Tomorrow Algarve Magazine - February 2024

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FEBRUARY 2024 | EDITION 147

A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR THE ALGARVE

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4,500 PRINTED COPIES EDITORIAL Sophie Sadler sophie@tomorrowalgarve.com +351 912 176 588 SALES Tom Henshaw tom@tomorrowalgarve.com +351 919 918 733 DESIGN Phil Harding phil@tomorrowalgarve.com +351 916 606 226 FOLLOW  TomorrowAlgarve  @TomorrowAlgarve  www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Editor's note

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the February edition of Tomorrow magazine. This February, we have the precious gift of one extra day to enjoy in the beautiful Algarve. As 2024 is a leap year, there are 29 days in February as opposed to the normal 28.

If, like me, you were never entirely sure as to why that was, then it is all explained in these pages.

You could use this extra day we have been given to do something special or try something new. There are plenty of suggestions in our new Reader's Tips section, a new feature aimed at allowing you to share everything you enjoy, from food, places to visit, curiosities and history.

But there is a great deal going on to enjoy over the rest of February too. Don’t miss the Carnival party this year, when towns and cities up and down Portugal come alive with parades, parties and festive gatherings. Make sure you join in the party with the locals over this celebratory period.

Nature also bears fruit in February as the orange comes into season, delighting us all with its juicy, sweet flesh.

If you want to glory in this local fruit other than by just tasting it, the Silves Orange Festival highlights the citrus industry, promoting local producers and, of course, all things orange.

One of the most breathtaking sights in the Algarve during February is the blooming almond blossom, which casts a spell of beauty at this time of year. This natural phenomenon paints the region’s landscapes in delicate hues, and is often considered an emblem of hope, renewal, and new beginnings, with the flowering season coinciding with the arrival of spring. Local festivals pay tribute to the almond blossoms, blending traditional music, dances, and gastronomy to honour this natural wonder and share its significance with the community (see the What's On page).

And flowers of a more commercial variety also come into the picture this month as Valentine’s Day approaches.

Why not mark the day in a romantic gesture with a picnic under some almond blossoms instead of a shop-bought bloom? Another suggestion, if you want to spice up the day, is to sample an Alvor oyster (see the article on page 52) – a natural aphrodisiac, as well as a tasty morsel to wash down with a glass of something bubbly!

So, I hope you enjoy your 29 days of February, and the following pages which suggest how best to enjoy them.

From Sophie, Tom, Phil and the Tomorrow team.

ON THE COVER: Beatriz Gonçales and Cheila Vieira, who are hoping to represent Portugal at the next olympics in Paris. © João Silva Photography

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The Anatomy of Aquatic Art

© João Silva Photography

WORDS Meredith Price Levitt PHOTOGRAPHY © João Silva Photography

Before she could walk, she could swim. As a baby, Sylvia Hernandez Mendizabal remembers climbing into the fountains of Madrid. With a nostalgic smile, she recalls the feeling of weightlessness water provided, how her body could move differently, with more freedom and less effort. When she talks about water her energy shifts, her passion for the healing and restorative powers of water is tangible.

Luckily for the city of Lagos, Sylvia’s love for water includes the ocean and surfing. Ultimately, this primal passion is what brought her to Portugal. Although she fell in love with her first surf instructor here – and this is another reason why she stayed – it began with her need to be close to the ocean.

Born and raised in Madrid, Sylvia knew from an early age that she would eventually live close to the ocean. But it took many years of hard work and education before she finally decided to settle in Lagos permanently.

“Water is my life. The ocean is my life,” she says as we sip steaming coffee in a room of glass

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overlooking the sparkling municipal pool in the city centre. Outside, the January air is unusually frigid. The morning mist is so thick it almost reaches the parking lot from the horizon, as if the clouds themselves decided to descend from the sky.

But for Sylvia, just like her duet swimmers, Maria Beatriz Gonçales and Cheila Vieira, there are no days off. Rain or shine, freezing or sizzling, they train. Watching them is like seeing a moving piece of aquatic art. They glide through the water as gracefully as swans, twirling their legs like ballet dancers in synchronous timing, holding their breath and then leaping into the air with movement choreographed specifically for the music. To watch them is to be mesmerised by their exactness, their stamina, their beauty and their strength.

In less than one month, the trio will fly to Qatar for the Olympic Artistic Swimming Championships at the beginning of February. Their place in the competition will determine whether or not they compete in the summer Olympics in Paris in 2024.

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Although their chances are good, there are never any guarantees. If one of them is ill or one leg is off by even two degrees, it could be game over. And this, says Sylvia, is one of the biggest challenges: to be mentally strong.

Prepared to handle disappointment. Able to overcome the obstacles life throws in the way.

Capable of getting in cold water and powering through – even when you’re sick and even if it’s freezing outside or the water isn’t warm enough.

Beatriz, 24, and Cheila, 25, feel mentally prepared. The pair have been swimming together since they were 13 and are ready to do whatever it takes to swim together in the Olympics, their dream for over a decade.

For Sylvia, it is also the realisation of a dream.

Yet beneath the pride, a hint of sadness slips in when she talks about her own career shift as a young athlete. After training for many years as a synchronized swimmer, she decided that although she was good, she wasn’t good enough to make it to the top. “I didn’t have the perfect body shape to go to the levels I wanted to reach,”

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© João Silva Photography

This puts the young Portuguese duet in an excellent position to qualify for the 2024 Olympics. The first 18 teams out of around 50 in Qatar in February will go on to Paris this summer to compete for a gold medal. By 9 February, the pair will know if they made it or not.

Part of being a good coach is knowing how to mandate the training program. And that’s no small accomplishment.

There are so many other experts involved in the rigorous regime for this duet that Sylvia has a hard time remembering them all.

The girls spend 40 hours a week either rehearsing in the water with Sylvia or using video to examine their body positions, timing and choreography so that they are perfectly aligned. And perfect means with no margin for error. Not even one degree.

she explains. “I was ready to walk away from this sport forever and never look back.”

One of her colleagues on the national team, Ana Montero, saw another potential: to be a great coach. And despite being only 41, Sylvia has spent more than half her life doing just that. Her education is impressive.

In 2005, she finished her Bachelor of Sport Science at the Polytechnical University of Madrid and received her national coach swimming certification. In 2007, she obtained her national coach certificate of synchronized swimming.

From there, she went on to finish her doctoral degree in Proprioceptive Training for Support Skull in Synchronized Swimming and graduated cum laude. She has published numerous scientific papers and coached teams in Columbia, Spain, Turkey and Switzerland. She speaks four languages and she has the quiet confidence of an elite master.

When they’re not in the water, the girls have crossfit classes to build strength with Leonardo, yoga and mindfulness classes with Joanna, swimming lessons with Filipe and ballet classes with Denise. Perhaps the most important part of their structured and rigorous training regime, however, relates to food. Their online nutritionist, a Brazilian woman named Marcela, gives them set menus for each day.

“If they’re sick, it changes,” says Sylvia. “If they’re in a competition, she might give them more carbohydrates. If they have an infection, she shifts their diet to help them recover faster. I didn’t really believe in this so much, but this has made the biggest change of all.” © João Silva Photography

For the non-scientists among us, Sylvia’s ‘proprioceptive’ thesis examined awareness of the nerve endings in the muscles and joints that operate when the body moves.

It is the deep study of how the muscles work and our consciousness of this ability. In the water, this skill is altered because the body moves differently when confronted with the weight and mass of hydrogen and oxygen together.

“When we’re underwater, we don’t have the use of our eyes in the same way,” she explains. “We have to learn how to make use of different senses and parts of our brain to feel the movement better in the water and to understand how our muscles function in water.”

To be clear, the precision and balance needed in synchronized swimming is critical. Judges have been known to disqualify teams for a mistake of one degree in a circle, for example. One degree. If you consider that a circle has 360º, if the duet turns 359º it’s still not enough.

The depth of Sylvia’s knowledge and experience has yielded concrete results for Portugal.

When she arrived, the Portuguese artistic swimming team placed second to last in the world. Today, after almost seven years of her tutelage, they placed 11th and 15th in the International Competition in Budapest in 2023.

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COMMUNITY © Liz Corman Photography

Aside from the concerns about geopolitics in Qatar, which makes Sylvia a little nervous, she is most concerned about the specific guidelines for movement and how they are applied.

Unlike what people might think, their diet isn’t about staying skinny. It’s about their overall energy levels, their muscular strength and their mental state. Eating right lowers their levels of inflammation and keeps them healthier mentally – especially when it comes to glucose.

“The head is 200% of this sport,” says Sylvia in a serious tone. “Not everyone has the mental strength for this. But this is the most important part.”

And it certainly takes an incredibly strong mentality to overcome the challenges – from the not quite warm enough water where they train (27 OC!) to the financial difficulties (Portugal only supports athletes once they have proven themselves in competitions), and for this Lisbonian duet, the homesickness.

“The hardest part of this for me is being away from home,” says Cheila. Choosing to follow Sylvia to Lagos and leaving Lisbon means missing family gatherings and not being able to go for short walks on the beach with her boyfriend or jump out for a quick coffee with friends.

After the pair started serious work and committed to their joint goal of reaching the Olympics in 2017, there have been times when she wanted to walk away.

“There are new rules and new base marks and new levels of precision and they are not completely clarified yet,” she explains. “For a coach, this is a nightmare and this is what I am most afraid of.” She cites an example from the recent world championships in which a duet completed a movement with their legs closed for many competitions, but then, suddenly, some judges understood that their legs should have remained open for that movement. Because of this variance in comprehension, that team didn’t make it to the next level.

Overall, however, Sylvia feels excited about this opportunity and ready to meet the challenges. This is the moment they have been training for. It is the day they have prepared for, and it is the competition of their lives.

Although Sylvia has been coaching for over 24 years, this will be the first time she is the head coach for an Olympic duet.

It’s a lot of pressure, but she knows they are ready.

Using their deep awareness of water and their connection to it on a physical, mental and spiritual level, this trio is certainly one to watch. And if you’re from Portugal – and especially from Lagos – it’s the team to cheer for, the ones who have risen so quickly and the first ones to ever make it this far. *The results from Qatar will be finalised by February 9, 2024.

“It’s not like everything is always perfect,” she says. “There are ups and downs. The four things that keep me going are having my loved ones showing me support and giving me pep talks, remembering that Beatriz and Sylvia are in this with me and they depend on me as I depend on them because we are a team, thinking about all the Portuguese artistic swimmers who look up to us, and of course knowing that we are aiming for something tremendously big: to be the first Portuguese team to qualify for the Olympics in artistic swimming.”

Of course, the trio is hoping for the best results: to have the chance to compete in Paris this summer. But after the climb they’ve made in the last six years, even if they don’t make it to the Olympics, they should be immensely proud of how far they’ve come. From almost last place in the world, they have soared to unimaginable heights in a short amount of time.

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© João Silva Photography

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it's

In the words of the Trinbagonian singer Destra Garcia, “It’s carnival!”

WORDS Luka Alexander It’s that time of year again when towns and villages across the country will burst out in colour, filled with fun, frolics, and flamboyant costumes to celebrate carnaval.

First celebrated by Italian Catholics before the start of Lent, the tradition of carnaval soon grew in popularity, spreading across Europe, notably in France, Spain and here in Portugal. As Lent was the period when Catholics would not eat meat, the festival gained the name carnevale – loosely translating to “put away the meat”. It was seen as the last bid to eat, drink and be merry before temporarily giving up all things enjoyable until Easter Day. Across Portugal, many towns and villages will host their very own carnaval parades between 10–14 February, preserving this centuries-old tradition.

