Monte Horizonte

Archive for May, 2010

The Pena Aventura Park has an area of 16 acres and beside the great variety of activities; it also offers a nice and comfortable bar, a Panoramic Restaurant (2nd phase), commercial area, Bungalows (2nd phase) and parking available and accessible to all people. One of our values is Nature Conservation so smoking is not allowed in the park and is only allowed in the marked areas.Package for 4 for 2 nights- 280€ (70€pax.)

The authors of Picture Portugal, the film studio project that is to be created in Portimão and its respective fund that will finance the shooting of 11 north-American movies in Portugal, are still looking for investments from American companies including some of the biggest producers in the USA. Speaking to Lusa News Agency, Luis Carito, president of Portimão Urbis, the municipal company that is responsible for Picture Portugal, admitted that the planning has somewhat “skidded” off course due to a delay in the project’s economic study, but guaranteed that “the project is still going forward”.

Carito explained that, “promotional actions for the project have multiplied over the past few months, as has contact with main north-American ‘majors’, to integrate the holding that we intend to create”. “Two weeks ago, because of the Oscars, we were in LA where we held a huge promotional auction at a dinner with 600 people from the industry and met with main producers”, Luis Carito explained. Among potential investors who have been approached are CBS-Paramount, Universal, Fox, Sony and Warner Brothers, they will join Portuguese investors, alongside national ambassadors such as actor Joaquim de Almeida and Carlos Mattos, Portuguese businessman and co-winner of two Oscars (in 1989 and 1991) for the invention of filming equipment that made a difference to the films ‘ET’, by Steven Spielberg, and ‘Cotton Club’, by Francis Ford Coppola. The aim is to convince key players to invest part of the €25 million necessary to build the first phase of the studio complex, which will comprise five studios measuring 11,600 square meters, as well as the €7.5 million that will guarantee the shooting of 11 films in Portugal.

Lisbon was in the world’s top ten meetings and conventions cities last year, according to figures released by the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA). By hosting 98 international events, the Portuguese capital increased its world ranking by two places compared with 2008, achieving a higher showing than London and Madrid in the process. Portugal claimed 17th spot in the list  in 2009, hosting a total of 168 events throughout the year.

The Madeira Wine Rally is known as one of the most important competitions of the European Rally Championship. Some of the most famed names in the world of intercontinental car racing usually participate in this rally, many times with the intention of testing their newest rigs. Thousands of people gather in the mountain sites of Madeira looking for the best areas in order to enjoy the cars in their best performance. For three days, from 5th to 7th August, 2010, the competitors will drive along the narrow and winding roads of Madeira Island, thrilling the public with their heroics.

The Yellow Lagos Beach Hotel is a new five-star resort located by the beach in the Meia Praia district of Lagos, in the western Algarve. The hotel has 220 comfortable guest-rooms (including 11 suites), all fully equipped with air-conditioning, heat, direct-dial telephone and TV. Facilities include 3 swimming pools (2 outdoor and 1 indoor), a bar, 2 restaurants, tennis court, games room, private garage parking, children’s playground, entertainment area, a spa and health club with gym, sauna and Jacuzzi.

Once, one of Bairro Alto’s trendiest bars – B’Artis is back with a new look and name. It has dropped the B and is now simply called “Artis,” focusing more on wine — all Portuguese wines. The wood-rich interior has been maintained, and decorating the walls are some classic/vintage objects and a few musical instruments. Artis has always been known for its jazz soundtrack, and that continues to be heard along with chill-out sounds. The wine can be served by the glass starting at 3 euros, but if you prefer beer that’s just 2 euros. It also serves “petiscos” with the toasted chicken sandwich being the most popular over the years. Those “petiscos” range in price between €4.90 and €9.90, and according to the chalkboard list placed outside, they include the traditional Portuguese “caldo verde” (known in English as “green soup”). You may also order a cheese or ham plate and sample some Portuguese liquor such as port and ginginha.

