Well, reading the newspapers there are four big stories in connection with Portugal this week…and far and away the most worrisome are the financial and political crises, a solution to which would seem to be closely linked.
Markets have long seen Portugal going the route of Ireland and Greece with a request for a bailout from the EU almost a certainty. Prime Minister Jose Socrates has said that the rejection of his latest set of austerity measures by the opposition - this even though European leaders praised them - is making matters worse and has threatened to resign if they don’t accept them. If he does resign, it will be interesting to see how a follow-on government copes with this problem…
Then of course there is the good news: two lots of British Royalty will make their presence felt in Portugal!
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall are to undertake an official visit to Portugal (as well as Spain and Morocco) from 28 March to 6 April 2011. The tour will start in Lisbon where, among other things, the Prince and The Duchess will celebrate the long-standing relationship between the Portuguese and the British Navies. Historically Portugal is Britain’s oldest ally, an alliance that has lasted for no less than six centuries.
Then the country is to be honoured by that ‘King of the West End’, Andrew Lloyd Webber – or at least his music!
Evidently the national tourist agency has announced that it is to book what it calls a “succession of popular British entertainment shows and acts” in order to attract British tourists to the Algarve. This will include The Phantom of the Opera, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar plus a British band, a British jazz singer and electronic trip-hop musicians from Manchester. This entertainment scheme, called Allgarve Nations, will evidently highlight the culture of a different nation annually, with the UK first on the list. This in an endeavor to attract tourists - I don’t know about you, but frankly, if I wanted to see British theatre I would see it in the UK. As a tourist I would prefer to se something local – or maybe that’s just me?
Anyway, what may well attract more tourists is that the budget airline, Jet2, will be adding new routes to and from Faro to airports in the UK. This summer, travellers in the north of the country will have easy, inexpensive access to the Algarve for the first time, with low-cost carrier Jet2 launching services from seven northern UK destinations including direct flights from Blackpool, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle. Flights start from as low as €39, which should certainly encourage more tourists to visit as well as making the UK easier to visit for the many expats who now live in Portugal.
Property professionals in Portugal are also hoping that this will help to resuscitate the local property market, which has suffered badly in the recent depression. Hopefully, with accessibility being of primary importance, this will encourage investors who want to buy second homes and let them to holidaymakers, and indeed encourage holiday makers to visit the area. Certainly if you are thinking of buying property in the area it is good news, both as a visitor and indeed if you are planning on letting out your property.
How are your plans coming along – are you still thinking of buying in Portugal?
Best wishes for the week and warm greetings,
Carol.
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Portugalbuyingguide.com
Thursday 24 March 2011
Thursday 17 March 2011
Cheers! Or should I say Saúde?
Sitting sipping a glass of Portuguese wine a few evenings ago I found myself wondering exactly how old the Portuguese wine industry is – “Get a life!” can I hear you say? It must be all those foodie/wine/travel programmes on TV that I have been exposed to …!
Anyway, what I didn’t expect to find when I researched this is that it stretches right back to the days of the Roman Empire – can you believe it? Indeed, if one wants to be really accurate I have seen the date 5.000 BC mooted – but let’s not get ridiculous! And strangely enough, wine continued to be made in Portugal during the Moorish occupation, in spite of alcohol being forbidden.
Exports of Portuguese wine to England can be traced back to the early twelfth century but it was only in 1703, with the signing of the Treaty of Methuen, that this trade really flourished. The treaty was signed in order to grant Portuguese wines preference over French wines – wouldn’t you know that even back then there was a distinctly frosty atmosphere between France and England? The government of the time was trying to put a stop to this lucrative trade with France – I wonder how far that got?!
And of course it is not only wine but fortified wines like Port and Madeira that Portugal produces too. I am one of that number who is totally rejected by those pompous wine aficionados, who look down their noses at anybody who likes even a remotely sweet wine. However, somebody loves me, and to my joy I have found quite a few really good semi-sweet wines too amongst the Portuguese wines.
Portugal exports many of their finest wines for you to sample at home but you will find the prices far better in Portugal than in the UK, plus there are many other wines to be found locally that don’t find their way to our shelves, so do have a look when you are there.
Also, I don’t know whether you have discovered this for yourself, but there are a number of small, private wine makers that produce some very acceptable wines –at this stage I hastily add that I am of the ‘I know what I like’ school and by no means an expert…but the ones I have bought have been great! Rather quaintly you can sometimes see clues as to where to buy these wines: a picture of a wine jar on a house wall or a farm gate may give an indication in the smaller, more rural villages. Word of mouth is good here too – locals will happily point you in the direction of some of these smaller producers. Just remember not to keep the bottle too long after you have opened it as it doesn’t keep to well…as if that needed saying!
