Tomorrow Algarve Magazine - May 2023

A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE FOR THE ALGARVE

SAVE MORE WITH

Simply scan this QR code and register with the myWorld app and you will receive cash back the next time you eat at Delhi Darbar and many other businesses in the community

We are committed to providing all our customers a genuine Indian family dining experience with great service.

5,500 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

Editor's note

Dear Tomorrow readers,

When you pick up this publication, you may be enjoying the public holiday on 1 May, which celebrates Labour Day. We are lucky this year that it falls on a Monday, so many of us may be enjoying a long weekend break away from work. Enjoy the rest – I am naming this month ‘Manic May’ as there is so much going on.

Being British, I am looking forward to the coronation of King Charles III on 6 May. Believe it or not, this is a very historically important day – and not just because we want to see whether Harry and William talk to each other! Look out for the British expats celebrating with some Union Jack bunting, coronation chicken and lots of prosecco.

May is also an important month in Lagos, as it commemorates its relationship with a Portuguese king. Dom Sebastian elevated the town to city status 450 years ago this month, which will be celebrated in Lagos with a festival and historical reenactments. Find out more in the following pages about why this is another royal event to look forward to.

Moving from the old to the new, it is the second Galaxia boat show this month,hosted by Galaxia Boats and Marina de Lagos. A fun mix between a boat show and a festival, they have confirmed British drum and bass band, Rudimental as their headline act. Another cause for excitement!

Did you know that the average daily temperature in the Algarve in May is 22ºC? A nice pleasant temperature to enjoy all the activities and events that are there to be enjoyed this month.

If you don’t wish to miss out, make sure you study the following pages carefully. They contain our normal blend of interviews, history, sports, culture and business news.

Welcome to Manic May!

From Sophie, Tom, Phil and the Tomorrow team.

SEDE: R. SENHORA LORETO LOTE 6 RC D PARIO CONVENTO 8600-683 LAGOS PERIODICIDADE: MENSAL . TIRAGEN: 6,500 TIPOGRAFIA: C/ AL MEDITERRÁNEO, 29, POLÍGONO DE SAN RAFAEL, 04230, HUÉRCAL DE ALMERÍA CIF: B04250056

Whilst we take every care to ensure details are correct the publisher will take no responsibility for errors or omissions. Where prices or dates are quoted they are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change. Links to third party websites are by no way an endorsement of the linked material and the publisher takes no responsibility for the content or security of any third party website. Unless specifically stated Tomorrow magazine does not endorse any product or service appearing in the directory, classified, editorial or display advertising featured on the website. Observação: os números de telefone presentes nesta publicação podem estar sujeitos a cobranças: números que começam por 2 chamada para rede fixa nacional e números começados por 9 chamada para rede móvel nacional.

Say Cheese

As I drive west out of Vila do Bispo, the countryside opens up into wide expanses of gently undulating land. The fresh green pastures are still vibrant from the winter rains and decorated with the yellow hues of the clover, which covers the landscape. It feels like a world away from the buzz of the Algarve coastline. Just a few kilometres from the bustle of the seaside towns, it is as if you have gone through a wormhole into another land, another time, another pace of life.

Pulling off the tarmac road, I navigate a dirt track, my car bumping along between a field packed with goats on one side and a herd of chocolate-

brown cattle on the other. Their bells and the barks of a pack of sheepdogs are the only sounds to break the silence.

I am here to meet Roberto Luz, who owns the herd of goats on my left, to learn more about farming and the ancient tradition of goat cheese making that is teetering on the edge of extinction in this forgotten rural idyll.

At just 37, Roberto is energetic and passionate about what he does, but his face is also etched with frown lines, evidence of the worry and hardship that this lifestyle brings. With more and more EU regulations and increasing costs to

navigate, it is the passion and the determination to keep alive the family tradition that drives him forward.

Roberto worked for years as a paid member of the Vila do Bispo Bomberios (fire service). He could have continued and earnt a good wage and had an uncomplicated life if it weren’t for his passion for goats!

His maternal grandparents kept goats and his childhood evokes happy memories of helping on the farm with the 200 goats and watching his grandmother produce cheese for the family, friends and neighbours using a traditional recipe passed down through generations.

With two children to support, his mother needed to find more lucrative work to support the family. So the family inheritance skipped a generation to Roberto, who has been loaned four hectares of land belonging to his grandparents so he could start rearing goats. His mother and grandmother, however, have given him enormous encouragement and are immensely proud of him for wishing to continue the family tradition. They gave him financial support to start his farm, while Roberto built a house on the site where he lives.

WORDS Sophie Sadler PHOTOGRAPHY Elien Van den Brande

We serve freshly prepared food from breakfast through to dinner everyday. A full varied menu along with daily specials and fresh fish means there is something for everyone, including vegetarian and vegan options and a gluten free menu.

Our experienced bar tenders serve amazing drinks, from our cocktail, gin and wine lists including international and Portuguese wines not to forget a cool pint of Estrella served in a chilled glass plus our healthy smoothies.

DAILY FRESH FISH

From the Lagos local market, delicious specials, served from 12pm everyday

SUNDOWNERS AND SUNSETS

Located on the beautiful Marina de Lagos with free parking, kick back, relax and watch the world go by.

quaylagosmarina quaylagos

Three’s not a crowd, it’s a squad

In the circle of life on the farm, Roberto needs five male goats; others are sold as he is not interested in meat production. The females feed their kids for two months, then Roberto continues milking them until he wants them to get pregnant again. I am shown an enclosure where the newborn kids are kept safe in a bed of hay within easy reach of their mothers. The little newborns look like endearing fluffy toys as they stare up at me with their inquisitive faces.

Roberto constructed the stables where the goats are brought to be milked himself. I was shown around the area where the goats are herded to

a milking platform. A tasty meal of pellets in a trough keeps the goats occupied while they are secured and milked. Roberto only has help from one man who comes for a few hours, but the rest he does himself, along with a couple of shifts at the fire station every fortnight to pay a few bills. Roberto explains that new regulations mean he needs to partition the shed from the milking area and acquire more modern machinery. It may also mean that the process becomes quicker as it now takes one and a half hours each morning and evening to milk around 60 goats. In order for him to become more efficient, he now needs to create partitions between the females that are milking and those that aren’t.

The most efficient method of milk production would be to keep the goats in a shed, feeding them with pellets and giving them no exercise, which means they produce more milk. However, Roberto wishes to manage goats traditionally, producing more ‘organic’ milk. He grazes the goats on the land, walking with them as his faithful dog keeps them in check. Neighbouring landowners give permission for them to graze on

their land. As we tour the farm, Roberto’s love for these animals is clear – as they sidle up to him and nuzzle into him he strokes them fondly. As we approach a field, he spots a newborn kid with its umbilical cord still attached. He lifts it aloft to show it to me and I am struck with the euphoria and wonder of new birth that must be a driving force for Roberto.

Roberto has created his own cheese factory in an annexe of his grandmother’s house in Sagres. The process requires several stages when the milk arrives. It is first pasteurised at 90ºc. The temperature is then lowered and salt is added. Another more novel ingredient is then used that makes this cheese completely authentic to the Vila do Bispo region – thistle rennet.

Thistle rennet was traditionally used in Spain and Portugal to make small-scale, artisanal cheese with sheep and goat milk. Since ancient times bull thistles have been collected from the countryside to be used in cheese production. Once they are thoroughly dried, the stamens or the purplish threads from each head would be

picked off and stored in a clean, completely dry jar with an airtight lid. Warm water is then added, before the liquid is strained off. The resulting mixture contains enzymes which solidify the cheese. This was used in place of animal rennet, which was traditionally the stomach lining of young calves.

Roberto sticks to this tradition rather than using a manufactured solidifier. Using the same techniques as his forefather is a source of pride to Roberto, but it is also a very time-consuming labour of love.

The resulting creamy, soft cheese is served in many restaurants in Sagres and Vila do Bispo and the local market. However, Roberto is now looking to open a permanent space in the market where he will have his factory and sell the cheese direct to the public, allowing people also to experience the process of authentic regional cheese.

Now Roberto is happy to be bringing his own daughter up with his goats! He shares equal custody with his ex-partner, so she stays with him every other week and hopefully will share the passion of her forefathers. As far as Roberto knows, all of his ancestors tended goats as far back as anyone remembers.

As we sit chatting with Roberto’s collie looking up at him adoringly and his goats in the field behind us, it is clear to see that this way of life runs in Roberto’s veins. He could easily choose an easier lifestyle, but as the only remaining cheese-producing goat farmer left in this area, this way of life could be lost forever if he did not continue.

Although Roberto has rejected financial help from friends who would like to help him make the upgrades to the farm that is now compulsory, they are appealing for support to keep this tradition alive. You can support Roberto by visiting his new factory outlet shop in Sagres market, which he hopes will open in June.

Roberto's story really got my goat! Whether you wish to support his enterprise or just enjoy reading about it, we can all applaud the dedication and commitment of this inspiring man who wishes to live as his ancestors did – in the company of goats!

www.instagram.com/roberto.luz85

www.instagram.com/queijariaavodeolinda

Adopt a Goat

If you wish to help continue the tradition of natural goat farming in Vila do Bispo, Roberto and his friends are inviting you to adopt a goat. You will receive a picture of your new four-legged friend, a supply of the cheese they produce, and an invitation to the cheese factory in Sagres.

For more information, please contact sarahbienz@gmx.net

28 May:

An Anniversary with no Heroes

WORDS James Plaskitt

The 28th of May marks the anniversary of the 1926 coup – the second of Portugal’s three twentieth-century revolutions. But, uniquely this one has no public holiday to mark the event. Unlike the others, there are no memorials and no heroes. So what is the story of the forgotten coup?

government was compounded by low pay and poor conditions for soldiers. Unsurprisingly, many in the army concluded that it was time to intervene again, and to put a stop to this failed experiment in republican, democratic government. There were a number of abortive coup attempts after the First World War. But the one that succeeded, in 1926, was led by Manuel Gomes da Costa.

Then a general, this decorated veteran of numerous colonial battles and the First World War assembled 15,000 troops in the centre of Lisbon and marched on the government, which he accused of having an “unforgivable lack of vision”, demanding its resignation. He got it – without any struggle at all. The weak and hopeless government realised that nobody would come to its defence, certainly not the disillusioned public who saw their circumstances deteriorating month by month. It had become the Republic that lacked republicans.

The 1926 military coup, which began on 28 May, brought to an end Portugal’s First Republic, itself the creation of an earlier coup in 1910, which ended the monarchy. The republic was more democratic than previous regimes, it had a national assembly, regular elections, and a written constitution. Those are normally developments to be celebrated. However, Portugal’s First Republic was a mess.

The government, which became established after the overthrow of the monarchy, agreed on two things: it was against monarchical rule and the Catholic church. The monarchy had been ended in the coup, although a few royalists remained and made various unsuccessful attempts to restore royal rule. The anti-clericalism of the first republic was deep-seated. The government took swift action to end the church’s influence in education, seized large amounts of church property, withdrew citizenship from Jesuits and cancelled most public religious feast day celebrations. So, the monarchy was gone, and the church suppressed. Everyone in the republican government was happy with that. The problem was they agreed on nothing else.

The republic was dominated by the Republican Party, but it was riddled with factions and personal fiefdoms. Aside from what it opposed, there was no core philosophy about what it stood for. The party dominated governments from 1911 right through to the 1926 coup, but it was a shambles. In that period, there were 44 administrations and nine presidents. Some administrations were ended by violence and assassinations, rather than the ballot box. Such chaotic politics meant that few, if any, of the country’s problems were tackled in any way. The economy suffered as a result – revolving governments piled up spending without addressing taxation, and the spiralling deficits caused the currency to plummet and inflation to soar. By 1926, prices were 30 times higher than they had been in 1914. The reputation of the financial system tumbled even further in 1925 when the Bank of Portugal failed to prevent a vast amount of counterfeit banknotes from getting into circulation.

The army – who had been decisive in overthrowing the monarchy – rapidly became disenchanted with what it had ushered in in its place. Dismay at the chaos and corruption of the

By 3 June, Gomes da Costa had dissolved the Parliament of the old republic and sacked every single municipal chief across the country. By 29 June, he was himself President – the bloodless coup was complete and the First Republic consigned to its ignominious place in history. However, Costa was, in reality, just an expendable figurehead and was himself ousted on 9 July by the ultraconservative hard-line officer Óscar Carmona. He became the real survivor of the coup, serving as the country’s president until 1951.

A coup like this, which brought to an end a period of shambolic chaos, might then be deserving of a little recognition on its anniversary if not another public holiday. It doesn’t get any of that because of what subsequently emerged. At the time the military leaders were installing a new government, few amongst the public took note of the new finance minister, António Salazar. But within just a few years, he had become the dominant force in the new government, and went on to found his dictatorship, which even outlived him and survived until the 1974 revolution, which was remembered and celebrated across Portugal last month.

The 1926 coup has no heroes, because its significance came to rest not on what it ended, but on what it began.

James Plaskitt was a Member of Parliament in the UK and served as a minister in Tony Blair's government. He is now retired in the Algarve.

Manuel de Oliveira Gomes da Costa (Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) António Óscar de Fragoso Carmona (Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

António de Oliveira Salazar Carmona (Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Gomes da Costa and his troops after the Revolution of 28 May, 1926 (Joshua Benoliel Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

The Man Who Saved Tennis

An exclusive Tomorrow magazine interview with Paul

‘Hawk-Eye’ Hawkins

WORDS Vaughan Willmore

“I see sport as a metaphor for life.”

I’ve never met a dragon, but Paul ‘Hawk-Eye’ Hawkins looks and sounds like a dragon of the Dragons’ Den kind. Articulate, pleasant and telegenic, this is the man whose ability to ‘think outside the box’ has revolutionised tennis, golf, football, cricket, and pretty much any other professional sport that comes to mind, along with the viewers’ experience of those sports.

Paul is the founder of Hawk-Eye Innovations, whose mission is ‘to pioneer and inspire change in sport’. In layman’s terms, the company provides the technology to tell whether a ball is ‘in or out’ in tennis, something which the former world number one professional player, Andre Agassi, described as “the biggest thing to happen in tennis for 40 years”. It’s also the basis for the video assistant referee (VAR) system, now used in professional football and a multitude of other sports.

Paul gained a PhD in Artificial Intelligence from Durham University in 1999, after which he worked for Roke Manor Research Ltd. As he told me, “I chose Roke Manor because I felt they had the infrastructure to develop what I had in mind.” So where did the idea come from? “I had aspirations to be a professional cricketer,” said Paul, “and I couldn’t help but notice the frustrations in the game due to poor decision-making by officials. I know about Artificial Intelligence and I have a passion for sport, so I felt I could develop a solution.”

Paul certainly did develop a solution. Hawk-Eye Innovations now employs over 1,000 staff working in more than 40 countries. Twelve years ago, Paul sold his stake in the company to the Sony Group Corporation, but he still works for Hawk-Eye Innovations as chief innovations officer. His role is described on the company website as ‘to think of things from an alternative perspective and to always question and challenge convention. To be as irresponsible as possible!’

Paul is particularly passionate about “challenging convention” and feels the mindset of “that is how we’ve always done it” is one of the greatest barriers to progress. He’s certainly been walking the talk. In 2014, he was awarded an OBE – presented by Queen Elizabeth II – for his services to sport and technology.

Paul now lives in Vilamoura, his home for the last 18 months. He speaks positively about Portugal being a great base from which to work and he even sees the Algarve as having the potential to be a new Silicon Valley. I asked Paul what advice he would offer anyone considering starting a business here. “Passion beats experience,” he said. “If you have a passion or an idea, then pursue it. All the other stuff about running a business you can either learn or get someone else to do it for you.”

As for the future, not surprisingly for a man who has achieved so much, he’s keen to do more and is training to row across the Atlantic with his son. I confess, I didn’t even know rowing across the Atlantic was something we human beings are capable of doing! As Paul said, “I see sport as a metaphor for life. It sometimes throws the most difficult challenges your way, but with hard work, commitment, and a thirst for learning, it can be joyous and rewarding.”

SMART Analyst Systems

Mercedes Cup Hawk Eye

Below the deck, you can see exhibitions showing everyday life on board and explaining the significance of the discoveries, as well as maps outlining routes. Using 21st-century technology, you can even enter the virtual world of the 15th century! A free app Boa Esperança Caravel' (for Android and iOS systems), that enhances the experience in the virtual reality of crew members is available to download. The app can also be used when exploring Lagos with interactions and information about places related to Portuguese Discoveries.

Also, onboard, it’s possible to view a 13-minute video documentary by New Light Pictures about the role of caravels in Portuguese history. Available in English, Portuguese and Spanish, it is well worth watching.

The Boa Esperança interpretation centre is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 am and 6 pm. The Lagos Ciencia Viva manages the visits. There is an entrance fee.

To book a visit:

+351 282 770 000

+351 969 685 985

A New Mission for

Boa Esperança

WORDS Lena Strang

In March this year, the restored 15th-century caravel Boa Esperança in Lagos was inaugurated with great pomp and circumstance. After years of neglect, the caravel had undergone a complete refurbishment at the Portinave shipyard in Portimão. The enormous efforts made by all stakeholders paid off when it was opened to the public, ready for a new chapter.

An expectant crowd had gathered by the quayside of the fishermen’s harbour where the caravel is stationed. We were offered refreshments in a marquee and enjoyed live music, juggling acts and watching historical enactments in front of the ship.

The ceremony was attended by Hugo Pereira, the Mayor of Lagos Municipal Council, João Fernandes of the Algarve Tourism Board and José Fernández de Cabo, a representative of Fundación Nau Victoria, the Spanish collaborators. In the crowd, I also spotted Captain José Gravata, crew members and volunteers smiling broadly. It was a proud day for all involved.

Hugo Pereira outlined the new role of the caravel. As an Interpretive Centre for Boa Esperança and the Portuguese Discoveries, it would become “an emblematic asset, promoting an important historical period of humanity”. He added, “We have been working for a long time to promote Lagos as not just a beach resort but to show it has a cultural and historical element. Through the caravel that can be visited, it is possible to appreciate the importance they played.”

Hugo Perreira giving his speech

João Fernandes of the Algarve Tourism Board also stressed the regional tourism implications. “We hope to turn the caravel into a dynamic hub of cultural tourism, which values our region’s heritage and preserves the cultural memory of Lagos and the Algarve.”

He explained that the name Boa Esperança came about as it managed to sail around the Cape of Good Hope, also known as the Cape of Torments, with many sailors losing their lives in the turbulent waters. “We had to overcome a true Cape of Torment to make it here today,” he said to general applause.

In 1488, the explorer Bartolomeu Dias achieved a milestone in Portuguese explorations in a caravel identical to this. Against all odds, he discovered the passage around the Cape, making it possible for the Portuguese to trade directly with India and the Far East. The present replica is a prime example of the early caravel with its two masts and lateen sails to facilitate navigation against the wind. It carries the symbol of the Cross of Christ, harking back to Henry the Navigator, who was the Regent and Governor of the Order of Christ.

The Boa Esperança replica was built in Vila do Conde in northern Portugal by naval specialists using archaeological finds from caravels in Aveiro and the Tagus River and drawings from museum archives. It was completed on 28 April, 1990. In 2001, the Algarve Tourist Board acquired the caravel.

Its inaugural voyage was to Bruges to commemorate the anniversary of the first trading post of the Portuguese in the early 15th century. It has visited innumerable ports in northern Europe and the Mediterranean, participated in

several regattas here and in the North Atlantic, attended the Queen’s Jubilee in London and represented the Algarve as the ship of honour at the Festival of Cannes, to name but a few.

