Tomorrow Portimão, Alvor, Ferragudo & Carvoeiro July 2016

July 2016 | Edition 1 | 3,000 FREE copies this month

A community newsletter for PortimĂŁo, Alvor, Ferragudo & Carvoeiro

Capoeira

History and heritage

Tomorrow meets

Nobel's new head of school

Community

Love at 14,000ft

What's on

F1 Powerboats return

Outdoor

The colours of summer Plus much more...

The AlgArve ProPerTy SPecialiSTS

Photograph courtesy of www.birchphotography.com

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Welcome to Tomorrow Algarve...

SEDE: 86, Milborough Crescent, London, UK , SE12 ORW. UK . PERIODICIDADE: MENSAL . TIRAGEN: 4,000 | TIPOGRAFIA: C/ Al Mediterráneo, 29, Polígono de San Rafael, 04230, Huércal de Almería CIF: B04250056

Welcome to the new Tomorrow Hello, and a very warm welcome to this shiny first edition of the brand new Tomorrow magazine, covering Portimão, Alvor, Ferragudo and Carvoeiro!

We are the sister magazine to Tomorrow Lagos, which has been running successfully for five years and has a circulation of 5,000, and we hope to emulate its popularity in our area. Headed up by Steven Sutton and edited by Stephanie Wood, every month Tomorrow will bring you all the latest local news, events and other useful information. You can learn more about Team Tomorrow on page 14.

Inside the following pages, you’ll find everything from an enlightening read on the history of capoeira, an interview with International School Algarve’s new headmaster and the chance to win a meal for two as part of our monthly local photography competition, as well as recipes, event listings, gardening advice and more.

We really hope you enjoy this first issue, and would love to receive any feedback - do feel free to contact Steven on steven@tomorrowalgarve.com or +351 919 185 677.

We very much want this new edition of Tomorrow to be a ‘people’s magazine’, and as such we would welcome your help in making it a valued read for the local community. So, whether you are involved with a local good cause, are organising an event you want to let people know about, are a local business with a story to tell or otherwise, we would love to hear from you. We are also keen to recruit regular columnists for the health, business, food & drink, and outdoors pages. Please send your thoughts, suggestions and self-penned articles to stephanie@tomorrowalgarve.com.

Furthermore, we will be launching a letters page in an upcoming issue, so if you’d like to share your views on the magazine or voice any concerns / words of praise you have regarding an issue affecting the local community, email them to us with the subject line ‘Readers’ Letters’.

We have lots of exciting plans for the magazine going forward - including initiatives to help give back to the local community by raising money for good causes - and we very much hope you will be a part of the journey.

Have a lovely, sunny July - and don’t forget to wear sunscreen!

Steven, Stephanie and the rest of the Tomorrow team Tel: 919 185 677 or email our editor Stephanie at stephanie@tomorrowalgarve.com

Useful Numbers General Emergency Tourist support British consulate French Consulate in Faro German Consulate in Faro Dutch Consulate in Faro Canadian Consulate in Faro Swedish Embassy

112 808 781 212 282 490 750 281 380 660 289 803 181 289 820 903 289 803 757 213 942 260

Alvor Taxi Diago Silva Private Airport Transfer.

Health Centre Farmacie Hospital Fire Police Station Aerodromo

966 214 517 965 026 176 282 459 268 282 459 588 282 420 400 282 420 130 282 420 750 282 496 581

Portimao Private Airport Transfer.

Health Centre Farmacie Portimao Praia da Rocha Hospital Centro Fire Police Station Police Maritime

965 026 176 282 420 161 282 425 858 282 485 641 282 450 300 282 420 130 282 417 217 282 417 714

Carvoeiro City council offices Town Info Taxi Company (TAXIARADE) Private Airport Transfer Bus Station (only Lagoa) Train Station (only Portimão) Farmacia Hospital (centro de saúde Fire Station (only Lagoa) Police Station Plumber António Cruz Builder Boto Electrician Eurico Mechanic Carlos Hairdresser Vitor Picardo House selling’s Nelson Reis TV & satellite repars - Rui

282 356 690 282 357 728 282 460 610 965 026 176 282 341 301 282 423 056 282 357 463 282 357 320 282 352 888 282 356 460 962 870 665 282 461 336 968 778 953 282 085 027 282 356 894 919 839 299 926 459 429

Ferragudo Taxi Antonia Private Airport Transfer Health Centre Farmacie Hospital (Portimao) Fire Police Station Painter Mario Lawyer Celia Tree Surgeon Firewood

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Community... openly would result in severe punishment, the deadly moves of capoeira were hidden in dance and the steady rhythms of the batuk drums. It was born as a hope of survival, giving the means for an escaped slave to survive in a hostile environment, pursued by slave hunters and colonial soldiers.

Capoeira: From lethal combat to cultural heritage By Lena Strang

The word 'capoeira' derives from the African Tupi words ka'a meaning 'jungle' and e pûer signifying 'it was', referring to the low vegetation in the interior of the country where fugitive slaves would hide.

Capoeira in action

“It's the best way to transmit the Portuguese language and cultural heritage throughout the world,” Felisberto Cabral, better known as his capoeira name Mestre Betāo tells me. He is talking about capoeira – an art form that combines fight, dance, music and acrobatic movements. Created almost 500 years ago in Brazil by slaves brought from Africa by the Portuguese conquistadors, it is now practised in all corners of the world.

And whether you are in Bristol, Bonn or Beijing, the language used is Portuguese.

Betāo, born in Lisbon of Cape Verdean heritage, has been teaching capoeira in the Algarve for over 20 years. He operates from his headquarters in Portimão, but today we are in the premises of a dance school in Lagos where he teaches students from the age of six to adults. Tall, muscular and lithe, I can tell regular practice has kept him in

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good shape. He confirms that capoeira is immensely popular in Portugal with a following of both young and old.

Recently Betāo enthralled audiences in a contemporary dance performance in Lagos.

Whenever I have seen it practised in various outdoor venues, I have been impressed by the complex, sometimes gravity-defying movements to captivating music. How on earth are they able to do it? But first I want to find out about the history of capoeira.

Betāo is keen to tell the story. “In the 16th century Portugal had colonised Brazil but needed people to work on the sugar cane farms so slaves from Africa, mainly Angola, were brought over,” he explains. “Using traditional music and dance as disguise, they started developing fighting techniques that came in very handy for runaway slaves evading capture.” As learning martial arts

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Betāo goes on to tell me about the quilombos, the settlements that emerged in the most inaccessible places to accommodate escaped slaves. One of the biggest ones, Quilombo dos Palmares consisted of several villages and lasted for more than a century. The first King of Palmares named 'Zumbi' achieved mythical status and ensured that the quest for freedom was maintained. Capoeira now developed as unarmed warfare. Holes were often dug in the ground and when soldiers approached on horseback, escaped slaves jumped out to attack; giving sustenance to the legend that Negroes simply appeared from the sky! The technique called 'salto mortal' (mortal jump) is still used today but with less devastating consequences. The resistance was so effective that the provincial governor at the time declared: “It is harder to defeat a quilombo than the Dutch invaders.”

There is little doubt that capoeira played its part in the abolition of slavery. In the face of the army’s inability to deal with escapees and the increasing raids by quilombo militias on slave plantations, Princess Isabel of Portugal signed the law abolishing slavery in 1888. The former slaves faced mass unemployment and poverty with little hope

Community... of integrating into Brazilian society. But for some capoeira experts this brought new opportunities in the criminal underworld, engaging in robberies and assaults. 'O malandro', a supreme conman and expert in capoeira, appeared as an archetypal figure.

Groups of capoeiristas known as maltas even raided Rio de Janeiro. In 1890 capoeira was banned and anyone found practising it was arrested, tortured and often mutilated by the police. This simply drove it underground.

Slaves about to be punished for practising capoeira

The nickname that Betāo uses for capoeira makes perfect sense to me now. He explains: “People who practise capoeira are given a different name which dates back to these times. Anyone caught by the police would genuinely be unable to inform on others, as they simply didn’t know their real names.

At a batizado ceremony, new students are recognised as capoeristas and given their apelidos (nicknames).”

From a symbol of resistance to oppression, it has become a source of national pride.

Practised all around the globe, it was granted special protected status by UNESCO in 2014 as “intangible cultural heritage”.

So what’s involved in the art form that has had such a turbulent history? Betāo assures me that the main aim of capoeira is not to hurt the opponent but to demonstrate a variety of skills and abilities in simulated combat. In the Game (Jogo) of Capoeira there is a physical dialogue between two players going through elaborate acrobatic moves.

The game takes place in a circle (roda) formed by other capoeira players singing and clapping hands. Some songs are sung in a 'call and response' format while others tell a story. The songs can be about almost anything; from historical facts, life or love lost to things happening in the circle. Several traditional instruments can be used but the berimbau, an African percussion instrument, always takes the lead, determining the tempo and the style of music played.

There is constant motion with kicks, feints and counter attacks to avoid presenting an easy target. Trickery is still part of the repertoire and an expert capoeirista can disguise an attack as a friendly gesture.

Another player may enter the circle and the ritual combat carries on.

So how did capoeira fare now? Well, it nearly disappeared but Mestre Bimba came to the rescue in the 1930s. Although still banned, he developed capoeira under a different name, adding a code of ethics and promoting it as part of Brazil’s cultural heritage. He established the first school of capoeira calling it the 'Regional Combat of Bahia'. By 1940 capoeira had lost any criminal connotations and was legalised.

