Strangers in the night during the supermoon

A perfectly rational Portuguese lady living alone in a remote cottage in the Algarve countryside is worried that another weird stranger may visit her on the night of the next supermoon, September 29.

During the last supermoon at the end of August, footmarks and circles appeared on a flat portion of her roof. Having considered all possibilities, she has  concluded that they may have been made by some supernatural beings.

Of course this sounds utterly ridiculous, but a close look at the facts may make even sensible sceptics wonder.

Odilia Marques Fernandes, 67, is originally from Lisbon. She moved to the Algarve 26 years ago and is still working as a physiotherapist. Family and friends regard her as a remarkably happy and kind-hearted person with no odd characteristics.  

Her cottage is set a little back from a quiet road, well apart from neighbours, amid beautiful natural countryside going up towards Marmelete and Monchique in the hills. 

Her small kitchen-sitting-room, bedroom, bathroom and garage offer perfect tranquillity. It was while she was working in silence on her computer at 2.30 am on Thursday August 31 that she heard what sounded like footsteps on the roof.

The footsteps were on a flat section of the roof covering quite a few square metres that she had put in place above the bedroom and bathroom a year ago to stop rain coming in from leaking tiles. 

As it was so late and she was tired, Odilia dismissed what sounded like footsteps as just her imagination. She went to bed and slept well.

In the morning, curiosity persuaded her to fetch a metal ladder from her garage and place it against the wall leading up to the flat part of her roof. Once up there, she was shocked to discover footprints clearly marked in the dust all over the flat surface.  They seemed to have been made by two pairs of bare feet, both just a little bigger than her own, but with unusually large outer toes. Even more amazing were a number of large, perfectly circular patterns spaced among the footprints.

Odilia was not only shocked, but frightened. It was impossible that anyone could have climbed on to the roof without her knowing that night or at any other time since the flat section had been fitted. She was certain that the workmen who fitted the flat roofing a year ago had not left any marks whatsoever – and if they had they would have been washed away by the winter rains.

Without delay, she phoned the GNR police in Monchique. They showed no interest. They did not send anyone to investigate.

On the phone, Odilia shared her fears with family and friends. None, including two who have climbed up with her and taken photographs on the roof since the August supermoon, have come up with a plausible explanation.   

 

Photos by Ana Lourenzo

Douro wine producers demand reform

 

Wine producers in Portugal’s Douro region now have the backing of the country’s President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in demanding urgent reform to the long outdated regulatory system that is threatening the economic viability of their renowned vineyards.

The president has followed up on an open letter signed by the leaders of all the top wine companies, such as Symington Sogrape, Sogevinus and Cran Cruz, as well as a number of medium and small-sized premium producers. The letter has also been endorsed by about 1,000 protesters insisting on rapid change.

The Douro’s regulations were put in place about 100 years ago. Some minor adjustments have been made since then, but a full review and more essential adjustments are now desperately needed “so that the region adapts to today and tomorrow’s reality,” the president has said. He noted that changes were in the interests not only of the Douro in the north of Portugal, but the whole country.

Paul Symingtom, of Symington Wine Estates, has pointed out that Douro wine regulations were designed last century almost exclusively for Port, but other wines now account for almost half of total grape production. “We need more intelligent use of the rules on maximum yields per hectare,” he said.

For those unfamiliar with Douro vineyards, they are planted on remarkably stony soil on terraces on the sides of 30 degree hills. The grapes have to push their roots deep into the ground because the soil does not retain much water.

Vines have been grown here at least since the Romans made wine during their long occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal has been exporting wine from the spectacular Douro Valley since the nation’s founding in the 12^th century. Exports were hugely enhanced after Portugal and England signed the Treaty of Windsor in 1386.  Port has been the best known type of Douro wine since the mid-17^th century.

Portugal is now the fourth largest grape-growing country in the world and the ninth largest wine producer. But in recent times the Douro has been especially vulnerable to global warming causing a mixture of floods, droughts, and scorching heat waves with temperatures reaching more than 104 degrees F.  Diminishing yields, rising costs, low sales prices, a decreasing number of farmers and other factors have impacted the industry.