However, due to a lack of investment and uncertainty about its mission, the caravel became increasingly rundown. A sorry sight for a long time, it was moored in Lagos, awaiting its fate. That is until now.

Now visitors can step on board into the world of the 15thcentury explorers and appreciate the reality of life on a small ship that undertook hazardous voyages across unknown seas.

Flying high with Ryanair

We meet Johnny Murtagh, a highflying captain with Europe’s biggest airline.

Johnny Murtagh has been a pilot with Ryanair since 2010 and a captain since 2015. Along with his young family, he’s lived in Vilamoura for the last four years. Johnny and I play padel tennis at The Campus on the Quinta do Lago Sports Complex near Almancil. After a couple of hours of friendly rivalry on the padel courts, Johnny was kind enough to talk me through his aviation career and his life as a pilot, based at Faro airport.

On leaving university in 2001, Johnny worked in his parent’s business, based near Dublin. Training to become a commercial airline pilot was not a natural route for him to take. As he told me, “My parents thought I would stay in the family business, but I was attracted to the security of employment of being a commercial airline pilot – it’s not an easy career path – and the chance to work for a leading airline. I had fantastic encouragement and support from my wife, Rozanne, and my parents, so I decided to get out of the pub game and invest in flight training. It’s funny looking back. My mom had worked for 20 years as an airline stewardess, so maybe there was something in the family DNA after all?”

In 2007, Johnny enrolled with Ireland’s Pilot Training College. The following year, he headed to Florida to further his training. In 2010, once he’d accumulated the required qualifications and flying hours, he successfully applied to join Ryanair, where he embarked upon their own company-specific programme, which included simulator-based training at Stansted in the UK.

In 2015, Johnny attained the rank of captain and he was then able to choose a base to fly from. Johnny chose Faro. As he said, “It’s a great way of life here and there’s nothing better than flying over the Ria Formosa during a sunset and heading into land at Faro airport. It’s a lovely feeling.”

These days, a typical working schedule for Johnny is five days on, four days off, albeit there is flexibility. For example, the day we met, Johnny agreed to help out another captain by taking on his flights, so six days of work lay ahead. A typical working day includes two or four flights. There’s an emphasis on getting the crew back to their home base by the end of the working day, something which is important to Johnny and his young family.

I am something of a nervous flyer, but Johnny helped assure me, talking me through how

regulated the airline profession is and the training and safety protocols they follow. Johnny also told me about the dynamics of the cockpit – something which has always fascinated me – and about Gradient Authority, which is where roles and responsibilities are defined, with a particular emphasis on teamwork. As Johnny said. “It’s important there is a balance of authority in the cockpit. For example, regardless of whether the captain or copilot is bringing the plane into land, it is the other person who makes the final decision on whether they go ahead with landing or make a fly-by and another approach to the airport.”

Johnny has progressed his career in such a positive way that in addition to being a captain, he now trains the captains of the future. He’s proud to work for Ryanair and be part of their training team, which he regards as one of the finest in the aviation industry. As he said, “At Ryanair, we don’t recruit co-pilots; we recruit the captains of the future.”

During his thirteen years with the company, Johnny’s flown many well-known personalities, including Dr Eva, who we featured in our January edition; the England international footballer, Jermain Defoe; and Ireland’s former rugby captain, Brian O’Driscoll. When his feet are firmly on the ground, Johnny enjoys spending time with his family, playing padel tennis, and running in the hills near Vilamoura.

I was certainly flying high after catching up with Johnny and understanding more about his life as a captain with Ryanair. I am full of admiration for what he does and the professionalism and sense of normality he brings to what many of us would regard as a very prestigious role with Europe’s biggest airline.

Ryanair Facts & Figures

• 2,500 flights a day

• 14 million passengers a month, peaking at 18 million in August

• Flying to over 40 countries and 230 airports

• 17,000 staff, 5,000 pilots and 500 aircraft

www.ryanair.com

Did you know?

Following the devastating wildfires in Monchique of 2018, Ryanair established Renature Monchique. With the help of 150 local volunteers, 135,000 trees were planted, aiding the recovery of the natural environment and helping local landowners to maintain their businesses during the difficult years that followed.

WORDS Vaughan Willmore PHOTOGRAPHY @Johnny Murtagh

Johnny and his family

Contrabandistas

The border smugglers

WORDS Bob Tidy

At 1,214 km in length, the border between Portugal and Spain is the longest uninterrupted border within the European Union. It has been free of border control since 1995. The movement of goods and freedom of travel is something that residents of both countries have come to enjoy.

Today, I am in Alcoutim on the river bank of the Guadiana River, looking over to the Spanish village of Sanlucar de Guadiana. I am visiting the Festival do Contrabando. Some of the locals have dressed up in the traditional costumes of a time when things were very different. In those days, life was hard and smuggling was a part of everyday existence. To understand why ordinary people risked being sent to prison and even losing their lives in illegal trade, a little history and geography is a good place to start.

Even today, with a fast road coming up from Vila Real de Santo António, Alcoutim feels a little off the beaten track. Go back in time and this village was extremely remote, like a little outpost stuck on the eastern edge of the region. Originally, it was a simple garrison with a few soldiers to keep an eye on the neighbours. There is evidence of Roman occupation and a history of Spanish armies crossing the river to invade. I find myself asking, why here?

The answer is simply because this is the narrowest part of the river on the Algarve section of the border and, therefore, the best place to cross. With the settlement on the Spanish side being established around 1428, the twin villages became a harbour and, by the turn of the sixteenth-century, trading from one side to the other was well established. Trading meant paying taxes and by all accounts, the Lord of Alcoutim did very nicely out of it. Around this period, the smuggling of Africans arriving in Portugal to sell as slaves across the border was another lucrative business. Cattle and other livestock (that had not been taken by the invading armies) also got transported illegally.

The remoteness of the location meant that the two sides developed a strong cooperation and reliance on each other. There are other examples of Spanish and Portuguese “sister” towns, like Eljas and Foios, that formed a union through cooperative smuggling. In the region of the Serra de São Mamede national park, which the border runs through, there is still a kind of mixed-up language called Porteñol in some of the villages. In one of the articles that I came across, there was a smuggler’s house in the region called Casa de la Duda (house of doubt), where the front door opened to Spain and the back door to Portugal.

Looking over the shoulder of the “contrabandista” statue over the river to Sanlucar de Guadiana

Shop SAVE MONEY, BUT PROFIT FROM OUR EXPERTISE AND GLOBAL EXPOSURE

n e n s m a d e i n Po r t u g a l

Q u a l i ty a n d p r i ce g u a ra n te e d

L i n e n l a b e l l i n g s e r v i ce

PROPERTIES OF THE MONTH

VISIT OUR NEW LAGOS OFFICE Estrada da Biker 15, Loja B, Lagos 8600-514

An Impressive and Immaculate 6-Bedroom Villa Praia da Luz - €1,100,000 Close to the Beach Porto do Mós, Lagos - €595,000

Apparently, the border has been moved and the house is now Spanish.

Returning to Alcoutim, everything was going along nicely for the town until the Spanish civil war came along in 1936 and trading across the river stopped. With no connecting boat to carry people and goods, residents had to travel south, cross the river at Castro Marim and then travel north again on the other side. This was inconvenient, to say the least. In order to continue supplying each other with vital goods, smuggling became the only option. For many families, this simply meant survival and was the only way of getting basics like flour, sugar, salt, coffee and textiles. It was also a way of avoiding the heavy taxes mentioned earlier and for many, the financial benefit would have been hard to resist.

After the civil war came the hardships of a dictatorship for the Spanish, which the Portuguese knew all about as well. Now even the absolute basics of bread and cheese were being crossed over the border to feed the impoverished Spaniards. Many of the customs officers employed to stop the smugglers also found the extra income from being paid to turn a blind eye hard to turn down.

These people may have been engaged in illegal activity, but in many cases, they were ordinary men and women working the fields by day and smuggling by night under moonlight, not by choice, but by necessity.

Sitting here now, looking across the peaceful river in the modern world, it is hard to imagine those days. Young men carrying 40 or 50 kilos on their backs in order to either cross mountains further to the north, row in small boats or even swim against the fast-flowing river currents. Some reported taking an extra five kilos in their hands so that if spotted by the civil guards, who were on a constant lookout, they would ditch the heavy backpack and run off with the small “lifesaver”. Others were not so fortunate. Apparently, in some of the harder-to-access areas, it was simply too much effort to pick up the smugglers and take them to trial; it was easier to just shoot them on the spot.

The battle between the authorities and those seeking to profit from smuggling drugs and other modern contraband continues today, and I guess that while there are borders, it will continue to happen into the future.

Weddings Galore!

I was recently chatting about weddings in the churches here in the Algarve and realised that not everyone knows how you can have a Christian ceremony here in Portugal.

Common questions are, can people coming on holiday get married in the churches here? Do I conduct weddings in places other than the church? What do couples need to do in order to get married here? So I thought it would be a good idea to let you know about the ins and outs of Algarve weddings.

In the UK (and I guess because the church there is tied to the state), when someone marries in a church, the priest acts as a registrar. In other words, the priest carries out the same duties that would be carried out at a UK registry office and has the same authority. In nearly all other countries, a legal official has to carry out the legal ceremony. Here in Portugal, it’s a notary, and I know it’s the same in Germany as well, where you can't get married in a church and be legally married. Everybody getting married must first appear at a Standesamt for a civil ceremony. Once the marriage is legal, then one may have the ceremony in a church.

Here in Portugal, it is similar, and many couples coming from the UK who have their church weddings here (although I have conducted German, South African and Sri Lankan weddings as well) have had the legal wedding part done prior to the church wedding.

Using the rich liturgy of the Church of England, the service is probably something you all know very well. There is a bible reading, often an additional reading – a poem or an extract from a book etc., the traditional entrance and exit music (although we can and do have all kinds of music) and some hymns in between.

The two main churches where we hold wedding services are Nossa Senhora da Luz in the west Algarve and St Luke’s in the east. But, St Vincent’s Chaplaincy is permitted to hold wedding blessings in any of the churches in the Algarve, thanks to the kind permission of the Bishop of The Algarve and the rest of the church.

As I mentioned earlier, we also conduct weddings in other venues as well, the Tivoli Carvoeiro Hotel being one of my more enjoyable venues last year with its stunning sea backdrop. We are also very accustomed to working with the many wedding planners here in the Algarve.

So in a nutshell, yes, you can get married in one of the beautiful churches here in the Algarve, and many people do want to say their vows in these holy places.

God bless Fr Rob

Have a look at some photos from our Christian ceremonies: stvincentsalgarve.org/weddings

WORDS Rob Kean

An American in the Algarve: Part 2, Scene I

Potty Train Your Bunny

Even after my dramatic transition from city mouse to country mouse, I am probably still one of the least experienced would-be farmers in all of Portugal and that might even be an understatement. To put it bluntly, I know nothing about raising chickens. Or ducks. Or roosters. Or hamsters. Or bunnies. Or guinea pigs.

And that’s a fact. I grew up on 11 acres of historic woodland, famed for its civil war buttons and 1860 trenches. But that was a forest. Not a farm. We had two dogs, one cat and some uber-sensitive fish that died faster than we could buy them. At some point, there were gerbils, but they never seemed to survive very long and, eventually, I was too heartbroken to get any more.

The cat was never allowed inside by strict orders of my mother. It turns out she was right about cats tearing up every scrap of furniture they can get their claws into. I learned that the hard way. When we still lived in Tel Aviv, I was coerced into bringing home the stray kitten my son had fallen in love with at kindergarten. The cat was supposed to live outside on our rooftop garden, but he always found a way to sneak into the apartment downstairs, make his way into the kitchen and either eat whatever was on the counter or tear up a handmade Italian barstool –just for the fun of it. His name was Patrick. I don’t

know who named him, but he was the bane of my existence. When we moved, Patrick stayed behind as he had disappeared into the garden below and could not be found. I vowed then never to own another feline – male or female.

When we moved to Portugal in 2019, I had no grand visions of owning land and rearing animals or keeping a farm of my own. We arrived with our one dog, Charlie Brown, and I thought that was plenty. My children had other ideas. Somehow they convinced me to buy one guinea pig and one rabbit for a birthday present. But then we were told it is cruel to keep only one guinea pig, so we had to buy our lone little piggy a friend. The friend turned out to be a lover. Those two quickly multiplied (and here I’m talking faster than a human gestation by a factor of 13), producing six more baby guinea pigs.

We neutered our first little guinea pig, but it actually takes six weeks for them to stop firing real bullets. Apparently, as the vet explained to me after I already had SIX accidental baby guinea pigs, it’s the same for humans. Who knew?

The toy rabbit died of myxomatosis, but a rabbitless existence didn’t last long. I happened upon some hares for sale at the Saturday market, and I just couldn’t let them be someone’s dinner.

They were so cute when they were small. And then they grew. Today, those female hares are massive. Teeth like a Gruffalo. Claws of a Griffin. These ladies are equipped for a serious battle. At least they are really both girls.

At some point, after we had finally moved the guinea pigs and rabbits out of our spare bedroom and into an outdoor enclosure, we decided that it would be really nice to have our own fresh eggs. I mistakenly purchased tiny balls of fluff from an unreliable looking hippie in the backwoods who promised me that “99% sure they’re all females”. His math skills were atrocious. Six out of ten were males. When they started to fight, we had to re-home one and remove the other three from the coop as they were literally murdering my females.

Now, after a few years of experience, I know that it’s wise not to buy the cute small fluffy kind of chicks if you want eggs. You actually cannot tell the gender until they’re mature, around four or five months old. So after losing nearly all the females, either from rooster abuse, disease or a wild animal attack (we’re not sure what, but we think maybe a fox), we were down to one laying hen and three useless, loud roosters who my children adore. One is even named after a superhero and Mr. Incredible certainly has an incredible voice. I’m sure the neighbours adore him too.

Last week, after many months of eggless farming, in which you do the same amount of work but reap no benefits, I decided to buy more hens. For sure, females this time. After a recent vaccination, the two large hares moved in with the chickens as they had far outgrown the guinea pig cage. A few days later, on a trip to the pet store for a new dog collar, I found myself over at the rabbit cage. A group of six adorable small bunnies were hopping around, so similar to the one we lost to that terrible man-made virus, myxomatosis.

So now, the newest addition to the farm family is Honey, a soft-hearted little bunny named both for her colour and disposition. Including this sweetie, I am astounded to say that at the current count I have eight chickens, three ducks, three rabbits, five guinea pigs and one dog. Luckily, the stray cat who appeared this winter and started helping himself to the chicken scraps had an owner. So we are still cat free. Except for the vicious white wild cat who came with the house. Every time you go near her she hisses, but she’s always crying to be fed. We call her the White Witch.

The task of my week at the farm? Potty training the new rabbit, Honey, who has taken up residence in my office. Somehow, things have shifted from my children wanting pets to me losing all of my senses and bringing them home all by myself.

Meredith Price Levitt is a freelance writer for over 20 years and a recent immigrant to the Algarve. She’s learning Portuguese, how to tell a chicken from a rooster, how to potty train rabbits and building a hexagon for aerial arts. You can reach her at: meredithmprice@gmail.com

WORDS Meredith Price Levitt

PUB

Monday to Friday from 4pm Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon

| Large €9.50

Beef, Pork, Lamb, Gammon, Chicken and Veggie. Served with Roast Mash Potatoes, 4 Seasonal Vegetables, Stuffing, Yorkshire Pudding & Gravy

TUESDAY'S PIE NIGHT

Medium €7.50 | Large €9.50

Steak or Chicken, Bacon and Mushroom. Served with Mash or Chips, Mushy Peas, Beans, Veg or Garden Peas & Gravy

A Journey into Myself

Iris Johner is a musician, author and filmmaker. She performs music around the Algarve and has also recently finished writing a book. Iris has co-created a short film based in the Algarve and is currently working on a documentary project, Remember, which celebrates ancient wisdom from around the world.

Congratulations on the films, can you tell me about them?

In December 2021, I met Pehuen Grotti, a talented photographer and videographer. My life took an unexpected turn towards filmmaking, allowing me to expand wider as a writer, poet and visionary. Together, we co-directed a short film named Ascend, based on a poem I wrote. The project is an epic exploration into one’s individual journey from awakening to ascent, a raw expression of humanity. The verse is an ode to nature, a celebration of life – a reclamation of personal sovereignty.

The adventure continued in March last year when we traversed through the rainforest of South Chiapas, Mexico, to meet the Lacandon people – a native community, some of the last descendants of the Mayas. We spent two months immersed in their forest, learning about their culture. The film aims to honour their tradition and wisdom to crystallise or revive it and remind our modern societies how to lead more meaningful existences. This film is the pilot episode for a bigger project called Remember, which will disclose ancient traditions from all around the world.

Can you tell me a little about your book?

In the winter of 2020, I felt a calling to pen my personal story. I rented a room in the dunes of a small fishermen’s village on the west coast of Portugal, where I carefully gathered 75,126 words in an autobiographical novel. In the narrative, I retraced my journey to find my place in the world – both geographically, as it starts when I moved to Portugal in 2017, and symbolically. The result is an exploration of the gift of my voice through singing and writing to find my true self. This book is about my painful and wonderful journey back to my essence while getting rid of layers of conditioning like a snake shedding skin. I found inspiration by living a minimalist existence amidst nature, where richness and abundance come from within and joy is found in life’s simple things.

How did you begin to write and perform music?

I started singing and writing songs when I was very young. It came to me naturally, as did the desire to perform on stage. I got my first guitar at age 14 and played my first gig the same year. Since then, I have recorded two albums and played countless concerts. For the last five years, I have been fortunate to make a living as a musician in Portugal, performing my songs on the street and at events, and most notably at Boom Festival and Sofar Sounds. Beyond a means of expression, I use my voice as a way to touch people and enliven something in them.

Where did you grow up and how did you find the Algarve?

I was born and raised in the French Alps in a

town called Annecy, surrounded by beautiful mountains. However, I am actually drawn more to the ocean! When I first visited the Algarve in 2014, I instantly fell in love with the colours and smells, its wilderness and way of life. Although I have embarked on various travels around the world, I kept returning, each year a little longer, until I decided to answer my heart’s calling and move here in 2017 together with my dear friend and fellow artist David Dixon. Little did I know that this decision would change my life.

How did you end up on an artistic path?

Life taught me at a young age that I am not supposed to do things like everybody else. I have a natural tendency to question frameworks and rebel – I am the exception to the rule. I own a sensitivity and an intuition that the mainstream world does not encourage. My path is one of self-acknowledgement, self-recognition and self-validation. When I don’t sing, I write and dance or birth a project – creativity overflows and expression must come out in one form or another.

What are your hopes for the next year and further ahead?

I am currently seeking a publisher for my book. I want my story to inspire as many people as possible. Also, the pilot episode of Remember will be out in April. It is a gift as you will not need to pay for it, but we are launching a crowdfunding campaign to enable us to continue the project and finance the second episode. The sequel will be filmed in the UK and will explore the ancestral Celtic druid tradition. Stay tuned!

IG: @into_ones_mind linktr.ee/irisjohner

WORDS Niall Hilary

© Massimo Pardini

© Sarah Watts

QUIZ

Dom Sebastian 450 Years of History

In 1573, the small provincial village of Lagos experienced a momentous event – it was elevated to city status. Now 450 years later, the municipality is evoking the historical milestone with celebrations and festivities throughout the year. There is a special focus on the legendary figure of Dom Sebastian.

