Carmel, Indiana in the US wants to become Loulé’s “sister city”
The Algarve town of Loulé might soon have a new “sister city” across the Atlantic. Sue Finkam, the mayor of the American city of Carmel, Indiana, visited Loulé last week and was impressed by what she saw.
On Friday, Finkam took a tour of Loulé, from its scenic coastline to its quiet inland areas and made it clear she’s excited about the potential for closer ties.
“When I return to the US, I’ll be sharing everything I’ve seen with the Carmel City Council and our community, so that they too can know more about Loulé. But I’d also like to explore the next steps in establishing a ‘sister city’ relationship with Loulé,” Sue Finkam said.
This visit was suggested by the Portuguese Ambassador in Chicago after Finkam chose Vilamoura for a vacation. After some research, she realised that Loulé and Carmel have a lot in common: both are small cities with high standards of living, a strong sense of community, and a love for culture, public spaces and architecture, good levels of education, and tourism, especially golf. “It seems like a perfect match,” Finkam added.
The mayor highlighted the potential for mutual benefit, particularly as increasing numbers of US citizens travel to or settle in Portugal. She remarked on the Algarve’s growing appeal among American visitors, referring to the region as the “new Florida” for its favourable climate and lifestyle.
Meanwhile, Loulé mayor Vítor Aleixo has welcomed the idea of a partnership, stating it is encouraging to see the municipality gaining recognition abroad.
