelot lizard and spring flowers. Within the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve.

Cost: €60 per person, includes riding gear, insurance and tax. If you buy a five- or 10-hour card, you can use a unit from the discount card for the Experience. Five hours is €200; ten hours is €350. Children from four to eight

years old might prefer the Mini Pinetrees Experience (30 minutes, €40 per person)

BEV GIBBONS

T: 289 394 369

E: bevpinetrees@gmail.com

W: pinetrees.pt

ADVENTURE RIDING

RNAAT number 419/2019

Where: Parque Natural do Sudoeste

Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, Aljezur

Ride duration: 2 hours

Suitable for: Beginners or advanced riders, Minimum age 10, maximum weight 85kg.

How it starts: Beginners ride: walk; advanced ride: walk, trot, canter/gallop. What you’ll see: Ocean views, browneyed rock roses, white crowberries, ice plants and the ruins of Ribat da Arrifana. The tour starts in our little village Vale da Telha, on the Rota Vicentina. In just a few minutes you are surrounded by nature, on a magical sand trail, which leads to the stunning, 60-metre high cliffs between the beaches Arrifana and Monte Clérigo,

and the breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean. On this two-hour ride, we pass the so-called ‘Stork Rock of Vale da Telha’, with nesting birds from February to June. The Cliff Top Ride is the most beautiful and popular ride.

Cost: €80 per person in a group of maximum four of similar riding skills.

YVONNE

T: 961 448 747

E: caza.lusitana@gmail.com

W: adventure-riding.com

Pine Trees is one of the longest established riding schools in the Algarve and the activities it offers covers all ages and abilities. Adventure Riding on the West Coast has a stunning cliff top ride

THE CLUBE HÍPICO DO BIÉ

RNAAT 523/2014

Where: Rua da Universidade, Gambelas

8005-226 - Faro

Ride duration: The most popular tour is the Salt Pans Riding, which lasts approximately two hours.

Suitable for: All riders, up to 80kg in weight and including beginners from 12 years of age.

How it starts: This well-known riding school has a 33-year history and specially-trained horses.

What you’ll see: The beauty of the Ria Formosa Natural Park and the unique landscapes of the salt flats, where you can also appreciate the different birds that make their home here, with special emphasis on the wonderful flocks of flamingos.

Cost: €55 per person.

SVETLANA PLEKHANOVA

T: 926 987 472

E: clubehipicobie@gmail.com

W: clubehipicodobie.com

DONKEY TOURS ALGARVE

RNAAT 857/2017

Where: Sítio do Montinho, Paderne

Ride duration: 4.5 hours which includes a snack, drinks and a stop in a Portuguese bar.

Suitable for: All ages, and levels, no need to ride as you can walk alongside the riders. Maximum weight for riders, 80kg. How it starts: Catalan and Miranda donkeys –Julieta, Jeropiga, Jota, Pedro, Camilla, Luise, Eal, Heidi, Malu, Malibu, Amora and Joco – are calm, laid back and loyal. This trip is perfect for those looking to recharge their spirit. What you’ll see: Explore the Algarve’s nature reserves and breathtaking panoramic views to Monchique mountain. Lavender, oranges blooming, orchids, wild thyme. And much more. Cost: €75 which includes insurance and transfers

SANDRA SCHNEIDER

T: 916 017 061

E: info@burropaderne.com

W: donkey-tours-algarve.com

ROSENKILDE EQUESTRIAN CENTRE

RNAAT number tba

Where: Rua de Bica 8375-059 São

Bartolomeu de Messines next to the Barragem de Funcho Lake Ride duration: 1 hour, 1.5 hours, or 2 hours

Suitable for: First timers to advanced, from age six, weight limit 120kg. Speed of rides depends on the experience of the rider.

How it starts: We specialise in small groups and only take one booking out at a time and never mix groups. This way we can offer a more personalised experience.

What you’ll see: There is a big variety of landscapes, flora and fauna. From Barragem de Funcho Lake and steep hills surrounding it, deep lush valleys with rivers winding through, tranquill coak oak forests, open heathland with stunning views, lakes and ponds (some of which you can swim in). Each area has its own ecosystem with its own unique flora. Our area is also full of wildlife, from deer, boar, foxes, mongoose, rabbits and hares.

Cost: €45 to €70 per person depending on length of ride. All prices include equipment and taxes.

AMY ROBERTS

T: 912 528 145

E: rosenkilde.equestrian@gmail.com

W: rosenkilde-equestrian.business.site

RNAAT is a government certification that a company must have to show it is insured and legally allowed to work with tourists and in the tourism industry. Our thanks to Bev Gibbons of Pinetrees Riding Centre, who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in the 2022 Algarve Business Awards, for her help with recommending the riding experiences listed here.

Right: Donkey Tours Algarve have a charm of their own and the donkeys are the sweetest imagineable. Below: Gambelas-based Clube Hípico has a ride through the salt pans who is hugely popular

YOU ARE NEEDED

MANY NEW SETTLERS IN THE ALGARVE WANT TO PUT SOMETHING OF VALUE BACK INTO THEIR NEW HOMELAND. THERE IS A HUGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE CHARITY AND HELP SECTORS, WHERE DONATIONS OF TIME, AS WELL AS MONEY MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE TO SO MANY LIVES

Words: LUCY MAYER

W:

MR NO EARS CAT HAVEN

Mr No Ears Cat Haven at Vale Paraíso in Albufeira is a sanctuary for street cats. The area has a colony of feral cats and the not-for-profit Haven tries to rehabilitate ill, disabled and traumatised cats without a home. Staff sterilise and vaccinate the animals where they can, and also put the cats on diets and medication to treat parasites and illness. Around 120 cats are supported at any one time, with 117 available to sponsor. A donation of €10 a month pays for staples like food and those who want to sponsor a cat can donate monthly, quarterly, six-monthly or yearly via PayPal or a bank transfer. They can choose their preferred feline from a gallery of cats that have been rescued by the centre or have been abandoned.

The cats live in the private sanctuary set up and run by Sandra Gasalho. The charity is named after the town’s most famous street cat known as the Lion King of Albufeira, which lost one of his eyes to illness as a kitten and had to have his ears removed due to a skin ailment. He paved the way for feral cat rehabilitation, which can cost hundreds of euros, and a march was held in Lisbon in his memory in January to raise awareness of the work done by Sandra and the group.

Carol Lee

T: 963 782 121

W: mrnoearscatshaven.com

APAV : PORTUGUESE ASSOCIATION FOR VICTIM SUPPORT

This is a private, not for profit, charitable organisation recognised by law, which serves to protect and support victims of crime. It has a network of volunteers helping people via a number of personable, free and confidential services. Founded in 1990, its HQ is in Lisbon and the organisation wants to especially help those facing financial hardship. Advice, guidance and counselling are offered as well as victim-offender mediation and restorative justice. The organisation also contributes to the adoption of laws made in Portugal and has a network of support offices across the country, including in the Algarve, in Olhão, Lagoa, Silves, Albufeira, Alcoutim, Castro Marim, Vila Real de Santo Antonio and São Brás de Alportel. People can donate to the charity online or via a bequest in a Will. Money goes towards training people to support victims of crime whether it be robbery, property damage, domestic violence, rape, fraud or arson.

APAV also focuses on responsible reporting of cases concerning victims of crime. Last year, the charity promoted the 4th edition of the APAV Award for Journalism, believing that “the quality, relevance and importance of journalism should be recognised”. The award is given annually to the best journalistic piece which, in the previous year, contributed to the knowledge of the issues or problems related to the support of victims of crime in Portugal.

Volunteers include researchers, translators, public relations specialists, administrative staff, designers, nurses, doctors, etc, and represent the strength behind APAV. They each contribute several hours a week to provide unpaid support to victims of crime.

T: 289 820 788 – Faro

E: apav.sede@apav.pt

W: apav.pt

THE CENTRE ALGARVE HOLIDAY CENTRE

In Moncarapacho just outside Olhão, is mainland Europe’s only specialist holiday centre that is fully equipped to allow people with special needs, young and old, to experience a proper holiday with their family or carers. In the backdrop of the Ria Formosa nature reserve, the site comprises 14 bedrooms in a picturesque villa setting, featuring equipment like wheelchair hoists to suit a range of needs, a swimming pool, multisensory discovery centre, vegetable gardens and access to animals like rabbits and birds.

The centre is perfect for people with physical or learning disabilities and special needs, and because the whole family is supported, it means respite for those caring for someone full time. The founder, Andy Mahoney, was a recipient of the Prime Minister Points of Light Award when Theresa May was Prime Minister. The award recognises outstanding volunteers who make a difference to their community. In a personal letter to Andy, Theresa May said: “Across the world British volunteers like you are helping to build a better world for everyone. The Point of Light award is a small thank you on behalf of the whole country, in recognition of your exceptional service.”

While the holiday Centre is a business in itself, its charity arm, The 24×7 Special Needs Holiday Trust, was established to raise funds to help send people to the Centre for a well-deserved break, which for many is their first break in years. You can donate money, time, sponsor an animal, or take part in any of the special events staged.

Volunteers are always required to help with maintainance, including care of the animals and gardening.

Belinda Williams

T: 961 917 917 for information. W: centrealgarve.org

THE NEW GOLDRA DOG SANCTUARY

The New Goldra Dog Sanctuary near Loulé aims to rehabilitate street dogs and is looking after over 70 pups. It is run by volunteers and supported by fundraisers, fundraising events and sponsors. Most dogs at the sanctuary are ready to be adopted and find their forever home. However, dogs that cannot be rehomed will stay at the sanctuary and be sponsored. These dogs are usually older or ill. Sponsors pay €10–€12 a month to help pay for food, treats and toys. Payments are usually made monthly or yearly and can be made via PayPal.

For those who love dogs and want to help out, you could consider becoming a volunteer – just a few hours a week or month are extremely beneficial.

There are numerous jobs including cleaning pens, feeding, bathing and grooming and, importantly, giving cuddles to help the dogs feel loved. Volunteers will also help with dog walking, which is great for the animals who rarely get to leave the sanctuary, and lead walking is a good form of training for the dogs so they can adapt more easily once adopted.

Goldra also need people to foster a dog or puppy to make the transition between kennel and forever home easier. All vet costs and some food costs are covered by the charity.

Jan Henderson

E: info@thegoldradogsanctuary.com

W: thegoldradogsanctuary.com

THE ALGARVE NETWORK FOR FAMILIES IN NEED

This charity acquires items like pieces of furniture from people who no longer need them, and distribute them to those who do. Recipients include one family who lost their home in a fire and needed basics like beds, drawers and clothes. The charity, which has a large Facebook community with over 6,000 members, started life a decade ago in Albufeira as a response to rising levels of poverty, but really came into its own during the COVID-19 pandemic when hundreds of people from sectors like hospitality, which the Algarve so relies on, lost their jobs and needed practical support; 1,500 people per week were receiving food donations over a 16-month period. These were eventually phased out after lockdown in July 2021.

Over Christmas, the registered charity supplied toiletries, toys and goodies to people in need so they could also enjoy the festive period. Now, there are collection points at supermarkets across the Algarve, including Lagos Lidl, Luz Baptista Supermarket and Iceland in Guia Retail Park. Donations are accepted via paypal for anyone who can’t donate in person, and volunteers are needed to sort items that have been donated, deliver and help with storage.

Nadia Cann

T: 938 044 790

E: algarvefamiliesinneed@hotmail.com

W: algarvefin.wixsite.com

Above: The pool at the Centre Algarve Holiday Centre is equipped to ensure safety, and enjoyment, for those – adults and children – with special physical needs. Below: dog lovers will find a four-legged friend in the Goldra Sanctuary

Gigantic Atlantic

FACE WEST AND OUT TO SEA, A GREAT OCEAN LIES BEFORE YOU, IMMENSE IN DEPTH AND DISTANCE. STANDING ON THE SHORELINE, ARTIST MAGDALENA MOREY REGARDS THE VASTNESS OF THE SEASCAPE BENEATH THE COLOURS OF A SETTING SUN

Words: CAROLYN KAIN

MAGDALENA Morey’s paintings recreate impressions of the ever-changing panorama looking out to sea. An international artist with a Masters Degree in Art and a Diploma in Textiles, she has lived and painted in Poland, England, Switzerland, Andalucía and Asturias in Spain.

