WHEREVER Magazine – The Sustainability and Wellness Issue

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Hello Algarve!

Spring is in the air, and WHEREVER is all about being ‘better’. And, by that, we mean improvement in different ways – for starters, taking better care of our health and our environment. Sustainability is a hot topic, and whether you follow the hype, or not, it’s fascinating. We’ve put together Wellness and Sustainability because I believe they go hand-in-hand, and having talked to the experts, it looks like that’s right.

Don’t miss the Fashion Game Changers, women expats who are fighting fashion waste from London to LA. Get your Insta #sustainable fix, and get the lowdown on climate change from the carbon expert. There are also X-pat files featuring health and fitness pros from Hong Kong to Paris via the Algarve and Eco Heroes doing their bit to save the planet, from Shark Girl to the Trash Traveler...

In other good news you can now subscribe to WHEREVER online. Find us in even more locations from Cascais to Lisbon and the Algarve. We are building solid new relationships with like-minded brands – from our

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advertising partners like Quinta do Lago, W Resorts and Martinhal, to expat hotspots including the finest restaurants, gyms, spas, concept stores, golf and tennis clubs - and even schools. And, about schools, did I mention our 2022 Schools Guide ? You’re welcome!

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Rowena Carr-Allinson CEO + Editor in Chief WHEREVER Magazines

Editorial & Content

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Advertising & Business Development

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With special thanks to family and friends, without whom this project would not have been possible, especially Mike Evans.

Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any written material or illustration in any form for any purpose other than short extracts for agreed review purposes is strictly forbidden. WHEREVER does not accept liability for loss or damage to any materials submitted for publication. Or claims made by advertisers. The views expressed by interviewees or contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or WHEREVER Mags. WHEREVER is published quarterly by GreyMatter Lda. 30,000 copies across Lisbon and the Algarve. Distribution in collaboration with CTT, by hand and with handpicked outlets. DL No: 485025/21. Printed by Walstead, Ronda de Valdecarrizo, 13, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, ES C.I.F. A28352656.

We meet celebrity favourite, the Juice King, Jason Vale, and talk to tennis icon Rafael Nadal

Contributors

Gail McNeill is a blogger and influencer positively embracing midlife with silver hair, sassy wrinkles, cruelty free make up and lifestyle.

A woman of many skills, she’s an ethical T shirt designer and mum to Seb and doggies Ginger and Bird! She shares her trials and tribulations building her dream home in the Algarve.

@fiftysister

James Stewart writes for The Times, The Telegraph and The Guardian amongst others.

Freelance writer of the year in 2020, he is most at ease in the water. Some even say he has saltwater for blood. He is our resident ‘Thrillist’ and in this issue he goes cliff camping. Rather him than me.

@itsjamesstewart

Jen Skehan is a published writer and professional photographer with an incurable case of wanderlust. She’s a seasoned digital nomad, having lived the expat-life in Portugal for several years. Despite attempts to ‘settle down’, her adventurous spirit has other ideas! So now, as a mother, she’s busy showing her young son the world - with countless campervan road-trips!

@imajenx

Adrian Mackinder is a writer and performer. He has twenty years’ experience scribbling for just about everyone from The Guardian to the BBC and The Beano!

A professional improviser, actor and comedian, he was also Head Writer at Comedy Central UK, before moving to Copenhagen with his family.

@adrian_mackinder

A French native who has lived in the UK, Australia and Singapore for the last 19 years, Karelle Laurent is an expat through and through. Now settled in the beautiful Algarve, she’s a Registered Nutrition Therapist with a clinic offering 1- 1 or group consultations to clients to support them with their health and performance goals.

@karellelaurentnutrition

James Cave is a travel writer who specialises in writing about Portugal. He’s the creator of the popular website Portugalist. com and the author of the non-fiction book, Moving to Portugal Made Simple, available on Amazon. More information about starting a new life in Portugal can be found at Portugalist.com.

At age 8 Claire Dunn marvelled at her Great Uncle Frank’s butterfly collection. Her questions about the natural world led her to study Biology and live in Papua New Guinea researching fish. She worked for over a decade in climate change investment and grew a green social housing business. Currently she’s offsetting, insulating and recycling in Surrey, with a husband, three children and a carbon-emitting Labrador.

Zoe Popham moved to Cascais, Portugal, six years ago after two decades as a Producer in the Asian TV & Film production and postproduction industries. She was once Features Editor of an expat lifestyle magazine in Bangkok, Thailand and has written for various publications over the years, with a few published works of her own in between.

Jill Stevenson is a Scottish writer who loves writing about interior design, architecture and property in general. She loves nothing more than spending several hours routing through flea markets – especially in France, Spain and Portugal. She has worked as both a national newspaper journalist and feature writer for magazines such as Homes & Gardens, Grand Design, the Daily Mail, the Sun, and The Herald.

@portugalist

Contents

10. Excellent wellness escapes

The top spots to escape to for plush pampering or serious detox.

14. Meet the Juice King

Celebrity wellness guru Jason Vale talks to WHEREVER about his take on wellness and life in general.

17. To CBD or not to CBD?

So many questions around CBD. Is it all it’s cracked up to be? WHEREVER investigates.

18. Fashion Game Changers

From Hollywood’s Red Carpet to Australia, via Portugal, we talk to the expats changing the fashion landscape from production to perception.

26. The Good, the Bad and the BS.

Carbon expert Claire Dunn tells us about Climate Change as it is.

30. Eco Heroes

From Shark Girl to the Trash Traveler, these eco warriors are doing their bit to save the planet.

36. Our world photo story

Some facts and figures are hard to ignore. WHEREVER takes a must needed reality check.

41. #sustainability

We share insta’s most inspiring for your sustainability fix.

42. Shop Smart

Shop sustainable. From Veja trainers to reusables. Eco friendly retail therapy.

44. Wellness Trends

WHEREVER speaks to those in the know about how wellness is changing in 2022, from aps to secret retreats and in home spas. Times are changing!

50. X-Pat Files - Jen Manteigas

Trading stocks for the Fit Life.

53. X-Pat Files - Pedro Rui Sousa

A Portuguese expat in Hong Kongspreading bliss far and wide.

54. X-Pat Files - Carra Sutherland

How does an Irish model become a Happy Detox entrepreneur in Paris?

56. X-Pat Files - Miles Mortensen

Meet the Aussie DJ who turned to Rocket yoga in London.

59. Competition - Win!

Win a wellness experience for two in the Algarve’s sexiest new spa.

61. X-Pat Expert - Cave

The Portugalist expert on issues every expat has to face.

62. X-Pat Expert - Mackinder

A British Dad on how green life is in ecoloving Copenhagen.

63. X-Pat Expert - Fiftysiter

Building a home in the Algarve hills is not as easy as it sounds!

64. Luxe Toys - A car-less future?

Our very own Car Geek ponders a future without cars, because, although he loves them he admits they are simply not sustainable.

68. Luxe Toys - Rafael Nadal goes yachting

The tennis icon tells WHEREVER about his other big love.

73. Luxe Toys - Golfing Quinta do Lago - could this be Portugal’s greenest course?

73. Homes - Cheat’s guide to upcycling Everyone loves the idea of recycling vintage furniture - but how?

76. Homes - Go Green Green goodies for the home.

78. VIP Cribs - Matt Damon’s Digs We check out inside Matt Damon’s California home. Why not?

82. Travel - Go Travel Yes, it is time to grab the passport!

84. Travel - Family staycations Portugal is packed with gems. We discover a few of the country’s best family hideaways.

88. Travel - Thrillist James Stewart goes diving with great whites in Australia.

the magazine for expats everywhere

91. Travel - My Loulé

Take a tour of Loulé with Harriet Campina, business owner and expat instagrammer.

92. Travel - My Qatar

Take a tour of Loulé with Harriet Campina, business owner and expat instagrammer.

94. Food - Dining at Amara

A night out sampling the chef’s tasting menu at Amara.

96. Food - Wine guide

The team at Vinha.pt pick out the best of the organic, eco and sustainable wines for WHEREVER.

98. Business Listings

Your expat friendly businesses and services. .

Excellent Wellness Escapes

Wondering where to indulge in some pampering? Here’s some inspiration for truly indulgent destinations where you can enjoy ‘me’ time, however you want it to be, from the serious chilling, to the ultimate fitness, via the mind, body and spirit makeover.

Spa Evian Resort, Lake Geneva

A classic, with more than 100 years of history at the heart of the French Alpine spa tradition. Evian’s legacy at the source of the global mineral water brand has generated a reputation as one of the world’s most sought-after spa and wellbeing destinations for hydration, skincare and physical and mental rejuvenation. The 5* Spa, Evian Source at the Hotel Royal provides personalised treatments in everything from Shiatsu to Shirodhara, as well as wellness packages, which draw on ancient ancestral rituals and beauty secrets from around the world, including a Himalayan salt pouch, Evian Source massage, crystal therapy, an abhyanga massage and a Hydromassage bath with chromatherapy. hotel-royal-evian.com

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Photo by Pascal ReynaudEvian SPA.

Vakkaru, Maldives

Those seeking to balance their overall wellbeing can practice their downward dog and develop their breathwork at the brand-new, sunset-facing yoga pavilion on Vakku beach. There’s also an organic farm with a lush tropical island garden and farm-to-table concept, so one can pick herbs and vegetables for salads whilst the chef prepares freshly caught seafood from the Indian Ocean. At the overwater Merana Spa, the team have a new Maldivian Touch treatment that uses ingredients sourced from the island, including sea salt, sand, and homemade coconut oil. Bliss! vakkarumaldives.com

Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel, Ibiza, Spain

Taking their world-famous spa to another level, the hotel is inaugurating a new ‘spa garden’, including a jacuzzi deck amongst the orange trees, an outdoor fire-pit lounge for meditation and healing workshops, outdoor sauna pod, sunbathing decks and an additional daybed garden brimming with organic botanicals. Here you can relax on giant outdoor four-poster day beds amongst fragrant herbs and choose whether to pop over to the 43-metre fresh water pool for a refreshing dip or sleep, sunbathe, or enjoy a delicious lunch. atzaro.com

Vila Vita, Algarve, Portugal

Recently awarded with two distinctions of excellence: “World’s Best Signature Spa Treatment 2021” for its inimitable Golden Quartz treatment, and “Best Resort Spa in Portugal 2021” both by the World Spa Awards; the Vila Vita Spa by Sisley Paris combines an advanced scientific approach with the most exquisite natural ingredients in an invitation to a wonderful sensory world. Its contemporary design inspired by the region’s extraordinary sea caves and blue tones of the ocean lead to an immediate feeling of connection with nature. In a fabulous 5-star resort in the Algarve, this Spa offers a wide range of services and treatments, spread over 14 elegant treatment rooms, that invite one to deep relaxation and good shape. vilavitaparc.com

Schloss Elmau, Bavaria Germany

Just 100km south of Munich and 1000m above sea level, Schloss Elmau features two 5* hotels with a total of 162 rooms and suites, six separate spas for adults and families, a TCM Health Spa, Yoga Centre and eight restaurants. Yoga and meditation retreats for mindfulness include lessons and meditation workshops interspersed with yoga classes. Guests will also have the opportunity to experience the spas and weekly sport activities. schloss-elmau.de/en

Rosa Alpina, Dolomites, Italy

With cosy bedrooms, log-burning fires and mountain-facing balconies, it’s the ideal mountain hideaway. The glass spa is eco luxury at its best with floor-to-ceiling windows and nine tranquil treatment rooms complemented by two indoor heated swimming pools with garden and forest views. Other facilities include a jacuzzi, yoga studio, fully equipped gym and hydrotherapy areas including a Turkish hammam, a Finnish sauna, a Bio sauna and a cold plunge pool. The spa menu offers treatments incorporating Aman’s allnatural skincare products. rosalpina.it

Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, Qatar

Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som is a pioneering destination in the Middle East blending traditional Arabic and Islamic medicine with a holistic health and wellbeing philosophy. Located on the quiet northern tip of Qatar, Zulal offers two distinct yet interconnecting experiences: Zulal Serenity, dedicated to adults looking for an immersive health and lifestyle reset, while Zulal Discovery invites families to connect and embark on a wellness journey together. Its Mangrove Conservation Programme protects local marine life as part of the resort’s overall sustainability commitment. zulal.com

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Photo by Schloss Elmau –Shantigiri Spa.

Lesante Blu, Zakynthos, Greece

Set on the Greek island of Zakynthos, aimed exclusively at adults, Lesante Blu has 92 contemporary-styled rooms, and views over the sparkling Ionian. Indulge in the many treatments available at the Essence Spa, designed by Germaine de Capuccini – the Golden Lesante as its signature, which comprises golden nectar and locally sourced yellow seaweed. For those who seek complete tranquillity, the Cape Armonia wellness centre will provide a relaxing refuge for treatments and therapies harking back to ancient Mediterranean healing traditions. lesanteblu.gr

Anantara Spa at Anantara Villa Padierna Palace, Spain

This opulent hideaway offers elite pampering journeys in a haven of tranquillity, with natural light and soothing aromas cocooning guests in a sophisticated retreat. Rooted in Thailand, Anantara Spa’s diverse offering of treatments and facilities showcase the best of international wellness against a backdrop of luxurious Romanesque design. The spa is inspired by the fabled Roman Baths, featuring twelve specialised treatment rooms and an extensive hydrotherapy circuit with three dedicated rooms, a Hammam, aromatherapy steam rooms and relaxation areas. Luxurious marble is floodlit by skylights, creating pillars of natural light illuminate the 21,000sq ft space. anantara.com

Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort, UAE

Offering a 360 degree approach to self-care, providing an opportunity to revitalise, recharge and rejuvenate, the resort is home to Bodyism Wellness Centre, the first of its kind in the UAE. Here guests can enjoy pilates, yoga, boxing or barre, combining classic techniques with ultramodern methods, through bespoke programmes. There is no limit to relaxation, with the 2,700 sq m tranquil haven at SPA, featuring a Moroccan hammam, 15 treatment rooms, saunas, hydrotherapy pools, steam rooms, salt rooms, experience showers and a traditional Arabic rasul room – a cleansing ritual which promises to leave spa lovers feeling relaxed with beautifully exfoliated skin. jumeirah.com

Cap Maison, St Lucia

A boutique resort and spa, it’s the perfect Caribbean wellness escape. Receive a daily spa treatment of your choice at the resort’s very own Sothys- branded Spa Maison. Signature treatments can also be experienced on a private wooden deck perched out at sea, Rock Maison. The resort’s location offers the perfect tranquil settings for a yoga and meditation session as part of the Wellness Experience. The package includes all daily meals with healthy options available, daily fruit smoothies and refreshing Caribbean fruit. capmaison.com

L’Occitane Spa at the Intercontinental, Estoril, Portugal

Set on the oceanfront of the Atlantic, on the “Portuguese Riviera”, the InterContinental Cascais-Estoril’s L’Occitane Spa is all about the sensorial textures, relaxing music, and herbal teas inspired by Provencal traditions.

Just as Provence is the land of beauty, L’Occitane SPA is a sanctuary of tranquillity just a stone’s throw away from Lisbon’s thriving city. Just the spot to refresh the senses and restore inner balance and peacefulness without disappearing the ends of the earth! ihg.com

St Nicolas Bay, Crete

With chic interior heated seawater pools, the boutique resort has a world-class spa: Poseidon Spa with Elemis and Cinq Monde therapists. The spa includes a seafront treatment cave for two with a thalassotherapy pool and bubble lounges; a massage room with jacuzzi, steam bath and sauna; and a high-tech beauty area offering advanced anti-ageing treatments as well as skincare and aromatherapeutic programmes. Some therapies are also combined with fresh seawater treatments to rejuvenate the body. There is also a sports centre, which offers excellent water sports, two chic infinity pools, and a choice of five restaurants. stnicolasbay.gr

The Juice Master

WHEREVER’s Jacqueline Sinclair catches up with the man on a mission to ‘juice the world’.

Jason Vale, also known as ‘The Juice Master’, is this generation’s hottest health, food and lifestyle guru. He has made a movie, opened a couple of health retreats in Portugal and Turkey, sold over five million books, and over one million apps. His health and addiction apps for Android and iOS have all reached No 1 in their categories, even beating Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson and Gordon Ramsey in the extremely competitive Food & Drink category. Celebrity fans include Alesha Dixon and Carol Vorderman.

How did you become the ‘King of Juicing’ and an ambassador for a healthy lifestyle?

I actually wrote a psychology book about addiction before I ever started juicing. Our three nemeses are drug food (junk food), cigarettes and alcohol. They transcend logic and intelligence. It’s addiction. People cannot understand why they do it. So I learned – from other teachers – the way out of this maze and then gave the map to others. But you need the right map: The Freedom Technique. Because there is no genuine pleasure in it. That’s why all my books have 100 pages of psychology before you get to any recipes! The ambassador bit just comes from enthusiasm and passion. I wanted to tell all my friends!

Why juicing? What are its key benefits? I don’t like vegetables, especially raw veg, but I know they’re good for me. Veggies are 90% water and the insoluble fibre that’s left can’t feed us, it’s the liquid that feeds the cells – we don’t need the fibre. So I thought: Why can’t I drink it?

How did you get to where you are today? Any key moments or people? My Mum was my mentor. There was no other human being like her. She was everything to me and I was so lucky to have her in my life for 40 years.

When I was younger I did a Tony Robbins audio cassette course. It lasted 30 hours! It was called Personal Power. Then I stopped smoking. I went from smoking 40 cigarettes a day to zero in a day.

“You need 10 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Official. That’s not easy to do. Most people need more than they get. My advice is eat your fruit and drink your veg! Health is wealth.”

Which decisions do you credit for bringing you where you are now?

No one decision. Everything is linked to everything else, no matter how big or small.

How would you describe yourself and your lifestyle in one word?

Balanced. I went from an extremely unhealthy lifestyle of many years to extremely clean for seven years. Now I am balanced. I don’t binge. Some 70% of what I eat and drink is good for me. It also helps that I own a juice retreat and can go and clean up from time to time!