Foodees in Elvas are cooking up the largest Bacalhau Dourada cod-fish dish in the world, using six thousand eggs, 350 kilos of potato, the same of cod-fish, and 20 liters of olive oil, to feed 3,000 people and make the Guinness World Book of Records this is a typical dish of Elvas, cooked up in a 20 by 2 meter dish of 3,000 people. The historic  city of Elvas is located near the border between Portugal and Spain and is on the main highway between Lisbon and Madrid.

Tomar, about 90 minutes from Lisbon, has a magnificent castle, especially when rendered in Legos… In fact some 3 million blocks with be used for the displays. So be sure to check out the first  “TOMAR 2010, LEGO® Fan Event” from June 10 to 13, 2010 – open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and see models of some of the great sites of the City of the Templars.

The acclaimed chef José Avillez has teamed up with wine maker José Bento dos Santos, at Quinta do Monte d’Oiro to co-author three new Lisbon wines. They are:
+ JA 2005 Red
100 % Syrah , 14.5% Vol. Eight month sin oak.
+ Paisagens  2007 Red
Grapes Syrah (80%) Tinta Roriz (20%) 14% Vol Two months in  oak
+ Tavares 2005 Red
100% Syrah  14.5% Vol.

The title of “Very Clean Hotel” has been given by the site Venere.com, and its reader to a hotel on the  Avenida da Boavista, in Porto. The Quality Inn Portus Cale (72 rooms) is indeed a clean gem, and is part of the Grupo Choice Hotels Europe.

TravelSmith, a catalogue company that offers travel clothing, travel accessories and travel shoes for women and men is featuring images of Sintra and the Azores in their 2010 Spring catalogues. The company writes: “Eternally whimsical and singing with joy.” This line from a classic song heard in Lisbon’s fado clubs best describes Portugal. Travel with us to this dynamic country where past and present mingle to inspire your spirit of discovery.

Madeira Island is not only famous for its Flower Festival and lively New Year’s Eve party, there’s a busy list of events organized throughout the year. Next up this year is the popular Atlantic Festival featuring a massive fireworks display, one of the most impressive in Europe. In early August, the Madeira Wine Rally takes place in various locations across the island and is part of the European Rally Championships. This is followed by the Madeira Wine Festival in September which has shows and exhibitions in the capital Funchal and the grape harvest in Câmara de Lobos.
On nearby Porto Santo, the Columbus Festival celebrates the life of one of the island’s most famous former residents.

June 2010 (5th, 12th, 19th & 26th): Atlantic Festival
June 2010 (23rd to 25th): Classic Car Rally
August 2010 (5th to 7th): Madeira Wine Rally
September 2010 (2nd to 5th): Madeira Wine Festival
September 2010 (16th to 18th): Columbus Festival (on Porto Santo)
December 2010 (31st): New Year’s Eve Festivities
March 2011 (5th & 8th): Carnival Party
May 2011 (7th & 8th): Madeira Flower Festival

The Azores are planning to apply for  a regional Geopark from the International Geopark Association.  A potential Geopark would cover all nine island in eh Azores. Geoparks were launched by UNESCO and aims at enhancing the value of such sites while at the same time creating employment and promoting regional economic development. The UNESCO Geopark Program works in synergy with UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre and Man and the Biosphere (MAB) World Network of Biosphere Reserves.Because of the unique nature of the Azores, there would be 57 separate sections of the park. São Miguel would have 10 geosites,  Pico would have 8, Terceira would have 7,  Flore and Faial would each have 6, and the islands of  São Jorge, Graciosa and Santa Maria would have 5 geosites, while  Corvo would have three… And there would be several ocean sites as well. The islands were created by volcanic activity millions of years ago, giving them a landscape that is varied and often dramatic. Rocky cliffs, crater lakes, geysers, waterfalls and lava caves are all remnants of Mother Nature’s historical touch, and all make for excellent exploring opportunities for today’s visitor.

