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... but is now my favourite place to live.

 

Faro Bikers Do It Again 

They came, they saw, they left again...

... and, for the second year in a row, there were no reported fatalities during the Moto Clube Faro's 26th International gathering.

Estimates vary, but something like 25,000 to 30,000 bikes attended, with around 40,000 people, so that zero-death result is all the more impressive.

There was plenty of colour and fun to observe, and a large contingent of GNR (police) officers were on hand to observe fair play.

Nev's looking to buy a motorbike soon, so I'd better start researching a page on Algarve Biking!

Tuesday 31 July 2007

Digging Up The Past 

It seems that they've struck 'archaeological gold dust' in Cacela Velha. Smack in the middle of the Fortaleza square, they have discovered what purports to be a Moorish medina from the 10th century. 

There are plans to make the site into a museum (similar, but on a smaller scale than the one at Silves [pictured left] I should imagine).

Friday 27 July 2007

Now You See Them - 

-  now you don't.

After blogging earlier about the planned increased police presence in Algarve during the peak season, I learned that the picture is not as rosy as it was painted.

It turns out that, due to Portugal's six-month presidency of the EU, which kicked off recently, there'll be extra security needed, just in case anyone's interested enough in politics to take a swipe at any of the talking suits involved.

Naturally, since politicians are so much more important than the public they serve, their security needs will be siphoned off from those intended for summertime security duties of a more general nature.

It doesn't send out a reassuring message to those who contribute much to Algarve's (and Portugal's) income that they aren't worth the cost of extra security, but come a poor second to the Euro-gasbags (most of whom take off much of the summer anyway, I seem to recall).

So, if you can't find an Algarve policeman when you want one this summer, drop a letter or email to Prime Minister José Sócrates and tell him what you think of his priorities. You never know, he may even read it.

Thursday 26 July 2007

The Net Widens... then shrinks? 

I was wondering, the other day, while walking around Olhao, perhaps the busiest fishing port in Algarve...

... If the fish stocks are running out, what happens to places like this?

Only the other week, I read that Portugal has signed deals with Cabo Verde and some other island group, to allow its boats to fish in their waters. That's okay at present, but what happens when the over-fishing depletes those fish stocks, too?

At present, virtually everywhere you go in Algarve, there'll be restaurants offering fish (peixe), seafood (mariscos) and other stuff, e.g. octopus (polvo - not sure if that is seafood or in its own special category). Olhao must have a fair density of such places (understatement, I think) all of which rely on a never-ending supply of fresh catches.

But (so my understanding of the problem goes) the level of fishing has affected the breeding stocks, since the fish can no longer mature before they're netted. Once that happens, you're on the slippery slope (landing jetty?) to ruination, with little chance of restoring things to sustainable levels.


Even if no fishing took place for a few years, that means the fishermen go out of business permanently, as do all the seafood outlets and restaurants...

It's a conundrum all right, and I don't seem to read of anyone (especially the politicos) coming up with workable solutions. The BIG question is, what might be the damage to the economy and the character of my favourite region?

If you have any terrific suggestions or solutions, let me know, and I'll pass them onto the authorities forthwith!

Sunday 22 July 2007

It's Not Fair! 

I've been organising a trip back to UK for a family wedding using, natch!, the Internet to arrange flights, buy tickets etc.

Trouble is, now I'm going to miss the gorgeous, hot, sunny August weather AND all the flights are top price! Drat and double drat!

I've determined that any future UK visits will be better organised, so that I benefit from special offers and off-peak fares.

And now there's even a triple-drat, since I learned the other day that a UK friend and her daughter are booked to vacation in Quarteira at the same time I'm in UK! I think that law's at work again (Murphy's, Sod's... can't remember).

On the plus side, my time away will give my mosquito bites time to disappear... I do seem to be particularly toothsome (or is that proboscis-some?) to the nasty little critters just now.  While I love being out on a balmy evening, it's hard to remember every time to spray on the bug-repellent before I sally forth.

