Algarve - The 1969 earthquake

As a young teenager living in Lisbon, I had first hand experience of the 5.5+ Richter Scale earthquake that shook Portugal at 02:40 on the morning of 28 February 1969. My strongest memory is of our our new young puppy getting the blame for shaking my parents' bed, the building shaking and the next morning seeing the phone and power lines outside the house were down, as well as the afore-mentioned puppy taking to the air on all four paws after peeing on a live 24V downed phone cable!(There was no permanent damage to him! :) ) I wasn't aware of the the effects of the quake on the rest of the country. Today, SUL INFORMAÇÃO, the Algarve online daily, has published an interesting article (in Portuguese) about the impact of the earthquake on the Algarve, together with photos. More here: http://bit.ly/MBXfSz

Economist Article on Portugal's Jeronimo Martins Group - (Pingo Doce/Biedronka)

This weeks's edition of The Economist has an interesting article on the growth of Portugl's Jeronimo Martin's group growth into a leading Retail Chain not only in Portugal, but also in Poland through Biedronka and now in Colombia. See: http://econ.st/1mL5E71

And now for something Completely Different..... Iberian Goat and Sheep Cheese Course!

This has just come through my perusing of the Ovine Times:

The Center for Dairy Research at the University of Wisconsin in the USA is organising a one day hands-on workshop on the Goat and Sheep Milk Cheeses of Spain and Portugal. Portuguese Technical Expert Mariana Marques de Almeida  will be present at the course.

So any of you in the mid-west wanting to learn about Iberian Cheese now is your chance!

http://bit.ly/1hW19EH

and for those of you who can't attend....

Stop Press: Portugal - Airports - Off-site Car Hire firms to be charged from 1st April 2014

It appears that recently privatised Portuguese airport operator has bowed to pressure from the main "Big" car hire operators with counters at their airports and has decided to levy a charge of between 10 and 17 Euros for each car hired at the airport from "non-licensed" car hire firms.

Article here (in Portuguese) in today's Diario Economico on-line edition: http://bit.ly/1cLfoHR

 While I am not against private companies charging for services, this substantial levy will have a very severe effect on the "low-cost" and independent car hire operators PARTICULARLY at Faro Airport which services the Algarve region.

In recent years, the Economic Crisis, the introduction of tolls on the A22 Via de Infante Motorway and the increased cost of flights, has made the Algarve, and particularly, its extremities more and more expensive to visit.

It may well result in several local Algarve car hire firms folding, creating more unemployment, as holidaymakers may well decide the Algarve is becoming to costly a destination.

 I cannot see ana.pt going back on this under commercial pressure but the implications will be profound.

Lisbon - Love it! Great Alternative Video about Lisbon

Great Video here by Ovella Blava Films about Lisbon:

Lisbon - Love it from Ovella Blava Films on Vimeo.

Huile d'olive d'origine Alentejano, Portugal

Quelques liens utiles:

http://www.allentejo.com/?page_id=88

http://www.herdadedasmargaridas.com/

http://www.coopmourabarrancos.pt/

Deutsche Marine "Gorch Fock" - Alongside Portimão Naval Wharf - 16 February 2014

We had the pleasure this afternoon of visiting the "Tall Ship" of the Deutsche Marine "Gorch Fock", moored along side the Portuguese navy quay in Portimão.

More on this history of the vessel here (Wikipedia):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorch_Fock_(1958)

 A few days ago I had the pleasure seeing her of Praia da Rocha in the company of another "Tall Ship", a scene that cannot have been seen in Lagos Bay for decades.

These vessels are amazing and allow for the continuance of training of real seamen and women who know the sea in all its tempers.

Some photos here (more to come):

February, 1954 - The Algarve covered in snow!

There is a wonderful story with photos (in Portuguese) in today's online edition of Sul Informação about how the Algarve was covered in snow during February. 1954

"....Também em Lagos nevou com abundância, constituindo um “espectáculo maravilhoso nunca observado nesta cidade.” ..."

"....also in Lagos in snowed in abundance a "wonderful spectacle never seen in this town..."

The article can be read in full via the following link:
http://
bit.ly/OqaWG5

Lisbon Cathedral/Sé Patriarcal - Times of Mass

Have a look at this link on wikipedia for information on the Sé de Lisboa.

(Sé Patriarcal - Lisbon Cathedral) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon_Cathedral

The Dioscean Website shows that at the time of writing Mass is said at:

Sé Patriarcal - Tuesdays to Saturdays at 18:30

 See: http://bit.ly/1bWn1NI

Direct flights from Portugal to Greece!

There are no direct flights by low-cost or regular airlines from any airport in Portugal to Greece at present.

In terms of low-cost, the best bet might be vueling.com via Barcelona.

Getting from Portugal to Greece and other Eastern Mediterranean Destinations can be a problem.