Monte Horizonte

SATA /Azores Express has launched a new route linking the Azores and Madeira with the Algarve. The new link Azores / Madeira / Faro, which kicked off June 18 will be offered twice a week, on Monday and Friday, starting and ending at Ponta Delgada (Azores) by SATA Internacional. The route will provide a direct link between three vacation after research demonstrated willingness and readiness of some tour operators to market the route. This link will be made with the new Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft SATA Air Azores, an air craft that has levels of comfort and flight times close to those of jet aircraft but with much lower fuel consumption. More information about this, and all routes operated by SATA, are available from travel agents or at the  website www.sata.pt.

‘Revolution 99/09‘a new exhibit at  Experimenta Design, points to the future through the retrospective of the past decade where Portugal went through a design revolution- The exhibition “Revolution 99/09,” is now open to public at the Palace of the Barão de Quintela e Conde de Farrobo (paragraph 70 of Alecrim Street, Lisbon) until September 5, 2010.

This retrospective organized by Experience Design (EXD) may appear like a collection of objects from everyday Portuguese life in recent years. The 420 pieces of “Revolution 99/09″ component, according to Guta Moura Guedes, president of Experience Design, “are more representative of the Portuguese design of the last ten years,” with a clear focus on the future of design , instead of any nostalgia for the past. Apart from the gas cylinder Pluma, designed by Rui Sampaio de Faria, the exhibition, divided between product design and graphic design, contains some products that have come to be ubiquitous (as the machine Qosmo, Daniel Caramelo) or at least recognized by the general public (such as Keybag, Joao Sabino),. This was not the story of a “silent revolution, but an invitation to the discovery of a generation of creators. It is also the part of the new partnership between Experience Design and the Institute of Visual Arts, Design and Marketing (IADE). ”

Xacobeo 2010 – “Road to Santiago” on the Portuguese side. The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation Galicia / Norte de Portugal, in partnership with the Regional do Norte (CCDR-N) and Xunta de Galicia, to promote Xacobeo 2010 with the aim of spreading the word about the Camino de Santiago Route- on the Central Traditional Portuguese side and including the towns and local hikers.  The path is composed of 13 steps, which will be carried by pilgrims every week-end to July 31, 2010:

June 26 – Valença do Minho and Tui / Porriño – Distance: 15 km, Estimated Time: 5 hours l Difficulty: Average

July 3 – Porriño / Redondela – Distance: 16 km, Estimated Time: 4 hours l Difficulty: Low

July 10 – Redondela / Pontevedra – Distance: 18 km, Estimated Time: 5 hours l Difficulty: Low

July 17 – Pontevedra / Caldas de Reis – Distance: 24 km, Estimated Time: 6 hours l Difficulty: Average

July 24 – Caldas de Reis / Padrón – Distance: 19 km, Estimated Time: 5 hours l Difficulty: Low

July 31 – Padrón / Santiago de Compostela – Distance: 24 km, Estimated Time: 6 hours l Difficulty: Average

The Blue Flag is a voluntary and exclusive eco-label awarded in 41 countries worldwide. The Blue Flag works towards sustainable development at beaches and marinas through publicly awarding sites that meet strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and other services. The Program has also recently started a voluntary scheme for private boat owners called the Individual Blue Flag, which boaters can fly if they have signed and agreed to follow an environmental code of conduct.  Since 1987 the number of beaches and marinas participating in the Program has increased, despite toughening criteria. The criteria are updated as needed to keep abreast of new scientific findings, legislation, and generally to keep the campaign participants striving for ever better environmental quality. For further details see the site of the Blue Flag association http://www.blueflag.org

As Knight and Day, with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz opens around the world, audiences will see Cruise’s character being chased by a team of his former CIA colleagues from Boston to what is mentioned to be the Azores (where he maintains a private island). Sounds fun, well maybe not.. But anyone can find their own private island in the Azores… Here is how:

FLORES
Depending on how you look at it, Europe either begins or ends at the island of Flores, the western-most Azorean island. Along with nearby Corvo, the two islands form the western group of islands of the archipelago. Flores was discovered between 1450 and 1452, but it remained isolated for centuries, really until the airport was constructed there in the 1960s. Only then did Flores develop a stronger connection to the outside world.