Capoeira Roda in the street

And what a long way it has come since then.

>> Continues on page 6

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Capoeira: From lethal combat to cultural >> Continued from page 5 heritage

Mestre Betão playing the berimbau

When asked what makes a good capoeira player, Betāo immediately emphasises respect for others. “This is fundamental. We have had youngsters who may show little respect for their parents at home but when they enter the capoeira class, their attitude changes. Parents are always amazed at this. Capoeira has this capacity to appeal to youngsters.” He also cites perseverance, an interest in different art forms and a willingness “to get up again when you fall” - all helping to boost self-confidence.

Acquiring singing, dancing and acrobatic skills is a gradual learning process but often

people discover that they have natural talents. And can adults join in, I wonder? I do have some difficulties imagining myself spiralling through the air. “Yes, of course,” Betāo laughs, “I have lots of seniors who practise. Everyone will find the form of capoeira that they are looking for.”

What made him start practising in the first place? “Capoeira found me,” is the cryptic answer. His first contact with capoeira was through music. As a young child the discovery in his grandfather’s attic of an old African instrument that was the forerunner of the berimbau caught his imagination.

The things he liked the most – music, dance and martial arts – came together in capoeira, becoming very much part of his African heritage.

He teaches capoeira during the day, assisting with classes throughout the region but at night works as a security guard to provide for his young family. Although he doesn’t have lots of money he considers himself to be rich. Through voluntary social work he helps youngsters at risk, spending time with them and introducing them to the world of music and dance. “We have the responsibility of giving a little bit of hope to the ones who need it. Many children regard capoeira as their family,” he says with pride. “What it did for me I want to offer to others. It’s a path to

follow.” Capoeira is currently used as a tool in sports development to create positive social change, being an integral part of many youth projects around the world. For example, Capoeira4Refugees is a UK based NGO project working with youths in conflict zones in the Middle East. Capoeira for Peace is another project based in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while the Nukanti Foundation works with street children in Colombia.

And what does Betāo wish for the future?

Although the huge variety of capoeira practice can be considered a wealth, he would like to see a unified system, if ever it is to become an Olympic sport. He relishes the fact that capoeira is popular in Portugal and serves as a potent cultural ambassador abroad, providing an increasing interest in the Portuguesespeaking world. But more could be done.

He feels that capoeira should be taught in schools in Portugal as an integral part of the curriculum as it is so deeply rooted in the country’s history and linked to the fortunes of Brazil and Africa. He considers it to be a good way to develop positive behaviour, flexibility and strength of body and mind.

His last remarks are poignant. “We need to know about the past, however uncomfortable it may be. It will teach you who you are on the basis of who you were, and help you to be a better person.”

Portimão Soup Kitchen needs you!

Established six years ago, the Portimão Soup Kitchen is a valuable, well-used resource, but organisers are always looking for help to ensure they are able to continue their good work with the area’s most needy. Here volunteer Joy Borgan explains more about the cause and how you can help.

Portimão Soup Kitchen was started in May 2010 by the International Christian Fellowship church in Portimão in response to major needs that were not being met.

We now have a large group of around 24 volunteers that come from all walks of life in the community and generously give their time and effort to prepare and serve food for those in need.

Open for meals on Monday at 4pm, Wednesday at 6pm and Sunday at 2pm, we currently feed up to 60 people during one session.

Sunday is the Soup Kitchen’s busiest day, due to no other free meals being served

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in Portimão on this day. Meals consist of soup followed by a simple main course such as chicken or pork stew with pasta or spaghetti. This is followed by fruit, and also cakes donated by a local bakery. On Friday mornings we are also open to distribute used clothing. Anybody is welcome to come for food or clothing.

We are also particularly busy on key holidays such as Christmas. Every festive season we host a special dinner followed by home-made desserts and gifts, with close to 100 appreciative people fed over the course of two sittings.

Powered entirely by the generosity of the local community and a few nonresident private sponsors, we welcome all contributions, and there are many ways to give. Some donate money in order for the kitchen to buy food (we are solely funded by private donations; receipts are always given for tax purposes). Others give grocery items such as ham, cheese or fruit, or donate

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surplus food such as bread or cakes left over at the bakery at the end of the day. Clothing in good condition is also welcomed.

Time is a valuable commodity too - new volunteers are always welcome, whether to help out serving, in the kitchen or even making improvements to our building at Beco São José.

If you would like to help in any way please contact Joy on +351 917 358 098 or +351 282 042 836. Alternatively email borganjoy@gmail.com

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Touching Lives: a recommended read market, and the violinist who captivates his audiences with his music. Lena has also unravelled the intriguing histories behind abandoned manor houses and other places of interest.

It is a ‘behind the scenes’ look at what life is really like in a region that has undergone so much change.

Tomorrow’s own features writer, Lena Strang, has authored the book Touching Lives: Remarkable People and Places in the Western Algarve, a collection of fascinating life stories of people living and working in the local area - and it’s well worth a read.

Lena has based her book on interviews she has conducted over a number of years here on the Algarve, with her stories featuring people from all walks of life.

Within the book’s pages, you can meet the women who used to work in the sardine factories of old, the stallholders who sell their produce in the local Saturday

The book was launched last October at the Cultural Centre in Lagos, and a Portuguese version is due to be released in the autumn.

Over a hundred colour photographs complement the text.

The book retails at €12.99 but Tomorrow readers can take advantage of a special offer price of €10.

She is happy to forward signed copies too.

To order your copy, contact Lena via email at lena.strang@gmail.com or telephone +351 966 991 215.

Fancy winning dinner for two? strike too! Now we’re asking you to share your best snaps with us for our monthly photo competition.

From beautiful beaches and dramatic cliff vistas to local landmarks and everyday local life, we want you to show us the best Portimão, Alvor, Ferragudo and Carvoeiro have to offer!

You don’t need us to tell you that we’re blessed to live in what is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque corners of Europe - we’re sure you’re well aware of the Algarve’s beauty!

It’s something that Tomorrow has taken pride in celebrating, with the covers of our Lagos edition - and now this new edition - featuring incredible pictures of the local area shot by the team at Birch Photography.

You can see all our past cover images at facebook.com/TomorrowAlgarve.

But of course, it’s not just professional photographers that can perfectly capture the stunning nature of our location - if you’re anything like us, you’re no doubt constantly snapping shots when moments of inspiration

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We’ll print our favourite shot in every issue, with the winner receiving a free meal for two in a local restaurant worth €50!

To enter, either email your pictures to us at photos@tomorrowalgarve.com or upload your shots on Facebook and tag Tomorrow Algarve (you’ll need to ‘like’ us first).

Love at 14,000ft Alvor company Skydive Algarve recently went above and beyond (more so than usual!) to help one customer pull off a major feat - proposing to his girlfriend mid-dive. Here, bride-to-be Melissa Minter relives that life-changing day…

When Johnny and I arrived at the skydiving centre, I felt nervous - after all, I was about to jump out of a plane at 14,000ft!

My brain stopped processing how high we were at around 3,000ft. All I knew is that we were a long way from the ground. As my jumper, Fred, strapped himself firmly to me, I went over the instructions we'd run through on the ground in my head. I had every faith in my jumper; the centre has an excellent safety record, and Fred’s big smile gave me confidence.

Then he bumped me along the bench and whoosh, we were out!

Once I got a handle on my breathing, I tried to savour the moment. I was falling at a speed of up to 125mph. I usually hate the phrase ‘breathtaking’ but this really was. When the parachute opened I suddenly became a lot calmer.

As I took in the scenery I felt a little emotional. The disbelief that I'd done it coupled with the incredible view was just too much for me.

Just when I thought I’d had enough emotion for one day, Fred told me to look at the floor. I couldn’t believe what I saw: a white banner with red letters that read ‘MELISSA WILL YOU MARRY ME?’ Fred asked me if I could read it and I just said, ’Please can we concentrate on landing first?’

Either way, make sure you include where the picture was taken and any other relevant information.

We landed right on the banner and Johnny ran up to me, grabbed my hand and said, ‘So will you?’ I said ‘yes’, whilst inside I was thinking, ‘What on earth just happened?’ Pardon the pun!

The Tomorrow team will chose their favourite (and therefore the winner) on 15th of every month. Entries after this date will be included in the next month’s competition.

Now I can’t wait to go skydiving again.

Lucy who organised everything is amazing - there are no words to describe how grateful we are to her and all the crew.

Good luck and happy snapping!

Thank you, Skydive Algarve!

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Man with a mission: Mike Farrer

a shed! It started with 40-odd kids, and in the space of 10 years I grew it to 750 kids.

I was appointed as senior head master, so I oversaw the high school, prep school and pre-school. Then I built boarding schools there; we started with three kids and grew to 150. On the success of my school we built eight other schools. It was an incredible two decades of my life.

It sounds like an amazing experience. What did you learn from it?

One of the biggest things I learnt was to listen to people. There’s so much knowledge and so much experience out there, and the guy sat here [gestures to his chair] doesn’t know everything. You’ve got to listen to your staff, embrace your staff, empower your staff.

Six weeks into his new role, Tomorrow’s Stephanie Wood met with Nobel International School Algarve’s new Head of School to find out more about the man responsible for the educational future of the institution’s 678 students…

Before I even meet Mike Farrer, I’ve heard plenty about him. On learning of my interview with the newly appointed head of Nobel International School Algarve, mum-friends who have already had chance to chat with him enthuse about the new recruit, praising his passion, spirit and vision.

