Algarve Addicts: A Thriving Community Of Healthy, Outdoor People Connected By The Algarve, Portugal.

Meet Steve from Sunseeker Steve Handy from Sunseeker Portugal Steve moved over to Portugal with Sunseeker as it makes a lot of sense for this international boat builder to have a presence down here in the Algarve. I got to chat to him about how it all started for Sunseeker in the Algarve and what life is like for Steve in Europe's favourite holiday destination. Listen along! Show notes Steve has been here for three years and relates the story of how Sunseeker came to be in Vilamoura. He was selling a boat to a client on the marina and the client was hesitating as there was no representation in Portugal. He suggested it to the Sunseeker Group and they did it in 2014. Hunting for an office, hiring staff and having high standards in the Algarve business environment. Steve mentions how to adapt to the working environment down here. Choosing a location to move the business to: Vilamoura and then Boliqueime. That pub in Boliqueime is called Pub 37. We discuss finding long term rentals and how tough it is. W

Alexandra Vanstalle is a mother of four kids, husband of one and runs unbelievable distances along rural tracks. Her latest adventure is to train for a 111km long trail run… Listen to her story: Show notes Alex was born in Oeiras, close to Lisbon, studied in Lisbon and worked at a Mexican restaurant, before setting off for Mexico and heading back to the Algarve! Holidays in her youth were spent in Manta Rota in the Algarve. Teenage party times! We talk about Praia Verde and Pézinhos na Areia. Her first few months living in the Algarve just outside Loulé near Boliqueime. Trail running and how she became addicted to it and the free group Corridas a Sexta Feira She joined ATR (Algarve Trail Running) and helped with the Rocha da Pena race and ended up entering the 50km run which is held in August in 40ºC temperatures. Alex trains 50, 60, 70 kms a week before a big race. We discuss the ALUT which stands for the Algarviana Ultra Trail which is a 300km race from one end of the Algarve to the other (Alcoutim to Sagre

  I interviewed Maria in the new Centro de Congressos do Algarve and we managed to sneak into an empty conference room as the sound was GREAT in there. Her life is really varied taking in a lot of projects like online tourism startups, the Lagos Food Fest, other big events, food tours, the Rota de Petisco (read all about it as we didn't have time to discuss it).   Show notes   Born in Lisbon, moved to Macau, China when she was 2 due to her fathers involvement with Portugal broadcasting. Her first impression of the Algarve was at Cabanas de Tavira when she was really small. The next time she visited was Vilamoura in her teens... (!) Typical vacation spot for the whole of Portugal. Escaping from the Algarve in August. How she moved to the Algarve. First job in the Algarve and then working for Eddie Murphy! Algarve Tech Hub makes its way into one more of our conversations. Share Algarve is coming soon and we discuss the new vision for the conference. Maria has a food tour company which started "by accident" over

Jason Brown, originally from South Africa made the move to Portugal a few years back and loves it here. We met at my house in São Brás de Alportel and had a great 30 minute discussion filled with tips for people arriving in the Algarve and how to acclimatize to the area. Show notes Moving to Portugal and pre-arrival impressions: A sleepy fishing village and similar to South Africa. Vilamoura, Carvoeiro and Lagos get heavily marketed but smaller and more local places don't get as much attention which is totally understandable. Getting off the plane from Wales and looking forward to an outdoors lifestyle with beach, barbecues and getting out and about. What more could anyone want? Why Lagos? His parents were already there but Jason mentions history, tradition and culture all richly present in Lagos' modern day appearance. Young, vibey travellers, sometimes surfers and #vanlife followers. We chat about the Three Monkeys bar in Lagos and here's the blog post I mentioned. Activities in the Algarve: how to joi

Yvette Martins Yvette grew up in Canada and moved to our beautiful Algarve. She now owns an online travel business and is brimming with advice and tips. Listen to her one important takeaway from this podcast. Show notes Yvette grew up close to Vancouver in Canada from Portuguese parents. In her youth figure skating was a pastime, motocross was a passion. Her move to Portugal when she was 14. Her parents were from Sabugal, near Castelo Branco in Portugal. On moving to the Algarve, 4 Estradas near Almançil, she fell in love with the people and the natural landscapes. After school she focused on nutrition and sports (The Academia Gym in Loulé, now called Moov Fitness Centre), the restaurant industry, real estate and now online business through www.olalocal.pt We talk about being a local social media influencer and product placement. A brand she recently worked with was The Holiday Inn in Armação de Pêra, which you may have seen our video of back in VLOG number 3. She also works with local clothing brands too. Yv

