Algarve Blog
This Algarve blog is intended to keep you in touch with the latest in Algarve affairs. Now that I'm living here, I'm trying to keep you updated with what's going on in the Algarve and around those wonderful beaches. So, here's my regular take on occurrences in what used to be my favourite vacation spot... Luz NatalThe seasonal illuminations in the Algarve have been stupendous, this year. Wherever I went before I headed for my UK visit, pre-Christmas, I was enchanted by the street lighting displays. Top of my list for breath-stopping displays were: Loule, Olhao and Sao Bras de Alportel. Honourable mentions go to Faro and Tavira. I didn't get around many of the places I like to visit in the west of Algarve, but, if they were half as nice as what I've seen elsewhere, it has been a very pretty holiday season throughout the region. So congratulations to all the Camaras and Freguesias (councils and parishes) who pulled out all the stops - so to say - to make this special time of year so illuminating. The only sour note that came to my notice was the vandalising of the presepio (Nativity scene) in Sao Bras - and not for the first time, apparently. Someone decided to remove the virtually life-size donkey figure (again). Since it had been bolted down to prevent just such a jape, the legs were sawn through or otherwise broken and the remainder of the beast taken away. For what purpose one can only wonder... To end on an up-note, here's hoping 2009 will be a great year for the Algarve (and for all visitors and regulars of Algarve Beach Life). Saude! Wednesday 31 December 2008 Let's hear it for -'Allgarve', the corporate name for Algarve tourism this year. I mentioned in this blog, earlier in the year, that I didn't like it (and I was in concord with a lot of professionals in the local tourist industry). Nevertheless, I can only applaud what it's managed to do. From the proceeds of the 2008 summer concerts that it sponsored in Algarve, it's donating 121,000 euros (!) to a selection of charities throughout the region. Whatever you might think of the branding, that's a fantastic achievement (shame it's not more). So, hats off to the the Regional Tourist Board for good works, and I'll stop carping on about the silly name now - honest! Tuesday 30 December 2008 Don't fall ill...... in the Algarve at the moment. There may not be anyone around to treat you! I read where there are 800 unfilled doctor posts throughout the region, and little prospect of filling them. The sunny south, it seems, is not seen by upwardly-mobile medicos as a good place to have on their CVs. Prospects are brighter, they perceive, in the larger cities in the centre and north of the country. Even the big hospitals in Faro and Portimao are struggling to provide 24-hour care in all specialties. And the problem may worsen, as older doctors retire and younger replacements are not found. Could this be the start of 'medical tourism' within Portugal? Things may right themselves to some extent when the big cities are fully-staffed with docs and the overspill is left to find posts elsewhere. Except that means the Algarve may end up with the medics that no-one else wants... Scary stuff! Monday 29 December 2008 Send for the Police!... But only if you know what they're called now. I read last week that they're going to rename a few of the various police forces in Portugal. It came as a bit of a shock, since I'd not had wind of it elsewhere, and it's hardly the sort of thing that would escape attention. The changes will affect the GNR (National Republican Guard) and the Brigada Fiscal. There are also changes afoot for the Cavalry Regiment! However, since I can't think of circumstances under which you or I might need to call them into action, we'll leave them to one side. So, in a nutshell, the GNR will become the National Traffic Unit and will look after, well, traffic, including road safety and vehicle checks. The BF, meanwhile, will be split asunder to form the Coastal Control Unit and the Fiscal Action Unit. That takes care of 'coastal vigilance' and the investigation of fiscal and customs crimes. One of the concerns was the transfer or loss of police presence during the festive period since traditionally, that period requires more interventions and attendances. But, the final changeover has been held back to January 5th, so that the holiday shift sequence will have been completed. As to how the changes all work out... watch this space for an update. Friday 26 December 2008 Let's Hope the Seal Performs!More on the drive to boost tourism in the inland reaches of Algarve... They've come up with a 'Seal' that will be awarded to enterprises that merit a recommendation for offering a quality tourism experience away from the Algarve beaches. An award of the Seal (it's the Selo de Recomendação Rural, or Seal of Rural Recommendation) will be conferred on accommodations, restaurants, businesses and even (if what I read is correct) to houses and villages. The project is shared among 47 freguesias (parishes) and hopes to resuscitate some parts of the rural economy that have suffered from migration to the towns on the coast and struggle to eke out a living from the countryside. I learn that so far, some 32 restaurants and 10 'lodgings' in rural Algarve have been honoured with a Seal. I'll need to find out what it looks like and display it here, so you can keep your eye out for a top-notch inland restaurant or accommodation. Of course, seals are all very well, but there's nothing quite like word of mouth from an actual customer to make me try out something new. Something perhaps like this recommended restaurant from Algarve Beach Life reader and contributor Lesley Winograd. That place should have a Seal already, according to Lesley... Monday 22 December 2008 Hotels of the Dammed...The Algarve is set to acquire three more hotels that seek to lure visitors away from those wonderful beaches to check out the inland areas. They'll be sited near the Funcho and Arade dams, and the mayor of Silves, Isabel Soares, is keen to see the local construction started, since it will help swell the numbers of tourists visiting the town. The Arade development will have moorings and ramps, to attract passing sailors, while the Funcho development will see the down-at-heel rural area receiving a much-needed fillip and what is foreseen as 'village tourism'. The third, 160-bed development will be in the Abruteais area (which I couldn't even locate on the map!) Thursday 18 December 2008
