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 (on Portugal's southern coast) and around those wonderful beaches. So, here's my regular take on occurrences in what used to be my favourite vacation spot... SatisfactionThere was a recent reader poll conducted by the Barlavento journal that serves the Algarve. It asked whether things were a) better, b) much better, c) worse or d) the same in the country, some 35 years after the Carnation Revolution... Interestingly, 67% thought things were the same or better. That means only one person in three is disappointed with how things are at present. I bet the UK government wishes it could say the same at the moment! I would imagine that the disaffected Algarvean minority would include mainly older readers, who have been largely bypassed by the changes brought about by democracy. Not much point in celebrating having a vote if you feel disenfranchised anyway! The younger set have reaped all the opportunities and the improvements in education and therefore feel relatively happy. Whereas, the older citizens prefer order and worry about increases in crime, which seems to be part and parcel of modern life. In Russia, there are even senior citizens who would prefer the return of the communist era, when accommodation and subsidised food was provided by the state. I sometimes feel sorry for politicians in democracies... but then they open their mouths and speak, which dries up the sympathy pretty quickly! Sunday 26 April 2009 Same old same old...It seems that 2009 is an electoral year in the Algarve, for places on local councils (known here as Camaras). This has brought on a recent flurry of road repairs, as those in power seek to curry favour with their voting public. And it doesn't just stop at road repairs. Somehow or other, improvements to school premises and other civic improvement measures are all at, or nearing, fruition, just in time for the ruling parties to be able to point out everything they've (just) done for their constituents. Or is one merely becoming cynical, one wonders? Sunday 22 February 2009 Flashby Flights!News about flight routes to Portugal were a mixture recently. Many routes from Lisbon and Oporto seem to have been cancelled, while things looked more neutral for Faro. It must be difficult to gauge likely demand from a new route, so the airlines have to gamble. When it proves less than rewarding, they cancel a route and look for others. Even Algarve flights have been affected. Faro seems to have lost nine routes in the latest reshuffle, while it looks set to have nine new routes, hence my use of the word 'neutral'. Routes that are reportedly no longer available at Faro include Birmingham (BMR), Frankfurt (Lufthansa) and Amsterdam (TAP), Durham (FlyGlobespan), Bournemouth (Thomsonfly), Cardiff, Coventry and Doncaster (all Thomsonfly, too). There may still be flights available for those routes from other airlines, of course. I'm sure that, when demand picks up, some or all of those services might be reinstated. But in the meantime, it might reduce choice or make travel arrangements that bit trickier... Time will tell. Friday 20 February 2009 Tavira ShoppingCalled, for some unknown reason, Gran Plaza (should be Grande Praça in Portuguese) the new shopping centre in Tavira is projected to open on time - though it's proved impossible to establish when that might be. With sixty shops, a dozen restaurants and four cinemas, the three-storey edifice will also have an underground carpark, where you can go to inhale your quota of trapped CO2 for the day (the ventilation systems never work as they ought). Situated just east of the city centre, it's hoped to give a fillip to local commerce, without (they pray) causing the failure of lots of small local businesses. I even read somewhere that they're hoping to attract Spanish shoppers across the Guadiana river. Last time I looked, it was Portuguese shoppers heading east to Spain's neighbouring Huelva region, to buy cheaper goods - and especially fuel. But, I'm not an economist, nor a shopping centre planner... so what do I know? Sunday 15 February 2009 More Opportunities to 'Algarve'Great news if you're able to use Gatwick airport, London's second most popular people-funnel! Aer Lingus has announced a twice-daily service from there to Faro! Even more opportunities to enjoy a well-deserved Algarve vacation. From the teaser I read, it would seem that the ticket prices are set to be mouth-wateringly reasonable, too. So long Algarve weekends away from the humdrum (and the local weather!) can be yours for the asking. I'll be posting more details on my Algarve flights page when they become available. Friday 13 February 2009 Beached...The storms that hit the Algarve at the beginning of the month might not have been much in absolute terms, but they did their work anyway. While other areas and countries received much worse (snowstorms, blocked roads, accidents, days-long power outages...) we didn't go unscathed. Turns out to have been worse at sea, judging by the recent news. Onland, there was localised flooding, a few trees down (including one of my two lovely mimosas!), and the inevitable degradation to the country roads, it was the coast what got it (to misquote the UK Sun newspaper). The sea shoved hundreds of tons of sand over the seawall / barriers at Ilha de Faro and made some of the islets roads impassable. And a couple of vessels suffered damage. One yacht ............... and a smaller boat decided to spend some time sunning itself on the Praia de Faro! All in all, not too bad, unless of course you happened to own one of the two affected vessels. Tuesday 10 February 2009 Carnival Time!Yes; it's almost upon us again! (Where does the time go?)
In cooler Februaries, I get goosebumps in sympathy with their goosebumps! So, let's all 'think positive' and we'll get the weather we so want. Don't forget to check out a carnival near you, if you're in Algarve later this month. It's fun, it's irreverent and it's Algarve... what more could anyone want?
...for all ages.
Return from Algarve Blog to Home page Back to top
Keep up to date with what's happening in Algarve by subscribing to my regular 'ezine' (newsletter). Just use the form below.
Meanwhile, if you'd like to see what I was scribbling about Algarve in times gone past, here are my very own - Blog Archives
|
||||||||||
but is now my favourite place to live.
I'm praying that the current cold snap has passed before
the 
This year,
the Loulé bash takes place from the 22 to 24th inclusive,
starting at 15.00 each day. It's the biggest (and the
original in Algarve, with 2009 being its 103rd year) but any
of the local events will also be enjoyable...
A unique Algarve Beaches newsletter?