Three laws I live by:

1. Nutrition

2. Exercise 3. Purpose

This is so important. Excitement and drive can generate life-extending chemicals that broccoli can only dream of!

Have you moved from the UK to Portugal full time? Yes, I live all over between the retreats but essentially I am a resident of Portugal. I have a house on the river close to Juicy Oasis.

Why did you choose Portugal?

It’s the finest place on earth. The beauty, the people, the weather.

How is life in PT treating you?

I miss nothing from the UK. I wish I’d moved here years ago. I have travelled the world and I think the beach where we are building the new Juicy Retreat is the best beach in the world!

Any words of wisdom? We are on a 90-year holiday here. Have as much fun as you can. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. We are under the illusion that we have time.

“We need to tap into our attitude. We can choose our attitude.”

To CBD or Not to CBD?

he health market is no stranger to fads. Whether it’s the latest celebrity-endorsed diet that promises to change our lives or a supplement that is sure to cure all that ails us, the latest and greatest breakthrough is seemingly only ever a social media hashtag away.

CBD oil is a little different, though – it’s looking increasingly like this product is less of a trend but instead an increasingly tried and true alternative medical remedy. Let’s look at how CBD oil has begun to take over in the western world.

CBD oil is an abbreviation of cannabidiol, an element of the Cannabis sativa plant. Cannabidiol was first isolated for experimentation in 1940, separated from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

THC, for the uninitiated, is the psychoactive element of the plant that provides cannabis with its mind-altering side effects. THC captured the public imagination in the early 1960s, when it was separated from the parent plant. CBD, on the other hand, has taken longer to be embraced. CBD does not offer the same impact as THC, so it enjoyed no cultural or recreational implications. Laboratory scientists were the only interested parties.

In recent years, CBD has gained attention as a potential medicinal product. Cannabis has long been considered a possible remedy for chronic pain, including lifelong disorders such as fibromyalgia,

in addition to calming severe epilepsy. This is believed to stem from reducing inflammation and dulling the response of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Does this also apply to CBD oil or edible CBD products that have isolated cannabidiol? Peer-reviewed scientific journals speculate that CBD can reduce pain. It could ease the impact of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression, PTSD, and even acute schizophrenia. It is believed to lower blood pressure and thus improve heart health.

alike. Alas, though, as with any evolution, opportunity can lead to exploitation. If you’re keen to sample CBD oil for yourself, you must source yours from a reputable provider.

British-based manufacturers ULU could be considered the market leaders, scooping the CBD Company of the Year honour from Global Health and Pharma magazine for the last two years running. Paul Hembery, founder of ULU admits “There’s still a lot for people to learn about CBD and its potential applications to relieve suffering, both physical and mental, which makes it such an exciting area to work in.” But, he adds, optimistically, “it’s fantastic though that more and more people are experiencing the benefits, from every walk of life.”

You can also likely find a local supplier, though.

If all of this sounds infuriatingly wishywashy, it’s just that research continues to expand. CBD may have been discovered in 1940, but it remains in its infancy as a consumer product. Insufficient exploration has taken place to make a definitive statement that CBD is a force for good in the medical realm. Still, respected journals and trusted sources are willing to point to evidence of CBD’s positive impact on human health under particular criteria in clinical trials and studies.

This is why CBD oil is a huge growth market for consumers and producers

If a CBD product has piqued your curiosity, always seek out the Certificate of Analysis (COA) connected to the creation. A COA should be found on a website or product packaging. If not, proceed with caution – this is the biggest red flag connected to CBD.

The purpose of a COA is to confirm the presence and quantities of cannabinoids, heavy metals and pesticides in the product. A cursory glance will reveal any risk of toxicity. Thankfully, few businesses that take the time to create a COA will cut corners in the production process. Watch this space.

WHEREVER reporter Greg Porter looks into the hype, and whether CBD is all its cracked up to be.

“If all of this sounds infuriatingly wishy-washy, it’s just that research continues to expand.”

Samata Pattinson

CEO of Red Carpet Green Dress

Bringing sustainability to Hollywood

ritish Ghanaian Samata Pattinson is bringing sustainability to Hollywood, turning the Oscars’ red carpet greener.

An entrepreneur working across fashion, media and entertainment, Samata has many strings to her bow. An author and journalist, her work has been featured in The Guardian, Vogue, Elle and InStyle amongst others.

As the CEO for Suzy Amis Cameron’s Red Carpet Green Dress campaign, she has been showcasing sustainable fashion on the red carpet at the Oscars every year, bringing sustainability to the forefront of conversation within the fashion industry working with brands like Louis Vuitton, Armani and Vivienne Westwood.

Samata also launched THE TRIBE, a women’s-only event and collective to inspire, encourage and support each other by the creation of empowering products and encouraging a shift in mindset. She has also lectured at fashion colleges including Central St Martins and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and is an active fundraiser for America’s soonto-be first plant-based school, MUSE School in California.

How did you become a ‘face’ of sustainability in fashion?

I’ve worked in the sustainability realm since 2011 when I accidentally tripped into the space! I entered the RCGD Global Design competition and had no idea it would take me onto this journey. Working with red carpet green dress, or RCGD, I’ve been able to participate in bringing sustainability

to do all of those things in a better way. Fast forward, there are so many things that have been done and so much more work is required. Global initiatives range from Fashion Revolution ‘Who made your clothes?’ to ‘Pay up’ which really try and focus on the people central to our sustainability conversations, to Greenpeace and their detox fashion campaign, calling out the impact of fashion on the environment and our citizens.

to the fashion world. Over the course of the past few years we have delivered some quite high-profile work and I think I’ve become recognised as part of that movement. I think when you work with platforms as big as the Oscars, that becomes a little bit inevitable but for me it’s the educational work with students I love being seen for.

What’s being done to improve the Fashion industry’s eco credentials?

When we started our work in 2010, the whole premise was to call out the way that we’re making clothes that affects people and the planet, and the need

Fashion touches every area of the globe, so everyone is involved and we are all affected. Most recently there’s been a lot more work in the legislative space and that, alongside a growing awareness of clothing as a cultural value, there is something that really needs to be pushed. People need to start identifying clothing as a cultural extension of who they are and therefore stop seeing it as such a throw-away concept. In addition, companies need to step up or a great deal of that stepping up might be forced by legislation.

Are big brands really working towards a more sustainable future or is it a lot of ‘greenwashing’?

I don’t really know how you answer that question. There are lots of big brands around the world at various stages of the sustainability journey.

“Sustainability is nuanced so do what you love, don’t let anyone shame you out of the conversation because your sustainability looks different to theirs. Vintage, artisan, handmade, plant-based, there is so much out there.”

6 Steps to Shop Sustainably



Interpret your sustainability

The conversation is often dominated by telling people what sustainability looks like but you can’t do that as we all have different starting points. Telling someone to buy the best quality out there doesn’t make sense if they don’t have the funds to do that for themselves. Some forms of sustainability are aspirational.



Love what you buy

Sustainability can mean pouring love into the items you buy so they last longer. We know that extending the life of clothing by an extra nine months of active use would reduce carbon, waste and water footprints by around 20-30% each of an item – the single most significant intervention in the life cycle of clothing.



Pick the right fabrics

Choose organic certified materials over synthetics in the knowledge that those materials have not been in contact with harmful chemicals such as fertilisers or pesticides which, when used, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and which also have reduced climate warming impact.

 Think ahead

Shop with the end of your product in mind, and possibly where it started, not just the moment you will wear it. Does it possess physical durability (is it well made?) and emotional durability (will you love it more over time?) We have to start having these conversations with ourselves so our wardrobes tell stories that we can share with pride. If it’s not a forever piece, think about the item’s journey beyond you. Will it hold its value for re-sale, or is the product of a high enough quality to be donated?

 Recycle

Recycle or take advantage of the shopping credit on offer at stores to part-exchange old products, where the store will then take care of the recycling for you.

 Seek transparency

Look at your chosen company’s sustainability policy and if they do not have one, ask about it. Buy from brands that offer transparency about how the product was made and who made it.

For example, when you look at Levi’s, they’ve already done a huge amount of work when it comes to dye technology, recycling waste, supporting social initiatives, material innovation… the list goes on.

H & M to many people might be a walking contradiction – how can you say you are part of sustainability when you’re producing clothes at such an exponential rate almost outstripping demand ten times over? No total single story explains a journey properly. It’s a case of where you started, where are you now and what are you saying, and then where are you going?

collaborate with designers and talent from across the world, who each bring their own unique cultural and global lens to the conversation on the red carpet. By championing sustainability through collaborations which represent ethnicity, age, race and size, we are able to speak to a wider audience and include society.

Organically. We started when Suzy Amis Cameron and James Cameron were going to the Oscars, and so that red carpet has always felt like a natural fit. We started with that one gown and then we simply said to ourselves: ‘it would be great to make this conversation more mainstream, more exciting, more aspirational’.

The incredible platform our Oscars campaign gives us helps us reach a global audience in one night – quite literally with one dress, or tuxedo. Through the red carpet our campaign reaches millions in 100 countries. Also, importantly, the campaign works with a very global range of talent to remain inspiring and relevant. We can spread more awareness and continue creating positive, accelerated change. We have been promoting this change for over a decade now, but never in history has sustainability been more relevant. A big part of that work is representation. We

How do you see the future of fashion? The future is people and citizen led. I define this as a space which recognises the powerful dialogue from citizens to businesses. It recognises that citizens will carry more influence. It represents a turning point in the way the business world perceives its sales strategy as increasingly reactive and speaks to how citizens will steer how businesses operate and will no longer engage in a passive sales relationship. It recognises that in the sustainability realm, citizens are creating the real value for businesses to interpret and react to.

Where do you call home?

It is wherever the heart is? I’ve lived between the UK and the US. I love the work in the US but Cambridge is where I grew up. Beyond that, Ghana is where I come from in all of the senses – both of my parents were born and raised there.

What are your plans for 2022? To focus on culture, people, and pushing for accessibility and representation in any space I occupy.

Follow Samata at @iam_samata or @RedCarpetGreenDress

How did the co-operation with The Academy come along?

“Fashion touches every area of the globe, so everyone is involved and we are all affected. “

Jessica Kruger Founder, Luxtra

Luxury goes cruelty free

An Aussie in London, Jessica Kruger is revolutionising the world of accessories, combining luxury with the highest ethical and environmental standards, turning pineapples into glamorous bags.

Jessica Kruger’s barefooted outdoor upbringing in Sydney fostered her love and respect for nature. She ran Ethos, one of London’s most popular vegetarian restaurants, turning over £1.5m/year and employing 25 staff and was named a ‘35 under 35’ top UK businesswomen by Management Today. After selling Ethos Jessica launched Luxtra, a sustainable fashion brand that uses the most innovative cruelty-free plant-based vegan materials available.

What prompted you to become an ambassador for sustainability?

“Oh gosh – It’s the way I was brought up! Nothing went to waste, we made things last. I think when I moved to the other side of the world and became an independent adult, I began to learn about the way food gets onto our plate, and then how clothes arrive in our wardrobes. Exploitation is so far from my values. I just couldn’t watch it happen and do nothing about it. I had to do something! “

How did Luxtra come about ?

“I moved to London to start a meat-free restaurant called Ethos. It was back in 2013 when ‘vegan’ was still a dirty word! After I’d shown people that meat-free food could be delicious and beautiful, my next challenge was to show them that crueltyfree fashion could also be beautiful.”

Any key moments?

“First: moving from Australia to Paris, on

my own, knowing no-one aged 20. That taught me to be independent. I don’t believe I would be doing anything near what I am doing now had I stayed in Australia.

Second: watching a documentary, Forks Over Knives, which opened my eyes to the ways in which our food gets to our table. I cried a lot and then decided to change my life.”

Where is home now ?

“I grew up in sunny Sydney, but since then I’ve lived in France, Switzerland and Germany – but now London is very much home! I’ve been here almost 10 years.”

The fashion industry is currently under fire for its lack of sustainability and eco friendliness. Are big brands really trying or is it a load of ‘greenwashing’?

“Some businesses are really on it. Others are in denial. Positive things I’ve seen recently are brands reducing packaging and/or switching to biodegradable options; companies using more ecofriendly materials (e.g. organic cotton or hemp); brands talking about green and social initiatives. That was unheard of a few years ago.

“Big brands are in a bit of a bind; their whole business model is set up on cheap inputs, cheap labour and encouraging people to consume, consume, consume. They typically have shareholders to please and no one likes to see income and profits go down, which is what will happen – at least in the short term – when a brand makes positive changes to its supply chain. Turning a multinational’s supply chain on its head super quickly is no easy feat. I don’t believe, of course, that this should be a nice and neat excuse for these businesses.

Put your reusable coffee cup / reusable water bottle / cotton bag by the front door of an evening – that way you won’t forget to bring it with you when you leave in the morning.

Wash your clothes on a cooler setting - % of our clothes’ carbon footprint occurs once they are in your wardrobe.

See something you’d like to buy?

Maybe you can wait 24 (or ideally 72 hours) before you purchase it. If you’re still thinking about it some days later, then go for it. If you’ve forgotten… then maybe you can live without it.

Three tips on how to be more sustainable

“We have one life, and it is so precious. I don’t want to have any regrets. I want to try things and give things a shot. Use this one life I have to do something meaningful.

That is the spirit that has brought me to where I am now.”

There are also executives out there who couldn’t care less. Systemic change is what is required and that is a huge ask right now.

I think smaller brands – ones that have a founder with a strong purpose, and ones that are certified B Corps – are really good examples of the new wave of doing business. These are the companies I spend my money with. B Corps are certified businesses that meet the highest environmental and social standards. Others remain tone deaf. Ones that still sell clothing for £1 or 1€ or something ridiculous… these companies just don’t get it. I’d give them an ‘F’ and a very wide berth.”

Any words of wisdom for others who want to follow in your footsteps?

“Just start. If you keep just thinking about it then nothing will ever happen. I didn’t know how to start a fashion brand or a restaurant, but I told myself, ‘hey, it’s literally not rocket science, so I can probably work it out’. Whatever it is you’re thinking about –be it how to be more sustainable, or how to change industries, or to launch your own company – start by doing searches online to explore, then you educate yourself. From there you’ll be able to work out the next steps you need to take. You don’t need to have it all worked out from the get-go. I’m learning every day and very often feel very stupid. And that’s ok!”

How do you see the future of fashion?

“I’m nervous but also hopeful. Sustainability and ethics have exploded onto the scene in just a few short years. There is a huge shift still required, but it’s heartening to see businesses at every level finally beginning to act on environmental and social issues.”

What are your plans for 2022?

“Hopefully get close to profitability; hit our new revenue goal; work with a new material called mirum (100% plant based, no plastic); delegate more to my brilliant colleague, Chloé; make progress on my PhD; and keep happy, healthy and sane!

And travel to the “5 Stans” with LupineTravel if Covid doesn’t cancel the trip again!”

Find out more at luxtralondon.com/ and follow @luxtralondon

utch designer Marre Muijs is doing her bit against disposable fashion, with her footwear brand, producing handmade shoes in Italy, Portugal and Spain in solar-powered factories by expert artisans who have been making shoes for generations.

Where is home?

I was born and raised in The Netherlands but now live in Melbourne, Australia. Portugal is my second home. The most beautiful shoes are made in São João da Madeira, so that’s where I go to create my shoes. The artisans I work with have been making shoes for generations and they’ve become really good friends.

Marre Muijs

How did ESSEN THE LABEL come about ?

I’ve always loved working in the fashion industry, but I grew increasingly frustrated and creatively exhausted by the relentless cycles and seasons and endless pursuit of newness. I craved a slower pace and more conscious process. Despite working in the footwear industry at the time, I could not find good quality, timeless shoes that were comfortable, ethically made and without the designer price tag. The industry was oversaturated with disposable and poorly constructed products and I needed to rethink how I was going to contribute to something that I loved, but in a way that aligned with my personal values.

Crafted by experts, each shoe is longlasting and handmade by people who care. We’re invested in making sure their craft is compensated accordingly, and in giving continuous, well-paid work. We will never switch to cheaper alternatives. We produce in small batches, or on-demand. We don’t produce to the fashion calendar or seasons, and never to excess. It is a

Founder of Essen The Label

“Overproduction in fashion is one of the biggest environmental threats.”

challenging process, but it eliminates overproduction and up to 90% of waste associated with traditional production processes. This means lower costs per pair, so the prices of our handmade shoes can stay competitive too.

How do you reconcile fashion and sustainability?

Sustainability informs everything I do, but I’d like to mention that ESSEN doesn’t identify as a sustainable brand. I’m very conscious of the contradiction between the current fashion industry, producing for consumption, and the concept of sustainability. But I’m committed to making better choices across the business every day to minimise the social and environmental impact. ESSEN encourages people to buy less, choose better and wear longer.

Fashion is an industry that is currently under fire for its lack of sustainability and eco friendliness –what is being done to change this?

The fashion industry made pledges to sustainability at COP26 and there’s been a lot of planning, but not much else. Alarm bells about climate change are going off, which hopefully now translates to meaningful action. Already there seems to be more conversation and urgency, and a shift in mindset about eliminating fossil fuels and increasing worker wages.

I’m excited about the discussion of introducing end-of-life regulation for fashion, so the industry can be held accountable for its impacts on the planet, including the waste its overproduction generates.

Are big brands really working towards a more sustainable future or is it a lot of ‘greenwashing’?

Fashion – particularly the big brandsis one of the worst offenders of greenwashing. The words ‘eco’ and ‘organic’ are so overused in marketing, which makes it really difficult for smaller brands that are genuine to cut through the noise, or for consumers to

Three ways fashion can be planet friendly

 Provenance

By simply scanning the QR code on your shoebox you can now learn all about your new shoes: where they came from, how they got there, who made them, what their craft is and more.



Packaging

We believe that the world needs a better solution to single-use packaging, so we’ve partnered with RePack, a reusable and returnable packaging alternative made from recycled materials. By choosing reusable packaging we can save up to 80% of carbon emissions compared to singleuse waste.



