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Please excuse; you
can find Bruxy's 2nd newsletter here;
http://www.carvoeiro.com/bruxy/2005_12.html
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Newsletter October 2005
- archive
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by: Nigel Anteney Hoare |
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The beginning of September to me always signals the beginning of autumn
here in the Algarve, still plenty of visitors but fewer youngsters with
the schools having started the new term. Cooler mornings and evenings,
occasional mistiness but very often hot sunny days. It is a very pleasant
time to be in Carvoeiro.
With the local elections to be held on Sunday 9th October, the usual rash
of large billboards showing the smiling faces of the various candidates
has sprung up. Each poster is accompanied by a brief slogan or résumé of
policy. The voting for the Carvoeiro Freguesia (Parish Council) is usually
a two horse race between the Socialist party (PS) or the Social Democrats
(PSD). This year Jorge Pardal the present PS President of Carvoeiro Parish
Council is standing for re-election and being challenged by José Viegas,
the PSD man.
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Please find the photos in large versions
here (opens new window) |
Often as part of the electioneering process the incumbent party will point
out the various improvements made to local infrastructure during their
term. I don’t want to seem cynical but I wonder if this might be the
reason for the sudden increase in subterranean recycling bins (Eco-pontes)
which have sprung up in Carvoeiro? We now have them installed by the
Farmacia, new ones next to the existing set just above the taxi rank,
another on the road from O CANTINHO towards ALGAR SECO, two more sited
along the road going out of town near MITCHS, which incidentally is up for
sale if any of you fancy a move! They certainly are an improvement over
the old freestanding bottle recycling bins that we have had up until now.
Another noticeable difference has been the gradual replacement of the
present white light street lighting lamps with yellow sodium ones which
make the streets as bright as day. This is a big improvement.
The increase in the Eco-pontes is only matched by the building “boom”
which seems to have hit Carvoeiro and surrounding areas. In addition to
the many individual villas being constructed, a major residential project
by a company called IMOCOM is well underway at Mato Serrão close to the
religious monument where the Sesmarias-Carvoeiro road meets the Boa Vista-Lagoa
road. The same firm is also developing a large two storey “touristic
village” on the road just past Quinta do Paraiso. This is to be finished
by August 2008. Another development by a different firm is beginning on
land between MONTE CARVOEIRO and the road on the west side of Carvoeiro,
and a development of perhaps apartments or maybe a small hotel is underway
on land behind COLINA VILAGE where you can see two tall tower cranes
working.
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Please
find the photos in large versions
here (opens new window) |
The drainage work on the road past Boa Vista where the new sewage
treatment station is being built is concluded and the road repaired and
asphalted
Our last visitors this summer were a couple of friends from Bristol with
their daughter. They had one week at ROCHA BRAVA which they enjoyed very
much and a second week with us. They are all vegetarian in varying degrees
and it was pleasing that they managed to find enough variety amongst the
restaurants in Carvoeiro to satisfy them for the week. They particularly
liked KOH SAMUI and VIA ITALIA where several veggie dishes are on offer.
This would have been tricky a few years ago when it was fish or meat with
every dish. I recall one vegetarian holiday maker years ago who was
appalled to find a fat lump of chouriço at the bottom of their bowl of
vegetable soup!
On their last night we went to CHEFE ANTÓNIO where we enjoyed a very nice
meal. This place has come under fire a little on the Forum but we enjoyed
good food at reasonable price. António himself was in good form which
always adds to the atmosphere!
A colleague of mine arrived from Spain on his way to visit the Alentejo to
view and sample some wine he is having made under the expert guidance of
Australian winemaker David Baverstock whom you may have read of in local
publications and who is the man responsible for producing the excellent
Esporão wines and in part I believe to the general interest in the
Alentejo as a prime wine making area. He had a tour of the Herdade do
Esporão winery near Reguengos de Monsaraz and a chance to sample some of
their fine reds. This is a fantastic wine estate producing top quality
wine and olive oil. They have a shop, wine bar, top notch restaurant and
tasting room and organize tours every day at noon, 3pm and 4,30pm. If you
are in that area it is well worth stopping off.