Expressing a reaction to the sun setting over the Atlantic Ocean, one of nature’s most awe inspiring sights: “There is always some aspect of my own internal state of being that is represented in my work,” she says.

Statistics may be less impressive than a sunset but it is worth reporting that the Atlantic Ocean covers 20 per cent of the Earth’s surface. For the mathematically minded that’s 85,133,000 sq km. Flowing more quickly than the Amazon River, the Gulf Stream is one of the fastest sea currents in the world. Beneath the waves the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is the planet’s longest mountain range at four times the length of the Himalayas. It extends roughly from Iceland to a point south of Argentina, and despite its depth can be seen from satellite imagery.

Not that Portugal’s earliest explorers knew any of these facts. Leaving from Lisbon in the year 1500, Pedro Álvares Cabral made one of the most astonishing journeys. Leaving from mainland Portugal, he crossed the equator into the South Atlantic Ocean and after travelling more than 7,000km he touched land in what is now Porto Seguro, Brazil. At the time he thought he was on an island but he was mistaken. Cabral is officially credited as the first European to reach the continent of South America.

More recently, in December 2022 to be precise, a message in a bottle arrived at the end of a similarly long journey. Travelling in the opposite direction from Cabral, it left North America and came ashore landing on a beach near Setúbal on Portugal’s West coast. It was thrown into the Gulf Stream by a high-school student aboard a pleasure boat off the coast of North Carolina. The bottle set off on an epic voyage lasting two and half years. It was found by Elena Bretan who used the message inside the bottle to contact the student’s school. By now the young man had graduated and the school could only say he was last heard of fishing in the Bahamas! One wonders if the urge to send another message might come over him again.

Meanwhile, from the beach to her studio, Magdalena transfers anticipation into abstract paintings using a whole variety of media, including water colours, pastels, acrylics and gold leaf.

Her paintings of the Ocean are currently on display at Galeria Côrte- Real on the outskirts of the protected village of Paderne. The short journey from the EN125 to Paderne follows a route through some charming Algarve countryside.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

What sights inspire you most, and in what way?

I’m an avid explorer and in my landscape work, I’m continually drawn to horizons and how they lead our imagination to explore the possibilities of what lies beyond.

Do you know what you want at the start of a new work, or do things just ‘happen’?

With landscapes, I almost always base the compositions and overall forms on photos I’ve taken when we've been travelling. The colours are more emotionally driven and there’s often a period of uncertainty whilst I find a palette and colour balance that satisfactorily represents my state of mind.

What is the biggest painting you have done, and where is it?

The largest was 150x150cm and was at Côrte Real Gallery. I believe it’s now been sold to a collector in the Algarve.

And the smallest?

The smallest I do are 20x20cm which I sell online via my website.

Your favourite materials?

I’m very much a mixed media artist and I’ve recently been starting to incorporate more organic material in my work.

CONFIDENCE BACK

BRINGING

ALMANCIL-BASED HAIRDRESSER JIM VAN HEK HAS INTRODUCED

A NEW BESPOKE WIG SERVICE TO THE ALGARVE WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF MAKING PEOPLE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES

Words: SALLY DIXON

S A WOMAN who has always had thoroughbred racehorse-like hair (that’s what one gentleman said to me in a Yorkshire pub!) and experienced hair loss in the past, I was intrigued to find out more about Jim Van Hek’s new venture helping people who have, or are in the process of, experiencing hair loss. Hair loss can happen to anyone, at any age, at any time and for a multitude of reasons. You might be surprised to know that on average we lose anywhere between 50 and 100 strands of hair a day naturally without really noticing. It’s when that hair starts showing up in clumps on your bathroom floor that it can be extremely distressing for many. Temporary hair loss can be a result of many things, including illness, stress, cancer treatment, thyroid imbalance, weight loss and iron deficiency. The words androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium (the one I had), anagen effluvium, alopecia areata, tinea capitis – the list goes on – are all forms of hair loss. Whether it’s temporary or permanent, losing our precious locks can be a real source of upset and lead to a lack of confidence in both women and men. Which is where Jim, Dutch hairdresser and Algarve resident of 20 years, steps in.

Jim has been in the hair industry for over 35 years so there’s no denying he knows a thing or two when it comes to your locks. Not just a genius with real hair, Jim found he was spending a fair bit of time correcting wigs for existing clients that were just not working for them and their lifestyle. Many clients were coming in with wigs bought elsewhere that were proving to be too thick and too warm for the more than balmy Portuguese days. Jim would take the time to develop corrections to the wigs with the aim of making them more comfortable.

AIf you’ve ever met Jim, you’ll know that he’s a calmly spoken, healthy living guy (he does yoga every day at 6am!) and so it was second nature for him to want to find a better solution for his clients. A phone call to a former colleague in Holland, descendant of three generations of wigmakers, and Jim would discover that Paris was the place to go for top-notch wigs and hair pieces. He says: “I discovered the Elite Hair International group in Paris making really thin wigs for women and men, with an invisible front lace matched to your skin colour, that you can wear in the hot summer, even walking on the beach.” Jim recognised the value of these wigs to his clients, and a new business idea was born.

His focus so far has been on helping people going through chemotherapy. He even has a dedicated gym space within his salon where clients can exercise with a personal trainer in private, to work on their mobility and well-being, while undergoing treatment. “As someone who trains every day, I know the benefits of moving and staying mobile,” he says, “If

It is hard to make a decision when there is so much on offer in terms of cut, style and colour. But comfort is the key

l

you feel well, you start to heal better, it’s a beautiful combination.”

Working with the oncology department at Gambelas private hospital in Faro and other healthcare professionals is a priority for Jim. As the sole distributor of Elite Hair International wigs in the Algarve, he’s keen for people to see what can be achieved and how this could be the confidence boost people been searching for. Jim says: “With chemotherapy, people normally need a wig for around 12 months. Those that they usually buy are real hair wigs that are heavy, the colour fades quickly with the sunshine, and if you wash them, you have to blow dry them into a style yourself. Something not many people can do.”

A 1.5-hour consultation will see Jim work with you to create a bespoke wig exactly to your desires, specifications and personalised colour options. The wigs are fully synthetic, and Jim is so confident in their quality that he says: “When I was in Paris, they put a lot of wigs in front of me on the table, they asked me to pick out the real hair one and I couldn’t. I could not tell the difference between the synthetic wig and the real hair one.”

Jim takes your measurements and your style preference, emails it to Paris and the wig is often back in the salon within two weeks, ready to be trimmed and fitted. Super lightweight, it is made to your specific measurements enabling it to fit like a glove. In the winter, there is an option to wear a super-thin, bamboo skull cap over your scalp that keeps your head at exactly body temperature (37.5° celsius in case you’re wondering!). Super easy to care for, a synthetic wig can be washed simply in a bowl,

placed on a specialised stand and it will dry back in the exact shape that it was when you got it from Jim. Like magic! If only standard hair maintenance was that easy every day. Just stay well clear of any heated appliances as you risk melting your new do.

Many of us can appreciate the power of a hair makeover when it comes to lifting your spirits, boosting your confidence and just generally feeling like you can take on the world. Hands up who’s had a style change after a particularly bad breakup?! You might be lucky enough to not experience hair loss but just fancy a change of style every so often (without a drastic cut or a breakup!), Jim’s wigs can give you a whole new look in an instant.

A stylish collection of turbans also caught my eye, making me reminisce about the bohemian beach days of summer and long, lazy lunches at Gigi’s. For Jim, it is all about giving people their confidence back. Having worked on people’s hair for so long, it was easy for him to see what was missing in the market. He says: “We thought we’d go into fashion a little with the turbans. We looked at how we could make a change if you can’t wear the wig for some reason; you can still feel confident and protect your scalp from the sun with a beautiful turban.”

Next month sees Jim heading off to Paris once again, to learn specifically how to help people with alopecia areata (patchy baldness) that requires a specialist technique of creating real hair pieces. It doesn’t just stop at hair either, there are plans to bring in eyebrow pieces and create a make-up corner in the salon so clients can have private make-up lessons.

Whether you’re experiencing temporary or permanent, total or partial hair loss, you can rest assured that you’re in safe (and stylish) hands with Jim.

For Jim, working with the oncology departments and other healthcare professionals is a priority.

Grilled tiger prawns & squid

TAKE A TIP FROM THE EXPERT. MELIZ BERG WARMS THIS SPICY MARINADE FIRST SO THAT THE FLAVOURS INFUSE TOGETHER, AND USES HALF ON THE SEAFOOD BEFORE COOKING AND THE REST AS IT COMES OFF THE BARBECUE. IF YOU CAN’T FIND PUL BIBER, MIX TOGETHER A QUARTER TEASPOON EACH OF CRUSHED CHILLI FLAKES AND PAPRIKA

SERVES 4-6

INGREDIENTS

 12 tiger prawns, raw, shell-on, 1kg

 whole squid, tubes and tentacles cleaned, 500g

 ½ tsp sea salt flakes

 ½ tsp cracked black pepper, plus extra to serve

 Sunflower oil, for brushing, optional

FOR THE MARINADE

 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

 1 tsp smoked paprika

 2 tsp pul biber

 1 tsp crushed garlic

 2 tbsp Turkish sweet red pepper paste (tatli biber salçası)

 4 tbsp pomegranate molasses

 1 tsp clear honey

 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, plus extra to serve

 1 tsp finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley leaves, plus extra to serve

 1 tsp dried oregano

METHOD

1 In a small pan over a low heat, add the olive oil, and once hot, add the smoked paprika, pul biber and garlic, and cook for 30 seconds, before adding the sweet red pepper paste.

2 Spread out the sweet red pepper paste with the back of a wooden spoon so that it starts to sizzle, then add the pomegranate molasses, honey and lemon juice and cook until it begins to bubble. Remove from the heat and allow to cool a little.

3 Prepare the prawns. Do not peel, but gently score along the back of one prawn with a sharp knife, slicing through the shell and a little into the flesh. Remove the vein, discard it, and

carefully open up the back of the prawn slightly to half-butterfly it; this will enable the marinade to soak through into the flesh. Repeat this with the remaining prawns.

4 Score the squid tubes slightly in a crisscross pattern with a sharp knife and keep the tentacles whole.

5 Take two tablespoons of the marinade and gently rub over the prawns and squid. Season with the salt and pepper.

ON THE BARBEQUE

Make sure that the coals are at a high heat and the grill is very hot as the prawns and squid need fast cooking. Barbecue the seafood for 3–4 minutes on each side until the prawns turn pink inside and the squid is chargrilled on the outside. Slice the squid into rings and coat everything in the reserved marinade. Serve with an extra squeeze of lemon juice, fresh parsley and cracked black pepper.

ON A GRIDDLE PAN

Brush a griddle pan with some sunflower oil and heat on the hob until very hot. Continue as above.

In Meliz’s Kitchen (Ebury Press, €28.97) Meliz Berg serves up dishes that are flavour-packed. Prepare them on the barbecue for a real spring treat. Photography by Meliz Berg and Dan Jones will get your tastebuds tingling.

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a legacy

MOST PEOPLE HAVE MADE THEIR MARK BY EARLY MIDDLE AGE. BUT NOT SO ARTIST RICHARD CARRUTHERS SMITH, A LOULÉ LOCAL FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, WHO FIRST PICKED UP A PAINTBRUSH WHEN HE WAS 65, AND WENT ON TO DELIGHT AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE

Words: ANGUS THOMPSON

WHAT DO YOU expect will follow when you emigrate from one continent to another in order to retire? To live a comfortable, peaceful life and have a number of good years before quietly reaching one’s end? That’s the usual turn of events. However, what happens if the country in which you settle does more than that and touches and transforms you? Richard Smith was not born in Portugal. He emigrated to the Algarve in 1986 and over the years he grew to love its people, its countryside, its space and its different way of looking at things. So when he picked up his first paint brush in 1995 in the 600 year old inspirational studio in Loulé where he came to paint, it was no wonder that his work reflected all that.