So why was Lagos bestowed with this unique honour?

Dom Sebastian, the king at the time, visited Lagos with his royal entourage for the first time in January 1573. He inspected the fort at Sagres and other fortifications along the coast and participated in a mass at the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade. His birthday on 20 January was celebrated with great fanfare. The village must have impressed him so much that, on 27 January of the same year, he proclaimed it a city, the only one in his reign that received this honour. He also established the residence of the Governor of the Kingdom of the Algarve, making the city the most important one in the region.

In Praça Gil Eanes, one of the main squares of Lagos, there is a statue by João Cutileiro (1973) of the young king dressed in oversized armour, perhaps symbolising his subsequent reckless mission in the north of Morocco.

Who was Dom Sebastian, The Boy King, who contributed significantly to the evolution of Lagos but whose actions had fateful consequences for the country?

On 20 January 1554, Sebastian was born heir apparent to the throne of Portugal as his birth occurred two weeks after his father’s death. The situation had left the kingdom in shock as his father was the only surviving child of nine. The kingdom’s succession came to depend on the success of his birth. Hence, Sebastian gained the epitaph ‘The Desired’. The baby never saw his mother, Joanna of Austria again. She left for Spain to serve as regent for her father.

At the age of three, Sebastian ascended to the throne with a regency established by his grandmother Catarina, Queen of Austria, and later by his great-uncle, Cardinal D. Henrique de Évora, until he came of age. Catarina, who looked after him, was a domineering woman and had him under strict control. His primary influence, however, was the austere education received by the Jesuits. He became highly devout, seeing himself as Christ’s captain, destined to defend Christendom.

After attaining his majority in 1568, aged 14, his overriding ambition was to organise a crusade against the kingdom of Morocco. What prompted him to

If you are interested in Portuguese history, you can find more information on its rulers and historical sights in The Seven Wonders of Portugal. This beautifully produced and illustrated 68-page brochure sells to the public for 5€. All proceeds will go to the Tomorrow Algarve Charity Trust (TACT). Please email your order to: vigillman@outlook.com

Manueline window

Dom Sebastain statue

undertake such a venture? Perhaps illusions of grandeur and religious fervour, albeit combined with little military experience, drove him to save the Christian world. The young king had been concerned about the Ottoman Turkish Empire’s occupation of North Africa, which still excluded Morocco. He promised support for the deposed sultan of Morocco against his uncle, who had Ottoman support.

In 1578, he came to Lagos and bid farewell to the people of the city. He stood at the Manueline window (the square one on the right with an opaque coating) in the Governors’ Palace overlooking the Jardim de Constituição while Mass was said. It was to be his last visit to the city that must have been close to his heart.

He sailed to Morocco to begin the crusade along with his army of 17,000 men, which included nearly all the country’s nobility and many foreign mercenaries. The expedition culminated in the battle of Alcácer-Quibir, also known as the Battle of the Three Kings, as none of the three rulers, the deposed sultan, his rival and Sebastian, survived. Sebastian’s last words on the battlefield before leading the desperate attack against the superior enemy are said to have been: “Gentlemen, real freedom can only be lost with your life.” He then charged his horse against the enemy line, never to be seen again.

The death of the heirless king at the battlefield, along with 9,000 men and the cream of the nobility, had severe consequences, endangering Portugal’s independence. Rescuing the survivors also drained the country’s financial resources. A dynastic crisis ensued, with the Spanish Felipe II coming out on top. He managed to ascend the Portuguese throne and unite the governments of the Iberian Peninsula. For the next 60 years, Portugal lost its independence, including its entire empire. The crusade had been a resounding defeat.

As the body of Dom Sebastian was never found, it started the legend that ‘The Dormant’ or ‘The Disappeared’ would one foggy morning return to help Portugal in its darkest hour – an image similar to that of King Arthur in England. It was a myth that perhaps was needed to maintain Portugal’s identity. The dream grew and became a movement called

Sebastianism. Over the centuries, it gave rise to many songs, poems, theatre pieces and even operas.

One can safely say that Dom Sebastian was one of the most extraordinary monarchs in Portugal’s history. There was great expectancy when he ascended the throne, widely acclaimed as the answer to his subjects’ prayers and the one who would save his country’s independence. Two decades later, he achieved exactly the opposite. He died unnecessarily on the North African battlefield leaving no heir to succeed him.

However, he did achieve positive things during his short rule. He seemed to have had a social conscience and did much to assist people experiencing poverty. During the great plague of Lisbon in 1569, he enlisted doctors from Seville to help Portuguese doctors fight the plague. He built two hospitals in Lisbon to accommodate those afflicted with the disease. For widows and orphans, he created shelters, Recolhimento de Santa Maria. There were scholarships for students wishing to study medicine or pharmacy at the University of Coimbra. Communal granaries were established to help farmers cope during bad harvests. In 1570, he ordered that Brazilian Indians should not be enslaved and demanded the release of anyone in captivity. The administrative, judicial and military life in his kingdom was also re-structured. He was only 24 years old when he died. How much more could he have achieved in his lifetime, one wonders?

Dom Sebastian may have been a controversial figure, but he changed the course of history for better or worse. For Lagos, the impact was significant. So, let’s join in with the commemorations.

The celebrations in Lagos began on 27 January with conferences, concerts, exhibitions, and guided tours. Much more will follow.

Don’t miss the Festival of Discoveries from the 4 to the 7 May. It promises to be a colourful affair with plenty of historical enactments during the four-day extravaganza.

For keen photographers, there is still a chance to participate in the Lagos Cidade photo competition. Think creatively about what Lagos means to you. Whatever seems permanent or transitory about the city, its history and culture, lights and colours, are some themes that could be captured. The deadline for entries is 15 June. A selection of photographs will be on show at the Feira Concurso Arte Doce, Sweet Festival (26 to 30 July). Three winning entries will receive prizes.

Battle of AlcácerQuibir (1578), Museum of the Fort of Ponta da Bandeira in Lagos. Georges Jansoone, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sebastião de Portugal, c.1571-1574, Cristóvão de Morais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A HISTORY OF ALGARVE EXPATS

Immigrants and Expats in Lagos from 1897 to 1972 (Part 6)

WORDS Marta Nogueira

Once again, we find ourselves on a journey to explore the lives of the immigrants and expats who have lived in Lagos between 1897 and 1972. The starting point for this article is once more the book Livro de Registo de Residência de Estrangeiros (1897–1972), held by the Arquivo Municipal de Lagos. This time we explore the lives of two expats, one with the occupation of agricultor (farmer) and the other of horticultor (horticulturist).

Mark Jeremy Harman is the first and only expat registered with the occupation of agricultor (farmer). The first record is dated 22 January, 1971 (p. 44). At the time, Mark Harman was 25 years old, from Taunton (England) and was single. His parents are also identified: Lance Harman and Audrey Moger. His Portuguese location was in Portelas (p. 44).

We were hoping, at this point, to be able to locate Mark Harman and write the first article using records from the Livro de Registo de Residência de Estrangeiros where the person and the record could actually be introduced to each other. Unfortunately, Mark passed away in 2021, in Lagos.

We found this out from Joaquim Rio, Mark’s commercial partner of 20 years, now the owner of Pescamar sport fishing at the Lagos marina. Joaquim Rio told us that Mark Harman was born in 1945 and was married, first to a Portuguese woman named Luísa Calazans, and then to Jinny Harman. He had two children: Sara, from the first marriage, and Rupert, from the second.

Joaquim Rio remembers Mark as an intelligent and good man who was always smiling and in a good mood. He was rarely seen without a camera in his hands or his dog Tommy accompanying him. Most weekends he enjoyed picnics and barbecues with good food, gin and beer and, of course, friends. Rio also remembers how he learned to windsurf at Bravura Lake (Odiáxere) with Mark.

Joaquim and Mark met in 1972 at the Luz Bay Club. Joaquim was, at the time, working as a barman and Harman invited him to become his business partner. He accepted and the two established the Harman & Rio, Lda – O Talho Inglês (the English butcher). They not only became partners in business but also friends.

Before coming to Lagos, Mark undertook professional agricultural training in Australia and worked on his stepfather’s farm. His stepfather was Ben Moger, an Englishman who came to Lagos from South Africa where he was working as a solicitor. It was at Quinta da Matina in Portelas that Mark began to implement new techniques in factory farming.

Mark and Joaquim started to produce and sell English sausages to restaurants and supermarkets. The meat came from the pigs raised at Quinta da Matina. The difference between the English sausages and the Portuguese ones was all down to the production.

Morris truck. The first truck of the company Harman & Rio – Rua dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra, 1973 (photo made available by Joaquim Rio)

Mark Harman preparing the sausages with the blue and white apron he usually used for this work (photo made available by Sara Calazans Harman).

Rua dos Celeiros, Rossio S. João, Condominío Luxury Adega, Loja 4, Lagos

The English contained more spices compared to the Portuguese ones and one sausage in particular was famous with the cocktails – the chipolata.

The two also started to produce hamburgers, which were a completely new phenomenon in Portugal. “Nobody knew what a hamburger was,” says Joaquim. In 1975, they ordered a Hollymatic machine from America, after which their hamburgers were sold to Igloo – the very well-known frozen food brand that still exists today. Mark and Joaquim were in fact, the first hamburger producers in Portugal.

The partners sold sausages and hamburgers from Lagos to Vale do Lobo, all made in Lagos, at Rua dos Combatentes da Grande Guerra. They were commercial competitors of Douglas William Borley. Joaquim told us that Borley could be found having a drink in Lagos from a metal mug that he brought with him. The mug apparently saved his life in South Africa, deflecting a bullet while he was having a drink. Afterwards, he believed it was his protective amulet (for more about Borley read the article ‘Immigrants and Expats in Lagos from 1897 to 1972 – Part 5’).

Mark Harman and Joaquim Rio were partners from 1973 until the 90s. Their partnership eventually came to an end, primarily because they were unable to compete with competition from the large supermarkets.

While we were writing the testimony of Joaquim Rio, we were hoping that he could have some contacts of Mark Harman’s family in order to gather more testimonies and information and we succeeded. Joaquim gave us the contact of Mark’s son, Rupert Harman, who gave us the contact of his sister, Sara Calazans Harman.

Rupert Harman remembers his father had been coming to Lagos since 1967 to visit his parents. Between 1972 and 1975, he returned to England to train to be a butcher at the Royal Agricultural College, in Cirencester. This information complements what Joaquim Rio told us about the start of the business of Harman & Rio, Lda. About his time in Australia, Rupert remembers his father came back to Lagos with a friend … by car. What an adventure this trip must have been!

Rupert remembers spending a lot of time with his father outside in the garden, watering and taking care of his plants. He remembers sitting on a tractor aged 8. Mark Harman was always busy and was a nature lover. He loved to see the almond trees blossom and to be outdoors. His first topic of conversation was always the weather. He was also very optimistic and positive, even when he became sick. He was often heard to say, “The next year will be a great year!”

Rupert also remembers that every Saturday in the 80s, a group gathered in the Restaurante Pôr do Sol, in Meia Praia. Members of the group knew each other well and recalls there were always children playing. “The lifestyle in the 70s and 80s must have been amazing. For an English middle -class family to live in Lagos back then was to live a little bit as a rich person,” he says. The difference between the escudo and the pound was high but salaries also differed dramatically.

When Portugal joined the European Union, there were different regulations about industry and

those changes affected Mark Harman’s business activities and made it more difficult. Even so, the Talho Inglês continued to trade until 2012.

Mark moved to São Brás de Alportel in 1999, where he lived for 15 years. “He loved to hike,” says Rupert. Mark Harman was a member of Algarve Wednesday Walkers (AWWs) and the Via Algarviana Walkers Group (other members were: Ian Angus, Maurice Clyde, Ian Cooper, Rod Frew, Tony Webster and Myriam Lo).

We also spoke to his daughter, Sara Calazans Harman. Her parents’ separation and the fact she lived in Lisbon for many years meant she had had less contact with her father until his later years. Sara remembers her father as a good and generous man with a big heart. “His life was guided by fun and pleasure and he was a charismatic man, reuniting many people around him. He never complained, even when he became sick,” Sara says.

When we submitted this article to Sandra Oliveira (city councilor at Lagos Municipality), we had a surprising feedback from her: “I remember going to the ‘The English Butcher’ and I remembered a man behind the counter, with a big smile in a red apron, sharpening the knives with a funny Portuguese-English accent. I went there many times to buy some meat for my stepfather. You could smell the meat from the door and I didn’t like it, but then there was this man behind the counter with this big smile, always kind and in a good mood. At that time, that place was very successful. This brings back my childhood memories.”

Mark Harman fulfilled this article with the joy he had in his life. For sure he loved Lagos and the Algarve. We hope that these words reach some of his dearest friends and family.

The next record we found was dated 28 January of 1971 (p.44). This was an expat named Antonius Johannes Goemans with the occupation of horticultor (horticulturalist). He is the only Dutch expat recorded as living in Lagos (1897–1972). Antonius was 47 years old, from Hilegon (Netherlands) and married. His location is listed as Praia da Luz. The record of his wife is immediately listed below: Barbara Ann Goemans, 41 years old, housekeeper, from Boston and now living in Praia da Luz. Unfortunately, we were unable to discover any more information about the couple.

The book Livro de registo de bilhetes de residência de estrangeiros still has some more stories that deserve to be discovered. Join us on this voyage through time.

Part 7 – to continue

See references on the blog

Record of Antonius Johannes Goemans and Barbara Ann Goemans. Details from Livro de Registo de residência de estrangeiros (1897–1972), (p. 44)

Mark Harman with his daughter Sara and his son Rupert (photo made available by Sara Calazans Harman)

Readers Letters

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 western Algarve or if you have any suggestions to make about the magazine please email:

sophie@tomorrowalgarve.com

Hello,

I wish to add to the information printed in a couple of articles in the latest edition of your magazine.

The first article is by James Plaskitt. According to my knowledge, the carnations were initially a result of the following. At the time, there was a very top upmarket restaurant in Chiado and each day they received a supply of carnations to decorate the interior. On the morning of the revolution, the manager obviously decided not to open, so he gave the carnations to his staff to take home. Apparently, one of these employees decided to take hers and join the crowds that were assembling nearby. It was she that started distributing her carnations among the rebel soldiers.

The second article is by Lena Strang. From a reliable source, I was informed that the initial reason that the young officers in the colonies first rebelled was because of a lack of promotion – and, therefore income. Unless the officer was from a recognised family or had a special influence, promotion was usually only given to the members of top families. Their movement fell under the strong influence of the left-wing and the rest is history.

Michael Tannock

A Cautionary Tale

I wished to draw the attention of your readers to a recent and highly sophisticated scam of my accounts which could have cost me heavily. I was called on my mobile phone at 9.30 pm by someone claiming to be from the fraud department of my UK bank. Having confirmed my name (which he gave), he said they were concerned that an attempted payment of nearly £700 on my debit card to AirBNB might be fraudulent.

Sure enough, when I checked my texts, there was a message claiming to be from my bank, giving the usual one-time payment code. He said my card had evidently been compromised and asked me to confirm that it was still in my possession.

He suggested that I destroy the card and said a replacement would be sent. He asked me to check my bank account to ensure that no other unauthorised payments had been made. I, therefore, opened my online account and confirmed none had been made. Speaking about recent transactions, he asked me to confirm that a deposit from a neighbour the day before and a payment a few days earlier, both of which he named with the amounts, were genuine. As I was looking at the account on screen, a payment of over £7,000 to “Kings Queens Closet” appeared which I drew to his attention. He said I should not worry about this as it was clearly fraudulent and they would cancel it.

He then said it might be worth checking to see if my UK credit card, which he identified, had been compromised and, after going through several steps, he said this seemed to be okay.

He then went on to give the last four numbers of the credit card for my Portuguese bank and after several steps he claimed this, too, had been compromised. He said he saw from my bank account that I used a UK currency company to transfer euros and suggested I transfer the contents of my Portuguese account to the UK company whose account they would take steps to freeze. I proceeded to do this. He suggested I cancel this Portuguese credit card.

He then summarised that I should receive the substitute UK credit card within a week or so.

After ending the conversation, I pondered. I had an uneasy feeling but could not put my finger on it. I therefore rang my Portuguese bank on their emergency number and cancelled my card. I asked how the process of transferring the contents of my account to the currency company was proceeding. They informed me that only 1.000€ had been transferred and the rest was pending. I cancelled the latter.

I then sent an email to the fraud department of my bank asking if they had called me. If they had not, could they please cancel my card forthwith and cancel the payment to “Kings Queens Closet”. (The bank confirmed the following morning that they had not called and cancelled my accounts.)

I then received a text from my UK credit card company asking me if an attempted payment of £14,000 to “Goldsmiths” was genuine or not. I quickly confirmed “not” and they said not to worry: the payment would not be authorised and they would contact me the following day.

I then checked my online account with the currency company and promptly changed my password. I also found an attempted payment of 1.000€, which had been transferred to a company called “KCS Ltd” (how familiar!), which I promptly cancelled.

My last-minute efforts meant that the scam cost me nothing apart from hours spent both on the phone and at my bank here trying to reopen my various accounts. Did I subsequently feel a chump – yes. But I was completely taken in when the caller gave me details of the attempted scam, not to mention detailed transactions from my UK bank account. Beware!

Concerned Reader

Comments on Portimão Hospital

I discovered I had a small lump in my left breast. My reaction at the time was panic, disbelief and “O my God”. I cried and cried. Knowing I might not recover.

So on pulling myself together, I decided, first of all, to get into the local health centre. I had never used it in the 20 years I have been here in Lagos. Although my Portuguese was limited, my thoughts were that I had to start somewhere. On arrival at the local health centre, I was told I had a family doctor. And she would see me straight away.

Why did I worry? Dr Carla Cordoso was fantastic. She examined me with very good English and I was put at ease straight away. She assured me I would be sent to the Oncology Department in Portimão Hospital, where, apparently, she was one of the training team. Within days I was in the department being interviewed by three very professional lady doctors. Filling forms and being told what would happen in the months ahead.

I got to know the team as I went through my weekly visits, particularly Dr Elsa, who guided me all the way. Once on the chemo, yes I lost my hair and this was soul-destroying. And losing weight. During chemo, I had good and bad days. My visits to the department were welcoming, restful and caring. The nursing staff were excellent; there were no language barriers and we were on first name terms. I looked forward to my weekly visits – even though I was there for a cure that I wasn’t sure about at the time.

Chemo lasted about six months to a year. Then I had a setback: my whole system broke down, all to do with the chemo I was receiving. So I was taken into Portimão Hospital for three days. I was very well looked after during this time. Then I was allowed home and had nursing care at home for three to five days. This was a wonderful service from the hospital. I had two nursing staff come to my home every morning to check blood, temperature, etc. I really missed them when they stopped calling. I have to say without these wonderful nurses, I know I would never have gotten through.

Then I was sent for an MRI scan and to my delight, my results were all clear. I don’t have cancer. That was the best news I could have taken in a long time. I started radiology, which involved a month of travelling to Faro every day. But I was also put at ease … the hospital provides an ambulance bus. I was picked up every morning and dropped home every afternoon by the wonderful lady driver. The radiology centre was also very well organised and friendly. My time there was also very enjoyable. I have to say, 18 months later, I’m well and my hair is growing. But without my time at the Oncology Department here in Portimão and the hospital support, I’m sure I would not be here today.

