If Portugal is the hottest destination for 2017 it MUST rectify this

I'm nervous. Very nervous. Portugal is cropping up as THE place to visit in 2017 thanks to newspapers like news.au.com which has named it the hottest travel destination for 2017. Stop telling everyone!

Bit rich coming from me, I know, but there is genuine cause for my concern. The last time I visited my favourite county I had the worst airport experience EVER at Faro. My concern is if tourism soars the infrastructure is not yet in place to deal with it.

For me, one of the best things about going to Portugal is that (usually) it is a stress-free experience. You'd stroll through Faro Airport with hardly a queue at all at passport control and be in a taxi heading for paradise before you could say obrigado.

All that changed when we flew out last October. The airport arrivals area was like a scene from Ben-Hur, absolute chaos. The automatic passport barriers packed up one by one until not a single one was working and hundreds of people were waiting in vain to get through manual passport control. It took about an hour to get through, by which time our luggage had vanished. Our flight was no longer showing on any screen and there was no one to help. I eventually found my case by pure chance and a lot of running around.

Thankfully our taxi was still waiting though we were officially a no-show after taking more than an hour-and a-half to leave the airport. We were flabbergasted at how bad it had been after numerous silky smooth visits. The only thing we could put it down to was the fact that a lot of schools were on an extended half term break in the UK. But we have flown during school holidays before without incident.

Sadly, it was not a one-off. When we came to leave, the queues at Faro to get through airport security were unbelievable. People were panicking they would miss their flights. Full marks to airport staff for getting most people on their flights but.... we did question what the hell was going on.

Tourism rose by 22% in Portugal in 2016 and I am delighted for my favourite country. But don't mess up this chance for success by failing at the first hurdle.

First impressions matter and if people have to deal with airport chaos, especially if they are elderly or struggling with small children, they may never come back.

I accidentally took a photo of paradise on earth...

 

 

Portugal is as close to paradise on earth as it gets. Don't believe me? well, just look at the pictures below, captured in October in the Algarve. We all know the beaches are something special but, the world's most average snappers (me!) suddenly morph into expert photographers. Without even trying. Just turn and point your camera and the lens is filled with nature's beauty.

I don't have the best camera on the world, or fancy lenses, and I have taken many beach pictures before but some of the shots I took on a recent break took my breath away. They have NOT been photoshopped or tweaked in any way. They are genuine, authentic, perfect.

This picture is so beautiful it is like a painting. I liken it to the best holiday brochure picture you could ever imagine but better because this image has true integrity. It not been staged or set up in any way. It was just a quick snap by me with the sun glaring into my eyes. I never realised how special it was until I processed it.

 

 

Here's another gem from the same batch. An Autumnal Falesia beach with the tide out. Stunning. I love the feeling of peace and isolation.

 

 

 

 

 

I especially love this fishing shot too. The fishermen were nearby, having a laugh and a joke when something was clearly tugging on the line. I shot into the setting sun in the late afternoon.

 

If you have any wonderful Portugal beach shots to share I would love to see them. It's eye therapy!

5 TIPS FOR DERBY COUNTY PLAYERS HEADING TO PORTUGAL IN JULY 2016

DERBY County's footballers are jetting off to the Algarve in Portugal for their pre-season tour to get set for the 2016-17 season. Can't think why?!  I mean, it's gloriously hot of course, 30C-36C in July, in sharp contrast to the UK summer of 2016 which lurches from clouds to showers to flashes of sunshine to showers, to clouds, to.... Well, you get the picture. Good old Derby is generally 10C to 15C cooler than the Algarve at any given time of day! But we can console ourselves with Birds cakes, anytime!

Can't blame DCFC for wanting a bit of guaranteed sunshine to make up for the fact they'll spend half the season shivering their nether regions off  in sub-zero temperatures, driving rain, snow, sleet and wild winds. Doubt Portuguese players have to wear gloves very often. Mind you, for them 16C is probably chilly.

Also, the Rams' pre-season trip  can't be anything to do with golf, can it? The Algarve is renowned for its golf. I wonder if DCFC are staying at one of the Algarve's many luxury golf resorts, per chance? Couldn't blame them for that either. Their new boss Nigel Pearson probably likes a round or two.