Whilst many often associate Brazil with carnaval, it was Portuguese immigrants from the islands of Açores, Madeira and Cabo Verde who introduced the entrudo (a time for mockery) to the former Portuguese colony before it became the carnaval which we know today.

Among the many festivities that will take place over the fun-filled long weekend, there are a few towns up and down the country that have put their mark on the colourful annual event.

Carnaval at Figueiró dos Vinhos in 1974 courtesy of Biblioteca Municipal de Figueiró dos Vinhos

Ovar

Photos © Mário José Martins

The Carnaval de Ovar is one of the biggest in the country. It is thought to date back to the late 19th century, growing in popularity until it hit its peak in the 1950s. Between the vibrant costumes, confetti and wacky floats, one can see the “dirty battle” between groups of friends, who throw eggs, flour, glitter and even paint at each other, causing light-hearted mayhem stemming from the ancient entrudo traditions.

Over the years, various neighbourhoods in and around the Ovar area have joined in with the fun, each contributing to making Ovar one of Portugal’s most beloved carnavals. The first samba school was founded in the city in 1983 and incorporated into the carnaval, bringing a contemporary, tropical vibe to the festival, which welcomes large volumes of tourists all year round.

While not one of the biggest carnavals, Torres Vedras has become a popular favourite due to quite an unusual twist. Having annually celebrated carnaval since the latter part of the 19th century, the first Carnaval Commission was founded in Torres Vedras in 1912. Eleven years later, the town saw its first float and the crowning of the carnaval king and queen, who rode the procession on a donkey. However, it was in 1928 when everything changed and the matrafonas joined in the parades, bringing a new and slightly bizarre concept to carnaval.

As crowds flocked to cheer on the parade, the village men began to look for a disguise to join in the celebrations unnoticed. A typical dinner suit was deemed too formal for such an extravagant event and so the men decided to delve into their feminine side and dress up as women, somewhat akin to drag. Known as the matrafonas, the men of Torres Vedras have continued this tradition for the past 94 years and have become a favourite part of the Torres Vedras Carnaval.

From flowing elegant ball gowns to suggestive workwear attire, crushing their feet into stiletto heels and smothering themselves with make-up, the men take pride in their attempt at drag, often competing for the best costume.

Soon the women joined in with this gender-bending tradition by dressing up as stereotypical men. Wearing oversized suits, with stubble and thickly drawn moustaches, some even smoking pipes and wearing flat caps to caricature country folk, the women’s tongue-in-cheek depiction of men competes with the men’s drag. The matrafonas have truly put Torres Vedras Carnaval on the map as one of the most unusual, despite it being copied in various other parades.

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Alte

The rustic town of Alte may seem picturesque and somewhat quiet most of the year, but during carnaval, the streets come to life with one of the most risqué carnavals in the Algarve.

Filled with suggestive costumes and innuendos, Alte brings a different sense to carnaval in this community parade. With participation by local organisations and tradespeople, carnaval time in Alte brings out the best of this little town, attracting thousands from across the Algarve and afar. Branded as “the most traditional carnaval in the Algarve”, revellers are known to mockingly pay homage to all things stereotypically Algarvian. Youngsters dressed as farmers with chickens flying all over the float and a horse dressed as “Barbie” are just two examples from previous years, with others too risqué for an innocent like me to mention.

What will appear in Carnaval de Alte this year remains top secret until the gates open on 10 February and if you look closely, you might just see yours truly there, dancing away with a beer in hand.

The Burial of Shrovetide

Monchique Further out of town, smaller communities also come together to make their very own village carnavas. Supported by local schools, organisations and businesses, these small carnavals are equally as crazy, if not as grand as their city counterparts.

The carnaval in Monchique is a prime example of a rural community coming together to let their hair down. Schools and organisations gather together to showcase a new theme, often highlighting social issues such as nature preservation and recycling. The parade tours the windy roads of Monchique, squeezing through narrow alleyways which are barely wide enough for the floats to pass through.

Watching the parade making its way down the very steep and narrow Rua do Porto Fundo, which has a set of steps down its middle, is entertaining in itself as onlookers applaud the hard work of the local children and their families who have spent weeks preparing their costumes.

A good friend of mine, Joanna, works with young people in the area and she told me carnaval is one of her favourite festivals.

She explained how she loves the costumes, the atmosphere and, of course, how the community comes together to be “a little silly”.

Like many, she has been involved in the local carnaval on and off over the years, watching it develop as trends change.

Creating a new costume each year is all part of the fun for Joanna. “It’s like a competition to be better than the year before,” she told me excitedly. While the theme for this year may still be under wraps, carnaval goers will likely flock to see the colourful creations that others have worked so hard to make.

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Loulé

Closer to home, the Algarve offers some of the most notable carnaval parades in the country. Loulé, arguably the most famous carnival in the region, is famed for its Brazilian dancers, ornately dressed in minimalist costumes that don’t leave much to the imagination. As one of the oldest carnavals in the country, the parade welcomes as many as 100,000 visitors annually, with annual preparations starting as soon as the last carnaval has finished.

One of the highlights of Loulé Carnaval is the caricature statues of world leaders, often appearing in somewhat suggestive poses, mocking political campaigns and social issues and giving onlookers a good laugh at situations that wouldn’t look out of place in a late-night comedy sketch.This year the event will take place from 11-13 February.

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The Enterro do Entrudo, or the “burial of shrovetide” is an ancient pagan tradition representing the end of carnaval. The historic sacrifice was almost lost in time until 33 years ago when it was reintroduced to mark the end of Quarteira’s carnaval.

An effigy of a fictitious deceased person representing carnaval is paraded around the town in a mock funeral procession followed by a priest, marching band and, of course, the people, bidding farewell to the deceased or carnaval effigy and welcoming the start of Lent. As the parade weaves its way around the streets of Quarteira, starting at Rua da Alegria, onlookers follow the procession, bashing pots and pans, rattles and tambourines, as young men shout out, “Oh my Shrovetide, Donkey Head, You stole my Chicha and left me my Bones!” At one time, youngsters would throw flour at curious onlookers and mock the irritable old men of the town, taking advantage of the fact that “no one gets offended” during carnaval.

The first parade of this kind was recorded by Dom Afonso III in 1252. It is believed that the word entrudo derives from the Latin introitu, meaning “the beginning”. This is interpreted as the beginning of Christian Lent and the beginning of a new agrarian cycle in pagan belief.

The Enterro do Entrudo finishes at the beach of Praça do Mar, where the effigy is ceremoniously “burnt” in a pyrotechnic display as the priest reads the pretend Last Will & Testament to much raucous behaviour and mockery from the crowd, finally putting an end to the effigy and the end to carnaval, at least for another year.

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It turns out that Corinne is a volunteer teacher at the university, where she gives weekly lessons on working creatively with materials. Currently, much of the work is focused on making carnival costumes. “I help them as much as possible, but with the challenging tasks such as mask making, I do it myself,” Corinne explains. “I just love doing the work; it gives me such pleasure.”

How is all the material sourced? “We rummage in our cupboards and find all sorts of things that can be reused.” We go to shops that sell goods cheaply, such as Chinese and charity shops. It is amazing what you can do with old curtains.

And look at this,” Corinne laughs and waves a colourful feather duster. “Our theme this year is birds, and these make perfect bird feathers!”

Corinne and Susanna

Getting Ready for Carnival!

February is carnival time (carnaval in Portuguese). Towns and cities up and down Portugal come alive with parades, parties and festive gatherings.

Everyone seems to join in with unbridled enthusiasm. We always marvel at the elaborate, fanciful and often visually stunning costumes worn by participants in the processions.

WORDS Lena Strang This year, I wanted to meet some people behind the scenes who make it all happen. The person to speak to in Lagos is Corinne Ferreira who, for many years, has created outfits both for carnivals and medieval festivals – and she enjoys participating herself. She collaborates with the Senior University, whose members eagerly take part in the festivities.

Joining me at Corinne’s house is Susana Matos, the president of the Senior University. We sit in the living room filled with boxes and bags full of supplies. On the large dining room table, there are garments laid out in different stages of preparation. This is obviously the nerve centre.

Susana informs me that Lagos Câmara encourages the involvement of senior citizens in different activities and carnival is the perfect opportunity to get active. “For the last few years, we have been part of the carnival parade, along with local schools. We generally have around 25 members who take part. With Corinne’s assistance, we can do it in style. She suggests the theme and, with her vivid imagination and skill, creates some fantastic outfits.”

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She shows me her own outfit, which she is working on. Her owl costume is only half finished, but when she puts it on, I get the idea. I can’t wait to see the final product on the day, complete with feathers, wings and beak.

Why are they prepared to do all this work each year for the carnival? Susana stresses the importance of keeping this cultural heritage alive, especially as it becomes an inter-generational celebration. “We all enjoy it immensely, both preparing for carnival and then taking part in the procession with the youngsters. The seniors enjoy it just as much as the children do!”

Time is short this year as carnaval is early, but both Susana and Corinne assure me it will all be ready on time. The parade takes place on Friday 9 February. Children from infant and primary schools, along with the contingent from the Senior University, gather at the Praça do Infante (in front of the Santa Maria church) at 10 am. The procession winds its way down the Avenida to Praça Gil Eanes (with the statue of D. Sebastian) and then returns to the original square along Rua 25 de Abril.

There promises to be music, entertainment and dance at the square and every child receives a lunch pack courtesy of the Câmara. Here, there is plenty of mingling of the seniors, children and parents – and, of course, plenty of onlookers.

Don’t forget that Odiáxere will be in full swing for the carnival, too. Celebrations organised by Clube Deportivo de Odiáxere extend over several days. On Sunday 11 February at 3 pm, in Largo do Moinho, there is usually a colourful children’s carnival. Look carefully, and you may see members of the Senior University stepping out on a float as part of the Fun Dance group.

On Tuesday 13 February, the principal day of the carnival, starting at 2.30 pm, the Largo do Moinho explodes in fun and games with the procession of colourful allegorical floats. A little bird tells me that the feathered contingent from Lagos will also make an appearance.

Let’s all join in the spirit of carnaval this year!

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Silves, The Orange Capital

A Festival to Celebrate All Things Orange The idea of picking a fresh orange from a tree has become a novelty for many visitors to the Algarve. This sweet, juicy citrus fruit is an emblem of Algarvian life as well as being important to the local economy. What better place to find a vast array of all things orange than in “The Orange Capital”, Silves.

WORDS Luka Alexander The 8th annual Silves Orange Festival will take place this month from 16–18 February, highlighting the citrus industry, promoting local producers and, of course, all things orange.

From handicrafts to orange wines and liqueurs, chocolates, sweets, and even traditionally roasted suckling pig – all go hand-in-hand with deliciously sweet Algarvian oranges.

Filled with traditional activities and live entertainment, the gastronomy fair has grown in recent years, earning the town its own trademark, “Capital da Laranja”. Rich in fertile soil, covering the rolling landscape of the municipality, and with some three hundred days of sunshine per year, it is no surprise that Silves boasts the perfect conditions for growing one of Portugal’s best-loved fruits.

While many associate the orange (Citrus × sinensis) with the Iberian peninsula, the citrus fruit was originally developed in China. Its cultivation began around 7,000 years ago, but the Romans were probably the first Europeans to come into contact with this fruit, sometime around the first century, via trade with Persian merchants and the Aksum Kingdom (modern-day Ethiopia).