Not that I need convincing he’s a sound recruit; Mr Farrer’s CV speaks for itself.

Arriving on the Algarve in late April from South Africa, where his achievements included building independent school Pecanwood College from humble beginnings to the thriving success story it is today, the father of three brings with him a wealth of experience in educational achievement.

The Lancashire man who meets me on arrival at the school’s main campus in Lagoa has a firm handshake, a north-west English twang ("the accent you have at nine years old is apparently the one you’ll have for life," he tells me) and a gentle, courteous nature.

He addresses me by name throughout our meeting and warmly refers to his charges not as ‘students’ or ‘pupils’ but ‘the kids’.

"Get him to show you the video," one friend advises me prior to our meeting. She’s

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referring to the touching tribute students and staff at Pecanwood created to mark his departure from the school he put his heart, soul and more than a decade of his life into. But I don’t have to ask because, clearly and rightly proud of the heartwarming film, he’s only too keen to give me a personal viewing, during which this hardy northerner is visibly moved by the outpouring of respect and affection for him that clearly inspired the video.

Now he’s hoping to inspire those feelings once more in children, parents and staff here on the Algarve with a bold new vision: to create the best international school in Portugal. And, with equally bold plans to get there taking shape - including a third new school site at Almancil - there was plenty for us to discuss when we met in mid-June…

Can you tell us how you ended up in South Africa and more about your time there?

I taught for six years at Coundon Court School in Coventry and I loved it. My auntie was a house mistress at St Mary's DSG in Pretoria, and she was going out with the house master of a boys’ house at St Alban’s College. He wanted to come to England to do his master’s degree, so I went to St Alban’s with my girlfriend at the time, Hazel, who later became my wife. We went in 1996 for one year and now it’s 20 years later!

Nine years in I was asked to go to Pecanwood College to build a school there.

At the beginning, it was a shed - literally

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It must have been a big wrench to leave Pecanwood, if the video you showed me is anything to go on. How did your move to Portugal and Nobel International School come about?

Oh yes, it was massive. I came here two years ago on holiday and I said to Hazel, ‘Imagine living here. It would be good, wouldn’t it?’ She said, ‘But how could you give up all that [life in South Africa]?’ We had such a good life there, and the school was pumping. But I said, ‘You know what?

It’s been 10 years - I feel like I’m ready for a change.’ So I put my CV out, and within the space of three weeks I got offered three head of school jobs; one in Malaysia, one in Zambia and this one. I said, ‘Hazel, pick one!’ And we said, ‘It’s got to be Portugal, hasn’t it?’

What do you want to achieve during your time here?

The last thing I want to do is turn this school into a Pecanwood, but I want to bring lots of its values - manners, courtesy, respect - to the school here. My goal is to make this the best international school in Portugal. That’s not going to happen overnight; it’s got to be a five-year strategic plan, which is what we’re going to do.

When they’ve left school, I want kids to say ’those were the best days of my life.’ Kids must enjoy school, they must learn well at school, and they must be responsible for their learning because, once they leave year 12 or year 13, there’s no headmaster or parents holding their hand. Once they’re at university they’ve got to stand on their own two feet.

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There are lots of plans. We’re putting down a brand new, massive sports field. We’ve got an inter-house athletics day at the athletics track coming up. We’ll be bringing in the cultural side of things with music too.

You’ve mentioned plans for the new Almancil site, and obviously there’s the recently renamed Lagos campus too. What are your plans there?

You’ve been here six weeks now - what have been the biggest challenges so far?

Communication. I know parents just need communication, communication, communication. They need to know what their child’s up to, what their child will be doing. Any good school is a school that communicates, so I’m going to have a lot more parent involvement.

Do you know what a potjie pot is? It’s a big wrought-iron pot, and when they had the Great Trek in South Africa, they threw all the vegetables and meat into them and let it cook. Now, if you take one leg of that potjie pot away, it’s going to fall over and everything you’ve put into it is going to spew on the floor. So I believe parents, teachers and kids all need to be involved; you make that potjie pot strong so it stands firm.

How can parents work with and help you?

They have already. Look at my diary today - I’ve got quite a few [appointments with] parents. Obviously they want to come and meet me, so early in the new term we’re going to be doing a ‘meet the new head of school’, so they can come and give me constructive comments. Parents are always more than welcome to come and see me to tell me about their experiences at the school.

We are after a family of schools. I love Lagos, I’ve got a special place in my heart for it because it reminds me a lot about the school I built, being slightly away from town - we were 50k from Johannesburg in Pretoria. I really want it to work and I’m putting in time and effort to make it happen.

Discipline naturally plays a big role in schools. What’s your approach to that?

Discipline is crucial. But before you start talking about discipline, I also believe that respect is a good thing. So for example, I went in to the middle school assembly the other day and said, ‘Right guys, let’s try this.

If you greet me and say good morning sir or good afternoon and I don’t reply, I’ll buy you a cool drink.’ I had kids jumping out at me, saying ‘good morning sir! good afternoon sir!’ trying to catch me out [laughs]. The uniform the old leadership team brought in is a good way of establishing that discipline too. It’s little steps.

Europe is slightly different to South Africa though. Girls can’t wear their hair down there, the kids have to stand when you walk into class - it’s the old fashioned way.

Europe’s got a different feel to it, so I don’t want to bring 100% of that model and put it here; this has got its own feel and its own culture.

Also, before I arrived we conducted a parental survey. We’ve just got the results through so we’re looking at that as a leadership team.

With the job market becoming ever more difficult, what can the school do to help pupils prepare for going out into the world when they leave?

I get the impression that extracurricular activities are very important to you (the video features sports teams including football, rugby and netball, as well as choirs and various school trips)?

Career guidance is important. Collaborative work is too. There’s a lot more collaboration in the workplace now; it’s not just sitting down at your desk with a closed door, there’s a lot more interaction, so I’m hoping we can do more pre-work on that, preparing them for life.

Yes. My core business is academic, but one of my biggest beliefs is our children today live behind a computer screen and we’ve got to get kids away from that. We’ve got to get kids out into the natural environment and let them experience the real world again.

need to prepare them for that. In fact, I’ve invited the vice president for technology of Nobel Education Network to come out and have this exact discussion.

Will you be looking to increase technology in the school?

Mobiles and tablets can be a curse in the classroom, but they should actually be a tool.

For example, think about when you were taught geography at school and your teacher would say, ‘Go and find out about a volcano’.

You went away and read about Mount Vesuvius that erupted 110 years ago. Well, I did the same thing in my old school; I said, ‘Guys, find out about a volcano.’ And they [looked online and] said: ‘Sir, one erupted seconds ago!’ That is making learning real for them.

On a personal note, are you enjoying being in the Algarve?

I am! I’m really enjoying it. I'm not one of these who will jump from one school to another school. I believe that - and I’m old fashioned in this way - but, as an educator, four schools is enough.

That gives you time to build up a name, build up a reputation. This is my fourth school and I’m 48 now. If I do ten years here, I’ll be 58.

Then I can play golf! [Laughs] I want to be here for the long haul. It’s a big challenge, but it’s one that I can get my teeth stuck into.

I want to make a difference.

Was it a daunting role to take on?

No. I’m not one on these people who will just sit somewhere and get older. I’m in here at half eight in the morning, and I’ll work as hard as I can. I just enjoy working. So no, daunting’s the wrong word. What would the word be? Exciting. It’s a challenge. I’m that sort of guy. I like a challenge. nobelalgarve.com; +351 282 342 547

And I’m passionate about technology. People like me are what we call ‘digital immigrants’, but kids now are ‘digital natives’ - they’re brought up with all this technology. So you

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The story behind #CarvoeiroBoxes “Some abstract designs had been painted on electricity boxes in Rua das Flores there, and I thought it made the street more colourful.”

Visitors to and residents of Carvoeiro will no doubt have spotted the little flashes of colour that have popped up along the town’s streets, enhancing the already picturesque location in an unexpected way.

Tagged #CarvoeiroBoxes, the project is the handiwork of local artist Phil Francis, AKA Phil da Bife who, with the help of professional graffiti artist Bamby (Hélder José, owner of Style Spectrum in Portimão), has given the area’s dull grey electricity boxes a unique and vibrant makeover, transforming them into individual works of art.

“I had the idea when visiting Porto three years ago,” says Phil, who hails from Croydon in the UK but has lived in Portugal since 1986.

Having gained approval to make that idea a reality from Carvoeiro’s freguesia (who sponsored the project along with Lagoa Câmara) two years ago, authorisation from box-owners EDP took a little longer. Work finally began last November, with the first phase seeing 55 boxes on Rua dos Pescadores and Rua do Barranco being painted over the course of two months. The second phase was completed in March and extended the project to Estrada do Farol, where 37 locations have been given the #CarvoeiroBoxes treatment.

With each of the 92 boxes completely different from the next it’s been a big undertaking, which Phil worked on between his other jobs as a barman and a tattoo apprentice at Tattoo Studium in Carvoeiro.

got there, but tried to match the colours with the surroundings.”

Feedback from the local community has been positive from “young and old alike”, Phil reports - so much so that he now plans to extend the project to nearby Lagoa and Porches next winter. Until then, a visit to Carvoeiro is very much recommended to see the original boxes in all their colourful glory, with Phil encouraging people to share their pictures of the project online using the hashtag #CarvoeiroBoxes.