Two of the main wine producing regions of the country, namely the Douro Valley and Pico Island, have been declared world heritage sites by UNESCO so that’s pretty prestigious and shows you how seriously wine making is taken in Portugal – indeed it is the world’s seventh largest wine-producing country. One of Portugal’s best wine making regions is in the Alentejo and - with some of my very favourite towns to be visited in the area such as Castelo de Vide and Marvao - a wine tasting visit here could be a great option.
And when I tell you that Sir Cliff Richard produces wine from his estate on the Algarve… well, you’ll know you are in good company…yes? Have you found any of the lesser known Portuguese wines that you particularly like? If so you may want to share the name with us…?
All for now – see you next week – and cheers!
Carol
The Overseas Guides Companyhttp://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/
Anyway, what I didn’t expect to find when I researched this is that it stretches right back to the days of the Roman Empire – can you believe it? Indeed, if one wants to be really accurate I have seen the date 5.000 BC mooted – but let’s not get ridiculous! And strangely enough, wine continued to be made in Portugal during the Moorish occupation, in spite of alcohol being forbidden.
Exports of Portuguese wine to England can be traced back to the early twelfth century but it was only in 1703, with the signing of the Treaty of Methuen, that this trade really flourished. The treaty was signed in order to grant Portuguese wines preference over French wines – wouldn’t you know that even back then there was a distinctly frosty atmosphere between France and England? The government of the time was trying to put a stop to this lucrative trade with France – I wonder how far that got?!
And of course it is not only wine but fortified wines like Port and Madeira that Portugal produces too. I am one of that number who is totally rejected by those pompous wine aficionados, who look down their noses at anybody who likes even a remotely sweet wine. However, somebody loves me, and to my joy I have found quite a few really good semi-sweet wines too amongst the Portuguese wines.
Portugal exports many of their finest wines for you to sample at home but you will find the prices far better in Portugal than in the UK, plus there are many other wines to be found locally that don’t find their way to our shelves, so do have a look when you are there.
Also, I don’t know whether you have discovered this for yourself, but there are a number of small, private wine makers that produce some very acceptable wines –at this stage I hastily add that I am of the ‘I know what I like’ school and by no means an expert…but the ones I have bought have been great! Rather quaintly you can sometimes see clues as to where to buy these wines: a picture of a wine jar on a house wall or a farm gate may give an indication in the smaller, more rural villages. Word of mouth is good here too – locals will happily point you in the direction of some of these smaller producers. Just remember not to keep the bottle too long after you have opened it as it doesn’t keep to well…as if that needed saying!
Two of the main wine producing regions of the country, namely the Douro Valley and Pico Island, have been declared world heritage sites by UNESCO so that’s pretty prestigious and shows you how seriously wine making is taken in Portugal – indeed it is the world’s seventh largest wine-producing country. One of Portugal’s best wine making regions is in the Alentejo and - with some of my very favourite towns to be visited in the area such as Castelo de Vide and Marvao - a wine tasting visit here could be a great option.
And when I tell you that Sir Cliff Richard produces wine from his estate on the Algarve… well, you’ll know you are in good company…yes? Have you found any of the lesser known Portuguese wines that you particularly like? If so you may want to share the name with us…?
All for now – see you next week – and cheers!
Carol
The Overseas Guides Companyhttp://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/
Thursday 10 March 2011
Portugal – a marriage of cultures
Today it is very un-PC to think of colonisation, but back in the day it was a measure of a country’s importance, plus of course they needed what other countries and continents had to offer in the way of things like minerals, spices etc.
Portuguese sailors began exploring the coast of Africa as early as 1419 and by 1488 Bartholomew Diaz had rounded the Cape of Good Hope. Vasco da Gama reached India in 1498, thus opening up the sea route to the immensely lucrative source of the spices that Europeans craved. Eventually Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, the Cape Verde Islands, São Tomé, Príncipe, and Macão were all either heavily influenced or actively colonised by the Portuguese.
When I first visited Portugal, years ago now, it was with a curious sense of familiarity. This was because all my childhood holidays were spent on beaches with names such as Sao Martinho and Xai Xai, in the neighbouring country of Mozambique. My parents drank cerveja, we ate peri peri prawns or chicken and we were surrounded traces of Portugal influences all around us. Of course the countryside was very different from its African colony, but the language was the same, as was the wonderful warmth and friendliness of the people.
What I hadn’t expected to find were the many colonial references when I visited Portugal itself! Not only African of course but Moorish and Brazilian too – it’s a heady mix of cultures, one that you won’t find anywhere else.