Today, the island¹s economy is still based largely on fishing, agriculture and, now, a blossoming tourism industry. Flores is a welcome escape from the modern world. Its slow pace is hard to find anywhere else.

The island is a mix of deep green forests, pastures, and fields. As the name suggests, Flores is always in bloom with wild flowers, including blue hydrangeas and wild cubres (a yellow bloom) grown on seaside cliffs.

The landscape is rugged, with crater lakes and dramatic coastal cliffs and waterfalls–more than any other island in the Atlantic.  The rocky coast of Flores is dotted with still more tiny islands, some home to grazing sheep.

CORVO
Flores¹ sister island, Corvo, is even more isolated and sparsely populated.
It was the last of the Azores islands to be settled, sighted around 1450 and settled, finally, by 1548. The island¹s isolation once led to an interesting trade relationship with pirates‹they were given supplies by the island¹s residents and, in exchange, the pirates protected the residents.

Today, Corvo is home to just a few hundred people ­ all residing in the seaside village of Vila Nova do Campo. Besides this village, the island seems to swirl around a huge crater, 500 feet deep. There are no other towns. Corvo is mostly open hinterland, making it an excellent place for undisturbed hikes and communing with sky and sea. Many visitors also come to Corvo for its excellent scuba diving and fishing.

GRACIOSA
The small and hilly island of Graciosa was discovered in 1450. Soon, the island¹s green fields were drawing people from throughout Portugal and Flanders. And, it got its fist hotel EVER last year.

While Graciosa has not seen volcanic activity in some 500 years, the island has active geysers. Often called ³the white island,² Graciosa has low hills at is center, circling around a series of extinct volcano craters.

Azoreans know Graciosa for its fine wines and brandy produced from Isabela grapes. The island¹s Flemish-inspired windmills are also well known.
Cheesecakes, embroidery and linens are other examples of Graciosa¹s specialties.

Pousadas de Portugal launched two packages for the summer holidays in Portugal. These are available with over 40 domestic destinations, three or five night’s accommodations and prices between 85 and 95 euros per room, per night.  Both programs include breakfast and allow the possibility to opt for the extra benefits “Family Holidays” or “Summer for Two,” the first to offer accommodations for two children up to 12 years in parents’ room, while the second includes a dinner or lunch (Menu Summer) for two without drinks. “Family Holidays” still includes the provision of a children’s menu, and also available is the Children’s Club of units with activities for children. In the “Summer for Two,” lunch or dinner also includes a welcome drink as well as a bottle of wine or liquor regional and petit fours in your room upon arrival. For reservations or more information call 21 844 2001 or visit the site www.pousadas.pt.

Portuguese railways company CP starts its summer steam train service Saturday June 5th, between Régua and Tua in the Douro Valley. Called one of the great railway journeys of the world, the weekly trip runs until October 9, 2010 and costs €43 roundtrip for adults and €21.50 for kids aged 5 to 12. Beyond the magnificent views of the magnificent River Douro, passengers, get a welcome glass of Port wine (the train steams its way through the heart of Port wine country) and a slice of local cake served up to the sound of live musical entertainment. Pulled by a vintage 0186 steam locomotive, the five-carriage train departs from Régua at 2:45 p.m., stopping at Pinhão briefly before arriving at Tua at 4:04 p.m.. The return journey leaves Tua at 5:06 p.m., arriving back at Régua at 6.22 p.m.

The Museum of Popular Art, in Lisbon, reopened to the public in May 2010 for the celebrations of the Centenary of Republic. The Popular Art Museum closed a few years ago for it’s building to be transformed into a new museum devoted to Portuguese language and culture. Popular petition convinced the government to bring the old museum back. The museum is dedicated to the traditional arts and crafts of Portugal, originally displayed by regions. Its original home, set in a building between the Discoveries Monument and Belem Tower, will be renovated to once again welcome the collection.

