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.

Algarve Golf News

Nick Faldo has been in the Algarve recently to assist in the publicity launch for two new additions to Algarve golf courses.

They are at the Amendoeira Golf Resort, not far from Silves. I've read that Faldo is pleased with his course design (though I'd have been surprised to learn otherwise) and claims that it's suitable for occasional golfers and pros.

There's even a bronze statue of the great man to inspire lesser mortals about to set out for a round.

The other new course was designed by Irish legend Christy O'Connor Jr, and the resort containing the new facilities will have other sporting and leisure attractions, too, such as football facilities, tennis courts and a swimming pool.

They're due to be officially opened in mid-October (coinciding with the Portugal Masters) which will take place for the second successive year at Oceanico's Victoria course.

Watch out for updated details on the Algarve Golf page soon.

Friday 26 September 2008

Daylight Robbery

Often used in its allegorical sense, the term 'daylight robbery' seems to have become literal in Portugal and the Algarve recently.

Down here in the sunny south, there has been a spate of heists at filling stations and service areas over the last few weeks - even during daylight hours.

According to the local press, most of the miscreants have been apprehended. But why are they targeting fuel company premises, one wonders? Could it be part of the popular perception that the oil companies are profiteering? It does seem to the casual observer that fuel price hikes follow the price of crude oil somewhat more closely than do reductions at the pumps.

I often read comments from oil company spokespersons to the effect that there is no direct linkage between oil prices and those at the pumps... and yet where is the evidence to assure the besieged motorist?

Of course, we're all going to need to accustom ourselves to higher fuel costs in the long term. Hydrocarbons are finite and must run out one day. If only governments would encourage the provision of sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, we could make a start on changing our ways.

But our politicians seem to focus only on the next elections. Watch out for fuel price reductions just before you're asked to mark your ballot paper any time soon.

In the meantime, the robber barons in the oil companies can laugh all the way to the bank! (I'm off for a bike ride shortly, so the joke will be on them...)

Tuesday 23 September 2008

All Change At Ferragudo!

The new marina development at Ferragudo will be quite something if the plans mooted thus far come to fruition.

After a number of hiccups, including a knock-back from the government when a recent plan contravened the type of accommodation possible for such a ‘public maritime’ area, things seem to be back on course.

If the plans I have seen are accurate, I’d be surprised if all the residents of Ferragudo will be happy with the proposals. They’re certainly extensive, which is probably why the original Environmental Appraisal was so unfavourable. 

So, what’s changed to make things okay now? Another moot point; as is usually the case when politicians use words like ‘compromise’. What is currently the waterfront at Ferragudo will soon become ‘inland’, as hard standing creeps into the waters to support all the building that will take place.

There’ll be berths for 319 vessels longer than 6 metres. The footprint of the berths will take up 5.4 hectares.

Away from the water, the hotel will have 161 rooms, with 270 beds. There will be 3 blocks, of 32, 47 and 56 apartments respectively, as well as 51 'touristic townhouses', with shopping, leisure and restaurant areas covering 12.8 hectares.

The works will also include the restoration of the lifesaving station at Ferragudo (probably even more vital once the activity level increases locally). And it seems that the local fishermen have been included in the mix, with 42 places for regular working vessels.

Whether it will all happen without any further hitches is impossible to predict. Watch this space for any future news.

Thursday 18 September 2008

Animals...

I went to Estoi Horse Show last year. I enjoyed seeing the horses put through their paces, and the carriage driving competition was wonderful. But I wasn't pleased that they had erected a temporary bullring.

As a result, I didn't go back this year. While I don't seek to influence anyone's national culture, I do draw the line at subsidizing what I consider to be barbarity.

And it seems that, this year, Estoi went beyond the pale in an entirely new way. 

Part of the festivities was billed as a Brazilian Rodeo, but before the Show ever started, a Faro tribunal had ruled that the rodeo as envisaged could not take place.

Ignoring this ruling, the show featured the rodeo anyway and, according to local press, this was ignored by the local GNR police force. As noted in Barlavento newspaper, this does not set a good example to citizens and does little to assuage the public's worries, in a period of rising crime, that the police are taking their job seriously. 

As an outsider, I observe Algarve life with interest; and I must admit that the seeming infraction described above pales into insignificance when compared to the Metropolitan Police preventing entirely legal protests on behalf of Tibet, during a visit to London by the Chinese president a few years ago.

