Secrets of the Land - Coming up in Silves

 
The aim of the event is to promote the products of the region and the participation of more than fifty producers and artisans is expected - gastronomy, regional products, handicrafts and of the rural world.

Admission is free.

Bar Boa Vista


The Story of the Almond Blossom


Late January, early February is one of the loveliest time to visit the Algarve when the Almond trees are smothered in blossom.

Heralding the arrival of spring, the almond trees come into blossom and cover the Algarve in a mantle of white.

A unique sight that spreads across the fertile hillsides of the Barrocal region, where the almond trees are covered with clouds of flowers, whose petals are then scattered over the fields and create the impression of a carpet of snow shining in the sunlight.

The legend of the almond- blossom, is a story that has remained forever in the collective imagination of the Algarve people as a way of explaining this flowery end to the winter season.

According to the legend, in the time when the Al-Gharb belonged to the Arabs, there reigned in Silves the young prince Ibn-Almundim, who fell in love with and married Gilda, the daughter of a great lord of the northern peoples, who had himself been defeated in battle by the Moorish king.

Their wedding was celebrated with a great feast, but the beautiful princess remained forever sad and did not share the prince’s happiness. Physicians were called in from all over the world, but none of them succeeded in finding a cure for that pain.

Until, one day, an old Nordic man told the king that Gilda was homesick for the white snow-covered fields of her homeland.

Ibn-Almundim therefore ordered the planting of thousands of almond-trees all over the province, so that, when they blossomed, they might cover the southern lands with white petals, deceiving the princess into forgetting her feeling of homesickness and bringing joy back into her life.


And his bidding was complied with, so that, ever since that far-off springtime, the Algarve has been filled with the magic of the almond-trees in blossom.
Source - http://www.rtalgarve.pt

Our Carnival Programme - 24th - 26th February, 2017


Early morning swimmers

Early morning swimmers - Holiday Inn Algarve in Armação de Pêra
Video:- today at 8.40 am

Monday Morning in Armação de Pêra

Our view this morning - 10.00am.

Art Get Together

During the month of January a number of our "regulars" get together to paint. Here are some photographs of the session this morning.






Coming Up - Jazz Night - 23rd February



Silves Rotary Club


Silves Rotary Club meets here twice a month.

All visiting members and their guests are welcome to attend the meetings. 

For further information please contact us.

Celebrate with us! Valentine's Day


Mini Fashion Show - 26th January, 2017


Royal British Legion Monthly Lunch


 A few photos from Wednesday's Royal British Legion lunch.

 The Algarve Sub-Branch has a membership of 150 and meets monthly. the next lunch is on Wednesday, 15th March, 2017. All visiting RBL members are welcome. For more information please contact Alun Roberts:- Alun Roberts (alunrluz@gmail.com).








Like us on Facebook

Holiday Inn Algarve on Facebook

 We have a Holiday Inn Algarve Facebook page where you can find a lot of useful information about the hotel, Armaçao de Pêra, nearby restaurants and things to do during your stay. Please click on the link below and like us on Facebook

 Like us on Facebook

Querença Sausage Festival

The 2017 Querença Chorizo Festival will take place on Sunday, 22nd January.

It is a festival in honour of St. Luis (the protector of animals).

Traditionally the families in inland Algarve raised a pig to sustain themselves through the year and asked St. Luis to keep it in good health. To thank the saint they offer their best homemade chorizo.

The festival includes a procession, musical entertainment and, of course, lots of homemade chorizo!

This event will include a procession, tastings of grilled sausages and lots of music.

Art Get Together

During the month of January a number of our "regulars" get together to paint. Here are some photographs of the session this morning.






TripAdvisor - Thank you :)


We spent four weeks here the end of November to December it was lovely. Plenty of walks and plenty of places to go. It had a good local bus service so we were able to get to many different places. The food was good and the people very helpful and friendly. Rooms were small but kept clean and had a fridge, tea and coffee making facilities. It was right on the beach so you could walk along the beach or sit on a sun lounger and listen to the waves.

Thank you for your donations


This photo registers the moment we have presented the raised donations of our Christmas Day and New Year's Day charity swims, in the total amount of 1400 Euros to Ricardo Xufre from the children's Home «A Gaivota» part of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Albufeira and to Ricardo Pinto, President of the Junta de Freguesia of Armação de Pêra.
Thank you to all of those who participated in these events and generously donated.

Our view this morning - hear the waves

Put on your sound to hear the waves



Jazz Night - 23rd February - Raj Indian Restaurant


The Great Weather Continues


Traditional King's Day songs

Last Saturday evening the group from the Sociedade Recreativa Alcantarilhense came to the Boa Vista Bar to sing traditional King's Day songs. Our thanks to the group.

Sunrise today



A magnificent sunrise this morning, the 11/01/2017. Our thanks to João Duarte for sending these photos.

Fall out of bed - on to the beach

Would you like to be nearly on the beach? Choose one of our newly renovated beach rooms with direct access to the soft sandy beach.





Top Things to do - Armação de Pêra


Walk along the long sandy beach 

Take a Boat trip or Paddle board  to the caves

Visit the farmers fruit and vegetable market on Saturday morning

See the fishermen bring in their catch

Enjoy the sunset from the Holiday Inn Algarve terrace

Eat fish, fish and fish in Zé Leiteiro

Go Diving - Visit the largest natural reef in Portugal.

Armação de Pêra Beach this afternoon


Photo: Sr. Vivaldo Gonçalves

Swim Success


The annual event to swim or paddle in the Atlantic Ocean has, this year, so far raised over 1100 Euros for children in care. Many congratulations and thanks to all those who participated.
The weather was perfect for both of the events, one on Christmas day, and the second on New Year's day.
The funds raised will be divided between A Gaivota, Santa Casa in Albufeira and Espaço Amigos in Armação de Pêra.
Great excitement was added by the TV crews - Portuguese channels - Sic on Christmas day and TVI on New Year's day.
A big thank you to everyone who took part, the Martime Police who attended, Bruno Valente from BlueXperience and his paddlers for participating on paddles, Lifeguard Gonçalo Nicolau, those who watched, the media for helping with the publicity, Dave Sheldrake (http://davesheldrakephotography.com/), Lewis Moulson  https://www.facebook.com/ChilliPepperProductions and Diogo Correia   https://www.facebook.com/diogo10 for their coverage of the events and to everyone who donated so generously.
More photos at:-
Video Film
Christmas Day - https://vimeo.com/197210778 www.chillipepper

This Saturday



Great Weather


Video - Santa Swim, 2016 Armação de Pêra

https://vimeo.com/197210778 

Click on link above to see the film.  Please visit and like Chilli Pepper Productions Facebook and Website pages. Lewis Moulson.  Support a young, dynamic videographer who is building a portfolio.
www.chillipepperproductions.com    https://www.facebook.com/ChilliPepperProductions


New Year's Day - television coverage

Click Here

New Year's Eve Gala Dinner

Just a few photos






Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)