The Drinks Business, a European trade journal, has issued a translation of the Portuguese open letter headlined “The Douro Deserves Better”: Some of the highlights:

 + The Douro demarcated region is known for being one of the marvels of the wine world. It contains more than half of the world’ steep mountain vineyards and is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is no comparable wine region.

+ More than 19,000 grape farmers and 1,000 companies are committed to working in these challenging vineyards, producing two renowned wines: Port and DOC Douro wines.

+ Over the past 20 years there has been a 25% reduction in total Port volumes to 7.8 million cases in 2022, while DOC wines have grown to 5.2 million cases.

+ Despite these profound changes, the regulatory structure has remained unchanged and is now creating serious distortions that have impacted not only the price of grapes, but also the socio-economic sustainability of the farmers, the companies and the future of the region’s wines in international markets.

+ Many grapes are sold below cost. The loss to farmers is obvious, resulting in the abandonment of vineyards and depopulation of the region.

+ Equally serious is that too many wines are being sold internationally at prices comparable with the cheapest wines in the world – something that would be impossible if farmers were paid a fair price.

+ Over the past 15 years various studies have been produced by highly reputable organisations. All concluded that the Douro is not sustainable under these circumstances and that regulatory reform is necessary. But nothing has been done despite repeated promises by the State.

Comment: A new Azores – Algarve connection coming

 

 

Both the Azores and the Algarve are likely to benefit economically and socially when the SATA Group starts operating direct flights next year between Ponta Delgada and Faro.

 

Visitors from SATA’s destinations in the United States, Canada and Britain may decide to make use of the new flights to visit both the Azores and the Algarve on the same holiday.

 

Furthermore, Algarve residents will be able to take a break and escape to the Azores from the hustle and bustle of tourism in their home territory, particularly at the crowded height of summer.

 

The Faro connection will start on 2 June 2024 with flights on Wednesdays and Sundays departing from Ponta Delgada at 9am and departing Faro at 12.25pm.  The duration of the flights will be about two hours and 25 minutes.

 

Airbus A320 planes with seats for 168 passengers are expected to be used for the service. Faro International Airport is the second busiest air terminal for foreign passengers in Portugal after Lisbon.

 

Ponta Delgada on the island of Sã0 Miguel is already connected directly with regular flights to and from Boston, Toronto, London, Lisbon, Oporto, Funchal and Cape Verde.

 

Both the SATA Air Açores and the other member of the group, Azores Airline, carried a record number of passengers in 2022. The total was 1,920,451, an increase of almost 50% in 2021, and just over 12% on 2019, which was the previous record year.

 

Then the COVID pandemic set in. Last year’s figures were achieved despite the negative effects of COVID remaining in the first quarter of 2022. A further increase in passenger traffic is anticipated for 2023, though probably not as dramatic as last year. 

 

Both the Azores and the Algarve are steeped in attractions for visitors. The Azorean capital Ponta Delgada and elsewhere on São Miguel as well as the seven other inhabited islands in the archipelago, offer good accommodation for travellers.

 

The islands are far out in the Atlantic Ocean, almost halfway to North America. That’s about 1,600 Km (1,000 miles) from mainland Portugal. This remoteness is a big attraction in itself. So is the astonishing natural beauty and biodiversity on the islands.

 

They are frequently referred to as “an absolute paradise” for all kinds of nature lovers. The historic streets on the island of Terceira, for example, are a UNESCO World Heritage site. São Miguel is a great place to look out for whales and dolphins. São Jorge and the tiny island of Corvo are ideal for watching seabirds, such as shearwaters, skuas, and terns.

 

The Algarve is best known for its superb beaches amid historic headlands such as Cape Saint Vincent, and for its luxury resorts as well as less-expensive coastal villages. Tavira, Quinta do Lago, Vale do Lobo, Vilamoura, Albufeira, Carvoeiro, and Lagos lure many visitors back time and time again.

 

The rural and natural inland areas of the region are particularly popular among hikers and cyclists. The west coast in September and October is best for watching birds in migration. Scores of Buzzards, Eagles, and Vultures may soar overhead while you are sitting on the terrace of a Sagres restaurant.