The fact is, nearly every year a Premier League or Championship side chooses to have a pre-season tour in Portugal. Sunderland FC love it there. Some of their stars were videod dancing the night away in an Albufeira nightclub a couple of years ago. Many Derbyshire people will have been to the very same club. The Algarve is a huge favourite with the Brits and flights jet off from EMA to Portugal practically every day. No doubt some Rams fans will be wrangling a trip out there right now to make the Benfica game.

Anyway, if any Rams players are newbies to Portugal here are some things they need to know. Firstly, don't eat this!

1. UNUSUAL BEACH FINDS

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This, my friends, is a sea cucumber as opposed to a real cucumber. Go find one on the beach then leave it in peace and eat something sensible.

 

 

2.  TRY SOMETHING PORTUGUESE

 

Sardines, cataplana (fish stew) and salted cod dishes are Portuguese classics but my favourite is Francesinha (little Frenchie). This little gem was born in Porto and is, basically, one hell of a hot sandwich. It's got bread, it's got, steak, it's got cheese, it sits in a kind of tomato soup-style sauce and it's topped off with an egg. After a night out clubbing in Albufeira, this heavyweight will soak up any excess beer with ease. But don't tell the club health guru. They might make you eat salad for a week afterwards. My other tip is order HALF a francesinha, unless you have the appetite of a full-size dinosaur. They are delicious, though. Trust me.

 

 

If that doesn't light your fire, try duck rice. It's delicious. Honest.

 

 

3. HAVE A NIGHT OUT

 

Night life.... well, if you want to boogie on down you'll need to head to the Strip in Albufeira. Plenty of pubs, clubs and Irish bars.  It will certainly remind you of home, apart from being much hotter, of course. Try Matt's Bar. If that's not your bag there are plenty of other options. How about ...

 

Rams fans, send your #albufeira nightlife recommendations to #DCFC players...

4. I'LL DRINK TO THAT!

Quenching your thirst will be essential in 35C heat so here are two options, the good and the naughty but very nice, especially in a chilled glass. Try a Super Bock. Great to cool down and it won't break the bank, even post-Brexit.

However, your health guru may prefer it if you buy an orange squeezer and grab one of these bargains, often sold on the roadside.... To be honest, both drinks are gorgeous.

 

 

5. LIFE'S A BEACH, AN ALGARVE BEACH...

 

Whatever you do in the Algarve it's vital you don't miss out on seeing the beautiful natural wonder that draws most sensible people there; the jaw-droppingly beautiful beaches. The sand will be red hot under foot during the day but please don't miss out on this, lads. You'll be able to snap pictures worthy of a holiday brochure on your smart phones in seconds. Happy holiday! Oops sorry. Happy pre-season tour you super RAMS!

 

 

 

 

 

Smile when your heart is aching ... times so hard for Portuguese

 

Returning to Portugal over and over again and getting to know the people more has its darker side... life is pretty tough for many of them. Here are five reasons why.

1. Portugal salaries are among the lowest in Europe. When I was away I read about the furore in the UK surrounding Tories slashing family tax credits. A mum-of-four had an emotional outburst on TV's Question Time because the £400 a week she received was likely to be slashed. Well, get this... a typical salary in Portugal is around 600 euros a MONTH, and 600 euros equates to around £459. I have  heard stories of people working 16 hours a day for as little as 2 euros an hour. So £400 a week in assorted benefits sounds like fantasy land for the Portuguese.

2. Despite  low salaries living  costs are still high. You can expect to pay at least 350 euros a month  for a one-bed apartment. So many people work crazily long hours and still struggle to survive.

3. Tourism jobs  are seasonal. Come the end of October many bars, restaurants and some hotels are shut and boarded  up as, once the holidaymakers disappear, there are no customers for months. So staff  dependent on tourism often end up going into the red once their savings run out and have to pay the bank manager back come March when things take off again and they go back to work.

4. Industry is  practically non-existent. Portugal has little to lift it out of the recession doldrums. The UK may have lost much of its manufacturing industry but it is a powerhouse of activity, engineering skills and opportunity when compared to Portugal. And when the big foreign firms move in - Ikea is coming to Loule - they pay staff the local rates. I have been told that will be around 4 euros 50 cents per hour. And though they are glad of the jobs, some Portuguese fear Ikea will destroy lots of small furniture and home ware businesses.