Revenue Share

To us, every day is Earth Day. Forests are the lungs of our planet, storing and removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

The rainforest takes hundreds, if not thousands, of years to recover to a point at which it’s storing as much carbon as it is now. It’s a really long road back once it’s gone. This is why we’ve decided to protect trees, rather than plant new ones. For each style you purchase from ESSEN, we protect 25 endangered rainforest trees, which is one of the most immediate and efficient ways to fight climate change.

need to think a lot bigger than this and leave partial fixes behind –everything is interconnected. In order to make a business truly sustainable, we need to create better systems and think about each part of the business and supply chain in a holistic way.

Transparency and collaboration are so important. Our industry is traditionally extremely competitive, but in order to become more sustainable and reduce our impact on the environment, it’s very important to share our processes, sources and makers so we create more demand for sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing.

How do you see the future of fashion?

I hope all brands make a commitment to sustainability so that it becomes the norm, and that more value-driven businesses will enter the market. People need to be able to rely on businesses to give them the right choices.

find them. We’re all using the same language to describe sustainability and the brands genuinely committed to sustainability can’t compete in that space.

But sustainability is becoming a priority, now policy and regulation has to catch up to create meaningful change.

Any words of wisdom for others who want to raise awareness and work in fashion – the right way?

The environmental impact of the fashion and textiles industry is one of the leading causes of climate change. It’s of course important to consider the longevity of a garment and the materials that are being used, but we

Ideally business will start separating business growth from production volumes by introducing different revenue streams and adopt near sourcing and on demand manufacturing practises. I believe we will see a shift to smaller boutique brands with niche audiences, which adopt a consumer first approach.

What are your plans for 2022?

I’m working on new sustainable initiatives and materials — footwear supply chains are hugely complex but I’m determined to create a more transparent supply chain through blockchain technology, which is very exciting. I’ve also been researching sustainable leather alternatives which is a big undertaking and am launching new essentials in a few months. This year the plan is to open an ESSEN space in Melbourne too. My focus has always been on slow and sustainable growth, but I have big dreams. I’m hopeful I can balance both.

“I aspire to simplify women’s wardrobes, by helping them consider what they really need and edit out excess. That’s where the name comes from – essentials.”

Climate. Time for a reality check!

After spending a decade in climate change investment, Claire Dunn ponders climate change and its realities.

Tackling climate change is such a huge topic that we can all be forgiven for struggling to get our arms round it. Our individual carbon impacts are constant. Brushing my teeth this morning, I thought about how far those toothpaste ingredients travelled. Would using a self-brushing bamboo

‘Uninhabitable Earth’ and ‘Too Little Too Late’ are not the empowering messages we need. Inspiring action is where we should focus; politically, corporately and individually.

toothbrush be better for the planet than my rechargeable electric toothbrush or will it just leave me with more fillings? What carbon impacts do fillings have? After over a decade working in climate change, counting carbon can feel like counting calories on a never-ending diet, the flab having the upper hand. Attention grabbing headlines about our

This isn’t a new challenge. If you are under 50 it’s likely you will have learned about climate change at school. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported climate change as an international challenge with global consequences back in 1990. Since 1995, countries signed up to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and meet annually. They’ve created mandates, platforms, protocols and not infrequent angry arguments in meetings called ‘COPS’ (Conference of Parties). It was another twenty years before the first legally binding global climate change agreement was signed in Paris. It succeeded in that 192 countries eventually ratified this 2015 framework

that don’t respond will start getting left behind – inertia is becoming less tenable.

to limit global warming to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.

A global consensus

Gaining global consensus around such a divisive issue with such huge economic stakes was no mean feat and should be celebrated. By the time politicians had wrangled over the final wording of the Glasgow Climate Pact late into the nights of the latest COP26 back in November 2021, 74 countries had set (often very complicated) net zero targets. All praises to Bhutan as the first country to set a net zero target back in 2015 and to have already achieved it. Bhutan’s policy makers use an inspiring Gross National Happiness index rather than Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But money still talks. Behind the scenes, the economic prizes from our transition to a low carbon economy are being divided up by the major global economic players. The huge investment required to

decarbonise presents opportunities to make money. That is starting to drive the positive change we need.

Companies are increasingly seeing the opportunities, as are their investors. Successful fuel cell IPOs such as Bloom Energy, FuelCell Energy and over in the UK, Ceres Power, have been powering investor returns, and clean energy exchange-traded funds offer lower risk, mainstream investment routes rather than picking winners. Asset manager such as Impax Environmental Markets Plc are offering real alternatives to FTSE trackers. Innovative research companies such as Sustainalytics are assessing companies on their environmental performance whether they like it or not, which puts them in a fascinatingly powerful position. Companies that don’t respond will start getting left behind – inertia is becoming less tenable. Entrepreneurs and angel investors are amassing in the space,

driven by a mix of good intentions and increasingly attractive potential returns. The Green Angel Syndicate supports over 28 innovative early stage companies tackling climate change in energy, transport, waste and water. The financial switch to a low carbon economy is afoot.

Noble intentions? Other companies are seeing the writing on the wall for their traditional business models as governments and shareholders require that they make their climate intentions clearer. We saw BP and Shell race to publish their net zero commitments, which were duly

Attention grabbing headlines about our ‘Uninhabitable Earth’ and ‘Too Little Too Late’ are not the empowering messages we need.

© Photo by Matthias Heyde on Unsplash.

picked over by environmental charities. Despite having shelved plans to rebrand as ‘Beyond Petroleum’, BP is making significant investments in pre-profit renewables businesses which have made investors nervous. Shell’s recent stated intention to grow its gas business by 20% flies in the face of their net zero commitments, and plans to offset that

gas using ‘nature based solutions’ may leave one wondering whether there is enough nature left to go round. This brings us back to the harsh taskmaster of GDP and those shareholders demanding their quarterly results. As an oil company, it’s challenging to ride the twin horses of shareholder returns and carbon reduction. It’s easier to find utility company success stories. Francesco Starace, CEO of Enel, transformed a traditional electric utility into a renewable energy giant and began learning how sustainability can drive profit early in his career. Many of the most inspiring sustainability CEOs have personal stories of nirvana moments.

Some solutions are obvious once they are pointed out. In the crisp manufacturing supply chain, potato growers previously used energy to hydrate potatoes to increase purchase prices, then the crisp manufacturer would use more energy to dehydrate them before making crisps. Removing the energy-intensive hydration and dehydration was in everyone’s interest. Solutions aren’t always an easy road. One drinks company, ethically committed to sustainability, realised that customer carbon footprints would be far lower if customers simply bought – or even better grew – fruit and blended it to drink. Their alternative was fruit being transported, blended, packaged, transported some more and refrigerated to create a product, which they eventually declined to label with a carbon footprint.

Be the change

If you don’t fancy trying to sign global agreements or lead an innovative sustainability company, you can still have an impact on the climate. And there are many tools out there to give you ideas on how. Both Friends of the Earth and the Grantham Institute have come up with nine things you can do about climate change – the BBC has ten. My hunch is there may be even more. The WWF has an excellent carbon footprint calculator. Informing ourselves on what we can do personally empowers us. Rather than jetting off for the next planet with Musk and Branson, how much more rewarding would it be to see the one we live on thrive?

Shell’s recent stated intention to grow its gas business by 20% flies in the face of their net zero commitments, and plans to offset that gas using ‘nature based solutions’ may leave one wondering whether there is enough

©

Photo by Etienne Girardet on Unsplash.

Madison Stewart highlights the plight of sharks as a result of finning and over-fishing, thanks to Project Hiu.

Shark Girl

Was it a childhood dream to become an environmental activist and shark

conservationist? It’s not the most obvious choice! What inspired you to follow this path?

I love this question.... No! It certainly was not my dream. I grew up loving sharks and the ocean and I knew my future would involve them somehow, but my move from enjoying the natural world to fighting for it came from necessity, not desire. At a young age I began to

witness a change to the ecosystems I grew up diving in; this fuelled my desire to do something about it, it shaped my life in conservation.

Do you bond with the sharks you dive with?

Sharks are not social creatures, I’m sure there are conservationists out there that would like to paint them in the same light that we do cetaceans (whale, dolphin, or porpoise), but the truth is we cannot bond with them or form connections.

I was so young when I began to see the impacts of overfishing, in a place I thought would always remain a sanctuary.

However, that’s something I love about them – the only thing a shark will judge you on, is how well of an apex predator you can be around them. They judge you on how well you can survive in the water with them, it’s a pure form of acceptance and humility that one can only get around a shark.

What would you say to those who tell you sharks aren’t a priority on the wildlife ‘must be saved’ list?

Those who do not understand the plight of the shark do not understand the ocean itself. They are an instrumental – if not one of the most instrumental – species in the oceans. Sharks are keystone species and contribute to the health of entire marine ecosystems. They are an important species to have in healthy numbers in the ocean. They have also been a part of our oceans for 400 million years.

Any life changing moments?

The turning point for me was a single night dive on the Great Barrier Reef when I was 14 years old. It was a place I had always seen sharks before but it was empty. I will never forget how I felt on that dive, or the fear and desperation I had to want to do something about it.

How does one devote one’s life to conservation?

For me the natural path was storytelling through film and then using my ability to connect with the fishermen to do something different. The beautiful thing about conservation is the fact that it’s different for everyone and it is something that will truly only work when coming from the heart.

How did Project Hiu come along?

I found myself in Indonesia with a film crew to document the famous shark market where sharks are killed for their fins. The fishermen revealed that largely as a result of the global shark trade, the ocean was changing in a dramatic way. Not long ago, sharks averaged less than two percent of the total catch, but by the 21st century, Indonesia was the world’s leading shark producer. Their fins became the prize, their status and the laws protecting them became insignificant hurdles, and their decline imminent. When I visited there were maybe 80 sharks, and some of them bigger than any shark I’ve ever seen in the wild, some species I’d only seen in books. I began to think of how I could create change as an individual.

It wasn’t until a year later that I would return. I had originally travelled to this market to expose the shark trade and the men at its heart but I went back, to offer those men an alternative. Project Hiu (Hiu means shark in Indonesian) is an initiative which aims to provide alternative income to fishermen in one of the largest shark fisheries in the world.

By hiring the shark fishing boats and the locals that man them, we sought to engage them in a very different role: tourism. A natural, alternative income that simultaneously and effectively protects sharks. Project Hiu is founded on the recognition that the very solution to saving sharks lay with the men raised to kill them.

Shark fishermen are the villains of most stories, but the heroes in ours. These men deserve an income free from the threat of prosecution, and the many dangers they face spending weeks away from their families. The goal of Project Hiu is to improve conditions above and below the surface, and enforce the idea that one person, and one shark fisherman, can make a difference.

Any words of wisdom for others who want to raise awareness and work in conservation?

I think the best thing for people to know and realise is that they are capable of having an impact, no matter where they are or what they are doing. Shark meat and products that contain sharks are in our everyday life and a major first step to take is to avoid using them. You can learn more about that here: thehoopercollective.org/how-to-help

So, where is home now?

I was in the process of moving to Indonesia when the travel difficulties associated with covid lockdowns made this difficult. I now have no home, spending lots of time in the USA, Indonesia and Australia when I can, but my work keeps me busy. I get flown to different parts of the world to do one of two things: dive with live sharks, or document the trades killing them. It keeps life interesting.

Find out more at projecthiu.com and follow madison@projecthiu

I began to witness a change to the ecosystems I grew up diving in, this fuelled my desire to do something about it, it shaped my life in conservation.

The

Trash Traveler

How was The Trash Traveler born, and what were his initial goals? To be honest, I was becoming increasingly shocked by the amount of plastic in our daily lives, in our supermarkets, on our beaches and in our oceans. I simply had to do something!

I arrived in Lisbon in 2017, initially working in a laboratory as a molecular biologist and medical consultant. In my free time, I would hit the beach to surf and enjoy nature, which is where the shocking reality hit me. Plastic everywhere. So I quit my job and started The Trash Traveler as I wanted to take action by positively raising awareness in extraordinary ways to gain attention.

My goal is to not just ‘clean’, more to highlight the plastic pollution issue and inspire people to make sustainable choices and to rethink our disposable lifestyles. I believe this will contribute to a growing mindshift in the population which applies pressure on companies and governments to invest in a circular economy, therefore shifting away from the single-use mindset.

Originally from Germany, you seem to have a deep affinity with Portugal. How has that evolved? In 2020, I hiked every single metre of the Portuguese coastline (1,132km) in 58 days without a day off! ‘The Plastic Hike’ project was to show in a crazy way, that you can hike the entire coastline with only one refillable water bottle. Over 500 people, including NGO’s and environmentalists, came to participate with me, which was incredible.

This community project resulted in an art exhibition and a documentary movie. Seeing the amount of people who care in Portugal made me stay. So I decided to create one big

adventure each year, and to follow that, I completed ‘The Butt Hike’ in 2021 and collected 1.1 million cigarette butts! Not everyone understands that cigarettes contain harmful plastics, so from an awareness perspective, it helps people to realise that not all plastics are obvious.

In 2020, I hiked every single metre of the Portuguese coastline (1,132km) in 58 days without a day off!

So what can we expect from The Trash Traveler in 2022?

I am putting the finishing touches to my plans for another big nationwide adventure this year. It’s an awareness project that not only connects the coastline communities but I’m also venturing inland. I’m excited to get started, so keep an eye on my social channels for updates – and follow my journey. My aim is to get as many people involved as possible, from schools and universities to businesses and other organisations… and of course the great general public.

Andreas Noe is an environmentalist and a force for good who took matters into his own hands.

Follow the Trash Traveler theplastichike.org or @thetrashtraveler

The Marine Biologist

Joana and her team of biologists are passionate about the ocean and deliver programmes to students, tour companies and the general public to highlight the importance of living in harmony with sea life along the Algarve coastline.

Behind the scenes, AIMM studies the biology, ecology and conservation of the whale and dolphin population and in doing so the team witnesses firsthand the impact human activity has on local wildlife.

As the Algarve is an immensely popular tourism destination, Joana addressed the need to focus on the ethics of the rapidly-growing whale and dolphin watching sector. AIMM works with boat companies, mentoring them to adopt ethical practices. These partnerships cultivate a deep understanding of marine-life and through this, tour companies operate with the least possible impact on the local environment.

What’s next for AIMM?

We’ve set ourselves big goals this year. We’d love to invest in a new, larger vessel so we can grow, and recruit even more students. Over the past decade we’ve nurtured a variety of enthusiastic interns ranging from 14 to 60 years of age. Last year we had 45 students join us, which was amazing! This year, we’d love to grow that number further.

We’re also excited about new collaborations and partnership programmes in schools. We love to inspire today’s young minds, educating them to develop their instinctive connection with the ocean. We’re like proud parents when students set sail on their own paths, confident they’re part of the solution –protecting the precious creatures of our oceans for the future!

What advice can you give, so we can make small changes and form new habits?

1. It may seem an obvious one but it’s so important. Next time you are enjoying a walk along the coast, please collect any trash along your way. Make it part of your routine and you’ll be making such a difference.

Joana Castro founded AIMM Portugal, a non profit NGO for marine research and conservation.

2. We have the power to make conscious consumer choices. There are more ethical products in our stores than ever before. There really are no more excuses. Let’s remove unnecessary single-use plastic from our lives which will prevent it from finding its way into our oceans.

3. When booking a boat trip, please do your research. It’s a privilege to see whales and dolphins in their natural habitat. Choose an ethical operator so you’re confident no harm or distress is caused to the animals. Look out for the AIMM logo which highlights tour companies that offer whale and dolphin-friendly experiences.

What important message would you want to tell our readers?

It’s simple really. Humans can’t survive without a healthy ocean, so it’s vital we protect the delicate balance of biodiversity, in order for marine life to thrive. All our little actions matter, so let’s work together!

Follow AIMM at aimmportugal.org or @aimmportugal_org

INTRODUCING ABLOOM

Small is Smart

Abloom is a small boutique real estate company dealing with multinational clients in the central Algarve. And small is smart! By keeping our team small, we achieve the most important element to success - building strong personal long relationships with our buyers and sellers from the moment we first talk and for years to come.

A Focused Property Portfolio

Remaining a Boutique company means we also stick to our niche market of special unique properties, properties with potential and good investment properties: from charming stylish rustic quintas to modern designer masterpieces.

Knowledge is Critical

By consistently focussing on our core property portfolio and delivering a high level quality of service and professionalism we have earned a strong reputation of being knowledgable.

We inform our buyers well, and the result - our buyers of today become our sellers of tomorrow.

The Discreet Boutique Real Estate

There are owners and buyers who want their property sale or purchase to remain private. This is crucial for our Whisper Listings but we handle all our client´s business with discretion.

PROPERTIES WITH POTENTIAL

“Our house sold very quickly after we appointed Abloom. They are very knowledgeable and go the extra mile, highly recommended.”

Janine - UK

Testimonials

“Abloom provided us with factual knowledge and experience to guide us to make the right purchases and sales.”

Evan and David - USA

“Abloom has access to some really unique properties. Truly professional, reliable and pleasant to work with. Five stars across the board!”

Christoffer - SE

“From start to finish Abloom made this a very straightforward process. Would highly recommend.”

Matt - UK

SOLD BEAUTIFUL QUINTA PROPERTIES

REF 999

+351 289 393 780 | info@abloomproperties.com | +351 919 855 486 SOLD STUNNING MODERN DESIGNER PROPERTIES SoldbyAbloom

970

Climate Change

Direct observations made on and above Earth’s surface show the planet’s climate is significantly changing. Human activities are the primary driver of those changes, changing the natural greenhouse. Over the last century the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has increased the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). The coal or oil burning process combines carbon with oxygen in the air to make CO2.

Covid’s Long-Term Scars

2,000 double decker buses

Plastic waste from the Covid-19 pandemic weighing 25,900 tonnes, equivalent to more than has leaked into the ocean.