If there is anybody out there who is going through the same experience and needs help, advice or just to chat, please contact me. I’m a good listener.

Doreen Lloyd doreeninmeiapraia@gmail.com

WHAT OUR PATIENTS SAY:

Thank you Adam!!! I am so grateful to have found and be treated by such a professional, clearly an expert in his field. I felt instant relief after my first session with him, having been in pain for 3 weeks following a surf accident - board hit my head hard and perforated my ear drum; water in my ear for 3 weeks. Not only did he completely remove the pain and stiffness in my neck, but since he has experience treating my exact problem, and being a surfer himself, he understood my situation and needs perfectly. I feel in extremely good hands and very grateful for his skilled service, knowledge and recovery advice. I recommend Adam 100%!!

-Amanda

Great chiropractors. I always see Dr Adam and have benefitted from his treatments, highly recommend this space. Thank you.

-Juisney

Read all the amazing things our patients say about us: www.lagoschiropractic.com

LOCATION: In Lagos, just off the Lidl roundabout, next door to Chávena Dos Cafés

Dr.

Adam

Rich

(DC)

and Dr.

Andrew Garbett (DC)

have a combined experience of thirty years in solving back pain, neck pain and headaches. If your aim is to get fitter and healthier, then make sure your spine is aligned!

ADULT CHILD (0-17)

Dr. Adam Rich (DC)

Dr. Andrew Garbett (DC)

ForNature Design

Taking inspiration from the bees and the traditional crafters to shape a bright new world

If you’ve visited the Loulé area recently, you may have noticed that the Municipal Library has placed a series of ‘mini-libraries’ on various street corners throughout the municipality. With no return date, resident readers can feel free to borrow any book they like out of these charming wooden boxes and, if they wish, even add a book of their own that they think somebody else might enjoy reading.

A lovely idea and I recently returned to the Palácio Gama Lobo, headquarters of the Loulé Criativo, to meet another of the resident artists and designers from their Loulé Design lab, who, it turned out, not only designed these book boxes but so much more.

One thing leads to another

Leni Farenzena is an architect and designer. She was born in Mozambique but is half Italian and Portuguese. After studying architecture at university in Florence and in Lisbon, she’s lived and worked in various countries in Europe and even Mexico.

While back in Mozambique to build the ‘Hexagon Villa’, she found ways of using the leftover construction material to also design the furniture and ForNature Design was born.

Eternally inspired by nature, and determined that all her work stay true to the roots of where they happen to be planted, she enlisted the help of the local Mozambican craftsmen and found a way of incorporating their ancient techniques into her furniture – but with an elegant, modern twist. It was no big surprise, therefore, that when she settled in the Algarve a few years ago, she wanted to do the same thing here and set out to try and find the local Algarvian artisans.

Turning the world on its head

It amuses me to think how at first, these artisans might not have known quite what to make of Leni coming around with all these newfangled ideas and ways to do what they’ve always done differently.

An example of this would be a basket weaver from Almancil called José Amendoeira. Working with Cana Algarvio (Arundo donax L) and a type of willow tree called Vimeiro (Salix viminalis L), for 50 years Sr. Amendoeira has been weaving his classic collection of baskets. Then, along came Leni and turned his world upside-down (quite literally) when she got him to turn his talents into weaving the most lovely lampshade instead.

But this is just one example. Leni has got herself a collection of artisans throughout the Algarve. Last June, she even went up to Castro Marim to help Sr. Romeirinha to harvest a plant known as Tabua (Thypha domingensis). Growing next to lakes, it’s traditionally used to weave the seats for wooden chairs and it’s become one of Leni’s favourite materials to work with.

Changing things up as usual, Leni wanted to create a steel body to form the base for her chairs and even stools. And for that, as she so often does, she enlisted the help of a blacksmith from Fuseta called Jorge Neves.

WORDS Jake Cleaver

By now, Sr. Neves has become used to Leni’s unusual requests and helps her create the wonderful steel lines and shapes that hold up anything from her imaginative tables and chairs to her umbrella stands, ‘floating plant pots’ and ‘spider lamps’.

I want to ‘bee’ an architect

Now, it’s about time we talked about hexagons. They are found throughout Leni’s work and when I questioned her about it, she explained that they are nature’s perfect shape. Found on anything from snowflakes, turtle shells and even pineapples, perhaps the best example would be in honeycomb.

I’ll take it from Leni that bees are truly terrific architects as this sixsided shape not only looks stylish but is also highly efficient and allows them to avoid any wasted space.

Playing the fish

Last year, the artists and designers from the Loulé Design Lab teamed up with Inframoura for a project called #Infinity. They all put their creative minds to the task of transforming rubbish collected from the bins in Vilamoura and finding innovative new uses for it.

Leni found herself drawn to a pile of old traffic signs and, cutting them into different sizes, she discovered that different diameters and lengths created different sounds. Taking inspiration from the Algarve coastline, she then painted the tubes with the highest sounds a warm orange to represent the coastal dunes and, with the bass sounds gradually ‘tailing off’ in a cool ocean blue, created a colourful musical fish that was given to a kindergarten in Quarteira for the children to play.

For & by nature

After chatting to Leni, I was amazed by all her ideas and concluded that she’s not just a designer ‘Fornature’; she’s also a designer by nature. She can’t help it. And I love how she’s been bringing old and new together to make sustainable, stylish designs for the modern day.



To find out more, please follow her on Instagram (@ForNatureDesign) and Facebook (@Fornature Design) or visit her website www.fornaturedesign.com

Facing your ‘Third Act’ with confidence

Interview with author Ann McGarry

WORDS Lena Strang

You have just published your book Power of W: Women Thriving in their Third Act to be launched here in the Algarve this month. What is it about?

was on the ‘Third Act’ – the final phase of life. I’m at this amazing phase of life now and I had a burning question about my life purpose and making a contribution. This book, in some way, serves as a part of my contribution.

Does it reflect your own personal journey?

Yes, there is a specific section of the book which focuses on my personal journey over more recent years. I have included extracts from my journal entries during the caminhos (pilgrimages)I embarked on between 2018 to 2022.

You started off your career in an engineering company in Ireland. What made you choose this area of work? Was it difficult to operate in what must have been a male-dominated environment?

years, staff development was an integral part of my work. I was and still am passionate about developing talents and seeing people flourish. In 2000, I started my own company. My offering was quality consultancy, which was provided internationally. Equally important to me and following my desire for lifelong learning, I expanded my studies, gaining a Diploma in Training and Development, Diploma in Coaching and M.Sc. in Work and Organisation Behaviour. I developed and delivered management development, leadership and personal effectiveness training programmes within Ireland and UK to multinationals as well as to small to medium enterprises. I also provide coaching to both individuals and executives.

In a nutshell, the book is about living a fulfilled and meaningful life. We are living about 30 years longer than our great-grandparents’ generation. So, the big question for us is how we are going to live these additional years.

Power of W: Women Thriving in their Third Act emphasises living joyfully, fully experiencing life from the best version of yourself. Each of us is a one-of-a-kind, unique being with a specific purpose, talents, and gifts. This book encourages the reader to connect with their gifts and talents and experience them firstly for themselves and then to share these out into their world.

What inspired you to write the book?

While on the Caminho Francés in Galicia, Spain, back in 2018, I received little nuggets of inspiration about writing this book. The focus

In 1977, when I graduated with an honours degree in chemistry, I wanted to work in the industry to expand my experience in a practical way. Back then, the world petrol crisis loomed, having a knock-on effect on job openings. I was fortunate to secure employment in an engineering company as a chemist within their engineering department. It was a bit daunting working in that male-dominated environment. Believe it or not, I was a very shy and timid person back then, so developing a thick skin was necessary.

From 1978 onwards, I worked in the pharmaceutical and allied sectors and had quality assurance managerial roles very early on in my career. I guess my formative year with the engineering company helped in my advancement into management.

Fostering personal development and skills in the workplace seems to have been the focus of much of your work. Can you elaborate? Within my quality managerial roles over 20

So, yes, personal development plays a significant role in my life as well as in providing services to others.

The title refers to women. Is the book equally appropriate for men?

Although Power of W: Women Thriving in their Third Act is focusing on a female audience, I think men would get value from reading it.

I should mention that I have a two-day seminar called ‘Reignite: The Retirement Ready Programme’, which is equally appropriate for both men and women. The plan is to run this seminar later this year in Portugal.

Do you practise what you preach now that you have reached the ‘third act’ yourself? What do you do to enhance this phase of your life?

Growing and evolving applies to everyone. I am still a ‘work in progress’. I can say that my life now is lived from a higher state of consciousness. I live with greater ease and joy following what I believe is my calling in life.

One of the biggest challenges for me was to ‘surrender’ to reality. Acceptance of ‘what is’ and going with the flow of life is so important.

I meditate, write a journal, practice yoga, swim in the ocean, paint with oils and regularly walk caminhos. These practices bring me more awareness of the present moment.

Writing books, delivering programmes on personal development, including the third act and coaching clients privately provide the vehicle for me to help others.

You divide your time between Ireland and the Algarve. What attracted you to the Algarve? Do you intend to make this your permanent home one day?

Living in the Algarve by the Atlantic Ocean is a dream. In Galway, Ireland, I live within 10 minutes of the Atlantic. The only major difference is that, in Ireland, it forgets to stop raining!

I love the pace of life and the people in the Algarve. Yes, I am hoping to make it my permanent home soon.

What impact do you hope your book will have?

I hope that my book finds it in the hands of people who wish to live their lives more fully with passion, joy, and purpose. Living life like this, one can really experience and express one’s gifts and talents and share them with others.

Now that you have written two books (the first one published six years ago about leadership development), have you any plans for future work?

Yes, I believe that there will be a further book. I have the title and hopefully, the contents will be developed while walking my next caminho. I also have a project underway which will combine writing with my art.

What is your personal philosophy?

Life is precious. Reach out and live from your highest potential, enjoying life.

annmcgarry.books@gmail.com

00353 87 2771317

OPENING TIMES

Open all day for drinks from 12h

Kitchen opening times

MONDAY: 12h - 15h 18h - 22h

TUESDAY: 12h - 15h 18h - 22h

WEDNESDAY CLOSED

THURSDAY: 12h - 15h 18h - 22h

The launch of the book will take place on Friday, 17 May, from 4 pm–6 pm, at Algarve Dolphin Lovers – Art and Science Place, Burgau, Rua Principal, Edifício Maretas, Loja B, 8650-117 Burgau (opposite the supermarket Mais Perto)

There is plenty of parking nearby in Burgau. Refreshments provided. Everyone is welcome!

FRIDAY: 12h - 15h 18h - 22h

Saturday: 12h - 15h 18h - 22h

Sunday 12h - 15h 18h - 22h

Kat the Dog, by Alyson Sheldrake

Even though I haven’t reviewed a dog memoir before and have only read a couple in my lifetime, I admit that Kat the (Turco Andaluz) Dog’s story is fascinating.

“The farmer placed me back in my kennel on the chain, and I huddled into a ball. My body was heavy as lead, and my teats dried up like concrete. It was almost too much effort to move, even to eat or drink, as I lay there wishing he had thrown me into the sack with my babies.”

After a heart-wrenching debut in life and more than one year spent guarding a Spanish farm, our four-legged prima donna decides to take matters into her own paws and flees the hostile prison. "Giving up who you are, no matter what the future brings, cannot be worse than that place cursed with evil manners."

“I crawled up and put my head on the soft padded cushion. I stretched out and relaxed as Alyson covered me with a fluffy blanket. The mattress underneath me had a gentle heat coming from inside it. I couldn’t believe it.”

Yes, being a spectacular pilgrimage from Hell to Heaven, the journey through Kat’s vivid life is filled with wonder, bitterness, obstacles, unconditional love and loyalty, memories, and special moments. That is why Alyson’s book is much more than just an insightful (auto) biography: in my reading, it is a resourceful and genuine blend of fiction and nonfiction, where the dog gradually becomes emotionally connected to the author, and both begin to understand each other despite the natural language barriers.

The Girls, By Lori Lansens

“In twenty-nine years, Rose Darlen has never spent a moment apart from her twin sister Ruby. She has never gone for a solitary walk or had a private conversation. Yet, in all that time, she has never once looked into Ruby’s eyes. Joined at the head, ‘The Girls’ (as they are known in their small town) attempt to lead a normal life, but can’t help being extraordinary. Now almost thirty, Rose and Ruby are on the verge of becoming the oldest living craniopagus twins in history, but they are remarkable for a lot more than their unusual sisterly bond.”

and suffering, the love the sisters share is endless and forgiving, which is the real beauty. The opening lines of the first chapter by Rose entitled, Ruby & Me, are “I have never looked into my sister’s eyes. I have never bathed alone. I have never stood in the grass at night and raised my arms to a beguiling moon.”

Using Kat the Dog as the narrator adds a unique, adorable perspective and dimension to the story. But no more spoilers, simply enjoy the book and find out for yourselves how a dog came to be named Kat.

An excellent lighthearted tale about kindness, compassion, true love of life, and the great value of second chances, that is definitely worth reading. For more than one reason: if you haven’t had a dog before, you might consider getting one now; or, if you already are the lucky friend (I hate the word ‘owner’) of one or more canines, you can understand better their glances, behaviour, and the ways they act.

“15% of all profits made from the sale of this book are donated to local dog rescue charities.”

If, after this wordy consideration, you want to discover Alyson Sheldrake's, Kat the Dog, by yourself, look for it on Amazon. es from 12.22€ (paperback) up to 20.37€ (hardcover), or Amazon.co.uk from £0.00

(KindleUnlimited monthly subscription plan) up to £3.99

(Kindle edition one time buy).

The author Lori Lansens was born and raised in Chatham, Ontario, a small Canadian town with a remarkable history as a terminus on the Underground Railroad, which became the setting for her first three bestselling novels. The Girls is the screenwriter and novelist's second novel, published in 2005.

Narrated by the twins themselves, Rose and Ruby Darlen are history’s longestliving craniopagus, conjoined twins. Written as a fictional autobiography, Lansens uses this narrative structure to emphasise the individual identity of both Rose and Ruby, despite their conjoinment at the head by a spot the size of a bread plate. According to the description of the condition at the start of the book, the girls are estimated to share 100 veins as well as skull bones. However, while their cerebral tissues are meshed, they have distinctly separate brains and so have different personalities.

Rose, the budding writer, physically carries her weaker and smaller sister Ruby, the beautiful one, as she calls her, on her right hip. Yet despite the physical pain

Reading this made me realise how much we all take for granted and how much of our lives we waste moaning or wishing for something else. Their adopted mother, Aunt Lovey tells them, “You’re lucky to be you … You girls are remarkable. Most people can’t say that.”

As Rose and Ruby’s story builds to an unforgettable conclusion, Lansens aims at the heart of human experience –the hardship of loss and struggles for independence, and the fundamental joy of simply living a life. This is a breathtaking novel, one that no reader will soon forget, a heartrending story of love between sisters.

I laughed at certain points reading this novel and cried at others. A most poignant read; a must in my opinion, given its underlying message of truth.

WORDS Dan Costinas

PHOTOGRAPHY ©Alyson Sheldrake

WORDS Annie O’Dea

Balancing Art and Business

Michele Frederickx, most commonly known as Mikki.F, is a Belgian ceramist and painter, but also an ambitious multilingual entrepreneur, active in Portugal since 2008, she settled here in 2014. We were curious to learn more about her achievements in both branches – art and business – so we set up a short chit-chat.

You have celebrated your birthday recently. How many times did you do it before in Portugal?

Not many times. After all, I am not a “party” person, quite the contrary. It’s exactly the opposite of what people think about me. The truth is that I am not very sociable and quite reserved when it comes to my private life.

You started a new life in Portugal nine years ago. Why the Algarve?

I have always wanted to live in a cheerful, sunny place. My mother was living in the South of France, and she kind of expected me to move there. But my ex- (second) husband preferred the Algarve.

Which came first: the chicken or the egg? I mean, the art or the business?

As a child, I was always drawing something. Even if my parents wanted me to have a steady job, it was clear that I wanted to be creative. My family was very businessoriented, so my guess is I inherited this side from them.

What brought you to work with ceramics?

I attended a special arts and crafts programme in high school. We learned all kinds of techniques: painting, mosaics, etc. In 2007, I met a ceramicist friend in the Algarve, I got the “ceramic fever”, then bought a kiln and picked up all the necessary skills.

Is it true that you also design interiors, gardens and swimming pools?

Yes, that’s my biggest passion. I have designed several gardens in my life. Mikki’s Place was my biggest challenge: it was a dump of plastic debris with no plants and no trees. Now, it is an oasis with the most beautiful pool. In 2021, I bought an old village house, refurbished and sold it. With that money, I did it again, and this is how Msquare Gallery in Poço Barreto village was born. And it became a unique place where one can buy quirky items, but also my home with a different vision of interior design.

Mikki’s Place to Stay is a totally new concept for those loving the caravanning lifestyle. What do you offer more than the standard camping spots?

Both my ex-partner and I wanted to create a place in the backyard of an artist. His Dutch family were in the camping

business, while I wanted a place where people could enjoy art and nature. I guess you can clearly feel that vibe.

Do you have a dream project that you would love to realise someday?

I have lived all my life as I wanted to. So I guess my life is my dream.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to move now to Portugal?

Get well informed, be prepared to deal with a different mentality and always remember you are a guest.

Thank you for sharing with us bits of your unique worldliness. Is there any question you would have liked to answer but never had the chance because I didn’t ask?

Well, maybe my view on politics, my doubt on their lack of logical thinking, the stupidity in certain laws. But let’s do another interview just on those matters.

What is your message to the readers of Tomorrow?

Follow your dreams, be what you want, and do what you most like. Look constantly forward, fight, and never give up. That is the key to success, that is passion.

mikki-place-to-stay.com

www.facebook.com/Mikki.F.Art

WORDS Dan Costinas

PHOTOGRAPHY ©Mikki.F

Meet the Artist Angie Wright

Angie Wright is a northern girl. She was born and raised in South Yorkshire to parents who always supported her in all her endeavours, which included art and music.

Angie toured Europe in a youth orchestra at 18, playing the double bass and piano, and often thought that music would be her path in life. She studied at Leeds University and met her partner, Matthew. With his career in the holiday industry, they have travelled and lived all over Europe. Eventually, they settled in Portugal and couldn’t bring themselves to leave!

Angie knew she was always going to be an artist of one sort or another. “Music or dancing or even cooking and the creation of new recipes… anything where I could push outside the box and do things my way. I like to challenge myself and in paint, I found the perfect companion. Oh, how paint moves! Gloriously glossy and thick like syrup… I can push and shape paint, sculpt it into textured layers. Paint is my accomplice! I dream of colours and landscapes, then sit plotting with my paints on how to bring my visions to life.”

She is constantly inspired by nature and mainly paints large expressionist-style landscapes and botanical works which aim to represent a neglected and wild beauty through the use of vivid colours and energetic mark-making techniques.

“When I walk with my dogs, I see everything I want to paint, twisted branches and wildflowers, endless skies swirling with colour. Urban patches

of ground where a tiny buttercup flourishes. I want to represent the forgotten beauty of the world, neglected beauty which suggests human emotion and life.”

Angie tries not to limit herself to one genre and prefers to work on very large canvases. Many of her artworks are up to two metres in width and fill a room with the outdoors and nature.