Originally considered a luxury product, the orange was initially bitter and cultivated for medicinal purposes for noblemen and high-ranking military officers. As the Roman empire

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expanded, they introduced the bitter orange to much of their conquered lands, especially in North Africa. After the fall of the Roman empire, most of the orange groves that had made their way into Europe began to diminish.

By the 11th century, during the golden years of the Islamic Caliphate, orange groves had begun to reappear across Europe. However, it was during the Age of Discoveries in the 16th century that Portuguese explorers imported orange trees to Portugal. It wasn’t until 1635 that the sweet variety of oranges we enjoy today were cultivated in Portugal, notably in the Algarve, after the trees were introduced by Portuguese merchants who brought cuttings from India.

Today, the Algarve has a booming business in orange production, with over 70% of Portuguese-grown oranges coming from the Algarve alone. As the second most consumed fruit in the world, after apples, it’s no surprise that this best-loved fruit is celebrated in the former Algarvian capital, which was built by the people who introduced the vitamin C-rich fruit to the area centuries ago.

While the orange festivities will bring many together to celebrate the mother of all fruits at Silves’ Fissul Exhibition Complex, local restaurants have also joined in with the celebrations in recent years, offering a host of imaginative orange-themed dishes and desserts, locally sourced from

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the municipality of Silves. Amongst the imaginative orange products that will be available during the event, the festival will offer an array of entertainment, with performances by local and national artists, all who have come together to promote one of the Algarve's most regarded agricultural industries.

If you’re looking for something a little different from the typical glass of orange juice, why not head to Silves where you’ll find an array of orangerelated culinary ideas and a taste of rural Algarvian life? Above all, you will be supporting local producers who work hard, often fighting against inflation and devastating droughts to preserve the Algarve’s famous oranges.  Silves: Capital da Laranja Festival 16-18 February 2024 Edifício da Fissul Pavilhão de Feiras e Exposições 8300-101 Silves www.cm-silves.pt

Fun Fact Did you know that the word “orange” is derived from the name “Portugal” in several languages around the world? These include Greek – Portokali, Turkish – Portakal and Romanian – Portocala, to name a few.

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Chair Yoga and Healthy Food WORDS Julian Putley We must all be very aware of sponsored ads on social media. A friend sent me this report.

Thanks Bob. I was scrolling through one of my social media accounts one day and noticed a sponsored ad. for chair yoga. It looked interesting. I was still feeling rather bloated after the holiday festivities and chair yoga guaranteed considerable weight loss.

So, it seemed to be just my ‘cup o’ tea’. I didn’t scrutinise the details, but I’d heard of yoga, so I thought I’d give it a try – besides, there was no mention of special mats or other accoutrements and it required only a half hour per day. All you needed was a chair and I had one of those.

My spare bedroom was a perfect location. My back window looked out onto a peaceful garden. I bought some scented incense sticks and I found some quiet Indian music for the background.

I sat in the chair, positioned my hands in the recommended way; I took deep breaths, I meditated on the sky, the stars, the sea, nature, my wife (I thought better of that after a while and desisted). I ooomed and did more deep breathing.

Half an hour flashed by and I felt wonderful, relaxed and peaceful. I did this faithfully for a month and – big shock – I weighed myself and I hadn’t lost an ounce!

Another month went by. I struggled with the exercises, but I thought I could feel myself improving, strength-wise. I weighed myself and found that I had lost… wait for it - three ounces!

I can’t say I was over the moon, but I had read somewhere that ‘every journey begins with small steps’. I did a calculation. My objective was to lose 15 pounds. At this rate, it would take nearly seven years to accomplish my goal, and that was without any backsliding.

It was time to get serious. I had started this chair yoga lark with a goal in mind and I’m not a quitter. I took the exercises more seriously and completely transformed my diet. Now I eat vegetarian five days a week with fish ‘n chips twice a week (guilty admission: I still have the tartare sauce). I bought an air fryer to reduce my fat intake and I’ve almost eliminated sugar. At first, we had a glitch; my wife put her wig in the machine thinking I’d said ‘hairdryer’. I eat carbs in moderation and substitute them with beans, lentils, chickpeas and other high-protein foods. Thus, my flatulence level is way up. My wife is now sleeping in a different room because the

I decided to take professional online advice and I soon realised that exercises were involved – horror upon horrors. This was certainly not my expectation. Then, there was a section on diet, which also came as a bit of a shock. I had always enjoyed food. My weekly menu consisted of roast beef, lamb cutlets, pork chops, sausages, hamburgers, chicken and turkey.

The online advice told me to eat more vegetables and fruit, ‘You Are What You Eat’ it proclaimed.

Well, I thought, who wants to be a vegetable, or even a fruit for that matter. Anyway, I took the advice seriously and slashed my weekly regimen – I cut out the chicken and turkey and replaced them with fish ’n chips. Apparently, fish was good for you.

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combination of snoring and farting (don’t cringe at the word, everybody farts, even the late queen) is unbearable, she says, although I've put up with hers for years.

There are times when I make exceptions to my (fairly) strict regimen. If I’m off on an adventure that might be slightly risky, I throw caution to the wind and indulge in extravagances otherwise denied. A friend and rather overweight gourmand once offered sage advice, “Think of all the people on the Titanic who passed up the chocolate mousse.”

N.B. Check back in five years to see if Bob has reached his goal.

COMMUNITY

Reader’s Suggestions In a new series, we ask readers to send in their top tips on making the most of the Algarve. This could be suggestions on walks, social groups, viewpoints, landmarks, interesting history, restaurants or shops with unique products. If you have any to share please send them to the editor.

From: Paul Morgan

From: Geoff Hollow

Subject: Walk and Talk

Subject: Treading the Boards

After attending a men’s circle last year, I realised the importance of men communicating openly with other men. I gained such strength knowing that I was being listened to with no judgment or even a response.

On a recent visit to the Algarve, we did several walks along the boardwalks at Alvor, Ponta da Piedade and Meia Praia.

Having lived in Lagos for three years (on and off), I felt disconnected from myself – and the local community. I also struggled to find a social group that didn’t revolve around drinking, nightlife or sports. Setting up the Men’s Walk and Talk has given me purpose and has created a connection for me to both Lagos and the people within it. The walking group is still in an early phase where we build trust and respect between each other. I hope it gives other men the strength to open up and communicate. I hope you feel inspired to join us on our weekly Men’s walk and talk. Men of all ages and nationalities are welcome.

Facebook: Men's Walk and Talk Lagos

What amazing structures these boardwalks are in giving access to fragile environments, providing safe exercise routes and enhancing tourist information of the environment, particularly where storyboards are provided along the route. A brilliant investment by the local council.

On a beautiful, sunny January morning, we embarked on a walk along the Meia Praia boardwalk, which we had not done before and it was particularly enjoyable. There is a 4 km walk to the Forte da Meia Praia starting at the car park at the beach’s western end. It is an impressive but abandoned Renaissance fort dating from the 17th century. It was built as a strategically located fortification offering defence to Lagos primarily against the French. The fort is freely accessible but rather overgrown and spoiled by graffiti, but from its ramparts, it provides outstanding views across the beach, sea and surrounding landscape.

The fort provides a fascinating focus for the walk and numerous beach bars en route, two of which were open, even in January, to offer excellent “refreshment”.

We took one of the spur boardwalks leading onto the beach and returned to the car park along the foreshore, providing a gloriously different and circular two-hour round walk.

Hopefully, in the future, some conservation and repair work could be done on the fort to preserve this important cultural site in Portugal’s history.

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COMMUNITY

From: Dan Costinas

From: Alison

Subject: What’s so great about summer?

Subject: How to find a good restaurant

When you think about holidays and journeys, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Summer? August? Are mobs of tourists roaming your favourite destinations? – Maybe from now on, you’ll enjoy thinking and acting somehow out of the widely known box.

I am a real foody and like finding new restaurants and enjoying different cuisines. However, it is difficult to know which reviews in local magazines or websites are genuine and which are sponsored or posted by the restaurant. Then I met Peter Cruiming.

While February may not be the most conventional time to plan a trip, it is definitely worth visiting the Algarve. Most of the time, but not necessarily, a harmless short burst of rain is a reasonable price to pay for smaller crowds, having the gorgeous beaches all to yourself, more availability for lodging, slightly lower prices, and very high odds of enjoying some beautiful, sunny days during one of the darkest months of the year. As an unexpected bonus, in the second half of the month, the soft white colour of the almond trees in blossom delightfully mixes with the stronger green and reddish-brown of the surrounding dry landscape.

During an agreeable Algarvian winter, the average diurnal temperatures can reach a value of about 16 or 170 C. It is ideal for hikers, as well as for those seeking a relaxing reset. The air usually gets quite cold after sunset, down to 6–80 C, mainly due to the wind coming from the ocean. But, the winter season can also mean consuming richer food and drinks in a cosy dining room or right in front of a fireplace.

Cardies, sweaters and comfy coats or jackets can still be necessary sometimes, but a (T-)shirt will suffice most days. All in all, February is a delightful time for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy some highly sought-after sunshine. Moreover, depending on weather and sea conditions, some of the impressive caves and rock formations or the dolphin-watching tours operate all year round.

While visiting Portugal in February benefits you in more than one way, it can also be advantageous to the local communities, at least for those who make a living from the tourism industry.

He is an enthusiastic food lover like myself, who moved to the Algarve after selling his successful job-search business in The Netherlands. He told me that he didn’t play golf, so he invested his time and money into setting up a website and blog hotspotsalgarve.com. One of his childhood dreams was to be a journalist, so he feels he is living out this dream. He loves to share information and stories while sampling all of the culinary offerings of the Algarve.

He visits one restaurant a day and rates them according to food, service, value, and atmosphere.

In order to be objective, he pays the bill himself and only features the good restaurants as he doesn’t wish to write bad reviews. He also confided in me that he visits the gym three times a week to counteract the negative effects of all this food sampling!

In just over a year, he has gained 20,000 followers – a testament to his website, which also has excellent articles on places to visit.

What’s so great about summer anyway?

So, if you are looking to try something new in 2024, check out Peter's website for a true taste of local cuisine.

Peter Cuiming Photo © Dave Sheldrake

Share your fun experiences in the Algarve Things to try

Activities

Social Groups

Tips

Places to visit

Curiosities

Send your suggestions for next month by getting in touch with our editor Sophie Sadler: sophie@tomorrowalgarve.com

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COMMUNITY

The queen’s earrings are another example of Portuguese craftsmanship. The origin of the name probably goes back to the reign of D. Maria II (1819–1853). The queen wore a pair of earrings on a visit to Viana do Castelo in 1852. After this visit, they became popular as a symbol of wealth and status.

During the Pilgrimage of Agonia in the north of Portugal, the “Mordomas” and “Brides of Viana do Castelo” parade their pieces of golden filigree, traditionally attempting to catch the eyes of young men. On display are impressive Viana heart-shaped pendants, or small ones resembling “relicários” (queen’s earrings), or the traditional spindle earrings, long beaded necklaces, and shorter ones – anything goes to showcase the richness of Portuguese filigree!

Did you know

The History of Filigree

​​Portuguese gold is 19.2 carats (pure gold is 24).

A Symbol of Portuguese Love Imagine delicate golden threads, as fine as a strand of hair, ably intertwined by the hands of a master craftsman. Welcome to the ancient art of filigree, a perfect Valentine’s gift.

WORDS Tania Soares PHOTOGRAPHY Sanda Vučković You may be unaware that Portugal has a longstanding tradition in the art of goldsmithing.