“The truth is: The natural world is changing. And we are totally dependent on that world. It provides our food, water and air. It is the most precious thing we have and we need to defend it.”

Sir David Attenborough

Food Waste

Some

931 million tonnes of food goes to waste each year

i.e. 17% of global food production; 61% of that comes from households, 26% from food service and 13% from retail. The UN Sustainable Development Goals aim to halve food waste by 2030.

Fashion Focus

By 2050, the global fashion industry is expected to produce 160 million tons of clothing each year. The sector generates

92 million tons of textile waste annually.

Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned.

*source waste-management-world.com

ECO / Photostory 41 © Hanen Souhail Enzur on Unsplash.com

Deforestation

Forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Since 1990, the world has lost 420 million hectares or about a billion acres of forest, mainly in Africa and South America.

Around 17% of the Amazonian rainforest has been destroyed over the past 50 years,

with deforestation increasing by 21 % in 2020, a loss the size of Israel.

*source National Geographic

Because a picture speaks a thousand words

@lemonadeamsterdam

@swapsociety

swaps for women & kids

@going.zero.waste Eco-friendly & frugal living guru

@margreen_s #wastefreeworld #ecowarrior

@thetrashtraveler

Culthread Blenheim bag

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WWF Elephant silk eye mask and scrunchie set

Sleepover essentials. Comes complete in a pretty canvas pouch with an embroidered elephant to the front. Accessorize.com €26

Project Hiu band Support Project Hiu to provide alternative income to shark fishermen. projecthiu.com €16

The last swab

The world’s first reusable Q-tip! lastobject.com € 11,25

toothbrush with removable heads. dooptoothbrush.com €18

“I wanted to create collections that celebrate the female form, optimism and freedom. I hope my collections encourage positive thinking, fun and feelings of joy.” Helen Burr, Palm & Lyra creator.

Clean, Conscious & Caring

As part of Rituals’ commitment to continuously improve its social and environmental impact, the brand is focused on 90% origin formulas and packaging that’s either refillable, recyclable or made of recycled material. Next to that, Rituals is an avid supporter of three charities and believes that making luxury products to enhance wellbeing and a conscious lifestyle while taking care of the planet go hand in hand. “I’m beyond proud to have earned the B Corp Certification as a brand that truly fosters a sustainable future. At Rituals we strive to keep doing more and going further for people and planet, so we are truly honoured to join a global movement of responsible organisations that want to accelerate progress on the shared challenges we face.

The last two years have transformed the way we think about our health. Goals have been reset, expectations raised and wellness reassessed.

© Photo by Tim Chow on Unsplash.

Raymond Cloosterman, owner and founder, Rituals, @ritualscosmetics

Outdoor Workouts

Never, since the beginning of the pandemic has outdoor training been so much a part of the Lisbon scene. Working out, outside can be the perfect solution for strange times like these. Pregnant women and recent moms with their babies feel safer doing exercise outdoors.

And there are many more advantages, Vitamin D for free, the air is cleaner, you sleep much better, being within nature improves relaxation, is more addictive, helps you to tackle the winter dip and when it gets really cold it even burns body fat more easily.

Vanessa Calem von Muhlen, Mom in Balance Lisboa, @mominbalancelisboa

Global ‘good for the soul’ escapes 3.

Soneva Soul is the culmination of everything we have learned since we launched our spa at Soneva Fushi in 1995, the very first resort spa in the Maldives. Our sustainable, barefoot philosophy reconnects our guests to the earth; our life-affirming natural locations; our delicious yet health-focused cuisine; and our life-changing guest experiences. Soneva Soul is pioneering an approach that combines apparent opposites to offer guests a transformative and personalised wellbeing experience. A pathway to health, happiness and fulfilment, Soneva Soul will encompass resort spas; movement, sleep, yoga and meditation programmes; wellness and lifestyle products; a global network of acclaimed wellness specialists; and innovative, regenerative modalities and medical services. As the brand grows, it will tailor integrated care plans guided by the principle of ‘lifestyle evolution’, helping guests realise their utmost potential and achieve their long-term wellness goals.

Sonu Shivdasani, CEO and co-founder of Soneva wellness resorts, @discoversoneva

In-home Spas

The last two years have really put the onus on general health, wellness and stress management. Creating different zones in our homes to juggle our lives all under one roof has become a necessity. So why not add a spa too? The ease of getting off a business call and hopping onto the massage table became a lot more appealing. After the games room and the cinema room, the in-home spa is now a must have for many. Having the right setting for your qualified therapist to work in is essential. What were

once dead spaces within a home can be upgraded into fully professional spa suites. Consultants like me, with 18 years’ experience in the industry, having launched professional spas, are ideally suited to bring a bona fide spa experience to private homes with the right equipment, design and knowledge.

Erika Harding, Home Spa Consultant, @comfortzoneconcepts

Sustainable Sourcing

Our founder Elle Macpherson has been a driving force around the benefits of collagen, sought out for its proven ability to support healthy, glowing skin and maintain skin hydration and elasticity. At the end of 2021, WelleCo launched The Collagen Elixir, formulated using the highest dose of sustainably sourced marine collagen from wild-caught fish. With the highest dose of marine collagen on the market today, it also works in synergy with desirable ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, silica and digestive enzymes that enhance the collagen absorption and deliver a multitude of additional benefits to skin, hair and nails. Plantbased beauty will also continue to show rapid growth in the future. Consumers are keen to know where their products come from and how they are sourced, with many seeking out plant-based solutions as a way to counter the environmental impact of their beauty regimes.

Leighton Richards, CEO, WelleCo, @welleco

“Plant-based beauty will also continue to show rapid growth in the future.”

Waterless Beauty

Water stress is the biggest crisis no one is talking about. The consequences are clear: food insecurity, conflict and migration and financial instability. Action is key, not only in large industries, but also in our daily lives. From taking shorter showers to turning off the tap while brushing our teeth or washing our face, there are a number of steps we can – and should – take to care for this natural resource; and that also includes beauty products we choose to use. ‘Green’ trends that were once considered ‘niche’ are now becoming more mainstream, but also expected. As consumers, we are more informed, more demanding and

more aware, and we want the products we use to reflect our concerns and ideals. Waterless Beauty, as the name implies, concerns cosmetics and products that do not have water in their formulation, presenting a more compact, concentrated and ecological form.

Cátia Curica, co-founder of Organii and Unii Organic Skin Food, @organii_bio

© Photo by Karly Gomez on Unsplash.

Fitness, Health and Nutrition Apps7.

Sustainability isn’t just about the health and well-being of the planet; it’s about the health and well-being of people. Apps like the GG Elite Fitness app provide support around improving your wellness by tracking health and fitness achievements from anywhere. GG Elite Fitness offers guidance on how to perform specific workouts and provides workouts to follow from a mobile device. The app provides you with challenges based on your body condition while the fitness tracking apps keep track of all

your activities – BMR, age and body weight as well. Thanks to all your personal information, it provides a routine to achieve the maximum outcome from your schedule and takes the stress out of thinking of a workout with videos and instructions already there to guide you.

Gareth Goodger, Personal Coach and GG Elite app founder, @ggelitefitness https://app.ggelitefitness.com/lp

Top Secret Retreats

The demand for exclusive spiritual experiences, in which people have time and space to deeply replenish their energy, revive the soul and realign with their essence, is on the rise. There is an urgent need to escape, to be surrounded by beauty and to experience a safe environment for personal inner metamorphosis. An exquisite level of comfort, transformational wellness therapies and holistic nutrition set the ground for an outstanding journey that comes to life through embodied spiritual teachings. Small groups allow quality one-to-one guidance with the Spiritual Teacher and provide caring individual support. It is said that real luxury is the ability to transform into your higher self – and we ensure guests go through this process and awaken unfulfilled potential while being sheltered in secret dreamlike sanctuaries.

Pedro Rui Sousa, Founder, Bliss Body Journeys, @blissbodyjourneys

“The app provides you with challenges based on your body condition while the fitness tracking apps keep track of all your activities.”

Eat Well. Be Well

Two years in a pandemic has really given us the opportunity to ponder and rethink what matters most with regard to our health and lifestyle. I see individuals reaching out to me for help in their daily nutrition, wanting to prioritise their wellness. This trend is accelerating in 2022 as we focus not only on longevity, but on how we can live an optimal and healthy life. As such, we are seeing a growing interest in plant-based eating and the now popular plant-forward movement. A plant-forward plate entails having half of your plate consist of divers plant-based foods such as non-starchy vegetables and leafy greens. Then, add unrefined grains, root vegetables, either plant-based protein or lean animal protein, and healthy fats. All of this offers a variety of nutrients and vitamins suitable to support your immune system. In Algarve, we are privileged to have access to nourishing, nutrient rich, and high-quality produce.

Karelle Laurent, Nutrition therapist, @karellelaurentnutrition

“We are seeing a growing interest in plant-based eating and the now popular plant-forward movement.”

© Photo by Ryan Moreno on Unsplash.

Jen Manteigas

Trading stocks for The Fit Life

What took you from Canada to Portugal? My husband and I moved five years ago already. We were newly married, fed up with being in the rat race, and looking for a change of scenery from the bleak winters in Montreal. Because Phil had Portuguese nationality, the Algarve was a place that checked all the boxes for us. Sunshine, seaside, amazing food, some family in Lisbon, and beautiful beaches !

get to me physically. Sitting all day was making me weak and in pain. I took a long look at what actually made me come alive and fitness was it. I began studying and training again and it completely changed the way I looked at my life. I got stronger, my aches and pains went away, I felt more confident and generally healthier. Now I love teaching people how fitness can transform their lives and that’s really what I am most passionate about. Since that time I’ve been 100% invested in making others feel better, stronger and healthier.

How did your fitter life come about?

I always loved to train. I was a competitive athlete as a kid and teen so I was always in gyms and was very active. Later down the road, when I graduated University with a business degree and a major in finance, I found myself in a career that I loved, stock trading, but I had lost the active side of my life and I really missed it. The job was exciting but very stressful and the desk job part really didn’t sit well with me. If you know me you know I’m no good at sitting in one spot for very long. I didn’t feel balanced, the commute and the long workdays combined with the stress really started to

Has Covid changed fitness and wellness? The fitness industry changed a lot because of Covid. People are turning to smaller, personal studio spaces rather than big box gyms. The great thing about my business, TFL, is that you can train outdoors and indoors seamlessly, with most of the equipment being movable to go outdoors or indoors. It’s airy, personal and people seem to really love the private side of it. The personalised approach for everyone who comes through the door is what really differentiates us.

How has it affected you? I had my first child right at the height of the pandemic so I have definitely felt the effects of Covid. Phil couldn’t come to any appointments, scans, tests, or anything. The first time he came into the hospital with me was the day Diogo was born. So in the ‘personal life’ aspect, Covid has been a ride, to say the least.

“Always see the positive in things, to look for the opportunity in any situation. It’s easy to get caught up in the negativity of a challenge but we must always be open-minded, think creatively and adapt.”

Fitness trainer, Jen Manteigas, swapped the world of finance for a healthier expat lifestyle in Portugal.

© Photo by Julianna Rezende Borges-Leal.

On the business side, people were very receptive to training where the sessions could be outdoors or indoors in a space that was a private studio, not a public gym. Many expats arrived during Covid and are looking for that ‘English’ private space where they can feel safe and comfortable.

What is your vision of wellness? Wellness to me is our physical, mental, spiritual balance and wellbeing. It’s never perfect, it’s always changing, and it looks and feels different for everyone. It’s more than just what you look like or how fit you are. It’s an emotional state – stress, nutrition, along with all the physiological aspects such as appearance, strength, endurance and stamina.

Life motto?

My motto as a trainer has always been If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. This encompasses both the mental and physical side to training and growth. It’s the tough stuff we go through that builds our character.

Where is home now ?

We have definitely settled into our lives here in Portugal. We’ve learnt the language, we have a son here, a business, a house, so we really consider this to be home now. We just recently bought a home here in Vale de Eguas which we are completely refurbishing. We love this area for its accessibility, and the calm of the countryside. And the bonus is that it’s close to the gym!

Expat or a local?

Expat all the way! When we first got here in 2017, things were not at all like they are now for expats. The community was much smaller and there were not many events or places we could go that would connect us with other expats. There were times where we really felt isolated as we were learning the language and culture. Now we are seeing a big change in the expat community. The goal of The Fit Life is to be a space where people can meet and connect and encourage each other to be fit and healthy, a comfortable place that makes you feel good.

“If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.”

Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash.com.

All About Bliss

How did you go from Portugal to Hong Kong?

Shortly after I turned 30, I realised I didn’t want to continue day dreaming anymore. I wanted to experience everything I was wondering about. I suggested to the company I worked for at the time, Nespresso, to move from Lisbon to Hong Kong and although no job position was available at that time, they actually found a solution for me to support the Asia region. I had a few months in-between, and I took time out to write my first novel.

are closed. We´ve been exploring virtual journeys and delivering value to our community through one-to-one mentorships and group events. I still believe there is a bright side to all of this, and the need for self-discovery and purpose has never been so urgent – we all need a mission to live for, that no virus nor lockdown can remove us from. Soon, very soon, we will get back receiving guests from all over the world to support them on their healing and transformation – and that is what I truly miss, observing our guests’ sparkle reigniting.

What is your vision of wellness?

When did your career path change?

In 2019, I´d reached a dead end in which everything around me was comfortable but soulless, I felt disengaged. My long psychoanalytic processes ended, and intuitively I was looking for guidance from a spiritual sense. I visited Tibet, engaged in a long meditative mentorship process, and went to a retreat in Bali, looking for inspiration and guidance for the next step in my life. The experience itself was magical and opened new doors in my perception of the world. I realised that was the calling and decided to join Bliss Body Journeys.

How has the outlook on wellness changed since the pandemic?

I’ve been recently joking that I am managing a retreat company in a world without retreats. It’s obviously tough – we have only been operating in Hong Kong and all our other destinations in Italy, Bali and Zanzibar

Wellness is the removal of resistances, be they physical, energetic or mental. No point enjoying the best massage If our mind is ruminating on ad hoc problems. Once we remove blockages and bring ourselves to the present moment in a state of creative awareness – that is wellbeing and it’s on us to discover our paths or shortcuts to it.

Expat or a local?

Hong Kong combines beautiful nature with a stunning, vibrant city. It’s diverse and a joy to get lost in old streets surrounded by skyscrapers. I enjoy being lost in translation most of the time - there’s a sense of freedom. But I do miss Portugal. Distance does make us idealise and I’m looking forward to moving back one day and rediscovering its beauty!

What’s the plan for 2022?

I want to take Bliss Body Journeys to different parts of the world by discovering new exquisite, ultra-high end villas and support my wife and co-founder, Vlada de Sousa, in spreading her spiritual teachings. I will write again, too. Hopefully, I will start my fourth novel soon as my forties are coming and I want this decade to be one of purposeful engagement to everything around me.

“It’s our duty to try everything to live a more conscious and joyful life, filled with purpose and to become closer to our higher self.”

Pedro Rui Sousa is a Portuguese novelist based in Hong Kong and co-founder of Bliss Body Journeys transformational retreats.

Pedro Rui Sousa

Carra Sutherland

Carra in Paris. Fashion to Fitness.

Top tips for Happy Detox lifestyle?



Unclutter your mind by turning off your phone for a few hours every day and never look at your phone in bed!

 Treat your body like a sanctuary and feed it properly with clean, organic and local food.



Respect and love your body by doing daily exercise, at least 20 minutes every day.

What drew you to Paris?

I”m from a horse-racing background in Ireland; my Dad was a well-known racehorse trainer whose last great race was the Cheltenham Gold Cup, so I grew up in a family for whom sport was and still is a driving force in everything. Aside from horses, my other childhood dream was to live in Paris and work in fashion. When I set my mind to something I normally succeed!

took training courses in positive coaching, sports coaching and mental leadership. As a sportsperson, foodie, mother and busy professional, I decided to set up Happy Sport & Detox, to create the type of sports and detox retreat of my dreams –one that combines sport, a balanced, tasty and generous diet (because I simply HATE diets!), fun, leadership and mental coaching sessions.



Practice intermittent fasting – brilliant for weight control and beneficial for the immune system.

I first came to France for a one year stint, then left to go on to London, coming back a year later to study at the Sorbonne. I then began modelling, and worked in PR with Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton. I carried on in the world of fashion and luxury as PR director for Emanuel Ungaro, presented TV shows for RFO and Antenne Reunion, and then I set up my own fashion PR and Communications company in 2009. I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset and am very hands on in everything that I do.

How did you make the transition from fashion to fitness?

The transition was gradual. Having practiced sports since my earliest years – horse riding, swimming, water skiing, running, hockey, tennis – this passion has stayed with me. I have always been passionate about personal development, biohacking and wellbeing. I

I have also recently launched Happy Comm, a PR company specialising in health/lifestyle as my 20 years in PR and communication are an integral part of who I am today. In addition to the retreats and coaching I also provide PR and communication support to wellness / tourism / lifestyle / health companies who need to grow.

What put you onto your current path? The desire to help others and propose retreats that are unique and really different to the existing offers! And, my sense of adventure and fearlessness definitely! I have never been afraid to take risks and leave my comfort zone.

Any key turning points?

The birth of my wonderful son Max on June 3, 2011 – definitely the best day of my life! And, leaving fashion to set up Happy Sport & Detox in 2018 was also a big turning point!

How do your retreats work?

Our retreats are designed to revive and replenish from the inside out. Weekends or a week long, the retreats are hosted in exclusive and unique destinations in France, Spain and

I don’t consider myself a fitness coach, I am a ‘health entrepreneur’

Carra Sutherland left Ireland to work in the world of fashion in Paris, before changing gear and founding her own wellness company, Happy Sport & Detox, to create the sports and detox retreats of her dreams.

Morocco. We offer a 360° approach combining the physical body and the mind.

Our 3 pillars are:

• Sport – an over-the-counter medicine

• Food – an anti-inflammatory diet and intermittent fasting

• Attitude – coaching in personal development.