The Global Peace Index (GPI), Portugal, at number 13, has also improved slightly, although its recent package of cutbacks will be a test of its social cohesion. The USA is the 85th most peaceful nation, according to the ranking. The Global Peace Index is compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace, which uses data from the research and predictions department at The Economist. The figures are a compound score based on a variety of factors including national crime rate, security spending, relations with neighboring countries, prison population and human rights record. It is the report’s conclusion that the world is less peaceful now than last year. The development is driven by economic woes which have seen crime rates increase, violent protests in capital cities and more people are becoming victim to violent acts.

A real mix of events takes place every summer in Lisbon during the Oceans Festival (Festival dos Oceanos). From July 31 to August 14, 2010, you can enjoy water jumps, the fluvial parade, street animation and concerts, which are concentrated along Lisbon‘s riverfront from Alcântara to Nations’ Park. The Oceans Festival is back in Lisbon with an edition devoted to the commemoration of the centenary of the Portuguese Republic, which includes several events, to animate the Riverside Area of the Capital. Concerts, Fado Nights, museums which are open at night, exhibitions, street entertainment, interactive activities and fireworks are some of the surprises that are free and open to all ages.  The continent presents the seventh edition of the Oceans Festival, organized by the Lisbon Tourism Association, a production with the support of Turismo de Portugal, Lisbon City Hall, the National Commission for the Commemoration of the Centennial of the Republic, Casino Lisboa and of GEUrbana.

Cyclists who had put the brakes on a European bicycling vacation in these economically challenging times can get their bikes back in gear! Easy Rider Tours has rolled out a new 6-day “Biking Breakaways” trip, priced at a budget-friendly $1,995 per person. The “Algarve Blue” tour is a scenic spin along the southwest coast. Cloudless skies, miles of scenic shoreline, and colorful architecture combine. Cyclists’ most memorable ride might be the trek to the land’s end at Cabo de São Vicente, the southwestern most point in Europe and once considered the edge of the Western world. Plenty of “off-bike” time is planned for relaxing along the region’s famed beaches and visiting historic landmarks from Roman ruins to an ancient Moorish fortress. The tour finishes in the historic seaport of Lagos, known for its museums, gardens, sidewalk cafes, and, of course, inviting ocean waters. Cost is $1,995 per person price includes all accommodations, most meals, use of a 24-speed bicycle, two experienced guides, and a support vehicle to carry luggage (and the occasional tired cyclist). Airfare is not included in the tour price. Tours are offered from June through mid-October.

The Fluviário de Mora has a new exhibit to mark its 3^rd anniversary titled Biodiversity in Portuguese Rivers. The Fluviário presents mainly the life on and in a typical Iberian river. There are also some exotic species. It is located near the Açude do Gameiro, near Estremoz.

The New York Times suggests that for those who love chocolate cake- there is a new ” Best Chocolate Cake in the World,” which is a Portuguese creation, now on sale at NoLIta in New York City. 

The times writes: “A restaurateur in Lisbon, Carlos Lopes, with his Manhattan partner, Adriano Lucas, created a version of a dacquoise he saw at Fauchon in Paris. Now Mr. Lopes’s shops sell his creamy confection in Portugal, Spain and Brazil, with a factory turning out 150,000 a year just in Portugal.” This is one of several culinary honors in recent months – first GQ Magazine called chef George Mendes one the top chefs in the world, and then Portuguese Chef Luisa Fernandes had string of victories on Food Network’s Chopped. Tastes like a trend?

The Portuguese author who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1998, has died. Saramago was 87, and was Portugal’s first Nobel laureate in literature. Saramago’s  book Blindness title came from the sole character in the book who is spared the “white blindness” affliction: ”Why did we become blind, I don’t know, perhaps one day we’ll find out, Do you want me to tell you what I think, Yes, do, I don’t think we did go blind, I think we are blind, Blind but seeing, Blind people who can see, but do not see.” José de Sousa Saramago,  (November 16, 1922 ­ June 18, 2010) was a novelist, playwright and journalist. His works, some of which are seen as allegories, present new perspectives on historic events, emphasizing the human touch.