Moving to Portugal The Tilleys arrived this summer, hailing from Surrey and settling in the Algarve. We talk about where exactly a little later into the podcast. It was fantastic meeting them and great to hear their story! Listen along...               View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by Louise-Marie Tilley (@loutilz) on Aug 24, 2018 at 3:44pm PDT   Show notes They're currently living in Olhão but originally from Kent and Surrey Prior to the move, they spent a lot of time in Portugal and actually got married in São Lourenço church in Almançil, with a reception at Pine Cliffs (Albufeira). Sam runs a software company and has always been keen to move to Portugal full time. Schools - we discuss quite a few issues with schooling. Working in the Algarve and the opportunities for growth, particularly in the IT industry. Sam has a wonderfully positive outlook. We discuss the Algarve Tech Hub and the Share Algarve conference. Using Algarve Removals to relocate their

Diogo Sousa, SUP Champion Diogo has lived in Albufeira for most of his life and still loves it. It's probably the most contentious city in the entire Algarve when it comes to tourism as many people hate it, others love it! Do you love it or hate it? Listen up for Diogo's take on Albufeira... Show notes Welcome to Diogo Sousa who was born and still lives in Albufeira. We discuss the quality of life that the beach affords us here in the Algarve. When he was young he started skim-boarding on the beach and started working on the beach at 14 years old. Three month long summer holidays working on his family's beach concession in Albufeira. We talk about the night life in Albufeira. We talk about Zezé Camarinha, a self proclaimed local Playboy (this may only be funny to Portuguese people, although I found it hilarious). The Portuguese Navy in Almada and then University in Faro: Sports Science. Learning watersports and Sports Science in Centro Nautico (Faro Beach) and Penha Campus in Faro. Thursday nights in Faro! Wo

Meet Becky. She dances at the Vilamoura Casino in their regular show, entitled "Timeless E-Motions" this year.  It's on at all three SolVerde Casinos: Praia da Rocha, Vilamoura and Monte Gordo, so wherever you are in the Algarve you'll be able to catch a glimpse of this highly entertaining show (and no, they aren't paying me to say this!). Show notes Accommodation in Vilamoura and one of the bigger problems in the Algarve: finding long term rentals. Growing up in Yorkshire: rainy, cold but beautiful. Mountaineering at the age of 6, Yorkshire Dales lake district and the French alps. Glaciers and falling down crevasses. Turning 16 and heading off to the Northern Ballet School in Manchester. 8 years spent dancing in shows for Norwegian Cruise Lines and never went to Norway! A friend who danced for Solverde Casinos (who have three casinos here in the Algarve) put her forward for a summer contract here in the Algarve. Living in a foreign language speaking environment. No drama with cast members like the racy 1995

I had no idea who Blair was... the only connection I had with this guy, was that he took a mesmerizing photo of Benagil cave. It was an image picturing his girlfriend. An image which was pretty sexual, but sensual, natural and bold at the same time. It showed that this guy knew a thing or two about photography but what it didn't tell me was that there was a brilliant story behind how he got down to Benagil. Blair grew up in Cape Town into a nature friendly family. His father was a nature conservationist and his mother an entomologist. His desire for travel is evident while he designs himself a location independent career as an online teacher. What defines him though is a careless accident. Find out how he managed to look at the Algarve from a completely different perspective to the normal drinks, dinner and hotel tourist due to his traumatic accident and his resultant grateful outlook on life. Show notes Blair = "from the fields". We look into Blairs outdoor youth in Cape Town in South Africa. Blair wanted to

This podcast is slightly different from my regular show where I interview people and chip away at their stories of the Algarve. Today, I speak about my experiences as I changed my career (call it a mid life crisis if you will) and stumbled across the harsh reality of the changes our beautiful planet is reeling from. Have a listen, it's only a quarter of an hour...   Show notes Global animal population has declined by 58% Boyan Slat develops "The Ocean Cleanup". The Facebook donation link: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1105689376236803/   