Self-taught Richard had never tried his hand at painting and at the beginning he was a little unsure of his artistic ability. However, people wandered into his studio, and liking what he was doing began to buy his work. His reputation grew and he went on to exhibit not only in Loulé but in Estoril, Sta Cristina d’Aro, Barcelona, Madrid and Normandy. Richard died in 2008 having painted and ‘sculpted’ over 1,000 pieces of work., much of which was bought by local aficionados but also by visitors from all over the world.

But to start at the beginning where all good stories begin, Richard C. Smith was born in Zimbabwe in October 1930, the son of a small gold mine worker and an Irish mother. Bright and creative and growing up in the small town of Gwer, he went to the local school where apart from excelling academically, he won prizes in the national Eeisteddfod for English prose and a song he had composed.

Having completed his schooling with distinction, Richard went south to Rhodes University in Grahamstown in South Africa to read for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and History. After graduation, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and spent three years at Baliol College in Oxford reading Jurisprudence. He was remembered by one of his friends as ‘probably one of the most popular and loved undergraduates, athletic, academically bright and relaxed who appeared to do everything with little effort’.

Following Oxford and after a short stay in Canada, he returned to Zimbabwe, and as an attorney began

practising law in Gweru. His style of legal practice was a little different to most lawyers as rather than encouraging his clients to spend money on litigation he would discuss a way forward which didn’t involve the courts.

In 1963 he met Burford Hurry, an English lecturer at the Gweru Teacher’s College and they became lifelong companheiros. Both being creative, they built studios wherever they lived and where Richard could work on his cement sculptures, mosaics or batiks and Burford could write, draw and paint.

In 1986, Richard and Burford decided to relocate to Europe, choosing to settle in the Algarve, and by chance decided to buy an apartment and then an old manor house in Loulé. It was a decision that they never regretted.

Once settled, they bought a 600-year-old building near Bica Velha in Loulé with the idea of renovating and reselling it. The building however had other ideas. For a while its large room with its flag-stoned floor and its gloriously vaulted ceiling served as an antique shop. Then it fell empty and inevitably Richard was drawn to make use of its beautiful space.

Being very commonsensical, he first got a carpenter to make a suitable work bench. Initially, he started doing batiks as it was a medium he was familiar with, but he then decided to try his hand at painting.

The situation was ideal; there was light and space enough for a small studio adjacent to the vaulted area where the metre-thick walls kept the temperature equable. Never having painted before, he did so with some trepidation. However, as he had already decided that his paintings would be on wood or wooden furniture and framed in old existing frames, he set to refurbishing or creating frames while he summoned up the courage to start painting. So, in 1995, tentatively and with Studio 21 on the door, Richard’s journey began.

Once he had started, it was something he grew to love. Every morning from Monday to Saturday he could be found in his tiny studio painting or working on his frames

Richard Smith’s paintings, which are available to purchase, tell a story of the Algarvean countryside and its people and their homes and their animals

or a ‘sculpture’ and only interrupted for a morning coffee break and chat in the local café with Burford and friends. Recognition gradually followed. Dutch friends living in Spain so enjoyed his work that they persuaded Richard to have an exhibition in Santa Cristina d’Aro on the Costa Brava. At a collective exhibition in Barcelona, internationally-recognised naïve painter, Manuel Castro, wandered into the gallery, and impressed with what he saw, persuaded Richard to exhibit in the annual Naive exhibition in Estoril. Other exhibitions both local and international followed.

His idyll came to an end in 2008. Shortly after returning from a trip to the north of Portugal, having excused himself with his customary ‘Gone Fishing’ notice hanging

on the gallery door, he fell while walking his beloved dogs. In doing so he broke a leg. There were complications and he died three months later.

After his death, nine consecutive annual exhibitions of his work were held in his gallery. The small space of his studio with his chair and easel and clutter of paints, wood panels and wooden frames lay empty and unused.

But the people who enjoyed and bought his work remembered that it was in that empty space where he created his yellow skies, his shadowless houses and villages and people, his landscapes with the distant trees on hills, his dogs – all painted with his usual honesty, humour and imagination. No wonder then, that in 2018 the Loulé Câmara gave this honorary Louletano a monthlong exhibition in the municipal gallery. Richard, however, would have reacted awkwardly to the accolade: he never liked a fuss.

For more information about Richard Smith with a view to acquiring some of his work or would like to see photos of his paintings held by Studio 21, email burfordhpt@gmail.com or visit rcs21.com

Over the years in Portugal he grew to love its people, its countryside, its space and its different way of looking at things.

Ericeira

THIS HAS BEEN MY HAPPY PLACE EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER. THE FISHING VILLAGE THAT I GREW UP IN IS CHANGING, BUT KEEPING ITS AUTHENTICITY INTACT. I WENT TO CHECK OUT THE NEW PLACES AND REVISIT SOME OLD TRADITIONS

Words: SANDRA GATO

Some things never change. The sea, loved by surfers, is one of the key attractions of fishing village Ericeira, which is now home to some fine hotels that make the most of the dazzling views

THEY SAY the sea is bluer in Ericeira. Maybe. But more than any beautiful colour what keeps me going time and time again is the ocean’s aroma and the way it seems to talk to you.

This is a temperamental kind of Atlantic, moody and unpredictable. As a child, I remember spending the summer mornings in a sweater because the sun only made its royal appearence after midday. That gave us plenty of time to spend the first part of the day going to the market to buy fish just brought in by the local fishermen, sitting around in the cafés having long breakfasts or going for walks on the beach.

It still is like that. It can be an astonishing summer day in Lisbon but you never know what kind of weather you can expect after driving 40 minutes (Ericeira is really that close to the capital, one of the reasons so many people are choosing to live there).

A small fishing village, Ericeira has a strong personality that will never try to be the sea/sun summer destination eager to please tourists.

Classified as a World Surfing Reserve, the white and blue house village of my childwood is changing in many ways. I like its new found sophistication – with the recent opening of two 5-star hotels – and the way it welcomes people of all kinds of cultures. But I love its old traditions and the fact that the biscuit shop (my favourite in the whole world) is still there. Let’s keep it that way, shall we?

IMMERSO Rooms with a view

Love the name, love the logo (a stylish wave), love that Ericeira finally has a proper 5-star hotel, love the location – not beach front but with a beautiful view from the green fields ending in Praia de São Lourenço – love the feeling it gave me when passing through the door; laid back luxury, the crackling of the wood in the fireplace, a glass of wine as a welcoming treat, smiley people that made you feel right at home.

What is not to love? Well, the fact that it was only for one night because, as anyone reading so far has probably guessed, I could live in Ericeira!

All of the 37 rooms (different types, more or less the same view) are nested in the valley where Immerso is situated. The pool is in the upper level of the property, as well as the restaurant. Its name is Emme and is an absolute new must when going

to Ericeira. Mentored by chef Alexandra Silva (the creative mind and hand from LOCO, one Michelin star, and Fogo), it takes the best local produce to another level. Expect real flavours paired with delicious wines (that can be finished by the fire, inside or outside. Also, under chef Alexandra’s wing, is an outside restaurant (just for private events for now) in a breathtaking setting.

The mood is natural, organic. And you can feel that in all the materials chosen for building and decorating the whole hotel and even in the art pieces, which are mainly from Portuguese contemporary artists. The giant sea urchin that sits right outside the front door is the work of Paulo Reis. (The word Ericeira comes from ouriço, sea urchin, because the village’s coastal line is said to be home of the best sea urchins).

Immerso

Rua Bica da Figueira

Santo Isidoro, Ericeira

T: 261 104 420

W: immerso.pt

Aethos Ericeira is part of a group that understands the travellers’ love of comfort. Below: La Barraqe is a quiet place of enchantment, with wonderful artworks by

AETHOS ERICEIRA

The international vibe

The worldy spirit of The Aethos group – their belief is that travel and hospitality must be an experience with a positive and lasting impact on body and soul – arrived at Ericeira last September. Built on the top of a cliff overlooking the ocean, this is a place made for disconnecting and contemplation, like in any of the other Aethos in Milan, Corsica or CampZero in the Italian Alps. More than just a hotel, Aethos is a global community of people who share the same concept of travelling – and living.

There are 50 rooms and suites that appeal both to the modern luxury traveller, digital nomads and surfers alike. Together, studio Astet from Barcelona and Portuguese architect Luís Pedra Silva have created a space that captures and enhances the textures and the unique light of the region while, at the same time, building the kind of comfort ambience where everyone can feel at ease.

Aethos Ericeira

Rua da Estalagem

Encarnação

T: 261 244 510

W: Aethoshotels.com

LA BARRAQUE

An artistic shack

It probably is the coolest shack in the country: it has an incredible view over the ocean, a skate park and art by Bordallo II (the Portuguese plastic artist known for making art pieces out of trash). Here, in La Barraque (The Shack in French), birds (seagulls, I would say) were chosen to give life to this spot that can be so many things. It hosts private events (a very interesting summer market, just to name one) and is also a bar (check before going because it still does not have regular opening hours).

It belongs to You and the Sea, the hotel situated nearby. André Rebelo, the chef of the hotel’s restaurant, Jangada, is the one responsible for the snacks served at La Barraque. He also uses the land around the shack as his vegetable garden.

The perfect, secluded spot when you just need a couple of hours of sea breeze, a few drinks and good company.

La Barraque

Rua das Silvas, 2, Ericeira

T: 261 243 370

W: youandthesea.pt

Right:

plastic artist Bordallo II

CASA GAMA

Freshly baked

My first memory is of going there in the morning, with my grandmother, to buy queques (still the best cupcakes for me) to eat later at the beach... The fabulous smell of baking that hits you as soon as you enter Casa Gama stayed with me to this day and is as conforting as a hug from a favourite aunt.

Casa Gama is not a café or a pastelaria. It is a small place that sells three varieties of biscuits (cinnamon, butter and areias – extra butter!) and the cakes (queques – cupcakes, ouriços –a tradicional almond cake, and tortas – pies). Decorated with biscuits tins, the best recipient to keep your purchase in perfect condition for a long time, this family business, which opened in 1963, is one that I wish continues exactly as it is for a long long time.

Casa Gama

Calçada da Baleia 9, Ericeira

T: 261 864 917

Sea urchin haven

BALAGAN

Middle eastern flavours by the sea Praia do Sul is ‘my beach’. In Portuguese we say ‘my beach’ the same way the British say ‘my cup of tea’, and just that says a lot about us. So, Praia do Sul is my beach not only because it is where I spent part of my summer vacations, but because it really is one of my favourite places in the world.

On the pathway that leads to the small stairs that take us to the sand there are some restaurants and cafés, one of which was closed for decades. It was a disco many years ago and finally it reopened as Balagan (which translates as chaos), a middle eastern food restaurant owned by Katharina Grafi, from Austria. This mix of influences in itself represents a lot of what Ericeira is right now and that is why Balagan wants to embrace the comunity and become a cultural hub that is more than just a place that serves food.

When you are just a few metres from the ocean, you have to respect the scenario. Balagan did it by choosing natural light colours for the decoration, that instead of blocking the exterior, invite it inside.

If you decide to stay downstairs, at the Deli Balagan, you can choose between various snacks and light dishes – tahini, hummus, an oriental frenchie, while upstairs, there’s the restaurante with dishes that bring together the eastern roots and Ericeira’s seafood: Shrimp à Bulhão Pato with pita bread or lamb koftas, for example.

The cocktails are a must, the view is one of a kind and the overall feel is of soulful relaxation.

Balagan

Praia do Sul, Ericeira

T: 913 362 452

W: pt.balaganfood.com

As explained previously, it is believed that the name Ericeira comes from the word ouriço, sea urchin, since there are so many of them around, in the village shores. Nuno Nobre, a gastronomy consultant for 25 years, fell in love with sealife in general and sea urchins in particular while fishing with his dad as a little boy while holidaying in Ericeira. The passion became a life purpose and since 2015 he has been organising the Festival Internacional do Ouriçodo-Mar, with Mafra’s city council.

This year is its 7th edition, and from 10-19 March you can go to Ericeira, learn more about the creature already known as ‘the new caviar’ and, of course, try it.

Based in Ericeira’s market, Ouriçaria, the catering and event business owned by Nobre (yes, he will go to your house and open sea urchins and oysters for you and your guests if you wish) is where to learn how to taste a sea urchin.