You can see more pictures of the project on both Tomorrow and #CarvoeiroBoxes’ Facebook pages: fb.com/TomorrowAlgarve and fb.com/CarvoeiroBoxes

“We were able to do three or four boxes a day, depending on detail and design,” he explains, adding: “I introduced the theme of 'Algarvian life' and Carvoeiro history. We decided what we were going to do with each box when we

Help keep our local beaches in award-winning form It will come as no surprise to learn that earlier this year all 11 of the Blue Flag beaches in our local area retained the prestigious honour.

ultimately falls to the Câmara, but we can all do our bit. Here’s a handy guide to the ways you can contribute to the continued success of our beautiful beaches…

Announced each year by the Foundation for Environmental Education, the Blue Flag Awards are a global mark of quality, recognising the finest beaches in the world. Awarded by an international jury, Blue Flags are judged on four key categories: environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management (including cleanliness, facilities and maintaining the natural environment) and safety.

Pass on plastic When heading to the beach, ditch those pesky plastic bags (that have an annoying habit of blowing away with the smallest gust of wind) in favour of eco-friendly cloth bags.

Of the record 314 Blue Flags awarded to Portugal in 2016, more than a quarter (88) are located in the Algarve, with 11 of those belonging to the municipalities of Portimão and Lagoa. In the former, the Blue Flag beaches are Poente and Três Irmãos in Alvor, and Vau, Rocha and Três Castelos in Portimão. Meanwhile, Lagoa’s awardwinning locations are Ferragudo, Pintadinho, Caneiros, Carvoeiro, Senhora da Rocha and Vale do Olival. Responsibility for keeping our local beaches in award-winning shape

Take only pictures, leave only footprints Don’t remove anything that belongs on the coastline - such as shells, rock, flora and fauna - but at the same time definitely take home everything you arrived with, including all your rubbish. All Blue Flag beaches provide ample waste disposal facilities, including recycling bins.

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Pack a (responsible) picnic Use reusable boxes, cups and bottles for picnics instead of disposable items, and avoid foods with excessive packaging.

No ifs, and definitely no butts They may be small but cigarette butts are a major cause of pollution, so if you smoke

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pack an ashtray (or something that can be used as one) in your beach bag.

Act for others If you spot a rogue drink can or crisp packet left behind by someone else, do your bit and pick it up. Better still, organise a local litter pick! It’s a great way to get kids involved.

Follow the four-legged friend rules Ensure you follow the rules displayed on the local notice boards regarding dogs on the beach (most main public beaches ban dogs during the summer months), and always pick up after your pets.

Think of the wider picture It’s not just what you do at the beach that can have an impact on the ocean, advises the global Centre for Marine Conservation.

Keep our waters clean by using natural fertilisers over chemical ones (which can lead to chemical runoff) and never put oil, paints or other chemicals down drains.

Now pass the suncream - we’ll see you on the sand!

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Community...

Meet Team Tomorrow This new edition of Tomorrow magazine is the sister publication to the very successful Lagos edition. To mark the launch, we thought you might like to meet the team.

The Tomorrow Magazines are owned by Amber Henshaw. The Lagos magazine is run by Tom Henshaw (advertising and community), Amber Henshaw (editor), Phil Harding and Rebeca Silva (design and layout) with Lena Strang as the features writer.

The new magazine will be run by Steven Sutton (advertising and community), Stephanie Wood (editorial) with Amber, Phil and Rebeca doing the design and lay-out and using some of Lena’s features. Layinka Howes does the team’s administration and the ‘What’s On’ calendar.

Tom Henshaw Tom was born in Shropshire where he had his own business.

When his children had grown up he got the travel bug and headed off to work in the Far East before deciding to move to Europe. His idea was to travel around to find a suitable location but as soon as he arrived in Lagos he realised he didn’t want to go anywhere else. When he first moved here 16 years ago he worked for the Algarve Resident before deciding to start his own magazine based in Lagos. tom@tomorrowalgarve.com

Amber Henshaw Tom’s daughter, Amber trained as a journalist in the UK with the biggest regional newspaper outside London, The Express and Star. She moved to the BBC in 1999 initially working at Pebble Mill before becoming a political correspondent in Scotland. In 2004 Amber moved to the Horn of Africa and worked as the BBC correspondent in Ethiopia and then Sudan.

Phil Harding Phil has been part of the core team for three years, designing the Lagos edition of the Tomorrow magazine and he is now delighted to be part of the team for the second magazine.

He runs his own design and marketing company, Creation Media, working with a variety of clients around Europe. He has lived in Lagos for 13 years, after moving here with his wife from the UK. phil@tomorrowalgarve.com

Rebeca Silva Rebeca graduated from the University of Aveiro in 2013 with a design degree and is now a full time member of the Creation Media team. Along side Phil Harding, Rebeca is now designing both Tomorrow magazines, this month being her first edition as part of team Tomorrow. adverts@tomorrowalgarve.com

Lena Strang Born in Finland, Lena spent many years teaching English in secondary schools in the UK with a stint of fifteen years as deputy head teacher. In her previous life she became five times Judo World Masters champion.

Now she enjoys life in the Algarve, interviewing interesting people about their lives for the monthly feature in the magazine. lena@tomorrowalgarve.com

After a stint at UNICEF she moved back to the UK. She started working for the magazine after deciding her father needed some help! amber@tomorrowalgarve.com

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Steven Sutton Steven has over 20 years’ experience working in the UK retail sector specialising in the 'luxury' end of the

market. I don't think we need to mention which ‘world famous’ store he worked for (Harrods in case you were guessing!).

Since moving to the Algarve in 2014 Steven has immersed himself in the local community, organising various charity fundraising events including Tomorrow magazine’s first Lagos Summer Masquerade Ball and the Christmas Ball which were fun and very successful, raising a healthy amount of money for local charities.

He brings his unique experience and passion plus a bag overflowing with ideas to the team; he has the overriding conviction that 'it can be done if we focus on what matters'. Solution orientated and results driven is his way of thinking. steven@tomorrowalgarve.com

Stephanie Wood Stephanie is a freelance writer and editor, and has worked for titles including UK magazines Stylist and Now, global digital platform MSN, The Mirror's 3am.co.uk and fashion retailer ASOS. She's been a regular visitor to the Algarve since her parents moved to Lagos nine years ago, and eventually swapped grey London for sunny Portugal herself in February 2015.

When she's not knocking back coffees as she frantically tries to meet a deadline, you'll find Stephanie walking her family's threelegged dog, Lulu, or playing netball with the team she started from scratch on her arrival here. stephanie@tomorrowalgarve.com

Layinka Howes Layinka has worked with the team since 2012 when the magazine was on its second edition and was a 'newsletter' of just six pages! She deals with the administration and tries her best to keep the 'What's On' calendar in order. layinka@tomorrowalgarve.com

Sun, Sea and Skydiving

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Jump with the experts at Skydive Algarve!

Book your tandem experience today, thank us later!

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What’s On...

Try something new: netball great for toning up and improving general fitness levels - whilst having a lot of fun at the same time!

With a vibrant expat community, there is a wealth of activities to get involved in around the local area. Each month we’ll shine a light on one of these activities, providing information on how to get involved and hopefully inspiring you to give it a go. This month: netball.

Tell me more If netball conjures up memories of scary PE teachers, stinky changing rooms and ridiculously short skirts, then don’t worry - social netball, as played at the club in Carvoeiro, is a totally different ball game according to organiser Amy Dawn Rafis, who says the vibe is “casual”.

What’s it all about?

Netball is a game played between two sides of seven players. Each player is allocated a position and a member of the opposite team to ‘mark’, with two shooters tasked with scoring goals through a hoop, similar to basketball. It’s a fast-paced sport that is

Who can play?

Any newcomers will be warmly welcomed, regardless of age and ability. The club at Carvoeiro has a mix of members, with teenagers to retirees, and nationalities including British, Portuguese, Dutch and German. It’s largely women, but a few men have been known to join in!

What do I need to take part?

Suitable sportswear including a good pair of trainers, plus a bottle of water - you will need it! Bring some cash too - everyone chips in €1 a week to cover the court costs, and a drink or two is usually enjoyed in the clubhouse afterwards.

How can I get involved?

The club plays at 19:00 every Thursday on their court at Carvoeiro Tennis Club.

Contact Amy on +351 917 036 883 or coach Sandra Dawn Ray on +351 917 036 893.

Alternatively, search Facebook for ‘Netball in the Algarve’ or pop in to Carvoeiro Tennis Club where staff will be happy to help.

Want your club, team or organisation to feature in ‘Try Something New’? Email stephanie@tomorrowalgarve.com with your suggestions.

Silves Medieval Fair 2016 Prepare to grab your joust, charge your tankard and don your finest tunic, because the annual Silves Medieval Fair returns for its thirteenth year next month.

Taking place within and around Silves Castle in the historic centre, this year’s event will once again transport the city back to the historic medieval period when it was the capital of the Algarve, celebrating its Moorish and Christian heritage.

The Royal Banquet will recreate a hearty and exquisite medieval meal with Arabian dishes such as couscous, harira and tagine. Add to that dancers, snake charmers, jugglers, acrobats, musicians and more on hand to entertain, plus food and drink stands to feed and water visitors, it’s a fun evening out for young and old alike.

