Algarve BlogThis 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. Wrong Move?While I'm all in favour of ending discriminatory practices in the workplace, it seems that the politicos, as usual, have managed to take things to extremes. Even to the extent where it works to the disadvantage of females - though I bet they won't admit it. When they enact the latest bit of Euro-legislation just before Christmas this year, it will "prohibit the direct or indirect sexual discrimination with regard to the provision of goods and services". So, what's wrong with that, you might ask... ... Well, for starters it will mean that women will no longer receive cheaper quotations for vehicle insurance on the grounds that they're safer (and better) drivers than men. Someone please explain to me how that's helpful? I'm sure the European Commission (the motive force behind this latest master-stroke) actually mean well. It's just that they don't seem able to think things through to a logical conclusion. Otherwise they'd have excluded such obvious reverse-discrimination from the legislation. What we patently need is more females in the European Commission (to increase the chance of common sense prevailing) but this legislation will probably prevent anyone trying to bring that about as it would be sexual discrimination. To paraphrase that ad for the movie 'Alien': In Euro-land, no-one can hear you scream. Sunday 30 September 2007 Spot the Celeb...I can't say that I've noticed many celebrities in my extensive travels around Algarve, but they are out there, so I read. Footballers, F1 racing drivers, popular singers, golfers... the list goes on. Possibly the reason that few are in evidence is that, unlike Hollywood, where being seen and written about is the lifeblood of the famous ones, an Algarve retreat is just that - somewhere to get away from all the attention, adulation and prying cameramen and just enjoy some quality time. Since I always have my camera with me when I'm out and about, any famous faces that I encounter are likely to be snapped and revealed in Algarve Beach Life. Not for any exposé, or with the intention of 'grinding an axe' - just to show that the Algarve is the place when it comes to a relaxing time in a wonderful climate.
Michael Owen is an Algarve property owner, I believe. He's one of Nev's favourite football (soccer) players and, unfortunately, has had a few extended periods of injury just lately in which to partake of some sunny Algarve recuperation! Not the best circumstances in which to be photographed, I'm sure, but I'd be happy to add my signature to his plaster cast (or even the bandage if the injury's not that serious). In exchange, all I'd ask is that he smile for the camera (or at least not wince). And any other celebs who'd like a mention in these pages need only use the contact form on the Algarve Best page. Always happy to oblige! Saturday 29 September 2007 Chilled AlgarveThere are newspaper items appearing almost weekly about the boatloads of drugs (usually hashish) being intercepted off the Algarve coast. This leads me to think that the demand is based either on the recreational habits of tourist visitors to the area, or that the Algarveans are intent on becoming even more laid-back than at present. Only a few weeks ago, a 30 kilogram bale of hashish was discovered floating a few miles off Olhão harbour entrance. This might have been caused by poor weather at sea, or else it happened after the crew of the offending smuggling vessel had been sampling the goods and got too mellow to bother about being careless! The Maritime Police sent out more vessels to ensure that other bales were not bobbing about out there, presumably before any holidaymakers hired boats to check things out for themselves. I wonder if, had the package washed up ashore, it would have affected the Blue Flag rating of the affected beach? Does pharmaceutical flotsam count as a black mark? Thursday 27 September 2007 White Elephants For Sale (Or Rent)I note that it's possible, for the price of 2 euros, to have a conducted tour of the Algarve Stadium. (Please form an orderly queue if the idea appeals). This edifice was erected to host some of the matches in the 2004 European Championships (football / soccer). Since then, it's hardly been used, so they should run a competition to guess how much each empty seat has cost the Portuguese taxpayer. As white elephants go, it's nowhere near as impressive as London's Millennium Dome (best part of a billion pounds and eventually sold for peanuts). And it's certainly a lot easier on the eye than the 'Greenwich Plastic Tent'. But it's still a reminder of how public money is squandered in the modern world. In terms of attracting tourism or enhancing the Algarve's profile, it would come way down any list of sensible options, I fear. And, even at 2 euros a go, there are many better ways to spend your vacation money than subsidizing yet another daft political statement. A sea cruise for some dolphin- and whale-watching would be money better spent, methinks? If only I had the 'sea legs'. Friday 21 September 2007 Happy Coincidences?Mentioning Monte Gordo, as I did below, I should add that I did make it to see the final fireworks display of the 'International' season, as advertised on my Algarve Events page. The expats' organisation, AFPOP (Eastern Algarve battalion), had arranged an evening meal prior to enjoying some music on the beach while waiting for the midnight pyrotechnic extravaganza. (I'll leave the meal for consideration in my next newsletter, I think). What about the coincidence, I hear you mutter? Ever curious, I had arrived early, to find a local festival in full swing. There were hundreds of people on the beach, and quite a few at sea in small boats. Those on the beach were carrying statues of various saints and Nossa Senhora dos Dores.
Whenever the marchers on the beach stopped, they turned the statues out to sea and chants or shouts erupted from the boats. As I later learned, it is thought that this action (the effigies facing out to sea) increases the number of fish that will be caught by the fishing boats!