Homeless in Ria Formosa?They have a 'Polis' for the Ria Formosa, the supposedly protected natural reserve that runs along the Algarve coast from Faro to Manta Rota in the east. A Polis is a plan, put together and agreed by the various municipalities through which the Ria Formosa runs. Part of the plan is (and has been for a good while) the demolition of the many illegal dwellings that have sprung up on the islands and islets that dot the reserve. Said demolition is due to begin in early 2009, starting in a couple of areas on Sao Lourenco island. Some of the demolition work will result in the areas being returned to a 'natural' state, while some will involve restoration or renovation of buildings (presumably those that will contribute towards encouraging more folk to take an Algarve vacation). They're promising to re-home those fishermen and families who are affected, but I've never seen any intimation of where such re-housing will be. If you fish for a living, you want to be near your place of work. Should you be re-housed in an apartment block on the inland side of a large town, that would be unhelpful. Since the Polis is set to run until 2012, I expect we'll see a lot more posts about it in this blog. Meantime, spare a holiday season thought or two for those families, often rather disadvantaged, that are looking at having their lives turned upside down early in the New Year! Tuesday 16 December 2008 'Centro de Mar' for PortimaoI'm not sure what it will be, but Portimao's going to have a Centre of the Sea. I believe it's an initiative to centralise all the aspects pertaining to the sea that can assist the town in marketing itself. So, it'll be studying sailing, cruises, culture, subsea
archeology and other watery subjects, to see what might be
improved, refined and 'monetized' (uggh). Plans should be
drawn up during 2009, so there won't be much concrete
happening until But, in the meantime, Portimao is seeking to do yet more to enable huge luxury cruise liners to dock there, having earlier this year carried out the works that allowed the first one to visit the port a few months ago. One thing's for sure, Portimao is not standing still and waiting for things to happen; its council is determined to raise its profile in any way it can. And good for them, I say. Sunday 14 December 2008 Put a cork in it!The recent trend (started in Australia, I believe) to use screw caps for sealing wine bottles, is worrying the Portuguese. Cork bottle stoppers are a mainstay of Portugal's rural economy, since the country is the world's largest supplier of the product. The problem lies, apparently, with the phenomenon of 'corking', whereby the wine is contaminated by trichloroanisol and becomes musty or undrinkable. But it's not just the cork producers who are under threat. The cork forests that abound in Portugal are a habitat to many species, including some that are rare or endangered. Examples cited are the Iberian lynx (reportedly the most endangered large cat in the world) and the black stork. Some reports have estimated that much of the cork forest could be lost within 10 years, with a predictable effect on the animals who treat it as home. And it's not just wine lovers who are threatening the cork habitats. The 2003 fires had a major effect, as have smaller fires since then. And cork trees have been felled to make way for housing developments, despite that apparently being against the law! So, taking a determined stand, I've decided to buy only Portuguese wine in future, since that will virtually guarantee that a cork stopper has been used. (It's not really a sacrifice, since my favourite wines all come from the Alentejo). Join in the fight to preserve the cork forests and their inhabitants by raising a glass to the natural cork stopper! (Avoid wines that use synthetic stoppers or screw caps by simply opting for Portuguese - and even Algarve - wines). Basta da injustícia! Friday 12 December 2008 A few steps short of a good walk...The Via Algarviana, intended to be an Algarve-traversing pedestrian route, is still awaiting completion. The association responsible for overseeing the project must meet to determine where it will source the 10000 Euros (or so) that are needed to pay for the remaining works. Various initiatives, such as sporting events, have been proposed to raise the money. It's probably not the best time (given the global financial jitters) but you can't blame them for trying. Even if the Via Algarviana is not able to be 100% completed, one hopes that the whole of the route will still be passable soon. Once people can see what such a route offers, it might be easier to ask for assistance in finishing it off. Watch out for updates, if you're fancying a walking holiday in Algarve. Monday 8 December 2008 WaterworksThey're doing their bit for the local fishermen, over in the east of Algarve. New working 'ports' (for up to 100 fishing boats) are underway for Cabanas and Santa Luzia. All of the works are sensitive, inasmuch as they have an effect on the ecosystem of the Ria Formosa Protected Nature areas. In Cabanas, the works are expected to be complete by the end of the year (where have I heard that before?) and will improve safety for the fishermen, while providing sufficient parking to meet the demands of tourism high season. But there won't be anywhere for the Cabanas crews to unload their catches, so they'll need to do that in Tavira. It's quite a bit of money (somewhat over 1m euros) that has gone toward the works, so here's hoping that the outcome will make it all worthwhile. Saturday 6 December 2008 EsperantoI'm not sure whether the word comes from the Portuguese word 'esperar' (to hope), but the hopeful foreign inhabitants of Querenca are asking for classes, so that they can start to learn the Portuguese language. I believe that, under EU statutes, each member state is obliged to provide such education for foreign residents, so the Querencense (I think that's what they would be called) may be lucky. Or they may have to travel a few kilometres to an existing language course. Whatever the outcome, I wish them luck. Having attended lessons for almost two school years, I can confidently assert that Portuguese is not easy. My command of the language would be fine for getting by while on vacation, but I'm still light years away from holding a 'real' conversation (as are most members of my class). Thursday 4 December 2008
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but is now my favourite place to live.
later in the year...
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