Newsletter May 2007


 

by: Carol Carpenter

For the first time since 2001, Portugal hosted a FIA World Rally Championship round.
The Rally was based at Estadio Algarve, which was built for the 2004 European Soccer Championships just outside Faro. The stadium held a super special stage with the action starting on Thursday 29th March and a repeat test bringing the Rally to a close on Sunday 1st April. The traditional stages were based in the Serra do Caldeiro mountains north of Faro. Frenchman Sabastian Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena from Monaco took first place on the winner’s podium having set a great pace in their Citroen C4.
The Rally was well supported with many spectators pitching their tents for the event. However the organisers have been fined €37,000 after five people were injured when Portuguese driver Armindo Araujo’s Mitsubishi left the track. Even so, drivers and spectators alike enjoyed the Rally believing it to be a welcome return.
We were lucky to have two family members staying, both of whom are ardent followers and fans of Marcus Gronholm and Petter Solberg. One member being an amateur driver himself, whose family have been involved with rally driving for many years along with his wife really enjoyed the event and remarked on how well planned out it was – the lack of refreshments along the stages being their only grumble.
 
We had a great time meeting up with 6 regular CVO visitors* on Maundy Thursday and we all enjoyed a meal at Algar Seco. Sharen and Michael along with Sue and Jeff also joined us for a BBQ on Good Friday – the other two visitors wish to remain anonymous for personal reasons!! It made a great start to the Easter break. S. and M. invited us to join them for their farewell dinner at A Rede (no bones in the soup and viagra sauce) for which we thank them and looking forward to their return visit at Christmas.

   
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We also met up with Baggysallyjane* and her husband Richard, joining them for a meal at Colombo’s to celebrate her “50” birthday and then moving on to the Inside Café for cocktails. If you have never paid this bar a visit, put it on your list of “must do’s” – the guys are great fun. Their mojitos are delicious as are their other cocktails and they also entertain you with their juggling and stacking tumblers, before filling the shot glasses without spillage or breakage. It is quite amazing to watch!! Of course I really didn’t have to drink six cocktails just to get information for this newsletter although it was great fun – the hangover the following day wasn’t!! Thanks for inviting us to your celebration and we look forward to seeing you again soon.
 
WineMine, based in Silves Gare, once again held their Anniversary cruise aboard the good vessel ‘Alegria’ which is a 20 metre motor ship with a below deck salon, toilet, bar and a large sundeck. Heading towards Carvoeiro and Benagil we enjoyed the views of the Algarvian coast with it’s never ending beaches and rocky cliffs, but unfortunately the weather was not kind to us and due to some passengers feeling a little unwell (!!) the Captain was forced to change the route. This shortened the Cruise somewhat and we were unable to continue on to Lagos. After returning to the smooth waters of the Arade river mouth we anchored off Praia Grande where we enjoyed a fabulous buffet lunch prepared by Chef Christian from CKL Restaurant in Lagos. Philip, our host, was there to fill our glasses up with a selection of newly arrived red and white wines. This proved to be a great day and anyone who is not a member of WineMine should ring Anabela at the office (282 410 036) or e-mail mail@winemine.net, as apart from good wines, they have really great trips even travelling as far as Peru.

   
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The new MaJa Bistro Bar has a very good menu with reasonable prices and we met Mark and Jan there the other evening to enjoy a glass of wine with tapas which were delicious. They had also arranged a St. Georges Day celebration weekend with a special menu of good old English food – steak and kidney pie etc., so we returned for the Sunday lunch to find the restaurant decorated with flags and balloons. They had worked really hard at this and were rewarded for their efforts by having a full house.
We thought it was a great idea – all the other Saints get their days celebrated so why not St. George – well done Mark and Jan. This restaurant is well off the beaten track and to be busy at this time of year can only be good, so we wish them well and shall be back.
 
Café Ingles in Silves was once again the venue for Banda Kalulu, a local band usually playing in Carvoeiro at the Jazz Club and also at Rocha Brava. It is well known to locals for their Sunday afternoon jazz sessions, mainly Brazilian style, which are great entertainment and create a lively atmosphere. When Banda Kalulu play they bring the house down especially when they sing “Praia do Carvoeiro” – everyone joins in and it is really fun time. The menu is varied and there is something for everybody and in the summer months they open the roof top restaurant where you can sit to enjoy the views whilst dining on their delicious pizzas, steaks, chicken etc.
Another very good restaurant is Ponte Romana just across the Ponte Velha (old bridge) where you will find more traditional dishes such as potato soup cooked to an original recipe and served with mint and crusty bread. You can also find Papas do Milho or Grizeus an Algarvia (pea broth) which is served with sausage, bacon and eggs.
Silves, with its Castle, terraces and streets complete with bazaars, make it a great attraction for visitors – relax and enjoy Silves, you won’t regret it.

   
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The River Arade played host to Lagoa’s 2007 Power Boat Grand Prix. The event, taking place at Mexilhoeira da Carregacao on Sat./Sun. 21/22 April comprised the national championship for the PR750, S850 and tourism categories as well as Formula Futuro – an event for youngsters between 8 and 18 who really enjoyed competing and showing off their skills to everyone. The power boats were awesome and at one stage I thought they would actually take off. Although the support was disappointing, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this exciting and high speed spectacle and it proved to be a great afternoon.

If anyone is thinking of visiting Sagres I would like to inform them that the lighthouse is closed until July due to restoration work. We recently took some friends there, where to our amazement the craft stalls had almost doubled in size, including the fast food vans – the prices also seemed to have doubled !! They are restoring the Chapel in the Fortaleza and the buildings around it. The museum was interesting but not yet complete.
The abundance of wild flowers inside the grounds of the Fortaleza were stunning, varying from vivid reds to pinks and purple, with a very deep blue flower which resembled our bluebell and the brightest yellow flower I have ever seen. This is obviously the best time to visit, if only for the flowers.

Unfortunately we have to return to the U.K. for the month of May as my husband is to undergo an operation on his knee. This means that I will be unable to write the next newsletter. Anyone who is willing to stand in for me would you please contact Steen – perhaps Carvoeiro 1* you might be interested.

Ciao

Carol

* regular forum users