 

One of the main differences between the Azores and the Algarve is the climate. The “off- season”, October to April, are usually the best months for hiking in both. January to March is the coolest and quietest period – good for golfers in the Algarve - but also when rain is most likely.

 

The highest summer temperatures in the Azores are usually about 30 degrees C (86F). July and August in the Algarve, however, will probably be exceptionally hot again next summer – often well over 30 to 40 degrees C (90 to 104 F).

   

An inquisitive and adventurous spirit is all it needs to arrange and look forward to a memorable first visit to the Azores and or the Algarve.

 

Portugal welcomes Americans interested in settling

The worsening political and social divisions within the United States are driving more and more Americans across the Atlantic Ocean to seek a better life in the European Union, particularly Portugal. Lower property and other cost of living prices, plus an attractive and peaceful lifestyle are encouraging the eastward movement.  So too is the ease with which people can work remotely. Close to 10,000 Americans were living in Portugal in 2022, an increase of almost 240% in five years, according to Portuguese government data. The number of students attending the Carlucci American International School in Lisbon has significantly increased in recent years and now represents a quarter of the student body, according to The New York Times.  The variety of urban, rural and coastal locations available to buy or rent property is another major attraction. Some newcomers head straight for Lisbon or Oporto. Others prefer the quieter central regions or the beautiful beach resorts in the southern Algarve. The ease with which you can work remotely is also encouraging. As most readers of this journal will know, many Azoreans and Madeirans emigrated to the United States and Canada in the 20th century. Many of their descendants are now moving back to live amid the natural beauty of these amazing, Portuguese autonomous islands. Starting in 2024, Americans will need to register online with the ETIAS system before their trip to get visa-free entry to Portugal. According to SchengenVisaInfo.com U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter Portugal, as long as their stay does not exceed 90 days within a 180-day period for purposes such as tourism, business, short-term studies, cultural or sports events, or medical treatment. However, Americans who plan to work long-term, study, or move to Portugal must apply for a National (D) Visa, explains Marla Barrett, who specialises in giving second citizenship advice and help. ETIAS, she adds, is “an electronic travel authorization that will allow all citizens who come from visa exempt countries the opportunity to travel in the Schengen area without having to go through any visa application process. It will be valid for three years or until a passport expiry date, whichever comes first.” As for the documents required, here are some of the most important ones: + Your valid passport. + Two passport photos. + Copies of your previous visas. + Round-trip flight Itinerary. + Proof of accommodation. + Proof of sufficient financial means for the period of stay in Portugal. + A cover letter.

 

Pope Francis’ historic visit to Portugal a great success.

The World Youth Day festival in Lisbon lasted a week. It will continue to be seriously discussed for at least another month, and it will stay in the memories of more than a million young pilgrims for years.

Christians in their teens and twenties from nearly every country in the world arrived barely knowing a word of Portuguese, but hugs immediately became the international “language of love.” 

A few days before the arrival of Pope Francis, the highly innovative Portuguese artist Bordalo II managed to break into one of the main venues and roll out a “walkway of shame”, a carpet up steps to an altar from which the pope was to deliver speeches. The carpet consisted of huge images of €500 banknotes. It was a symbolic protest against the amount of public money being spent on the religious event while so many people in the capital and nearby cities are homeless or living in poverty. 

Prime Minister Antonio Costa downplayed the costs and said the government and municipalities involved would benefit from their investments in the World Youth Day (WYD) event. 

The “walkway of shame” was also a reminder of the “shame of silence”, the cover-up of child sex abuse by the clergy that persisted within the Catholic Church for decades. Shortly before the pope’s arrival, the cardinal-patriarch of Lisbon said the church was “fully committed” to resolving the scandal.  

Local Lisbon residents were far from happy about the disruption being caused to their normal daily lives by the mass of young Christian visitors. And there was some very unchristian behaviour going on as well. Pilgrims had to be warned of scams such as car drivers, falsely claiming to be closely associated with the event organisers, charging exorbitant taxi fares.     

Protests and strikes by local transport workers, doctors, nurses, teachers and rubbish collectors did not seem to disrupt the tsunami of festivities that got underway on Tuesday August 1, the eve of the pope’s arrival. By then more than a million pilgrims were reportedly in the city ready to enjoy various celebrations, including not only special religious services, but musical and theatrical performances and sporting competitions. 