In the past, the north of Portugal had abundant gold and skilled talent to work it. It was in the hills of Pias and Banja that the Roman people discovered gold mines, and thus, thanks to trade routes, filigree began to emerge. Filigree jewellery produced in national territory appears during the Muslim rule of the peninsula, around the 8th century AD. The exact origin of this technique is unknown, but various samples have been found all over the world. In Portugal, examples of this technique have been found dating back to around 2,000 BC, with Phoenician origins. In the workshops, where Portuguese filigree is still intricately crafted, there’s pride, or as the residents from Minho say,

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a “Chieira”, in doing everything by hand and with a lot of patience. Machines may try to compete in filigree production, but this art maintains a strong connection to manual skill.

Queen D. Maria I ordered the creation of the first filigree heart at the end of the 18th century to thank God for the birth of a male child. This symbol carries a profound religious connotation, representing the Sacred Heart of Jesus, where, at the top, we can glimpse the burning flames of the earth and the warmth of love. The 25 steps to create a Viana Heart (Coração de Viana) are slow and meticulous, producing only one piece per day.

Threads intertwined with pride, initially resembling golden hair, are skillfully woven to shape the symbol of the city of Viana do Castelo.

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Today, this art takes on various forms, from delicate pieces adorned with religious motifs to creations with a polished and contemporary design. Over time, filigree transcends its festive origins, evolving into an artistic expression that blends tradition and modernity.

The tradition of wearing this symbol on the chest had its origin in Viana do Castelo, but today, filigree manufacturing in Portugal is mainly concentrated in the areas of Gondomar and Póvoa do Lanhoso. The mountains of Pias and Banjas, which provide the raw material, have made the region one of the most notable nuclei of Portuguese jewellery. In 2018, Gondomar was responsible for 60% of the national jewellery production.

Filigree has gained a new lease of life in the hands of jewellery designers, who reimagine its essence and free it from religious concepts. The brand Portugal Jewels has also embarked on a contemporary approach, not forgetting the roots of tradition but fusing traditional and modern concepts in harmony.

Brands like Portugal Jewels have recognised the potential of Portuguese tradition and have been helped to showcase this corner of Europe to other countries. Thus, filigree, once tied to religious symbolism, now flourishes as a modern artistic expression, revealing the beauty and skill of Portuguese filigree masters to the world. The history of filigree continues to unfold, oscillating between tradition and innovation, like a narrative that transcends borders and captivates admirers worldwide.

In the month dedicated to love, the tradition continues to shine as it did in the days of yore.

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Leap Year Calendar – Explained!

WORDS Luis Costa

This year is a leap year, which means we have an additional day in February – in fact there are 29 days this month instead of the usual 28, with 29 February being known as a leap day. Have you ever wondered why that is?

Julius Caesar established the Julian calendar in 46 BC, which was a lunar calendar.. Although Caesar’s calendar used leap years, over centuries it proved flawed and so it was finally updated in 1582 with the introduction of the Gregorian calendar.

Named after Pope Gregory XIII, this solar calendar was introduced to all Catholic kingdoms. Solar calendars are based on the Earth’s rotation around the sun in a year, respecting the four seasons but disregarding the monthly moon phases. In order to correct the accrued days caused by the previous calendar, ten days were “removed” from October.

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We are always really pleased to get letters from our readers. If you would like to send us your views on anything that’s going on in the Algarve or if you have any suggestions to make about the magazine please email: sophie@tomorrowalgarve.com

Dear Sophie, I recently showed a friend who has had a holiday home in Lagos for many years, the attached black and white photos I took when visiting Lagos in the summer of 1974 after my finals. A friend and I had driven down from London in a grey mini van!

The photos are scans from the original negatives and slide.

Given the recent changes to your local railway station, they may be of interest to you/your readers given the very different atmosphere of the station now: you can even see a local freight facility in the background.

To understand the leap year phenomena, we need to accept that the Earth does not take exactly 24 hours to spin around its axis and does not take exactly 365 24-hour days to orbit the Sun. Over time, this anomaly needs to be corrected with adjustments to the calendar. These adjustments are necessary to avoid our existing seasons becoming out of sync. If we were to ignore it, over time, the weather that we expect in summer would come in winter and vice versa.

Earth completes its orbit around the sun in approximately 365.25 days, leaving 0.25 days or six hours on the typical 365-day calendar year, referred to as a common year. Every four years, 24 hours have been accrued, so a full day is added to February.

Again, this 0.25 of a day is also approximate, meaning that this, too, must be adjusted over time. Most of us believe a leap year occurs every four years, but this is not strictly true. Every so many years, we skip a leap year. The next time this will happen will be in the Year 2100.

Readers Letters

Unfortunately I only took the Lagos photos in black and white, but did take a colour photo up at Figueira da Foz at the same time so have also included a copy of that as it illustrates the vintage nature of Portugese trains at the time.

Regards Andrew Paterson

Worldwide, only Ethiopia, Nepal, Iran and Afghanistan still use different calendars and are currently not in the year 2024.

Most nations have adopted the Gregorian calendar, although some use a modified version and others use it alongside another calendar. Nonetheless, many nations and religions still use lunar calendars to determine religious festivals, occasions and holidays, Easter being one example.

Why is it called a “leap” year?

During regular years, your birthday will progress along the weekdays as the years pass. If your birthday is on a Monday one year, it will fall on a Tuesday the following year. However, in leap years, it will jump or leap one weekday ahead (although this is not applicable to January and February before the extra day is added).

By the way … leaplings, or people born on 29 February, are extraordinary people who do not age like the rest of us and stay young for much longer. The downside is that they only get birthday presentss every four years!

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

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ARTS AND CULTURE

The Barn of History

Vila do Bispo's Museum O Celeiro da História grand opening

The municipality of Vila do Bispo encompasses the south coast of Portugal from Burgau to Sagres, including Praia da Murração and Barão de São Miguel.

WORDS Julian Putley On 21 January, the long-awaited opening of this historic public facility took place at the regional capital of Vila do Bispo. A large crowd assembled for an introduction by Senhor Ricardo Soares, who thanked many in the audience for their contributions. A special thanks went to Teresa Paulina who created a unique sculpture, Abraço, depicting a welcoming figure with open arms, which stands at the front entrance.

A band of drummers from Messines called the Clube da Batucada Club da Casa do Povo heralded the grand opening. The band uses traditional Portuguese drums with the aim of providing fun and a form of social integration; they didn’t disappoint. The crowd loved it. The band often performs at various cultural events and community projects, with band members of all ages. Towards the end of the show, audience members were invited to try their hand – to much hilarity.

When the doors were finally opened, there was a bit of a crush. Many of the spectators had provided exhibits so there was a lot of enthusiasm to see the displays. The ambience was warm and inviting; the atrium at the entrance housed an interesting shop with copies of artefacts, models and books.

The exhibits were in chronological order, with an opening announcement saying ‘Once Upon a Time in Vila do Bispo’. A large screen showed a video of dinosaurs prowling the land. Dinosaur footprints have been found on Salema beach and bone fragments from Neanderthal man are on display.

26

There’s a display called ‘End of the World’ exhibiting hunters and shellfish gatherers. You will also learn that Portugal has the greatest concentration of menhirs or ‘stone icebergs’ in the Iberian peninsula and the oldest in Western Europe. The Copper and Bronze Ages are also described in detail.

One of the most fascinating exhibits is a tiled Roman floor discovered in a Roman ruin from Boca do Rio. It has been faithfully restored and is a prize exhibit in the museum.

Maritime history has always been at the forefront of Portuguese life. The great maritime discoveries and adventures are described elsewhere, but Portugal’s southern coast leading to the Straits of Gibraltar has seen a lot of activity in European wars of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The strategic Battle of Lagos is described in detail and the activities of corsairs and pirates, who were the reason for several forts to be built.

Many think of the 1755 earthquake as an event that affected only the Lisbon area, but in fact, Vila do Bispo was so badly hit that only one house was left standing and a huge tsunami resulted.

From the Granary of Wheat to the Granary of History Vila do Bispo was known as the Granary of the Algarve as a result of the Wheat Campaign, launched in 1929 to combat dependence on cereal imports. Many families migrated to Vila do Bispo to work the land. The memory of this past can still be found in the remains of threshing floors, mills and windmills.

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

The museum building was constructed in the mid-1950s, but in the 1970s and 80s, there was a gradual disinvestment in national agricultural activity and the granary fell into disuse and was only used for public meetings and events. In 1997, the building was transformed into a municipal warehouse.

Now, after almost six years, this storied building has become the pride of Vila do Bispo. Thanks to the tireless work of Senhor Ricardo Soares and his team, this wonderful exhibition is open to the public with free guided tours, proving that Vila do Bispo has a rich and varied history.  + 351 927 193 677 museu.celeirodahistoria@cm-viladobispo.pt

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ARTS AND CULTURE

Meet the Artist

Dana Georgescu

right ones to fit into my work. I’m not very organised when it comes to my artistic world. I like to see everything and have all the shells spread out all over the place. That’s how they inspire me.”

Dana hopes that her art sparks an emotion in the viewer, that it makes them feel something. She explains that it doesn’t mean it has to be the same emotion as she was feeling when she created the piece, though. “As long as it makes them feel something, I have accomplished my objective.”

From a hobby that started during the pandemic, Dana Georgescu’s unique artwork is now much sought after. She creates unique pieces using seashells mounted onto canvas or wooden boards, reflecting the beauty of the ocean.

WORDS Alyson Sheldrake A former Romanian primary school teacher, Dana has worked on cruise liners for an American company and has also lived in Italy and Switzerland. But it was Portugal and the Algarve that captured her heart. “It was always the place I dreamed of living one day, with the ocean, sand, good food and friendly people.”

During COVID-19, she would take long walks on the beach with her labrador puppy, collecting shells and returning home to transform them into works of art. She describes how she attempts to transmit the feelings and emotions stirred up by the ocean and the people she meets into something tangible and three-dimensional.

“I am trying to make people feel emotions and find in my art that ‘something’ to hang onto when times become hard. Locking their memories into a piece of art and getting their strength from there when they need it.”

Her studio stretches across her whole apartment. The kitchen is her carpentry area, and the bath is where she washes and disinfects her seashells to get them ready for the canvas. And for the final step of the process, Dana’s living room becomes a studio. “It’s not very tidy in there, especially when I start a new piece, there are shells all over the place. I arrange them by colour, size and so on, always searching for the

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Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Her pieces certainly draw people in. She tells the story of a recent exhibition when a husband and wife were visiting the exhibition, each of them wandering around separately.

First, the husband came to her booth and chatted a little about Romania and bird watching but didn’t comment on Dana’s art. A little while after he left, his wife came over and admired her artwork unbeknown to Dana (or her husband!) and said, “Wait, I’ll bring my husband to see your work and then I’ll decide.” It turned out they had both been drawn to the same piece of art.

So, of course, they bought it!

One of Dana’s favourite paintings is Almond Blossom

by Van Gogh because of its colours and composition. It even inspired one of her first works called Confidence, a mixed-media piece made with seashells, fan coral and sea urchins on canvas. She is

also confident in her own abilities and decision-making. “There are times when you cannot listen to what other people say, but you must follow your instinct, your fire. I have been directed to work in mass production to increase my sales when this is far from what I am trying to establish.

Each work I create is unique and unreproducible.”

Dana’s dream is to be a full-time artist, which would allow her to fully enjoy the process of creating and expressing her feelings on the canvas, bringing joy into people’s souls and encouraging them to reconnect with the pure beauty of nature.

She would love to exhibit not only locally but also internationally and expand her brand Dana G Shell Art, which is still in its embryonic stages.

