Lagoa’s hidden ‘oasis’
Lagoa is situated in the western Algarve and was officially designated a city on April 19, 2001, but it retains the charm of a traditional town with its cobbled streets,
Did you know … Calçada Portuguesa
In almost every village, town and city in Portugal, you will find sections of the unique traditional Calçada Portuguesa pavement made up of black and white decorative cobblestones. This masonry
Did You Know? … Naming a child in Portugal
With a new baby due in the family, naturally discussions have centred on what the baby’s name will be. For some people, it is an easy choice, while others wait
Did You Know? … Keeping a diary
January brings with it a sense of renewal, of the opportunity to start afresh and to make resolutions to improve ourselves and our lives. It is a time to reflect
Did You Know? … Two Christmases in 1924
Thinking about today’s commercialization of Christmas had me reflecting on how different Christmas would have been for my great-grandmothers, one in England and the other in Portugal, 100 years ago.
Did you know? … Young golfers
Today is the anniversary of the very first official golf tournament in the world, which took place 164 years ago, in 1860, at the Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland.
A railway journey
When I was ten years old, I used to catch the train, by myself, from Cascais or Estoril to Cais do Sodré in Lisbon, where I attended school. It was
Cork
As you uncork a wine bottle to relax with a refreshing glass of wine or, as you put your glass down on a cork coaster, have you ever stopped to
Balangandãs
I love unique things and, therefore, I am always on the lookout at boot fairs and charity shops for anything that is unusual. The stranger the item, the more I
To weed or not to weed?
By the end of May, we had to clear our large garden for the coming fire season. Out we went with the lathe, sheers, strimmer and lawn mower to cut