5. Poverty breeds crime. I have never felt in danger in Portugal, quite the opposite, but know a couple whose hotel room was broken into. They were fine and the burglar got nothing but most shocking for me was that the hotel did nothing. The police were not even informed. Apparently problems are also emerging on the Strip in Albufeira. Put young people, drink and drugs together and trouble will inevitably brew but I fear the country is so strapped for cash it hasn't got the resources to pay for a bigger police presence.

NEVERTHELESS... as the old song says, the Portuguese smile even if their heart is aching ...these wonderful folk keep on going come what may. Get to know them and hugs, kisses and warm handshakes are a daily occurrence. Plus, if it's been a case of long-time-no-see they INSIST on giving you free drinks (just because they like you) and constantly  lift your spirits with their kind and generous personalities. Here's another typical story ... We were in a small bar in October and the owner, who has a disabled son and works all hours, was eating some roasted chestnuts. We asked if they were on the menu. The owner said no but two minutes later a generous plate of hot chestnuts arrived on our table, totally free of course, accompanied by a warm smile. How come people who have the least often give the most? I would love to help the Portuguese and my blog is one way to do that. By encouraging people to visit this beautiful country, I like to think I do my bit.

 

Sorry, but by the time I took this photo Martin had eaten most of the chestnuts!

 

 

5 MORE things I miss about Portugal

 

1. The air.... that may sound odd but in the UK it's often drizzly, misty or foggy. Polluted grey skies are the order of the day and this year I have been dogged by allergies from May to September. Sea breezes, less traffic and clear skies help me breathe more easily when I am in Portugal. So I feel a million times better. Bliss.

2. Oranges! It's orange heaven in Portugal. They're growing everywhere and locals set up roadside stalls selling huge bags of them for a euro or two. Picking up a bag and making yourself some freshly squeezed orange juice every day feels like the height of luxury. Vitamin C, I love you! And how about squeezing your early morning orange juice al fresco? It's got to be good for you.

 

3. Rita the pancake lady - Rita used to be the pancake lady at the Hotel Falesia, which has someone cooking and serving freshly made pancakes from 6-9pm every evening as part of the normal dinner service. I find that in itself pretty amazing. Anyway, she has left the hotel now but was yet another of those Portuguese people who warmed your soul thanks to her non-stop smile and cheery demeanour. She was also game to let you have a go at making your own pancake. My son, Luca, had a go but, even though he's a magician with incredible sleight of hand, he was battered by the skill of the task. Rita made it look so easy!

 

 

4. The slower pace of life - the frenetic, racing about we witness daily in the UK is replaced by a much more laid back approach to life. I have read that some ex-pats in Portugal find this annoying after a while. I find it hard to understand why. After 30 years of working flat out in the UK, I am definitely ready for some laid-back living. Oh for a day when the biggest thing I have to worry about is where to buy my oranges for the aforementioned breakfast juice.

 

5. Seeing the sea every day - This is such a novelty for me. Considering I live on an island, I am more than two hours from the nearest beach so hardly ever go to the British coast. In fact I officially live in the furthest spot from the sea in the entire UK. And last  time I went to an English seaside resort it was a case of dodging the donkey poo. The Brits love treating their kids to a  beach donkey ride, but the resultant poop all over the sand is a tad off-putting. That and the usual gale force wind and super-sized seagulls swooping down for your chips. Honest! I was in Brighton earlier this summer and a seagull the size of a small dog dive-bombed a woman and nicked her chips. Give me a Portuguese sea view any day of the week!

 

 

7 ways to bring a bit of Portugal home in your hand luggage

REMINDERS of Portugal and its blue skies are essential to bring back to the UK -  or wherever you live. But if, like me, it's a budget airline jaunt with hand-luggage, bringing anything home other than your dirty knickers can be troublesome.

And I'm no fan of stupid knick-knacks either. I like useful stuff. It is possible to load up with port at FARO Airport but struggling with lots of clanking bottles is no joke either.

However, there  are a few things you can sneak into your hand luggage with relative ease. How about...

1. A new number for your house, Portuguese tile style? Here's mine. The frames a bit battered due to our great British weather but I love my little reminder of sunny holidays.

 
2. A drinks menu from your favourite bar is nice too, but do ask permission, of course. You can ponder your next cocktail for months while you're waiting to go back to Portugal.