I work with a great team of sports coaches, pilates and yoga teachers, as well as top class wellness and health therapists.

Our advice? Coach seriously whilst never taking oneself too seriously. Our retreats are designed to be fun at all times.

Has covid changed the way people approach fitness?

Yes, definitely! Today clients are looking to relax and de-stress more than to lose weight. Covid has made people more aware of the importance of being in good health, both mentally and physically.

What trends are you seeing for 2022? The fact that clients reserve very last minute. Covid has made it impossible to plan ahead.

Any words of wisdom for others who want to change careers and get into fitness coaching?

Be passionate about what you do, find a unique selling point and be authentic in everything you do. It is also important to practice what you preach!

Is Paris home now?

Yes definitely, even though I still have an Irish tint to my French accent I feel ‘almost French’ and have always felt very welcome in France. The French have always been very friendly to me and I feel that there’s a great sense of community in Paris!

Expat or local?

I feel local ‘with a twist’ as they say: ‘You can take the Irish out of Ireland but you can never take Ireland out of the Irish’, so I still feel Irish no matter what and I am very proud of my Irish fighting spirit and background.

Follow Carra at happysportdetox.com or @happysportdetox

“As a sportsperson, foodie, mother and busy professional, I decided to set up Happy Sport & Detox to create the type of sports and detox retreat of my dreams.”

Miles Mortensen

The Aussie Rocket Yogi

What led you from Australia to the UK? I found the nightlife scene in Australia, and after falling in love with it, decided to pursue the DJ life and made the move to London to study electronic music production. I have a deep love and connection with music, always have, and was often searching for ways to express that. When I found DJing it was game over.

How did you get into rocket yoga? My mother was a yoga teacher so its practises and teachings were always there. She used to teach my friends and me when we were growing up. As I got older, things began to shift. I always felt what my mom explained to me was helpful but it didn’t resonate until I was at the point in my life where I needed a change.

modify the sequence. It’s more playful and rebellious, and I loved the balance of tradition and innovation.

How does one go from DJ to yoga master? DJing took me to some crazy places, gave me some wild experiences, and created some beautiful memories and connections. But I began to become tired of the business side of things. It lost the magic for me.

My first love of yoga was actually Ashtanga, which is a dynamic sequence that teaches a very strong foundation through breath and repetition. It was created by Patthabi Jois and is one of the first styles of physical yoga to reach westerners. It’s a moving meditation. Rocket is an adaptation of the ashtanga sequence, invented by late Californian yoga teacher Larry Schulz, which keeps the skeleton but allows teachers and practitioners to adapt and

A tricky relationship and a break-up triggered a spiral of dark times. Without going too much into detail, I fell into a space of hating myself, developing body image issues, being filled with anxiety, and just feeling depressed. I didn’t want to see or talk to anyone. It hit me how bad I was when my best mate pulled me aside for a chat. I decided to pick myself up and make some changes, incorporating meditation and yoga into my life. Fast forward two years and I headed to India to do my 200-HR in Ashtanga and Vinyasa. Teaching and practising are like nothing I have ever experienced and yet it gives me the same high as when I would play in a nightclub. Now I incorporate the tools and skills I have learnt into my classes, curating unique soundtracks for that lift. I practise and teach with a bit of a party vibe!

How has the outlook on wellness changed, since Covid?

It’s definitely reinforced by a lot of encouragement to keep both mind and body healthy in both psychological and physical

Fitness is key, but really living a healthy and sustainable life for me is vital.

Miles Mortensen went from Sydney to London, from DJ tunes to a zen attitude.

My motto this year: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Simply put, be a better person than you think you can be.

practises, but really the importance of taking care of our inner wellness. It also really highlighted how vital friends and family and societal interactions are in keeping our state of wellbeing strong.

life and business. I was fortunate to have spent most of my time travelling around Europe and Mexico. It made me think outside the box about how I can develop my teaching and interact with people as well as how I want to live my life.

How do you see fitness vs healthiness or wellness?

How has it affected you?

The biggest part has been the separation from my family. It’s been the hardest, especially watching siblings grow up from afar. I also miss the weather and the quality of food and, of course, the nature and the beach. But for the most part, Covid really set me loose on what was actually possible teaching and opening up my world, both in

For me it’s everything. Fitness is key, but really living a healthy and sustainable life for me is vital. I was lucky enough to grow up with two health-conscious parents, so for me it’s embedded in my life. Being conscious about my body, about what I eat, and how I am keeping my mind are critical. All need to sync together for the whole thing to work. It’s learning how to tune into the more subtle nature and voices of our inner self and letting that guide the life we live.

Any words of wisdom?

Live a life that is authentic to you, whatever that looks like. For you are the only person who gets to look back on it all at the end of the road. Be of service to others for it’s not about the ‘you’. But maintain value to yourself and your needs.

Where is home now ?

For an expat, home is never as simple as one place. Home is with the people you love –part of my heart will always be in Australia with my family, and part will be in London with the amazing people I’ve met. I’m lucky to have travelled a lot, and I find my home anywhere through community, friendship and sharing space.

So East End or West End?

I’m an East Londoner. I live in Shoreditch and love the buzz, the mix of cultures and the creative vibes.

Expat or a local?

For me: Expat. My mum moved over to the other side of Australia when she was around 26 and I think that always plays a part in my thinking that you grew up somewhere and then left to explore the world and decide your home. It’s a crazy concept for me to be in the same place you grew up in. In saying that, I love what local communities have and share.

Follow miles @milesmortensenyoga

For an expat, home is never as simple as one place.

WIN A WELLNESS EXPERIENCE FOR 2

AT THE SAL SPA, THE NEW BOUTIQUE WELLNESS DESTINATION IN PRAIA DA LUZ

The recently opened SAL Spa, Luz is a wellness haven offering something for everyone. Sharing a passion for health and wellbeing as a way of life, the SAL Spa offers a wide range of treatments, natural health therapies, and the nurturing tranquillity of the salt water pool spa circuit experience itself.

The concept was designed as a nourishing, peaceful place for everyone, from new-born, children, adult and prenatal swim classes to a vast range of specialised massages, facial treatments, body wraps, and physiotherapy in collaboration with highly-skilled professionals.

The spa circuit offers resistance jets for swimmers to exercise at their own pace and hydro-jets for a post-swim massage to the upper body. Relax, repair and detoxify in the steam room or sauna with essential oils, if desired, followed by a Swedish-style, ice-cold shower to revive circulation. Then, take a moment

to relax in the tropical atrium with a complimentary drink, or out on the sun loungers during the warmer months.

The newly-added boutique store adds a glamorous element to the Spa, offering selective, independently-made luxury goods. The eclectic range extends from Italian lounge, day, and evening wear, handmade leather bags, woven bags from Athens, hand-stitched baby and adult swimwear, unique pieces from local jewellers, plus the SAL Spa range of sumptuous soy wax, essential oil candles, cosmetics, and more. Create a bespoke basket to the value of your choosing as the perfect gift all-year-round.

The SAL Spa is a welcome addition to the local health and wellness community, offering a safe space to encourage people of all ages on their path to wellbeing.

To win a Sal Experience for two, including one hour use of the facility and one hour back, neck and

shoulder massage, answer the following question

Q: Is the pool at SAL saltwater or freshwater?

Email your answer to competitions@wherevermags.com before June 1st 2022

The prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. This offer is subject to availability.

See the Sal Spa here

James Cave

Relocation, Relocation

The Portugalist tackles every day expat issues.

@portugalist

James Cave is a travel writer based in Portugal and runs the popular site Portugalist.com. He is also the author of the non-fiction book, Moving to Portugal Made Simple.

Making New Friends

One of the biggest challenges of moving to a new country is developing friendships, especially deep and meaningful friendships. Making friends with other internationals is relatively easy thanks to an ever-increasing number of Facebook groups and because many internationals, like you, are actively looking to make new friends. On the other hand, most Portuguese will already have an established circle of friends, so making local friends can be harder, especially if you don’t speak the language.

Expat friends

You’ll find other internationals all over Portugal, but especially in places like Lisbon, the Algarve, Madeira, and, increasingly, the Silver Coast and Setúbal. In these places, there are usually plenty of meetups, sports clubs, and active Facebook groups where you can easily connect with others. Although you’ll find internationals in every corner of Portugal, the majority gravitate towards the more popular locations. This is especially the case with younger internationals, most of whom are based around places like Lisbon, Ericeira, Lagos, and the West Coast of the Algarve.

Sometimes the only thing you’ll have in common is that you’re both expats. This is fine for making friends, sometimes even good friends, but to find people you can have meaningful friendships with, try to join groups that are more focused on a specific interest of yours.

Portuguese friends

Making Portuguese friends can be difficult as most already have their own core group of friends and aren’t looking to make new friends in the same way as internationals are.

The best ways to meet people – and this applies to anywhere in the world – is to have a Portuguese partner, work in a Portuguese workplace, or have children that attend the nearby school. Failing that, owning a dog can be quite sociable as it’s easy to start chatting with other dog owners at your local park. If none of these apply, joining Meetup groups, sports clubs, and societies is a good starting point. You’ll find some Portuguese in the international groups, and if you’re lucky, there’ll be other Portuguese-speaking events you can join. Meetup groups are less common in Portugal, but if you start one, there’s a good chance some Portuguese will join. Don’t wait for someone else to do it: you’ll have to be proactive here!

Being able to speak Portuguese will go a long way. Although many Portuguese speak fantastic English, most will want to speak in Portuguese when they’re with their friends –especially in a group setting. Most also assume that expats aren’t interested in learning the language, so by learning Portuguese, you’ll show that you’re different from the stereotype.

Look out for Portuguese people who have returned after living abroad. Although they speak the language and already have friends, many will feel as much of an outsider as you do. You’ll also have in common that shared experience of living abroad.

“Great friendships need to develop organically, and you don’t get to choose whether your best friends are Portuguese or internationals.

What’s important is that you’re doing your best to integrate and make friends where possible.”

Mackinder in DK

@adrian_mackinder

Adrian is a part time actor, author, comic book fan and father of two.

Denmark: the small country with a bright future

According to the division within the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), responsible for setting goals in sustainability, my adopted country, Denmark, leads the way. According to Earth. org, last year it was ranked second in the Global sustainability Index. For centuries, Denmark was a land built on agriculture and fishing. It is historically and culturally tied to the land and its surrounding water. For much of Denmark, promoting sustainable living is second nature.

From my experience, the Danes are a selfcontained, modest people who do not like to toot their own horns – unless to warn dozy foreigners like me when we stumble into one of many hundreds of miles of cycle lanes throughout the country. But when it comes to sustainability, the Danes are confident and proud of their achievement. And rightly so.

I don’t think I’m being too out there when I say that ecologically speaking, the world is in real danger of going to hell in a handcart. So when a country like Denmark can show just how to promote sustainable living, it’s worth hearing what they have to say.

Denmark was the first country in the world to set a target of becoming independent of fossil fuels by 2050. Its capital Copenhagen aims to become the first carbon neutral city by 2025. They successfully halved their CO2 emissions since their peak in 1996. Between 2012 and 2017, green sector employment increased four times more than that of

the private sector. Nearly half of all its energy is generated by wind power. It has twice as many bicycles as it does cars. Like I said, impressive.

Virtually all of Copenhagen’s waste is recycled, composted or incinerated. The pavements are litter free. The air is clean. So is the water. If I do have one gripe with the water, it’s that it is also impossibly hard. Absolutely ruins your laundry. Seriously, if ever you have to terrorise any home intruders in Denmark, just go at them with a freshly washed tea towel; it’s like a sheet of titanium laminated with kevlar.

There is no doubt that Denmark’s efforts, attitude and achievements are to be lauded. On the ground, however, all this excellence in sustainability had a most curious effect on me. At times it makes me crave a little bit of muck. Just a smidge of dirt. We won’t want our cities too sterile now, do we? After all, what makes the great metropolises like London, New York and Paris so compelling is that little bit of grit under the fingernails. All cities should have an edge to them, contrasting shades of light and dark. Of course, Copenhagen does have its dark corners – that’s a whole other article - I just wonder at times that if the city proves too successful in cleaning up its act, it risks becoming like a massive open-air museum: very beautiful, very old but you’re hesitant to touch anything for fear of tarnishing its impeccable surfaces. A minor quibble I know. And overall, the rest of the world could learn a lot from this tiny little ‘scandi land’. Our future might just depend on it.

The struggles of becoming a bilingual family in Copenhagen.

“The Danes are a selfcontained, modest people who do not like to toot their own horns.”

Gail McNeil

FiftySister in Algarve

The trials and tribulations of renovating a property in Portugal.

@fiftysister Building a green-er house

Gail is a self-made social media star, vegan and mum of one growing older gracefully.

We are now three months into our house build in Algarve. Steel and concrete prices increased substantially last year as a result of a decrease in world-wide supply, so we’re busy cutting costs of the construction by limiting the number of materials and different craftsmen. In a bid to make it passively ecofriendly, we increased the overhang on the southside to provide additional shade, and extensive use of glass on the north side to improve flow of air to cool the interior in the summer months without the use of aircon.

The finish in the majority of the house for the ceilings and flooring will be raw concrete, so the upfront costs for the construction are higher, but save time and materials at a later stage. All of the electrics will be surface mounted, providing easy access and, again, less materials. The only downside to this is the workmanship must be exceptional to prevent mistakes and the need to redrill poorly positioned fixtures. I shall be overseeing the electrics daily as an essential extra pair of critical eyes.

The search is now on for solar panels and battery storage, which will take up the least amount of space but with maximum lifespan to prevent early replacement. Solar has come a long way in the past decade or so, but strangely is not a regular sight on houses in Algarve. With over 300 days of sunshine per year, one would expect to see panels on every home. But, with the average salary of locals of €700/per month, the panels are out of reach to the majority of the population.

We will also install a small wind turbine to power the house at night, reducing the need to use the battery backup, or mains backup during the hours of darkness. This will ensure heat to our swimming pool all year round to make use of the pool outside of the summer months. Something else that, surprisingly, isn’t standard practice here.

Water will be drawn from the bore hole once it’s installed, with back-up from the city water supply. This is simply a case of switching to the mains water from a stop tap. We anticipate that we will hit water at approximately 125m deep, drilling through limestone all the way. The cost depends on the geology of our location. If its stable and solid we can use plastic pipe, if we discover pockets of shingle or caves, we will be forced to use steel – the most expensive option.

Our dream is to build a minimalist, industrial-style, single-story home, nestled in the mountains facing the Atlantic coast. A low maintenance home and garden, with free power and water, needing no extra input from mains services once complete. Add to that a kitchen garden and edible plants in the landscaping and we can work towards self-sufficiency in the future. I’m loving every minute of the process and excited to see the build progress each week.

Find out more about Gail’s place and follow her progress on loulehills.com

“Solar has come a long way in the past decade or so, but strangely is not a regular sight on houses in the Algarve.”

Cars have proven to be a surprisingly resilient invention. We’ve had them for 135 years now. We sell about $121 billion worth of them a year, and while a recession or trade war may make a dip in those numbers, what else are you going to do? Ride a bus? There aren’t many other late-19th century inventions that are still a huge part of our lives. Sure, we like CocaCola, but it doesn’t define us and even things like Edison’s incandescent light bulb, the typewriter, and the old over-the-wires telephone have largely come and gone during the car’s continuing lifespan. And none of them have shaped not just our physical geography, but our very direction as a species, like the car.

cities. Los Angeles, for example, has over sixand-a-half square miles of surface area of parking, for cars that spend 95% of their time not moving. For the five percent of their lives that cars are actually driven, the United States alone uses 142.86 billion gallons of petrol in one year, that’s 271,804 gallons a second. It’s hard to visualise that, but it’s about an Olympic swimming pool every three seconds. It’s like trying to get a sense of the size of the universe, it’s too big for the human mind. No one, from any political or moral viewpoint, can describe petrol as sustainable. Even when we go completely electric over the next 20 or 30 years, we’ll still need all those roads, and we’ll be adding an entire new layer of power delivery infrastructure, because unless those Back to the Future ‘Mr. Fusions’ start hitting the shelves we’re simply trading one form of power for another.

There are cars, or at least Toyota pickups, almost everywhere. They are in Antarctica, and they’ve driven to the North Pole. I picked a random spot in Africa in Google Maps. It turned out to be somewhere called Batha-Ouest, Chad, a desert right in the middle of the continent and there it was – a set of tire tracks worn into the dust, crossing to… somewhere.

Everywhere, cars. And yet we know they can’t last forever. The infrastructure of roads and parking lots and garages and gas stations and refineries takes up a horrifying portion of the earth’s surface, more than 15% of many

We’re never going to get flying cars, because they use orders of magnitude more energy than rolling around (see: Mr. Fusion). We’re never going to connect more than the population centres with any kind of mass transit, which leaves (currently) about 60 million people without any way to get around. There’s been a trend towards rural migration to cities for years, but don’t be surprised if that reverses. I think the combination of remote work and whatever forms of telepresence we’re going to have, with the overnight availability of just about anything, will turn the flow as people realise there’s nothing they can’t get while enjoying a rural quality of life.

Which begs the question: how are we going to get around After Car? There are the first

Car Geek, David Traver Adolphus, takes a deep dive into the world A.C. (After Car) and says because cars have shaped our very view of reality, we can’t imagine another way of existing.

“Cars, for all I love them, are terrible. They may in fact be the worst thing the human race has ever done or ever will do.”

a car-free future…

66 LUXE TOYS / Car Geek © William Bossen on Unsplash.com

The United States alone uses 142.86 billion gallons of gasoline in one year. No one from any political or moral viewpoint can see that as sustainable.

© Everett Bartels on Unsplash.com

hints of answers now, in ride sharing and fractional car ownership programmes. But the bigger answer is, pretty soon we not only won’t need to go anywhere, we won’t want to.

