A new book which pays tribute to the Algarve town of Olhão is due to be launched next month by Dutch journalist and author, Arthur van Amerongen.
The Smell of Olhão is a love letter to the town that Arthur moved to over a decade ago, enamoured by its genuine charm. Having worked as a correspondent for many years, Arthur travelled the world and got to know several cities and countries. But there is something special about Olhão, he says.
“For me, Olhão is the most unique town in the Algarve,” Arthur told the Resident. “But its old charm is slowly disappearing,” he added, pointing to gentrification and increasing house prices as the culprits.
Thus, the book aims to paint a real picture of the town that Arthur fell in love with and which convinced him to move here with his five dogs from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
“Travel guides about Portugal and the Algarve in all languages are filled with glossy drivel about the 3,200 hours of sunshine a year, the endless virgin beaches, the cheap booze and the picturesque fish restaurants,” according to the book’s synopsis. “Those guidebooks call the Portuguese warm-hearted, spontaneous, generous, hospitable and cheerful, but they also write that about the Albanian, the Eskimo, the Hungarian, the Mongol and the Paraguayan.
“This homage to Olhão is something completely different and an excellent alternative fun book for travellers and expats with an acquired smell and taste,” it adds.
The book, published by Ezo Wolf Publishing, was also written by Will Köhlen and features drawings by Edwin Hagendoorn and recipes by Nelli Konstantinova.
A book launch event will take place on Sunday, November 9 at the República 14 Cultural Association, from 5pm. The event will be free and feature live music and entertainment.
The book is available for purchase online for €25, or directly from the author by email (avanamerongen@yahoo.com).