3. A Super Bock glass. Again, you have to get to know a friendly barman but they are plentiful,

4. A tiny jar of Portuguese honey. I bought this at Quinta Do Mel in Acoteias, a lovely honey, tea and herb farm, B&B and café. We strolled along to it one day, were randomly invited to join a tour and then given a free glass of lemon verbena ice tea. Those super friendly Portuguese strike again. But I did buy some tea to take home and this... the honey's long gone but the sweet memory remains.

5. Cards from all your favourite bars and restaurants. It's a must folks...

6.  Pictures.... Your camera holds some great memories but, often, they end up stuck in our cameras or computers. I have favourite shots put on canvas prints. These are in my kitchen.

7. Finally, you can't get this in your hand luggage but foreign holidays sparked my love for geraniums. I grow and nurture them and even bring them indoors to nurse them through the British winter. The result? A magnificent summer display. Here's one of many pots I dot around my garden...

5 reasons why the Portuguese are the kindest people in the world

KINDNESS, that is what I came across by the bucketful whenever I set foot on Portuguese soil. People are so friendly, accommodating and simply can't do enough for me. Frankly, it's something I am not used to, not to that degree anyway. That's why, in my opinion, the Portuguese, lead the way when it comes to being thoroughly decent human beings. Here are five reasons why they would win gold at the Random Acts of Kindness Olympics:

1. Generosity of spirit: My two sons and I spent our first holiday at the Velamar Hotel (now called Velamar Sun and Beach) in Olhos de Agua at a price that was mind-blowingly good. Around £16 a night for three  - bed and breakfast! And that breakfast was superb, as were the staff. I have been lucky enough to stay in the occasional 5-star hotel on press trips and the staff at the Velamar were just as good, if not better. This brings  me to the first thing I have noticed about many Portuguese people, they have a great generosity of spirit. And this is in spite of having little money. The country was hit hard in the recession, tourism is seasonal and salaries are low. Around 800 euros a month is a typical wage. And yet they still can't do enough for you. Generosity of spirit is nothing to do with money, it is a state of mind. By the way, the Velamar has been taken over and prices had to rise but it is still very reasonable, particularly out of season, and a good place to stay. Velamar brekkie and sun loungers below, though the sunbathing area has been revamped since then.

2. They are SO giving! My partner loves holiday mementoes but often not the ones you would expect. One day he randomly offered to buy a Super Bock tissue holder from the owner of a bar, and suggested giving him 20 euros. He would not accept the cash, wouldn't hear of it in fact. Then, as we walked away, he came running after us and thrust this into our hand as a gift. It takes pride of place on our 'bar' at home, nestling up to the Bass beer mat.

3. Free drinks!  We get on very well with a bar owner called Nelson, in Olhos. He is passionate about his country, his nation's food and his home village. His wife is a superb cook and made us a special dish of the region to order. We were so impressed we gave his bar, Nelson's, a good review on TripAdvisor. He noticed it and, when we returned to the country months later, insisted on giving us free drinks, not once, not twice, but  three times!! Eventually we persuaded him to take our cash.... he VERY reluctantly did so, then,  minutes later, appeared.... with a free bowl of lamb curry for us to try.  What a lovely bloke.  Another TripAdvisor reviewer mentioned that when their cab failed to turn up to get them to the airport, Nelson leapt into his car to get them there. He is a star. Here he is with his freshly-caught fish...

 

 

4. Unexpected gifts: After a meal in Portugal it is customary to be given a free glass of port and, at restaurant Calheiros, this duly arrived in the most beautiful, tiny but thick glass. My partner, Martin, asked where he could buy the glasses as he liked them so much.  The waitress explained that they were special antique glasses that you could not buy anywhere anymore. As we got up to leave after paying our bill she came flying over to him, with a gift. One of those exquisite glasses was wrapped up for him in tissue paper. Christmas had come early...

 

 

5. Generous with time: Working hard, long hours does not seem to affect the Portuguese people's ability to spare time to help you. As I mentioned before, nothing seems  too much trouble. And their command of English puts my Portuguese to shame. I could give numerous examples of this but just take my word for it. Maybe it helps that the sun shines so much, maybe it's because the materialistic dominance of life in England is non-existent. Maybe we should take a leaf out of their book. They say money can't buy you love, or happiness. And people who have less are often happier. In the UK we work ourselves into an early grave to line the pockets of the few. More time, less money and a better quality of life has to be the way forward.  In many ways, Portugal has got it licked.