The Moors occupied Lisbon and ruled the country until well into the twelfth century. They were finally driven out by King Alfonso Henriques, assisted by English and Flemish crusaders, but they left a wonderful legacy behind them, especially in terms of architecture. Many buildings such as like the Praca De Toiros still retain their Moorish design and even the oldest district of Lisbon, Alfama, dates back to Moorish times with its narrow streets and old Moorish buildings.
The Fado songs so typical of Portugal are thought to have a strong African blues music influence and it is said that the fishing boats of Cascais have traces of their African heritage. Called rabelos, I was reading that these boats, with their large red or white sails, are reminiscent of the transport boats of Lagos in Nigeria – it is so interesting the influence countries have on one another isn’t it? When I was in Brazil I was amazed to find that they speak Portuguese – I hadn’t known that beforehand. Well, having said that I believe that there is a considerable difference. In fact a chap I got talking to about this said it is much like the differences between English and American: you know - horn for hooter, trunk for boot (of a car) and so on!
All these influences have conspired to make Portugal what it is today, one of the loveliest countries with a varied and multi-cultural feel that I for one never tire of. Have you noted signs of this as you have travelled around the country?
Have a happy week – and remember, summer is almost here!
Carol
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Portugalbuyingguide.com
Portuguese sailors began exploring the coast of Africa as early as 1419 and by 1488 Bartholomew Diaz had rounded the Cape of Good Hope. Vasco da Gama reached India in 1498, thus opening up the sea route to the immensely lucrative source of the spices that Europeans craved. Eventually Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, the Cape Verde Islands, São Tomé, Príncipe, and Macão were all either heavily influenced or actively colonised by the Portuguese.
When I first visited Portugal, years ago now, it was with a curious sense of familiarity. This was because all my childhood holidays were spent on beaches with names such as Sao Martinho and Xai Xai, in the neighbouring country of Mozambique. My parents drank cerveja, we ate peri peri prawns or chicken and we were surrounded traces of Portugal influences all around us. Of course the countryside was very different from its African colony, but the language was the same, as was the wonderful warmth and friendliness of the people.
What I hadn’t expected to find were the many colonial references when I visited Portugal itself! Not only African of course but Moorish and Brazilian too – it’s a heady mix of cultures, one that you won’t find anywhere else.
The Moors occupied Lisbon and ruled the country until well into the twelfth century. They were finally driven out by King Alfonso Henriques, assisted by English and Flemish crusaders, but they left a wonderful legacy behind them, especially in terms of architecture. Many buildings such as like the Praca De Toiros still retain their Moorish design and even the oldest district of Lisbon, Alfama, dates back to Moorish times with its narrow streets and old Moorish buildings.
The Fado songs so typical of Portugal are thought to have a strong African blues music influence and it is said that the fishing boats of Cascais have traces of their African heritage. Called rabelos, I was reading that these boats, with their large red or white sails, are reminiscent of the transport boats of Lagos in Nigeria – it is so interesting the influence countries have on one another isn’t it? When I was in Brazil I was amazed to find that they speak Portuguese – I hadn’t known that beforehand. Well, having said that I believe that there is a considerable difference. In fact a chap I got talking to about this said it is much like the differences between English and American: you know - horn for hooter, trunk for boot (of a car) and so on!
All these influences have conspired to make Portugal what it is today, one of the loveliest countries with a varied and multi-cultural feel that I for one never tire of. Have you noted signs of this as you have travelled around the country?
Have a happy week – and remember, summer is almost here!
Carol
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Portugalbuyingguide.com
Thursday 3 March 2011
Your next trip to Portugal…
Most people travelling to Portugal go because they love the country or perhaps love the sunny weather and the magnificent beaches, but why not try something a little different next time? For instance, why not combine your next trip (be it holiday or a property viewing trip) with a local event that will allow you to share a happy and celebratory time with local people? It’s great way to have fun and to make new friends.
This thought occurred to me when I saw something about the fantastically colourful carnivals in Portugal. For instance Loures, just 15 minutes away from Lisbon, has a great carnival tradition. There you can see an amazing carnival parade with over a thousand participants and many costumed characters in floats. This year the parade is scheduled to take place between the 6th and the 8th of March at 2:30 p.m. weather permitting – do check all dates and times before travelling by the way.
Then what about the carnival at Torres Vedras, only about 43 kms north of Lisbon, from Friday 4th to Wednesday 9th March 2011? This, they say, is the most ‘Portuguese’ carnival in the country - whatever that may mean! Evidently the parade has decorated streetcars satirising society and politics – it sounds interesting and quirky, doesn’t it?