Despite a fabulous first weekend Monday 5th began cloudy and with a few
spots of rain. Was this a promise of more to come? No, and by late
afternoon the sun broke through to make a beautiful evening! Tuesday and
Wednesday were very dull however which did not please our friend Beverly
Bear who had arrived for an impromptu 10 day stay to soak up some sun. The
night she arrived we ate at the VILA
NOVA restaurant which had been well recommended to us and which has
often been praised on the Restaurant Forum. I must say it was very good
indeed and with a most reasonable bill at the end of it.
PAULA, a well known local resident Irish girl, had by now taken over the
reins at the ANTEAK BAR and was running it very successfully. It has
become a favourite watering hole for many foreign residents. We met some
friends there one evening enjoying a very pleasant hour or so before
heading off for something to eat choosing Chefe Antónios again where
António recommended we tried his fish baked in the oven. It was delicious!
Incidentally the Anteak Bar is doing very nice lunchtime meals and snacks
at a very reasonable price as well!
On the 8th, Lagoas Municipal bank holiday, the cloud disappeared and the
sun returned much to my relief as I was being personally blamed for the
poor weather by our friend who had to console herself on the dull days by
flexing her “plastic” at the shoe shops at Guia Shopping.
That evening we went to the CAFÉ INGLES in Silves, on the steps by the
Cathedral, for an evening of live music. It was a modern jazz 3 piece
combo with a guest saxophonist and whilst modern jazz is not my favourite
it was good to sit out under the stars in the garden at the back of the
Café in the shadow of the castle walls listening to some very well
executed live music. This was the last in a series of similar events held
there and the owners promise further initiatives during the winter and
next year. It’s good – give it a try.
Saturday morning was spent hunting for a second hand jeep to replace our
existing one. There are so many car sales sites around now it made me
recall the early 80’s when there were virtually none except for a few in
Faro. With very little trade in new cars and no credit for car purchase
everybody was running around in old cars and holding on to them. Saturday
evening it was out with our friend for a meal and then on to BAR HAVANA
for some of their great cocktails, the ROUNDUP SALOON and a finish at THE
ANGEL, the small bar in the shopping centre below the Chinese restaurant
GRANDE MURALHA. We thought that AARON the barman/owner looks more like Al
Murray the pub landlord comic than Al Murray himself – very entertaining!
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Monday 12th brought a very cold north wind at dawn but with the day
turning bright and sunny. Monday night it was over to KAZY in Silves at
the request of our friend who can’t miss a trip to the Algarve without at
least one meal of chicken piri-piri. Excellent as usual – pity there isn’t
a similar place in Carvoeiro to save us the journey to either Guia or
Silves.
The following day the cold wind had dropped and it was back to wall to
wall sunshine! That wasn’t to last very long however and by late afternoon
on Wednesday 14th dark clouds had started to roll towards the coast from
the south east. Peals of thunder could be heard out to sea and these
gradually became louder. By about 7pm the first large raindrops fell
followed by a torrential downpour although fairly short-lived. As the
storm began to clear it left us with a vivid red sunset. I calculate this
is the first real rain we have had for about 10 months! More fell in the
night and the next day was mixed with sun and showers. According to the
meteorological forecasters real rain isn’t forecast until November!
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Please find the photos in large versions
here (opens new window) |
One day we enjoyed a bite of lunch at BOM BORDO in Estrada do Farol just
before THE INDIAN restaurant. This is the second time we have eaten there
although we often use its “sister” restaurant CAFÉ CICLO in Lagoa. We
enjoyed our meal very much. Good plain food at good plain prices – give it
a try.
It was full moon on Sunday the 18th but no change in the weather as
sometimes seems to happen. The sun continued to shine each day, extending
the summer beyond our expectations and pleasing the late holiday makers no
end. The hot weather was not so welcome however when we visited Lisbon
just before the end of the month. With the traffic gridlock that now
symbolises Lisbon and the sticky, city heat we were happy to travel back
down to breathe the cooler, fresh Algarve air.
Até logo! |
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