Running for 10 days between 12th and 21st August, the fair is open from 6pm to 1am daily. Entry is €2 a day and, for those really wanting to embrace the spirit of the event, costume hire is available at a cost of €3 for adults and €2 for kids.

See you there!

F1 Powerboat World Championship returns to Portimão The Portuguese leg of the Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship will return to Portimão later this month.

from the CTIC F1 China Team topping the table after the two-time world champion led every one of the 48 laps.

Having been held in Porto last year, the Portugal Grand Prix will take place on the Arade River - where it was previously held on 13 occasions before the competition took a three-year break from Europe - between 29th and 31st July.

The second date on the circuit takes place in Evian, France in mid-July before the action moves to Portimão over the last weekend of the month.

The three-day event promises to be an exciting affair, with teams hailing from the likes of China, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Portugal competing in the highest class of inshore powerboat race in the world.

The 2016 season kicked off in Dubai in March, with Frenchman Philippe Chiappe

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able to maintain an all-important second country location in Europe, thanks to the enormous interest shown and support of the Associação Turismo de Portimão (ATP)”, adding that it “highlights the Promoter’s commitment [to race in Europe] and remains a key part of the long-term strategy.” www.f1h20.com

After the Portugal date, the competition will move on to locations in Asia including China and Thailand, before returning to the UAE at the end of the year for races in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Announcing the return of the Portugal Grand Prix to “the country’s popular south coast resort of Portimão”, spokesperson Lavinia Cavallero said, “We are glad to be

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What's On - Your weekly events calendar...

Alvor

Further afield

Aerobics Fitness | Mon 09.30

MED Festival - Loulé | 30th June - 3rd July | Live Music | Crafts, Gastronomy, Exhibitions & Street Entertainment | Tickets from €12 | festivalmed.bol.pt/

Total Toning | Wed 09.30 Body Conditioning | Thurs 10.30 | Alvor Community Centre

Arts Fair Mexilhoeira da Carregação - Lagoa | 1st of July till 3rd of July Free | Live Portuguese and Brasilian Music

Portimão

Sports Area - Praia da Rocha Portimão | 1st of July till 31st of August everyday | Free | Fitness, Zumba, Yoga and many more

Yoga | 08.00 - 9.30 Mon & Wed Pilates | 13.00 - 14.00 Wed & Fri Meditation | 20.00 - 21.00 Fri | €25 p.m | Villa Prana, Portimão | 282484256

Cultural Night Walks - Portimão | 23d July 9pm Praça Manuel Teixeira Gomes | Alvor 2nd July and 13th of August 9pm near the Alvor Morabito de São Pedro | Email: cultura@cm-portimao.pt to subscribe

Carvoeiro

18th Motard Rodas do Relógio Meet - Loulé | 8, 9, 10th of July | Live Music, Bike show and Entertainment

Yoga | 18.00 - 19.15 Mon & Fri

Popular Fair - Loulé | 13th of July till 17th of July 9pm | Traditional Portuguese food, crafts, music

Fitball with Joao | Mon 09.15 - 10.00 | €8.50 Total Conditioning with Julie | Tues 09.30 - 10.40 | €8.50 Body Shape with Jaqueline | Wed 10.00 - 11.00 | €8.50

Beach Festival 16 by club Nau - Ferragudo | 15th, 16th and 17th of July | Local bands live music and Djs

Qi Gong with Gabriele | 11.00 - 12.00 | €8.50

Dance Festival of Lagoa | 16th of July 9.30pm | Municipal Auditorium | €5

Power Pump with Julie | Fri 18.30-19.30 | €8.50 | 282350800 / 917490155

BTT Marathon Rota da Sardinha Lagoa Cidade do Vinho | 31st of July Municipal Auditorium of Lagoa | Marathon 59km, Half Marathon 36km | btttrilhos.lagoa@gmail.com | w/lunch €16

Yoga with Jane | Tues 11.00 - 12.00 | €8.50

Ferragudo Yoga Paddle Board Classes with Silvia Duarte | Sat 09.30 Kalu Beach Bar, Praia Grande Ferragudo | 282 461 115 / 917 734 087

Cultural Market (celtic) - Convento de São José Lagoa | 7th till 10th of July | Crafts, food, entertainment and celtic music performances

Tomorrow Calendar Promote your events and activities in the Tomorrow Calendar. Email us at: for.tomorrow@hotmail.com IT’S FREE OF CHARGE

Tide Table for July...

LOW TIDE Moon 1 FRI 2 SAT 3 SUN 4 MON 5 TUE 6 WED 7 THU 8 FRI 9 SAT 10 SUN 11 MON 12 TUE 13 WED 14 THU 15 FRI 16 SAT 17 SUN 18 MON 19 TUE 20 WED 21THU 22 FRI 23 SAT 24 SUN 25 MON 26 TUE 27 WED 28 THU 29 FRI 30 SAT 31 SUN

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Morning

Height (m)

00:30 01:28 02:38 03:50 04:53 05:44 06:29 07:10 07:49 08:28 09:27 09:48 10:31 11:17 00:27 01:31 02:50 04:11 05:23 06:22 07:11 07:55 08:34 09:11 09:46 10:26 10:57 11:34 00:29

1,40 1,52 1,58 1,56 1,47 1,33 1,17 1,00 0,86 0,74 0,66 0,64 0,68 0,77 1,08 1,21 1,28 1,24 1,12 0,98 0,84 0,75 0,70 0,70 0,74 0,82 0,94 1,08 1,38

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HIGH TIDE Afternoon 13:13 14:14 15:20 16:22 17:15 18:02 18:43 19:22 20:00 20:39 21:18 22:00 22:43 23:32 12:08 13:06 14:15 15:32 16:45 17:46 18:38 19:23 20:03 20:40 21:17 21:52 22:27 23:04 23:44 12:15 13:03

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Height (m)

Morning

Height (m)

1,36 1,45 1,47 1,43 1,34 1,22 1,08 0,96 0,85 0,77 0,74 0,76 0,83 0,95 0,90 1,05 1,18 1,23 1,19 1,10 0,99 0,89 0,82 0,79 0,80 0,85 0,95 1,08 1,23 1,23 1,38

06:56 07:53 08:58 10:04 11:04 11:54 00:18 00:58 01:37 02:16 02:56 03:37 04:20 05:06 05:56 06:52 07:57 09:11 10:27 11:35 00:04 00:56 01:41 02:23 03:02 03:39 04:14 04:50 05:26 06:05 06:50

2,87 2,74 2,67 2,68 2,75 2,86 3,05 3,22 3,38 3,51 3,60 3,64 3,62 3,53 3,40 3,24 3,09 2,99 2,98 3,04 3,19 3,34 3,46 3,52 3,53 3,49 3,39 3,26 3,10 2,93 2,77

Afternoon 19:35 20:36 21:41 22:41 23:32 12:39 13:20 14:00 14:40 15:20 16:03 16:48 17:36 18:30 19:30 20:40 21:54 23:04 12:33 13:22 14:06 14:46 15:24 16:00 16:36 17:12 17:50 18:33 19:24

Height (m) 2,68 2,63 2,66 2,74 2,88 3,00 3,14 3,26 3,35 3,40 3,40 3,34 3,24 3,12 3,00 2,93 2,95 3,05 3,13 3,22 3,28 3,30 3,28 3,23 3,14 3,03 2,90 2,77 2,65

Ocean Country Real Estate Portugal are very pleased to announce that from July we will no longer be operating under the Fine & Country banner, but rather Chestertons Portugal.

Our offices will continue in the same location on Lagos Avenida and Praia da Luz, and our clients and partners will continue to receive the same high level of service from our existing team of friendly staff.

We also have the pleasure of advising our clients that we will be opening a new central Porto office.

We are certain that being part of the Chestertons family will give both ourselves and our clients better exposure in the crowded overseas property market.

For more information, please contact: Tel: +351 282 768 703 | 282 761 613 Email: info@chestertons-portugal.com www.chestertons-portugal.com

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What's On... International Fair

International Algarve Fair Lagoa, 4th-5th June 2016

Businesses, organisations and residents from all over the Algarve headed to the 11th International Algarve Fair in Lagoa over the first weekend in June for the popular fixture on the annual calendar.

Coinciding with World Environment Day, this year’s event had an eco-friendly theme, with information on recycling and sustainable living (including how to make worm compost!) available.

Over 100 businesses graced the stands at the two-day event, giving visitors chance to find out more about their products and

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services, covering everything from fashion and fly screens to aromatherapy and artificial lawns. Little ones were well entertained, with stilt-walkers and bubble-blowers mingling with the crowd, Lagoa bombeiros on hand to hoist kids into a fire engine, and a host of other attractions including bouncy castles, donkey rides and a variety of dance and music performances on the main stage.

It wasn’t just a fun day out for humans either - animals were well catered for, with the annual Dog Show proving a big success, whilst stray dogs and cats found homes thanks to local animal organisations.

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Meanwhile, the Donkey Sanctuary raised money for its worthwhile cause.

Walking around the fair was hungry work, so it’s just as well that a host of food stands were on hand to satisfy visitors’ appetites, selling everything from wood oven baked pizzas and Mexican tacos to gourmet burgers and Indian curries, whilst the News Cafe ran by event organisers The Portugal News - provided the chance to kick back with a coffee and watch all the fun of the fair unfold.