Natasha Donn Natasha is an engaging and delightful character, brimming with personality and juicy tidbits of life in the Algarve. She is a career journalist, reporting on all the fascinating stories in the Algarve. Let me tell you there are some miraculously scandalous stories about! Listen on to her engaging tale:   Show notes On journalism in the modern day. Natasha always wanted to be a journalist, ever since the age of 9. Living in a whorehouse in Portsmouth at college. The Surrey and South London News Group: "The Balham and Tooting News". "Journalism is writing what someone doesn't want to see in print, everything else is just PR". On being threatened with defamation and staying out of jail! A part time job filing in the basement of a multi-millionaire turned into being his personal assistant around the world for a few years. Natasha fell pregnant and moved over with the father of her child to Portugal. "Picked up Portuguese in 5 minutes" and absolutely loved it whilst in Praia da Luz. She started writin

Algarve Rock Brewery Their website reads. "Algarve Rock was started by two guys that are passionate about drinking real beer. Somebody had to do something about the lack of quality craft beers available in the Algarve; why not us? That’s why we created Algarve Rock. We’re here to put Portuguese craft beer on the map." They certainly have! I interviewed Neil from Algarve Rock Brewery. Have a listen! Show notes How Algarve Rock started. After 10 years of holidaying in the Algarve, Neil and his father in law took the leap. Neil grew up near Sheffield and his father in law introduced them to the Algarve through his holiday home for the past 9 years in Quinta do Lago. How Neil got into business and the first thoughts of a brewery whilst sitting at the Cheeky Pup in Quinta do Lago. Investment through the Portugal 2020 scheme. How Neil and his wife enjoyed the Algarve on arrival. We talk about the nightlife in Faro. Where can you try Algarve Rock Beer? Get in touch through their website at www.algarverockbrewery.com

It's wonderful to welcome Fiona Butler from www.myguidealgarve.com She has been running her website for ten years now and has picked up an awful lot of great information in the process. She shares it with you on the latest episode of Algarve Addicts. Thanks for listening! Fiona Butler show notes Her youth in Ireland and being a holiday rep in the Algarve. Faro airport at 3am back in the 90s. Praia da Rocha, Praia de Vau and Alvor, stories from the past. Alvor walkway and the lifesavers building (where you can rent paddle-boards, windsurfers and kayaks). Restaurant Caniço renowned for it's seafood as you move east from Alvor towards Praia da Rocha. Alvor boat trips do great trips through the rock cliffs near Prainha. "Dust was your default setting" and we talk about Albufeira, Vilamoura, Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago (we talk a little about the airplanes... check out our podcast with Chris the pilot) We talk about Faro as well (more with Carlos in Episode 29) How Fiona went from holiday rep to online busines

Professor Luis Coelho Meet Professor Luis Coelho from the University of the Algarve. He is a lecturer in the Faculty of Economics and is a respected voice in the community, writing for an online magazine as well as his day to day work and being invited to sit on various conference panels. I thoroughly enjoyed our chat and I am sure you will too. Listen here --> Show notes The vagaries of professional titles in Portugal - different to other places in the world. Luis was born in Beja, just north of the Algarve in the Alentejo Province. A dream of being a footballer, became a desire to being a vet and then he actually studied economics at the University of the Algarve. Studying at the UALG, what life was like... as an outsider (a non Algarvio). Early impressions of the Algarve and Monte Gordo in particular. Investments in the Algarve: beautifying the cities, sewage improvements, and how clean the tap water is. A short history of the Algarve through an economic lens: canned fish industry, Faro airport was constru

Carlos from Take Algarve Carlos runs regular tours around Faro through his company Take Algarve. Listen to his story.   Show notes Carlos tells us the story of the place we are conducting the interview: Café Aliança (officially called Café Alliança Cervejaria) in Faro. Carlos was born in Faro but lived in Spain and Poland and we talk about the differences between Faro now and the Faro of his youth: the University and the airport. The people have changed, they used to play football in the streets and now all the kids are plugged into their electronic devices, which is probably the same the world over. Many of the people in the downtown area are tourists. Free Tours in Faro and the concept of free tours. Take Algarve True Tours. I love this: "Some people call it Algarve. We call it home." Carlos and his competition started up in the same month, so they are both labelled as "the original Faro Tour". Breaking down his tour of Faro. From Café Aliança and moving into the old town and the history of Faro. See also o

