Community Development
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There is gold in them there hills – and it is water
It is August, well, the embers of it. It is too warm to do anything in the garden after about 9:30am. Not that there is much to do other than clear, harvest and be hopeful. We went away to the UK for three months and came back a couple of weeks ago to a dry borehole and scorched vegetable beds. What can you do but dream and start again? The lovely people who we house swapped with did not know what to do once the borehole dried up, so not much was watered for a few weeks. Looking at what has survived has made us realise things can survive with…
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Copacabana – Panoramas of Rio de Janeiro
Since September 2012, Portugal along with Brazil, has been celebrating the year of Portugal in Brazil and Brazil in Portugal. The celebration “Year” has involved a range of artistic and scientific exchanges between both Countries. The aim of the year in Portugal is to showcase a young, modern and innovative country, in which the economy, the arts, science and business play a central role. The celebrations continue until Portugal Day, on 10th June. To mark this important “Year”, Tavira has been chosen to host a very special, indeed unique exhibition. In an interview last week, at the Consulate in Faro, Consul General of Brazil in Faro, Ambassador Manuel Innocencio de Lacerda Santos…
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Fashion show raises 500 Euros and an eagle is released
On Saturday 27th April, at the beautiful Bela Romão Croquet Club, overlooking the azul waters of the Ria Formosa Islands, a Fashion show and charity lunch was held. The event was to raise money for RIAS, the wildlife hospital, located in the Ria Formosa National Park, Olhão. Fábia Azevedo, the centre representative, shared with the visitors, how the centre staff shelter and nurse hundreds of orphaned chicks who are brought to the centre each spring. Western Algarve fashion designer Jouk and her ten models paraded down a red carpet catwalk in front of the Moroccan style tents where over 60 guests enjoyed a scrumptious lunch of watercress salad, Panko crusted baked…
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The route of cork
Did you know that there is an interpretation room in São Bras do Alportel Museum, dedicated to Cork? The town has a long history of its production and extraction as well as the creative use and development of the product. This room is where the Cork Route Tour starts, if you sign up with the Rota da Cortiço Association. They offer a range of tours for the young and those less agile. Many cork trees, along with carob and olive trees were destroyed in last July’s fires. Cork farmers have lost not just one crop but many years of cork harvests. Although they are replanting, the new trees will not…
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Photo exhibition in Alportel – Portugal seen by its Foreigners
A group of friends have come together, some who are members of the Algarve Photography Group and others who sing together in the Sâo Bras Choir, to create an exhibition of photography in Alportel Museum. The exhibition was launched on Saturday 6 April with the support of São Bras do Alportel, Camara, who provided publicity and covered the cost of the launch. The exhibition is called – Portugal seen by its Foreigners. The images represent how some resident foreigners in Portugal feel about their adopted home. The images explore the beauty, the communities, the flora and fauna and importantly the story of why even in times of austerity it is…
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Diggers and Dreamers – Making a difference in Tavira
The three day “Festival of the Tree” organised by the Tavira Transition Movement, took place in the Library in Tavira and in Mata Santa Rita, during the weekend of 22-24 March. The main attraction of the festival was Aviram Rozin from Sadhana Forest Auroville, India. People from many nationalities came together, to learn from his successes and failures. He shared techniques for growing trees whilst conserving water. His work in Sadhana Forest, near Auroville, India, began in December 2003. The vision then was to transform 70 acres of severely eroded, arid land on the outskirts of Auroville. He has succeeded beyond what he hoped to do and people are taking…
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Finnish Choir sings in Tavira
As part of a cultural cooperation, between the International Association of Paremiology and the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Tavira, a Finnish Male Choral group will perform in the Miscordia Church in Tavira this week. The Paremiology Association is dedicated to the scientific study of proverbs. The association believes that it is through proverbs that cultures cross over and understand each other on different levels. As an international association they encourage educational activities and create opportunities for the recognition and protection of intangible cultural heritage. As part of these aims the Helsinki choir has been invited to sing in Tavira. The choir is called Helsinki soumailainan kuoro klubi…
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Have a “Red Nose” night – 2013
It is that crazy week which happens once a year and that involves you wearing a red nose. This year you can watch the event and have your own fun along with other red nosers at the Bela Romao Croquet Club near Tavira. The club opened its doors in June 2012 and since then, has organised many opportunities to meet with friends, eat good food, relax, play and just have fun. The club is usually for members and their guests, but until June 2013, the club is inviting neighbours and friends to visit and enjoy Sunday Brunch, a game of croquet and a glass of bubbles for 20 Euros. The…
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Algarve Tricot/Knitters Group Meeting Saturday 16 March 3pm
Knitters are a community. When they get together they share patterns, wool, chat and all the good stuff. This is what happens anyway, at the Algarve tricot knitters group, when they get together. It’s not a large group, so there is space for more people to come along. They usually meet in São Bras Alportel. On the 16th March at 3pm, they are meeting at members house near Santa Catarina, not least because she has discovered a whole pile of old Portuguese crochet patterns that were being put into a bin. Members also bring German and UK patterns. They all are worth exploring. The group has a page on Ravelry,…
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Storytelling – bringing people together
On Sunday 10th March in the Casa do Povo in Santa Estevao, a few people met together to listen to the Brazilian storyteller Thomas Bakk. He is a passionate, funny, clever storyteller who engages the audience by occasionally involving them in the story. He tells stories, with his body and face. He has a big grin and large eyes which hold your attention. He sings and plays a tambourine as the stories progress. He creates a relaxed friendly atmosphere. He also provides opportunities for the audience to come forward and tell their stories. One woman Maria do Rosario told old stories from the village. Another woman Maria Tolentinna shared a…