Almost all the pieces are in place to start imagining our post-transportation future. We still do need all kinds of things delivered, but that’s not going to last. It’s slow and sometimes complicated, but today you can 3D print in your home. At some point that will become much more accessible and while you might not make pots and pans in your study, you might get them made to order at a regional or local fabrication centre and have them drone delivered an hour later.

There will be iconoclasts who live off grid, who form back-to-the-land communes, but their ability to interact with anyone else will be severely limited.

It will probably make sense from an energy standpoint for us to congregate in groups of some size, if only because it’s likely to be inefficient for everyone to supply all their own power needs, fabricate all their own goods and produce all their own food –unless we have Star Trek replicators, in which case all bets are off.

The only thing left is food and that solution is here, too. We are growing meat in a lab today and it’ll be commercially available in the next year or two. There are ‘cultured’ (or alt-meat) proponents who think commercial animal raising will be phased out entirely by the end of the century. I think they’re being conservative and it will happen much faster than that. Plants we can’t grow in a vat like delicious muscle tissue, but we can and do grow fruits and vegetables hydroponically. When truck distribution systems start to wither away it will become uneconomical to ship avocados 3,000 miles, so production too will move away from huge central locations and into smaller, local operations. Just one invention could change that, though, and make it possible to assemble big things where they’re needed, not where the power is.

By the year 2300, we will be at the very end of the whole idea of going anywhere or moving things. When our virtual worlds are indistinguishable from the concrete one, and the footprint of meeting all of our physical needs shrinks to a neighbourhood, our society will be able to take entirely new shapes that we aren’t equipped to imagine.

As we increasingly live physically disconnected lives, the population will shrink, although there’s no reason to think we can’t grow people, too. Across the world the changes will come at wildly varying rates, with some places actively resisting; and resources, geography and population density making it a long time until the tracks outside Batha-Ouest fade back into the sand. But just as the car went everywhere, it will slowly roll away, until the last diesel Mercedes 300 parks for the last time.

The car and the notion of easy transportation has shaped our very view of reality to such a degree that we can’t imagine another way of existing. It’s built into the structures of our society and forms the context with which we understand the world. Even when all of the technology to make that idea obsolete exists in the not too distant future, it will require generations of slowly changing the way we frame our thoughts before it is fully embraced.

Cars, for all I love them, are terrible. They may in fact be the worst thing the human race has ever done or ever will do. They are not eternal, though, and the process of casting them away for the next stage in our evolution as a species has already begun. Our descendants will look back at them not with nostalgia but with horror, as they move without moving into their new bright future.

“Cars, for all I love them, are terrible. They may in fact be the worst thing the.”

© Stefano Valicchia on Unsplash.com

GreatNadal’s White

70 LUXE TOYS / Yachting WHEREVER caught up with the tennis star to talk about his affinity with the ocean and his treasured yacht.

Rafael Nadal has been passionate about yachting since childhood and seizes every opportunity to be on the sea with friends and family. The idea to build a customised catamaran has been part of the superstar athlete’s plans for a while. Seduced by both the yacht’s design and living space, he joined the Sunreef Yachts family of owners. Shortly after taking delivery, Nadal and his family celebrated his birthday on board the Sunreef 80, Great White.

“When I saw the 80, I said: ‘Wow, that’s huge!’ I went inside and loved it. I also knew it was the biggest boat I could have in the small port of my village. When I was presented with the project 80 Power, I fell in love.”

Have you always been a fan of the ocean? Since I was a kid, I fell in love with the sea. I have a lot of great childhood memories of going out on a small boat with my family and friends. We usually went out early in the morning and came back late in the afternoon – those are very nice memories. When I was young, I was super happy with a small boat that my father owned, and I never dreamt about owning any type of boat myself.

Of course, later I wanted to have my own boat, but the main thing I had in mind was to continue doing what I did when I was a kid, just with a little bit more comfort. I still just want to share great moments with my

friends and family and discover the ocean, discover beautiful places that we have here around the island and visit different countries.

How is the amazing Sunreef catamaran? I’m from Mallorca and I find it difficult to imagine my life without the sea. I’ve known Sunreef Yachts for years and my impression of the company has always been great. Since I visited their catamarans for the first time during the Cannes Show years ago, I always thought catamarans have amazing advantages because of the amount of space you have on the boat and the comfort is unbelievable. When I saw the 80, I said, ‘Wow, that’s huge!’ I went inside and loved it. I also knew it was the biggest boat I could have in the small port of my village. I asked Sunreef if they produce a power version, because today I don’t have a lot of time for sailing. Sometimes I like to go and come back on the same day or next morning to keep practicing my tennis, so when I was presented with the project 80 Power, I fell in love.

Where do you spend most of your time on board?

Most of the time I’m around the Balearic Islands, because at this point of my life I don’t have much time to go long distance. I’m super excited about spending a lot of time on

the boat and I’d love to visit the whole Mediterranean, including Croatia, Greece, Italy, as well as the Caribbean. Our planet is an amazing, beautiful place. There are plenty of spots I’d like to visit, and I hope I have the chance to go to some as-yet undiscovered destinations in the future. I hope I’ll have time to go on these adventures when I’m retired.

Any favourite spots? I’ve chartered catamarans a couple of times in the Bahamas – in the Exuma Islands – and I loved it. The Exumas are one of my favourite places, so I try to go back there when I can, and I’d love to go with Great White. It would be amazing to visit all these remarkable places. I’ve been able to spend so much time with friends and family this year. We’ve put a lot of love into the project, choosing everything, I’m super happy with the boat. It’s very special for me, my family and friends.

During the season, I don’t have much time, but I always try to find some. When I come home, I like to take the boat out, winter or summer. When I spend, say, a week on a yacht, I always take my things and do my daily workout to protect my shoulders and knees. I try to swim a lot and I enjoy free diving very much. It’s not good for a professional sportsman to stop exercising completely, so I stay active!

The broker Ocean Independence boasts a long history of buying, selling and chartering Sunreef yachts. Whether you are looking to sell your yacht, purchase the latest model or arrange an idyllic charter getaway visit:oceanindependence.com or contact enquiries@ocyachts.com

“There are plenty of spots I’d like to visit, and I hope I have the chance to go to some undiscovered destinations in the future.”

Could this be the in Portugal?

greenest course

Home to three world-class golf courses, Quinta do Lago is all about the green credentials.

Since its inception in 1972, it has hosted eight Portuguese Opens as well as numerous other international tournaments. While the North Course €9.6m investment was all about precision and strategy, designed by Beau Welling and Paul McGinley, the South Course has had its own eco makeover.

Due South

Already a favourite among European Tour professionals calling for accurate drives and precise shots, the course overlooking the Ria Formosa Natural Park is regularly included in Golf World magazine’s ‘Top 100 Golf Courses in Europe’. The par-72 layout has received widespread praise for its strategically-placed hazards and varying difficulty across the 18 holes.

efficiency and save water and power. All 48 bunkers on the course have been restored to their original size, with new drainage and sand added and compacted.

In addition, the lakes on the 3rd and 17th holes have been upgraded with new retaining walls giving a sharp modern look consistent with the other lakes on the course; the fairway on the 8th hole has been softened and a number of pine trees relocated to allow greater access to the green; and golfers will face a new challenge on the 16th hole with the lake behind the green brought into play, adding drama to the closing holes.

Nature first

A €7m makeover includes upgrades to all of the layouts, fairways, bunkers, tees and green surrounds with Hybrid Bermudagrass Tifway 419, while the maintained rough has been changed to Kikuyugrass, which is now endemic in the region and will continually lower the resort’s irrigation and resource consumption.

With irrigation now based on ‘evapotranspiration’, it gives the plant exactly what was lost from the previous 24 hours, and enough water to grow and stay healthy. Last winter, the irrigation pumps on the South Course were upgraded to improve

As well as installing a state-of-the-art irrigation system with more eco-friendly grasses – reducing the use of non-renewable resources –superintendent Mark Tupling and his team worked with the Golf Environment Organisation (GEO) Foundation on a planting scheme. They introduced native plants in and around the golf courses including mastic tree, salvia cistus, kermes oak, olive tree, strawberry and carob to develop a local, biodiverse landscape and control and remove invasive exotic species.

Building ‘bug hotels’ for insects also helps to control garden pests, thus reducing the use of insecticides. Bee houses and nest boxes for birds are also on his agenda. Placing nest boxes for birds to attract different species like the blue tit, great tit, Eurasian hoopoe or little owl, provide a natural solution to control insect and rodent pests, such as the pine processionary caterpillars.

“Our

champion of sustainability,” Sean Moriarty, CEO, Quinta do Lago.

Off the green, single-use plastics have disappeared from the restaurants; there’s a QFarm for organic local vegetables and herbs to supply the restaurants, and sustainable take-away packaging, not to mention wildlife information boards, a charity supporting the Wildlife Rescue Centre, nature walks and a new fleet of electric golf buggies of course!

quintadolago.com

“As a trained agronomist, I am an advocate for environmentally-responsible approaches to life.” Mark Tupling, golf course superintendent, Quinta do Lago.

© Ricardo Dionisio Photography.

guide toA cheat’s Upcycling

Have fun and save the planet by giving preloved furniture a new lease of life.

You’re probably aware of the term ‘upcycling’ but have never actually put it into practice, even though you love the idea. We understand, and that’s why we’ve written this simple guide to getting started.

First up though, if you don’t have any interesting old furniture lying around you can often pick some up easily and inexpensively at auction houses, second-hand charity shops, junk shops, car boot sales or on eBay.

Quality paint and a good set of brushes, sponges and sandpaper are your best friends when it comes to upcycling. You’ll need varnish and wax, too.

by Jill Stevenson

Different Paint Types For Upcycling

Chalk paint is particular popular for recycling projects. That’s because it’s easy to use on any kind of surface, not just plain or varnished wood. Use it to paint over metal, varnished wood and even plastic. Better still, if it’s furniture you’re painting then you don’t even have to prime the wood first.

Chalk paint is especially good for a ‘distressed’ or shabby chic and rustic look. Simply take the chair, table or dresser that you want to upcycle and paint it a dark colour underneath. After an hour apply the second, lighter coat and once dry, seal the paint by rubbing over with wax, using a soft lint-free cloth.

Once the wax is dry gently sand down particular areas of the furniture to make it appear scuffed. Another coat of wax, polish and you’re done.

Upcycling Tips



Always use decent wood e.g. mahogany and pine, not chipboard



Check old furniture for woodworm first



Use a primer with laminated wood to stop the paint sliding off

Getting a slick, contemporary look



Use coarse sandpaper first on rough wood, before switching to light sandpaper

Gloss paint is ideal for contemporary appeal. This type of paint reflects light, giving a good, sleek sheen. It will take longer because you’ll really need to prepare the furniture first by sanding it down and using primer.



Get ready to make a mess of things initially. Practice makes perfect and all that.

Silk or Satinwood are ‘mid-sheen’ finishes. The latter has a softer feel than silk, while paint described as Eggshell has even less of a sheen than Satinwood, making it ideal for a heritage or classic look.

Once you’ve painted a few pieces of furniture and feeling more confident you might be tempted to add a little texture using paint.

“ONCE YOU’VE PAINTED A FEW PIECES OF FURNITURE AND FEELING MORE CONFIDENT YOU MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO ADD A LITTLE TEXTURE.”

The upcycling newbie’s vocab guide



Marbling involves mixing a few colours of oil paint in a bucket then dipping your furniture in, before allowing to dry and seal with wax.



Sponging is the easiest technique. Simply press down a damp sponge onto the wet paint surface and lift off. You’ll then get a great ‘mottled ‘look.



Stippling involves dabbing the top coat of paint randomly with a stippling brush. This is where your textured look comes in as it gives the furniture an almost velvety appearance.



Decoupage can look darling on furniture. Coat the furniture in PVA glue then stick down wallpaper cut offs, sheet music or card. Leave to dry then apply a second coat of glue before sealing with a clear acrylic varnish.



Stencilling, remember it as a child? Well, you can do the same to furniture with some spectacular results. Buy or make your own stencils then fill them in using a small brush and water-based paint.



Gild edging is a great way to add extra sparkle to furniture. After painting your piece put glue on areas you want to highlight then press on a sheet of silver or gold leaf. Seal with clear wax.



Rag rolling involves pressing a rag rolled into a sausage shape against the final wet coat of paint. Unlike stippling, which involved pressing down and quickly off, this time you want to roll the rag down the paint for a ‘falling fabric’ effect.



Cracked finish can be achieved by painting the furniture and using a hairdryer to crack the paint. Once dry, rub the furniture’s edges with sandpaper to look worn. Go over the cracks with watered-down, darker paint. Add dark wax with a cloth then seal with a clear wax.

“BUY OR MAKE YOUR OWN STENCILS THEN FILL THEM IN USING A SMALL BRUSH AND WATER-BASED PAINT.”

All photos Annie Sloan.

Hitchcock Esmerald Green Rug

Love this green wool rug named after the iconic 40’s movie director. Luxurious and stylish. Price on request. essentialhome.eu

GoingGreen

RugSociety, Fresh Interior With Green Tones Reptilus Rug

Dark Green Glass Candle Holder

Bring some colour into your home and get that candlelit glow going. €17 talkingtables.co.uk

Lucky Rope

Bring a touch of Irish luck to your home with this wire word. €23 bombayduck.com

Koket founder and CEO, SweetPeaandWillow

Fresh Interior With Green Tones

Natural wool and botanical tones soon

a

of

“Rattan is a trend we love and will continue to love for the foreseeable future thanks to its versatility, durability and the fact that it looks amazing!”

Kelly Sofa Forest Green

and bodacious!

the spot to sip cocktails, and bring a touch

to

lounge. €9754 bykoket.com

Get thelightingright...

Flamingo Floor Lamp, Green Velvet Shade

Who doesn’t love a flamingo? Resin, stone powder and plaster composite with a velvet shade. €475 audenza.com

Rattan Mushroom Garden Decoration Figures

Another nod to nature, these mushroom lights give the perfect whimsical touch. €72 lights4fun.co.uk

T Graphic Lamp

Personalise your light. Indoor or outdoors. Freestanding on or on the wall. €3552 delightfull.eu

Koket founder and CEO, Janet Morais.

Forest Green Cushion with Gold Palms

Beautiful forest green velvet cushion with gold embroidered palm trees. Matching green piping and backing. Comes complete with feather pad. €30 mintandmay.co.uk

Nodo Suspension Chair

Rose Gold meets Neo Mint in this comfy hanging chair. With velvet upholstery and stainless steel, it’s a fairytale addition to your decor. Price on request. circu.net

Toba Rattan Coffee Table

More boho style – this stylish rattan coffee table with glass tops brings retro vibes aplenty. In a good way. €361 sweetpeaandwillow.com

Absinthe Green Velvet Bed

So bohemian! The Absinthe spirit of freedom is reflected in this glamorous green velvet upholstered bed. Emboldened with striking dashes of brass gold, detailed in the slender tapered legs and the refined studwork that sweeps across the headboard. €1678 frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

“Deep and saturated Forest green confers an opulent atmosphere to every interior. The human eye is immeadiatly drawn to it.”

Photo Credit: Alexis Adams

Hollywood Hunk

Matt

Damon’s

Hideaway

Tucked away on the same street as his lifelong friend Ben Affleck’s place, Damon’s Pacific Palisades residence is the perfect hideout, away from the glitz of LA.

Master architect Grant Kirkpatrick of KAA Design used warm woods, natural stone and lots of glass while including artful details throughout the 1,255 m² mansion. The home’s focal point is its central atrium, with 10 meter high vaulted mahogany ceilings that let in masses of natural light. Open floor plans and disappearing glass walls connect the sprawling living and entertaining areas.

81 Californian

With seven bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, nearly 3,000 square meters of lushly landscaped grounds and mature trees, a KOI pond and a children’s play area, it also boasts a resortstyle pool and spa. There’s a chef’s kitchen with custom-made mahogany cabinetry, Bluestone countertops and top-of-the-line stainless-steel appliances by Viking, Miele and Wolf. The master suite includes huge, dual walk-in closets, a spa-style bath with a

© Serge Rocco / Shutterstock.com

massage room and opens onto its own private terrace with palm tree and garden views. A game room, bar, office, gym, media room, staff quarters and wine storage and tasting room complete the gated estate.

One of Hollywood’s most bankable stars and among the highest-grossing actors of all time, Matt’s films are responsible for almost $4 billion in box office receipts.

Together with his writing partner and life-long friend, Affleck, Damon won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay for Good Will Hunting. As an actor, he took home a Golden Globe for his starring role in The Martian.

Matt’s most recent project is the upcoming The Last Duel, which was filmed in France and Ireland during the pandemic. Damon found himself locked down for three months with director Ridley Scott and the rest of the film’s cast and crew in the small Irish town of Dalkey, about 45 minutes away from Dublin. The actor loved it so much that he reportedly considered moving to Ireland. Watch this space!

MATT’S MOST RECENT PROJECT IS THE UPCOMING THE LAST DUEL, WHICH WAS FILMED IN FRANCE AND IRELAND DURING THE PANDEMIC

yo dream ho e from scr ch

Royal Spa

A new spa at the Royal Mansour is leading the way in Morocco with their creative new wellness to sooth the body, mind, and soul. royalmansour.com

Perfect Provence

Crillon Le Brave is nestled within a village and offers guests the chance to explore the picture-perfect Provencal countryside and quaint, historical nearby town. A real gem of a place and ideal base to explore from. crillonlebrave.com

Mmmmaldives...

Chef Hari Govindaraj, Executive Chef at Gili Lankanfushi, launches his plant-based menu at the five-star eco-resort, the pioneer of sustainable, barefoot luxury in the Maldives! gili-lankanfushi.com

A Sky Safari

Imagine a meticulously curated luxury safari that combines all the comforts of an intimate East African wildlife experience with an executive Cessna Caravan plane? Not to mention luxurious camps and lodges. skysafari.com

Cocktail time!

Where better to sip a cocktail than the new 8th floor Skyline Rooftop Bar at the Hilton Molino Stucky in Venice? With perfect views overlooking Canale Giudecca to Piazza San Marco, just ask mixologist Gabriele Cusimano for a little magic! hilton.com

From the best of the all-inclusives to private safaris, here’s the pick of the world’s finest.

