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Newsletter August 2005
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by: Nigel Anteney Hoare |
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Alright! I know it’s late! In fact this newsletter may
seem a bit sketchy this month due to a 10 day absence in the early part of
the month swapping the delights of Carvoeiro for those of Punta Cana,
Dominican Republic where we had booked a cheapo last minute deal to
coincide with my wifes birthday (a “big” one!). Until a few years ago,
despite the fact that for generations the Portuguese were always known as
great travellers and adventurers, you would rarely find a Portuguese
person “going abroad” for their holiday. The traditional holiday
destination was either down to the Algarve in August or day trips to the
local beaches around Lisbon and Porto. Now, the cheap all-inclusive type
holiday has won them round and we joined mobs of Portuguese people queuing
at Lisbons Portela airport heading for the popular holiday destinations of
Brazil, Cuba or the Dominican Republic.
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| We had gone by train from Tunes to Lisbons Oriente station
and my wife, never having travelled on a train in Portugal, was amazed at
the level of comfort and cleanliness on board. Compared to the UK rail
network which she has used a lot recently, it is a revelation. Lisbon from
Tunes is a 3 hour journey on the Inter-Cidade service or about 2 and ½ if
you choose the infrequent Alfa Pendular high speed train. We had expected
to buy tickets at Tunes but the ticket office only opens for a few hours
each day and you then buy on the train. We felt sure that they would have
a MultiBanco/Visa facility as on aircraft but the ticket collector sadly
shook his head! Having opted for First Class (well we were on holiday!)
the tickets for 3 adults and one junior cost about 70 euros. Scratching
around our pockets and purses we managed about 67 but the ticket collector
was completely unphased by this saying that he would be pleased to escort
us to the ticket office in Lisbon Oriente station and we could pay there!
This must surely be the best way to travel to Lisbon. |
Prior to going away, the first weekend of July saw the
very hot weather continue. We had friends and relatives here on holiday
from Norfolk and before they returned 12 of us ate at VILA MEDICI, the new
Italian restaurant at the top of Estrada do Farol, just before Restaurant
Primavera. It looks as if plenty of cash has been injected into this
building, which many years ago housed Restaurant Farol run by some people
from Finland but which has lain almost derelict for years. The whole
aspect of the place is very attractive with a delightful walled courtyard
area at the rear for el fresco dining. We enjoyed a good meal served by
attentive staff. We did feel however that the final bill was enough money
when we more or less all had pasta and the kids pizza.
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On the subject of Italian restaurants I understand that
the Indian restaurant at CLUBE ATLANTICO, Alfanzina was sold and has now
reopened as an Italian and is owned by the residents association there.
Haven’t been there yet nor do I know of anyone who has so can’t report
back yet.
Following our 10 days away, we were ready for the long overnight flight
back home to Lisbon and train back down south to Tunes. Entering
Carvoeiro, courtesy of José Manuels taxi, it was pleasing to see that the
first building you meet on the left as you enter was finally being
painted. This has looked really scruffy for some time now and was not a
good advert for Carvoeiro so it is good to see it happening now.
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More friends and relatives had arrived in Carvoeiro
in our absence so it was another large table at the Lanterna Velha for
dinner and then down to the square for coffee, drinks and ice cream at
PIU/GRAND CAFÉ and listening to ILZE
belting it out on the stage. Plenty of people down there enjoying the
music, dancing and the general summer atmosphere. The dancers included
Brazilian DANI SILVA, a long time, well known Carvoeiro character who was
whisking a young lady round the square in alarming fashion. I tried to get
a picture with my mobile but the result was not as good as I wished!
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With my children home from boarding school I was persuaded by my son to
take him to VALE DO
MILHO golf course to take advantage of their “twilight” price of 20
euros “play as much as you like”. We managed 25 holes before I had to head
to ANDYS clubhouse bar for a refreshing ale. That day was my birthday so
we had arranged dinner at KOH SAMUI the Thai restaurant which has become
one of my firm favourites. Not having been there for some time it was good
to see the place busy and Raul the owner taking some money at last to
reward himself for his investment. Great food and a reasonable bill at
just under 25 Euros a head.
The 25th dawned largely cloudy which was to herald a few days with a big
change in our weather. The cloud brought some welcome relief from the hot
sun and did some holidaymakers a favour as I had seen plenty of very red
skins around the place! The sun-blackened alfarrobas (carob beans) were
now starting to fall from the trees a sure sign of summers progress and in
readiness for their August harvest |
I read of a meeting of all the Algarve mayors to discuss the worsening
drought situation and of the possible cuts we might suffer. On the one
hand the water company have been saying that there should not be cuts but
perhaps reduced pressure at peak times and on the other hand some of the
mayors were forecasting cuts before the end of the summer. Certainly there
is a big campaign to urge people to conserve water during this busy
tourist period.
Tuesday was very murky indeed! We had to go down to Spain and Gibraltar
for a couple of days on business and whilst Gibraltar was intolerably hot
on the Wednesday, I was surprised to receive a text from my daughter in
Carvoeiro saying that it was “quite cold and raining”. I can’t prove it,
but as I always remember my birthdays, I have found that invariably there
is a change in the weather at about this time. I recall my 40th birthday,
when I had a big party at BUBBLES pool bar, then under the careful
stewardship of LARRY and his lady SERENA, it was actually cold and rained.
I never appreciated the ducking in the pool I got at all that day!
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We travelled back to Carvoeiro on Thursday arriving mid afternoon and lo
and behold the rain was falling steadily, not hard but steady. A weird
sight as the holiday makers skipped about in shorts and tee shirts
avoiding it!
My wife had got a nasty insect bite on her hand whilst staying with
friends at SotoGrande and by the time we got back to Carvoeiro it was
looking very dodgy indeed and was painful. She had visited a pharmacy in
Spain but they had recommended she saw a doctor so she went to the German
doctor above SMILERS, who opened up shop especially for her. The bite was
from an infected insect he thought and performed minor surgery to cut away
dead skin and other nasties before disinfecting it and bandaging. My wife
was very impressed with his service and the reasonable cost of 60 Euros he
charged. I guess any insect bite that starts turning an odd colour and
giving pain should be looked at immediately to avoid bigger problems
later.
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Work on the new effluent pumping station close to restaurant RAFAIOL was
well under way and I understand that the main treatment plant at BOA VISTA
also well advanced. Presumably the implementation of this sewage plan will
figure in the forthcoming municipal elections to be held on 9 October. One
side saying “haven’t we done well” and the opposition saying that it
should have been done sooner! Already huge large posters of some of the
candidates are appearing by the roadside. The main man leading the
socialist effort to wrest Lagoa Town Hall from PSD Mayor, José Inaçio, is
local Lagoa lawyer João Aurelio Marcos, who no doubt some Carvoeiro
property owners will know of.
By the last Friday of the month the good weather had returned, the old
place was more or less packed and we were simply hoping to survive August!
Até proximo mês
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