Her art studio is full of different painting mediums, and each one brings a different element to her work. Angie mainly paints with oils and acrylics, but she has also created beautiful portraits using paper collage and built a large, life-size sculpture of a horse out of driftwood!

She starts with a large canvas placed on the floor and initially lays paint on the canvas in a free, expressionistic manner. This builds up layers of colour and develops depth in her paintings. “I am sure these seeds of ideas then reflect in the initial layer of paint I place on the canvas. From this point, I examine what I have and start building the paint in layers with ideas assaulting me and blossoming as the painting progresses.”

She moves the canvas to an easel to work in finer detail towards the end of the painting to exaggerate focal points and bring clarity and cohesion to the final artwork. Her art is a dynamic process and her artwork constantly evolves. “The finished piece is never quite what I expected to paint, and this element of surprise is intoxicating and holds my excitement as I work.”

Fragile 76 x 101cm

Summer hollyhocks 96 x 130cm

Angie usually works on an artwork for a week, and at that point, it will be almost finished. Then comes the tricky bit! She hangs the new artwork on the wall in her living room and spends the next few weeks living with it in her peripheral vision whilst it dries. It is only after living with it for some time that she actually knows if the artwork is finished. She has been known to take paintings a year old and alter them!

Angie has a refreshing honesty and vibrance to her work, as she explains: “I’m not trying to change the world; I just want people to see the beauty of it.”

Angie had two artworks shown in NoLita, in New York last month and hopes to exhibit at the Swiss Art Expo again later this year.

You can view and purchase her art on her website and is available for commissions.

If you are interested in finding out more about Angie’s creative process, a longer version of this article can be found on our blog.

Burgau Sports Centre

What's on

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

Galaxia Electric Boat Show

The friends of Burgau Sports Centre have more events this month to keep you entertained.

Bingo and Burger Night

Saturday 13 May at 7 pm

Live music around the pool with Nightshift

Friday 26 May, 7 pm–9 pm

Bookings: +351 282 697 350

Facebook: Friends of Burgau Sports Centre

Camerata

The Algarve Camerata starts a new season of concerts in collaboration with Sounds at Twilight. The first concert – The Splendour of the Baroque – will include works by Vivaldi, Handel and Bach.

Soloists include João Pedro Cunha and Pedro Sá on violin, with Catarina Putzger and Gabriela Magalhães on cello.

Sunday 7 May, at 7 pm at the Church of Santa Maria de Lagos. Tickets cost 10€ / (50% under 18).

www.facebook.com/sonsaocrepusculo

Tickets: Worten and Fnac or ticketline.sapo.pt

Road to Wine

With new areas full of the latest electric boats, technology, and water toys from the best sustainable brands on the market, the GALAXIA Boat Show is set to be the perfect event to kick off the European summer boating season.

Galaxia is a mixture of a traditional boat show and a festival environment, with live internationally renowned music. This new type of boat show celebrates the ocean, the lifestyle, and the cleaner technology boating revolution. Immersive content will include new boat launches, test drives, a technical showcase, electric cars and eMobility, sunset champagne cruises, a wakeboard wake bombing ‘Big Air’ competition, cars and so much more.

The event, held from 12-14 of May at the Lagos Marina is free to attend and all exhibitions will be open across the three days with specific themes on each day.

Friday 12 May Professional day with conference and start-up hub.

Saturday 13 May Fun day and wake bombing competition.

Sunday 14 May Family day

 www.galaxiaboats.com

Historical Festival

This new event, held on the 12, 13 and 14 of May, promoted by the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António aims to portray the daily life of the village in the 18th century and highlight its historical, cultural and social importance.

Enjoy historical recreations, parades, shows and animations, plus markets and banquets. The festival is a great reason to visit the city and its historic centre and discover more about the historical characters from the period.

 www.facebook.com/cmvrsa

The first Wine Hop On Hop Off Bus has arrived in the Algarve! During May, you are invited to join a unique and exciting wine-tasting tour through the picturesque vineyards of the Algarve. The event is designed to be flexible, allowing participants to hop on and off the bus at any stop, choosing which vineyards to visit and which wines to taste. 

Coronation Party

Celebrate the coronation of King Charles III at a garden party organised by St Vincent’s Church 6 May, 3 pm –7 pm. With a cake competition, raffle and music in the beautiful countryside Colinas das Terras Brancas near Praia da Luz.

20€ per ticket (children 15€), including picnic and your first drink from the bar

louisecplayer@gmail.com

+351 911 552 396

Loose Ends

The group continues to go from strength to strength. Aimed at people who might be on their own and at a loose end, there was another great meeting with more new faces at the Tivoli Hotel in April. In May there will be a walk on the beach with bubbly supplied by Tom himself! Followed by dinner.

Next meet up: Tuesday 16 May at 6pm at the Alvor bowling alley followed by dinner at the chicken shack at 7.30 pm.

New potential members call Tom +351 919 918 733 or email tom@tomorrowalgarve.com

Useful Numbers

Creating lasting relationships

If you’re in search of the perfect property in the Algarve, we’re here to help! Our company offers a one-stop-shop approach to real estate, with a team of experts who are passionate about finding your new home or investment opportunity.

Our company is committed to providing you with the best personal, friendly, and professional service with the goal to build long-lasting relationships and to be available whenever you need us.

Our team is made up of young, driven, and multi-lingual professionals who are dedicated to ensuring that every property deal goes as smoothly as possible. We understand that finding or selling a property can be challenging and we are here to make the process as easy and stressfree for you as we can. Whether you’re buying, selling, or renting, our team will guide you through the process and provide you with the support you need to make the right decision.

Stand up for Ukraine

The second annual Ukrainian Portuguese Festival, Felizonda will be held on 29 June in Lagos

Shortly after the war in Ukraine started in February 2022, the Ukrainian nonprofit,community organisation ORANTA hosted its first cultural festival here in the Algarve. Felizonda was held in Lagos in May 2022 and was attended by over 3,000 people.

The goal of the festival was to celebrate and share Ukraine’s rich culture with Portuguese residents and expats, and to raise morale for the Ukrainian community living in Portugal, including recent refugees. The organisers also wanted to say thank you for the overwhelming support and warm welcome the Ukrainian community has received in Portugal since the war began. The Câmara of Lagos, the Marina of Lagos, and other local businesses and individual sponsors were major contributors to the success of the festival.

Proceeds from the festival were used by ORANTA to purchase and repair a 4×4 ambulance and a

Jeep that are now helping doctors and soldiers on the frontlines in Ukraine.

This year’s Felizonda Ukrainian Portuguese Festival will take place on the Avenida de Lagos over four days, from 29 June to 2 July. An estimated 40,000 participants are expected to attend the event this year. Admission is free.

This year’s line-up will feature the famous 36-piece Ukrainian National Orchestra that will be in Portugal especially for the event. In addition to other Ukrainian musical acts, there will be performances from Portuguese artists and other international bands. Along with a full timetable of music, the festival will have a replica of a typical Ukrainian village, traditional dancing and costumes, food trucks, jewellery and other handcrafted items from both Ukraine and Portugal. A children’s games area will also keep the younger guests happy.

How you can help:

• Become a sponsor

• Make a donation

• Perform at the festival. Organisers are still filling the entertainment roster with Portuguese bands and other musical acts

• Join the festival walk, Caminhando Juntos, on Sunday, 2 July

A live video link with the Ministry of Culture in Ukraine is also planned to provide a bridge between the two countries and share the spirit of Ukrainian culture with those still living in Ukraine.

Proceeds from this year’s festival will be used to support the Center for Rehabilitation in Ukraine. The centre, recently featured on CNN, was started by a mother who lost her son, who was a pilot, in the war. The centre helps the physically and psychologically traumatised soldiers and citizens of Ukraine get the support and treatment they need.



Facebook: Felizonda oranta.pt oranta.pt@gmail.com

Captain’s Charity Day

Boavista Golf Club members have come together to organise a special event for a noble cause.

The Captain’s Charity Day, taking place on Saturday, 10 June, aims to raise funds to support three charities: the Nossa Senhora do Carmo Youth Home, the Espiche Home for the Elderly, and Associação Semente de Mostarda Charity Lagos.

The Nossa Senhora do Carmo Youth Home supports young people who are at risk or in vulnerable situations. The Espiche Home for the Elderly provides care and assistance to senior citizens who are in need of support, and the Associação Semente de Mostarda Charity Lagos works to alleviate poverty and improve the living conditions of those in need.

The charity day will consist of a shotgun start AMAM competition with teams of four, followed by lunch and an auction. The auction will be viewable live in person and via Zoom, and bids can be placed both before and during the auction.

For those interested in participating in the auction, lots can be viewed on the Facebook page. Donations of cash and auction items can also be made through the same page and details of how to access the live Auction will also be posted there.

The Boavista Golf Club members are enthusiastic about the event and hope to raise significant

funds to aid the three deserving charities. It’s a great opportunity to make a difference while also having fun and enjoying the beautiful golf course.

This event is a testament to the generosity and kindness of the members of Boavista Golf Club. Their efforts and contributions will significantly impact the lives of those in need, and their dedication to charitable causes is truly inspiring.



If you would like to sponsor a hole or take part in the day, please contact charitybv2023@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/BVCharity2023

A New Mission

A new church has opened its doors in Portimão and pastors Thomas and Helena Vernholm are looking to create a new congregation and help the community.

The New Heart New Spirit Alpha Omega Holy Assembly (NHNSAOHA) is the first Scandinavian and International nondenominational Church in the Algarve located in Portimão and world-wide online. Better known as Protestant and Evangelical. Their Church is part of their Charity association Associação United & Empoweing Millions that they have founded together with their Portuguese partners. NHNSAOHA will mainly hold services in English but offer translation services in Swedish, Danish and Portuguese if needed. Everyone is welcome. They have acquired a building in the centre of Portimão´s old town where there is a need to help people in a number of areas of life.

The church is also starting an international choir, inviting new members, singers with and without experience, and some experienced musicians to form the ICAC - International Christian Algarve Choir. Thomas and Helena explain, “It is for anyone who likes to sing and whether they already have a strong faith or are open to joining a choir where many people have a faith in God and maybe just want to sing and learn more about God. It is a non-denominational choir and for everyone regardless of background, experience and nationality. In fact, we hope to give people new hope and meaning through the music, fellowship and our community.”

The church is also opening a soup kitchen and café. Thomas and Helena believe that the choir and soup kitchen will be a way to give people a safe space where they can meet new friends, get some food, get new hope, get free food and be involved in many of the church´s projects. “We plan to buy a food truck and also deliver food and other items to needy families in the western Algarve, and we are open to receiving applications from volunteers, musicians and drivers, of course. We walk in excitement and cannot wait for what God will do in this next season and to start serving the people in Algarve, regardless of background, age, gender or nationality.”

 www.nhnsaoha.net

The International/Swedish choir Cantus Nortada will be holding their first spring concert this month. The event will be held on 12 May, from 5 pm

Location: Serra Nossa Terra, Church of Fonte da Vida in Sargaçal.

Entry is 5€ per person. Contact Patrik Nygren: +351 932 728 379 (MB Way).

All proceeds will go to the Fonte da Vida charity.

The Allure of Irises

Who doesn’t love irises with their showy, distinctive flowers and elegant sword-like foliage? I was, therefore, happy to see the iris was one of the first flowers to appear in my garden this spring.

The iris is named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow. It is suggested that this name was attributed due to the wide variety of colours found across the three hundred or so species. They are generally restricted to the northern hemisphere and mostly found in dry semi-desert habitats or colder rocky mountainous areas. The flowers are six-lobed with three sepals often drooping downwards, which are referred to as “falls”. The three petals are generally upright and are called “standards”. They are perennial plants that grow from either creeping rhizomes or, in drier climates, bulbs.

I’ve noticed that both in the UK and here in the Algarve, one of the first plants to flower in my garden is the Algerian iris (Iris unguicularis). It is a native of North Africa and the western Mediterranean and loves dry, poor soils which are baked in the hot summer sun. It forms a slightly untidy clump of tall grass-like foliage from which the blue to mauve, and even white, flowers emerge from December to February. A welcome sight when so little else is in bloom. You can get many shoots packed together in a large clump so that a large number of flowers may be produced over several months, making a spectacular sight. It resents root disturbance and may take several years to flower again if it is split up – the best time to do this is either in April after flowering has finished or just before the rains begin in the autumn.

At the moment, I have several clumps of Dutch irises (I. x hollandica) coming into flower. It is actually a hybrid iris developed from species native to the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa in the nineteenth

century. Since the 1900s, it has been crossed with other species resulting in many cultivars with a wide range of colours, from blues to yellows. I read recently that the bulbs should be treated as annuals, but my experience here is that they reliably come up year after year, even though I treat them cruelly with no irrigation and extremely poor soil.

Last but by no means least, between April and May is the time to be bedazzled by the beautiful flowers of the bearded irises, which are, in my opinion, the most spectacular of the genus. They get their name from the rows of fuzzy hairs at the base of the fall petal, which are there to guide pollinators to the source of nectar. They come in a wide variety of colour combinations and sizes. They are easy to grow, long-lasting (up to twenty years), have a wide colour palette and are high impact. Probably the only downside is that the flowers don’t last for long, so I plant them in mixed beds to ensure there are other focal points when they are not flowering. They need a sunny south-facing spot in free-draining soil where they will be baked during the summer. They will require lifting and replanting every three to five years; otherwise, they become congested and stop flowering. You just lift the clump and keep the healthiest rhizomes, prune the leaves back by half and then rebury the rhizome taking care to ensure that half of it is exposed.

So, you might like to channel your inner goddess by planting some of these colourful delights in your garden this spring.

Tamsin Varley is a member of Clube Dos Bons Jardins. This small, friendly multi-national garden club meets at different locations around the Algarve on the 2nd Tuesday of every month except over the summer, with an optional lunch afterwards.

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY Tamsin Varley

Algerian Iris

Bearded Iris

Bearded Iris

SPORTS ROUND UP

Motorsport

The FIA World Endurance Championship returned to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in April and it produced some spectacular racing. Featuring three drivers per vehicle, the emphasis is on consistency as well as speed due to its six-hour duration. In the Hypercar series, the Toyota of Ryo Hirakawa and ex-Formula One drivers Brendan Hartley and Sebastien Buemi took overall victory. In the LMP2 category, United Autosports took the top two spots – the winning team comprised Oliver Jarvis, Guido van der Garde (exFormula One) and 17-year-old American sensation Josh Pierson.

Wheelchair tennis

The 2023 BNP Paribas World Team Cup World Group will take place at Vilamoura Tennis and Padel Academy for the second successive year. Following the conclusion of four regional qualification events in Europe, Asia and Oceania, Africa and the Americas, 44 teams will line up in Vilamoura from 1-7 May. Titles will be decided in men’s, women’s, quad and junior events at the ITF’s annual flagship wheelchair tennis team event. Portugal will become the first nation to host the World Team Cup in successive years since 1991.

Basketball

The ACD Ferragudo women’s team have been promoted to the top tier of Portuguese basketball following a two-legged victory over Barcelos. Despite a 69-52 away defeat, Ferragudo stormed to an 86-60 victory in the home leg to guarantee the Algarve side an historic promotion.

Rallying

Ricardo Teodósio has won the Rallye Casinos do Algarve for the second successive year. The 47 year-old, who hails from Guia, and his co-driver José Teixeira, took the lead on stage 3 and was fastest in four out of the seven stages. The Hyundai driver took overall victory by 16 seconds from fellow countryman Miguel Correia.

Swimming

Rugby

The Portugal women’s team finished their Women’s Trophy campaign with a 100% win record following a 20-5 victory against Germany. Despite receiving three yellow cards during the game, Portugal outscored their higher-ranked opponents by four tries to one. The result sees them top the group and winning promotion to the ‘championship’, the second tier of international rugby in Europe.

Kayaking

The KCCA club of Lagoa have returned from the National Long Distance Championships with 10 medals. Following the club’s second place in the overall senior classification, President Nuno Silva commented that it was KCCA’s ‘best ever’ performance in these championships.

Portimão athlete Miguel Nascimento has achieved the qualifying mark for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The 28 year-old, who competes for the Benfica swimming club, finished his 50m race in 21.91 seconds, beating the Olympic qualifying requirement of 21.96.

Rhythmic gymnastics

Portimão will host a leg of the FIG World Challenge Cup from 5-7 May. Portuguese gymnastics has had a resurgence of late, having won medals in all five categories at a recent world cup event in Puurs, Belgium. The three-day event will be held at the Portimão Arena.

If you wish to publicise a sporting event, please contact our sports editor David Lugg: david@tomorrowalgarve.com

WORDS David Lugg

Masters

Inês Batista

© Pedro Monserrate/CAAL

For more information: +351 282 358 236 geral@tenniscarvoeiro.com www.tenniscarvoeiro.com

□ 10 Tennis courts (5 floodlit)

□ 4 Padel courts (4 floodlit)

□ Studio classes (14 per week, including LBT, Yoga, Pilates, Dance and Bootcamp)

□ Coffee shop and snack bar

□ 500 sqm fully equipped Gym

□ “The Bungalow” wellness centre offering Thai massage, manicure, pedicure, facials, microblading and more.

□ Large Swimming pool with lounge area.

Open to the public 361 days per year □ Pay & Play available in all areas □ Day, Month, Annual Memberships available

Rua Dr. Paulo Jorge L. Godinho Lote 7 – Loja D 8600-774 Lagos (+351) 282 769 115

Musings of a Mountain Biker

pattern of tiny slits on the knobbles and you will have maximum grip over technical terrain like roots and rocks.

Semi-slicks strike a balance between acceleration traction and rolling resistance, with low-profile central tread for speed and deeper side or shoulder knobbles to give grip when leaning or cornering.

I’m guessing most of us will ride a mixture of roads and trails and won’t have different sets, so it’s best to pick a profile that works for the majority of conditions you ride and get comfortable with them.

Hi, Gilly here. I have recently had a conversation with a fellow biker about changing tyres for summer! Do you change yours?

I don’t change my tyres unless they are worn out or I have a blowout. This is partly because our conditions here don’t massively change across the seasons; more mud or more dust just adds variety to my rides. My reason for sticking with the same tyres is mainly because I have tried various types and I know what I prefer and what suits my style of riding. I now have fewer falls and more confidence off-road, so for those of you who haven’t considered the impact of different tyres or just want to check and change, this month, I thought I would chew the fat over the multitude of considerations and options.

First off, there are two basic tyre measurements – diameter and width. MTBs come in 3 different diameters, determined by the size of the wheels (rims) on your bike, usually 29”, 27.5” or 26”. Usually given in inches, however, there is an International Standard for labelling the size of tyres and rims, ETRTO, which uses metric – 622, 584 and 559mm, respectively.

When it comes to tyre width, most rims can handle a range, so it’s not absolutely necessary to replace your tyres like for like, if it suits and your bike has adequate clearance, you may be able to go wider. Tyre widths usually reflect the

size when inflated (not including the tread) and with good eyes on a bright day, you can see these measurements on the wall of your tyres. This could be in imperial, metric or both, so a 50-622 will be a 2” wide tyre for a 29” wheel. Typically trail riders will opt for a narrower tyre than downhillers.

Points to note, there are three different types of wheel rim (most MTB will have Crochet) and two different valve types matched to the hole in the rim (most MTB will have Presta). Probably best to take your old tyre or, even better, your wheel, with you when you buy to make sure you get it right. If we are getting really techie, fork sizes and frame tolerances are also considerations for serious, extreme and competitive riding.