Images: Charlotte Jane Photography (fb.com/charlottejanephotography)

The Al ga r ve ’s Uni que Pri mar y- O nl y Sc ho o l • Open in term times and school holidays • Good parent/teacher communication, on a daily basis • Experienced and established teaching staff • Multilingual international environment • Small class sizes • Modern spacious classrooms • Bilingual reception class (3 to 5 years)

Primary School in Lagos for 3 to 11 year olds

• Interactive white boards in every class • Computer suite/library • Each child has a laptop • Portuguese, Music, P.E. taught by specialist Portuguese teachers • After school activities everyday: film, sports, arts, Portuguese lessons • 2 well equipped play areas and a all- weather football pitch

OPEN FOR VIEWING | Ferrel-Espiche, 8600-110 Lagos (near the Orbitur camping site) S I G N U P N O W : w w w. n o b e l a l ga r ve. com | l agos@n ob el al gar ve. com | + 3 5 1 2 8 2 7 8 9 2 0 6

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What's On... Black and White Night

Carvoeiro Black & White Night 18th June 2016

Summer is officially upon us, as last month Carvoeiro’s annual Black & White Night - dubbed the ‘first big party of the summer in the Algarve’ - kicked off the season in style.

Thousands of revellers - looking impressive in only shades of black or white - descended onto the usually sleepy town’s streets and beach to enjoy a night of street entertainers, live music and fun at the event, now in its third year.

Acts including covers band Six Irish Men,

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singer-songwriter Daniel Kemish and DJs Pete Sleev and Alex Ramos played across five stages, ensuring a good night was had by all.

The party continued into the early hours, with a free bus shuttle service laid on by the Câmara between Carvoeiro and Lagoa to ensure partygoers got to and from the party safely.

Images: Município de Lagoa

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What's On... Tomorrow Summer Ball

Tomorrow Summer Ball Lagos, 18th June 2016

As well as bringing you all the latest news, events and other goings-on from the local area, Tomorrow is committed to making a difference in our community. In Lagos, we have sought to achieve this through twiceyearly balls, and the second Summer Ball took place last month.

Held poolside at the stunning Dunas Beach Club on Meia Praia in Lagos, guests were treated to welcome drinks, a scrumptious BBQ dinner and two live music acts. The event raised more than â‚Ź5,000 for local organisations thanks to a successful

auction and raffle, a terrific amount that will help palliative care charity Madrugada, disadvantage children's home CASLAS, drop-in centre Conexao and the local Soup Kitchen continue their valuable work.

As Tomorrow establishes itself here in PortimĂŁo, Alvor, Ferragudo and Carvoeiro, we very much hope to host similar events in our area to give much needed help to our own local charities. Watch this space!

Images: Charlotte Jane Photography (fb.com/charlottejanephotography)

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Health...

Paddleboard yoga: a total workout for body and mind

The classes are lead by experienced yoga teacher Silvia Duarte from Villa Prana, a Portimão-based exercise studio, therapy centre and guesthouse. They are run in collaboration with Kalu Beach Bar on Ferragudo’s Praia Grande, where the classes start every Saturday morning at 9am.

Silvia - who also has experience teaching other fitness, dance and Body Balance classes - and Kalu’s owners, Teresa Vinagre and Arnaud Dussen, were the first to pioneer paddleboard yoga in the Algarve, establishing classes back in 2012.

Now it is a regular fixture on Silvia’s programme of classes during the summer months, with sessions running until the end of the season.

Spaces are limited to 10 boards per class, with advance booking recommended.

Anyone can participate in the classes, whatever their previous experience.

A new series of paddleboard yoga classes has now launched for the summer season in Ferragudo, giving a fresh twist to the popular practice. Swapping yoga mats for paddleboards, the classes offer a total workout for body and mind.

Whilst yoga helps balance the two through breathing techniques, postures and meditation, practising the discipline in the

sea on a paddleboard (similar to a surfboard but bigger) increases the need for stability, which in turn further improves balance, concentration and strength.

What’s more, taking place on the tranquil waters off Ferragudo’s coastline, participants can soak up the sun (and also cool-off in the sea afterwards), maximising their connection with Mother Nature.

For those not quite ready to swap the exercise studio for the sea, a full programme of both yoga and pilates classes is available in the peaceful environs of Villa Prana just across the water in Portimão.

To book, call Silvia on +351 917 734 087 or +351 282 461 115, or visit fb.com/villaprana.

Calling all swimmers!

This year’s dates have been released for the Algarve Swimming Association’s annual Circuito de Mar do Algarve (sea swimming circuit), which will once again see a series of races take place in various locations across the Algarve.

Kicking off on 31st July in Armação de Pêra, there are eight races in total (one more than last year’s circuit) and, with various categories available for entry, swimmers of all ages and abilities can get involved.

The main race caters to serious swimmers - entrants must either hold a Portuguese National Federation open water swimming licence or be affiliated with another recognised national or international federation (the Portuguese Triathlon Federation included). These races are generally between 12,000 and 15,000 metres long.

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Alongside this is an open race of around 600 to 800 metres in length that anyone can enter. Both categories are further broken down into various classifications based on age and gender, with under 18s needing written authorisation from a parent or guardian to take part.

Each race costs just €5 to enter, with an initial fee of €2 paid at the first race for a numbered, colour-coded swim cap, which must then be worn at all future events on the circuit. Wet suits are not permitted, so needless to say it can be a little ‘fresh’!

The vibe on the day is fun, with an inclusive family atmosphere. Whilst each localised event is organised by the relative câmaras in collaboration with the local swimming clubs, many local business support the events, providing lunch bags and other items for competitors.

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Emma Yates, who lives in Budens, is a three times entrant and a big fan of the circuit.

“Coming to live on the Algarve, it’s taken me to places I wouldn’t have necessarily visited otherwise,” she told Tomorrow.

“I love the atmosphere. You’ve got everyone - young and old, experienced and beginners - all together. It’s brilliant.”

Following the first event in Armação de Pêra, the additional dates are 6th August in Portimão, 7th August in Lagos, 13th August in Lagoa, 14th August in Altura, 15th August in Quarteira, 20th August in Alvor and 21st August in Albufeira.

Further details including how to register will be available later in July; check analgarve.com or visit local swimming clubs in the participating locations to find out more.

Alvor Situado no topo da falésia entre a vila e a zona ribeirinha, a Casa do Rio oferece-nos uma vista deslumbrante sobre a Ria de Alvor e a baia de Lagos. Para um almoço entre amigos ou um jantar romântico ao pôr-do-sol o Restaurante Casa do Rio, é o local perfeito. À sua espera encontrará uma excelente variedade de peixe fresco, mariscos, cataplanas, espetadas entre muitos outros pratos. A Casa do Rio oferece-lhe ainda a possibilidade de criar Menus à medida para festas de aniversário, grupos, casamentos, despedidas de solteiro e baptizados.

Situated on the cliff top between the village and waterfront, Casa do Rio offers us a breathtaking view over the Ria de Alvor and the Bay of Lagos. For a lunch with friends or a romantic dinner at sunset Casa do Rio Restaurant is the perfect place. Waiting for you is a great variety of fresh fish, seafood, casseroles and kebabs among many other dishes. Casa do Rio offers you also the possibility to create special menus tailored for birthday parties, groups, weddings, bachelor parties and christenings.

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Restaurante Casa do Rio

R. de São João 25A 8500-009 Alvor +351 282 457 443 info@restaurantecasadorio.com www.restaurantecasadorio.com www.facebook.com/casadoriorestaurante N 37.12873, W 8.59564 Aberto: Diariamente 10:00-24:00 Reservas: Aconselhável no verão Open: Daily 10:00-24:00 Reservations: Recommended during high season

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Business For a home in the heart of nature, discover the stunning Serra de Monchique By Susanna Gross and Phillipa Birchenough, To Go For Homes Key locations

Just 25 minutes' drive from the Algarve's coastline lies the Serra de Monchique, an oasis of calm and natural beauty that’s a complete contrast to the hustle and bustle of the coastal towns. Located approximately 22 kilometres inland north of Portimão and Alvor, the Serra boasts breathtaking scenery and picturesque villages, all in the shadow of the the area’s highest mountain, Foia, which stands 902 metres above sea level.

Here you will find all manner of unique treasures, including unspoilt and mostly protected nature areas rich in flora and fauna including pine, eucalyptus and cork forest, deliciously fresh air (thanks to minimal industry and pollution), friendly local people, the purest water flowing from natural springs, a wealth of walking and cycling routes, incredible local food and various handicrafts by local artisans, making it a haven that’s not to be missed.

The main town of Monchique has a relaxed feel. Nestled in the heart of the Serra de Monchique, it has steep, narrow roads paved with traditional cobblestones and a main square surrounded by cafes, restaurants and handicraft shops. There’s a morning fish and vegetable market also with home grown produce. The town is well known for its local products such as cork items, honey, Medronho and brandymel, porco preto (black pork) and artisan products. Although it has a timeless feel, Monchique also ticks the box when it comes to modern requirements, with well-stocked supermarkets, banks, schools, pharmacies, a post office, an indoor and outdoor municipal pool, a doctors’ and dental surgery and internet hotspots. With a variety of nightlife including live music, great restaurants and a huge traditional market once per month, there is always something of interest going on.

Down in the foothills of the Serra is the famous spa town of Caldas de Monchique, famed for its healing spring waters, revitalising massages and other wellbeing treatments. The main square in the village has a large and attractive handicraft centre, surrounded by cafes and restaurants with open terraces, and a fabulous new five star

hotel - McDonalds Monchique Spa Resort has just opened on the doorstep, with luxury treatments catering to all sorts of ailments.