She is currently busy preparing some new works for her next collective exhibition at the Visionary Art Fair Exhibition at the Fissul in Silves from 24–26 March. And if she’s not busy creating, you’ll find her walking along the beach, being inspired by the ever-changing ocean.

 danag.shellart@gmail.com +351 914 235 164 www.instagram.com/danagshellart www.facebook.com/DanaG.ShellArt

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CHARITY

Our Lady of Fátima Social Welfare Centre Based in Olhão, the centre provides shelter and support to girls and young women.

WORDS Vaughan Willmore “With many of the girls, it’s about giving them a sense of self-worth. Unfortunately, many have grown up in environments where they have been exposed to domestic violence, alcohol, drugs, crime and prostitution. We aim to show them a different side of life and give them the skills for a better way of living” - Sofia Camarada.

Located in the heart of Olhão, the Our Lady of Fátima Social Welfare Centre provides housing and support for children and young women aged from three years up to 21 years of age, all of whom have been placed there because the courts or social services felt they were not benefitting from a suitable homelife with their immediate families.

Sempre aberto, (always open) is stated on the Facebook page. And that’s exactly what the Centro de Bem Estar Social Nossa Senhora de Fátima (Our Lady of Fátima Social Welfare Centre) is – it’s always open, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

On arrival, I’m welcomed by social educator Dr Noelia Martins and teacher Sofia Camarada. Together with their colleagues, who include a social worker, psychiatrist, educational assistants, drivers, cooks, laundry and cleaning staff, and administrators, they support the 21 girls currently in their care. Sofia explained, “The girls live on-site and, depending on their age, will sleep in dormitories or have a room of their own. With many of the girls, it’s about giving them a sense of self-worth. Unfortunately, they will have grown up in environments where they’ve been exposed to domestic violence, alcohol, drugs, crime and prostitution.

We aim to show them a different side of life and give them the skills for a better way of living.”

In addition to accommodation, the girls benefit from help with their studies and general wellbeing. They’re taught about nutrition, how to cook and care for themselves, and they benefit from a range of social and educational activities, including visits to local museums, theatres and beaches, with summer and Christmas parties.

As a social educator, Noelia provides a bridge between the centre and schools, helping to ensure the girls are settled and supported. This is particularly important as they take in children from all over the Algarve, so when they arrive at the centre, it means not only a new home but also a new school. Sofia helps them with their studies across the whole

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breadth of the curriculum and supports a range of social and educational activities. “Working here is an opportunity to change lives. To open up new opportunities for the girls and change their futures,” reflects Noelia.

Social services fund the running of the centre, but it’s also reliant on the help of local businesses and people. The local Continente store provides twice-weekly free food packages and a local pastelaria does similar. Local tradesmen help out at reduced rates, and attractions such as ZooMarine Algarve and Aquashow Waterpark provide an annual day and help with building outside recreational areas for the girls. With the support of the local police and a nearby McDonalds, it’s a community effort.

My visit was a humbling one. Sofia and Noelia, along with their colleagues, do outstanding work, and they make such a difference in the lives of so many girls who need a helping hand. What they do today – changing lives – will resonate for years to come and also in the here and now. One girl, who was once in the care of the centre, has returned and now works there – what a testament that is to the help she received. Fantastically, for the first time since the centre was founded, one of the girls is studying at university, an almost inconceivable scenario had she not have received help from the Our Lady of Fátima Social Welfare Centre.

Any help you can provide to the centre would be greatly appreciated. Fresh linen, clothing, board games, blankets and financial donations are always welcome. Please see the contact details below.  +351 289 703 115 www.fatima.pt/pt/locations/centro-bem-estar-social-senhora-fatima-olhao

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What's on For more events and activities check our online calendar:  www.tomorrowalgarve.com/calendar

St Vincent’s Church

Children's Saturday Programmes A new Saturday club with options for children between four and eight-years-old. The club aims to create a warm and engaging atmosphere and incorporates arts and crafts and exposure to the Portuguese language and culture.

Date: SATURDAY 10th FEBRUARY Location: Friends of Almádena Association (Associação Amigos de Almádena) Z ŽƵƚŽƌ ŶƚſŶŝŽ :ŽƐĠ Ğ ůŵĞŝĚĂ͕ ϴϲϬϬͲϭϬϮ͕ ůŵĄĚĞŶĂ

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St. Vincent’s Church Recycle Sale Due to popular demand, St. Vincent’s church is organising a recycling sale. The sale is a great opportunity to clear out your unwanted household items, clothes, books, jewellery or handbags and sell them to treasure hunters. We all know one man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure, so this is also a great opportunity to find new treasures of your own! Drinks, baked goods and hot soup will also be available.

10 February 11 am – 3.30 pm Almádena Social Hall (Associação Amigos de Almádena) R Doutor António José De Almeida, 8600-102, Almádena Free admission

Captivating Impressions Prepare to be immersed in a world of vibrant emotions and captivating landscapes at an exclusive exhibition featuring the works of esteemed artist Karen Wride. Known for her impressionistic flair, Wride's collection will grace the walls of Quadro Molduras, renowned bespoke framers and a haven for high-quality craftsmanship. Art enthusiasts have the opportunity to explore Wride's evocative pieces, each a testament to her mastery of colour, emotion, and light. To mark this occasion, selected pieces from the exhibition will be available for purchase with an enticing 25% discount.

1–29 February from 10 am Quadro Molduras, Almancil Free admission  agent@karenwride.com +351 963 913 998 www.karenwride.com

 louisecplayer@gmail.com +351 911 552 396

The International Piano Festival The Algarve Piano Festival continues its series of concerts at the Tempo Theatre in Portimão during February and March.

17 February 7 pm – Duo Bruno Belthoise & João Costa Ferreira 9 March 7 pm – António Rosado (piano solo) Tempo Theatre, Portimão Ticket prices range from 15 to 20 euros, with discounts for students and individuals over 65 years old, and can be purchased at tempo.bol.pt and at the TEMPO box office.  www.facebook.com/TEMPOportimao

 Secure your space at luz-cultura.jumbula.com +351 911 577 743 luzculturalgarve@gmail.com

Loulé Carnival One of the oldest carnivals in the country will bring lots of fun and good humour, colour and music, not forgetting the “sharp” political, social and sporting satire. The three-day parade will consist of 14 floats and more than 600 performers. This year's theme is “Discovering the SDGs”, satirising the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Many of the floats will be poking fun at Portuguese political issues such as the fiasco surrounding the location of the new Lisbon airport, the increase in interest rates and the housing shortage.

You might also see a giant Vladimir Putin or Volodymyr Zelensky!

11, 12 and 13 February 3 pm–5.30 pm Avenida José da Costa Mealha, Loulé Tickets cost 2 euros and the proceeds will benefit the associations participating in the parade.  www.cm-loule.pt

Almond Blossom Festival

Odiáxere Carnival

The Almond Blossom Festival returns to the village of Alta Mora, Castro. Enjoy enchanting walking tours, immerse yourself in street entertainment, participate in children’s workshops, savour the richness of local gastronomy, and be captivated by the harmony of music and theatre. A unique experience awaits you at this event, celebrating the ephemeral beauty of almond blossoms.

Carnival tradition returns to Odiáxere with its 28th parade. In addition to the floats, masks, humour and social criticism, the Odiáxere Carnival will feature musical entertainment, dances, food and drink and the presence of artists at a party you won't want to miss.

Sunday 11 February is reserved for the children's parade, while 13 February is the big celebration of this very Portuguese festival.

2–4 February Alta Mora, Castro Marim

Sunday 11 February 3 pm Tuesday 13 February 2.30 pm Odiáxere

 www.facebook.com/festivalamendoeiras

 www.facebook.com/CarnavalfoliaOdiaxere

Disclaimer: While we believe this information to be correct at the time of printing, local events can be subject to change, so we always advise checking the links given before you arrive at the event.

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HOMES & GARDENS

Fifty Shades of Grey

WORDS Flora Kouta We don’t get much grey in the Algarve, do we? On the rare occasion I wake up to grey skies, my heart sinks …

‘Oh my god the sea is not its usual sparkling jade, the cliffs are not their vivid orange …’ I feel like I may as well be in England. But once I get outside and start walking along the cliffs, I see how many colours there are in that grey, how the ocean is liquid pewter, the horizon platinum and the beach a smokey gunmetal. I watch each shade becoming another as the Atlantic winds sweep the clouds across the sky and I realise grey has a beauty all of its own.

So here’s to grey in all its tones, from the palest duck egg to the deepest charcoal. You might not be the sexiest or the most exciting of colours – even if there are fifty shades of you – but I have to admit you’re a class act, you’re understated and sophisticated and full of hidden depth.

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In deepest, darkest December, I took a photo at low tide when the sand was like wet silver icing and the shards of light slicing through the clouds bounced spotlights on the ocean. I couldn’t believe I had managed to take a picture that was actually in focus, let alone full of pretty greys. I got it printed on watercolour paper and hung it in a frame above the sofa.

Every time someone comments on it, I say, “Aah yes, that’s a limited edition print by an award-winning but little-known landscape photographer.” And they don’t even laugh.

Coastal landscape pictures are really calming on a bedroom wall, the greyer and moodier, the better. There are lots of websites where you can have fun uploading your own photos. At Printão in Porto – www.printão.com – you can order prints on acrylic or board as well as the traditional framed photo print and shipping within Portugal is free when you spend 40€.

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Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

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One of the great things about decorating with grey is that it’s not gender specific. It’s one of those colours that we’re all allowed to enjoy. Your partner probably quite likes it and nobody is going to have a meltdown if they come home to find you’ve painted the bedroom grey. If you’re a patternlover like me, you can add little areas of interest with decorative rugs or tiles to give yourself a lift without ruining the reassuringly grey aesthetic.

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HOMES & GARDENS How about displaying decorative stones in your home? Portuguese beaches are ideal places to look for wishing stones. A wishing stone is a rock with a distinct, continuous line of quartz or calcite that runs around it. Legend has it that if you trace your finger around the line while closing your eyes and making a wish, then throw the stone into the sea as far as you can or give it to another person, your wish will come true. Make a wish on behalf of someone other than yourself; then ALL your wishes come true. The best wishing stone has a single continuous line wrapped around it, unbroken and uninterrupted by other lines or streaks.

If you aren’t lucky enough to find any wishing stones on your local beaches, you could fill a vase or bowl with stones in every shade of grey. I’ve got one in the bathroom and it’s really relaxing. Or you could buy some online from Sophia at Cabanas Jewellery in Lisbon. She spent many hours walking on beaches during lockdown and now has a shop selling wishing stones and other natural treasures.

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Grey sculptures add character to a grey living room and are very soothing at the same time. Jonathan at Aura Concrete in Porto creates male and female figures from smooth grey concrete. Made entirely by hand, each one is completely unique. They are solid and heavy and he sells them as bookends, but I wouldn’t hide them at the end of a bookshelf. They’re so full of personality they deserve to be a centrepiece. He also makes candles and vases in the shape of pert buttocks if that’s more your thing … well, this article is called Fifty Shades of Grey!

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SPORTS & LEISURE

SPORTS ROUND UP

WORDS David Lugg

Paracycling World Cup Luís Costa has finished the H5 time trial in fifth position following the first leg of the Paracycling World Cup in Adelaide, Australia.

The police officer from Portimão completed the 15.6 km course in 25 minutes and 17 seconds, just over a minute and a half behind the winner. After the race, Luís explained that recent health issues had restricted his performance but, all things considered, “he can take it”.

