JUMPING FOR JOY
– July 6, 2016 | Text Mia Wallace Algar Seco cliff jumpers are making a big splash Cliff jumping may seem like a crazy new adrenaline activity, but it’s actually been around for a very long time. It was first documented in 1770, when Kahek- ili II, king of Maui, engaged in a practice called “lele kawa”, which in English means to leap into the ocean, feet first, without splashing. The king’s warriors were challenged to participate,...
LAGOA’S GOLDEN COAST
JOURNALIST ANABELA GASPAR TAKES US ON A GUIDED WALK ALONG ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR STRETCHES OF COASTLINE IN THE AREA Awalk along Lagoa’s coastline is a thrill, no matter how many times you do it. For this issue, we discovered the stretch between Praia do Paraíso and Praia do Vale da Lapa – an un-signposted section. No matter how many times I walk above Lagoa’s cliffs, I am always left speechless by its stunning scenery. The...
AN EVERGREEN WORLD
THE LITTLE PICTURESQUE SPA TOWN OF CALDAS DE MONCHIQUE IS THE ANTITHESIS OF THE ALGARVE’S SEASIDE RESORTS In Caldas de Monchique, it is easy to think that you are in a different region of Portugal, or even in another country. It is hard to believe that the beach and the sea are a mere 30 kilometres away. Thanks to the humid and mild, sub- tropical maritime mountain climate, the fertile granite soil and the many springs and...
CANINE LUXURY
OPENED IN 2011 AND EXPANDED IN 2016, HOTEL DO CÃO IS SETTING TAILS WAGGING Browsing the Facebook page of Hotel do Cão, a pet hotel nestled in the countryside in Vale da Rainha, on the road from Portimão to Monchique, we find hundred of pho- tographs of happy pooches of all breeds and sizes playfully stretching their paws in an idyllic fenced area. Looking at the sheer number of photo albums, it’s no surprise that 48-year- old...
CULTURAL HERITAGE
FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO LISTEN TO THE YEARNING SOUND OF FADO, THERE IS A NEW LOCALE IN LAGOA Lagoa de Fado is the brainchild of Ondina Santos and Carlos Tapadinhas. Ondina worked as an art teacher and is known for her poetry books and music CDs for children, as well as for her voice. Carlos studied business management in Coimbra, where he discovered the Portuguese guitar, but the 45-year-old only started accompanying Fado singers five...
Southern delights in Ferragudo
O Canto in Ferragudo opened just before Easter this year and is a welcome new addition to the Ferragudo restaurant scene. A joint collaboration between Jimmy Cruz (formally the head chef at Taste, in Carvoeiro) and Tony Laginha (a local restaurateur), O Canto has put together a small and balanced menu that incorporates rustic Mediterranean flavours and specialties including delicious tapas, fresh fish and Argentinean ribeye steaks....
Local photographer exhibits in Lisbon
Well-known Aljezur photographer João Mariano, whose work often depicts the Algarve’s ancient traditions and livelihoods, is exhibiting his work in Lisbon until April 16. The exhibition, entitled O Conhecido Desconhecido (The Known Unknown), is dedicated to Lagoa’s beautiful coastline. The photographic works of João Mariano, who has also published books about Alvor’s shellfish catchers and Monchique’s...
Sítio das Fontes
The Sítio das Fontes is the perfect setting for some fine-weather exercise, to lose unwanted pounds, or simply for a relaxing walk. The Sítio das Fontes Muncipal Park, 1.5 km outside Estômbar, in the municipality of Lagoa, covers an area of 18 hectares, at the start and along the banks of a creek on the left bank of the River Arade. It owes its name, translating to “Place of the Springs”, to the presence of many springs that bubble up...
A dream come true
The recently-renovated mezzanine extension of A Vela provides a fitting venue for a magnificent baby grand piano. The piano has long been a dream of owner Antónia Cobrinha, who is thrilled to finally be able to turn her dream into reality. A pianist will perform several times a week throughout the season, accompanied by a saxophonist on Wednesdays and a singer on Friday evenings, to elevate the dining experience. The plan is to have a...
Under the Spotlight
Dutch entrepreneur Erik de Vlieger talks about his real estate ventures. Famous back in his native Holland for being the number one radio chat show host and television personality, 56 year old Erik de Vlieger is set to become one of the Algarve’s biggest entrepreneurs. His lively, energetic and inquisitive nature, not only make him a great entrepreneur, but also the ideal candidate to inject some much-needed innovation into...