For a full meal featuring the star of the festival you’ll have to choose one of the restaurants that partner with the event. During March, there will also be seven signature dinners taking place in restaurants outside the village (and even maybe the country) to honour this unique seafood.

ouriceiramar.pt

Instagram: nunonobre_consultant

UR

FIRST VIEW of the Ria Formosa is often a very patchy image of these chaotic and messy marshlands as we approach or depart Faro Airport.

I remember looking down as the aircraft laboured up into the deep blue, wondering how I could get in there and explore those areas… and then turning to the inflight magazine and forgetting all about it. Until I returned, and saw them again...

Greeting my family in the airport, I again forgot about the coastal wetlands until, that is, I was researching a new business...

The plan was to take people on stand-up paddle tours of the coastline and our research phase involved paddling every little bit of blue there was available.

The Ria Formosa is indeed a large patch of blue, especially at high tide, when it stretches 70km from Quinta do Lago and Faro Airport all the way to Cacela Velha, on the Spanish side of Tavira. Those 2014 paddles often started on a wonderfully sturdy ‘river bank’ and ended up with metres of mud to cover before we reached dry ground.

With a three metre variance between low and high tide, the Ria Formosa is like two different places: one a muddy network of crab-covered canyons peppered with sprinkles of a peculiar bush (that you can eat). The second vision is one of high tide and a glassy watery expanse that reaches out to touch the sun as it sets.

Some of my best paddles from Faro have been in the middle of winter – a still evening, gliding through the dark water as the sun sets on Faro Island at 5:30pm. Glorious!

Boats ply the protected waters, many transporting tourists and locals alike out to the network of five barrier islands which form an irregular wall against

In the nick of time

WHAT DO YOU DO FIRST THING IN THE MORNING? WALK THE DOG,PERHAPS? NICK ROBINSON HEADS OFF TO PADDLE THE RIA FORMOSA

the powerful elements of the ocean.

In certain areas, these islands are split and the tide comes racing through to wash the entire system. The water circles around and races out after six hours, bringing the old water out into the ocean to regenerate.

These tidal ‘barrinhas’ are often a place of great danger and should be treated with great caution; I have heard of at least one fisherman losing his life as his boat was tossed about in the waters.

Doing loops in and out of these openings forms a part of my weekend exercise routine. Early morning paddling with the tide inside the lagoon, flip through the tidal raceway and after being carefully pushed out into the ocean by the emptying tide, I commence the return journey on the ocean.

Faro Island is perfect for this, but Fuseta is a solid favourite of mine, as well. Returning to Restaurant Borda d’Água on the lagoon beach is always a treat as they make a great galão, that delicious white coffee that is a Portuguese speciality. Served in a tall glass, it is one quarter coffee and three quarters foamed milk, and just what’s needed after a morning paddle.

I have traversed the entire system in one sitting on at least two occasions and both have been extremely rewarding. Coming across a beach club near Praia da Fábrica was quite exciting one day.

We were struggling down in the marshes below as the tide ground to its very lowest level. Our paddleboards just had no water and we had to drag them through the muddy bottom.

I took a break and jogged up a sandy pathway and this oasis of gin and tonic drinking, bikini clad socialites unveiled themselves before me. What a far cry from our muddy adventures below.

I’d love to hear your stories about the Ria Formosa –send them over on my Instagram @algarveaddicts -

The Ria Formosa at high tide stretches 70km from Quinta do Lago all the way to Cacela Velha

Frágil

name, but not by natur

CERAMICIST AND JEWELLERY DESIGNER BERNADETTE MARTINS IS ONE OF THE HUGELY TALENTED, MULTI-DISCIPLINE RESIDENT ARTISTS OF LOUL É DESIGN LAB AT LOULÉ CRIATIVO IN P Á LACIO GAMA LOBO, WHERE SHE ALSO RUNS CLASSES IN TILE PAINTING TECHNIQUES

Words: SALLY DIXON

frágil by

FRENCH-BORN Bernadette Martins was a creative child but fully admits she doesn’t come from a creative family, “I’m the crazy girl!”, she says. When it was time for her to choose a study path at age 18, she decided to channel her passion into fashion design. This would be her first experience of Portugal, studying at IADE in Lisbon, one of the best design schools in Europe. A couple of years after completing her degree, she became a costume designer for film and television. Working on French productions filming in Portugal she recalls: “It was very exciting, maybe too exciting! For every production you must change the location and the set-up of the film. It was very fast-paced and the hours were long.” Six years of excitement proved too much for Bernadette, who realised it wasn’t something she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

From cinema sets to ceramics

In the background of her film career, Bernadette never stopped expressing her artistic side, drawing and painting when she could. A break from the franticness and friction of the movie industry led her to the Algarve 18 years ago, and a search for artistic courses. In Loulé she found a one-year programme in tile painting that would lead to a new love and a lifelong profession.

Tile painting introduced her to the world of ceramics and the desire to work with clay and sculpture. Having become a mother, she didn’t have the time to study a professional ceramic course fullon and so decided to learn through self-teaching; no mean feat given the enormity of the ceramic world and the breadth of techniques it encompasses.

Bernadette was particularly drawn to the ancestral techniques of ceramics, finished without the use of a kiln, like pit firing. You guessed it, it’s literally a dug-out pit with fire in it (and other organic materials), a system dating back some 30,000 years, when pots were first made this way. No pot leaves the pit the same and so the opportunity for unique

and unexpected results abounds. It’s a laborious and potentially dangerous process, Bernadette says. “Sometimes I work solo in this ancient method but it’s not easy, it’s better if you work in a group with three or four people.”

The Japanese technique Raku proved to be another favourite for Bernadette, again working directly with fire to create a unique glaze finish. Ceramic works are taken from the kiln when red hot and placed in material that easily catches fire, such as newspaper, in order to starve the ceramic of oxygen. Sounds like an equally risky business!

During the pandemic, Bernadette worked with a totally new technique, that of enamel on copper. She says: “It was a revelation of colours and possibilities for me. As a ceramicist, the glazing process is always time consuming, unlike the glaze on metals. Time flies, and the results are like a firework. It’s completely addictive!”

For Bernadette, pottery combines her two passions of illustration and sculpture with inspiration coming from nature, the coral of the ocean, the earth, botanical and organic forms. Her most recent work is a tribute to the underwater world of the oceans, filled with unique treasures, where the details of corals come to life in a subtle delicacy of shapes and textures.

A move into jewellery

Bernadette now has a new creative focus. In 2019 she took a specialist workshop with Filomeno Pereira de Sousa, a master of contemporary jewellery. She says: “The fascination for jewellery brought the discovery and learning of new materials and techniques, where I can

once again let my imagination run wild.”

Throughout the development of her ceramic work, Bernadette fell in love with porcelain and the minutiose nature of working with it. The delicate, intricate details intrigued her, and she wanted to find a way to give it a special place in her work and transform the pieces into jewellery.

“When I work with ceramics it’s for use in the house, for food, for home decoration, but I like the fact that jewellery is more personal, it’s more intimate and you carry it with you,” she says.

It proved difficult to find someone to make her vison come to life and so of course she decided to learn how to do it herself.

“When I begin something, I’m very curious; for me it’s exciting. The techniques, the research, the material – I love learning new ways of working,” she says. “In ceramics, I studied many different techniques, but the material is always ceramic. What I find fascinating about jewellery is that you can use whatever materials you like – ceramics, wood, different types of metal, wax, semi-precious stones, acrylic, it’s crazy!”

And so, setting her own challenges for seeking out new ways of working and new mediums, Frágil jewellery was born. Look up the dictionary definition of the word ‘fragile’ and you’ll be met with some unfavourable terms – weak, feeble, defenceless. For Bernadette, it’s a different story: “For me, fragile is strength, it is something beautiful, delicate and special,” she says. Whether it’s ceramic, sculpture, tiles or jewellery, Bernadette’s enthusiasm for her work is abundantly apparent. The joy she derives from her creativity is inspiring. She’s the first one to admit that she prefers to have artistic freedom to do what she wants.

She was recently commissioned by a gallery in Porto for an exhibition on the theme of literature, to create an interpretation of a story in three pieces of jewellery based on a surrealistic book by French writer, Boris Vian. Check out the results on her Instagram page @fragil_jewellery.

Bernadette works closely with clients to order, especially when it comes to her traditional tile painting and ceramics, but her most quirky project right now is working on a dinosaur mascot for the UNESCO Geopark Algarvensis project that spans Loulé, Silves and Albufeira. Guaranteed to be an eyecatching and joyful piece!

In jewellery you can use any materials – ceramics, wood, metal, wax, semi-precious stones, acrylic.

JOHN OF GOD Son of Silves

JOURNALISTS AND POLITICIANS MAKE THE NEWS, BUT ONE 19TH CENTURY FIGURE BECAME KNOWN, AND REVERED, FOR DEVOTING HIS LATER CAREER TO CREATING A SYSTEM THAT WOULD HELP DEVELOP LITERACY SKILLS IN PORTUGAL WHERE ONLY ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE COULD READ OR WRITE

Words: CAROLYN KAIN

IT SOUNDS pretentious to name a new born baby John of God aka João de Deus, but when Gertrude Martins Ramos gave birth to a boy on 8 March 1830, she and her husband did not hesitate. The couple had been blessed. It was the feast of São João de Deus and in Portugal it was common practice if your child was born on a saint’s day to name her/ him accordingly.

Brought up by his humble family in the municipal district of Silves, João de Deus was to become as eminent as the saint he was named after. At the end of his life he was buried in the Jerónimos Monastery alongside monarchs, famous writers and Portugal’s most renowned explorer, Vasco da Gama. When the National Pantheon was completed in 1966 his body was moved in a grand ceremony to lie beside other distinguished figures. Recognition indeed!

Further acknowledging his achievements, a museum in Lisbon was dedicated to him and his life’s work. His home in São Bartolomeu de Messines was opened to the public and a park in Faro, Jardim da Alameda João de Deus, was inaugurated in his name. This charming space has recently been refurbished and reopened to the public.

So why so much accolade for a man that most estrangeiros have probably never heard of?

Despite his name, João de Deus was not a particularly

THE ORIGINAL S Á O JOÃO DE DEUS

Born in Montemoro-o-Novo, Portugal, 8 March 1495, he was known as the soldier saint who in his later life cared for the sick and poor in Granada, Spain. Many miracles are attributed to him, including the ability to walk through flames. Canonised 1690 and made the patron saint of hospitals. The Hospitaller Order of St John of God is present in more than 50 countries providing health and social services in the name of the Catholic Church.

THE PORTUGUESE ALPHABET EXACTLY AS IT APPEARS IN CARTILHA MATERNAL.

There were only 23 letters in the classical alphabet – K, Y and W were later included, used only in ‘imported’ words like ketchup and karyoke, yacht and yodel, western and webcam.

godly person. Nonetheless, he applied to enter the Seminary in Coimbra, the only way that less affluent students could pursue an education.

Proving his academic worth, he went on to University where he gained recognition in the national press for writing beautiful lyrical poetry. Later as a journalist, a newspaper editor and a politician representing the Círculo de Silves, he made a surprising U-turn.

A change of ways

By now a married man with four young children, he began to devote himself to finding techniques that would help them to learn to read. Conscious that only 20 per cent of Portugal’s population was able to read and write, it became his life’s work to find ways of improving literacy levels.

The first book he produced, Cartilha Maternal, Mother’s Booklet, was revolutionary, laying out the letters of the alphabet using different colours and typefaces to define pronunciation and patterns inside words. Suitable for use at home or in schools it became a standard text for more than 50 years.

When it was introduced, there was little understanding of child development. Harsh teaching methods and punishments were the norm.

Enlightened by the German educator Friedrich Frobel, João de Deus wrote passionately about the need for children to grow up in a non-threatening and stimulating environment. Despite some resistance, his ideas on literacy and numeracy began to be adopted by

teachers in Portugal. This was three decades before Maria Montessori opened the first Casa de Bambini (1906) in Italy, and Switzerland’s great educator, Rudolf Steiner, published his Education of the Child.

By the end of the 19th century, João de Deus was well-known as a pedagogue and poet and had become one of the most popular figures in the country. In 1895 he was recognised by King Dom Carlos, receiving the Grand Cross of the Order of Santiago da Espada. He was invited to spearhead the implementation of his methods into the Portuguese school system.

