Silves Medieval – Part 2

We promised you that we would return and take more shots for you .. so here they are!

Algarve Blog Silves Medieval Fair 2017

This lovely lady – the enchanting Magda (above) – is going to find herself on the front cover of an Algarve magazine next month as a result of this photograph by Dave – it’s fabulous isn’t it!

Algarve Blog Silves Medieval Fair 2017

And one of our favourite actors (above) never fails us with a commanding shot with such a focused expression … so many of the actors have become friends now which makes it a real privilege to be allowed to photograph them all so easily. Continue reading

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The 2017 Silves Medieval Fair

It’s our favourite time of year (again!)

Algarve Blog Silves Medieval Fair 2017

The Silves Medieval Fair is up and running .. and of course we were there as soon as it opened with our cameras for you.

Algarve Blog Silves Medieval Fair 2017

We have blogged about this many times before, and to be honest the format and content is pretty much the same as in previous years, so if you want to know more about the nuts and bolts of it all, just use the Search facility on the right hand side of the page, type in Silves and you will find all of our previous posts. Continue reading

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ACCA’s annual charity request for children

Children’s charity ACCA has started its annual drive to ensure that youngsters across the Algarve can start the new school year with confidence … and with the basic essentials to help them achieve. And our help is needed!

Although the government here does provide text books for the poorest, it does not supply children with the simple, everyday materials that are also vital to support the learning process.

ACCA Back to School Charity poster

Every year, ACCA increases its back-to-school programme in an attempt to help as many children as possible – in 2016 the charity gave out 841 back packs, filled with those all-important essentials and this year hopes to beat that figure. Continue reading

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Silves Medieval Mural art

The city of Silves has been busy brightening up its streets thanks to the brilliant grafitti art work of Hélder José (known as ‘Bamby’), and Filipe Gusmão, of Style Spectrum:

Silves Medieval Mural Algarve Blog

They have been busy transforming the area in front of the Municipal Library, near to the Praca Al-Muthamid gardens – and the results are fabulous. Continue reading

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Cancer Charity Golf Day in June

Vale de Lobo Golf Dave Sheldrake Photography Algarve Blog

We would like to share a very special event with you which Dave Sheldrake Photography, together with our friends at Chilli Pepper Productions and other local companies, are proud to be sponsoring this June.

The event is organized by Niamh’s Next Step Neuroblastoma Cancer Charity. The charity was set up 5 years ago when the parents of Niamh Curry lost their little girl to this terrible disease. Niamh had battled tirelessly with her Mum, Dad and sister against this childhood cancer for the last 18 months of her life, but unfortunately lost her life. Her family decided that they wanted to set up a charity to provide a legacy for their daughter and to help other children and families who were going through the same terrible ordeal.

Continue reading

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The White Storks are nesting

The magnificent sight of a White Stork in full flight is one of the most amazing sights for us here in the Algarve.

White Storks Algarve Blog

Although we know a little about these beautiful birds, who are believed to bring good luck and fertility to the home over which it built its nest, we thought we would research them a little more – and found out some very interesting facts about them. Continue reading

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‘Algarve Pop Up Art’ at Easter

New ‘Pop Up’ Gallery opens exclusively for Easter weekend – introducing and showcasing an exciting and vibrant mix of 10 artists and artisan crafters who will be exhibiting together under a brand new Algarve ‘Pop Up Art’ venture.

Algarve pop Up Art Easter Algarve Blog

We have been staging and promoting our own pop-up exhibitions since we moved to live and work in the Algarve five years ago; ‘Algarve Pop Up Art’ is a new concept for the Algarve, creating exclusive ‘pop up’ events and exhibitions showcasing hand-selected and unique art, crafts, photography and gifts for the discerning buyer. Continue reading

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Brexit for Brits in Portugal

The triggering of Article 50 on the 29th March is destined to be an historic day for both Britain and Europe. But what is it going to mean for Brits living in Portugal – or even for Brits wanting to travel and holiday here?

We attended an information evening held here in the Algarve hosted by the British Ambassador to Portugal, Kirsty Hayes, to try to find out some answers. The talk was one of a series hosted by the British Embassy in Portugal, ably assisted by their staff, including our own Vice Consul, Clive Jewell, who is based in the Consulate building here in Portimão:

Brexit for Brits in Portugal Algarve Blog

In fairness to the Ambassador, there were obviously going to be a lot of areas of uncertainty, and questions which at this time she would not be able to answer fully; the triggering of Article 50 is going to be the starting point for a whole range of negotiations with both the EU as a whole, and countries in turn, including Portugal. It was however reassuring to meet the Ambassador and hear the current position of the British government in relation to their UK citizens abroad, and also to feel that our questions and concerns were both being heard and fed back to the UK. Continue reading

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Spring has sprung at the Silves Garden Fair

Has it really been a whole year since we visited last year’s ‘Spring Garden Fair’ at Silves? We already had Saturday 4th March written in the diary for this year’s event, but we have to say we were greeted with rain and grey skies in the morning and a forecast of rain for the day …. and until lunchtime we didn’t even considering venturing outside …

Silves Spring Garden Fair 2017 Algarve Blog

We appreciate that you might find that hard to believe when you see the shots we managed to take in the afternoon .. beautiful blue skies and sunshine greeted us when we finally arrived at the idyllic Quinta da Figueirinha on the edge of Silves: Continue reading

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Loulé Carnival 2017

Regular readers will know that Loulé Carnival is one of our must-see events of the Algarve calendar .. we absolutely love the colour, music, vibrancy and spectacle that makes up Carnival each year – and Loulé is the place to go!

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The flags were flying and Loulé was buzzing as we arrived for the first day of the event – and we have never seen so many people lining the streets waiting for the floats to appear, having paid an extremely reasonable 2€ entry fee … Continue reading

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