Algarve football Portuguese Primeira Liga: In the first Algarve-derby of the season, Portimonense comfortably beat neighbours Farense 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Brazilian midfielder Carlinhos. History was against the side from Faro, having never won in Portimão in six top-flight games. In truth, they never looked like ending their hoodoo, though it took a highly debatable penalty to separate the teams. Fran Delgado’s challenge on Alemão was reckless but appeared to make little or no contact. The referee pointed to the spot and Carlinhos made no mistake, giving the home side three much-needed points that moved them up to 11th position.

Farense remains in 8th, three points ahead of their rivals.

Photo courtesy of www.facebook.com/VoltaAlgarveOfficial

Cycling The 50th Volta Algarve (Tour of Algarve) will once again welcome some of the biggest names in cycling to the region. The event starts in Portimão on 14 February, where riders will undertake a 201 km stage that takes them through the mountains before ending with a sprint finish in Lagos. Among the main contenders of the five-day race will be Belgian star Wout van Aert, who will be making his Volta Algarve debut. With 44 stage victories to his name, including nine at the Tour de France, van Aert will start as one of the favourites, though fellow Belgian Remco Evenepoel will certainly be a strong contender, having won the race in 2020 and 2022. Full details of the route and riders can be found on the Volta Algarve website.  voltaaoalgarve.com

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Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Motorsport The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve will host 21 races in 2024. Portugal’s top motor racing circuit will feature a wide range of events, from the Algarve Classic to the Ferrari Challenge. Pick of the bunch will see the return of the MotoGP from 22-24 March, where locals will hope for victory from Portuguese hero Miguel Oliveira.

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SPORTS & LEISURE

RISING STAR Rugbytots Lagos

Rita Cardoso Twelve-year-old gymnast Rita Cardoso is very much one to watch for the future. Rita has just returned from the 2023 Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships in England with a gold medal in Tumbling in the age 11–12 category.

The young athlete, who represents Ginástica Clube de Loulé, is already the national champion of Portugal for her age group and can now add world champion to her impressive collection of achievements.

Tumbling is a discipline where competitors perform gymnastic skills on a 25-metre sprung track.

Huge congratulations to Rita and her coach, Veronica Paulo, for an extraordinary performance.

Established in 2006, Rugbytots has introduced rugby to over 80,000 children in 20 countries. It is aimed at two to sevenyear-olds with the primary intention of ‘making it fun’. Laura Cyfka has been running the Lagos branch of Rugbytots since early 2023 and has overseen considerable growth for young children in the area.

Presently, she runs after-school clubs at the Colégio São Gonçalo in Praia da Luz but is in conversation with other schools about expanding the programme. There are also open classes on Sunday mornings at Aldeia Azul between 9.30 am and 11am, as well as a further indoor class in Praia da Luz. The plans for further growth are currently being put into place. Laura hopes to start a class for five to eight-year-olds on Mondays at the football stadium in Lagos. There is also hope that, after positive conversations with the Divisão de Desporto, she can begin to offer beach sessions in Portimão. This upturn in popularity means that she is on the lookout for new coaches to join her team.  Contact Laura Cyfka for more details on laura@rugbytots.pt or visit www.rugbytots.pt

Fitness Lagos-based fitness instructor Ryan Smith has completed almost 13 hours of non-stop burpees in aid of the ‘Life For A Kid’ foundation. His attempt to break the world record in 24 hours had to be curtailed by a shoulder injury, but his magnificent efforts deserve to be lauded. Ryan raised a total of £2,600 for the charity.

Cross Country Race If you want to get involved in some competitive sport yourself, then why not take part in the Lagos Athletics Circuit starting with the 28th Barão de São João Cross Country Race?

The initiative aims to bring the practice of athletics to the public by carrying out a series of events, one for each freguesia, which will be scored for a final classification, after completing all the tests. The climax is the Baía de Lagos Race, when extra points are on offer. The dates are as follows: • 28.º Corta Mato de Barão de São João: 18 February • 21.º Grande Prémio de Atletismo de Odiáxere: 24 March • 21.º Milha Carlos Cabral (Municipal Stadium): 21 April • 33.º Grande Prémio de Atletismo do Luzense: 1 May • 33.ª Corrida Baía de Lagos (Extra): 21July Part of the City of Lagos Athletics Circuit), anyone can participate: professionals and amateurs. You can register on the Federação Portuguesa de Atletismo website.  www.fpacompeticoes.pt

If you wish to publicise a sporting event or a ‘rising star’ contact our sports editor David Lugg: david@tomorrowalgarve.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Menopause & Midlife

WORDS Ann de Jongh

Lip lifts How to avoid the ‘duck pout’!

WORDS Tiago Baptista-Fernandes Do you ever wonder how to get normal, rejuvenated lips without the fake ‘duck’ pout? To find the answer, you need to understand the ageing process and how medical procedures provide the best outcome.

The main early ageing signs in the lips are a consequence of skin and bone ageing, which leads to bone retraction and volume loss, when the lip falls down with an inward rotation giving less of a visible red lip.

Perioral region ageing main characteristics: • Upper and lower lip lines or barcode lines • Marionette lines (wrinkles at the corner of your mouth) • Long white lip (from nose to red lip) • Inverted/low volume in the upper red lip To consider the options available to reverse signs of ageing, one needs to understand that the lip is not just the red part. The white lip goes up to the nostrils and down to the chin. Perioral lines are the result of thinning of the dermis and repetitive muscular contraction following speaking, smoking and expressing emotions. Marionette lines are caused by the down movement of facial soft tissues over the tight muscles and tissues of the white lower lip.

Normally, red lip augmentation and wrinkle filling with hyaluronic acid are offered by physicians. This is not correcting the lip ptosis nor correcting the skin irregularities, it’s simply filling them up! As a result, we see those awful rounded ‘duck’ lips, causing a distortion instead of a correction.

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So what should be done?

• Lip shortening because it has become elongated due to lack of support from the bone • Lip skin resurfacing to efface the wrinkles (laser or peeling) • Skin regenerative treatment with stem cells prolongs the rejuvenation effect to postpone ageing • Soft lip volumising normally only after steps one and/or two The procedure – surgery based using local anaesthesia or with no anaesthesia • Lip lift • Lip resurfacing • Regenerative medicine • Lip rejuvenation (prevention of ageing) Lip procedures are quite simple and fast to perform, and recovery is between two and ten days. A proper evaluation and explanation from the doctor is fundamental to a natural, good-looking, rejuvenated lip.

Future ageing also needs to be addressed during the consultation.

Tiago Baptista-Fernandes is a specialist in plastic surgery.

 tiago.baptistafernandes@upclinic.pt www.upclinic.pt +351 213 150 201 +351 925 227 377

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Menopause is one of those things we women know will arrive at some point when we are “older”. Some of us will hardly notice its arrival but, for others, it can bring a whole host of symptoms, some of which can be quite debilitating and ones which we do not necessarily always associate with menopause.

When these changes start to occur, it can be hard to know where to turn and what we can do about them. The changes are often coupled with feelings of denial, as we think we are not “old enough”, however, they can start happening in our mid-40s and perimenopause can last up to 10 years. There are around 37 symptoms associated with menopause, including hot flushes, disturbed sleep, anxiety, brain fog, joint pain and weight gain.

We may find that what worked in our 20s and 30s with regard to diet and exercise doesn’t always work in our 40s and 50s, so we need to make changes to help us as we transition into what is called in Ayurveda, our “second spring”.

Weight training becomes even more important to help prevent osteoporosis and counter the effects of declining oestrogen levels on our ability to build muscle. Our bodies can become more insulin sensitive, so we need to be aware of how we eat, and we may find some foods don’t agree with us anymore. Sleep can be hard to come by and, with all these changes occurring as our hormone levels fluctuate, we need to give ourselves time and space to understand and deal with the outcomes of these changes.

After going through quite a difficult time in perimenopause, I feel it is so important we talk more about this subject so that we can share and learn from each other in order to embrace this next stage of our lives.

In March, I will be launching the Fit2loveMidlife App, which will provide health, fitness and wellbeing support for women in all stages of menopause.  If you want to work with me or find out about the app, you can get in touch and read more at www.fit2lovelife.com/fit2lovemidlife

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Turning Retirement into Re-firement!

The transition into retirement is a major life shift – and often with diverse emotional phases.

WORDS Becca Williams Whether you’re retired, moving toward retirement or see it off in the distance, it’s always worthwhile to imagine yourself in this next phase. The clichéd notion of sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair doesn’t quite fit the dynamic possibilities of our modern era. Of course, if that’s your vision, that’s perfectly fine too but, for many, this concept can be a surprising and disorienting turn in life.

Often, there are these transitional stages in retirement: 1. Vacation Phase: Initially, retirement might feel like an extended vacation. Who doesn’t want more free time to relax, travel and enjoy leisure activities?

2. Boredom Phase: After the initial excitement, some may get bored. Without a structured work routine, a sense of aimlessness or a lack of purpose can set in.

It can be enticing to settle into a routine of cocktails – and that can fuel the next phase.

It’s essential to recognise this and know we can do something about it.

3. Depression Phase: Boredom, coupled with a potential loss of identity tied to one’s career, can sometimes lead to feelings of depression – especially if it’s fueled by alcohol. This phase may spark a sense of not being as productive – or valued – as before.

4. Meaningful Service Phase: This is a rich place to land. To combat depression and find fulfilment, many retirees discover a renewed sense of purpose through meaningful service or volunteer work.

Engaging in activities that contribute to the

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well-being of others can offer a profound sense of satisfaction and purpose.

Suggestions for a Happy Retirement: Plan Ahead: Before retirement (or if you’re in the midst of it), consider creating a plan that includes activities that are fulfilling to you.

Stay Active: Physical activity is crucial for mental and emotional well-being, so weave regular exercise into your routine.

Explore Hobbies: Use retirement as an opportunity to explore hobbies or interests you’ve always wanted to pursue.

Connect with Others: Social connections are vital. Join clubs, groups or organisations that align with your interests (and are not just drinking parties) to stay connected with like-minded individuals.

Professional Assistance: If feelings of depression persist, seek professional help to boost your mental health and well-being.

Each person’s retirement journey is unique, and it’s okay to experience different emotions along the way. Embracing change, staying engaged, and finding meaningful activities can contribute to this major life phase.

Becca Williams is an emotions therapist and clinician who helps people free themselves from emotional burdens, trauma, and limiting self-beliefs to live more fulfilling lives.

 Becca@emotionallib.com

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Facial Yoga WORDS Donna Groom

While on my quest for eternal youth over the last few months, I’ve seen a momentum gathering with facial yoga. Can we really tone our muscles and lift our faces in a few movements each day? Well, I became intrigued and started to do a little bit of homework myself.

What is facial yoga?

Face yoga targets the facial muscles by performing specific repetitive movements to each muscle, re-educating the muscle fibres, therefore toning and tightening the area.

Although there have been few studies on this new phenomenon, many people have claimed that it can actually improve the plumpness of their skin.

Social media has released figures showing that there have been nearly two billion hits on the hashtag #facialyoga. There are even apps now that you can download, giving you your daily tenminute workout. So, I thought, ‘Surely there has to be something in this new craze?’

As some now are taking to the new face-gurning facelift, as I like to call it, some dermatologists have reported that you should be starting at the tender age of 16 in order to see the true benefits later on, which means I’ve started 31 years too late! On the downside, some experts claim that it can, in fact, increase wrinkles because of the pulling and stretching of the skin. None of this was going to phase me, so I decided to give it a go!

I recommend using a serum or cream to avoid dragging the skin. I focused on my cheek area for two weeks and religiously did some exercises every day. I can report that after each session, I could visibly see a slight lift, which was encouraging, but by the morning, it was back to how I had been before.