So that's two summer resolutions: cheaper airfares and fewer encounters with hungry  insects.  (Plus trying not to be travelling in the opposite direction to friends I'd like to meet with). 

We'll see.

Saturday 14 July 2007

Enthusiastic Pessimists 

As I understand it, Portugal is among the more enthusiastic proponents of the European adventure, more commonly known as the EU.

Apparently, Portugal is the country that gives over the highest proportion of its wealth (GDP) to the EU. Obviously, the actual amount handed over may be relatively small, but it's coming from a smaller pot, and therefore must be recognised as unusually generous.

And yet, a recent poll suggests, around 90% of Portuguese think the country's economic health is in poor repair.

So, this suggests to me that the politicians (who after all vote how much money is contributed to the EU) are much more sanguine about things than are their constituency voters. Then again, I would imagine that members of the political class in Portugal (rather like those in the UK) have the wit (or gall?) to protect themselves from the worst aspects of national economic performance.

It would not surprise me to have it confirmed that the recent proposals to modify Portuguese public sector pensions (downward) does not apply to the pensions of Portuguese politicians.

I'm puzzled as to what's in store for the 'middle-ground' Euro economies like Portugal and Ireland now that the EU is dedicating itself to pulling up by the bootstraps the poorer, more recent additions to the European family of nations.

Whatever happens, there's still this seeming chasm between the enthusiasm for a more integrated Europe and the reality of what it all means for the average Portuguese income.

Perhaps someone can write in using the Algarve Best form and explain it to me?

Thursday 12 July 2007

Fat Chance, não é?

Portugal's president, Cavaco Silva, visited the US recently and took the chance in a speech to call on his countrymen who are living as expatriates in the States to 'keep the candle burning' by maintaining their language and culture.

I thought that was brave (or foolhardy), given the resentment that is often caused by immigrants hanging on to their old ways once in a new country. (The UK springs to mind, for some reason I can't quite fathom).

It's hard to imagine the Queen (as Britain's Head of State) visiting, say, Portugal to give a speech calling on Anglophones to keep up with their mother tongue and events 'back home'...

... But that's probably because most Brits don't bother to learn the language when they move to a new country, and many still take the same newspapers and watch the same TV channels as they did back in ol' Blighty.

And I can hardly feel smug, since I still couldn't tell you (despite my language lessons) how to say 'double standards' in Portuguese.

Tuesday 10 July 2007

Ola, ola...

Good news for tourists visiting Algarve this summer is the presence of increased numbers of police officers 'out and about'. Relieved of duties elsewhere (such as schools protection), the reinforcements will number 350 for the whole of Portugal with, presumably a pro rata number being assigned to Algarve.

Beaches, concerts, festivals and other attractions that draw large numbers of tourists will enjoy increased protection from the boost in police numbers.

Algarve prides itself on being a low-crime region, so this is welcome news again this year.

Death to Drinks Makers!

I had an accident-prone session last week.  Been a while since I've been quite so dangerous, but I did start counting, as they say bad things come in threes!

Firstly, I dropped a small cafetiere when carrying it back to the kitchen. Unfortunate, but since I don't drink coffee, it would only affect husband Nev.

Next day, I knocked over the spare small cafetiere and broke it, so Nev thinks he's upset me somehow, and this is the punishment I've worked out. (Call me evil, but so far I haven't disabused him of that notion).

We did find an old, larger cafetiere in the back of a kitchen cupboard, so he's not been starved of his caffeine infusions. But I did notice that he's been washing it after use and storing it carefully where I'm unlikely to bump into it, so he obviously thinks he's been naughty enough to warrant my smashing three of his precious cafetieres.

I'll just enjoy his good behaviour while it lasts.

Oh, and the third bad thing that happened was that we discovered our property documentation was still short of a signature (after months of promises), so our licence to build remains unclaimed in the local council offices!

It's a good job I don't rule the world, otherwise there'd be a few bodies dangling from gibbets just now!

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