Quinta do Portal, located in the Douro Valley, will officially open this summer a new sophisticated warehouse for aging their Port and Douro Wines designed by one of the most renowned Portuguese architects in the Douro Valley, Siza Vieira. According to Quinta do Portal’s general manager, Mr. Castro Ribeiro, the winery wants to turn this building into a cathedral for wine and architecture lovers.  They recognize that these days wine and architecture are a part of culture and can help to attract more people to visit the Douro Valley. The building represents an investment of 4 million Euros. It will have 4,722 square meters and besides the aging area it will have a visitors’ center, an auditory and a wine tasting room that will complement the tourist area of the estate. Siza Vieira used Douro materials such as the schist (slate that is traditional used to build the vines slopes in Douro) and cork due to its covering and isolating climatic properties perfect to provide the ideal conditions for the slow aging process of the wines. These materials cover the concrete structure. The architect also envisioned integrating the building structure with the landscape. – Currently it is already working and ready for visits.

Lisbon was in the top 50 cities with best safety and quality of life in the world, ranked 45th and 44th respectively, according to two measures by the international consultancy Mercer. The rankings use New York as a benchmark, which is given an index of 100.  In the personal safety measurement­which is new this year­items such as internal stability, crime, law enforcement and relationships with other countries are examined at the destination city. Lisbon, with 108,7 points, ranked 45th ‹ a tie with Prague, the Czech capital. In Europe, Luxembourg is considered the safest country, followed by a group of four cities with 126.3 points each: Bern, Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland, and Helsinki, the Finnish capital. Lisbon has risen in the rankings with regard to quality of life, from 47th to 44th (100,1 to 100,3) beating other cities such as Chicago, New York, Portland and Seattle, all in the USA, for a top 50 spot.

Lisbon may be the home to an easyJet base since the capital is on the shortlist of candidates (competing with Barcelona, Amsterdam and Copenhagen). A new easyJet base could represent €1.2 billion in revenue over a six-year period, according to the Lisbon Tourism Board. The low-cost company already flies to and from Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Funchal. The British no-frills airline currently flies to 119 airports in 29 countries, and most recently Fiumencino, Rome, where four aircraft are stationed. easyJet has a fleet of 189 planes, with plans to increase the number to 208 by September of 2012, an expansion strategy that has caused an easyJet founding member to quit the company.

The Battle of Montes Claros, was fought on June 17, 1665, near Borba in the Alentejo, between Spanish and Portuguese forces as the final battle in the Portuguese Restoration War (1640-1665). It was a decisive Portuguese victory guarantying Portugal’s freedom as an independent nation to this very day.

The Vinho Verde Regional Viticultural Commission (CVRVV) presents the first Vinho Verde Week, June 21-27, 2010. During the week, top restaurants in New York City will celebrate the food-friendly nature of Vinho Verde by offering special pairing menus and by-the-glass selections. Additionally, participating retailers will host Vinho Verde tastings and offer discounts on Vinho Verde purchases. New Yorkers can enjoy these specials during the first week of summer, and they can discover firsthand why the fruity aromas and light, crisp, vivacious flavors of Vinho Verde make the wines ideal for the warmer months. Vinho Verde wines have balanced acidity and are light in alcohol and calorie content, making them enjoyable on their own or when paired with a fresh summer dish. Vinho Verde Week is part of a three-year campaign, underwritten by CVRVV and  the European Union, to increase interest and awareness for Vinho Verde wines and the Vinho Verde region  in the U.S.