Recognising that children learn best through experience he encouraged a hands-on approach using different materials such as wooden building blocks. With the assistance of one of his adult sons, the initiative gained momentum and has continued until the present day.

It was in 1911 that the first purpose-built O Jardim Escola João de Deus was opened in Coimbra. Aptly named ‘jardim’ – garden – the children were likened to seeds that need constant nurturing in order to grow and blossom.

It is fitting that the refurbished ‘Jardim’ in Faro contains numerous flowers, shrubs and trees, a play area, a pre-school nursery and a children’s mini golf course. The environment is one that João de Deus would approve of, especially the secrets in the secret garden and the peacocks. Hanging around as individuals, in pairs and musters, at this time of year there are wonderful courtship dances with the males flashing their iridescent tails and in summer numerous young birds appear in the park. It is a place worth visiting at any time of year.

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Sweet smell

of success

JUST AS YOUR GARDEN CHANGES FROM SEASON TO SEASON, SO DO THE MAGICAL, MYSTICAL PERFUMES THAT ADD A LAYER OF ENCHANTMENT TO THE ATMOSPHERE.

PICK YOUR PLANTINGS CAREFULLY AND SURROUND YOURSELF WITH NATURE’S MOST FABULOUS FRAGRANCES

Words: BURFORD HURRY

THOSE of us who have explored the narrow cobbled lanes drifting with scent behind La Giralda, the cathedral in Seville, or visited the equally fragrant Generalife Gardens in Granada in spring and summer, or the glorious patios in Córdoba in May will remember the delicate perfume that always fills the air. There is something special, almost magical about it. Those gardens have continued with the centuries-old tradition of Moorish, and probably Roman gardeners before them, of using perfume in the garden. Who could blame them?

Perfume plays an essential part in my garden, too – without it, it wouldn’t be a garden. I am fortunate for, unlike those early days when jasmines and myrtles predominated, nowadays we can choose from a larger palette of shrubs, plants and creepers; I have a variety of trees as well, which perfume my garden throughout the whole year.

To start with, I have my 20-year-old fiddlewood, whose branches cover some of my top terrace and whose tiny cream flowers in racemes provide the background fragrance for the other perfumes. Then I have three lemon trees, whose glorious blossoms in winter take the chill off the mornings and lift my spirits. Neighbours contribute, too. In late summer I have two well-spaced Dama-da-Noite (Cestrum nocturnum), one in a nearby garden and the other further away, whose perfume either comes flooding through my front door to fill my garden with her perfume or, on the pavement further down the road, accompanies me for some of my early morning walk with my dog.

An early spring explosion of scent in the garden from my Chinese jasmine (Jasminum Polyanthum) starts the growing year. She can take cold weather, and in late winter there are tiny pink buds in profusion which open in drifts of snowy white in February to release their strong perfume. The show lasts for about three weeks, then flowers brown and drop off, and the plant concentrates on growing so it’s time for me to redirect or trim her energy. In summer she is a strong and vigorous climber with small leaves on slender twigs and branches. In my garden, she grows in the shade of the white mulberry and has already started to explore the mulberry’s branches. In time she will cascade down the wall below her.

A shrubby climber with similar behaviour and just as heavily scented flowers is Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). She has other advantages as she grows more strongly than the Chinese jasmine with larger, more handsome glossy leaves, and although she does need some water, she shrugs off heat and drought. Star jasmine is sensational when she flowers dousing any garden with buckets of scent.

A little later in the year, when I open the veranda door to go down the steps to the river, the familiar perfume of a shrubby jasmine (Jasminum officinale) is there. This is the creeper that

Previous page: Cestrum noctuernm. This page, right: Jasminum polyanthem; far right: Mirabilis jalapa. Below left: Buddleja salviifolia; right: Capparis spinosa

is commonly found in the old gardens of Andalucía. Her white blooms backed with pink on a single plant are enough to enhance the fragrance of a large area. Easy to grow, she can reach ten metres or more with a spread of two or three metres. Like other jasmines, she flourishes in well-drained soil, tolerates drought and heat and although her flowers are not spectacular her scent certainly is, and she blooms almost throughout the year.

Years ago, I stumbled on a lemon-scented jasmine (Jasminium azoricum) growing over a trellis in one of the lanes behind the Vilamoura marina. I liked the look of her and helped myself to a couple of cuttings. They grew very easily so she found her way into two of my gardens. She grows vigorously and flowers for many months of the year. On the strength of all that, one crossed the lane in Loulé’s historic quarter into a neighbour’s quintal so her scent, together with my jasmine’s, enriches the lanes. In my present garden, she flowers above the river and finds her way enthusiastically through the bougainvillea

A plant which I don’t have as yet but which has a heavenly scent is a silver berry (Eleagnus ebbingei). It is a large shrub with dark shiny handsome leaves with a silver underside. It flowers in October. Apart from its perfume and appearance, it also ticks other boxes being droughtresistant and enjoying Algarvian sunshine. I have seen it growing well in several of my friends’ gardens and intend getting one for my little haven.

A soft distinctive lemony perfume is provided in spring and summer every year by the several capers (Capparis spinosa) that now grow vigorously in the stone wall about the Cadoiço River. Years ago, I had seen capers growing in Greece and had always wanted a plant. I was reminded of them on a visit to Córdoba to see the May pátios (if you have never seen them, they are definitively worth a visit). While there, I noticed a caper growing out from a crevice in the stone wall of the mosque and took a couple of cuttings. Unlike my jasmine cuttings taken in Vilamoura, these never struck. However, from a nursery-bought mother plant and helped by my resident ants, capers have now sprung up in all parts of my garden; even, to my surprise, on the top terrace. I pickle the flower pods and even the leaves and use them in salads or with fish dishes.

to scramble down towards the water. Thinking of her, don’t underestimate the beauty of climbers cascading down a wall or over a terrace. They look lovely. A climber which does just that in the wild is the indigenous clematis (Clematis flammula), whose glorious exuberant tumble of snowy white flowers in late spring and early summer splashes over rocks and bushes and cocks a snoot at drought and heat.

Another early provider of perfume in my garden is a sagewood (Buddleja salviifolia). She has silver green and white backed leaves throughout the year, and in February she has generous hanging panicles of small lilac blooms. There is also a white variety, but I prefer the lilac. The scent, although sweet, is more aftershave than perfume and different to the perfume of most buddlejas. Her distinctive perfume immediately takes me back to Gauteng in South Africa where I first met her as a teenager on the banks of the Crocodile river. My sagewood is a small tree and works well as a background plant. After flowering, I cut her hard back and use some of the cuttings as slips for more sagewoods. Her leaves make an excellent herbal tea.

As for my perfumed white mirabilis (Mirabilis jalapa), I found her on an August trip to northern Portugal. She was growing in a large snowy patch on a granite hillside. There were lots of seeds so I brought them back and propagated them. At first they weren’t too enthusiastic about the barrocal nature of my garden, so I planted one in a large pot and that has done well. Since then I have one volunteering in the garden. The perfume is strongest in the evening and she flowers for most of the late summer. She looks lovely too, as she grows in a very neat shrubby way. Before I leave the topic of perfume in gardens, could I just say something about the Mediterranean smilax (Smilax aspera) which is one local climber that is the bane of gardeners as it has vicious little thorns and is a rampant grower. However, might I add in defence of smilax, my early morning winter walks would be a lot poorer if I didn’t walk through a cloud of her wonderful honey perfume. In addition, her richly-scented blossom provides food for butterflies and other insects and are followed by berries, which the birds like. So, if you have a wild garden and lots of space it is certainly worth leaving.

Most of the plants mentioned will be available at the Spring Mediterranean Garden Fair, 25-26 March, at the Fissul Exhibition Hall, Silves. Visit mediterraneangardeningportugal.org for details.

And if you would like cuttings of my lemon-scented Jasmine, drop me a line at burfordhpt@gmail.com –after all, I got mine from a cutting.

The indigenous clematis produces a glorious exuberant tumble of snowy white flowers in late spring and cocks a snoot at drought and heat.

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Outside reads

THIS MONTH, WHILE DAWN TAKES A REST, KEEN GARDENERS WILL BE HEADING FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN FAIR, AT SILVES ’

FISSUL EXHIBITION HALL, 25-26 MARCH, TO SEE WHAT SPECIALIST GROWERS HAVE ON OFFER. ROSIE PEDDLE , SECRETARY OF THE MGAP, LISTS HER FAVOURITE GARDENING BOOKS

PLANTING IN A POST-WILD WORLD: DESIGNING PLANT COMMUNITIES FOR RESILIENT LANDSCAPES

By Thomas Rainer and Claudia West

Publisher: Timber Press, 2015

This ground-breaking guide, which is fully illustrated with examples from inspiring gardens, presents a powerful alternative to traditional horticulture by showing us designed plantings that function like naturally occurring plant communities. The authors are two leading voices in current ecological garden design, and they reveal how plants fit together in nature and how we can use this knowledge to create resilient, beautiful and diverse gardens and landscapes.

MEDITERRANEAN KITCHEN GARDEN: GROWING ORGANIC FRUIT AND VEGETABLES IN A HOT, DRY CLIMATE

By Mariano Bueno

Publisher: Frances Lincoln, 2010

This is highly recommended for those interested in fruit and vegetable growing in our challenging climate. The book is not easy to find, but worth the effort on an online search. Mariano Bueno is Spain’s leading organic gardener and gives full practical details on how to grow vegetables alongside fruit trees and a variety of aromatic, medicinal and ornamental plants and herbs. He covers seasonal work calendars, seed saving and pests and diseases.

PLANTING DESIGN FOR DRY GARDENS

By Olivier Filippi

Publisher: Filbert Press, 2016

Beautiful, resilient groundcovers for terraces, paved areas, gravel and other alternatives to the lawn – excellent, thorough and inspirational. In this second of his three masterworks on dry gardens, pioneering nurseryman Olivier Filippi from southwest France proposes a selection of lowmaintenance groundcover plantings that are so beautiful they might just consign lawns to history. The quality of this book puts it head and shoulders above any other, offering advice on lawn removal and alternative planting.

Topics covered in detail include the creation of green carpets than can be walked on for high traffic areas, low level aromatic plants and bulbs for those areas less frequented, and ground cover perennials and shrubs for larger areas. Gravel gardens, pavements and threshing floors can also be planted to provide colour and yearround interest. Each zone is discussed, illustrated with high-quality images and has specific plant list recommendations. It is recommended for anyone who wishes to reduce their watering demands and rediscover the pleasure a flourishing dry garden can bring. Throw off the tyranny of the lawn and embrace diversity and beauty in your garden by creating a ‘freedom lawn’.

To see the full range of books available from MGAP online bookshop in English, French and Portuguese, visit mgaportugal.org/ BooksGB.html

ALGARVE WILDLIFE – THE NATURAL YEAR

By Clive Viney and Ray Tipper

Publisher: First Nature, 2016

This superbly illustrated, authoritative wildlife diary is written and produced by local experts drawing on decades of meticulous observation, and provide detailed guidance on what to see and where. A hardback, it is lavishly illustrated with some 600 colour photographs of birds, butterflies, mammals, reptiles, wildflowers and scenic views of the Algarve countryside, together with a map, directions and descriptions of the Algarve’s top locations for wildlife and scenic walks. Packed with a wealth of information, fascinating facts for Algarve visitors and residents alike, it is written in clear language accessible to all readers, without losing the scientific accuracy sought by botanists, birdwatchers and other nature-lovers.

FIELD GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS OF THE ALGARVE

By Chris Thorogood and Simon Hiscock

Publisher: Kew Publishing, 2014

This is the revised second edition of the first comprehensive identification guide to the rich Mediterranean flora of the Algarve region of southern Portugal, including the Cape St. Vincent National Park, an area of immense botanical importance with numerous endemic and rare species. Information is provided on where and when to see plants with information on their habitat and vegetation types. With over 1,000 species descriptions, the book is abundantly illustrated throughout with over 650 stunning colour photographs, 780 line drawings and distribution maps.