The property market in the Serra de Monchique There are beautiful properties to be found throughout the Serra de Monchique, from rustic-style countryside properties, similar to those found in France or Tuscany - through to modern homes. Some offer exotic gardens and stunning views to the coastline, whilst others are tucked away in the hills on huge plots with wonderful views of the countryside and forests. In all cases, to live in this beautiful area is to lead a tranquil, peaceful life close to - but also just far enough away from - the rest of the world.

Interested in a property in the Serra de Monchique?

Check out togofor-homes.com and properties-algarve.com to see all our properties in the area.

Alternatively you can contact Phillippa Birchenough on +351 914 817 862 or pb@togofor-homes.com. Phillippa lives in the Serra de Monchique and knows the area very well.

Long way down: swapping Scandinavia for a dream business on the Algarve Pia Hällerstam, who owns Ferragudo-based company Zip&Trip with husband Kenneth Jonsson, explains how they followed their hearts to find a new home - and business success - in Portugal.

I’m originally from Sweden, but my family and I moved to Sandefjord in Norway in 2003. We lived there for 10 years, and we were a normal, happy family with nice jobs.

Our son was already living with his own family and our daughter studied in the Norwegian schools.

When my daughter went back to Sweden for university, my husband Kenneth and I suddenly found our lives felt very empty and

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meaningless. That’s when an idea was born; we decided to sell everything we owned and head off on a road trip to make life fun again.

Our mission was to find a new country, city, home - and even a new lifestyle. The only thing we were certain about was that we wanted to be close to the sea, so we could take advantage of my husband’s diving skills (he is a professional instructor).

We travelled through several countries including Iceland, Italy, France, Croatia and Spain looking for our dream location but, whilst they were all beautiful in their own way, we didn’t find ‘it’.

Then, by coincidence, we ended up in

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Portugal in the summer of 2013 and for both of us it just clicked. After working our way through Porto, Lisbon, Aveiro, Coimbra and Sintra, somebody suggested we go down to the Algarve, which we did - and there we finally found our perfect place.

Among all the jewels on the Algarve, Ferragudo chose us. It was love at first sight.

Feeling very lucky and relieved, we looked for - and found - the perfect place to live.

Then there was only one problem: what to do for a living? After travelling for such a long time we didn’t have much money left, >> Continues on page 28

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Business...

Long way down: swapping Scandinavia for a dream business on the Algarve >> Continued from page 26 and we were only 55 (me) and 58 (Kenneth), so retirement was not an option.

Our guardian angels intervened and sent Inês, a Portuguese girl, across our path. Together we started to brainstorm a nature tour company,

focused on showing off the stunning natural beauty of the western Algarve. Since Inês is a marine biologist and Kenneth is a scuba diver instructor, we decided to do snorkelling tours.

Then we added hiking tours to the mix because, whilst Kenneth and Inês love the water, I’m more connected to the earth.

That’s how Zip&Trip Nature Tours started in 2015 - with a plan to ‘zip’ up the wetsuits and take a ‘trip’ with our guests into the heart of the Algarve’s beautiful natural environment!

Now we offer tours all year round, from hikes in the beautiful green mountains of

Monchique to snorkelling tours taking in the spectacular caves, wild beaches and marine life around Portimão and Alvor.

Kenneth and I couldn’t be happier. It was a long journey to end up where we are today - literally and metaphorically - but now we love what we do, surrounded by the indescribable beauty of the western Algarve where we spend our days.

To book a trip with Pia and Kenneth, visit dive4joy.com/zip&trip or call Pia on +351 925 445 828.

Discover some of the incredible sights you can see on their snorkelling trips on page 34!

Pura Vida: pure luxury for weddings and events but also the feeling the Verhoevens want to inspire in guests. “It’s about enjoying life in the purest way,” Katy says. “When you’re here you can’t hear anything but birds, water, nature - it’s really nice.”

One of the local area’s most luxurious villas is throwing open its doors to play host to weddings, parties and other exclusive events.

Located on the Arade river between Estômbar and Silves, Pura Vida is the vision of local business owner Antonius Verhoeven (the man behind Giga Gardens in Guia) who designed every aspect of the property, which boasts three spacious bedrooms with bathrooms, a generous living area and kitchen, gym and sauna.

Originally putting the expansive four hectares of land to use growing palm trees for his business, the Dutchman built Pura Vida as a personal project in 2012, putting his unique stamp on the venue with various design details. Now his daughter Katy is managing the property, working with event and wedding planners in the Algarve - including her cousin-in-law, Cristina Lot from Carvoeirobased business Atlantik Morning - to help brides and grooms plan their perfect day.

The name translates as ‘pure life’, an homage not only to the various flora and fauna to be found on the site (in the water surrounding the property one will find turtles, frogs, fish and more, whilst the abundantly green grounds are home to all manner of birds)

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Showing Tomorrow around the impressive plot, it’s clear to see that the design pays homage to the local area too. Noting that the villa is surrounded by water - like a castle’s moat - Katy remarks: “We’re so close to Silves, where there’s a castle. That’s the reason you’ll see canons all around the property too.” She adds: “There are a lot of symbols here.”

That there are. In addition to canons, visitors can spot a statue of Santa Maria nestled in the property’s main gate, Indian elephants guarding a garden of fruit trees, pillars representing the four seasons propping up an outside lounge area, a sculpture depicting a couple in a passionate embrace and, for added Zen, a line of buddhas lining what Katy calls the ‘oriental’ part of the property.

The entrance to the latter is reached by a Japanese-style bridge, over which one finds a tranquil pond surrounded by a pebble massage pool (an extension of the indoor spa area, accessible via a nearby side door) and the crowning glory: an ornate and imposing winter garden, all copper, iron and glass.

“That’s the part everyone loves - it’s really special,” Katy says, with Cristina adding: “I want to do weddings in there. It’s perfect.”

It really is a beautiful spot to say ‘I do’, but it is not the only one on the property - from the picturesque poolside to the lovely man-

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made beach, couples have a host of options to make their special day totally unique, meaning every event can be different.

“That’s what people love about it,’ Katy reveals. “We have so much space here. We don’t have just one spot where you can do the ceremony, you can do it in so many different areas. You don’t have to put the dance floor in a specific area, you can do it wherever you want. You can be creative.”

There are other features that set Pura Vida apart as a venue, such as the landing dock which allows guests to arrive by river from either Silves or Portimão, or the helipad which could see brides arriving my helicopter - if Cristina has anything to do with it.

“I have lots of ideas,” she says excitedly.

“Everything from the bride’s arrival, the catering, the music, the decorations… I have a photographer who has a drone that can film all the wedding from a different perspective. We have lots to offer.”

Having given the property a trial run with a party for friends and family, Katy is now taking bookings for private events including weddings, with nuptials already scheduled for this year and next. She concludes: “If couples want a villa wedding, once they see Pura Vida the realise they won’t find anything like this.”

For more information about Pura Vida, contact Katy on +351 919 595 922, katy@toliloko.com or visit toliloko.com.

Contact Cristina at Atlantik Morning on +351 282 354 486 or info@atlantikmorning.com

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Business...

Food & Drink...

Recipe: Fingerlicking Sticky Ribs

place for two to four hours, or if you are organized overnight in a fridge would be even better.

Next, put the ribs in a big, deep saucepan – you may have to split the rack in half to fit. Pour over the marinade mixture and add just enough water to cover the ribs completely. Bring to a simmer and cook on a medium heat for about one hour until they are completely tender the smell of this will make your tummy rumble for sure.

This recipe was sent in by Chris Winstanley at Algarfurniture Lda (Moveison) Since visiting the original Hard Rock Café on the corner of Hyde Park in London as a spotty teenager and eating their amazing rack of BBQ ribs, I have often wondered how they managed to get them so tender and coat them in such a fantastic, sumptuous sauce.

I have had the same dish at many American themed restaurants since and, whilst good, they never live up to the Hard Rock... until now. I have tried this recipe on a number of friends now and they always say the same thing... yum yum!

Serves 6 Ingredients: 3kg of ribs For the marinade: 300ml of tomato ketchup or tomato puree 300ml of soy sauce 125g clear honey 5cm piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated 4 garlic cloves, crushed 5 tablespoons of Madeira wine or dry sherry 1 tablespoon of chopped rosemary Salt and pepper to taste

You should buy 'sheets' of spare ribs, cut them into manageable lengths for cooking and then cut them into individual ribs once they have been barbecued. Great served with corn on the cob and homemade coleslaw, with plenty of napkins and finger bowls for those sticky fingers and faces.

Cooking instructions:

Win a BUGG BBQ

Born in Australia, home of the ‘barbie’, the Beefeater Universal Gas Grill (or BUGG) leaves other BBQs in the shade. Imagine the world´s best portable BBQ. Then make it more compact. Give it more power and more control. Make it better looking and more durable, and you have the BUGG.

Moveison, the Algarve’s finest outdoor living store, has joined with Tomorrow to offer readers the chance to win the very latest gas barbecue from Beefeater - just in time for summer.

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Put all the marinade ingredients in a large, shallow bowl and give it a good old stir to combine. Add the ribs and turn them in the mixture so they are fully coated evenly.

