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.

More Kids' Stuff

I recently found a new attraction for younger visitors to Algarve! (This is an equal-opportunities website, after all).

The attraction is called Braveland, and it's an adventure park that includes a holiday camp with plenty of things for younger folk to enjoy.

There are Day Care facilities on offer.

Even better, for long-suffering adults - they've not been forgotten, and some of the stuff on offer is suitable for their enjoyment, too.

You can read about it on my Algarve For Kids page.

 Thursday 20 November 2008

Democracy and Bureaucracy -

Is it a coincidence that they rhyme? I'll let you decide.

I was reminded, when I detoured through Almancil earlier this week, that the Portuguese (and perhaps especially Algarveans) can exhibit a wry sense of humour.

There, in the centre of a familiar roundabout, was a new group of sculptures of Portuguese citizens, dwarfed and overshadowed by a huge rubber stamp that symbolises the country's cloying system of red tape.

The two white-collar workers are looking up at the handle either in surprise or awe, while the family group of mother, father and child have their backs to the stamp, unaware or uncaring.

Compared to the terrible banality of much of the UK's 'municipal art', I found this one refreshing and amusing...

... so much so that I parked, found my camera and captured the scene for sharing on this page. See it for yourself next to Almancil's Jardim das Comunidades (the local green space that Nev and I know as 'Frog Park').

 Sunday 16 November 2008

In the name of tourism...

I hear they've got a bunch of folk who analyse data about Algarve tourism (at least, I think that's what they do). 

But, what's to analyse? If I go somewhere for a vacation and I like it, I want to go back there. I probably mention it to friends and family. I may even wax lyrical about it to strangers in a restaurant.

In extreme cases, someone might enjoy a region so much, he or she would start a website to let others know... 

So, what's to analyse? If an area has a great climate, there's nothing the authorities can do to help or hinder that.

Same goes for the locals; they're either friendly and welcoming or not. Legislation won't help. 

Things to do? They're provided by entrepreneurs and business owners. Not the local authorities.

And yet, they have a bunch of folk who analyse data about Algarve tourism. Go figure, as they say!

 Wednesday 12 November 2008

Just the ticket!

A formal request has been sent to the Portuguese government by the European Commission. It has to do with discrimination; but this time it concerns a select and small band of people - lottery winners!

Apparently, if you win a 'foreign' lottery while in Portugal, you are supposed to pay tax on the winnings. Unless, that is, you won one of the two lotteries organised in Portugal (Euromillions and League of Millions), in which case, they're tax-free.

I'm wishing good luck to the EC on this one, since its frowning on Portugal's blatant disregard of other Europe-wide tax agreements goes on. In particular, the walloping 'matriculation' charges levied on foreign (EU) cars imported into Portugal stand out as ripe for change.

But, since the fines imposed on Portugal for these unethical imposts are less than the amount collected (by some margin) the practice goes on. As I've noted before, if you break the law as an individual, you risk jail; if you do so and you're a government, a slapped wrist seems sufficient.

Anyway, I'm holding off buying any foreign lottery tickets until I learn which way the government jumps on this 'formal request'. I've no wish to share my good fortune with any departments in Lisbon!

 Monday 10 November 2008

Let's Fly Away...

Bucking the trend of impending recession and touristic gloom, Irish airline Ryanair has announced four new services to Faro airport.

It's even launching the new enterprise with a 'sale' of 1 million tickets at 1 euro each! That should put some pep back into Algarve tourism.

The new routes are from Dusseldorf in Germany and from East Midlands, Liverpool and Glasgow in the UK. This reflects the importance to Algarve's economy of tourists from those nations.

Ryanair estimates that it will be responsible for flying some 310,000 passengers into and out of Faro airport annually, making it a very important player indeed.

Once the 'sale' has ended, more normal ticket prices will be between 42 and 66 euros. Combined with some off-season, bargain Algarve accommodation, that should make a short or medium break in the region affordable to many.