MEDITERRANEAN LANDSCAPE DESIGN

By Louisa Jones

Publisher: Thames and Hudson, 2012

This book includes hundreds of wonderful photographs by Clive Nichols. Drawing on 30 years of exploration by Louisa Jones, this book offers a fresh vision of the Mediterranean, linking gardens, landscape design, literature, art and architecture. It presents work from throughout the region, whether a lushly layered property in the Tuscan countryside or a Zen-inspired plot on the French island of Corsica.

THE LAND WHERE LEMONS GROW

By Helena Attlee

Publisher: Penguin, 2015

This fascinating book covers many subjects including travel, history, botany, economics, the inevitable recipes and of course, oranges and lemons. Travellers have always been thrilled by the sight of citrus in Italy, where dark leaves and bright fruit seem to charge the landscape, making the trees symbols of a sun-soaked, poetic vision of the country.

Citrus also holds a special place in the Italian imagination, and Helena Attlee sets out to explore its curious past and its enduring resonance in Italian culture. She maps the citron’s long migration from the foothills of the Himalayas to the shores of southern Italy, traces the bitter juice of Seville oranges through ancient Roman and Renaissance cookery books, exposes early manifestations of the Mafia during the nineteenth-century citrus boom, and laments the loss of landscapes shaped by citrus cultivation.

THE WELL GARDENED MIND: REDISCOVERING NATURE IN THE MODERN WORLD

By Sue Stuart-Smith

Publisher: William Collins, 2020

A powerful combination of contemporary neuroscience, psychoanalysis and compelling real life stories shows us the remarkable effects of nature on our health and wellbeing. It covers the science of the brain’s own ‘gardener’ cells to the grounding effects of working with nature’s rhythms of growth, decay and regeneration, proving that the garden is a vital place to cultivate the mind.

20 questions..

MARK QUINN AND DEBRAH BROADFIED, BASED HERE IN THE ALGARVE, HEAD UP THE PORTUGUESE ARM OF THE PAN-EUROPEAN SPECTRUM IFA GROUP, WHICH DELIVERS FINANCIAL SERVICES SOLUTIONS TO EXPATS

relocate to the sun, or business owners relocating earlier than originally planned.

13 Are your clients mainly long-term residents? Yes, typically relocating to Portugal, not simply owning a holiday home here.

14 What is the most commonly asked question from new clients? Perhaps the most common question is, “How can I pay less tax?”

15 How do you advise on investment management? Our investment committee screens and selects suitable asset managers, monitors performance and other variables, and provides ongoing reporting. We only work with highly rated, global asset managers.

1 What is The Spectrum IFA Group’s mission? TSG is there to advise and help clients across a wide range of financial services… a whole spectrum of services.

2 When and where was the business established? We are celebrating our 20th anniversary this year – our first office opened in France in 2003.

3 Where are you based here in Portugal? Our office is in Almancil.

4 Where else does the company operate? We are a pan-European specialist in financial planning for expatriates across multiple jurisdictions. Our head office is in Paris, our administration and client services team in Barcelona, and we have 12 regional offices in Portugal, France, Spain, Italy, Malta, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

5 How many advisers do you have? We operate today with 50 advisers, supported by the wider resources of the group. Our advisers live and work locally.

6 Do you hold professional qualifications? Advisers in Portugal do not need to be formally qualified to operate, only to be licenced. But we hold the gold standard Chartered Financial Planner status and are UK qualified tax advisers.

7 How would you describe your approach to advising clients? Aside from our expertise and experience, we provide an

unbiased and personalised advice service. Our costs are entirely transparent so there are no hidden or undisclosed charges.

8 What can clients expect from you? Our practice is a ‘family office’. We are not anonymous, do not rely on corporate marketing, and we are not simply waiting for our next client to walk through the door. We look after our clients and their families personally and for the long term, hopefully for generations.

9 How long have you been advising clients? In Portugal our advisers have been in the industry for nearly 40 years combined, living and advising here for nearly 20 years. They have broad knowledge and experience in all areas of cross-border financial and tax planning, as well as in the practical aspects of being an expatriate in Portugal.

10 Can you summarise the services you offer? Tax planning and mitigation, pensions, investment management, estate and succession planning. Increasingly, we see people who are selling their UK businesses and seeking advice on how and where to structure the sale.

11 What nationalities are your clients? Predominantly British, but many others too.

12 And what is the most common age group? Historically clients have been 60+, but with technology advances and lifestyle changes, we are seeing younger families

16 Can you help with income strategies and efficient use of capital? We advise clients on how best to generate income or capital payments from their businesses, savings, investments and pensions. Quite often we will identify readily available solutions which deliver immediate benefits.

17 What about raising funds for buying property, cars or other assets? We do not get involved directly in raising finance but have a long-established network of other professionals we trust and work closely with to meet this need.

18 Do you offer a will writing service? No, but we can arrange introductions to lawyers with the relevant expertise for the jurisdiction(s) in which you hold assets.

19 How are your charges applied? All costs are confirmed in writing and agreed in advance of proceeding with our planning recommendations. Costs vary according to the specific solution being considered but are always competitive and transparent.

20 How do you keep in touch with your clients? We offer open-ended, longterm service and support. We have regular face-to-face review meetings and video calls, presentations and seminars with guest speakers to discuss a wide range of financial subjects. We also publish newsletters, articles and topical updates. And of course, we are always available to respond to our clients’ questions.

THE GUITAR

TAKEN June 2021, Tavira

CAMERA Pentax K1

“I love the town of Tavira and its long architectural history. The small alleys give a perfect opportunity to use the light and shadows in monochrome photography. This local guitar player positioned himself on a perfect spot for this, with the cobbled stones giving texture.”

KEYWORD: OPPORTUNITY

A member of the Algarve Photographers’ Group, Netherlands-born photographer Bart Hageman is based in São Brás, moving to the Algarve from Bali in 2021. Even when not working, he is rarely without a camera in his hand, finding constant inspiration from his surroundings here, especially the sea and the rugged serras

Portfolio

GULLS

TAKEN November 2022, Praia da Fuseta

CAMERA Pentax K1

“Fuseta is my favourite beach of the Algarve. No spectacular cliffs, but an endless stretch of coast during low tide. Great for bird watching and beach walks with my dog, Bakso. The large flock of seagulls illustrates the scale of the landscape.”

KEYWORD: FREEDOM

SHEEPHERDER UNDER THE CORK TREES

TAKEN July 2021, São Brás de Alportel

CAMERA Pentax K1

“This was one of the first images I took of my new surroundings. I saw the sheepherder in the distance and found the perfect composition in this ‘alley’ of cork trees. For me it defines Algarve country life: you can feel the warmth of a summer afternoon.”

KEYWORD: COUNTRYSIDE

CUTBACK SPRAY AT DUSK

TAKEN December 2022, Praia de Cordoama

CAMERA Pentax K1

“Nature offers a special kind of spectacle on the west coast at this time of the year. Wave formations of enormous proportions attract surfers from all over the world.”

KEYWORD: SEASCAPES

GETTING READY FOR THE FESTIVITIES

TAKEN June 2022, São Brás

CAMERA Pentax K1

“Summertime is full of events in the Algarve. I like to document the moments before and after the actual ‘happening’ as this gives a more candid sense of time and place. The Algarve sign in the background emphasises this spot on.”

KEYWORD: PARTYING

The family-run Amesbury Abbey Group offers an elegant retirement in country house style at Monte da Palhagueira.

For those who are looking for the reassurance of constant professional care, our nursing care may be the way forward. Alongside all the benefits of residential care, our nursing care adds the additional security of 24-hour care provision from qualified nursing professionals.

Our team spend a lot of time getting to know each resident as an individual, learning their preferences and understanding their concerns, working hand in hand with GPs and other associated care professionals to provide outstanding personalised nursing care. Our exceptional care team treat all our residents with respect, dignity and friendship, and our nursing home has a warm, family atmosphere. Each individual aspect of our nursing care is designed to give our residents the best possible quality of life and the highest standards of 24-hour care.

For further information, please contact Senior Sister Hazel Gordon at T: +351 289 990 900

by Dora Guerreiro

Thumbs up

WHEN IT COMES TO ALL THINGS TECHNO, IT’S A CASE OF OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW. OR IT IS? DON’T BIN YOUR OLD USB STICKS, THERE’S LIFE IN THEM YET… AND THEY COULD TURN OUT TO BE OF REAL VALUE, ESPECIALLY TO TRAVELLERS

Words: CHRIS PARTRIDGE

FREQUENT FLYERS often need to store important digital documents in a secure form to be immune from the perils of travel, such as empty batteries, screen breakages or theft. And they are rediscovering a gadget that used to be everywhere but was thought to have died out - the humble memory stick or thumb drive.

Those lumps of plastic with USB plugs sticking out were the standard way of distributing documents in the days before cloud storage. As a journalist I would acquire at least one at almost every press conference I attended, so I have a drawer full of them in my office.

They can be very handy, securely storing large files like photos, videos and apps in a form that just slips in your pocket. Even if you don’t have any hanging around, they are now incredibly cheap to buy – you can get 32GB thumb drives from Worten for less than a fiver, and a massive 512GB will only set you back €30 or so at amazon.es. They come in all shapes and sizes, some with bodies that can be turned

or pushed in and out to reveal alternative USB-A or USB-C plugs, and many so small they can be carried on a keyring.

Old memory sticks usually have traditional USB-A plugs, which are fine for older laptops but may need an adaptor if they are to be used with the latest super-thin models that only sport USB-C.

And, of course, if you want to use one with a smartphone or tablet an adaptor of some sort will be essential. A suitable USB-A (female) to USB-C (male) adaptor can be had in a two-pack from Anker (anker.com), and adaptors made by various Chinese brands can be had for half that price on Amazon.

Another way of connecting memory sticks to laptops is via a hub or docking station, which is a handy thing to have if you also need to connect to a TV or external monitor, or to read other memory devices such as SD cards from your camera and so on.

Hubs vary in price dramatically depending on the speeds and charging powers involved. Belkin’s new Connect multiport adaptor, for example, has HDMi video, two SD card

slots, an Ethernet port and a couple of USB-A ports, all for €80 at istore.pt . Anker’s 778 docking station has the latest Thunderbolt 4 charging system providing 100W to charge your laptop in record time, a 30W outlet for your other devices, and all the other ports including, of course, USB-A for your flash drives. However, this comes at a cost – check around for the best price but expect it to be over €400.

The top reason to carry a thumb drive is to store vital travel documents such as a scan of your passport, your itinerary, e-tickets and booking documents, and health stuff such as ailments, allergies, medications and vaccination certificates. With the drive in your pocket, you cannot lose them even if your phone is stolen and your laptop is in the hold.

Get down to business

Business travellers can also carry masses of documents such as PowerPoint presentations, spreadsheets and sales videos in a tiny thumb drive.

Of course, you don’t want all that information to fall into the wrong hands so it is a good idea to protect the drive with a password or, if you are really anxious, encrypt the entire contents. For Windows, free open source software such as Disk Cryptor or VeraCrypt do a great job. If you want to protect thumb drives used with Android devices, take a look at USB Lockit (free but with ads and in-app purchases) which sets a password to protect the drive contents.

Another great use for old thumb drives is to store apps that would take up too much space on your laptop’s memory. These are known as portable apps.

Portable apps store all the essential files they need on the thumb drive, and when you remove the drive all the installation files are removed instead of being left behind to clog up your system and slow your computer down.

The downsides to portable apps are that they tend not to be the latest version, and that they only work with Windows computers. Apps with portable versions include the Firefox and Chrome browsers, Skype, the VLC video player and the password manager KeePass. Other useful portable apps are Libre Office, the excellent and free office suite, and GIMP, the free alternative to ultra-expensive Photoshop.

Tops for Tails

If privacy while working abroad is a concern, an interesting system called Tails transforms any USB drive into a virtual hard drive that is your secure tunnel to the outside world. As you work online at that lovely cafe where the wifi is perhaps less than totally secure, all the tracks you leave as you browse are trapped on the drive. When you disconnect it at the end of the session, all the traces you left on the Web disappear.

Tails is in effect a computer in your flash drive, using a selection of apps to work on sensitive documents. The Tor browser with uBlock is a secure browser with an ad blocker; encrypted email is handled by Thunderbird 2 and LibreOffice is a secure office suite. It also includes Metadata Cleaner, which removes revealing metadata from files.