Size and fit sorted, your next consideration is tread depth and profile or knobble size and pattern, which is usually determined by the type of riding you do:

Sicks or low profiles have small, closely spaced knobbles with low resistance, great for smooth, hard and dry trails, but they offer less grip on loose dirt and under acceleration or braking.

The wider spaced and deeper the knobbles, the more traction and improved handling in muddy and rough conditions or for more aggressive riding, but they are slower on the climbs; add a

Points to note here, most tread patterns are directional. If you mount them backwards, it will compromise performance, so look for the directional arrow on the tyre sidewall, and some treads are front or rear-wheel specific!

Finally, tubes or tubeless! Tubeless are tyres that seal directly on the rim and are inflated without the need for an innertube. I haven’t tried them as not all bike rims will take them (it will usually say on your rim). Along with a reduction in potential flats, you can run on lower tyre pressure, which can increase traction and comfort. If your MTB won’t take tubeless, you can buy Kevlar or tyres with a higher thread count per inch (TPI), which can be more expensive but offer greater protection from punctures. If you are going old school like me, don’t forget to carry a spare innertube and repair kit with you.

I feel we have only just scratched the surface, but if you haven’t inspected your tyres recently for wear and tear, or have noticed a dip in your riding performance, now might be a good time to check, change and potentially upgrade ready for summer, as the right type of tyre will impact your speed and performance – I hope this helps.

As always, have fun out on the trails, stay safe, and if you have inspiration for future musings, please get in touch.

WORDS Gilly Grateley

Making Friends with the North Atlantic

Beyond Bikinis and Boardshorts

So now, as a (happy and satisfied) fulltime resident of southern Portugal, my go-to clothing for cavorting in the waves is a wetsuit! I can do everything I do in the warmer water with this thin layer of neoprene between me and the cold. We’re used to seeing surfers and scuba divers wearing wetsuits but not so much with swimmers.

Yet, if you’re like me, wearing a wetsuit over your swimsuit can optimise your beach visits – once you get beyond being surrounded by bikinis and boardshorts, and a few strange gawks (or maybe they’re “why didn’t I think of that!” looks). Joshua Keetley, a water sports specialist at Coast Supply in Lagos, reminds us that none of that matters, “You should be comfortable in your own skin for sure! A lot of people, especially Americans, find the water way too cold.”

Well, this American found the water way too cold, but just the thinnest of wetsuits has made all the difference for me. As Joshua says, “If the wetsuit is just for swimming around, you want something thin enough that still provides you flexibility and no resistance against your body movements.” He adds, “The thicker the wetsuit gets, the warmer it will be, but it will constrict your movement a lot as well.”

What’s Right For You?

I’ve been teased that I’m a delicate “hothouse flower” given my distaste for the brisk waters of the northern Atlantic, even here in one of the southern-most climates of Europe –the sunny warm Algarve.

At its warmest, in August, the Atlantic waters in southern Portugal soar to 22°C/ 71°F. But dial the calendar back to the debut of “beach days” and the averages are considerably colder – in April, it’s 16°C/ 61°F.

I’m not the only one who baulks at frolicking in the lessthan-warm waters. Visit any of the picturesque Algarve beaches (and they’re all picturesque!) and you’ll find very few beachgoers at any given time playing, swimming or treading in the water. Oh yes, if you spend enough time on the beach basking in the hot sun, you’ll get overheated and be compelled to run out and dunk in the cold water. But the submersion is usually momentary – enough to get wet and cool off … and then back to the towel.

My idea of an afternoon at the beach is being at one with the water with child-like jumping up and down in the swells, lolling on a float toy, and swimming some laps. But that’s when the water is about 28°C/ 82°F (yes, I’m a super achiever as a hothouse flower!). Those are water temperatures more characteristic of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and summertime lakes.

The thickness of wetsuits is measured in millimetres (mm). Mine is one of the thinnest made – a 3/2mm, which means the 3mm thickness lines the chest, torso, and legs and the 2mm lines the arms for added flexibility. That’s why there are two numbers. There are wetsuits with thicknesses of up to 5/4mm and 6/5mm … you can imagine how much stiffer and inflexible you’d feel wearing that for swimming.

In order to swim in a wetsuit, it needs to be just right. You want it close fitting to the skin because the suit works by trapping a small layer of water between the skin and the suit, capturing your body warmth.

Of course, maybe you’re one of those who likes the cold water (cold water plunge therapy anyone?). The benefits are said to be multifold, but if you’re not in that camp and are curious how it would feel to swim in a wetsuit, consider simply renting one for your next beach adventure.

WORDS Becca Williams

Joshua Keetley rents wetsuits at Coast Supply in Lagos

Pro Tip

How to improve your chipping

Adjusting your stance, grip and body weight at set-up will help you achieve this. It is helpful to have some simple swing thoughts when you practice your chip shots.

Your Yoga Mat is not a Gym Mat

I remember when I was in India practising yoga with my teacher at Purple Valley. At the time, I practised a lot of Ashtanga yoga which is a strong physical yoga. I was going through my sun salutations when my yoga teacher tapped me on the shoulder as I was in the middle of a chaturanga (or, in my mind, back then, a tricep press-up) and quietly said to me, “It is not a gym mat.”

At first, I was a bit taken aback as Ashtanga is a very physical practice, and I often thought that as I had done yoga, I did not need to work out. But over those two weeks, I started to think about what he said more and more, and I realised that the two mats are very different and are not the same thing.

Power is not required to chip, BUT we must have control. Adjusting your grip, your stance and your body weight in the same way as when you prepare for a full-swing set-up will give you more control.

Adopt a narrow stance when hitting your chip shot. I don’t advocate putting your feet together for most golfers, as this will generally give poor balance. A stance similar to that you would adopt when simply standing in line is a good rule of thumb.

A good chipping action should be driven by the shoulders and the upper body, similar to when you are attempting a long putting stroke. You need to ensure that you keep the wrist movement to a minimum.

When chipping, it is important to aim to recreate the impact position of a full-speed swing during set-up. At impact, the hips should be open, and your body weight needs to be on your front side. At the address, position your feet and hips left of your target (this is for the right-handed golfer

and the opposite applies to the lefthanded golfer).

Your shoulders must still point at the target (not left). This allows your swing path to stay on a good line towards the pin but does not let your hips and legs obstruct the swing.

Set up with approximately 60%–70% of your weight on your front leg. Your hands should be well forward of the ball – this will ensure that the club shaft will point to your left hip.

Finally, raising your rear heel slightly through impact will prevent you from having too much weight on the back foot – a sure-fire way to hit the golf ball fat or thin.

Hopefully, this chipping drill will help you achieve a consistent strike on the golf ball and another step towards improving your score and round.

To be continued next month.

Whilst some yoga practices can be very physically demanding and can make you feel like you have done a workout, the physical outcome is not the purpose of a yoga mat.

It is hard when we have very little time in the day for ourselves to be able to separate the two, especially if we don’t have time to do yoga and to work out.

The reason I say your yoga mat is not a gym mat is that the goal of yoga is not a physical outcome. The goal of yoga is to turn inwards and to gain happiness, to create bliss and peace. The aim is to self-reflect, control the breath, achieve deep relaxation and grow through meditation. The asanas (physical postures) are used to help to achieve this, they are not the main outcome. It does not matter if you can not do certain poses that does not mean you are good or bad at yoga. Yoga is an internal practice. What matters is how you approach your practice.

So next time you are on your yoga mat, turn the focus inwards to the breath, to your mind, take the outcomes away from the physical and into the internal and notice how your inner peace will thank you.

Ann de Jongh is a Health & Wellbeing Coach

WORDS João Tomáz

 João Tomáz - Head Pro Coach Espiche Golf jtomaz@espichegolf.pt

WORDS Ann De Jongh

Lagos Wellness Challenge

The Lagos Wellness Challenge is a sponsored walking event in the picturesque western Algarve.

Teams of between four and ten members can challenge themselves on a picturesque scenic walking route of 5 km in order to raise money for the charities and good causes supported by TACT.

Participants are encouraged to get sponsorship to help raise as much funds as possible for the supported causes. If you raise a minimum sponsorship of €50 you will also receive a FREE event t-shirt.

Although the event is not a race, participants can go as quickly as they like and are encouraged to achieve, in the interests of wellness, their personal best performance. The event is designed to include a wide variety of participants regardless of age or ability. Walking with dogs is also welcomed, provided they are always well-behaved and on a leash.

All sections of the designated route follow municipalityapproved and maintained pedestrian walkways and the route has been safety reviewed and will be again just prior to the event.

The Lagos Wellness Challenge route starts in the car park at Cascade Wellness Resort complex. The quickest participants are expected to complete the 5km in approximately 30 minutes, and most walkers will take around 1 hour. All finishers receive a t-shirt and a commemorative medal at the event.

LWC Partnership sponsors help the Lagos Charity Challenge by funding the event, and their support is recognised along the route, on the LWC website, and in event publicity materials. Importantly, the LWC Event sends 100% of sponsorship contributions raised by participant teams directly to the designated beneficiaries.

Trophies are awarded in various categories for personal best and team performances. These include the teams and individuals raising the most sponsorship money and several other personal best wellness improvement awards.

Saturday, 20 May event check-in 8am • Start /finish 9 am–11am Awards & celebrations 11 am–12 pm.

Registration opens on 1 May.

www.tomorrowalgarve.com/lagos-wellness-challenge

Rugbytots

Mother of two, Laura Cyfka, searched for a sports programme for her children, Noah and Maia, after moving to Portugal four years ago. Having found nothing suitable, she took it upon herself to bring Rugbytots to the Algarve.

WORDS Sophie Sadler

Laura has been involved in coaching in some way for most of her life. Her mother was a teacher, and although her own career has taken many twists and turns, she has always come back to teaching. “I have been everything from head of learning and development to an English tutor to horse riding instructor. I love motivating people and seeing that lightbulb moment as things click into place for the learners. So I like to think I have followed in my mother’s footsteps, though in my own way.”

In Portugal, she began searching for a sports programme for children that was fun, inclusive and educational (and that doesn’t run at 9 pm at night!).

“I found Rugbytots a number of years ago and was extremely impressed with the professionalism of coaches, the structure of the classes, and the sheer amount of fun kids have at these sessions.”

So Laura acquired the Lagos, Portugal franchise, which is already gaining traction. Aimed at two- to seven-yearolds, open classes kick off at Boavista Resort on 7 May. Schools are already getting involved with the childcare centre Zany starting sessions in May. Laura also plans to go into schools to

deliver the Rugbytots programme as an extracurricular activity.

The ethos of Rugbytots is to create fun, structured play sessions that take children on a journey of sporting imagination with engaging and energetic coaches supporting them every step of the way. They are also taught how to catch, pass, kick, run with the ball and play as part of a team.

“Rugbytots sessions are different to anything I have ever come across. They are completely focused on kids learning whilst having fun. The exercises and games are designed to help children learn counting, shapes and colours, as well as starting out on their rugby journey, learning to pass, kicking and catching.”

Over 100,000 children in 24 countries on seven continents are now part of the Rugbytots family. With Portugal qualifying for the Rugby World Cup this year, Laura is thrilled to be part of the journey here in Portugal and looks forward to seeing many more children at Rugbytots sessions soon.

Here Comes the Sun

The sun is finally making an appearance. Our winter-white bodies are being exposed for another year and our soon-to-be-bronzed skin will once more give us a feel-good factor as we work hard to develop our sun-kissed look.

There are other benefits from being in the sunshine and one is vitamin D, although 15-20 minutes of outdoor sunshine is enough for our daily dose.

Unfortunately, the sun can be a factor in one problem which we can’t ignore: skin cancer. With rising cases of skin cancer, early detection is vital. If you are sunbathing, it is imperative that you use an SPF of no less than 30 and apply it liberally every two hours and again after swimming.

Skin cancer does not discriminate, but those who are more likely at risk are:

• A fairer skin

• Sunbed user

• Someone who regularly burns their skin

• Outdoor workers

• Outdoor sports enthusiasts

• Mature skin

• Someone with 100 moles or more

• A family history of skin cancer.

The sun emits three types of rays and without sun cream, they have the ability to penetrate into different layers of the skin. Even after your tan has faded, the damage remains and can result in serious consequences.

Always try to stay out of the sun when it’s at its hottest, i.e. between 11 and 3 pm. Wear a hat that is wide-rimmed and close-woven or made of UPF fabric. Wear sunglasses with a European CE mark and a EPF label for the best protection. Keep your shoulders protected with a t-shirt or a sun protection fabric.

Skin cancer is divided into two groups. Non-melanoma skin cancer or NMSC Melanoma.The two most common NMSCs are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

The basal cell type is most common and can appear on sun-damaged areas. It very rarely spreads and is slow-growing.

The squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common. This one can spread and can vary in size and usually appears on the neck, lips, ears and arms.

Detox your life

WORDS Paula Rey

Melanoma

Basal Cell Carcinoma

It’s time to talk about detoxing your home. Did you know that our homes can be filled with toxins and chemicals that harm our health and well-being?

Yep, it’s true! But don’t worry, I’ve got some tips to help you improve the health of your home.

Let’s start with cleaning products. Traditional household cleaners, laundry detergents, and personal care products can contain harsh chemicals and toxins that can harm our skin, respiratory system, and overall health. So, choosing plantbased cleaning products that are free from harmful chemicals is a better option. They’re made from natural ingredients like essential oils, vinegar, and baking soda, which are not only safe for the environment but also for our health. Plus, using them can help to improve the air quality in your home.

Then we have the melanoma category. This can appear anywhere on the body. It can vary in shape, colour and size and generally starts as a spot or mole that changes over time. There is also nodular melanoma. The most aggressive form. It generally appears on sunexposed areas and is more even in shape and is more of a bump. These can vary in colour.

One technique used for detection is called “the ugly duckling”. this simply means you should get anything that looks unsightly and different to anything else on your body checked by a dermatologist.

As a therapist, I feel it’s my duty to inform my clients if I see something that has changed over time during their visits. I tend to make notes on anything I see and early detection has helped some of my clients get the right treatment.

Knowledge is key, and as much as we all will be enjoying the summer, let’s do it safely and wisely and be aware of any changes on your skin.

However, cleaning products aren’t the only source of toxins in our homes. Furniture, bedding, and electronics can release toxic chemicals into the air. I recommend choosing furniture and bedding made from natural materials like cotton, wool, and bamboo to reduce exposure to these toxins.

By reducing the number of toxins in our homes and switching to natural and organic products, we can create a healthier and safer environment for ourselves and our families. So, let’s get started on detoxing our homes and promoting good health and well-being!

Paula is a Holistic Health Coach, Hypnobirthing Childbirth Educator, and Cacao & Embodiment Facilitator.

pauladelaselva.com

Facebook/Instagram @delaselva.holistic

WORDS Donna Groom

Donna Groom is a therapist at the Kutting Room in Praia da Luz.

Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is a misleading name for a common injury. While tennis players can be affected by this problem, it also affects swimmers, carpenters, plumbers, meat cutters, or anyone who repetitively uses their arms or hands. It can be so sore that lifting your morning cup of coffee can be difficult and painful.

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow can be acute, caused by inflammation, or chronic, caused by degeneration of a tendon. With acute tennis elbow, you will find inflammation in the tendon and a bony bump at the outer part of the elbow. This inflammation happens because of repetitive stress placed on the forearm muscles. The repetitive stress causes the tendons of the elbow to become irritated and injured, leading to inflammation in the elbow and forearm.

Chronic tennis elbow is most seen in non-athletes between the ages of 35–55 years old. In most cases, it is a result of tendon degeneration, which causes normal tissue to be replaced by a disorganised arrangement of scar tissue. Scar tissue makes the area become weaker and more prone to future injury. It can happen as a result of repetitive stress.

How do I know if I have tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow will cause pain in the bony knob on the outside of your elbow. This is where the injured tendons connect to the bone. You may also feel pain in the upper or lower part of your arm.

Tennis elbow sufferers may feel pain when they:

• Lift something

• Make a fist or grip an object

• Open a door

• Raise a hand or straighten a wrist

• Type on a computer

How do I treat tennis elbow?

Chiropractic treatment is effective for tennis elbow. Your chiropractor will assess your pain and first determine the cause of your tennis elbow.

Chiropractic treatment for tennis elbow may include:

• Adjustments to the elbow and wrist which mobilise the joints and decrease compression and inflammation of the joints.

• Myofascial release to the forearm muscles, which help get rid of adhesions/ scar tissue in the muscles and tendons.

• Electrical muscle stimulation to help decrease muscle tightness, inflammation and improve circulation/promote healing.

How do I prevent tennis elbow?

Stretching: if you know your work or play will involve a lot of repetitive arm motions, stretching will be your best preventive measure against tennis elbow. Stretching these muscles works to strengthen them over time.

Good stretches include: Straighten your arm with your elbow straight and pull your fingers back towards your body and hold it for one minute. Next, pull your fingers down towards the floor and hold for one minute. These stretches should be repeated 3–4 times per day.

Squeeze and release exercises.

Strengthening your wrist muscles will help you to avoid tennis elbow. Ironically, a tennis ball is a great tool to accomplish this. Grip a tennis ball in the hand of your injured arm. Squeeze and release the tennis ball for 2–3 minutes, 3–4 times a day.

Bracing: tennis elbow bracing can be beneficial to take the strain off the injured tendon until it heals. The bracing works best when you are doing things that cause irritation to the elbow, like gripping, lifting, repetitive typing, etc. It can be removed when you’re not using the arm.

Bespoke support to Expats – from mental health to social inclusion

Moving abroad is typically a hope-based decision in search of a better, more meaningful and prosperous life. However, a significant percentage of individuals and families end up facing unexpected challenges (personal, family, social, professional or financial) that can affect their lives at different levels.

Often, the change in lifestyle does not go as planned, but that does not necessarily mean that the issue cannot be resolved.

During the past two decades, the expat community has increased significantly in Algarve, with a proportional increase of new nationalities. The region slowly started to respond to new social needs, but it was clear that the expat community was lacking centralised, close and diversified support to help them to overcome challenges and receive guidance in different areas.

The CARMA project recently opened its doors in Faro (Montenegro). It aims to provide diversified and inclusive support to all citizens, with a wide range of services at your disposal, from psychiatry, psychology and holistic therapies to a special initiative entirely dedicated to the expat community (youth, adults, families), providing tailor-made advisory, representation, lifecoaching and social inclusion activities.

The expat team is fluent in four languages (Portuguese, English, French and Spanish), and has vast international experience and a strong knowledge of key cultural differences.

If you need support, do not hesitate to contact CARMA.

Remember: pain and struggle are the most important ingredients of growth, happiness and fulfilment!

Calling all padel and tennis players (and more)!! HEALTH & BEAUTY 68 Tomorrow magazine - community magazine for the Algarve | www.tomorrowalgarve.com

Permanent Eye Makeup

Do you dare to give it a go?

WORDS Sophie Sadler

When we live in a climate where we are often wiping our brows or hopping in and out of the water to cool down, permanent makeup seems like a no-brainer. But would I be brave enough to allow a needle that close to my eyes?

I am a complete wimp and generally terrified of any procedure involving needles or sharp objects; the thought of them being wielded around my eyes I found quite frankly terrifying. However, after reading our beauty editor Donna´s article on permanent eye makeup, I decided to give it a go.

