Andy in Portugal
Welcome
Last Updated on Friday, 02 July 2010 13:25 Written by Andy Mason Tuesday, 15 June 2010 10:55
THE SILVER COAST OF PORTUGAL
There are so many excellent places to visit on the Silver Coast and they are all within easy reach of our place. We have been providing bed and breakfast to tourists and travellers and property hunters, and romantic weekends for couples or activity breaks for the adventure seekers for almost three years now.
We are always amazed at how many people have never heard of the Silver Coast, but it is getting more well known and we hope to keep things moving in the right direction. The Silver Coast English community are certainly doing everything they can to bring people here to see first hand what a great place it is to live, work and have a holiday.
We have a great many events that take place on the Silver Coast, notably the European heats of the RipCurl Surfing championships near Peniche and the many festivals held in the medieval walled town of Obidos in it's wonderful castle. Pope Benedict XV recently spent several days here in Portugal including a visit to the Catholic shrine at Fatima. It is a busy and important area in Portugal, and it is also an area of great beauty and peace.
Some of our favourite places in the region we settled in.
Set 1/6 
August on the Silver Coast - Fruit Picking.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 18:24 Written by Andy Mason Tuesday, 31 August 2010 18:05
Reasons for expats to go fruit picking, and reasons not to...
During August and September the backroads are awash with tractors en-route to orchards that are heavy with fruit, lorries arriving empty and leaving loaded to the gunnels with Pera Rocha or one of the many varieties of apple in the region and mini buses and cars full of pickers.
I have been involved in two campaigns, one in 2008 and now this year which is still running.
There are differences because of the land owners styles, but it is esentially the same job whereever you go.
It is fair to say that if you decide to get some work locally then you will either have an intense two weeks of hard labour with one of the larger producers, or a lighter, shorter experience in an orchard that is family owned and not part of a bigger business.
OK...here are five reasons to get involved and there will follow another five reasons to the opposite.
Get picking!
- It will get you involved with the community where you live.
- You can earn a little extra cash in the process too.
- You should feel stronger and fitter after than before.
- Your Portuguese language skills will benefit.
- It's a great time of year to be outdoors enjoying all the lovely weather.
Stay at home...
- It may hurt more than you think.
- There may be little or no shade for eight hours of the day.
- Your friendly neighbour will probably turn into a rottweiller if he thinks his fruit is not being handled properly and with respect.
- You will not be permitted to carry your own water supply because of contamination fears, so pray that your boss provides enough.
- Unless you are prepared to work as hard as all the others, you may not be wanted for the following day.
I still say, go for it and struggle a little, learn a little, earn a little and then look back and say 'I did it'. You are more than welcome to read my exploits picking the pears and apples if you want to, and please feel free to leave a comment.
Andy Mason