Ultra modern & funky designed self catering Eco Lodges. Sleep 4 or 5 with extra bed and surf in Ericeira – This is where you surf  Europe’s best coast line and let the fun begin.There are over 20 beach breaks along the Ericeira coast that cater for all. The area was introduced in the Stormriders Surf Guide to Europe with the heading “Enter the Heartland”. And if you’ve never surfed before Ericeira’s Foz do Lizandro beach is the perfect beginers spot were you can enjoy surfing in the 25 degree sunshine. Newstalk have selected Lisbon as one of its Top 10 Destinations for 2010.  Plus when you book you get a 10 page welcome pack with all the best restaurants, bars, beaches, surf, things to do in the area and a 15% discount from Boardculture surf shop. Ericeira Surf Lessonswith Na Onda Surf School to offer Surf lessons for beginners, kids and advanced surfers with very good quality equipment to rent.  Regular Lessons: 3 days -  2 hours a day, incl. wetsuit and board   €59; 6 days – 2 hours a day, incl. wetsuit and board €98.

Low cost airline Ryanair has begun six new touts to Faro in the Algarve- the routes are Faro- Memmingen, Faro- Maastricht, Faro-Paris Beauvais, Faro-Madrid and Faro-Eindhoven. The brings the airline offering to and from Faro to 30.

The Rock in Rio music festival returns to Lisbon in May featuring lots of international superstars. The five-night event takes place at Lisbon‘s Parque da Bela Vista on 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 May, 2010.

21 May: Shakira, John Mayer, Ivete Sangalo, Mariza.

22 May: Elton John, 2 Many DJs, Leona Lewis.

27 May: Muse, Snow Patrol.

28 May: Miley Cyrus, McFly, Amy MacDonald.

29 May: Rammstein, Megadeth, Motorhead, Soulfly.

Rock in Rio dates back to January 1985 when the inaugural festival took place over 10 days and attracted almost 1.5 million people. Six years later it ran again, this time reaching a global TV audience of 580 million in 55 countries, besides the 700,000 who attended the festival. More than 350,000 are expected at the Rock in Rio festival in Lisbon next month, with day tickets at 58 euros.

A new route to ride, beginning in the  city of Porto, to wind on through the verdant valley of the Rio Douro making ones way by river boat, train, and of course, bicycle. Each day holds a charming new pathway with vistas over the Douro river, best known for its more than 2,000 years of wine producing, and more exclusively, the popular Port Wine. Today this region is steeped in layers of timeless tradition and legend. From the trendy restaurants in Porto, to the hidden villages and remote vineyards, lining the folds of the man-made terraces of these ancient lands and get an up-close, hands on experience like never before. Blue Coast Bikes Tours wants you to become a part of the legend, join us as we explore the Ports of Tradition.

Portuguese air carrier the SATA Group announced that in the first 4 months of 2010, passenger numbers from Boston to the Azores and Lisbon grew by 18.6% over 2009. Overall, traffic on the airline, which connects the U.S. and Canada to the Azores, Mainland Portugal and Madeira rose by 7.2%. Numbers were up across the board for SATA, but the U.S. increase was the highest overall.

Lisbon will submit Fado as UNESCO World Heritage until August 31st, since Fado faces the risk of loosing its identity from 2 centuries ago and they also defend to create museums and archives and introduce Fado in the schools curriculums. Portugal will apply to the United Nations to have the Fado declared World Heritable next year, according to Portugal’s U.N. ambassador, Manuel Maria Carrilho.

The application is anticipated as being approved by the end of 2010. Carrilho credits the work of the City of Lisbon and professor Rui Vieira Nery for six years of preparation for the application. He spoke at the opening of Amália, Coração Independente at Lisbon’s Belem Cultural Center. Fado an ancient song that often expresses deep-seated feelings, disappointment in love, the sense of sadness and longing for someone who has gone away, everyday events, the ups and downs of life – inspiration for Fado can come from almost any source. Fado is a symbol of Portugal, a celebrated form of world music that has retained its traditional qualities but evolved with the times. Amália Rodriques brought Fado to the great concert halls of Europe and the attention of international audiences in the 1950s and 1960s.  Today, Fadista Mariza, who continues to tour overseas, taking the Fado to an even wider audience.  The more popular forms of Fado are found in the cities near the sea, such as Lisbon or Porto, and  in the Alentejo and Ribatejo too. Coimbra has given the music its own unique feel, making it popular among students.