It helped that I really trust Donna and know the number of courses she goes on to make sure she is knowledgeable on all the latest beauty techniques. Her tool was reassuringly more like a pen than a needle! However, I was very nervous on entering her salon, not least because I also didn’t want to emerge looking like a clown. So I at first opted for a grey colour to go on the eyelids and under the eyes.

It looked fabulous for about a week and then wore off, so Donna concluded that I needed to go for black. Donna does not charge you more if the makeup doesn’t stick and you need to go back for more treatments. However, I would advise you to bite the bullet and be brave. A lot of the ink does come off, meaning the end look is subtle, so you won’t emerge looking like a glamour model.

You need to have at least two treatments. Donna uses high-quality, premodified pigments meaning that the colour fades and doesn’t morph into another colour like purple or blue over time, which would not be a good look! You can always go for a colour boost once a year if you prefer the rich black look.

The process is, to be honest, not the most pleasant experience for me, although I was amazed to hear that several of Donna´s clients have fallen asleep during the procedure! The eye area is numbed, so you don’t feel any pain, but you

are in the chair for around an hour and a half and it feels like you have an annoying little fly around your eye.

But beauty is pain, ladies and I am now set for summer with a permanent eyeliner underline and lid line and can happily leave the house every morning without almost poking my eye out with a pencil. I am going to return for an eyelash tint and lift, which will enhance the eyeliner look and mean I can hop in and out of the water with not a panda eye in sight.

Go on, ladies – give it a go. I dare you!

Donna´s treatment at the Kutting Room in Praia da Luz cost 200€ and lasts for around three years.

Are you out of sorts?

WORDS Becca Williams

How understanding your emotions is the gold standard to feeling better

A Big Move to another country – as so many of us have undertaken – can bring on Big Feelings of loneliness, often interlaced with bouts of self-doubt, anxiety, depression and the like. I think it's fair to say we›ve all been there.

But the developer and author of Emotional Liberation, GuruMeher Khalsa («Meher» is pronounced mayor), reveals, in his groundbreaking work, the vital role difficult emotions serve in healing and offers a step-by-step method for releasing these unruly emotions.

The American author and emotions expert is visiting the Algarve in late June to hold at least one workshop in Lagos. I took the opportunity for a short Q&A for those who might be interested in experiencing his approach.

Your Emotional Liberation method has been variously described as “Better than twenty years of therapy” and hailed as a “stepby-step method for releasing unruly emotions and trauma”. Why do you think your method for emotional release is so effective?

We found that emotional distress is a natural indication of a problem. What you’re feeling also points to a solution. It’s the psychological equivalent of physical pain that tells you something’s wrong in your body. People really do know what’s wrong when they’re upset, but we weren’t trained to listen and

trust ourselves. We use simple yet potent techniques to enhance selfawareness and teach people to listen to their internal guidance. It’s a self-therapy that can be learned.

Over your 40-plus years in practice, you've taught and counselled literally thousands. Have you found any similarities among people wrestling with unruly emotions?

I counselled people with countless diverse issues and began to see that whatever the issue, one or more emotions always presented, typically some form of fear/anxiety, anger, sadness, shame, or depression. That indicates a natural system at play – a scientific order. Emotions are like the antibodies of our psychological immune system: they detect and address psychological distress.

His full interview can be read on our blog at tomorrowalgarve.com

Relaxation and Creating a Positive Future

WORDS Glenn Harrold

The world is an uncertain place right now, but instead of worrying about the future, you can use the power of your mind to manifest positivity and abundance into your life. You really do have superhuman ability when you focus your mind in a positive way.

Everything is energy and you can manifest a happy and abundant life by using the following simple technique.

• Go to a quiet room where you will not be disturbed, close your eyes and breathe very slowly and deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth.

• Allow your mind to go completely blank. Don’t worry if you still get unwanted thoughts drifting

into your mind; tell yourself not to fight them, as they will soon drift away again.

• Continue to relax and think about all the things in your life you are grateful for. Connect with a feeling of gratitude for all of these blessings.

• Now focus on a single goal. It can be around money, love, a new career, or anything you choose. Imagine you are projecting your goal out into the Universe. Be clear with your intention now.

• As you do this, connect with feelings of happiness and joy. Breathe slowly and deeply.

• Imagine your goal is a reality now. So if your goal is to be with your ideal partner, imagine being

with them now. See yourself doing all the things you long to do with a partner. If your goal is to become more abundant, imagine yourself living a truly abundant life with no limitations.

• After 10 or 20 minutes, take a few breaths and open your eyes and come wide awake.

That’s it! That is the real secret to attracting the things you want into your life. Use this technique regularly so that you build a strong energy that grows over time.

Glenn Harrold is one of the world’s most successful hypnotherapists. He has helped thousands, including many celebrities, in a 20-year career and has sold over 10 million hypnosis CDs, MP3 downloads and Apps.

Have you ever been on vacation when you suddenly realise that boredom and apathy have taken over happiness and excitement in your connections with your loved ones? You have run out of topics to discuss, so what do you do?

This type of pattern commonly appears when we change the environment in which our connection typically occurs, such as when we go on vacation. We appreciate these two weeks with our loved ones so highly that we become disappointed when we unexpectedly feel alone and alienated.

Instead of accepting that, you may try playing an authentic relating game with your family to strengthen your bond and promote a better sense of intimacy and closeness.

The Googling Game

The purpose of the game is to have fun and learn more about each other. You can have two to five players.

Instructions:

Take turns “Googling” each other’s minds by saying the other person’s name plus any phrase you like. It can be “John horse racing”, “John, traditional Chinese medicine” or “John, how to find true love in high school”. Literally, anything goes.

Then, John’s task is to respond with the top “search result.” It can come in the form of a personal story, something they recently read, or anything else that comes to mind after they hear the “search term”.

Suggested duration: As long as you enjoy it!

Possible context: This is a great game to play with someone you already know well but would like to learn more about. It works as a pastime on a road trip, a long walk, or when you’re waiting for dinner.

The game’s objective is to have fun and get to know one another better.

Silja has received training in authentic relations and is an embodiment coach. Her entire life was altered when she came upon authentic relating two years ago in Bali.

A longer version of this article about family relationship games is available on our blog.

Algarve Retreats

Algarve Retreats offer a bespoke service for property management, rentals and sales in the western Algarve.

Co-directors Adrian and Tracey Fox have a long association with Lagos after spending many family holidays there throughout the 1990s. This journey ultimately led to them purchasing a villa in Lagos in 2005, which sparked their interest in establishing a property company. Their goal was to incorporate all their customer service experience to develop a business model which is true to their values.

Over the last 11 years, along with their team, Adrian and Tracey have built a successful property management, rental and real estate business servicing both apartments and villas in and around Lagos.

With over 70 rental properties, which have been predominantly gained by recommendation, Algarve Retreats now handles in excess of 650 rental bookings per year and has a loyal client base who return year after year from all over the world. Through hard work and dedication, the company has built many long-lasting relationships on the back of the ethos of honesty and complete transparency in all they do.

In 2016, the company broadened its operations to incorporate real estate. This expansion has proved to be hugely successful and, along with sales manager Tomas Broad, Algarve Retreats is confident it can offer a first-class, professional service.

Algarve Retreats is still expanding and fast becoming the ‘go-to’ company for property management, rentals and sales. By offering low commission rates, excellent first-class service and a dedicated bilingual team, Algarve Retreats should be at the top of the list whether you are looking for management or to rent, buy or sell!

As Adrian and Tracey say, “We are still at the beginning of our journey. Why not join us and let us help you to write yours?”

Saving you time and money

It can be a nuisance and extremely timeconsuming. And if you are an expat living abroad, it may be even worse, as there is also the language barrier issue to overcome.

When it comes to motor vehicles, for instance, Portugal requires its owners to do and keep up to date a number of things that might otherwise result in fines, some quite substantial. Created in 2006 and operating in the Algarve region, docLAGOS helps with any vehicle documentation management and promises to save you quite a bit of time and headaches.

Whether it is a specific characteristic that needs changing on your car registry, a license plate number that needs to be cancelled, or an imported vehicle, purchased abroad, that needs to be registered legally in Portugal, they know what to do, when to do it, and can handle the whole process for you.

Attentive and focused on the satisfaction of its customers, docLAGOS has, over the years, perfected its operating methods and created solutions for its customers. The range of services includes:

At the IMT (Portugal’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)

• Vehicle modifications and conversions (dealing with the bureaucratic part of the service)

• Changes made to colours and other specifications

• Annotations regarding window tint film applications, GVW and tyre specification changes

• Registry cancellations

• Reinstatement of cancelled registrations

• Impounded vehicles

• Collection of impounded documents

• Reissuing documentation

• Restarting unfinished procedures

• Legalisation of imported vehicles

At Portugal’s Vehicle Registry Office (Conservatória do Registo Automóvel)

• Registration of vehicle ownership

• Change of car address registration

• Cancellation of reservation registration

More services are also available.

Based in Lagos, docLAGOS is available by appointment, Monday to Friday from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, and will be delighted to assist you in any of these matters.

docLAGOS helps you to get in the driving seat Bureaucracy is something most of us dread.

I.T. Can Be Easy

ChatGPT is a new artificial intelligence technology (also known as AI) that allows you to have human-like conversations and much more with something called a “chatbot”. The language tool can answer questions and assist you with tasks like composing emails, essays, writing poetry and researching whatever subject you can think of.

ChatGPT was released late in 2022 by a company called OpenAI, which was founded by Elon Musk, yes him of the Tesla car company.

The technology chats in a conversational way, answering questions from the user. The online chatbot has been trained on lots of information and data from the internet – it can have a human-like conversation answering questions, admitting mistakes, and rejecting any inappropriate questions.

Not Perfect – Yet!

OpenAI admits that there are limits to what it can do. Sometimes the answers are incorrect or don't make sense and it can also make the wrong assumption about what the user asked of it.

Bad Press

As with all new technology of this type, ChatGPT is getting mixed reviews from people. Some think students might use it to cheat, whereas others think they should use the tool in the classroom to help children learn. In some countries, including the US, some educational institutions have banned ChatGPT so students and teachers cannot access it.

In the UK, the exam regulator for England Ofqual and the Department of Education are

keeping an eye on whether the chatbot is being used to cheat.

All too easy? Let’s put it to the test … Microsoft has their own version of a chatbot which they call Co-pilot. They recently allowed access via the Bing Search tools in their web browser in Windows. I thought I’d put it to the test. To keep it simple I asked it to summarise the classic children’s nursery rhyme Incy Wincy Spider:

Incy Wincy spider climbed up the waterspout Down came the rain and washed the spider out

Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain

And Incy Wincy spider climbed up the spout again.

After a few seconds of thinking, this was the chatbot's response:

This is a nursery rhyme that describes the adventures of a spider named Incy Wincy. It uses repetition and rhyme to create a catchy and fun song for children. The rhyme also teaches about the effects of rain and sunshine on spiders and their webs. The spider is persistent and brave, as it keeps climbing up the spout despite the obstacles.

If you would like more information on this subject or require help with any I.T. challenges, I am always happy to help.

The Living in the Algarve and Living in Portugal seminar events have been going from strength to strength.

Since the first show took place in Carvoeiro in April last year, followed by one at the Cascade Wellness Resort near Lagos in June, the events have been rolled out along the Algarve by the organisers, the Open Media Group. New venues were also added in Lisbon, Cascais, Spain and even the United States. Seminars were held in both Los Angeles and San Francisco in February this year.

Last year’s Lagos event was a resounding success and the date is now set for this year’s show on 15 June, once again at the Cascade Wellness Resort. The seminar events are held to provide useful information on all aspects of living in Portugal, from residency options for non-EU nationals to tax and legal advice, healthcare and more. The seminars are free to attend, with two identical sessions in the morning and the afternoon.

Event partners so far confirmed to take place in the upcoming Lagos event are Blevins Franks, The Sovereign Group, Rosado Law Firm, Luzdoc, AFPOP, Medal Insurance, B&P Property and the Quinta dos Vales winery. Also speaking at the seminar will be artist, author and Tomorrow contributor Alyson Sheldrake.

Visitors enjoy a complimentary coffee break and wine tasting after the seminar session, with time to meet the speakers and other representatives of the companies taking part.

To book free seminar seats at the Lagos event on 15 June visit livinginthealgarve.pt

The next international events will take place on 22 June in San Francisco and 27 June in New York. For more information and to book seminar seats, visit portugalseminars.com

There has been a lot in the press recently about ChatGPT. What is it and how may it impact our lives?

WORDS Steven Dunwell

That Asian Home Cook

 Instagram: @thatasianhomecook joyentry@gmail.com

Chinese Chicken Stew

As a continuation of my ‘meals under 10€’ series, I suggest that a Chinese Chicken Stew is the perfect wallet-friendly dish.

The one thing Asians like to do is cook on the bone, whether it be meat or fish. We all know how pronounced flavour can be produced with this technique. I personally love to chew off the bone, it makes the meal all the more exciting! If you didn’t already know this, buying chicken whole is much cheaper than buying it in portions like the breast – almost half the price!

If chopping up a chicken feels intimidating, then you can easily request your butcher to break it down to pieces for you. I always ask for 12 pieces for an entire chicken which breaks it down into nice chunks, making it easy to cook and serve.

I grew up with this very soulful homey recipe that literally feels like a hug on the inside. It brings back many memories of my family sitting around the dining table with the prominent chicken stew as the centrepiece of the lazy Susan at home. I hope this dish helps to create similar memories and then some. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1.2 kg chicken chopped into 12 pieces

• 1 cup sliced carrots

• 1 cup sliced potatoes

• 3 cloves of garlic chopped

• 1 thumb-sized ginger

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

• 1 tsp sesame oil

• 2 tbsp oyster sauce

• 1 tbsp light soy sauce

• 1 tbsp dark soy sauce

Wine pairing

I would go for this Howard’s Folly Winemaker’s Choice 2013 red, perfect to pair with a rich and luxurious stew like this. With aromas of dark berry fruits with some smokiness and a tinge of chocolate, this is an absolutely elegant bottle.

www.howardsfollwine.com

your ginger and garlic paste goes in. Count to 10 and then your marinated chicken pieces can go in. As you stir fry, you will notice your chicken pieces turn opaque and then golden, especially on the skin. This is a form of searing to lock the juices in.

• 1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine

• 1 tsp sugar

• ½ tsp salt

• ½ cup water

Slurry

• 1 tsp corn flour

• 1 tbsp cold water

A slurry is a great way to thicken any type of broth. It works especially great with Asian stir-fry dishes that require some gravy but in a thicker, punchier form.

Bring together in a small bowl 1 tsp corn flour and 1 tbsp cold water and stir quickly until the slurry is opaque, thick and white. Once the slurry goes into your dish, you must stir very quickly to spread and thicken the broth evenly. The slurry usually goes in right at the end of the dish.

Instructions

Begin by marinating your chicken with a teaspoon each of salt, sugar, sesame oil and cornflour. Set aside for an hour or so while you prep all your other ingredients. You can also marinate this overnight in the fridge.

Blend your ginger and garlic into a paste, or better still, go at it with a pestle and mortar – the Asian way.

Heat up your wok or pot with vegetable oil on medium heat. Once the oil is hot,

Now add your oyster sauce, Chinese wine, and light and dark soy. Mix the sauces in with your chicken ensuring every single piece is coated with all of that umami goodness. As soon as the sauce starts to bubble on the edges, you can add in your cup of water, salt, sugar, carrots and potatoes. Put your lid on and lower the heat. Leave the chicken to cook for 10 to 15 minutes. When you lift the lid, the broth should be boiling inside.

This is when your slurry goes in. Once the slurry goes into the stew, stir very quickly to spread and thicken the broth evenly. Your sesame oil can go in at this point right at the end. Taste your broth. If you feel it needs a little bit more salt or sugar, feel free to improvise. This stew dish is always best

Joy Entry is a Malaysian home cook based in Lagos who is obsessed with the provocative, unapologetic flavours of South-East Asian cuisine

Pudim molotof recipe

Molotof

The Portuguese dessert with an Eastern European name

WORDS Luka Alexander

It has always been said that the Moors left three things in Portugal after the Reconquista of the Iberian peninsula in the eighth century AD: palm trees, ceramics and sweet desserts. So how did one of the nation’s best-loved puddings end up sharing the same name as a Soviet politician? I decided to delve a little further to try and shed some light on this mystery.

Sat in a small café on a cobbled back road in Portimão, I ordered myself a Portuguese classic, pudim molotof, a sickly sweet meringue-like dessert covered in a caramel sauce and topped with a dash of honey. It was the “go-to” dessert alongside the similar pudding flan during my childhood in the 90s and its popularity continues today along with its oddly non-Portuguese name.

It is believed that the molotof dessert was originally called malakoff pudding and was named after the former Malakoff fortress, which once protected the city of Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula.

During the Crimean War that took place between 1853 and 1856, the French General Aimable Pélissier took the Malakoff fortress and received the title of the 1st Duke of Malakoff, which was soon associated with a wartime dessert made of leftover egg whites. Thus the name Malakoff pudding was born. It is believed that Malakoff

is a variation of the name Malakhov which first derives from the name of the Prophet Malachi (d. 312 BCE).

By World War II, former Bolschivik, Vyacheslav Mikalovich Skriabine (1890–1986) was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR and later the deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers. Like many of his contemporaries in the Soviet Union, Vyacheslav Skriabine, while in hiding, took a pseudonym. He chose the name Molotov – which derived from the Russian word molot meaning “sledgehammer” – as it sounded industrial. Other examples of the era include the first leader of the Soviet Union Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, who adopted the name Lenin after the river Lena and his successor Joseph Besarionis dze Jughashvili, who took the name Stalin, meaning “steel”.

With Molotov becoming a widely known figure across the world, it is likely that due to confusion with the name and origin, the Portuguese people started calling the dessert pudim molotof instead of pudim malakoff. Although the question of how the name travelled over five thousand kilometres to the Portuguese border is unclear, it is fair to say it is of Eastern European descent; however, its home is definitely here in Portugal, even though we’ve been calling it the wrong name for decades!

If you want to try your hand at making pudim molotof or should I say pudim malakoff, I managed to sweet talk (no pun intended) my neighbour into sharing her (now not so) secret recipe of just four ingredients. In her words, “it’s so simple, even a child can make this”. Thank you, Dona Fernanda.

Ingredients:

• 10 egg whites

• 10 tablespoons of sugar

• 2 cups of liquid caramel.

• The zest of one lemon

First beat the egg whites in a mould and add the sugar while continuing to beat the egg whites. When the whites are very firm, add the lemon zest and mix slowly. Add the liquid caramel and tap the pan on the counter to remove the air.

Place in a preheated oven at 180°c and bake for 10 minutes until golden brown. Turn off the oven and be careful not to open it for 30 minutes. Leave to cool and unmould. Serve and Enjoy!

Open from 12:20 to 22:30

N +351 282 799 445 F I

Rua Silva Lopes 14 . 8600-623 Lagos

Cosy winter meals by the replace or sunny lunches in the covered terrace

Lunch menu with a wide choice of meals including fresh sh, grilled over wood

An à la carte menu for evening meals featuring fresh local ingredients.

Open Mon to Sat for lunch 12pm to 3pm and dinner 6pm to 10pm. Sun for lunch 12 to 3pm

Tel: 282 789 503 / 927 130 757

Estrada da Atalaia, Lagos

Lita’s Healthy

Spring Bowl

This month I want to write about one of the excellent food trends that is currently popular. This healthy meal choice is a dish where you combine all the ingredients together in a bowl.