Six Best

In Lisbon

Make the most of the bright city lights and rooftop views at Lumiares

Taking the kids to a luxury boutique hotel in the city might not be the obvious choice but Lisbon is packed with kid friendly activities and staying in style is a treat, even for them.

The Lumiares Hotel in Bairro Alto is the perfect city break hotel – especially if you check into room 3a – a top floor twobedroom apartment that comes with all the mod cons you’d need, including a mini kitchen with dishwasher, coffee machine, two bathrooms and a living room. All that in a cool, contemporary look, not to mention charming rooftop views over the red tiles stretching to the castle and beyond. The kids are as enchanted as the grown-ups. Ample space and the touches of colour, as well as the monochrome zebrastriped rugs and headboards do the trick. For the adults, the ultimate is the rooftop terrace, where the Lumi restaurant serves up delicious tapas dinners.

Ideally located in the heart of the city, it’s a quick and easy tramway hop to get pretty

much anywhere, whether you want to see the sights, head to the fantastic aquarium or hit the museums.

thelumiares.com

On the Costa Vincentina

Hide out at the Herdade de Matinha

Utterly whimsical and charming, this 1917 Herdade (farm) is to be found in the midst of a eucalyptus forest; it is a place like no other. The drive to get there is an adventure in itself. The never-ending red dirt track will make you feel like you’re an explorer in the outer bush of Australia.

The farmhouse comes with a cool eclectic mix of furniture blending contemporary classics. Shabby chic with a touch of ranch style – cow skin rugs, 50s’ inspired chairs, modern sofas, cosy and plush and a riot of colours in a good way – inside and out.

The mature trees are heavy with fruit; apple trees of all kinds, and a huge fig tree you can literally walk through on the way to the rooms. The Herdade also has three pools, set amidst the giant rhododendrons, jasmine and bamboo. There are rose bushes aplenty grown in tribute to the owner’s grandfather,

In whichever direction you head, there’s something special waiting for the whole family.

©

Photo by Francisco Nogueira

“It’s just the place to get disconnected from the world for a few days.”

© Herdade de Matinha

and weeping willows to add a touch of romance. The environment is so green and natural, it’s utterly refreshing, yet only ten minutes from the beaches.

The food is fantastic too – don’t miss the pork cheeks and carrot puree, the meringues, the morning pancakes or the homemade pizzas. Sit indoors or in the veranda where a touch of French chic has been instilled on top of the relaxed outdoor farmhouse stylish decor. It’s just the place to get disconnected from the world for a few days. Not a TV in sight. Bliss. herdadedamatinha.com

In Sagres

Indulge the kids at Martinhal

Those travelling with younger children will know even a quick weekend away can turn into an expedition and be overwhelming. Thankfully, Martinhal resorts have it all figured out for parents with toddlers, and beyond. Providing all the kit in rooms that you may need, from highchair to baby bath, nappy bin or step to reach the sink, it’s all

What’s more, the resort is packed with fun activities for kids of all ages – indoor pool, outdoor pools, slides, playgrounds aplenty, trampolines, and kid’s clubs for different age groups. There’s also the beach with its crystalclear waters and fine sand, a water sports club for a kayaking expedition or a windsurfing lesson, ping pong table as well as tennis courts further afield.

You’ll have several restaurants to pick from, all with ample options for youngsters and grown-ups. The mushroom risotto and the Portuguese pizza are a must at Os Gambozinos while at the seaside Dunas restaurant, the tuna burger makes the perfect lunch with a view over Sagres’ waves and the playground below. There’s also a gym and Finisterra spa for extra relaxation, but the most relaxing thing is the knowledge that every member of the family is being catered for. martinhal.com

In Setubal

Escape to the peace and quiet of Quinta do Miguel

there so you don’t need to worry about it. Book an Oceanfront suite spread over two floors, with two spacious bedrooms, beautiful sea views and a lounge and kitchen with all the equipment you’d need all in a cool contemporary decor, in classic neutrals with the odd splash of colour.

One of the summertime hideouts for those in the know, the Aldeia do Meco, is hidden just 50 km south of Lisbon. This is where the Atlantic waves meet endless beaches, and the ‘parasol’ pine trees provide much-needed shade. The wilderness, so close to the big city, is breathtaking. There are all the usual beachside activities on offer, from surfing to kayaking, or enjoying the waves or the quieter waters on the beach at Lagoa de Albufeira.

Escape from it all at the simple yet exquisite Quinta do Miguel, a seven-room hideaway which comes with heaps of tumbling Bougainvillea, large green lawns, ideal for a game of family football, and impressive old olive trees. The long swimming pool shimmers like a mirror, and the hot tub is always a treat, although kids are not allowed.

The rooms are utterly simple yet charming, all crisp white linens, grey polished cement floors and grey marble bathrooms, complete with giant family-sized round bathtub with lovely Rituals products. Although there is a mini kitchen with all mod cons, you can order breakfast trays laden with delicious yoghurt, rhubarb and chia seeds cups, fresh fruit, cereal, fresh bread and jams, as well

Martinhal resorts have it all figured out for parents with toddlers, and beyond.

ask for ham and cheese. Something for everyone.

quinta-do-miguel.hotelrunner.com

In the Algarve

Treat the family to pure luxury at Vila Vita Parc

A resort with a grand reputation to live up to, Vila Vita doesn’t disappoint. It’s all about comfort and luxury in a stunning 22 hectare setting, from the mature exotic gardens all the way to the beachside clifftops. The plush bedrooms lack nothing, sweet treats on arrival, all essential morning coffee pods and luxurious bathrooms. With a real accent on service, Vila Vita’s team really gets it right making the children feel welcome, too.

More of a village than a resort, there are a dozen restaurants to pick from, most offering junior menus –one can also opt for the very reasonably-priced kids half board option – as well as several pools, a playground with its own trampoline and swings and kid’s club for the youngest.

For the little ones, highlights included exploring the resort by golf buggy,

luminous water features and swans, the indoor/outdoor heated pool and the never-ending breakfast buffet. Meanwhile, the grown-ups enjoyed the simple luxuries, such as vast fluffy towels, oversized beds with pillow menus, the steak and rose at sunset at the beachside restaurant and the availability of babysitters – a welcome service when indulging at the two Michelin star Ocean restaurant or the new Asian- inspired Mizu. vilavitaparc.com

In the Alentejo

Mix culture and countryside vibes at Evora Farm House

Definitely a family friendly spot, this upmarket, contemporary resort set a 20-minute scenic drive out of Evora comes with two outdoor pools and one indoor, as well as a spa, in an idyllic countryside setting.

The highlights? A cycling trip down to the nearby lake – all on property, albeit a little bumpy – and a visit to the micro farm, home to a Shetland pony, a couple of dark pot-bellied pigs, two belligerent sheep and a pair of teeny goats.

Rooms are plush in a simple, modern way. Super comfortable beds and beautiful wooden bunks to the kids’ delight, all in soothing mochas, beiges and greys with hints of natural fibres and wicker reminiscent of the rolling hills’ hay bales outside.

The pool bar is swanky enough, Ibiza style, with its oversized lamps and dark wooden barstools. Outside the hotel, don’t miss the 1st Century roman ruins, the beautiful cathedral, with its freaky chapel of bones, and the cobbled streets lined with little restaurants where Alentejano specialties abound. Visiting in summer? Don’t forget to book as tables are few and far between, especially at 7.30 when kids are already starving but doors only just opening! evorafarmhotel.com

2 outdoor pools and one indoor, as well as a spa, in an idyllic countryside setting.

PORTUGAL

Evora Farm Hotel

Vila Vita Parc

Quinta do Miguel

The Lumiares Hotel Herdade de Matinha Martinal

© Evora Farmhouse

Downunder. Deep down.

James Stewart goes deep down in Australian waters to get a closer look at Jaws.

Hectic? What does Andrew mean this dive could get hectic? Look at how clumsy we are while swaddled in 7mm neoprene – boots, wetsuits, vests, gloves, hoods. Look at all those tuna gills dripping blood in the bait-box of our dive cage.

And just look at the sea.

So sharky are the Neptunes that Universal Pictures came here to shoot the live footage for Jaws. For several hours, a popsicle of compacted tuna guts has been defrosting on our dive platform. Gulls have whinnied over the globs of fish oil and intestine off our stern for a while. Now there are shadows in the water.

James

We are anchored off the North Neptune Islands, a lonely Southern Ocean archipelago 30 miles from Port Lincoln, South Australia. Cold water and fur seals combine to make this the most sharky spot in Australia. Male great whites remain year-round and when seal pups take to the water in May, two-tonne females up to six metres long return from months of pelagic nomadism.

At around three metres long, the sharks are tiddlers by great white standards. Older, larger sharks patrol near the ocean floor. That’s where we’re bound with our box of guts. That’s where things might get hectic.

Deep-water encounters with great whites are what make Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions the ‘Everest’ of shark diving. While every other operator hangs cages off the boat then lures sharks up to their

attack zone on the surface with bait, Rodney Fox takes you down to the depths where great whites live.

“Out of the kiddie pool”, Andrew calls it.

With four of us inside, the cage lowers into the sea where the sharks circle.

Cold water creeps up my legs, across my chest, over my face. Fear flutters in my stomach.

That’s the thing about ocean-floor cage-diving. It strips you back to yourself. You may be going underwater with Andrew Fox, a world authority on great whites who has probably notched up more encounters than any other diver over 37 years of cagediving. But as our cage drops through the startlingly azure water you feel

alone; steadying your breathing, rechecking your air supply, facing your ‘what ifs’.

What if my air runs out? What if a small shark lunges through the eye-level gap between bars? Oh god, what if the cage’s hoist cable snaps?

we’ve caught the attention of several great whites.

Two white bellies cruise slowly through the splintered sunlight above. A larger primeval silhouette hangs in the distance. Other sharks close around the cage, attracted by the fish blood

No matter that every eventuality is covered – spare tanks, the gap is too narrow for a shark to bite, emergency safety floats. To hang 25 metres below a boat that now looks like a bath-toy in the silvered surface confronts you with suppressed fears. Because you’re going to have to deal with whatever happens. There’s no escape. Not now

that hangs in a rust-red haze around our legs. Another shark cruises past me at eye level. It’s so close I can see the nostrils that can smell blood five kilometres away and the pores on its snout that are, even now, assessing my electrical field. Its huge black pupil is only a metre from mine. We eyeball each other.

You couldn’t pay me enough to leave the cage. But the sharks seem more curious than crazed.

It strikes me on the Princess II that seeing sharks first-hand in the wild may be the best conservation message there is.

TRAVEL / Shark Diving

You couldn’t pay me enough to leave the cage. But the sharks seem more curious than crazed. This isn’t hectic – it feels wild, exhilarating, joyous even. I barely stop babbling when we resurface.

Why dive with great whites? For the adrenaline, obviously, and also for the adventure. Certified divers among the 12 passengers on the Princess II, our comfortable liveaboard boat with double and triple en-suite cabins, describe this three-night expedition as the trip of a lifetime.

Many also cite the company’s ethics as a reason to come. In an industry which has earned the disapprobation of marine biologists for excessive chumming with meat, Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions scores a gold star for conservation. Nor is there any of the ‘crash and bash’ of sharks into cages that some operators encourage. “No one thinks it’s OK to poke a lion with a stick through the bars,” Andrew says. “We have a responsibility not to make this a circus act.”

On our first night on board he presents shark photos like family snapshots. This is Kerry. Here’s Big Ali – “she’s a lovely shark, really smiley”. Here’s Big Moo and Cuddles – “I’m not making this up: that really was its name”.

Every night, while the rest of us chow down dinner, Andrew pores over the day’s photos to identify old friends and new arrivals for a scientific database..

We’re all shark-huggers on this boat, one crew member tells me. Yet I can’t help but wonder whether there’s an unspoken element of fear too. Maybe secretly that’s why we’re all here.

No animal twangs our atavistic nerves like the great white shark. We fenced off or caged up land predators a while ago. It’s only great whites that can’t be tamed. They are a relic from the age of dinosaurs that confront us with what Jaws author Peter Benchley called “the visceral fear of being eaten”.

Just as that’s part of the mystique of shark diving, it’s what helped make Stephen Spielberg’s Jaws a blockbuster. So powerful was Spielberg’s film four decades ago it has made galeophobia

– an irrational fear of sharks – the norm. Because of Jaws every shark fatality is global news even though more people are killed each year by bees. Because of Jaws no English word elicits so strong a reaction as ‘shark’. So it seems ironic that the planet’s greatest shark-hugger is partly to blame.

With Australian film-makers Ron and Valerie Taylor, Rodney Fox, Andrew’s father, shot the live footage for Jaws at the Neptune Islands in 1973.

A decade earlier he had been an insurance salesman. Then the worst shark attack in Australian history changed everything. “I thought I’d been

snapping teeth to draw ‘bullet holes’ on to a large shark’s snout with lipstick. Another 4m great white became caught in the cage and nearly sank the 6m boat that stood-in for the Orca. In Peter Scheider’s famous improvised line, they really did need a bigger boat.

Benchley came to regret how Jaws demonised an apex predator of the marine ecosystem. He would’ve been the fiercest critic of a shark cull by the West Australian government last year. Launched after seven human fatalities over three years, it was Jaws redux. Rodney agrees: “After so much research about how sharks aren’t these savage biting machines but do a great job of

hit by a train,” Rodney recalls of the great white that smashed into his side while he was spear-fishing near Adelaide in 1963. “My chest was clamped, like in a vice. I was a bone in a dog’s mouth.” His survival was a minor miracle. It took 462 stitches to patch up his shattered ribs, collapsed lung, ruptured spleen and deep lacerations which arced from his shoulder to his waist. One tooth remains embedded in his wrist. Yet perhaps the most astonishing element of Rodney’s story is what happened next.

To conquer his fear, he began to study great whites at a time when most people thought the only good shark was a dead one. Inspired by a trip to Adelaide zoo, he invented cage diving. Soon documentary makers and scientists arrived at his suburban Adelaide home.

“It was like having a lot of astronauts at your house,” Andrew recalls. More people had gone into space than had swum with great whites.

Then in 1973 Spielberg picked up the phone. There were no giant rubber sharks during filming at the Neptunes. These great whites were almost as dangerous as that in the screenplay. For one scene Rodney narrowly dodged

maintaining the balance of the oceans and how we’re the ones who are messing it up you had intelligent people doing the cowboy stuff and killing for the sake of killing.” Except that this time there was a public backlash.

It strikes me on the Princess II that seeing sharks first-hand in the wild may be the best conservation message there is. I enjoy the descent of my last dive; the sense of vast empty space as we drop underwater, the silence except for the rumble and hiss of my breathing through the regulator. Again, the great whites circle the cage, watching us watching them. There’s IMAX with his kinked tail and there’s Bubbles with his bloated belly. I’ve become a sharkhugger. This time, however, I’m struck by the sharks’ brilliant hydrodynamics; by their streamlined bodies that swoop along a lateral line then flatten at the tail. And look at the colours: gun-metal grey, burnished steel, a dark bronze sheen.

It feels a privilege to hang here above the kelp and witness such a powerful, perfectly evolved predator in its own environment. It has a strange, aweinspiring beauty. If only Spielberg had included that in Jaws too.

I’m struck by the sharks’ brilliant hydrodynamics; by their streamlined bodies that swoop along a lateral line then flatten at the tail.

I’m lucky to live an outdoor lifestyle all year round. Being a foodie I try to keep some balance with boxing, paddle tennis, hiking in the Loulé hills, barre and cold water sea swimming. I love the new boardwalk at Quinta do Lago; it’s kilometres long and is ideal for my power walks or cycling with my kids to Faro island, whilst the planes land overhead.

Algarve sunsets are special and best enjoyed at Maria’s where you can drink cocktails and dine with an ocean view. The rooftop bar is open in warm months with great music. Bamboo Restaurant is also a fun destination – owned by my husband’s family –serving Asian fusion and sushi and a DJ every night.

My Loulé

Harriet Campina of Maria’s Beach Restaurant. Spreading the Algarve love @portu_girl

Ihave

been visiting this area since I was a teen. Having studied languages at university and living abroad before it seemed like fate when I met my Portuguese husband 15 years ago in my favourite – and his family’s – restaurant, Alambique. Three years later I moved here from London and we now have three children between us. For me it is the perfect place to raise a family.

I have learnt the language, embraced local Portuguese life and found my tribe within a wonderful expat community. More people are now living here full time so new schools, facilities and restaurants are opening to accommodate the boom. The region is large, spreading over beaches and hills. There is so much to do and see! I love to share tips and new finds on my Instagram.

Our summer season is hectic so for family time we love to escape to the nearby Ria Formosa islands. Surrounded by lagoons and calm, clear waters we picnic or eat with our feet in the sand at Camaleão (Armona).

I love organising evening beach picnics with friends down by 3 Moço bar; the adults and children play cricket and we swim until dark. Simple pleasures.

Loulé is a busy and authentically Portuguese town with charming medieval cobbled back streets, a beautiful castle and a popular market. There is a vibrant energy with new bars, restaurants and cafes. We are spoiled for choice but I love 11 da Villa for tapas, Café Zique for rooftop dinners, Pirá for ceviche. In lockdown our highlight was piri piri take-outs from Jolibela. My favourite coffee house is Bean17.

The souq (literally translated as ‘market’) not only offers a multitude of goods to purchase but is a great spot for trying foods from cuisines around the world. I enjoy swinging by Nakhchivan’s for their Azerbaijani breakfast or picking up some Szechuan Chicken from The Rice & Noodle in the evening. My favourite dessert is the baklava from Al Hallab and don’t miss the karak chai (spiced tea) from Teatime.

My Qatar

No matter how many parks I visit, I always find myself gravitating back to MIA Park. Set beside the stunning Museum of Islamic Art, this park has one of the most picturesque coffee shops where I enjoy an incredible view of the Doha skyline. Alternatively, I like to bring a picnic basket and a book as I unwind on the grass after a long day at work.

