Swimming in December… why not?

After some rainy days, the sunny weather is back in full blast to Monte Gordo. These are a couple of photos from today, December 27 of 2022. The temperature was about 21 celsius (70F) all day.

December 27 at about 9h30, one of the last traditional fishermen boat arrives at the beach with fresh seafood

December 27 at about 17h30 the sunset is phenomenal and the temperature remains at 20 celsius

December 27 also at about 17h30 I noticed that a couple of young people could not resist going for a swim!

Season greetings!

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Portugal is World’s 4th Safest Country

The latest rank Global Peace Index (GPI) elaborated by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), ranks Portugal as the 4th safest country in the world.

The GPI is the world’s leading measure of global peacefulness and covers 99.7% of the world’s population, using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources, and measures the state of peace across three domains:

– the level of Societal Safety and Security,

– the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict,

– and the degree of Militarisation.

For more details about the rank use this link:

Algarve wins again: 2021 Europe’s Leading Beach Destination

The Algarve won the 2021 Europe’s Leading Beach Destination award attributed by the World Travel Awards. This is the 3rd consecutive year that Algarve wins such “oscar of tourism”. Algarve has won 8 times this award so far.

Link: https://www.worldtravelawards.com/award-europes-leading-beach-destination-2021

AVISO COVID: Certificado Digital ou teste para check-in (Covid tests or EU Vaccine Certificate required at check-in)

(FYI: English translation below Portuguese text)

O Governo Português deliberou esta quinta-feira, 8 de Julho de 2021, a necessidade de doravante apresentar o Certificado Digital (2 doses da vacina) ou um teste COVID negativo no acto do check-in em Hotéis e Alojamento Local em todo o território continental. Os tipos de teste aprovados são os seguintes:

  • Testes rápidos de antigénio (TRAg), na modalidade de autoteste, no check-in e com a supervisão dos responsáveis do Alojamento Local ou Hotel;

ou

  • Testes rápidos de antigénio (TRAg), na modalidade de autoteste, realizado em farmácia até 24 horas antes do check-in;

ou

  • Testes rápidos de antigénio (TRAg), verificado por entidade certificada, realizado nas 48 horas anteriores ao check-in;

ou

  • Testes de amplificação de ácidos nucleicos (TAAN), conhecido por PCR, realizado nas 72 horas anteriores ao check-in.

Artigo relacionado:

https://www.dinheirovivo.pt/geral/saiba-os-testes-que-pode-apresentar-para-entrar-nos-hoteis-e-restaurantes-13919339.html

ENGLISH TEXT:

The Portuguese Government deliberated this Thursday, July 8, 2021, the requirement to present the European Digital Certificate (2 doses of vaccine) or a negative COVID test at check-in in Hotels and Local Accommodation throughout the territory continental. The approved test types are as follows:

-Rapid antigen tests (TRAg), in the form of self-test (autotest), at check-in and under the supervision of those responsible for the Local Accommodation or Hotel;

or

-Rapid antigen tests (TRAg), in the form of self-test, carried out in a pharmacy up to 24 hours before check-in;

or

-Rapid antigen tests (TRAg), verified by a certified entity, carried out within 48 hours prior to check-in;

or

-Nucleic acid amplification tests (TAAN), known as PCR, performed within 72 hours prior to check-in.

May 17 Portugal opens to UK and most EU tourists

The Portuguese Government has announced that on Monday (May 17) Portugal will allow entry to tourists from UK and EU countries with “less than 500 cases of infections per 100,000 people”, but “passengers must show a negative coronavirus (PCR) test on arrival” and done at most 72 hours prior to traveling. More details in links below.

News Source:

https://news.yahoo.com/portugal-allow-eu-uk-tourists-114237783.html

Website of the Portuguese Tourism Office:

https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/covid-19-measures-implemented-portugal

Website of the Portuguese Borders Police:

https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/covid-19/faqs/#1596230859073-a1cdfe6a-4ada

Government announces new COVID-19 plan

March 11th, 2021

As the COVID-19 situation is again under better control after the Christmas Holidays spike, the Portuguese government just announced the plan to end the “confinement”. The link below gives you a summary of the measures and key dates in English, as well as a link to the original document in Portuguese. Briefly, the reopening of the activities that have been severely restricted since Christmas, for example bars and restaurants, will begin gradually on March 15 and the impact of the incremental freedoms assessed every 2 weeks. By April 5, outside seating (open air) in bars and restaurants will be allowed (with a maximum of 4 people per table). By April 19, indoor seating in bars and restaurants is expected to be allowed, and venues like shopping malls, theaters and cinemas will open. By May 3, there will be very little restrictions – e.g. big outdoor events will be allowed, and Weddings can resume at 50% indoor capacity.

Know that hotels and Lodging remain open, without any restrictions (besides the health and hygiene guidelines issued early in the pandemic). However, know there still are travel restrictions, particularly for countries NOT in the European Union.

DO YOUR PART AND BE STAY SAFE.

Greetings from Portugal. Links below:

ENGLISH SUMMARY OF THE PLAN:

Portugal’s PM presents country’s “step-by-step” deconfinement plan: Monday sees life begin to open

The plan in PORTUGUESE (PDF file):

Click to access ee1fc1d28e242ad62c44c4084c516ce5_585c8a9a022613ca1fdd932e298063cf.pdf

Portugal awarded “Safe Travels” seal by WTTC

Portugal has been the first European country to receive the ‘Safe Travels’ seal awarded by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).  Such recognition certifies “destinations that comply with hygiene and safety rules and aims to give confidence to those who travel after restrictions to avoid the spread of covid-19”.

Description of the “Safe Travels” seal: https://wttc.org/News-Article/WTTC-unveils-Safe-Travels-new-global-protocols-to-restart-the-Travel-Tourism-sector

Articles about Portugal

English: https://world-today-news.com/portugal-was-the-first-european-country-to-receive-the-safe-travels-seal/

Português: https://expresso.pt/coronavirus/2020-06-04-Portugal-e-o-primeiro-pais-europeu-a-receber-o-selo-Safe-Travels

 

Portugal: 2018 World Travel Destination Award

Portugal won for the second time the World Travel Destination Award! Found out more here:

https://www.worldtravelawards.com/award-worlds-leading-destination-2018

Portugal wins Europe’s Leading Destination 2018 award

Portugal has been awarded “Europe’s Leading Destination 2018” by World Travel Awards, the entity that gives the Tourism “Oscars”. This is the second consecutive year that Portugal wins it.

More details here:

https://www.worldtravelawards.com/award-europes-leading-destination-2018

wta-winner-shield-2018-share

 

Monte Gordo, epicenter of food heaven

All the gastronomic pleasures depicted in the video below are located either in or so very close of Monte Gordo! Highly recommended!

The only thing the video is missing are the Monte Gordo’s fishermen. The ultimate secret known only to the few…. like a masonry thing.pescadores5