However, Tails recognises that you will need to keep some stuff and there is a feature called persistent memory for essential info. Tails is available free on tails.boum.org

Finally, one for the techies among you. A flash drive can hold a bunch of the tools you need to recover from Windows failure, be it a crash, a virus infection or simply forgetting your product key, a recovery drive may be able to get you back in action wherever you are. A highly rated toolkit is Hiren’s Boot CD, available for free download at hirensbootcd.org. If the worst happens, just insert the flash drive and things should start happening.

With scans of your passport, e-tickets and booking documents, and health stuff such as medications and vaccination certificates on the drive in your pocket, you cannot lose them even if your phone is stolen and your laptop is in the hold.

The bag you carry tells a story, so make it a good one. My bag story was the delight in gettting to know a new brand from Amsterdam called OmyBag, which produces the most gorgeous handbags, bum bags, wallets and small leather goods.

OmyBag is a women-driven company, and not only in their office in Amsterdam, but also at the four partner tanneries and partner factories in Kolkata, where women are promoted and have the possibility to reach higher positions and gain fair wages.

OmyBag uses premium quality leather which is tanned without the use of Chromium. Chrome tanning was developed as a faster and less expensive alternative to vegetable tanning, but it is a global environmental disaster that jeopardizes the health of millions of leatherworkers. In the partner factories of OmyBag the tanning is done using vegetable tannins, which are non-toxic for workers and the environment, and also give the bags their natural trademark look.

And some bags and purses come in a vegan version to accommodate customers who look for an animal free product. The bags are made of Apple leather, which is manufactured from apple waste - 100% vegan and sustainable - and the bags actually have a very similar appearance to the leather versions.

As we are celebrating International Women’s Day on the 8th of this month, I would like the purpose of OmyBag to create awareness of women’s rights, focus on gender equality and seek a positive change to the world. In Kolkata they are trying their very best to make sure that one day, every little girl’s voice will be heard, and I am proud to be a small part of this.

MIA FARROW

The daughter of movie star Maureen O’Sullivan and director John Farrow, Mia Farrow shot to fame when she played Allison McKenzie in the steamy TV series Peyton Place in the 1960s. Her father had died when she was 17 and she originally found work as a model to help support her family. Her movie breakthrough came in 1968 when she starred in the classic horror film Rosemary’s Baby and also in The Great Gatsby six years later.

As a young woman she became as famous for her marriages – first briefly to Frank Sinatra, then to conductor Andre Previn, and then from 1980 to 1992, to Woody Allen. She appeared in many of his films including Zelig and Hannah and Her Sisters.

After their well-publicised separation, she accused him of abusing their young daughter, an accusation which Woody Allen has always denied and which has never been proven. Since then, she has taken small parts in films and TV and also concentrated on her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, as well as bringing up her 14 children – four biological and ten adopted.

She is known for her humanitarian work in Chad and the Central African Republic, and is also an environmental activist. Today, she lives in Connecticut and spends much time with her nine grandchildren. Brought up a Catholic and having spent time in India when the Beatles visited the Maharishi, she still has a strong religious faith.

Whatever happened to…

Words: JILL ECKERSLEY

ALAIN DELON

Once described as ‘the most beautiful man in the world’, the French actor, film maker and 1960s heart throb had a lot to live up to! After a troubled childhood – his parents divorced when he was very young and he lived with foster parents and was expelled from several schools – he eventually served in the French Navy for three years.

As an aspiring actor, he was ‘spotted’ by US director David O Selznick at the Cannes Film Festival in the mid-1950s, but decided he would prefer to work in the French film industry. Despite this, he perfected his English and worked in the USA and other countries, starring in films like The Leopard and Rocco and His Brothers, as well as making British women’s hearts flutter in the 1968 movie Girl on a Motorcycle co-starring Marianne Faithfull.

He says the love of his life was Vienna-born actress Romy Schneider, who sadly died in 1982. “We have to dare everything if we really love,” he has said. Delon was awarded the French Legion d’Honneur in 1991 for his services to the industry, and after the turn of the millennium concentrated on roles on the French stage and TV. In 2019 he won an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes film festival and most recently he was seen on French TV interviewing Ukrainian President Zelensky. He is a citizen of both his native France and also Switzerland, where he lives.

THIS MONTH’S ITEM OF YESTERYEAR COULD WELL BE MAKING A COMEBACK (AS A DECORATIVE PIECE, RATHER THAN FOR PRACTICALITY REASONS!), AND THE PEOPLE WE HAVE FEATURED LOVED THEIR PAST AS WELL AS THEIR PRESENT DAYS

80s 1100s

PIGGY BANKS

So why did many of us, as children, keep any cash saved from our weekly pocket money in a ‘piggy bank’? Why were children’s money-boxes made in the shape of pigs, rather than dogs, cats or donkeys? There are several theories about this: it’s a fact that pots in the shape of pigs have been found by archeologists in Java and are said to date from the 12th century and made in the likeness of a wild boar. In addition, some European countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands, consider pigs to be lucky. In Britain, in the Middle Ages, no actual banks existed for ordinary families, so any spare money in the home had to be kept in a household pot or jar. Many jars were made of a cheap, affordable, claytype material called ‘pygg’ and so came to be called pygg pots. At that time the word pygg would most likely have been pronounced ‘pug’ – so had no link to the actual animal, which was a ‘pigge’. However, over time, the way words were pronounced changed and the link between a cheap clay pot and the animal in its sty was established. By the 19th century, manufacturers were being asked to make money boxes for children in the shape of pigs and piggy banks as we know them today came into being. Teaching children how to save up for the things they want has always been popular, and if a cute piggy bank helped them to do it, everyone was happy. The Westminster Bank ‘piggy bank’ set, introduced in 1983, can now fetch up to £350 at auction!

Forever remembered as the star of the TV series Magnum, P.I. which was screened between 1980 and 1988, Tom, who is of English descent, was born in Detroit but moved to California with his family as a small child.

His first career ambition was to play professional basketball – he was 6ft 4in tall (193cm) – but eventually he dropped out of university to study acting. He served in the National Guard for six years in the late sixties and early seventies and then began his film career with bit parts in movies and TV commercials.

Magnum, P.I. ran for 163 episodes and won its star an Emmy. When the series ended , he continued working in movies and television, and since 2010, has co-starred as New York City Police Commissioner Frank Reagan in the series Blue Bloods, now in season 13 and essential Friday night viewing for many. Married twice and with two children, he lives on a 60-acre avocado ranch in California and claims that working on the ranch keeps him fit as he hates gyms because they involve “sitting on a stationary bike gazing at my navel!”

He is still a sports fan and likes to watch volleyball, baseball and ice hockey, even though he is said to suffer from deteriorating eyesight, and he is a supporter of both Hawaiian and veterans’ charities.

Pots in the shape of pigs have been found in Java and said to date from the 12th century and made in the likeness of a wild boar.

YOUR money

RICARDO CHAVES IS ON THE PLUS TEAM AND ANSWERS

YOUR QUESTIONS ON THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT YOUR LIFESTYLE HERE. THIS MONTH, THE FOCUS IS ON HEALTH INSURANCE, DOMESTIC STAFF AND HOUSEHOLD MATTERS

In the heavy rains in January, one of my dry-stone garden walls was damaged. I photographed it and contacted the insurance company who sent someone over and I was told to get a formal quote. I can go to a building company, no problem, but I would rather use a local fellow who specialises in this work. He is not a company, but an individual and would not be able to supply a written quote. He would, however, be far cheaper and better than a non-specific building firm. What do I do?

The first step is to get a formal quote, and if the individual you find can’t produce one there could be a problem. The insurance company will send an expert to evaluate the damage, and based on the quote (which they need) and their analysis of the situation, they will decide what amount they will pay you.

However, depending on the insurance company, you may be able to receive the compensation before you order the repairs. So, this means that you may be able to choose your local fellow and pay him directly.

Health insurance. I am paying a hefty annual fee to an international insurer for my wife and me and our adult daughter, who lives with us. However, since Covid, we have not travelled much, and not outside Europe so have not needed health coverage for other countries. It seems crazy to be spending so much, so is there a solution you would recommend? We are both in our mid 70s and my daughter is 55. We have both had procedures in the past couple of years which were paid in full, as were hospital bills, tests, etc. We have not explored the services of the local health centre, but I think we would prefer to have the freedom to go private for anything of importance.

Although the public health system in Portugal is in most cases good and inexpensive, it’s always recommended to have private insurance.

You should speak to your insurance company and adjust your plan to your needs. If there are covers that you are not using, you may be able to adjust your insurance and save some money on the annual rate.

Changing provider is possible, but due to age, it can be a problem, as the new provider might not offer the same

coverage that you currently have. This is because many insurance companies base their plan on the client’s age, so if you join now, you might be joining a plan that is not as complete as your current one.

But you should still speak to an insurance specialist who should be able to advise you on the best options available for your circumstances.

Our maid of many years is retiring now and our new cleaning lady has asked for an hourly rate, which is fine, but she has told my wife that she is entitled to two extra months’ wages by law, in December and June. Is this correct?

Yes, a domestic worker is entitled to receive 14 monthly salaries per year. Although they do not come under the Portuguese labour law, domestic workers have their own legislation that determines their rights and obligations.

This is an area where it would be sensible to seek legal advice. But please be aware that you must pay social security, a work’s accident insurance and 14 months’ pay.

Normally the two extra months are paid in the month when the worker is on their annual holliday, and just before Christmas (before the 15th of December).

Please note that a domestic worker or any other employee is also entitled to 22 weekdays of annual holidays and that their work schedule (including extra hours) cannot exceed 44 hours per week.

I am selling my flat in the UK and would like to invest part of the money here in Portugal, where I live and have a fully paid-for home. What’s the best starting point to get a transparent view on this? I am looking at around £450,000 but not convinced I should buy a property to rent out.

You should seek advice from an estate agent. They will be able to show you not only the properties that they have on their books, but can also try to find you a property that fulfils your requirements even if it is listed with other agents.

Be aware that in Portugal it is common practice that the estate agent’s commission is paid by the vendor, but that does not stop you from choosing an estate agent who will work with you and assist you in finding the property that ticks all your boxes.

JOS É ALMEIDA DISCUSSES

ECB policy and expats A

T THEIR FIRST meetings of 2023, the Bank of England (BoE) and the European Central Bank (ECB) both raised interest rates by 50bps but delivered very different assessments of their respective economies and the need for further rate hikes. Looking at the months ahead, the central banks’ decisions – in particular the ECB’s – could have a significant impact on the GBP/EUR exchange rate and the Eurozone economy.

What did the central banks say?

The BoE implied that it will raise interest rates by smaller increments in the future, if at all. Its Monetary Policy Statement reads: “If there were to be evidence of more persistent pressures, then further tightening in monetary policy would be required”, marking a shift from December’s wording, that it would ‘respond forcefully’ if needed. Traders subsequently began pricing in a smaller quarter-point hike at the BoE’s next meeting. Meanwhile, the ECB committed to another half-point hike at its next meeting, saying it would “stay the course in raising interest rates significantly at a steady pace”. However, the bank did say it would re-evaluate the path of policy tightening in March.

Amid the ECB and BoE decisions, the GBP/EUR exchange rate slumped to its lowest level since September 2022, when then PM Liz Truss unveiled her ill-fated mini-budget.

How could this impact GBP/EUR over the coming months?

The single currency could hold strong against the pound over the coming months, with the expectation that the ECB will be more hawkish than the BoE supporting the euro. However, economic data will continue to play a decisive role in GBP/EUR.

If Eurozone inflation continues to cool rapidly, and if core inflation eases, markets may begin to price in a dovish tilt from the ECB at its March meeting, which may see the euro lose ground against the pound. Meanwhile, UK inflation has proven stickier than in the Eurozone. If price pressures remain persistently high, bets on another BoE rate rise could help Sterling claw back some losses.

Impact of ECB rates on the Eurozone economy

A key reason why the BoE was less hawkish than the ECB in February, despite higher and more persistent inflation, is that the UK economy is teetering on the brink of a recession. At the same time, the Eurozone economy is faring much better overall. Recent economic data has come in better than expected, inflation is easing, and private sector activity has steadily recovered since October’s trough, having now returned to growth.