The undulating ripples in the soft sand at Zekreet must be visited when in Qatar. This is my new favourite spot where I enjoy climbing up the dunes to admire panoramic views of the desert while calming my mind.

While most people know of Qatar through their airline, Qatar happens to be the 5th country I call home. It is a surprising mix of adventure and relaxation, while incorporating chaos and culture! It’s an underrated country that defies existence, nestled between the warm Arabian Sea and the scorching desert. While I initially moved to Qatar for love, I rediscovered my professional passion here and have been teaching at an international school for 2 years. Qatar actually offers many work opportunities for qualified and experienced professionals. One of my goals while living in Qatar is to explore this country to its fullest; my other goals include sharing my experiences through my blog and Instagram, helping other expats and inspiring other teachers to move abroad.

When I need my book fix, I head to Qatar National Library. It offers an amazing ambience with a massive selection of books for literature lovers!

A haven away from the city, Purple Island is a mosaic of mesmerizing turquoise and emerald water interspersed with winding mangrove forests. I love to go kayaking here particularly around sunset time to enjoy some solitude on the water while admiring the sky awash with colour.

Aneesa is an international educator and expat writer @expatpanda

swiss mountain paradise since 1848

Plan your perfect luxury escape to the heart of the Swiss Alps and spend some quality time in a true icon of hospitality.

Book your summer escape!

The combination of magical moments, the wild yet accessible nature, a plethora of activities ranging from sports and relaxation to savoir vivre as well as contemporary comfort and a neo-baroque architecture create memories that last a lifetime.

A CULINARY ADVENTURE

Tucked away in the Fours Seasons Fairways in Quinta do Lago, the Amara has a reputation for some fo the finest food in the area, and so it should. The four course set menu is surprisingly affordable and definitely gourmet.

TASTING THE CHEF’S MENU AT AMARA

On arrival I was immediately impressed by the service. Yes, it was fancy of course, but it was also so friendly that it made us feel quite at home. Soothing tones of grey, contrasting with velvet burgundy, the dining room somewhat feels like that of a smart cruise ship. Perhaps it’s that attentive service, or it might be the full mural in varying tones of blue that made me feel like we were floating along in the Caribbean?

Since it’s off-season, the menu is a set four course menu chef’s choice which I for one, really appreciate. No faffing, and a chance to try something new.

First up the sweet-and-sour cocktail with Portuguese gin, that just like Barbie can change colour! A powerful mix of sweet syrup, almond and cloves, and probably a few more bits I missed, kicked off the dinner to an adventurous start!

heavenly. We get the lowdown on the wine, and start on the two types of chicken, both the breast and leg extremely tender with a side of cider sauce, shitake mushrooms and carrot purée. Again, there’s that blissful meltin-your-mouth feeling….

The last stop on the culinary voyage is Madeira, with a rich, sweet dessert wine from Henriques and Henriques to accompany the gorgeous caramel cake and its sticky, sweet, caramelised apples.

Tasting menus often overdo it, meaning you over-indulge a little, but in this case the portion sizes were just right so we felt happily content having discovered unusual flavours, new wines and enjoyed every bite. But it’s not over until it’s over, and little did we know the coffee came with homemade chocolate treats! Well, it would be rude not to. What’s one more delicious tiny bite for the road?

The first course can only be described as a piece of art. A mosaic of Gravadlax salmon with its dill mustard and creamy mayonnaise in perfect contrast to ‘crisps’ and frisée salad. Not to mention the edible violets. A colourful, fun touch. Indeed, it isn’t just about the taste, it’s also about the texture.

Each dish came accompanied by its own matching wine. The Nieuwport Doa was complex, the sommelier, Bruno Machado, tells me. I found it simply delicious, really. Fresh, and the perfect accompaniment to the salmon.

Next came the Duas Quintas Reserva 2019, another step up according to Bruno. With this came the soft, velvet-like baked leeks and slow cooked squid strips. I truly do like this melt-inyour-mouth dish. It’s just perfect with the gentle fennel sidekick. A blend I would not have expected to enjoy, but did, and even more so thanks to that discreet hint of orange. Again the contrast of savoury and sweet is perfectly balanced.

Another dish, another glass of wine. A switch this time to the dark red Cabernet Sauvignon Piloto Collection 2018. Rich and

Four course chef’s menu €45. Full wine pairing €23. Amararestaurant.pt @amarafairways

“A COLOURFUL, FUN TOUCH. INDEED, IT ISN’T JUST ABOUT THE TASTE, IT’S ALSO ABOUT THE TEXTURE.”

Wine Guide

Organic. Bio. Green. Biodynamic. Ecological. Sustainable.

These and other terms have been part of our daily routine, especially in the last years. But in this context of prolonged dry seasons, climate crisis, water shortage and intensive agriculture, what does it actually mean to be sustainable? What is sustainable wine? How can you help and be part of the solution?

A conscious effort to reduce waste and damage to the environment throughout the winemaking process is, in a nutshell, the philosophical guideline that leads to a sustainable wine. In the long run, the core objective is to protect and maintain natural resources, specifically the soil, air and water.

The use of birds of prey to keep insects away, roses planted at the end of vine rows to attract insects and work as an early warning system for the winegrower are practises that have been embedded in the winemaking process for centuries and work as alternatives for pesticides.

Many wine producers have implemented more sustainable methods in response to recent ecological issues. However, to be certified, vineyards must undergo specific and strict third-party appraisals to guarantee the viticulture practises are top-rated and meet all the sustainability parameters.

So, if you want to do your part in this neverending battle, these are some questions you can ask about the products you are buying. Where are they from, what is their seasonality, what kind of agriculture do they come from, who is the producer?

These wines producers take it very seriously. Not only do they want to make the best product, but they also want to make sure the methods they use are the most adequate to keep the balance in Nature.

Quinta da Biaia

“Síria Reserva Vegan” €21,99

From a region where the altitude is synonymous with freshness and minerality, this wine is quite aromatic, with dry and rich flavours and an enveloping and refreshing finish. Ideal for the end of a working day or just as an aperitif. The right choice for lunches with friends to the sound of jazz!

Blackett “20 Years Port” €56

This Portuguese Ex libris resulted from the attribution of high-quality port wines, aged in barrels with an average age of 20 years. Brownish colour. Intense aroma of dried fruits, spices, vanilla and caramel. Full-bodied, velvety and harmonious. Long, persistent finish and balanced freshness. It’s excellent with cigars, desserts and long conversations throughout the night.

Cascale “Ícone” €25

This orange, or white tanning wine, was created naturally, with minimum intervention and from organically produced grapes. Amber colour. Notes of dried fruits, cinnamon, fig jam and sweet grass. Velvety tannin. Large balanced mouth volume with exquisite acidity. Persistent and dry finish. Perfect to surprise your enophile friends.

Nossa “Calcário” €27,80

From the vine to the bottle. A wine that respects the expression of the berry without any makeup or artifice, maintaining traditional vinification techniques with a minimum of intervention. Concentrated, clean-looking ruby colour. Aromatic profile full of elegance, lightness and freshness. Black forest fruit, black cherry, blackberry and blueberry, toasted biscuit, morning gall, some peat, wrapped in a fresh balsamic breeze. Elegant, with good acidity, fine tannins and a long finish.

Ninfa

“Sauvignon Blanc” €9,49

Citrus and damp grass dominate the nose. Textured and full-bodied displaying pineapple, citrus and salty minerality. White meats, light fish, salads and mildly curated cheese. Better if you add excellent company!

Soalheiro

“Terramatter” €15,49

These Alvarinho grapes are harvested manually in the vineyards of Quinta de Soalheiro, where the production methods value biodiversity and the viticultural ecosystem, fostering environmental sustainability. Intense colour, full, velvety aroma and complex flavour with a vibrant vegetable at the end. It shows a strong personality and a distinctive profile.

“Many wine producers have implemented sustainable methods in response to recent ecological issues.”

Business Directory

To advertise in the WHEREVER Directory email hello@wherevermags.com

Restaurants

Tribulum Algarve

Thai Beach Club

Zimzala Cafe

Tribulum - it’s a great place to be! For the warmest welcome in the Algarve, come and meet our team in Almancil. With a creative menu, eclectic wines, inventive cocktails, live music, and special events, there is always something new to discover.

T +351 289 397 784

E info@tribulumalgarve.com

W tribulumalgarve.com @tribulumalgarve

Earth Cafe Carvoeiro

With the magnificent Falésia Beach in the background, our restaurant is distinguished by its exotic Thai cuisine and family atmosphere especially at the weekend, for the mythical Sunday afternoons, where the music, champagne and good spirits pour out to the full.

Av. Rocha Baixinha, Quarteira

T +351 289322471

W thaibeachclub.com

I m.me/thaibeachclubvilamoura

Limoni

Zimzala is a Café, Surf Academy & Shop where you can find food, drinks and all the surf gear that you need.

Edificio vila gale praia, loja 2, 8200-416 Albufeira

T +351 963 139 713

W zimzala.pt

I @zimzala.surf.culture

11 Da Villa

All day breakfast, brunch, lunch, with many vegetarian & vegan options. Smoothies, Illy coffee, homemade desserts. Shop quality Portuguese wines, salts, soaps, design ceramics and much more. 2min walk from the Carvoeiro cliff boardwalk Kitchen open. 8:30 am. - 4:45p.m.Closed Tuesdays.

T +351 282 071766

W facebook.com/earth.shop.cafe

Quinta Dos Santos

LIMONI is the place where dreams and emotions come to life! A journey of Italian moments from flavours and traditions; a look of style and in knowing how to live and grasp every moment lived. Limoni want to be known for the taste of good food and for the elegance of good wine.

Quinta do Lago, Avenida Ayrton Senna da Silva Vale dos Pinheiros, Almancil

T +351 289240561 / +351 960215235

W limoniquintadolago.com

I bookings@limoniquintadolago.com

Alxama Restaurant

Tapas bar and restaurant. A Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of the historic centre of Loulé, 11 da Villa is an excellent place to have dinner with friends and family. A selection of tapas with quality products, craft beer and a wide range of wines.

T +351 915744972

W loulelocal.pt/11-da-Villa

I @11davilla

Maria’s Restaurant & Beach

Quinta dos Santos is a family owned and operated wine farm, craft brewery and restaurant.

A PLACE TO INDULGE YOUR SENSES!

Tuesday to Saturday 1pm - 10pm Sunday, 1pm - 4pm

T +351 282 343 264

E reservations@quintadossantos.com

Alxama is the best meat restaurant in Algarve, and we only grill our meat with natural wood.

R. Duas Sentinelas 64, 8125-018 Quarteira

T +351 289 041 389

W alxama.com

I geral@alxama.com

A very popular and busy restaurant with magnificent 180º ocean views serving Portuguese/International food. Live Music/ DJ. Booking always advised. Please see our Instagram.

T +351 289 358675

E team@mariasbeachalgarve.com

W www.mariasbeachalgarve.com

I @marias_algarve

Carvoeiro Clube de Tenis

Victor Picardo Styling Group

Liliana and Stéphane run a traditional French pâtisserie in the heart of Loulé where everything is homemade. In a beautiful space, their clients are welcome to enjoy the quiet terrace and delicious cakes.

T +351 962535826

E lateliergourmetloule@gmail.com

I @latelier_gourmet_loule

Gifts and more

Algarve Candle Company

Carvoeiro Clube de Tenis is more than a Tennis Club. With 8 Hard courts, 4 Padel Courts, fitness classes, fully equipped Gym and pool and 2 trampolines for the little ones... something for everyone.

T +351 282 358 236

E Geral@tenniscarvoeiro.com

W carvoeirovillas.com/en/carvoeiroclube-sports/carvoeiro-clube-de-tenis

Clube Ténis e Padel de Lagos

Victor Picardo is a brand recognised for the quality of personalised service and excellence in customer service. It currently has 5 hairdressing salons located in the Algarve.

T Carvoeiro +351 282 356 894

T Lagoa +351 282 343 358

T Lagos +351 282 768 523

T Portimão +351 282 418 109

T Vale do Lobo +351 289 353 439

Ultimate Look

Algarve candles are hand poured with a blend of natural soy way and natural fragrance oils. We use a natural wooden wick and they are all vegan friend and paraffin and phthalate free.

E info@algarvecandlecompany.com

W algarvecandlecompany.com

@algarve_candle_co

Health and Fitness

The Fit Life

THE FIT LIFE is the ultimate indoor outdoor training studio. Located just above Vale do Lobo in Almancil, we offer everything from personal training and nutrition services to specialty group classes and wellness workshops.

T +351 910741110

E thefitlifealgarve@gmail.com

The Lagos Tennis Club and Padel is open to the general public. It has 5 tennis courts and 6 padel courts as well as a cafeteria with terraces, a lounge and a specialised shop.

Rua General Humberto Delgado, Lagos

T +351 282 013 144 / +351 936 568 858

E tenislagos@gmail.com

F facebook.com/ctplagos

Bhairdesign

A beautiful, professional and sophisticated salon, where people come to be pampered by Alice, Donald and Chevy, who are friendly and happy and they will always do their utmost to make you feel and look incredible.

Av, 5 de Outubro 103, Almancil

T: +351 289395413 / +315 914132339

W ultimatelook-almancil.com

E ultimatelookhairdesign@gmail.com

Dentists

Clínica Mondental

Modern, stylish, client orientated. Striving to bring the latest catwalk trends to you.

In the relaxed, friendly yet professional atmosphere, you will be given a thorough consultation so that the service you receive will suit your face and body shape, skin tone, personality, professional and private lifestyle.

T Faro +351 289828013 /

T Albufeira +351 289109486

W bhairdesign.pt

Implantology, Functional Jaw Orthopedic, Orthodontics, Endodontics and General Clinic.

Edifício Central, Av. Maria Lizarda Palermo, 5-C sala 2 e 3, Moncarapacho

T +351 289792854 / +351 916000399

E mondental@net.novis.pt

Advertise with us from as little as 200 Euros Drop us a line

hello@wherevermags.com zoe@wherevermags.com

Clínica Dentária Bárrios

BBQs Algarve

IAD Portugal

The Dental Clinic Bárrios offers the most modern restorative, preventive and aesthetic resources, with qualified and specialised professionals.

Rua Afonso Albuquerque 11-lj B-r/c - Loulé

T +351 289416606 / +351 939805956

W clinicabarrios.pt

Golf and more

Vale de Milho Golf

Looking for a BBQ? Choose from our wide selection of barbecues in Algarve! We help you find the perfect grill for your garden, terrace or rooftop. As your outdoor living specialists, we will make sure you get the grill that best suits your requirements.

T +351 289 356 233

E info@bbqs-algarve.com

The Organic Growshop

BUYING, SELLING or RENTING a property? Sales commission from 3% Advertising on over 200 real estate portals. Professional PHOTOGRAPHY & HOME STAGING. Comprehensive VALUATION incl. sold prices in your area.

T +351 939 091 652

E miriam.naidu@iadportugal.pt

Automobiles

FIAAL Lda

A beautiful 9-hole course, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, close to the village of Carvoeiro, in the Algarve it’s the ideal Family Golf course.

T +351 282 358 502

W valedemilhogolf.com

Penina Hotel & Golf Resort

Everything you need for outdoor and indoor gardens, daily skin care and more. In addition, enjoy an organic coffee and cake at The Organic Café.

T +351 925 229 690 for English

T +351 911 860 857 for Portuguese

W theorganicgrowshop.online

Property

Rent Villas Algarve

Your Jaguar Land Rover Dealership in the Algarve. Effortless Elegance.

T +351 289 891 770

E jlr@fiaal.pt

Co Working Space

Golden Creative: Co-Work & Creative Studio

Set within 360 acres of natural beauty, the original home of golf in the Algarve has three golf courses - including the Algarve’s first 18 hole Championship course.

T +351 282 420 200

W penina.com

For the Home

Alquatro

We specialise in quality holiday villas and apartments, providing a personal service to people wishing to rent and offering a property management service to homeowners.

Calçada Marquês Abrantes 67 A

T +44 (0) 208 1248400 / +351 935614473

W rentvillasalgarve.co.uk

Golf & Leisure Villas

With over 30 years experience, Alquatro offers a wide range of interior design services, adjustable to your needs and taste and to the available budget.

Alquatro Interior Design Studio and Shop.

Av 5 Outubro 302, Almancil

T +351 289 395 732

E alquatro@ alquatro.pt

W alquatro.pt

All about property…

We Sell, Rent & Manage We Design, Renovate & Build With offices in Almancil Algarve.

T +351 915322656

E info@golfleisurevillas.com

W golfleisurestore.com

Co-work space, with the best commodities to develop your startup. Private Offices and Individual Desks available. We also specialise in Web & Graphic Design and Printing services.

Rua Homens do Andor N2-A 8100-670 Loulé, Algarve

T +351 926 396

E i.alves@goldencreative.pt

W goldencreative.pt

Advertise with us from as little as 200 Euros Drop us a line

hello@wherevermags.com

zoe@wherevermags.com

OUR GUIDE SHOWED THEM HIS WORLD. THEIR CURIOSITY EXPANDED OURS.

Experience the thrill of seeing the world through your children’s eyes. www.skysafari.com/family-travel

LEGACY OF LIFESTYLE

For 50 years, Quinta do Lago has established its reputation as one of the most desirable locations for prime real estate and a world-leader in luxury lifestyle. In its semi-centennial year, there is no better time than now to invest in this world-class destination.

Surrounded by three immaculate golf courses, including the € 7 million upgraded South Course, world-class sports and fitness hub, The Campus, and sublime gastronomic experiences, in Quinta do Lago, a luxurious lifestyle of wellness is enjoyed beside a protected coastal nature reserve and the breath-taking shores of Portugal’s Algarve.

With its sustained investment securing the future for generations to come, Quinta do Lago’s stunning properties and coveted plots are now available for discerning buyers looking to make a truly life-changing investment in a timeless destination.