Cover and leave them to marinate in a cool

Summertime or party time, on your balcony, at the beach or in the garden, set it up on the spot and share your food as fast as you can BBQ it. Cook with the hood up for crispier grilling or with the hood down for succulent roasting - the BIGG gives you total flexibility.

Available in two colours - black graphite or amber - it’s is guaranteed to look great

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Remove the ribs from the heat and transfer to a large, shallow, non metallic dish. Allow the ribs to cool in the marinade then chill until ready to put on the barbecue. You can even keep them in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

When ready to use the ribs, carefully scoop off the fat from the top of the mixture and discard. Allow the mixture to come back to room temperature. Drain off the all the marinade and pour some into a large, wide saucepan. Cook it over a medium high heat, stirring occasionally until reduced to a sticky coating consistency.

Put the ribs on the barbecue grill over a medium heat and coat for 8 to 10 minutes each side, occasionally basting or painting the ribs with the reduced marinade until lightly charred.

To serve, cut into single ribs and arrange on a platter with sticky sauce over the top or in a separate dish to dip into.

This may seem like a lot of work for a few ribs, but you will find people beating a path to your door for more!

wherever you cook with it. The prize includes an amber BUGG as well as a sturdy no-slip BUGG Trolley. Together worth over €500, this a competition worth entering!

To stand a chance of winning this amazing price, simply tell us: What does BUGG stand for?

Email your answer to: competitions@tomorrowalgarve.com by midnight on 17th July 2016. The winner will be drawn at random from all correct answers and announced in the next issue of Tomorrow.

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Outdoor... mulched with a good layer of tree bark, watering should be regular and a keen eye kept out for bugs. Expert growers have been known to use Epsom salts as a tonic, although regular feeding every few weeks seems to work provided water and soil are not too alkaline.

The Colours of Summer

By Clive Goodacre

If you want something dark pink or deep red try the closely related M. splendens, which has smaller leaves and is shrubbier than M. Dupont, making it useful for pots and growing in borders where it provides mounds of colour. Given good light it also makes a striking houseplant.

Portulaca umbraticola

Clive Goodacre reveals how to turn your garden, patio or window-box into a beautiful riot of colour this summer.

Over ambitious shopping at the garden centre and a legacy of gifts and cuttings contribute to a riotous assembly of colours in your garden – you know what I mean! So relaxing by the pool in the summertime is a good time to think about a bit of colour grouping and creating a little balance and order.

As Marguerites fade, Pelargoniums, Verbena, Petunias and Portulacas take over for the summer season. The latter are brilliant summer flowering plants, at their best in shades of pink and red, although yellow, orange and white varieties are available. It is widely available here in two forms – P. grandiflora and P. umbraticola – both having small rose-like flowers which only open in full sunlight. The latter has fat, rounded, succulent leaves while the former’s foliage is cylindrical and pointed.

They are equally at home in pots, hanging over planters or hugging the ground in borders.

Regular watering produces an abundance of foliage and fewer flowers, but dry conditions cause plants to collapse. For best results keep watering and soil on the lean side.

Although P. umbraticola is classified as a perennial, it turns to spaghetti-like stems in winter and seldom makes a good second season so it is better to plant new ones. Also remove any self-seeded plants as they tend to revert to yellow or grow blind.

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For something longer lasting, salvias offer a wide range of colours from light and dark shades of blue, pale yellow, orange, pinks and reds which include the deep red Salvia Navaho. This forms a strong shrubby perennial growing up to around 75cm tall and flowering year after year throughout summer. Originating from Mexico, it withstands full sun and lean conditions so go easy on the fertiliser, especially nitrogen which reduces flowering.

Use them singly or in groups to provide massed colour in larger areas. They soon develop clumps of strong, woody stems which should be cut back after flowering to allow new stems to form and flower.

Generally they do not make good potted specimens and die if waterlogged. Salvia officinalis is better known as sage, widely used as a culinary herb.

The title of queen of the pinks belongs to the Bignonia family of climbers and Mandevillea Alice Dupont sits head and shoulders above the rest. Forget poor winter behaviour and late arrival - once Alice gets going you won’t regret giving her space on your patio!

This compact deciduous climber produces opulent open pink flowers framed by large crinkly glossy leaves throughout summer.

Although tolerating high temperatures, try to give some shade – if only for the roots and lower stems. Soil needs to be rich and

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Moving on to yellow plants, these tend to be less numerous in summer and more focused on shrubs, climbers and plants such as day lilies. Amongst the few yellow flowering summer trees is the golden rain tree, Koelreuteria paniculata, and the tropical elder, Tecoma stans. The latter is outstanding and deservedly planted throughout the Algarve and Mediterranean regions of the world. It is ideal for smaller coastal gardens, seldom reaching five metres high and easily cut back to form a shrub or even clipped to a wall. Bell-shaped flowers are borne in profusion from early summer until midautumn provided it is given good soil, full sun and regular water.

Use Senna didymobotrya as either a specimen shrub or as a back of border plant, but do not consider using it in a pot or patio planter because it quickly develops into a huge sprawling mass.

However, in the right place it produces striking, candle-shaped yellow flowers with dark brown tips all summer long and into winter.

It is sometimes known as the popcorn bush because of the distinctive smell of its flowers.

Although short lived – around eight years - this is a no-nonsense plant that grows in poor soil, and is well worth finding space for.

Mandevillea splendens is ideal for larger pots

Wine with a taste of victory.

In 2016, the exclusive brand Enófilos selection has been awarded with 15 medals in three prestigious international wine competitions.

Selecção de Enófilos: Unique fine wines.

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And Finally...

10 minutes with… 5EX band Do you just play on the Algarve or do you travel for gigs?

If we are happy with the conditions, we will play anywhere. As individuals we have travelled to locations including Ireland and Belgium for our music.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever played?

We only formed in October, but already we have played more than 100 gigs. Of course we have our favourites, but it would be unfair to pick just one. They’ve all been great! We give the same importance to all our gigs, although it's always exciting to play a packed pub or a big stage. We also love the responsibility and emotion of playing at someone’s wedding.

The Tomorrow team love a good chat, so every month we’ll feature a quick conversation with interesting faces from the local community.

This month we meet successful local band 5EX, who have been known to rock many a party on the Algarve and beyond…

Who are 5EX and where are you all from?

We’re all from the Algarve originally. Vocalist Tiago, 23, is from Portimão, drummer Rui, 39, is from Carvoeiro, keyboard player Nelson, 33, is from Estômbar, guitarist Rodrigo, 20, is from Lagos and our bassist Miguel, 24, hails from Armação de Pêra. We all still live locally with our families.

How did you all get into music?

Two of us (Nelson and Rui) were inspired to get into music by our families. The rest of us have just loved music from the day we were born. We all started playing instruments when we were kids and everyone seemed to enjoy what we were doing.

How did the band start?

Just with a good feeling! We were all feeling a bit unmotivated by the projects we were working on previously. We began speaking to each other and found our way of thinking was similar, so we decided to start a brand new project with a positive energy.

How did you decide on the (rather cheeky) name?

The name 5EX can mean different things.

For example, we are 5 ex-members of other bands. But read quickly it can look like something else - it’s quite funny when people ask, ‘Are you the Sex Band!?’

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You play everything from Queen and Pink Floyd to Elton John and Bruno Mars. What sort of music do you personally like best?

We are all very different when it comes to our musical tastes. Nelson loves new chart hits, Rui and Rodrigo are influenced by old school rock and roll, Miguel is into jazz, blues and funk, whilst Tiago likes a little bit of everything, from the sound of Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé to Portuguese Fado.

What are the plans for the band in the future?

We plan to keep doing what we love playing! We want to get better as a band and grow as musicians. We would love to become known for our original songs, that is our next focus. But step by step…

What do you love about living on the Algarve?

The Algarve it's the best place in the entire world. We have over 300 days of sun, all the nationalities, beautiful food, beautiful places. It’s like one small world in this big world! We love it here.

Contact 5EX by emailing 5ex.covers.band@gmail.com, calling +351 964 585 267 or visiting facebook.com/5exband.

Want to feature in a future 10 minutes with…, or know someone who should?

Email stephanie@tomorrowalgarve.com with your suggestions!

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I-Spy Algarve: under the sea The Algarve is rich in beautiful sights - and that extends to the region’s waters!

Inês Nunes from nature tour operator Zip&Trip gives us a guide to the creatures that lie under the sea. Grab a snorkel and see how many you can spot…

Rainbow wrasse (Corisjulis) An attractive fish with bright colours, this is one of the most common sights on snorkelling trips Two-banded seabream (Diplodus vulgaris) A flash of silvery-grey with a black stripe, this fish is another common sight along the Algarve coastline Sea cucumber (Holothuria arguinensis) A slowmoving marine animal, which makes this species easy to spy Starfish (Ophidiaster ophidianu) Usually gathered in groups with other organisms, it’s amazing to see eyecatching starfish Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) Keep your eyes peeled for this rare sight; octopus move very quickly and camouflage themselves Sea urchin (Diadema antillarum) With its long black spines (usually 10-12cm in length), this is a stunning underwater spot To book a snorkelling trip with Zip&Trip, visit www.dive4joy.com/zip&trip

Aljezur

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Lagos

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Carvoeiro

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VilamouraloulĂŠ Partner Office Albufeira Quinta do Lago

Tavira

vila real

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Sagres

N 12 5

Faro

Faro

The AlgArve ProPerTy SPecialiSTS

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