Participating Vinho Verde Week restaurants include:

BLT Prime
Bussaco Restaurant & Wine Bar
Churrascaria Plataforma
Churrascaria Tribeca
L’Ecole The Restaurant of the French Culinary Institute Macao Trading Co.
Matsuri
Oceana
Spice Market
The Drunken Horse
The Oak Room

Participating Vinho Verde Week retailers include:
67 Wine & Spirits
Alphabet City Wine Co.
Best Cellars (UES)
Best Cellars (UWS)
Bottlerocket Wine & Spirit
K&D Wines
Nancy’s Wines
Red, White, and Bubbly

For more information, visit www.vinhoverde.pt/en

The new Prove Portugal program will aim to increase the visibility and recognition of the Portuguese cuisine, supported by genuine products of high quality and professional. The new organization will strive to support and reinvent Portugal’s cuisine and wines.

Prove Portugal is supported by Tourism of Portugal in partnership with the Portuguese Culinary Academy . The program will focus on three key areas: to publicize and promote cuisine; catalogue resources; and enhance value in products.The groups is working to build a website dedicated to Portuguese food and wine along with other communication tactics that will include the promotion of an international culinary tour, books, training in the Schools of Hospitality and Tourism, and promoting the fundamentals of Portuguese regional cuisine and chefs. There will be conferences with international opinion-leaders, aimed at attracting international culinary events, supporting Portuguese restaurants abroad, and lots of other efforts. The partnership of 30 entities from the realms of hotel and catering, agriculture and fisheries, wines, producers are all part of PROVE, along with  Regional Tourism offices will allow a coordinated sharing of common objectives and promoting of Portuguese cuisine.

The Green Key is a worldwide available eco-label awarded to leisure organizations, as hotels, youth hostels, conference- and holiday centers, campsites, holiday houses and leisure facilities.  To obtain The Green Key the company has to fulfill a list of environmental requirements. These requirements are contained in a number of criteria. Besides environmental demands (by example to control the production of waste and the use of water, electricity, etc.), the criteria include demands on policy, action plans, education and communication.  Obtaining The Green Key shows the sense of responsibility a organization has for its surroundings and society. In Portugal the Green Key eco-label is awarded by the European Blue Flag association (ABAE – Associação Bandeira Azul da Europa). The Portuguese leisure organizations awarded with the green key of 2010 were:

Porto + Norte:
- Casa Melo e Alvim
- Casa das Pipas
- Moinhos da Tia Antoninha
- Quinta do Barracão da Vilariça

Centro de Portugal:
- Hotel Eurosol Gouveia
- Hotel Eurosol Seia Camelo
- Hotel Eurosol Estarreja
- Hotel Eurosol Residence
- Palace Hotel Monte Real
- Hotel Eurosol Leiria
- Casas da Lapa Mourisca
- Hotel Rural “Quinta de Bispos”
- Quinta do Forninho
- Quinta Lagar da Moira

Lisbon:
- Hotel Eurosol Alcanena

Alentejo
- O Poejo Boutique Hotel
- Hotel El Rei D. Manuel
- Hotel Vila Park
- Quinta do Barrieiro
- Quinta da Dourada

Azores
- Quinta das Buganvilias
- Casa da Torre
- Casas de campo “A Abegoaria”
- Quinta do Martelo

Madeira
- Hotel Pestana Porto Santo

A solar powered boat that can take up to 12 passenger on a cruise, is ready to travel next to the Pousada de Sta.Clara – near the beaches of the coast of S. Vicente in the Alentejo on the Santa Clara dam.

Half-Day Charter – This half-day charter gives you the opportunity to circumnavigate the lake and experience the peace and tranquility the lake has to offer, discovering a number of quiet, secluded anchorages. Light refreshments will be available throughout the cruise. *

Sunset Cruises – A two-hour evening cruise during which we will find a quiet place to anchor and view the sunset over the lake. Refreshments to fit the occasion will be available.