Less than half of the pilgrims had formally registered for the festivities. Of those who did register, the biggest groups were Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. More than 27,000 had crossed the Atlantic from the United States.

On flying in from Rome, the pontiff’s plane was escorted by Portuguese air force fighter jets. Portugal’s President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, welcomed the pope and his entourage “with open arms” at the Figo Maduro military airport. The tight security in place included an extra large police presence in Lisbon and a ban on drones flying over Fatima when the pope went there. While the safety arrangements were secure, the Portuguese PSP police union pointed to “deplorable hygiene and cleanliness standards” for it members.

On his first day in Lisbon the pope expressed concerns about euthanasia, the environment and war within Europe. Later, in a private meeting, the pope spoke with 13 victims who had been sexually abused by members of the clergy. He “listened to them intently,” according to a Vatican spokesperson. Francis clearly deplored the weak response of the Portuguese Catholic hierarchy to the hideous scandal in this country. Before the truth fully emerged, the church hierarchy had claimed that “only a handful” of priests were involved. Francis lamented that this had driven many of the faithful away from the church. 

Later in the week, the pontiff shared his thoughts on many other subjects including abortion, climate change, the importance of charity, and the need to avoid being fooled by false social media disinformation.

Two hundred thousand turned out to greet the pope with cheers of delight by the time he had arrived at 8.35 on Friday morning for his short visit to Fatima. The crowds lined the route for the popemobile from the Fatima heliport, and filled into the vast concourse within the sanctuary in front of the Fatima Basilica overlooking the Shrine where the three shepherd children are believed to have witnessed the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1917. Francis met and blessed babies during his two-hour stay before returning to Lisbon.

Having spoken repeatedly about the gravest challenges facing humanity and the Catholic Church, including the war in Ukraine and child sex abuse, during Mass on his final day in Portugal, the pontiff pleaded with young people “not to be afraid” and that they are “the present and the future.”

 

 

 

 

 

World Youth Day in Lisbon

 

The World Youth Day event is about to bring a week of joy to Lisbon - but maybe some chaos as well.

Local authorities and services have prepared as best they can, but it is impossible to be sure that everything will go according to plan.  Hundreds of thousands of young people, including many from around the world, have registered to take part in the celebrations presided over by Pope Francis.

Foreign participants are already arriving to find their accommodation in various dioceses in the capital and elsewhere nearby. 

In addition to road traffic chaos in the centre of the city, disruptions may be caused by protests and strikes involving police, transport workers, doctors, nurses, teachers and garbage collectors during the event that runs from 1^st to 6th August. Farmers have expressed anger that the Catholic Church has advised all young pilgrims to abstain from eating meat for a year to offset global carbon emissions.

The first World Youth Day (WYD) was held in 1986 in Rome. The others have been held in major cities in various countries. In 1983, for example, it was held in Denver, Colorado with more than 750,000 people present. The largest WYD gathering amounted to an estimated five million in Manila in the Philippines in 1995.

Pope Benedict XVI avidly supported WYDs. His resignation in 2013 at the age of 85 was because of declining health due to old age. During his tenure as patriarch he had given much encouragement to young people. He was known as the ‘Green Pope’ because of his concern about global warming. This is still the number one concern of most young people in Portugal.

Pope Benedict’s first international engagement was also his first WYD, which was held in 2005 with 1.3 million people present in Cologne in his native Germany. At the last WYD before his resignation, Benedict advised young people across the globe to “preserve Christian joy within their hearts.” 

His resignation came amid shocking revelations of child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in the United States and later in Europe. They impacted the already diminishing number of regular Catholic churchgoers in the western world. Most of the pews in Portugal were being left to the elderly.

An inquiry in France found that at least 330,000 children had been victims of sexual abuse by French priests, deacons and others within the church between 1950 and 2020.

Inquiries in Ireland found that thousands of infants died in brutal living conditions for unmarried mothers in the seven decades up to the 1990s. Other reports have described Catholic orphanages and schools in 20^th- century Ireland as places of “neglect, fear and endemic sexual abuse.”