In fairness, I was warned that you should be doing this every day. But it will probably take forever to see any real long-term improvement, but a great alternative to try if fillers and Botox are not an option for you.

Donna is a beauty therapist and qualified medical micro pigmentation specialist.

 donnagroom89@gmail.com

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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

Love is in the Air Pole with a View is launching its brand new experience, Love is in the Air, just in time for Valentine’s Day. WORDS Sophie Sadler include drone footage and a romantic table setting. Being so close to Valentine’s Day, this could be a great idea for people looking to do something a bit different and enjoy an experience they will never forget.

The company, which offers outdoor Pole Dance and Aerial Experiences, made its Algarve debut in 2020 and is the first of its kind in the area. Started by Lauren and Daniel, they were awarded Small Business of the Year at the Algarve Business Awards in 2023.

Love is in the Air is a unique experience for couples and for those looking to bond and connect while surrounded by ocean views at Praia dos Arrifes, Albufeira. For 90 minutes, you will enjoy a fun beginner pole lesson, including choreography and a photoshoot. At the end, you’ll share a bottle of prosecco.. Their private bookings also

As Lauren and Daniel are a couple themselves, they understand how to create some romance! “We aim to create the perfect set-up to celebrate any type of event through an unforgettable experience and memories that will last a lifetime.”  www.polewithaview.com info@polewithaview.com

The First Friday Concept WORDS Sophie Sadler

Marlo Furniture store has come up with an innovative concept to promote sales and initiate cross-marketing, which will begin in February.

The brain-child of Marlo’s Sales Director, Judy Giordano, the aim is to bring more people to this business district and encourage interest and awareness in the area. Called the First Friday Concept, on the first Friday of each month or each quarter, shops in the Dunas business corridor will stay open late to host a special event or open house to generate interest, promote sales and engage in cross-marketing.

Special events might include guest speakers, art exhibitions, live entertainment, dance/yoga classes or special offers. The events can be staggered each month or quarter, so there will be a main event while other shops will host open houses. Serving wine or coffee and refreshments is a sure way to boost attendance. It is hoped that this activity will generate more foot traffic and business in the Dunas Business Corridor

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near the Marina in Lagos. The events will also build stronger relationships between business neighbours and the community. Potential participants include Pilates Room, Live Algarve, Mimosa Properties, Peking II, Chainlight Lighting Systems, Lusco Fusco Concepts, Classy Orchid, Fit In Studio, Go Mini Market, Mythos, Seewest Properties and Emotion Vinil.

All interested participants can contact Judy to sign up to host a special event. Judy will coordinate a calendar and graphic to be used for marketing. Once the calendar is established, the event will be posted on all social media platforms and submitted to the Lagos Municipal website.

Printed brochures will also be hung in shop windows as well.

Kicking off the series of events, Marlo Furniture is hosting an art exhibition by Elizabeth Mayston.

Originally from South Africa and now residing in Monchique, her love of the outdoors and zest for nature has been a constant source of inspiration to her and has translated into her multidisciplinary portfolio. Elizabeth will be meeting guests and talking about her work and the inspiration she takes from the natural landscape around her.

Meet the Artist: Elizabeth Mayston 2 February 4 pm – 8 pm Open to all and refreshments will be served.

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 judy@marlo.life +351 928 138 579 www.marlo.life

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BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY

An American in the Algarve

Simplify Saint Valentine’s Day Tips for a Stress-Free, Unique Celebration

WORDS Meredith Price Levitt In third grade, Neil Moore drew a lopsided heart above his name on a handmade Valentine’s Day card that said ‘Be Mine’ and left it on my desk in the top right corner.

To say that I was chuffed would be an understatement. In American terms, I was literally over the moon.

On the Valentine’s Day in question, his card made me feel like a giant balloon that had at last been filled. I floated through classes with a silly grin. I didn’t really have a concept of what ‘Be Mine’ meant, and I hadn’t yet delved into the complexity of ownership surrounding those words. For me, the card just meant Neil liked me back. At least enough to draw a heart for me above his name, which he hadn’t done for anyone else (I checked).

Over time, I understood that my childish perspective on love was wrong, but a part of my emotion that day strikes me as right. Since third grade, I’ve been given some lavish gifts for Valentine’s Day. Expensive jewelry. Fine chocolates.

Bouquets of roses, so beautiful they could break your heart with their ephemerality. But no present since third grade has ever elated me like that simple, slightly lopsided hand-drawn heart. It turns out that small things do matter.

As far as historical origins go, it’s far from clear who Saint Valentine

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actually was and what he did to become so famous. In one legend, he was jailed for defying the emperor and secretly marrying couples to spare the men from war. In another, he healed a child and created a religious conversion that eventually got him executed.

According to some legends, he was a priest. In others, he was a bishop.

of the estimated 26 billion dollar market. But I digress.

Another common belief is that Valentine’s Day as we know it evolved from Lupercalia, a Roman festival in which men and women were randomly paired up in a lottery. There was some notion that fertility increased if you were lucky enough to get slapped by a bloody animal’s skin.

To get some unique ideas for this year, I spoke to Secret Events Algarve. Rita Cardoso, who creates beautiful experiences for various events, had a wealth of great ideas.

And the best part? You won’t have to refinance your house to do it.

It’s easy to get stressed out about what to buy for your loved one or how to best celebrate in a romantic, unforgettable way. But at the end of the day, keeping it simple may be the most romantic gesture of all. It might also save you money.

As romantic as gruesome beheadings and sanguine smacks sound, recent scholars insist that the modern association of Valentine’s Day with love began far later. The poet Chaucer is thought to have started the link between Valentine and amour. Sometime in the 1400s, noblemen began writing ‘valentines’ to their love interests.

So, get inspired by the little things.

Dig into what you could make with your own hands or how you could express your feelings without the passé vibes of chocolate, flowers or jewellery. Having trouble? Rita to the rescue. Just remember, it’s not about what you do or how much it costs. It’s about how much heart you put into it. Even if it’s lopsided, it might be the most beautiful gesture anyone’s ever received.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Cadbury has helped solidify the notion that chocolate signifies romance since the 1800s. Hallmark got a hold of it sometime around the beginning of the last century and has never let go. No slouch when it comes to storytelling, Tiffany’s also has a large share

Meredith Price Levitt is a freelance writer and aerial silks teacher. She has just opened a new aerial studio near Lagos called The House of Honey. An American expat, she moved to the Algarve in 2020 and continues to happily write and fly around in her studio. A longer version of her article is on our blog.

Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Rita’s ideas for a unique Valentine’s Day in the Algarve: • Head to the cliffs on Ponta da Piedade to watch the sunset together • Do a couple’s treasure hunt around town • Surprise your lover with a couple’s photo session • Enjoy a romantic picnic (if you’re not a chef, Rita can cater) • Head to a vineyard for a spontaneous afternoon of wine-tasting • Hire a private chef to make a surprise dinner at home • Hide a secret gift for your partner to find (it doesn’t have to be a big gift. The best part is looking for it) • Plan a weekend away in one of the Algarve’s many beautiful hotels (or camping in nature if that’s your vibe) • Make a pre-dawn coffee and head to Porto do Mós for a sunrise stroll • If you feel like something that will get your heart racing, why not book a tandem skydive in Alvor?  www.secreteventsalgarve.com

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FOOD & DRINK

THAT ASIAN HOME COOK

Asian Style Duck and Orange Rice

Orange season is upon us! I love how sweet the oranges get this time of year and how their rich and tangy flavour can lend a savoury dish so much depth.

medium heat and watch your breast skin render all that fat. There should be a gentle bubbling of the fat in the pan.

I really enjoy duck and as we all know, it pairs so well with orange. So, I will tell you how you can take the typical duck and orange combination to the next level with an Asian twist.

After about 15 minutes, skin side down, your duck skin should be super crispy with an internal temperature of around 50OC. Pour out all that duck fat and place the duck back into the pan flesh side down for another 5 minutes or until internal temperature of 60OC. Lift from the pan and set aside to rest.

INGREDIENTS: • 2 duck breasts (150 gms each) • ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice • ½ tablespoon duck fat • 2 tablespoon hoisin sauce • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce • ¼ teaspoon ginger grated • 2 garlic cloves grated • Pinch of salt • Pinch of sugar INSTRUCTIONS: How to cook the perfect duck breast Score your duck breast by placing a very sharp knife gently against the skin, pulling it towards you and aiming for a crosshatch pattern. The scores should be around ½ cm apart which helps to render the duck fat. Be careful not to cut through the skin entirely and expose the flesh.

Orange sauce step-by-step This sauce is super easy! Pour a little bit of that rendered duck fat into a pan and sauté the garlic and ginger for a minute before you add all the other ingredients. Simmer on medium heat for about five minutes or so until it thickens. Taste and then season as per your preference with salt and sugar.

Allow your duck breast to rest for 10–15 minutes before carving into slices. Serve with a drizzle of orange sauce, steamed rice and some cucumbers for good measure. A little bit of fresh coriander for garnish and flavour will also go a long way here.

Season the duck breast generously with coarse sea salt and pepper, then place the duck breasts skin side down in a cold skillet. Place a cooking weight or another pan onto the breast so as to ensure it cooks evenly on the skin side down. Turn on the gas to

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Joy Entry is a Malaysian home cook based in Lagos who is obsessed with the provocative, unapologetic flavours of South-East Asian cuisine  Instagram: @thatasianhomecook joyentry@gmail.com

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FOOD & DRINK

The Rise of the Alvor Oyster WORDS Sophie Sadler

Driving towards Vale de Lama from Mexilhoeira Grande along a windy road feels like you are on a journey to an isolated backwater. It is a million miles away from the tourist towns and beaches of the Algarve. As I leave the tarmac road and cross the railway tracks, there are numerous fish farms and I get my first glimpse of the alluring waters of the lagoon. I am arriving at high tide, so there is no clue that the warm tidal waters hold a myriad of treasures.

I take a sharp left up a track leading to a warehouse, and it is here that I start to get an impression of the abundant aquaculture in this area. At low tide, the Alvor tidal estuary reveals its secret. Seaweed-covered squares on metal legs emerge from the waters, marching in uniform rows across the lagoon. You might catch sight of a tractor moving between them or a worker whose job it is to turn the sacks. Oyster farming is an increasingly thriving industry in the Algarve and what I’m looking out on, is one of Vale de Lama’s most successful enterprises, Ostra Select.

I am here to meet oyster farmer Rui Ferreira, who has run this five-hectare site since 2000. Rui comes from a line of Algarve restaurant owners.

His father owned Campimar restaurant in Porto do Mós, where Rui worked until it was sold when he was 19. He distributed Delta coffee in the area for a while, but his love of the sea and seafood drew him to the ocean. In 1994, he bought a

52

fishing boat and dived, spearfishing to supply restaurants. In 1996, he started to work in Vale da Lama, helping a friend farm clams.

Rui still produces clams and razor clams, but he was a pioneer in foreseeing the future of oysters in the region. Although the oysters of the Rio Formosa have previously overshadowed their Alvor relatives, this estuary is the perfect location for an oyster farm. The Atlantic tides and constant water renewal provide the lagoon with rich phytoplankton for the bivalves to feed on.

However, the water’s salinity means that oysters cannot breed in Alvor, so it is necessary to buy in the seeds, which are just 6 mm at this stage. Rui’s first attempts, however, were not successful.

He bought millions of oyster seeds but admits he didn't store them correctly, and 90% of them died. So, in 2000, Rui took a trip to France to learn the trade.