All the same, it'd be nice if Estoi Horse Fair restricted itself to celebrating horses and horsemanship and avoided the needless torturing of animals. If that happened, I might even stump up for a ticket again...

Monday 15 September 2008

Follow That Dream!

I read in the current edition of 'Barlavento' about a Portimão man who wanted to become a wine producer. A rare enough dream, you might think, but at the time, he was employed as an engineer in the Regional Directorate of Agriculture. 

He decided to uproot an orangery and to plant his vines in a formation that would allow harvesting by machine. This latter move was because of an anticipated shortage of skilled grape pickers. 

His first steps were taken in 2001. In 2007, he quit his job at the Directorate and has issued a 3500-bottle vintage of "Foral de Portimão 2005". This was followed up with a 7500-bottle 2006 vintage. 

How did he do? Well, two of his wines (Reserva 2007 and Petit Verdot 2007) recently won silver medals in a regional wine tasting! 

This year, he plans to produce 20,000 bottles of red and to introduce a white at 1500 bottles. 

Isn't it wonderful to learn about someone who had a dream and followed it? The gentleman in question rejoices in the name of João Mariano, and is deserving of much admiration. Look out for his wines when you're next faced with choosing a tipple in the Algarve; I certainly will! 

Thursday 11 September 2008

Aguas do Algarve

It rained yesterday! For the first time in months... Not much precipitation, but the clouds lasted most of the day. It came as a bit of a shock, since we rarely see weather forecasts. We even had to cancel a mid-afternoon tennis appointment!

Of course, compared to reports we've heard about the UK summer, and the recent newscasts about hurricanes and flooding across the Atlantic, a bit of September rain doesn't rank. But, it did serve to show just how much we come to take each successive sunny day in the Algarve for granted.

(Good news was, the new first floor terrace got its first soaking and we haven't seen any signs of a leak yet).

Better news is that today was sunny again, so Nev played tennis while I wandered around Vilamoura, leafleting hither and thither for my new business. We'll have more rain soon enough, I suppose, so I'm just enjoying each bonus day as it arrives...

Sunday 7 September 2008

Downsizing?

There's a political movement within Portugal that huddles under the banner of 'Regioes, Sim!' (that is, Regions, Yes!). Their campaign is for more regionalization of the country's distinct areas, so far as I understand.

It's a little confusing, since I thought the Algarve was already a recognised, separate region, with its own authority. But, apparently, it would take alterations to the national constitution to bring about proper regionalization. Just to obtain parliamentary consideration of such a step would require a petition signed by at least 4000 citizens...

The driving force would seem to be discontent with 'profound inequalities' in the way that different areas are treated by central government (sounds a bit like London-centric UK, doesn't it?). Regions would be able to revitalize their own economies in ways that just won't happen with the dead hand of central bureaucracy pulling the strings.

It'll take a referendum to bring it all about, however... and we know that governments only hold referendums (referenda?) when they think they'll obtain the desired result.

How does all this affect Algarve vacations and vacationers? Your guess is as good as mine. So long as the sun continues to shine above those Algarve beaches, I'm presuming no-one's going to care much.

Friday 5 September 2008

Algarve Camping Perils

It seems that the police are cracking down on illegal camping, not just in the Algarve, but along the west coast of Portugal generally...

Although it might seem like a good wheeze to just pitch a tent on a beach, it is an activity that attracts an instant fine if detected by the authorities. Presumably, the objection is that there are no available sanitary facilities and campers are therefore forced to 'go' wherever they can...

Whatever the reason for the crackdown, it's worth remembering that police in Portugal are routinely armed. Photographs in the Portuguese press showed five or six officers surrounding a small tent pitched on a night-time beach, and two of them were carrying rifles! Now that's what I term an irresistible wake-up call!

Of course, there are many places that do encourage Algarve camping, and most are well-run and reasonably cheap, while offering the sort of facilities (WCs, showers, laundry equipment) that make 'roughing it' a little less rough.

Thursday 4 September 2008

A Cracking Good Read...

It would seem that, whatever your taste in reading matter, Quarteira has it covered. Until the end of the month, the seafront will feature a mobile library vehicle containing 1400 books, regional and national newspapers and magazines. They can be borrowed free of charge, and the kudos for this move goes to Loule and Quarteira councils.

What a nifty way to improve your mind while enjoying the wonderful sunny weather on Algarve beaches!

(Of course,  my opinion might be different if I ran a newsagent shop or book store anywhere within walking distance!)

 Tuesday 2 September 2008

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