Imagine the combination of these unique ingredients: a legendary hotel, quality food, an intimate ambience, exclusive and dedicated service and an atmosphere that compels romance, encouraged by the delicate sound of a violin or guitar. However, these words alone are far too simple to describe the Moonlight Dinner experience at Reid’s Palace Hotel. The meal is just one of the small details to have been introduced . Other changes include new menus in the restaurants and a more comprehensive selection at the hotel’s main bar, with a variety of gin, vodka, cognac and Caribbean rum. There is also a host of cocktails, aged Madeira wine and a delicious gin and tonic with a drop of cucumber juice and cucumber peel. Suggestions also include a number of Dry Martini creations, one of which is the Madeirini, a mixture of 10-year-old Madeira wine with Grey Goose vodka. Another creation is the Reidstini, a mixture of 1974 Madeira wine and Wybrowa vodka. But nothing exceeds the Moonlight Dinner experience, where one can choose from five locations in the gardens and four dishes from the dinner menu, which includes options such as lobster, turbot, lamb, veal, black truffles and duck Foie Gras. Madeira wine makes a addition to some of the meals. The meal is served by a butler, who begins by serving champagne and canapés in the guests’ room before accompanying them through the gardens to where the dinner will be served, surrounded by candles for a truly romantic ambience. The musician, whether it is a violinist or a guitarist, is poised to play classical music as you enjoy your dinner for two.  The sound of the ocean complements the romantic music, in a location where everything else is silent and completely tranquil.

Old foot  trails turned into walking paths in Lagoa, Algarve – the trail of Sete Vales Suspensos is under construction and will have 3 miles that follow the linhas sinuosas das arribas located between the Vale Centianes Beach and Marinha Beach in Lagoa. This 78 thousand euros investment intends to use the top location of those “vales suspensos” as a landscaping project and introducing points of view to allow visitors to check the great views while reading the several information boards that explains the geologic formations, fauna and local vegetation.

Portuguese President Cavaco Silva has signed the nation’s gay marriage bill into law. The government described the new law as an “historic landmark in Portuguese society” and as an advance in “defense of human dignity”.

With a strategic location between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, the Algarve city of Portimão has grown in importance as a port of call for international cruise  line operators. In April, 2010, Portimão welcomed eight cruise ships, carrying a joint total of 4,500 passengers. Fifteen cruise vessels are expected to dock in Portimão in May, bringing with them 9,500 potential visitors (passengers and crew), twice as many as disembarked in May 2009 and consolidating Portimão as Portugal’s third busiest port, after Funchal (Madeira) and Lisbon. Last year Portimão welcomed a total of 38 cruise ships and 23,588 visitors, a growth of 46 percent in relation to the year before regarding dockings and 110 percent in terms of passengers

Loulé will again host the Algarve’s Festival Med from June 23 -27, 2010.This will be the 7th year that Loule has hosted the event, which takes place on multiple stages around the area. This year’s bill brings together over 40 performers, including bands and DJs, hailing from the four corners of the world. Quality was main criteria used by the organizers, who hope that this year’s event will attract the highest number of visitors ever. For several days, the Med Festival will be bringing life and excitement to the streets of Loulé’s historic center, benefiting from the presence of many well-known names from the universe of “world music”.

The new Real Marina Hotel & Spa in the Algarve has a special bird-watching package to coincide with its opening on the 20th of May, 2010. Priced from €284 per person low season, the program includes three nights’ 5-star accommodation with buffet breakfast and two bird-watching excursions, one by boat and the other a private tour to observe the many vultures and birds of prey that inhabit the area. Located overlooking the Ria Formosa nature reserve, the Real Marina Hotel & Spa is the first five-star property to open in the Olhão district of the Algarve.