Away from the beach, the town's streets were lined with stalls, a fairground and other crowd-pleasing diversions. There was musical entertainment from Marco Paulo (not to be confused with Marco Polo, the famous explorer). When the fireworks began, they were synchronised to music, with superb precision. At least six separate 'pieces' were involved. As usual, the spectacle ended all too soon for my liking, and I had to think about making my way home. Good fun, though, like virtually all Algarve festivals. Tuesday 18 September 2007 The Left Hand/Right Hand SyndromeAs a follow-up to the blog below about the furore over the Spanish appropriation of the brand 'Algarve', I was surprised to discover that the Algarve authorities are actually complicit in this strange business. Visiting Monte Gordo and a few local eastern beaches with my Portuguese friend, Nanda, I discovered a small booklet in the M. Gordo 'Turismo' premises. The offending item was titled 'Luz de la Costa' and is a free monthly magazine dealing (so it claimed) with the 'Costa de la Luz and El Algarve'. Mostly printed in Spanish, but with a small Welcome article in English, it is full of advertisements for business services and real estate on the Spanish side of the Guadiana River. True, there is a page about how Algarve is becoming more popular with Spanish holidaymakers (the article seems to have been lifted wholesale from an online blog), but it's another example of the attempt to 'roll up' the Algarve (or its eastern stretches) and the Spanish areas around the Costa de la Luz into one seamless entity. No surprises that it's happening; "imitation is the
sincerest form of flattery", after all. Rather, my
amazement stems from the magazine's availability within the
official So, on the one hand, there are complaints about the appropriation of the Algarve name (an article in today's free English-language newspaper details the statement of Algarve MP, Mendes Bota, calling on the government to take appropriate action) while, on the other, the Turismos are happy to stock and hand out the Luz/El Algarve magazine. Maybe it's the heat (it's a lovely sunny Algarve day
here) but I think I'm missing something obvious...
Friday 14 September 2007 Unintended IronyIt made me smile and wince at the same time. Scanning the local English-language freebie newspaper this morning (I know, I know - it should be Portuguese) I was struck by the juxtaposition of two articles that seemed somewhat contradictory. I'm sure it was pure accident that they appeared on the same page, both 'above the fold', but it did rather underline the difference between 'saying' and 'doing' in the political arena. The first article concerned the recent EU environment meeting. (This stuff is reported ad nauseam at present, since Portugal is currently enjoying a six-month stint of European Presidency, which the politicians simply adore). The meeting took place in Portugal, and had discussed the usual stuff... climate change, drought, large-scale forest fires and so on. I'm sure many worthy sentiments were expressed, accords signed and future undertakings agreed. The second article concerned the Luso Tagus, a rotting abandoned vessel that is lying within the Ria Formosa nature reserve, a protected area of outstanding natural beauty. The boat was seized 13 years ago(!), believed to have been involved in tobacco smuggling. After a few years, it was towed to its present position in Faro and forgotten. Nothing has ever been done about it, and now there are fears that it is leaking pollutants and worse into the fragile ecosystem of the nature reserve. And that's the problem, isn't it? On the one hand, millions of cubic metres of hot air are expended at these conferences and meetings (to which the various ministers and their large entourages travel by air, of course)... ... While a very real problem, that probably has a simple solution, given the political will, is completely ignored, because it's not a good headline or photo opportunity. And I don't believe that Portugal is alone in this nonsensical double-standard behaviour. I expect there are examples aplenty throughout Europe. And no-one in authority will worry until it's too late. Here endeth the Sunday sermon. Sunday 9 September 2007 Circulação Com Precaução...That's a sign you might encounter when approaching roadworks in Algarve. It pretty much means 'proceed with caution', but I'm afraid it could be applied to almost any stretch of road, whether undergoing maintenance or not. Alas, it seems that traffic deaths on Algarve roads so far this year have exceeded the toll for the whole of 2006. That's sad news, and the advice I give in my page about driving in Portugal (and Algarve) is more apposite than ever. Expect the unexpected, and you'll rarely be disappointed. Proceed with caution, always, and you'll likely enjoy your vacation as you intended. Saturday 8 September 2007 What's In A Name (Pt 2)?Having blogged previously about the Algarve Tourism Board playing fast and loose with the Algarve name by coining this year's daft 'Allgarve' offering, I was amused to note that when others mess about with the 'brand', there are complaints soon enough! It seems that a property development across the border in Ayamonte, Spain, is using the term 'El Algarve' in its promotional advertising. This has caused outrage among some Portuguese politicians, with letters being written to the Republican Assembly querying what the government intends to do about the situation. Some are worried that the 'misleading' approach will result in the loss of investment within Algarve proper, with knock-on consequences for the Portuguese economy. My own advice to those who are worried is to relax and forget about it... ... Having checked out the so-called 'Spanish Algarve' before deciding to buy a house in Portugal, I can predict that Algarve has nothing to fear. Prices may be (at present) a little lower across the border, but we weren't tempted for one minute when making our decision to buy. There's a 'buzz' about the Algarve and its inhabitants that the opposition across the border could not plagiarize even if they wished to do so. So vive Algarve - and please stop worrying, you politicians! Thursday 6 September 2007 Return from Algarve Blog to Home page Back to top
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tourist premises of the Algarve authority.
Monte Gordo in the 'real' Algarve,
the 