As a confirmed bookaholic I rather liked the idea of the Lisbon Book Fair – no Kindle books for me! Evidently this has been held in Lisbon’s Edward VII Park (Parque Eduardo VII) since the 1930s and offers visitors a wonderful opportunity to browse through both old and new books, including comic books for the young/young at heart! It takes place some time from April to May – to my mind that’s worth bearing it in mind. And perhaps there will be a whole lot of like-minded locals to get chatting to…
The other thing I love to do when travelling is to walk, either alone, with friends or on arranged walks locally. It doesn’t have to be for miles – just a wander out into the country around Óbidos for instance is an utterly lovely experience. Spring is of course the perfect time to do this, with spring flowers popping up all over the countryside.
I also walked the walls that surround the town of Óbidos. I have to confess that I love peeping into people’s lives and seeing how they differ from ours – or indeed how often they are in many ways the same.
What I have often found is that if you walk just a few yards off the tourist trail you sometimes come upon enchanting places that are quiet and totally unspoilt, even in pats of the country that are otherwise quite crowded. Walking through the woods up to the palaces that rise above the town of Sintra was one such experience. All around me was it was quiet and cool and lovely with glimpses of birds and squirrels, while crowds of tourists drove to the top in their hot buses or cars!
There are so many towns and cities in Portugal that are fascinating to wander around – I did quite a bit of walking around Tomar for instance and found many small, intriguing insights into the town that I would never otherwise have seen. It is a mediaeval city with the streets and squares arranged in a chessboard pattern with lovely interesting Renaissance and Baroque buildings, medieval churches and the Castle. There is rumored to be a secret passageway between the Santa Maria dos Olivais church and the Castle – perhaps you may stumble across it!
So do a little research and pack those walking shoes next time you travel to Portugal: you may find the most wonderful things to do as you travel the country.
Have fun until next time…
Carol.
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Portugalbuyingguide.com
This thought occurred to me when I saw something about the fantastically colourful carnivals in Portugal. For instance Loures, just 15 minutes away from Lisbon, has a great carnival tradition. There you can see an amazing carnival parade with over a thousand participants and many costumed characters in floats. This year the parade is scheduled to take place between the 6th and the 8th of March at 2:30 p.m. weather permitting – do check all dates and times before travelling by the way.
Then what about the carnival at Torres Vedras, only about 43 kms north of Lisbon, from Friday 4th to Wednesday 9th March 2011? This, they say, is the most ‘Portuguese’ carnival in the country - whatever that may mean! Evidently the parade has decorated streetcars satirising society and politics – it sounds interesting and quirky, doesn’t it?
As a confirmed bookaholic I rather liked the idea of the Lisbon Book Fair – no Kindle books for me! Evidently this has been held in Lisbon’s Edward VII Park (Parque Eduardo VII) since the 1930s and offers visitors a wonderful opportunity to browse through both old and new books, including comic books for the young/young at heart! It takes place some time from April to May – to my mind that’s worth bearing it in mind. And perhaps there will be a whole lot of like-minded locals to get chatting to…
The other thing I love to do when travelling is to walk, either alone, with friends or on arranged walks locally. It doesn’t have to be for miles – just a wander out into the country around Óbidos for instance is an utterly lovely experience. Spring is of course the perfect time to do this, with spring flowers popping up all over the countryside.
I also walked the walls that surround the town of Óbidos. I have to confess that I love peeping into people’s lives and seeing how they differ from ours – or indeed how often they are in many ways the same.
What I have often found is that if you walk just a few yards off the tourist trail you sometimes come upon enchanting places that are quiet and totally unspoilt, even in pats of the country that are otherwise quite crowded. Walking through the woods up to the palaces that rise above the town of Sintra was one such experience. All around me was it was quiet and cool and lovely with glimpses of birds and squirrels, while crowds of tourists drove to the top in their hot buses or cars!
There are so many towns and cities in Portugal that are fascinating to wander around – I did quite a bit of walking around Tomar for instance and found many small, intriguing insights into the town that I would never otherwise have seen. It is a mediaeval city with the streets and squares arranged in a chessboard pattern with lovely interesting Renaissance and Baroque buildings, medieval churches and the Castle. There is rumored to be a secret passageway between the Santa Maria dos Olivais church and the Castle – perhaps you may stumble across it!
So do a little research and pack those walking shoes next time you travel to Portugal: you may find the most wonderful things to do as you travel the country.
Have fun until next time…
Carol.
The Overseas Guides Company
http://www.Portugalbuyingguide.com
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