Moonlight Cruises – Experience a star show aboard our Água Moura boat. They will take you to the middle of the lake, where you can enjoy an evening of fabulous stargazing.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is proud to announce a new luxury ship, the Douro Spirit, along Portugal and Spain’s UNESCO World Heritage Douro River. In 2011, the NEW Douro Spirit will be the most elegant ship to sail through the magnificent Douro River Valley. The Douro Valley is being increasingly recognized for its wine making, natural beauty and exceptional value.  Its wine heritage—Port—dates back over 2,000 years with the oldest demarcated wine region in the world. The Douro Valley is also a cultural landscape of exceptional beauty with rambling vineyards and charming quintas clinging to the steep slopes of its valley, creating an incomparable backdrop to one of Europe’s most unspoiled regions. And this is what you can expect to see and experience from the comfort of Uniworld’s new Douro Spirit. Every riverview stateroom and suite onboard features a French balcony, so guests can get closer than ever to the breathtaking scenery of the region’s unspoiled natural landscapes. Staterooms and suites also feature hotel beds draped in fine linens, built-in closets, flat-screen televisions with satellite, and complimentary bottled water; and each bathroom is stocked  L’Occitane bath and body products. The Douro Spirit’s common areas provide added comfort with a main lounge featuring a full-service bar and dance floor, a restaurant, a sun deck with Jacuzzi® and small swimming pool, a lovely onboard restaurant with open seating, a fitness room, a massage room, a beauty salon, and a boutique. And all of this is presented on an intimate ship built to accommodate a maximum of 128 guests and provide the small-ship ambiance preferred by our experienced travelers. Of course, even a great ship is incomplete without a great itinerary. Explore the seven hills of cosmopolitan Lisbon, uncovering a treasure trove of Old World architecture. Visit Coimbra, the “Birthplace of Kings;” Porto, the beautiful “City of Bridges” with its UNESCO World Heritage-designated Medieval city center; Guimãres, which has its own UNESCO-listed Medieval city center. Taste a variety of wonderful local wines from village vineyards, including the famed Port wine. And, dine at the Vintage House Hotel, a magnificent18th-century wine quinta overlooking the Douro River. And all along the way, uncover a land of genuine beauty and breathtaking charm, as well as meet warmhearted, friendly people with welcoming open arms.

Uniworld’s 11-day Portugal, Spain & the Douro River Valley Cruise includes: three nights in Lisbon at a deluxe hotel with breakfast; a 7-night cruise in a stateroom with a French balcony onboard the new Douro Spirit; all meals with complimentary fine wine, beer, and soft drinks served with dinner onboard; 10 fully-hosted shore excursions by English-speaking local guides; and transfers on arrival and departure days.  Prices start from $2,999 per person, exclusive of airfare. And, if the trip is paid in full at time of booking by October 31, 2010, travelers can enjoy up to $400 per person savings depending on the category stateroom.

Portugal is competing at the 5^th World Cup, and is pegged as the 3^rd best team in the world in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. That means that Portugal’s national soccer team might be garnering some headlines –

so here is a quick look at the European nation that might surprise the world this summer.

World Cup Record to Date:

1966 – Third place

1986 – First round

2002 – First round

2006 – Fourth place

Overall Record in World Cup:

Played 19 games: Won 11, Tied 1, Lost 7.

World Cup Highlight:

Eusébio da Silva Ferreira scored four goals in one game as Portugal overcame North Korea 5-3 in the quarterfinals of the 1966 World Cup. Portugal and North Korea are in eh same group in 2010.  Eusébio scored nine goals at the 1966 Cup, the tournament’s top scorer.

The story so far: Portugal ‘s national team has emerged as a force in world soccer over the past decade, an amazing feat for a nation of 10 million. The squad is led by 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Country:
About the size of Maine, Portugal is a country of contrasts that boasts some of the most unspoiled natural vistas, the richest traditions, the most intoxicating culture, the most adrenaline-pumping adventures, and the most serene retreats in all of Europe.

Geographically, Portugal is closer to the United States than anything else in Europe – both on the mainland (Lisbon is continental Europe’s westernmost city) and in the Atlantic Ocean (the Azores Islands are just four hours from Boston).