An independent inquiry in Portugal found that hundreds of Catholic priests had sexually abused nearly 5,000 children over several decades, and that this “was only the tip of the iceberg.”      

Child abuse has become one of the defining themes of Benedict’s legacy, and one of the chief challenges for Pope Francis. The present pope has declared that he takes “personal responsibility” for ending the abuse. He told CNN Portugal last autumn that the church had “zero tolerance” for abuse and that “a priest cannot remain a priest if he is an abuser.”

Many within the church, however, have regarded Francis’ apologies as hollow and criticised his efforts to bring all offending clerics to justice. This will probably be discussed in the background of the youthful gathering in Lisbon. Indeed, in a message eleven months ago to those preparing for the Lisbon event, Pope Francis urged young people to reflect on their priorities and what moves them. He suggested they contemplate the current humanitarian crises and avoid falling into a culture of indifference.

That said, the main focus in Lisbon will be to promote faith, hope and charity in the host country, as well as peace, unity and fraternity among people and nations around the world.

The main site for the events in Lisbon will be the 100 hectare Parque Tejo by the riverside. The Parque Eduardo VII and the Jardim Vasco da Gama will be among the other main locations for religious meetings.

Pope Francis will be in Lisbon for most of his stay, but will make a day trip to the Shrine of Fatima on August 5. Drones have been banned from the airspace over the shrine during the pope’s visit. This will be his second visit to Fatima, the first being in 2017 for the centenary of the apparitions involving three young youths. Two of them have been made saints. The third, Sister Lucia, will join them in sainthood soon – perhaps on August 5 as a climax to the Lisbon World Health Day event. 

WEDNESDAY BRIEFING

Mid-Week Headline News

                              – July 19

Alzheimer’s “turning point”

A new drug to treat Alzheimer’s has been announced at a four-day conference in Amsterdam that ends tomorrow. Trials on the drug, Donanemab, have shown it to slow progression in the early stages of the disease by up to 35%. While far from a cure, the new drug is being hailed as “a turning point” in the fight against the disease. It is estimated that about 50,000 people in Portugal are currently living with Alzheimer’s and the number is rising.    

Popular among expats

Only two European countries are rated in the 2023 top ten most popular countries in the world for expats, according to the global portal InterNations. Portugal is rated at number 10 of the 53 countries surveyed. About 80% of expats feel welcome and at home in Portugal. The ease of settling here is one of its highlights. However job prospects, career development and fair pay are worse than in Spain, which was given the world’s number 2 slot. Number one went again to Mexico.  Panama was 3^rd. The UK was 43^rd. Kuwait was at the very bottom. 

The end of Golden Visas sparks anger

The leader of the autonomous government in the Azores has joined his counterpart if Madeira in condemning the mainland Portuguese government for ending the Golden Visa scheme that has been economically beneficial to the islands.  While speaking to the Luca News agency and the RTP Azores television channel, the Azores president criticized the "unilateral decision" of the central government. 

According to SchengenVisaInfo.com there are currently over 21,000 requests being reviewed in the initial analysis phase, which is the first stage of reviewing and evaluating the requests for investment. Out of these, 7,802 applications have been submitted by foreign investors and citizens.

Illegal immigrant clampdown

The Portuguese Criminal Investigation Police (PJ) and the SEF immigration and borders service have launched a process to put an end to an alleged illegal immigration network, the minister of internal affairs announced on Monday.  Similar processes will follow, he said.

So much for marriage!

The Portugal News quoting Pordata is reporting that 60% of marriages in Portugal end in divorce. Data from 2021 shows that there were about 60 divorces for every 100 marriages in Portugal. This is only surpassed by Luxembourg (72% divorces), Finland (62.1%), and marginally by Sweden (60.8%).

Christiano Ronaldo to move on

Portugal’s football superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been playing for a team in Saudi Arabia since January, said on Monday that he would not be returning to European football. It was “a completely closed door” for him, he said. If he moves on, it will probably be to play “soccer” for more vast income in the United States.  The 38-year-old’s current net worth is said to be about $500 million.

Portuguese newspapers

One of the biggest stories in the national papers so far this week has been about alleged embezzlement at the telecom operator Altice, thought to involve about €660 million.