Drums Please...Summertime

Chillin' in the Heat

The temperatures are on the rise … the days are long … and the parties are plenty. Yes, it is summertime in Algarve.

In little ol’ VRSA.

I Wonder What That Means

Our generally quiet, calm, little town comes alive in the summer. August is the busiest month when the population swells by nearly 50% … but school is out now, so the parties have already started. Dirt lots that are generally empty in the wintertime, are filled with cars. And I am always amazed at the spaces Portuguese and Spanish drivers decide are legitimate parking spaces.

The câmara website and posters in the square advertise what to expect. However, even though you may be able to understand the words you often are left wondering what to expect. A few weeks ago we joined two friends that said there was going to be “a mini-Cirque du Soleil” in the gardens that front the river. When we arrived we found 100 or so people seated in front of a stage. As the music began and theatrical lights glowed, two performers with helmets that looked like a dozen mirrors began to move slowly toward the stage. Over the next 30 minutes, they danced expressively and hung from poles and trapezes as the stage rotated. While Denise and our friends discussed the meaning of their performance I thought only of their incredible core strength.

Painting faces with glow-in-the-dark paint.

Last weekend, we noted the “Festa Glow” … and I wondered what that meant. Over the course of the evening, there were live music performers, a yoga class, DJs, Zumba, and more music. Starting at about 17:00…the party continued until 01:00. Children’s and adults’ faces were painted with glow-in-the-dark paint. Friends that have a vacation apartment in our building sat in the square observing the festivities until 01:00. They observed families sitting together and talking all night long … the children went off to play with friends and then circled back to check in … some danced … some sang … everyone was having a wonderful time!

Denise and a friend dance in the square during Festa Glow.

Beach Goers

If you happen to come to Eastern Algarve in summer, you will note a few things. First, the beach to the extreme east is nearly always empty. During my early morning walks, I will observe 3 or 4 people shuffling backward at the water’s edge. They are looking for snails which they scoop up in long nets attached to a stick. I might also come across one or two sunbathers … tops are optional here, we are in Europe!

While the crowds build at mid-day, they are divided into two distinct groups: those who fend for themselves (tooting blankets, umbrellas, and the like) and those that rent the luxury of a chaise and umbrella. If you are the latter, you can order food or a beverage without moving from your chair … there is an app for your phone. Some people rent their chaises for the month, receiving a 10% discount for booking in advance. One morning I happened upon friends as I was walking home and they were walking to the beach. Later that day (around 21:30) I ran into them again at a local restaurant. I noted they had on the same beach coverup as earlier in the day … they confirmed they had not yet been home.

I was also surprised to find that the crowd swells after work. Families descend on the beach playing something resembling bocce and beach paddle, couples walk hand in hand, and DJs start the music around 17:00. While we aren’t big beachgoers, I look forward to celebrating the completion of the house while sipping a mojito on my own personal chaise. What could possibly be better than that….

The title of this post was taken from Will Smith’s song Summertime. While the video images are very different from Portugal…the joy to me seems the same. Enjoy!

Até logo, fica bem

Nanc