Learn Portuguese in Algarve

It’s true, you can visit or live in the Algarve and get by without speaking much Portuguese since most Algarvians are very accommodating and speak English.

But if you’re looking for an opportunity to learn one of the world’s most spoken languages during your visit to the Algarve or if you’re moving down to the Algarve, then here are two good options to get you started.

Brian Mehl Art Gallery

Brian Mehl, an extraordinary painter whose acrylic painting of Sir Cliff Richard’s Adega do Cantor can be seen on the Vida Nova wine label and various painting at the Praia d”Oura and the Oura Praia hotel is hosting an exhibition till September 27th for the public in Galeria da Escola des Artes de Lagoa.

The exhibition is open Monday to Friday 9:30 until 12:30 and 2:00pm until 5:30pm while closed on weekends.

Arte Viva - São Brás de Alportel

As a lover of all things artsy and creative, I was thrilled to hear about this show, Arte Viva.

Exactly what it sounds like, Arte Viva is Live Art happening right in front of you. On July 12-13, more than 30 artists, in the areas of sculpture, painting, illustration, ceramics, photography, jewelry, rug work, etc. will all be displaying and working their art in the ‘Jardim do Museu do Trajo’ in São Brás de Alportel.

Arte Viva

(Photo Credits: pedroaxl)

Since art for the eyes wouldn’t be the same without some for the ears, music will also be accompanying the show with groups such as Nanook and Jazztapartano, on Saturday and Tinto Beat and Mare Nostrum on Sunday, music starts after 19:30.

Arte Viva
Cost: €4 euros entrance and kids under 12 are free
Date: July 12 - 13
Info: Arte Viva

Algarve 15th Annual - Classic Car Show

Does your heart miss a beat for gorgeous hunks of metal? Well, if your passion is stoked, by big toys from another place and time, than the annual classic car show happening this weekend in the Algarve, might just be the place for you.

Algarve Classic Car Show
(credit: Georgie Sharp)

Beautiful classics from 1913 to 1978, the likes of Rolls, Bentley, Porsche, Jaguar, BMW, Aston Martin and Ferrari’s will all be out for judging, and a summer stroll all weekend long.

Algarve Celebrates - Euro Cup Madness 2008

Football fever hit the Algarve hard yesterday, with Portugal scheduled to play one of the first Euro Cup 2008 games in Geneva, Switzerland.

Portugal_euro_cup_2008

Early in the day the anxiety mounted with honking cars, people dressed & painted head to toe in Red, Green & Yellow, and everywhere you looked the Portuguese flag hung proudly off balconies, cars and even motorcycles. We headed downtown Faro with friends looking for food, football and pride.

Portugal winning 2-0 to Turkey, naturally sent everyone into the streets celebrating, late into the evening…and this is just beginning…

For more pictures here and if you’re interested in keeping tabs on Portugal during the Euro Cup, you can follow here.

Força Portugal!

Festival de Chocolate - Chocolate Adventures Update

Exciting and full of adventure but not quite in the way we thought : (

First, I had been hoping my nose would have lead me straight to chocolate nirvana as soon as we arrived. Yet, there was no smell of chocolate….hummmm? The weather wasn’t really on side but we planned to arrive in early in Obidos and miss the insanity we heard so much about, and although we arrived early there were already people bustling to get in.

As we walked into the old city through the castle walls (one of my favorite parts of the city) we were greeted with a chocolate carpet decorated with chubby pink hearts that lead us through the main city street, and to what we hoped would be miles of flowing chocolate.

Obidos Chocolate Festival

Along the way we found a few spotted shops selling chocolate, there was of course chocolate cups with “Ginga/Cherry” (an Obidos tradition) and the odd chocolate stand along the way. We also came across the “Melhor Bolo de Chocolate do Mundo/World’s best chocolate cake” - it was nice but don’t know if I’d call it the world’s best. We then found one shop further up - they had really done it up for the event, decorating both the in an outside of their window with chocolate hearts. The pastries inside the window were all we needed to be seduced us inside - chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate hearts, lava chocolate pastries and others, made us decide this was the place to return to on our way out of the city.

Festival de Chocolate Obidos

Mouth watering, and anxious for more… off we went to see what awaited us. There were lots of small shops with chocolate truffles, bonbons and other treats we couldn’t help but sample. We also found a shop selling chocolate soap, bubble bath and even towels, now that would really be something to “soaking in chocolate”, have to remember that for next Valentines day. But we still hadn’t made it to the festival, realizing we were missing our tickets to chocolate heaven, we found the ticket area and its long snaking line…gulp, this could mean a long wait, and it looked longer than my patience to taste more chocolate….grrr. It was a good thing we had a quick fix on our way in, with the “Worlds Best Chocolate Cake”, so we took our place. Fortunately, the line moved quickly and before we knew it we had our tickets/wristbands in hand an a complementary Areo bar each. The organizers clearly saw that coming - waiting too long to satisfy a chocolate craving could cause serious chaos, so a chocolate fix at the end of the line was very good planning! Even though I’m not a milk chocolate fan, the mini fix was a welcome surprise. With our 5euros paid, chocolate in hand and wrist bracelet on….we were armed and dangerous with a passport to chocolate.