The trend came from the US. The aim is to process healthy food and have a fit and healthier lifestyle. I love bowls; they are healthy, balanced, fresh, varied and suitable for every season, and I can take them with me everywhere. You can prepare them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Bowls are an expression of our times. We want to eat something as nutritious and healthy, unprocessed and natural as possible. That should give us everything we need, carbohydrates, protein, grains, healthy fats and many vitamins, without needing lots of pots and pans.

Buddha bowls

Buddha bowls are known as colourful bowls of happiness. It is a mindful form of eating practised by monks in Zen Buddhism. They allow people to eat together, in consciously moderate enjoyment and gratitude in a meditative state in absolute silence. The focus is on the union of body and mind! It is a beautiful art of awareness!

How to prepare a bowl

There are no limits to your creativity; everyone can choose the food they like according to their wishes. The only requirements for a beautiful Buddha bowl are a round bowl and various natural ingredients. For example, you can start with a salad or spinach. You then add carbohydrates

like rice, quinoa, bulgur, millet, polenta or sweet potatoes. Mix in some healthy fats from avocados and nuts, protein from beans, chickpeas, lentils or tofu, and vitamins from all sorts of vegetables and fruit. Last, you can spice your creation up with salt pepper, olive oil, lemon juice or prepare other sauces. Then, your bowl is ready to give you energy and happiness!

Ingredients

• ½ cup of quinoa

• ½ cup of kidney beans

• 6 spinach leaves

• 4 slices cucumber

• 4 slices of beetroots

• Half a mango

• 1 tbsp grated carrots

• 2 cauliflower florets

• Half an avocado

• 6 slices of radish

• 2 asparagus spears

• A drizzle of olive oil

• The juice of a half lemon

• Salt and pepper

Preparation

Cook the quinoa (one cup of quinoa and two cups of water); when the water is absorbed, the quinoa is ready. Cook the beetroots, cauliflower, and asparagus. Wash and cut the rest of the vegetables and arrange your bowl, starting with the spinach or quinoa, then follow with the rest of the ingredients. Finally, add salt, pepper, olive oil, lemon juice, or other sauces.

Dressing and sauces for your bowl

Olive oil and lemon juice

Hummus

Aubergine tahini

Vegan pesto

Vinaigrette

Caesar dressing

Balsamic dressing

Lalitana's vegan kitchen is available for events and private celebrations. Lita also offers cooking courses.

+351 914 061 143

lita@lalitana.com

Instagram: @lalitanavegankitchen

I used kidney beans from the can, but you can also choose dry beans and cook them. Remember to soak the dry beans in water for 24 hours first. I boil the beetroots, but you can buy them already cooked. You can adjust the amounts of the ingredients to your personal needs.

SPECIAL NIGHTS

DRAUGHT

Better coffee

Better Life

Delta takes the lead at International Coffee Partners

WORDS Monika Hoegen

Probably everyone in the Algarve knows DELTA Cafés. For many it might be a regular companion with whom they start another sunny day. It is less known, though, that Delta, together with seven leading family-owned European coffee companies, forms an initiative to help coffee farmers around the world.

The joint initiative, which comes under the common label “International Coffee Partners” (ICP), aims at making the income of smallholder coffee farmers and their families in developing countries more sustainable and their life less vulnerable. This spring, Rui Miguel Nabeiro, CEO of Grupo Nabeiro/Delta and grandson of Delta founder Manuel Rui Nabeiro, took over the chair of ICP from Kathrine Löfberg, Chair of the Board at Swedish coffee producer Löfbergs.

“We are indeed competitors in the coffee market,” Rui Nabeiro said at the official handover event in Lisbon. “But there is a whole world of production before the competition comes in and we have to take care of that world together.” At the core of this effort lies a holistic approach, which means that ICP not only looks at coffee production in an isolated way but at the family farm as a whole. This includes developing alternative and additional income possibilities but also making the coffee growing more sustainable and more resilient to climate change and some of its consequences, such as increasing droughts. The needs of youth, gender issues and off-farm activities are equally addressed by ICP. The initiative is aware of the “fluctuating coffee prices”, making “business planning oftentimes difficult” for the coffee farmers, as it depicts in its own brochure. But unlike other initiatives, such as Fairtrade International, ICP does not offer a

higher price above that one on the current world market. Rather, the coffee farmers are supported in getting more agricultural as well as marketing expertise.

Since its founding in 2001, the initiative has reached more than 110,000 smallholder families in 13 countries – with 78% of these farmers living in Africa, namely Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Other projects take place in Brazil, Central America and Indonesia. ICP so far spent 20 million euros on 23 projects – with a strong perspective to double these amounts in the upcoming years. Also, with the Portuguese company Delta now being in the driver’s seat, ICP hopes to further strengthen its ties with coffee farmers in Brazil. Besides Delta and Löfberg from Sweden, ICP counts Neumann Kaffee Gruppe and Tchibo of Germany, Lavazza of Italy, Paulig of Finland, Johannson of Norway and Franck of Croatia as its members. ICPs projects are implemented by the German Foundation Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung (HRNS).

Meanwhile, the good news about Delta’s new leading role in this international initiative was overshadowed by the death of founder Manuel Rui Nabeiro. His attendance at the ICP handover event in Lisbon was one of his last public appearances before he passed away on 19 March at the age of 91. Nevertheless, his legacy will not be forgotten – almost everybody in Portugal seems to have known this visionary businessman, who was a socialist promoting “solidarity capitalism”.

Born in 1931 in Campo Mayor, in the Alentejo, into a humble family, Nabeiro began working at the age of 12, helping his mother in a small grocery store. He also helped his father and uncles to roast coffee at the time of the Spanish Civil War. In 1961, Nabeiro established Delta Cafés, giving rise to a business group that today leads the coffee market in Portugal and is expanding strongly into international markets. Delta Cafés now roasts 100 tons daily. In 1988, the Nabeiro Group – Delta Cafés was born. Besides coffee, the company is involved in food and drink, property, industry and services, distribution, tourism and catering. According to the Reuters news agency, the company’s sales rose 12% to 460 million euros in 2022, with more than 25% exported to around 40 countries.

ICP Uganda Gender

ICP Chair Handover Kathrine Löfberg and Rui Miguel Nabeiro

ICP Brazil Family Business

ICP Tanzania Farmer Organization

The bifana

Bifanas are an integral part of Portuguese culture and soul, and as such, Mar d’Estórias has the task of celebrating the best our country has to offer.

This dish has been on the menu for a long time and, because it’s so successful, Mar d’Estórias decided to enhance its profile by putting it in their window. Now the walk through the old town of Lagos has taken on a new aroma, with passers-by being tempted to try this simple delicacy.

What is the origin of the bifana?

Although the origin of the famous Portuguese pork sandwich is unknown, a small town in the Alentejo claims to be the first to produce a bifana. Several restaurants and cafes in Vendas Novas serve this sandwich, usually with soup, to satisfy even the most ravenous appetite. Bifana is a dish served at any time of day, but in the evening, after a few beers, this sandwich tastes even better.

In every Portuguese city, there is a cafe, tasca, or food truck where this delicacy is served until dawn and it is where the party ends for the night owls. It is undoubtedly the most popular snack in the country and, although the recipe is simple, every restaurant has its own secret ingredient.

What makes a good bifana?

First of all, a good bifana should be served on fresh bread. It can be homemade bread, but some prefer bread rolls, which should be slightly warmed before serving.

Tom's Tastebuds

Tom's at it again! As if he didn't eat enough curry at his opulent 80th celebration at Delhi Darbar, he was out again sampling the local culinary delights - this time a full Sunday roast.

The pork is sliced thinly and marinated for an hour in crushed garlic, salt, bay leaves, beer and paprika. Meanwhile, the same ingredients are prepared in a pan and seasoned with wine and piri-piri sauce. When the sauce starts to boil, the strips of meat are added to the sauce, where they rest for 45 minutes on low heat.

After being served their bifana, customers can add more piri-piri sauce and mustard. It’s the details that make a pork sandwich a good bifana!

The flavours of Portugal at the Mar d’Estórias window

The bifanas at Mar d’Estórias are already part of the menu, and the good news is that they have now created a space on the ground floor, with a direct connection to the street, where you can get a bifana takeaway, or eat it there with a craft beer.

Bifana à Janela is served from Monday to Saturday, from midday, right next to the Lagos Cultural Centre.

Did you know that on the ground floor of this centuries-old building in the heart of Lagos, there is a food and wine shop? The space is decorated to be reminiscent of the neighbourhood’s old grocery shops. Here you will find everything: canned fish, olive oil, liqueurs, chocolates, and even some products found only on the islands, like Madeira’s passion fruit juice Brisa.

What a treat is in store for all you lovers of Sunday roast because Jared and John and their attentive staff gave us a glimpse of their unbeatable Sunday roast at Marina Bar in Lagos.

The bar and restaurant are on the quieter side of the marina, where you can enjoy an air of tranquillity and calm. There is an orderly array of comfortable seating where you immediately feel relaxed while eyeing the fantastic views over the water with the wide assortment of yachts and motorboats, with none of the noise often associated with a busy waterfront.

Their Sunday roast choice of either beef or pork belly with crackling with a great selection of fresh vegetables has all the right mix of roast potatoes, honeyed roast parsnips, cauliflower cheese and Yorkshire pudding accompanied by horse radish. What a feast, and all for 14€ or with a meat combo.

Jared tells me they aim to be as good as the best, with friendliness topping the list so that customers leave happier than when they arrived. These are lovely sentiments which I can confirm to be true.

I am 100% sure you will not be disappointed and I recommend a booking. Well done, John and Jared, for creating this lovely harmonious spot. It should be Sunday every day!

+351 282 789 701

Facebook: marinabarlagos

Portugal’s most famous pork sandwich has a new home in Lagos.

LWC is a sponsored walking event in the picturesque western Algarve. Teams of 4 to 10 members challenge themselves on a 5km scenic walking route to raise money for charities and good causes.

Register your team and help to raise funds for causes in our community.

Évora Megaliths

valley to a single menhir (standing stone). Probably at a later time than the cromlech, the menhir was positioned in alignment with it at sunrise on the summer solstice. I challenge anyone acquainted with the Asterix The Gaul stories to resist thinking of Obelix carrying this massive stone, over three metres tall above ground, across the Almendres slopes.

From Lagos, it’s a drive of less than three hours to the historic city of Évora, the capital of the Alentejo region. Leave the A2 motorway and take the IP2 road via Beja, where it must be said you’re not likely to find anything as fascinating as further north. You then travel over a bald plateau landscape which eventually gives way to oaks and pines. There sits the small town of Portel with its commanding 13th-century castle, unfortunately, not open to the public.

Évora is a delightful old city, boasting a Roman temple, or let’s say half of a Roman temple, and a cathedral nearby, large but not architecturally distinguished. There is also a 16thcentury aqueduct and lots more to see in this World Heritage location, but my attention was elsewhere, and the next day I ventured out on the west side of the city to explore a unique cluster of ancient stone circles and burial sites.

At the edge of the sleepy village of Guadalupe, there is a modest visitor centre clad in dark-stained cork slabs. The nearby bilingual description boards are excellent, while Bito, the centre’s guide, proves very knowledgeable on all the megaliths in the area.

From this point on, the drive is over a dirt track through a lovely gentle Montada landscape: grass-

covered slopes dotted with oaks. It is a landscape, we’re informed, which developed in the early Neolithic period with the displacement of huntergatherer people by the innovations of agriculture. It’s a “constructed” ecosystem, surviving today in southern Europe and north Africa, supporting an agricultural economy –cattle grazing, cheese, foraging and, in the Alentejo at least, cork harvesting. Many of the trees bear a painted number denoting the year in which the cork bark was last harvested. Add nine to give you the last digit of the next year to harvest that tree’s cork. The Iberian lynx has been sighted here, but I was not so lucky.

The antiquity of the Almendres Cromlech is staggering; the largest megalithic monument in the Iberian Peninsula, it is possibly two millennia older than England’s Stonehenge. The 100 or so stones, many standing but some recumbent, sit on ground sloping towards the eastern horizon in an approximate ellipse. We have to assume the Neolithic communities who built the cromlech would gather here at various times of the annual solar cycle, equinoxes and solstices. A few of the stones bear worn carvings, some anthropomorphic, whose meaning will always remain unclear.

On the way back to the village, a muddy footpath takes you a couple of hundred metres south down a small

A third site, the funerary Anta (dolmen) of Zambujeiro is a few kilometres south, outside another equally sleepy village, Valverde – so sleepy that most of its cafés were closed at lunchtime. The dolmen is one of the largest in the world, built towards the end of the Neolithic period about 5,500 years ago. It’s a large burial chamber for collective use and indeed, the archaeologists studying the site found remains of at least 100 ancient burials.

It’s only a matter of time before these undersold sites become flooded with visitors and the two quiet villages are overrun with fast-food outlets and trinket stalls. And visitors will have to pay to get in. It has happened all over the world: my advice is to go sooner rather than later!

WORDS Michael Upton

Cromelech

Cromelech carvings

Dolmen (Anta)

2060 m� Plot

4 Bedrooms 292 m� Built area Luz/Lagos

• For sale is this beautiful villa with pool and garden. Centrally located and with all the amenities of a city like Lagos just a 8 minutes drive away, this villa offers excellent value for money and should be on your viewing list.

• The property has been built in 2009 in a classic style and is in an impeccable state of conservation and maintenance. The lush garden features several plants, including fruit trees and offers lots of possibilities for social or family gatherings and activities.

• Features include: solar heated pool, electric gate and garage doors, central heating with pellets, fitted wardroabs, A-Level energy Certificate a total of 3 bathrooms and an additional kitchen on the upper floor.

Amazing

Otterly

One of the animals with the most puns to its name, otters really are amazing creatures that surprisingly inhabit most of the Portuguese territory, including the Algarve. Jokes aside, the Eurasian or European otter (Lutra lutra*) lives across Europe, Asia and even the western regions in North Africa, making it the most widespread of 13 species of otters around the globe. Once hunted for its fur to extremely dangerous low numbers, otters are now protected in most European countries and are making a steady comeback as a top predator in our natural habitats.

Part of the Mustelid family and closely related to weasels, badgers and skunks, Eurasian otters can grow to almost a metre in length and weigh up to 8kg. They are always found near water –rivers, lakes, lagoons, canals and even the sea – anywhere they can hunt for their favourite prey, mainly fish, crustaceous and other invertebrates. If the opportunity presents itself, they will also feed on other animals like small water birds and lizards. Perfectly adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle, they can close their ears and nostrils during diving, can see perfectly well under water and come equipped with webbed feet for swim efficiency.

In Portugal, and despite major climatic concerns, water systems, in general, are now better preserved and protected when compared to recent decades. This quality improvement

has allowed otters to thrive and spread. The arrival of an invasive crustaceous to most of our rivers could also have been a boost for the otter’s success. Although technically a danger posed to other native species, the Louisiana crayfish provides a year-round food supply to our resident otters.

Usually solitary animals, otters can be difficult to spot and, sometimes, you will see evidence of their presence but not actually see the animal itself. Look out for five-toed footprints or spraint (droppings) on muddy shores. Otters leave their scented spraint in visible places like large stones or fallen tree branches to announce mating season or mark up their territory. The droppings will clearly show fish bones and crayfish shells and have a not-unpleasant smell that has been said to be similar to the fragrance of jasmine!

Once heavily targeted by hunters, otters are today hunted in a more controlled way and real fur is far from being acceptable or fashionable. With little threat from humans and natural predators, an abundance of food and good water quality, the future looks bright and promising for otters in Portugal.

Worldwide, other species of otter are found in Africa, Asia and the Americas. The endangered sea otter (Enhydra lutris), native to North America, is perhaps the cuddliest looking of them all as they genuinely resemble fluffy soft toys.

*Lutra lutra – a tautonym which is the repetition of the same name, used to classify an animal’s genus and class. A frequent classification in biology (animals) but curiously not allowed in botany (plants).

WORDS Luis Teves Costa

Eurasian Otter © Jeff Godden

Eurasian Otter © Dawn Godden

Otter Footprint

Sea otters spend most of their lives in the ocean, making them the smallest marine mammal. Although they can walk on land, these animals prefer the water and are perfectly adapted to live in the water where they feed, mate and sleep. They even give birth in the water, usually to a single pup that is not able to swim. Luckily it is born with such a thick fur coat that keeps it afloat very comfortably while its mother goes “shopping” for food and until it gets its adult coat of fur and is ready to swim. Their favourite dishes are crab, sea urchins, starfish, clams, fish and mussels. Sea otters are part of a small number of animals that can master

the use of a tool. Once they have caught a clam or mussel, they often also pick a stone from the sea bed and then, while floating belly-up, they smash hard shells with the stone to break open the delicious shellfish.

The Oceanarium in Lisbon currently houses two sea otters that were rescued in Alaska as pups but could not be released back into the wild. These are certainly one of the visitors’ favourites.

In South East Asia, small clawed otters (Amblonyx cinereus are the smallest member of the family, growing only to about 35 cm in length and hardly reaching 5 kg in weight. At the other end of the scales, in South America, you can find the biggest and aptly called giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis). These large animals can grow to six feet in length and weigh up to 70 kg. They live in family groups that can reach 20 strong and share their territory with some of the most dangerous jungle animals, such as caiman, piranhas, jaguars and anacondas.

The last day Wednesday in May celebrates World Otter Day. A good excuse for a nature walk!

Pet's Mate

Otter jokes

Welcome back, readers and apologies for my absence of late.

It is that time of year again. Soon we will have a fire ban until the rains next autumn/winter. Soon we will have the beautiful green meadows turning brown and soon, we will be swamped by holidaymakers from the north. Like a lame episode of Game of Thrones

As the grasses mature and look to procreate in their own (somewhat boring) way, we will also see the return of the grass seeds and awns sticking

into our socks and into our pets. Especially if you have that fashion penchant for wearing sandals and socks in the summertime.

The grass seed (or awn) is where the grass has stockpiled its DNA to go and find a receptive mate and do the wild thing. Your socks, or your pet, are merely a handy transport mechanism to get these bundles of weed DNA together for a sexy date night.

Veterinary relevance comes because sometimes, in their excitement, these

DNA parcels push beyond the dog’s fur and into the dog itself. This, then, sets up a foreign body reaction.

Grass seeds which are over-excited can implant themselves under the skin of the dog. Usually, this happens between their toes and they can migrate, bringing bacteria with them. The grass seeds can also make their way into the ears, sometimes snuffed into the nose and occasionally inhaled into the lungs.

Dogs with lots of curly fur can also have the grass seeds penetrate their skin underneath dreadlocked fur balls. At our clinic, we have scopes to be able to remove these grass seeds from the nose, from the trachea or lungs and from the ears or between the toes. Being anti-sadists, we do these procedures under sedation or anaesthesia.

Please be on the lookout for your pet and possible grass seed affectations. Shaking the head, sneezing, coughing fits or limping/paw licking are all signs consistent with a sneaky over-sexed grass seed trying to hitch-hike its way to mate, using YOUR mate as locomotion. If you see any signs suggestive of this unsolicited transport by your pet … who ya gonna call?

So, in conclusion, enjoy the end of springtime … it’s goddamn lovely weather!

LVC - Lagos Vet Clinic 282 782 282 info@lagosvet.com

WORDS Lars Ramquist

Giant River Otters

Largo Salazar Moscoso Lt 5 r/c A Lagos 967 505 055 / 917 545 644 Al-sat@gmx.net

TO

UPGRADE