Greg Boegner from PortugalConfidential.com Meet Greg, who moved to the Algarve from the USA in 2008. He runs a successful website all about Portugal over at www.portugalconfidential.com Listen to his story. Show notes Positive growth and a new department of the business. The story of Portugal Confidential, from a blog to a business. Travelling around Portugal discovering new businesses and writing about it. Travel boards and familiarization trips. About Greg and his history in Houston, Texas. We chat about Greg's time as the TV Producer for NASA's shuttle programme. Greg moves to Hollywood in 1988 and encounters a writers strike. Answering phones for Pacific Arts (who started the music video concept) and moved up to the Director of Acquisitions. Workout videos and yoga videos with Ali McGraw. He moved over to Fox and eventually children's programming. Greg was looking for something new to do and looking at moving to Europe, when a friend suggested he check out a new film studio being created in the Algarve. S

Bradley Querl (really it should be Curl, shouldn't it?) has practiced hair design (now with his salon called B Hair Design) all his life and is a 3rd generation hair designer. Bradley is the consummate professional and does a fantastic job with anyone's head, even throwing in a super relaxing head massage into the deal. I checked in with Brad to here his story and what his take is on life in the Algarve. If you resonate with any of his suggestions, let us know! Tune in to Bradley's interview B Hair Design Show notes We talk about B Hair Design's location, history and the tough times starting up a business in the middle of Portugal's dreaded crisis. 2008-2012 was a tough time for everyone here. Bradley's hair history: Zimbabwe, London and Portugal. Hair Design vs Hair Dresser - the new terminology. In Portugal all hairdressers are generally called "Cabelereiros". Personal note: I love having my hair cut while I'm travelling, it just feels like an insight to local life somehow. Do you agree? A partnership offer

Show notes 100% Algarvian, born in Loule and raised in Albufeira. Shopping trips to Ayamonte in Spain. Dreams of Archaeology, History and Architecture all led to a University degree in Lisbon. Her love of the Algarve brought her to a job in tourism as a Duty Manager at a hotel in Albufeira, helping the clients. Albufeira Tourism Board: familiarization trips, roadshows, workshops and promotion which she realized she really loved. Desiderio Silva (current President of the Algarve Tourism) invited Dora to come over as his chief of staff, writing speeches and controlling his agenda. We discuss the difference between the Regional Tourism Board and the Algarve Tourism Association. The board helps visitors to the Algarve with Information Offices in each city, they manage a calendar of events and promote the Algarve. The Association on the other hand, works with airlines to ensure a constant availability of flights for people wishing to travel to the Algarve, organize press trips, familiarization trips, and segment t

Mark Sebastian Kiss DJ Mark is a wonderful character full of fascinating stories and he agreed to sit down for a chat with us. Join us for a great chat! Show notes Mark Sebastian was born in Cheshire, UK. Holidays in Majorca led to getting a job there and explored playing records in clubs. A company called "Music Service" sent Mark out to ski-resorts, like Wengen. He started at St Thomas Hospital Radio in London and then moved into the pirate radio scene in London: Kiss100 and JazzFM... Mark's training ground. The KissFM Franchise and moving to the Algarve in 1997. Interviewing DJ Christian F. about his song "Secret" which is all about the Algarve. Mark Sebastian DJ's at a lot of weddings during the summers: best wedding location is Ferragudo. Also another great one is Praia Senhora da Rocha Quarteira is a great suggestion to spend some time: reasonably priced and up and coming. Portuguese wine and the Bacchus Festival also known as the Portugal Wine Fair. We chat about the local Jazz scene in the Algarve: Ca

Constantino Jordan He has worked on the most prestigious residential and hotel developments in the Algarve region including Quinta do Lago and Vilamoura. He has a very positive outlook for the future of the Algarve, find out in this informative half hour chat with me. Show notes Born in Argentina, Constantino moved to Liechtensten when he was 3 and holidayed regularly in the Algarve, due to his father's business interests (his father had founded the Quinta do Lago Resort near Almançil. Read about the history of the resort on Wikipedia). What the Algarve was like back in the 70s: 6 hour drives from Lisbon, only corner shops and nothing going on. Constantino Jordan's most interesting town in the Algarve: Olhão and why. The family business: "Resort Development". Selling Quinta do Lago, 1994 Developing "Vilar do Golf" and the land where Monte da Quinta is today. Moving on to Vilamoura which became a massive project up until 2007 (bigger than Euro Disney in size). The marina has 30-40,000 people in an evening in s