Features Archives

Visible craters|Blue moon|Moon, Jupiter and Venus|Our telescope

There is a man on the Moon!

July 20 is National Moon Day, created in 2021 by the United Nations General Assembly not to celebrate what was probably the 20th century’s greatest achievement – man walking on

July 17, 2023by Isobel CostaIn Features

The twin crater lakes of Sete Cidades (blue lake on top, green lake below), with the town of Sete Cidades in the middle left|Praça Gonçalo Velho Cabral is Ponta Delgada’s main square, with its three-arch gateway, with the São Sebastião cathedral behind.|The 17th century Paços do Concelho (Town Hall) of Ponta Delgada, fronted by a statue of the Archangel Michael|The cloisters of the Convento de São Francisco|Several of the Caldeiras at Furnas, each containing the food of a different restaurant, as marked by the plaques|The floral decorations on the roads of Povoação on Corpus Christi day|The Igreja Matriz de São Jorge in Nordeste, with a statue of António Alves de Oliveira (1847-1936), an important politician, in front|The Vila Franca do Campo town hall, with a statue of Gonçalo Vaz Botelho, a companion of Gonçalo Velho Cabral, in front|A private chapel in the grounds of the Pestana Bahia Praia hotel|A view of the northeastern coast of São Miguel|The Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Paz, on a hill overlooking Vila Franca do Campo|The volcanic crater island called Islet, just off the Vila Franca do Campo coast

The Azores – a little known part of Portugal

Ah, the bounty that Portugal offers to those “in the know” – like us! The mainland is packed with history, beautiful vistas, great food and excellent wine. We have all

June 29, 2023by Larry HamptonIn Features, Travel

Portuguese Expeditionary Corps WWI - watercolour by Augusto Pina

Anglo-Portuguese alliances and ruptures

The pride and prejudice of two great nations Since October 2022, a series of papers has been published by Academia.edu which purport to show a deterioration of political and social

April 6, 2023by Roberto CavaleiroIn Features, History

Common kingfisher|Lagoa dos Salgados|Greater flamingo|Glossy ibis|Eurasian otter|Common redshank|Glossy ibis|Common waxbill|Black-winged stilt|Little owl|Female European stonechat (backlit)|Greater flamingos in the morning mist

Wildlife in the Algarve – Location, location, location

I’m often asked where the best locations to view and photograph wildlife in the Algarve are. My reply is often “Anywhere!” and whilst some of my photography take advanced planning,

April 3, 2023by Craig RogersIn Features, Nature

The April 2023 Night Sky

Welcome to the April night sky. This month, from April 15 to 22, is International Dark Sky Week. It is held during the dark of the Moon time and, when

March 30, 2023by Clive JacksonIn Algarve Skies, Features

Justice for marine life

Greenpeace, the Pew Trusts, the WWF and other environmental entities are celebrating the decision of the UN High Seas Alliance to introduce, by 2030, the first definitive regulation of nearly

March 17, 2023by Portugal ResidentIn Features

Cacti Bench|Fruit trees for sale|Hall view|Orchid display

Silves to host Spring Mediterranean Garden Fair

For the first time since 2019, the Spring Garden Fair will be held in Silves at the FISSUL Exhibition Hall, near the river, on Saturday and Sunday, March 25 and

March 17, 2023by Rosie PeddleIn Algarve Events, Features

Death is certain, so let’s enjoy life

“Death is inevitable, but life, that’s the tricky bit…” Simon Travaglia After celebrating a relatively optimistic new year in anticipation of 2023, a year that has to be better than

March 14, 2023by Pat The ExpatIn Features

The importance of stretching your muscles

If there is something you can do for yourself that is simple and very beneficial for your well-being, it is stretching. Gentle, controlled elongating of your muscles is what we

February 27, 2023by Sandra Genest-BoudreauIn Features, Health

Upcycling

I have a new passion – restoring furniture. It started when I was captivated by a small table in the charity shop. The shape enticed me and, being so small

February 22, 2023by Isobel CostaIn Features