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Originally, Rui bought the seeds from a producer in Arcachon. This is no longer necessary as a nursery, Bivalvia, has now been established in Faro. Once the oysters have settled in the Alvor estuary, the warm winters enable them to grow uniformly throughout the year. This makes the farm more productive than those in cold regions where oysters go into dormancy in winter. The Alvor oysters filter 50 litres of the salty, clean water of the tidal flats, growing twice as fast as their French cousins.

However, having the optimum growing conditions still doesn’t mean oyster farming is a walk in the park. Rui has 45,000 bags of oysters. When they arrive as seeds, they will be put in the sacks, and then they must be shaken daily to grow in a regular shape. The oysters are then graded in a machine and sorted in size. This is because the larger oysters will eat more food and starve

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FOOD & DRINK Sophie Sadler with Rui Ferreira

Algarve gastronomy. Rui tells me, “Oysters are now the new trend. People always wanted to eat the Algarve clams, which is what the restaurants wanted, but now all restaurants serve oysters. I prefer to sell directly to the consumer now rather than exporting.” Rui is allowed this privilege after five years of water analysis. The IPMA classified the Alvor estuary as A grade in June 2002. This means that the Ostra Select oysters do not have to be cleaned with water and filters that eradicate the sea’s fresh taste.

You, too, can buy your oysters by weight directly from the farm and view the stunning Alvor estuary simultaneously: +351 919 463 570

Now that the oyster is en-vogue, it can be enjoyed in all types of food outlets. The Pearl Food Trailer in Lagos Marina offers a new street food concept and serves fresh oysters in an informal setting.

Rui's cousin is the owner of Camilo Restaurant on Ponta de Piedade, where Ostra Selct have installed a truck selling oysters to hot beachgoers who cool down with fresh oysters and a glass of wine. In Portimão, Quinte Do Marisco offers fresh seafood in a friendly and informal setting.

the smaller ones. He also has to ensure that the larger ones don’t get too meaty, as this ruins the flavour. The up-river sacks receive more exposure to water and, therefore, more food, and grow more quickly, so the smallest are placed here.

Over two years, they mature into the minimum 65 g needed to make them commercially viable, and the sacks need to be turned every two weeks. Rui employs five workers and it is the job of one man to turn over the 45,000 sacks – a never-ending process. Rui is now experimenting with tubes that he attaches to the sacks and which turn the baskets as the tide rises and falls to make the process less labour-intensive.

Is there a specific time when the Alvor oyster is in season? In the summer months, when the oysters are breeding and females are lactating, many oyster connoisseurs regard them as not so palatable. Rui has a genetically mutated sterile variety called a Triploid that maintains its meaty texture year-round to avoid this seasonality.

For the rest of the year, Rui can sell the natural variety.

As it is impossible to own the actual seashore, establishing an aquaculture farm meant obtaining two licences. One permits the use of water resources (bank, bed and water) and is granted by the Port Administrations and Docapesca, S.A. The second permit is required to license the activity, which is the responsibility of the Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services (DGRM).

When I first discovered this farm two years ago, Rui told me that he exported 80% of his produce to France. I am astonished to learn he no longer needs to export any. And that is the fantastic conclusion to this story. Not only has the industry flourished in the Algarve, but most of the oysters are now being consumed in the Algarve. This signals a fundamental change in

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Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Another part of Rui’s business, run by his son Miguel, is Oysters Experience, a mobile company which attends private functions. He is kept busy with events, weddings and food festivals. They invested in a “food bike” designed to offer a full oyster catering service anywhere, anytime. The bike is a one-stop oyster shop, supplying all your preferred condiments. The bike even has solar panels, giving it three hours of solar power to serve up a few hundred oysters. It is a deliciously fun way to entertain guests at any party.

At the other end of the hierarchy, Michelin star chef João Oliveira brings clients to Rui’s farm for his Art of Tasting experience. His website says: “If you like oysters, this is without a doubt an unmissable experience. Chef João Oliveira will collect this exceptional product from the Ria de Alvor, incorporating his lagoon-flavoured dinner menu at his Michelin-starred restaurant, Vista.”

Rui is now preparing to welcome the Michelin Star classification committee to his farm at the end of February. They will be arriving for a tasting experience, which is a huge honour for Rui and the Alvor oyster. “People like to see where their food comes from now,” reflects Rui, “and people like to buy local and fresh.”

With Valentine’s Day approaching, you may want to surprise your loved one with an aperitif of a local oyster and a glass of something bubbly. Rich in vitamin D, copper, zinc, and manganese, and believed to be a natural aphrodisiac!

Before I left the farm, I had the privilege of sampling an oyster as fresh as it gets. From the counter of his factory, Rui prized open the oyster for me. The sweet and tender flesh slid down my throat with a delicious explosion of the sea.

Delicious.  maps.app.goo.gl/xAUzf8hZL9dXd28EA geral@oystersexperience.pt oystersexperience.pt +351 968 082 051 +351 919 463 570

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PETS & WILDLIFE

Everyone Loves Chips WORDS Anne Hodges Almost everyone loves chips made from potatoes. However, it appears that some pet owners are not very keen on the microchip variety. It is now the law in Portugal that all pet animals, be they a cat, a dog or a ferret, must carry an identity chip.

Most people who own a cat or a dog love it to bits and look after their best friend superbly well. But one of the worst mishaps that can happen to either a dog or a cat is getting lost and separated from their owner. It is an extremely traumatic experience for them – an experience that could so easily be avoided if a little thought and care ensures that they are microchipped.

We regularly either rescue dogs ourselves, or we have had dogs brought to us because they are lost. And the first thing that we do is look for the microchip. When we find it, we can ensure that the owner is contacted as soon as possible

and a happy reunion occurs. These reunions are an absolute joy to witness.

Microchipping is a quick procedure performed by a vet and costs around 25€. Usually, the animal concerned (with a loving owner in attendance) doesn’t register any discomfort whatsoever. It is much less stressful than getting lost and separated from the owner for sometimes weeks or even months on end.

Please remember that a reunited cat or dog is an ecstatically happy dog or cat – and a very happy owner too, of course.

Anne Hodges is a volunteer for Cadela Carlota.

 www.cadela-carlota.com

Pet’s Mate WORDS Lars Ramquist

Some people gave up alcohol for dry January last month.

But, if they were living in the Algarve, they would not have experienced similar weather.

OK, you got me, the second one is a very uncommon clinical finding and, yes, I just threw it in for comical effect.

With the rain and the sun and the rain and the sun, we are expecting our cute little arachnid friends to return soon. Not the cuddly scorpion, nor the fluffy spiders, but rather the endearing and ever-so-cute TICKS. Yes, those no-headed, eight-legged charming blood-suckers are heading to a pet near you.

But wait … there are ways to protect your pet from these little (blood) suckers. There are collars, spot-ons and tablets available to help you and your furry mate. This author finds that new-age tablets work the best for tick prevention. I am not allowed to name any brands by law, so they include Bravecto, Credelio, Nexgard and Simparica. They are all similar in their efficacy. Bravecto is the only one that lasts for three months, so we tend to promote it.

As well as being pleasing to the eye and touch, ticks in the Algarve carry delightful, deadly diseases in their salivary glands. There are a number of organisms that they can carry and transmit to their varied hosts. These hosts include dogs, cats, horses and humans (!) – I know a few clients who have been in hospital with Borreliosis (or Lymes disease) and it doesn’t sound like my idea of fun.

The diseases ticks spread in animals cause symptoms ranging from general malaise and inappetence to anaemia, anal seepage and death … all in time for Valentine’s Day!

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There are other disease vectors heading your way this springtime. Make sure to tune in next month for another riveting instalment on parasites.

Go on and have a lovely Valentine’s Day, whether it be with your lover, your family, your pet, your kids, on your own, or covered in ticks. Just don’t confuse these various categories, they are distinctly different. See you next month.

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PETS & WILDLIFE

Great Bustards

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Foam Baths in February

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WORDS Luis de Teves Costa For many parts of the northern hemisphere, February is a cold and wintery month. Not so much for the south of Portugal. The Algarve and Alentejo regions start to show true signs of spring. Woodlands and grasslands are green carpets patched with wildflowers. Swallows are already here, flying around and starting to rebuild their nests. Other animals start to prepare for mating season. Amongst these is the great bustard (Otis tarda), a magnificent bird who is responsible for one of the most impressive mating displays of the natural world.

Great bustards are spectacular birds for their regal appearance, impressive size and eccentric behaviour. A globally endangered species, this is a resident species in Portugal and Spain. The Iberian Peninsula is home to 75% of the world’s great bustard population that spreads across steppes and prairies from Portugal all the way to China’s Pacific coast. In Portugal, the quiet Alentejo planes provide an ideal habitat for this large bird that shies away from human activity.

Arguably the heaviest flying bird in the world, the species also shows exceptional sexual dimorphism, meaning that males look different from the opposite sex. Bigger and heavier males also grow long white whiskers, a bronze colour neck collar and brighter colours.

Adult males usually weigh up to 18 kg, but a record specimen found in Manchuria measured a whopping 21 kg on the scales and there have even

been unconfirmed reports of heavier specimens.

For comparison’s sake, these record holders weigh roughly the same as a fully grown British bulldog and still manage to fly! Unsurprisingly, when scared, they would rather run away on the ground than take off to the skies.

At this time of the year, birds gather in large unisex groups. Males gather together in rutting groups called leks and start to size up their competition.

Not far away, the group of females keep a watchful and interested eye. Females show little interest in males for much of the year and tend to spend most of the time in separate groups, raising chicks from previous years. Now, the fittest males and the best displays will be rewarded with mating rights that will guarantee the genetic lineage for the next generation of great bustards.

With all the parties present, males start to stand up to their rivals and lek activity increases. The magic starts when the males rush their necks and heads backwards and turn their white lower feathers upwards, turn their tail and wings inside out and inflate their necks. The result is an impressive foam bath effect that does not resemble a bird in any way. This feathered metamorphosis is irresistible for the spectating females who will eventually approach their chosen partner and dance together for some time before mating takes place.

In England, great bustards have been used as symbols of elegance and greatness.

Cambridgeshire and Wiltshire proudly bear great bustards in their coat-of-arms. Once distributed across the planes of southern England, great bustards were also hunted and featured in menus for important banquets. Hunting and agriculture development saw the extinction of this bird in the 19th century. The Wiltshire-based Great Bustard Group started a reintroduction project in 1998 and has since released over one hundred birds into the wild. This has resulted in a wild breeding population of great bustards in England, nearly two hundred years after its disappearance.  greatbustard.org

1. Foam bath display from adult male great bustard 2. Adult Female great bustard 3. The “lek” 4. Great bustard

Height: 1.10 metres Length: 1.15 metres Wingspan: 2.5 metres Weight: 18 kilogrammes Longevity: 20–25 years.

Diet: Omnivorous. Will feed on a variety of grain, grass, flowers, insects, worms, and even small lizards and mice.

Where to see: Castro Verde, Vidigueira, Mourão Fun fact: Their feet consist of three front-facing toes. They lack the opposable hind toe meaning they can run very fast (reaching 48 km/h) but cannot perch on anything.

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Worldwide there are 26 species of bustards found in Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania. The dispute for number one world’s heaviest bird is between the great bustard and its African cousin, the kori bustard (Ardeotis kori), with adult males weighing around the same in both species.

The world’s smallest bustard is the little brown bustard (Eupodotis humilis) native to Ethiopia and Somalia. These only grow up to 40 cm in length and weigh less than one kilogram.

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