 Saturday 8 November 2008

Immeasurable voids

The metric system is a great cause of division in the UK, where younger people who were taught the system at school don't mind it, while many older people who grew up with the Imperial system of weights and measures struggle to cope with it.

The metric system is supposed to be easier to understand, being based on a decimal system, unlike the arbitrary (and ancient) units of Imperial.

But, it turns out, the metric system is quite difficult to grasp if you're a developer or a local authority in the Algarve.

There's a law stating that you may not build within 10 metres of a body of water in the Ria Formosa Natural Park area. This area includes Fuzeta, despite which a large (actually, enormous) apartment complex has been erected close to water, seemingly with the blessing of Olhao municipality. (If it didn't have their blessing, they must have been asleep for longer than Rip van Winkle, since the edifice didn't spring up overnight!)

The offending apartment blocks - (a little too large 
to have sprung up unnoticed?)

An environmental group has lodged a complaint and the matter is finally being investigated. 

Whatever the outcome, I couldn't help noticing that the place was deserted, with not a single apartment looking to be occupied. Economic downturns and empty apartment blocks are not surprising colleagues. But it's not like there was a shortage of available apartment accommodation locally anyway...

And, in the meantime, the water's edge of the Ria Formosa protected area is littered with building debris that the constructors were too lazy to remove, since neither the developer nor the authority has required them to do so...

Let's hear it for sustainable development!

 Wednesday 5 November 2008

Vroom, vroom...

The new Algarve Autodrome opened on the 2nd of this month to much fanfare, but will it work any wonders?

It'll certainly put Portimao on the map in motor racing circles, but will it result in the hoped-for influx of petrol-heads and race fans that the authorities seem to have envisaged?

As with most major projects, it seems to have been the 'little folk' who lost out. Homeowners in the immediate vicinity have been subject to all the noise, dirt and disruption that construction works entail, but some have suffered even more.

One family were told that compensation for loss of a corner of their land (to build an access road to the Autodrome) would be in thousands of euros. Then, the authorities said they'd made a mistake - sorry - and it would only be a few euros...

Another unfortunate couple had part of the perimeter wall of their garden demolished by a landslide of mud and earth, when unfinished raised roadworks became unstable in the recent heavy rains. Imagine the owners' joy at having to complain long and loud to have any reparation made. And, even when that's done, they have the noise and inconvenience of the traffic to and from the Autodrome every time there's an event.

One hopes they're not close enough to suffer the noise of the racing while it's underway.

Although I've been a motor racing fan over the years, I have to admit the racetracks aren't pretty, and to lose a chunk of beautiful Algarve countryside to something so unprepossessing isn't reassuring.

Especially when its inauguration coincides with a likely downturn in world travel and tourism. The authorities are going to be relying on locals to fill the stadium...

... but why bother if you can hear what's going on from your terrace at home?

 Monday 3 November 2008

Praia da Rocha Facelift

Unlike injections of Botox, this work will entail some radical surgery, as Praia da Rocha enters the third and final phase of its refurbishment programme, expected to last until February 2009.

The disruption will occur on the Av. Tomas Cabreira, between the Post Office and the Fortaleza de Santa Catarina. The intention is to alter the traffic circulation and the parking provision and also increase the amount of pedestrian space. That doesn't sound too bad, but they will also be replacing and rerouting water and drainage pipes, so expect lots of deep excavations.

When the holes are filled, there should be new 'urban furniture' (don't you love how flat and uninteresting that sounds?), more and better lighting, with new leisure spaces and more green area. How will they fit it all in, I wonder?

In addition, between the Jupiter Hotel and the viewpoint (Miradouro) there'll be new pavements and lighting.

They're also promising a cycleway along the length of the Avenida. I can't find mention of where it might lead after that...

So, traffic restrictions, altered locations for bus stops and more can be expected until 15 December, when they'll all go away until January 1. This should allow any touristic Christmas activities to be unhindered by the public works. Whether that means any holes will have been filled in or barriered off for safety is another matter.

One thing's for sure, it'll have cost a lot of money when it's finished, so let's hope it will have been worth the wait and the commotion.

 Saturday 1 November 2008

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