Estoi Palace International Rotary Club was delighted to receive a visit from Abilio Lopes our Rotary International District Governor (DG). This is an opportunity for the Club to show the DG work that has been done in the local community and internationally. During the visit the DG gave the Club a Certificate of Merit for the funds donated to the End Polio Now campaign, following a successful sponsored bike ride last November.

No Alentejo Blue on the 23rd of February for the motorcyclists of the ASB. Only grey skies overhead as the group of 26 riders led by John Heffernan left the start near Boliqueime. The group left the cafe smoothly with the kind assistance of the GNR officer controlling  the traffic at the nearby roundabout resurfacing while we got underway. 

John who not only planned the route single handed also led the ride from start to finish taking us on a great route to Almodovar in the lower Alentejo with a stop for a short break in Amexial on the way. In the absence of any of his usual back up riders a few us took turns at acting as  sweepers collecting the odd stray rider who had missed a turn.

Since Linda Cree became the afpop Events Organiser for the Eastern Algarve in 2007 the number of members and guests attending has slowly increased over the years.
In the early days the numbers were in the 30s but their last event at the Catering College (Escola De Hotelaria E Turismo Do Algarve) in Faro on Valentine’s Day attracted almost 130 attendees of many different nationalities.

The Saint Andrew’s Society of the Algarve held their Burns Supper at the Ponte Romana restaurant in Silves on Saturday 28 January. According to Society Chieftain Doug McAdam “The Supper was a resounding success with almost a full house of about 120 participants. We were particularly delighted on this occasion to be able to welcome so many guests attending for the first time”.

Sunny skies, cold winds and the possible threat of a sudden shower did not stop 18 riders taking part in the first ride of 2017. 

The ride was moved to Saturday 28th after the heavy rain earlier in the week caused the postponement. Group organiser David Shirley led the ride up into the hills to São Barnabe where a stop was made at the cafe next to the fonte for a warming coffee.

Madrugada, the charitable organisation that provides care and support to people facing life limiting illness has confirmed the appointment of Carol Spires as its new President from December 2016. Carol takes on this voluntary role to replace Alison Blair who stepped down in November 2016.

Carol brings a wealth of experience to Madrugada. She moved to Portugal some eleven years ago and with her partner has developed a successful property management business servicing the Western Algarve.

The steep and twisty roads through the hills near Monchique offered riders great views over the Algarve from one of the highest points in the region.

Meeting for the last ride of 2016 at the Plazza Cafe in Silves members welcomed new riders to the group before heading north from Silves, taking a scenic route to São Marcos de Serra. A short coffee break here before continuing west and upwards towards Nave Redonda and Monchique with beautiful distant views on the way.

A Golf Tournament promoted by the NAU group at its Morgado golf course raised €5,800 for the local Bombeiros.

In September of this year, the municipalities of Monchique and Portimão were hit by a widespread fire. Herdade do Reguengo, the 970 hectare estate owned by the NAU Hotels & Resorts group includes the Morgado and Álamos golf courses, as well as the Morgado Golf & Country Club, all of which was protected by the tireless efforts of the Volunteer Fire Service of Portimão.