Newsletter November 2008 - archive
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by: Carol Carpenter |
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A great start for October with beautiful blue skies and sunshine. Earlier
in the year we won a trip with Dolphin Seafaris, but because of
commitments we were unable to go in summer, we decided that this month
would be the ideal time. It was an absolutely thrilling day - quite windy
therefore the sea was somewhat choppy but there was only one person - a
German tourist who felt a little sea-sick. We booked for 1.00 but we did
not actually leave until 1.30. Thinking about it - maybe we should have
booked for an early morning trip as that might have been a better time to
watch the dolphins.
The Rib (Rigid inflatable boat) took us about 13kms out to sea, where
there is a shelf that drops to about 100mts. According to the guys driving
the Rib this is full of marine life and normally where you can see
the dolphins. We were unlucky this time as we didn’t manage to see a
single dolphin, but we did manage to spot a minky whale. How fantastic!-
she emerged about three times and was about 30ft long and is the only
whale to have a dorsal fin.
Unfortunately she disappeared so quickly that it was impossible to take
photographs of her. Normally if whales are around you will rarely see
dolphins but they are happy to be with minky whales. I am sure a lot of
you have been on these trips but if not these guys are superb. We returned
to Lagos Marina 1hr 40 mins later, more than a
little wind swept after an exhilarating 35knot trip across the ocean.
For further info contact Tel 282799209 Marina de Lagos or 282496526 Marina
de Portimao.
www.DOLPHINSEAFARIS.COM
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please find all the photos for the
newsletter
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We managed to meet up with Richard, Ingrid, Gordon and Sandy with their
neighbours and mutual friends of ours Mimi and Guido who are from Belgium.
Roy decided that we would try La Gondola in Ferragudo, as we had
previously enjoyed lunch there. The food here is all home made and the
Pasta is delicious and very light. The owners made us very welcome and
supplied us with an array of antipasto for our starter. It was a great
evening and everyone enjoyed themselves. At the end of the meal the owners
then brought over two bottles of dessert wine, on the house, which was
really very generous of them. It was such a shame that Karen and Nick were
unable to join us, due to Karen being so poorly - I never realised just
how bad she was – so we had to raise a toast to ‘absent friends’ I hope
the operation is successful and that she has a speedy recovery. Later that
week we joined Richard and Ingrid again to enjoy a meal at O Salmao in
Monte Carvoeiro, we were also joined by Bruce and his wife Julie, it was
the first time I had met them and it was a very nice evening.
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We also enjoyed a great evening at ‘The Irish Times’ this month helping
Graham celebrate his 60th birthday. As usual the bar was packed and
the food was delicious. Graham was really quite merry by the time we
arrived and even merrier when it was time for the speech, as you can see
in the photos - he still managed to blow out the candles. Thanks Graham it
was a really great night.
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please find all the photos for the
newsletter
here |
The Better living in Portugal exhibition took place on 11th and
12th October. This year there were fewer exhibitors and also fewer
visitors. We walked around on Saturday and it was very quiet. The
exhibitors that we were interested in were nowhere to be seen. Sunday was
a little busier but this was because it was the Mamamaratona 2008 where
more than 2,000 runners and walkers participated. I walked the 8km again
this year, managing to complete in 1hr 5mins which I was very pleased
with. It’s always a great day and 28,000 euros was raised on the day with
the final amount expected to be much higher once the sponsorship money has
been collected.
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please find all the photos for the
newsletter
here |
Sunday was also the start of the Global Ocean Race. Families and
friends waved the sailors off on there 30,000 mile adventure around the
world. If you are interested in following their progress you can visit the
official website
www.portimaoglobaloceanrace.com
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There has also been the fourth annual Big Game Fishing competition
at Portimao marina. Teams from around the world competed and the English
team, Big Black One, won the competition. The team caught a white marlin
on Saturday and a blue marlin on Sunday, with the largest fish being
caught by the team weighing approximately 225 kilos.
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The World Super bike Championship race starts on November 2nd. At
the new Algarve race circuit in Mexilhoeira Grande. A corner of the track
is to be named in honour of Craig Jones who died following a race accident
in the U.K on August 4th. Irish Motorsports painter, Lance Wilson, will be
presenting the parents of Craig with a picture he has painted of the racer
in a ceremony before the race begins.
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We were invited to Porches Pottery the other evening to celebrate
their 40th anniversary of the specialist pottery
shop. Friends and clients enjoyed the party atmosphere, whilst listening
to music played on the scimitar and Turkish drums. A new design was also
launched named Shamrock, showing that the team are constantly working on
new products. The pottery still operates from the original building used
40 years ago and is managed by the family of one of the founders, Irish
artist Patrick Swift. The food was supplied by Morag Richardson who
runs the adjoining Café Bar Bacchus and was absolutely mouth watering. The
Café will be closing on 5th December and will re-open in February.
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please find all the photos for the newsletter here |
There are still no signs of any alterations being done in CVO but I
suppose they will wait until the half- term holiday makers have returned
home. There are two sites awaiting approval for the new Intermarche
but again nothing has been decided. There is a new Factory Outlet Shop in
Lagoa which is just up from Goodwoods by the traffic lights. I am
absolutely delighted as I buy a lot of bedding from their shop in Alvor so
to have one just down the road is brilliant.
There is also a new Centro Saude being built in CVO. This is next to the
new school which is situated behind the Indian restaurant ‘O Castelo’ and
up the side road by Mare D'arte. Other than this
CVO remains the same.
We have been lucky to get into Happy’s for their last night celebrations,
before they close for their Christmas break, apparently we got the last
table as they have been booked up for sometime. Should be a good night and
hopefully I shall get some good photos for next month’s newsletter.
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That’s all the news for this month I just can’t believe it’s nearly
Christmas.
Ciao
Carol |
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