The Portuguese dog with the powers of hypnotist Derren Brown

Meet Mr Straggly Tale.... the chap who wanted my Cataplana

 

 

 

 

To be honest, Portugal isn't a country awash with strays but you do see the odd dog and cat which look a little the worse for wear. This cute little chap came and sat by our table at  Calheiros, a nice little restaurant in Olhos de Agua ... he starred into our eyes, like the doggie version of Derren Brown (a famous English hypnotist), and  sent us a psychic message which, translated into English, was: "Any chance of a bit of your Cataplana, or at least some of your meat kebab?"

 

How could we resist a doleful look like that? Impossible! Naturally we gave in and rewarded Mr Straggly Tale with a chunk of sausage. Or three!

We Brits do take pity on animals, at home and abroad.

A few sun-drenched feral cats live in Portugal. One very famous one is a street cat Mr No Ears, who has nearly 22,000 friends on Facebook and a Twitter account. Anger has erupted over his abduction from Albufeira and his followers are demanding his return. 

The story about the cat abduction is the best read tale in newspaper The Portugal News. 

I haven't seen Mr Big Ears on any trips to Albufeira but have spotted a cat almost identical to this white wonder in Olhos. But he has one ear and no tail. I see him basking in the sun near San Martino's pizza restaurant and always  give him a nice stroke. He  purrs for England. Hope Mr No Ears is safe and well. Find him on twitter at @mrnoears or search for him on Facebook. People love him because they say he looks proud and content despite his many health issues.

Slush for tea? Be careful, you may get Fatos...5 daft holiday snaps!

PLEASE tell me I am not alone in taking pictures of daft things on holiday? Surely, everyone does it. After all, you can only take so many sun, sea and sand shots. And showing off Portugal's glorious beaches does tend to nark people after  a while. So let's  try something new. Five holiday snaps taken just because they made me smile, like this inviting sign. YUM!

And I wasn't quite sure what to make of the contents of this clothes shop....

 

'Feed the fish' was a phrase often heard in Derby when striker Conor Sammon played for Derby County FC. Well, how about feeding the fish for real...

 

Just watch the rascal doesn't bite your hand off when you offer him a generous portion of your breakfast bread and butter. There are some very happy, tubby fish in Portugal fed by generous British holidaymakers. We love our birds and animals. I heard today that 50 per event of British people feed wild birds, so much so some of our feathered friends are delaying winging it to warmer climates in Autumn. They just pork out in our back gardens! But I digress. The next picture is more jaw-dropping than amusing because we Brits can never get over how cheap alcohol is in some foreign countries. We are taxed to high heaven on it in the UK. That's why I couldn't resist this photo...

 

 

 

ONE euro is about 72p... for a pint!!!! So the drinks are on me, folks, at that bar! The beer is incredibly cheap but I am picky. When it comes to those two famous Portuguese brews, Sagres and Super Bock there is only one, very clear winner. When the heat is on, this is the perfect refresher...

 

Sagres, I am sad to say, and it is only my opinion, sucks...

5 THINGS I miss about Portugal (but there are many more)

1. THE PEOPLE... laid back, charming, friendly, witty, kind. Obviously you meet the odd grumpy bod but, by and large, they're just great.... Meet Bruno (in the specs)  his parents run the Galleon Bar

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in Olhos. He  claims to  rarely sleep in the summer months when the bar stays open until the last customer leaves. He is at university but works at his parents' bar whenever he can.
He   says: "I work til maybe 4 in the morning, then I go to a party in Vilamoura, then have a nap in my car, then start work again. I go on the beach and maybe later have a swim. Then it's back to work til 4 in the morning again."

He was a stranger to me until the mighty Burton Albion FC had an important cup game and I asked him to find the match on his sports TV. Which he did, despite being dead on his feet through tiredness, and  stumbling about like a sleeping  man while setting up the café for the day. It is always good to see him and his family.

2. For all these reasons, and more, I miss the GALLEON BAR in Olhos de Agua  because it's in a great little spot, right by the sea. Nice cappuccinos. ....

3.  THE CLIMATE.... no explanation needed....

 4. PADDLING in the sea....

5. The PALM TREES.... and landscape....