There is some fear that, as the ECB continues to tighten the screw on monetary conditions, it could stifle this economic recovery. Higher interest rates mean higher borrowing costs for businesses and households, which can deter investment and squeeze spending. Hopefully, the Eurozone’s economic resilience so far continues to hold up.

Protecting against volatility

With the ECB’s and BoE’s tightening cycles potentially nearing their ends, there could be volatility ahead for the pound euro exchange rate.

If you need to send money overseas – perhaps to transfer pension payments or rental income, or for day-to-day spending – then shifts in the GBP/EUR exchange rate can impact how much money you receive.

Using a specialist currency broker is often the best way to protect against volatility and get a better deal on your currency transfers. Currency specialists tend to offer more competitive exchange rates than banks and provide a wider variety of transfer options.

We recommend considering Currencies Direct. On top of excellent exchange rates and flexible transfers, they pride themselves on giving their customers expert guidance and one-to-one support.

Currencies Direct has helped over 325,000 individuals and businesses move money abroad since 1996. They have an ‘Excellent’ Trustscore on Trustpilot, over 20 global offices and a team of more than 500 currency experts. You can also move your money over the phone, or use their online service and app to check live rates and make 24/7 transfers. What’s more, Currencies Direct are authorised in the EU – this is crucial as any currency provider offering their services to customers in Portugal must be regulated by a relevant EU authority.

For more detailed information, please contact the local office T: 289 395 739 or register at currenciesdirect.com/portugal to get regular updates on the currency markets. (use AlgarvePLUS magazine as the reference).

HOW, IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2023, EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK PLANS COULD AFFECT THOSE LIVING HERE

PEDRO RODRIGEZ

Tavira d’Artes, Tavira 962 012 111 taviradartes@gmail.com taviradartes.com

Marilyn Monroe, oil on linen, 120x100cm.

ves.tres

Galleria Augustine

R. Leite de Vasconcelos, 3A, 1170-200 - Lisboa, 926 536 229, galeria-augustine.com

On now

From the exhibition Running Riot, Painting at Play by the three-artist collective, Ana Malta, Madalena Pequito and Maria de Brito Matia. This piece, E tudo a cal apagou, 2021, mixed media on canvas is 120x120cm.

Vee Speers

In The Pink Loulé 289 462 320 info@in-the-pink.com

in-the-pink.com

Throughout March

This superb exhibition of the finest photography continues throughout this month. Untitled #16 – Phoenix Series 2020 is Edition 1/5 and measures 150x120cm. This is Vee Speers’ first solo exhibition in Portugal.

SILVIO PORZIONATO

ArtCatto, Loulé 289 419 447 info@artcatto.com artcatto.com

Moonlightblackseries 02, oil on canvas, 120x180cm.

Pascale Fay

Casa Velha, Quinta do Lago

Also at Aderita Artistic Space Vale do Lobo 912 186 868

Aderita.artisticspace@gmail.com artisticspace.pt/

Until 26 March

Rêve héroïque (heroic dream) acrylic on canvas, 100x73cm.

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE EMAIL susi@rogol-goodkind.com

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ARTLINK COLLECTIVE

Galeria Espectro

Papelaria Arco Íris

Sudoeste Retail Park, Alcantarilha 282 322 883 artlink.collective@gmail.com artlinkcollective.com

Until 19 March

At Papelaria Arco Íris you will find quality materials for fine arts, decorative arts, office supplies, school supplies, etc. Art workshops are on the agenda, and there is an ongoing exhibition of works, from an ever-changing list of local artists in Galeria Espectro, who are part of the ARTLINK collective, where the focus is on painting, photography, sculpture and digital composition. This one is certainly worth investigating.

MUSIC

Amigos de Música

Os Agostos, Sta. Bárbara de Nexe reservasconcertos@gmail.com, amigosdemusica.org

21 and 23 March, 19:00

London-based Australian pianist Piers Lane, five times soloist at the BBC Proms, pays homage to Sergei Rachmaninov, born 150 years ago this year, and Chopin, in his first concert, on the 21st. On the 23rd, he will play Grieg’s Holberg Suite, Variations by Tchaikovsky, and John Field and Alexander Glazunov.

Wine, fruit juices and canapés will be served; the

concert will begin at 19:00, doors open 18:00. There will be a short interval with refreshments served.

Entry donation including refreshments is €30 per person for guests and nonmembers.

For more information about the Amigos de Música and concert programme visit the new website; for membership enquiries contact: helga.hampton@gmail.com

EXPERIENCES

República 14, Olhão

Reservas@re-criativarepublica14.pt Email for ticket prices, and to book.

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL

Tribulum Algarve, Almancil 289 397 784

info@tribulumalgarve.com

tribulumalgarve.com

15-17 March

Enjoy the full experience –all races will be screened. There are set lunches for Ladies’ Day on the 15th and The Gold Cup on the 17th, and a special St Patrick’s dinner menu on the evening of the 17th. Book ahead, and enjoy!

SALA SIMBA

Olhão’s adventurous gallery, and the vision of Kevin and Frances Gould of Cha Cha Cha, will re-open for the 2023 season this month. Call 918 727 242 or email ola@salasimba.pt, for details and to make an appointment, and visit insta @salasimbaolhao

11 February, 19:00 and 21:30

Mashrabya Trio – Music from Al-Andalus, dances from Turkey or Greece, the art of melodic improvisation and Persian love songs are part of the repertoire of this trio of musicians from Seville.

18 February, 17:00 and 21:30

Adam Ben Ezra – During the past decade, this extraordinary Israeli musician has redefined the role of the double bass, transforming it into a solo and almost orchestral instrument.

VALENTIM & AMIGOS

Teatro Lethes, Faro

12 March, 16:00

Book online at bol.pt/ comprar/bilhetes teatrolethes.com

Tickets €10

Artists, singers and musicians join Algarvian Valentim Filipe, in a Sunday afternoon event that promises to fill the stage of this wonderful theatre in the heart of Faro and delight audiences.

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE EMAIL susi@rogol-goodkind.com

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY NETWORKING EVENT

Tribulum Algarve, Almancil shebangpr@icloud.com shebangonline.co.uk

8 March, 10:00–15:30

An event designed to help encourage, empower and inspire like-minded women to take action in 2023.

Tribulum Restaurant is providing a drinks reception and a three-course lunch for €40pp. There is also space if you would like to exhibit at the event to promote your business to attendees. Email Shebag for more information and to book.

Loulé Criativo workshops

Visit loulecriativo.pt for dates and details – there’s so much more than we have room to list!

289 400 829

loulecriativo@cm-loule.pt, loulecriato.pt

SMYRNA:

STITCH-LATCH HOOKING FOR BEGINNERS

11 March

Oficina dos Têxteis, Loulé

Contact: Sara Monteiro

To register: hortasara@hotmail.com

JEWELLERY WORKSHOP

Gama Rama Gallery Faro 961 371 891 gamaramagallery@gmail.com

18 March, 10:00–13:00

€40, materials included

With Ana Gregorio of Joalharia Artesanal whose atelier is in the Gama Rama creative centre, learn to glaze colours on copper, and make patterns and designs on enamelled surfaces.

OPEN WATER SWIM

Vale do Lobo praça and beach 289 353 307, experience@vdl.pt

12 March, 10:00–12:00, €25pp (€20 resort members)

Meet at Vale do Lobo beach where the sea swim starts in the outstanding Algarvian blue waters, one of the best swimming spots on the coast. Distances will be adapted according to participants’ level of ability – and energy. The activity will finish back on the Vale do Lobo beach followed by a fresh water bath.

CERAMICS INITIATION WORKSHOP

4 March

Palácio Gama Lobo, Loulé

Contact: Isabel Carvalho

To register: isc.ceramics@gmail.com

RECREATE HAND PAINTED TILES WITH MOTIVES OF LOULÉ

25 March

Loulé Coreto Hostel, Loulé

Contact: Loulé Coreto Hostel

To register: loulecoreto.reservas@ gmail.com 966 660 943

MACRAMÉ INITIATION WORKSHOP

18 March

Palácio Gama Lobo, Loulé

Contact: Desi Cornelisse

INTRODUCTION TO HAND WEAVING

11 and 12 March, 16-hour course

Oficina dos Têxteis, Loulé

Contact: Susana Mendez

To register: susanamendes. studio@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION TO EMBROIDERY

5 March

Oficina dos Têxteis, Loulé

Contact: Flávia Ferreira

To register: flaviaferreiradias@gmail.com 967 180 340

GET SHOPPING

To register: jomohandmade@gmail.com

Quinta Shopping Farmers’ Market, Sunday 5 March, from 10am. If you haven’t already got your copy of this month’s AlgarvePLUS, you’ll find it in Cheeky Pup, The Melting Pot, Dunas, Casa da Bli, By Rory, the newsagents and more, and on The Algarve Candle Company’s stand.

AND f inally

THERE ARE THOSE who, after buying a new machine, open the box, find the instruction manual and settle down in a comfortable chair to learn how to get the most out of their latest purchase. And then there are others who can’t be bothered or don’t have the patience and will chuck the manual out with the wrapping.

I, being a mature and methodical person, am of the first group, as I like to understand how to operate my shiny new gizmos. I may even reread a paragraph once or possibly twice, to make sure I don’t press button A before sliding lever B.

I think I am being thorough, but there are others who tell me I’m OCD with a touch of anal retentiveness. But right or wrong, anal or otherwise, all this is about to come to an end.

Instruction manuals are now passé and only used by those over a certain age who have just bought a piece of furniture from Ikea and are the proud possessors of a set of Allen keys.

Nowadays, if you want to plug in a new tumble dryer or decalcify your coffee machine, you are forced to leave the room, turn on a computer and watch a ten-minute YouTube video, made by someone with an accent you can’t understand, who is constantly being interrupted by advertisements for things you don’t want and will never have a use for.

It seems de rigueur that all instructions, no matter how mundane, now have to be watched on a screen.

To give you an idea of the stupidity of this, there are YouTube videos – and these are not just for children – instructing you how to get dressed, how to brush your teeth and even one on how to use a toilet. Isn’t it amazing, there are people who can use computers but don’t know how, or where, to relieve themselves.

This subject came to mind because I need to replace my car because, after 13 years, it is now costing serious

money to keep on the road. The car I chose is a hybrid, running both on a conventional engine and batteries, which for me is the ideal setup.

But the downside of electric cars is that the dashboard often resembles the instrument panel of the starship Enterprise and, as Mr Spock, he of that very starship might have said: “It’s a dashboard Jim, but not as you would know it”.

In an electric car, what we would call the dashboard is now a sheet of clear plastic that, until you turn the ignition on, is opaque. But press the magic button and it springs to life, giving you an impressive display of gauges, numbers and unintelligible symbols.

At this stage you would normally reach for the manual to find out what is what, but there is no manual. The manual is on a computer chip which can only be read by scrolling through the options offered on your ‘dashboard’.

So now, when my new car arrives, instead of sitting in my comfortable chair with my feet up reading the manual to make sure I know when I switch the wipers on that the seat doesn’t recline, and how to open the boot instead of the filler cap, I will have to sit in the car until I know how to drive it.

I needed to rent a car last week as mine was, yet again, ‘in dock’. The rental company gave me a hybrid. After starting it up, which took me ten minutes, plus a walk back to the office, they explained to me that the ‘handbrake’ was in fact a button with an unrecognisable symbol, which worked automatically. They suggested that I simply ignore it. And that is a problem in itself.

A few years ago, after renting a car with an automatic handbrake and having two weeks to get used to it, I parked another rental car – this one without the auto brake – and it promptly rolled down a hill and finished up in a non-too-happy stranger’s garden.

So, manufacturers, whilst I am in full agreement with change and modernisation, could you please bring this about gradually and give us a little booklet that explains exactly what you have done.

I quote Starship Enterprise’s Dr Spock here: ‘It’s a dashboard, Jim, but not as you would know it’

IS THE CAR THE STAR? ONCE UPON A TIME, IT WAS –PARTICULARLY WHEN IT’S YOUR VERY FIRST ONE. BUT ANTHONY MARTIN IS FAST DISCOVERING THAT TODAY’S MOTOR TECHNOLOGY IS A REAL GEAR CHANGER