Travel
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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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Seascape – A new photography exhibition
This week a new exhibition is being launched. The theme is “Seascape”. The launch will take place at the São Bras Museum. The Algarve Photography Group “is a remarkable, fun and dynamic group of people who have come together to share what they love doing and that is taking good photos”, says Mary McClay the Chair of the group. Mary and the group work together every two months to organise a free photography exhibition. Every couple of weeks there are workshops and days out so that people can learn more about their camera and how to not just look, but to really capture what they are seeing. There are about…
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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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Festival of the Tree – Transition Tavira
Transition Tavira is part of an international movement to encourage sustainable use of local land, as well as a way of creating community gardens. Some groups use Permaculture methods and or organic practices. The group in Tavira have been working on some land near Santa Rita, for a few months. The land was provided by Tavira Camara, for their use, for 5 years. The group in Tavira is made up of all nationalities. They have enthusiastically organised a festival called the “Festival of the Tree” and it will take place from March 22 to 24 in Tavira and Mata de Santa Rita. Aviram Rozin (Sadhana Forest) Auroville, India is coming to…
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Boules, Algarve Tournament
Boules is a popular game, usually played on Saturday afternoons and Sundays across the Algarve. Sometimes called Pétanque or Bocce (Italy) the games can be sub-divided into two categories based on typical throwing technique, either throwing or rolling. Balls are usually thrown underhand not overhand as in baseball. On Sunday 10 March, the East Algarve tournament took place in Santa Catarina (where the market usually takes place). 50 Equipes (clubs) came together to compete against each other, playing about 150 games.
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Storytellers from two continents in Tavira – 2013
As part of the Mare de Contos Festival there are two storytellers in Tavira this week. Tim Bowley an Englishman living in Spain, will share some traditional stories at Pessoa Cafe on the, 8th March at 9pm. At 10:30pm on the 8th, at CENAS, the Brazilain Thomas Bakk will share some more stories. He will also be performing at the Casa do Povo in Santa Estevao on Sunday 10th March at 3pm. On the 9th, in the evening (Saturday) at the Library there will be a group of storytellers sharing even more stories. At 10:00 pm at CENAS there is live music from O Manipulador
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Mediterranean Garden Society Conference – Portugal
A three-day conference organised by the Mediterranean Garden Society, started on Friday 1st March at the Pine Cliffs Sheraton Hotel near Albufeira. The Conference is called Friends and Foes in the Mediterranean Garden. Roy Lancaster was the key speaker on Saturday. He is a British gardener and broadcaster, known for his work on the long running BBC TV programme Gardeners’ World. He has also regularly appeared on the BBC Radio show Gardeners’ Question Time and is also a freelance writer and lecture He gave a clear, fun and passionate, illustrated talk, to keen Algarve gardeners, suggesting over 30 plants they should look for, from China, Mexico and other arid climates. One…
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Iguaçu Falls, Brazil, unbelievable and breathtaking
For me, Brazil equals, music, food, smells, passion, excitement and the new. It has it all, including the spectacular waterfalls that make up the Iguaçu Falls. We flew internally from Manaus in the Amazon, via Sao Paulo, with Tam airlines to Foz de Iguaçu in June 2012. We visited for two nights, so three days in total. Cool air contrasted with moments in the day when the sun warmed the spirit. We saw double rainbows across the falls and that in itself was thrilling. The falls are easy to locate by taxi, hire car or bus. We took a mixture of taxi and bus as we spent the first night in a…
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Day 3 Paraty
On Day 3, I attended a mix bag of sessions. The first session celebrated the poems of Drummond. In the next session Stephen Greenblatt and James Shapiro, shared their love of Shakespeare. Later in the day, Granta provided the space for two British writers to reflect on what being British means. Two Middle Eastern writers and poets talked a little about the issues for writers in Syria and Lebanon and finally Jonathan Frazen in his slow but thoughtful presentation reflected on what he makes of American culture and why he thinks we should all become bird watchers. Drummond the modern poet was explored by Alcides Viillaca and Antonio Carlos Seechin. Alcides Viillaca began…