The nation’s heart and its largest city is Lisbon – a charming, stately capital   reputedly founded 2,500 years ago by Ulysses.  It is a city dotted with churches, museums, monuments and markets, with a way of life that is distinctive and elegantly esoteric.  Lisbon is also Portugal’s home of the 21st century, exuding coolness and home to high-tech industries, dynamic architecture, trendy boutiques, stylish hotels, hip restaurants, and hot nightspots full of next year’s styles.  A few hours up the coast is Porto (sometimes called Oporto): monumental, historic, and known worldwide for the sweet Port wine that is produced in the rich Douro River Valley.  Between Lisbon and Porto are the ancient cities and hilltop villages home to Portugal’s famous Pousadas – hotels built into monasteries, castles, and fortresses.  Traveling inland, visitors explore the Roman remains, palaces, cork forests, olive groves, wide-open fields, and finally the sweeping peaks that mark the border with Spain.  Traditionally ‘In’ resorts like Estoril and Cascais hug up to the Atlantic, and on the country’s southernmost coast the weather is warm and the golf courses and beaches are plentiful.

Finally, the nation’s two archipelagos add an exotic element to Portugal: Soaring Madeira, warm and flower-filled to the south, and the mid-Atlantic Azores, wild, windswept and unspoiled.

The Facts:
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain.  Six hours flight from U.S. East Coast to the mainland, or four hours flight to the Azores islands.

Capital: Lisbon (also called Lisboa).  Population of greater Lisbon: two million.  Lisbon is at the same latitude as San Francisco.

Climate: Portugal has a mild climate without extremes of temperature. Winters are pleasant, and summers are moderately hot. The Norte (Porto) has an Atlantic climate influenced by the Gulf Stream. The middle of the country (the Lisbon and the Centro de Portugal Region) has gentle dry summers and short mild winters.  Southern Portugal (the Alentejo and Algarve Regions) has a warm, dry Mediterranean climate without extremes of heat. The Madeira islands offer an inviting climate all year-round with temperatures around 70 degrees. The Azores islands also offer very mild weather moderated by the Atlantic’s maritime influence.

Population: 10,566,212 (July 2005 est. -about the same as the state of Maine).

Area: 35,672 square miles (about the same as the state of Maine – includes Azores and Madeira archipelagos).

Land: 35,502 sq mi;

Water: 170 sq mi. More than 400 miles of coastline.

Islands: The nine Azores islands in the mid-Atlantic are a four hours flight from Boston, at the same latitude as New England.  Madeira’s two islands, 90 minutes south of Lisbon by air, are at the same latitude as Charleston, S.C.

Language: Portuguese (English is spoken throughout the country).

Time Zone: GMT – Five hours ahead of U.S. East Coast time in mainland Portugal and Madeira; the Azores are just four hours ahead of EST.

Chief Cities: Lisbon and Porto are the two largest. Regional cities include Aveiro, Beja, Braga, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Évora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Funchal, Ponta Delgada, Portalegre, Santarém, Setúbal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real and Viseu.

Tourism: Approximately 12 million visitors annually, including 250.000 (approx.) from the USA.

Learn more: www.visitportugal.com

Cristiano Ronaldo:

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born in Funchal, Madeira on February 5, 1985. He is a Portuguese soccer star who plays on the national team as #7. He takes his name from U.S. President Ronald Regan. The winger and forward is one of the highest paid soccer players in the world. He began playing the sport at the age of five and by the summer of 2003 joined Manchester United. Cristiano Ronaldo played for the team for approximately five years, after which he signed to Real Madrid on July 1, 2009.

Ronaldo’s autobiography, titled Moments, was published in December 2007. Ronaldo is also the face of various advertising campaigns including the Portuguese bank Banco Espírito Santo, Pepe Jeans, Nike, Coca-Cola, Emporio Armani, Castrol, and Clear Shampoo. He is also featured in his underwear on the July 2010 cover of Vanity Fair.  Media sources have recently linked Cristiano Ronaldo to Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton, among other famous women.

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.