Just back review

[widge]

Good to see Martin posting his personal observations. As someone who, in the past has been 'attacked' for having an opinion contrary to that of certain others, I am right behind him. At least it makes a welcome change from the boring stuff we've had recently.

That reminds me. What's the weather like in the village at the moment?

For the past week the winds have been from the north binging changeable weather. In the sun (when it's out) it can be pleasant in the rain it's not so good!

It's very quiet here Michael, very few tourists about and the restaurants and bars are very quiet...................bliss !!!!

[martin.cork]

Widge please be positive as you may be bullied
At least you put a positive slant on the quiet bars
And restaurants
I am sure things will improve and like 2011
Carvoeiro will bloom for the summer.
Its the best village in the Algarve and one which
I recommend to many people.
Dont tell Canada or Lotte i posted this ....
What is the name of your happy horse Lotte

[Lotte]

Martin,

Once again, my apologies!!!! Also, my sincere apologies to anyone else that I may have offended, upset, or 'Bullied' in any way, shape or form (my god, is this what it has come to!!!!!).

I really must remember not to trivialize the massive upset & heartache that Airport Terminals, Road Tolls & Car Hire can cause!!

I really didnt think that people took these things so seriously - how wrong I am!!!!! Never mind, it is true that you learn something new everyday.

Martin, One thing I do agree with you on, is that CVO is the best village in the Algarve, & one to that I have also recommended - see, i'm not a bully!!!!

For the record, my happy horse is called Smiler, just like the bar in the village, Smile......remember that....it may be something that you might want to try some time!!!!!!!

And just to show there are no hard feelings, if we ever happen to meet in there, or anywhere else in CVO, I will be more than happy to buy you a couple of beers!!!!

Cheers ,

[e-richard]

A bit of good news. The Airport arrivals hall reopens tomorrow (24th April) and that temporary tent is being dismantled.

That and a bit more info available in Portuguese only

[joeysoap]

I saw that tent in December and again in Feby, but had only had a small carry on bag on both occasions. This time however I had a fairly large case and just collected it as normal off the carousel. What is the large tent for? For what it's worth they were re-surfacing the road up near P4 on Saturday evening, (between departures and P4) looked like a good job.

[James Faro]

Martin, only do the Irish own the vast majority of golf courses in the Algarve, many forum members here, also fly Ryanair to Faro, which is an Irish airline providing many British jobs. Of course, it also works the other way round too, as British Airways gave a job to an Irishman - Willie Walsh, to sort out the terrible mess they were in!

[martin.cork]

And Aer Lingus has a German at the helm, was this not great foresight,
Only for Ryan Air no Irish could afford the fares. They keep Aer Lingus pricing in line.
Oceanico is run by an Irish & English man, probably the reason why Anglo Irish Bank gave them all the dosh.
Unfortunately I could not see a person in any of the villas at O' Connor/Faldo when I drove around last week.
Great place to have lunch, very reasonable and great views even for the non golfer...
The property prices quoted are crazy in todays market. Probably got a tracker % interest rate.
Great to hear the Arrivals is opening up and everything should get back to normal.
All thats left now are the Tolls ...................

[sam]

Just got back myself and Martin's points are very true. Those who criticise him are just sticking their heads in the sand

The whinging is from everyone including the Portuguese so don't try lumping it on just the Brits or the Paddies. The economic situation is dire - there is no point in trying to deny it
....... but I still love the place

Also just back. I agree. I understand that the lack of finance is also affecting the revaluing of the property tax. I was told that the government was not paying the valuers enough so they have stopped valuations. There's the old adage that sometimes you need to spend money to make money.

[Günni]

I saw that tent in December and again in Feby, but had only had a small carry on bag on both occasions. This time however I had a fairly large case and just collected it as normal off the carousel. What is the large tent for? For what it's worth they were re-surfacing the road up near P4 on Saturday evening, (between departures and P4) looked like a good job.

The tent has been striked a few days before.
The yellow marked area (new surface) is only for passengers now. (for cars in emergency cases)
http://www.sulinformacao.pt/2012/04/aer ... nta-tenda/

[joeysoap]

thanks Gunni, understand now. So we were lucky with the carousel.

[EMM]

As I understand it the original owners of Oceanico have little or no say it the day to day running of the company. The banks put in their own management.
The reason why there is lilte evidence of any residential activity around the new golf courses is because they had major lisencing problems and had to return deposits to those who had bought off plan.
The Belmar complex in Lagos only got its lisence last year ( 2-3 years late ).
Oceanico are of course not the only one there are many Portuguese companies in the same state like the one that owns Salgados and the Morgado/Alamos courses and associated property developments.

[widge]

As I understand it the original owners of Oceanico have little or no say it the day to day running of the company. The banks put in their own management.
The reason why there is lilte evidence of any residential activity around the new golf courses is because they had major lisencing problems and had to return deposits to those who had bought off plan.
The Belmar complex in Lagos only got its lisence last year ( 2-3 years late ).
Oceanico are of course not the only one there are many Portuguese companies in the same state like the one that owns Salgados and the Morgado/Alamos courses and associated property developments.

I have recently joined Amendoeira Golf & can only report good things. The courses are fantastic, the staff are determined to maintain a 5 star rating and everything about the resort is fantastic.

It is, of course, a financial disaster and the village is owned by NAMA the Irish bad bank, after Anglo Irish bank went bust. However, the staff and management are working exceptionally hard to make visitors and members very happy and I think they're succeeding.

[martin.cork]

Totally agree with you Widge I have played
there on 6 occassions and have enjoyed it each
time, the service is second to none.
I would recommend that they lower the rate to
attract more players out of vilamoura and near
Carvoeiro.
Then the word will spread.
Hope NAMA do not screw it all up ???????

[joeysoap]

It is, of course, a financial disaster and the village is owned by NAMA the Irish bad bank, after Anglo Irish bank went bust. However, the staff and management are working exceptionally hard to make visitors and members very happy and I think they're succeeding.

Nama (National Asset Management Agency) have hundreds of properties all over the world directly because of reckless lending by a) German banks to Irish banks, b) Irish Banks to property speculators/developers. The mind boggles at the figures and the complicated set up of these properties ( the latest one in the news in Ireland was a shopping centre in Ukraine)and where the are located. Oceanico as just one of many, for which the Irish taxpayer is paying a lot of extra and painful taxes to appease the German paymasters.

afaik the Quinta do Lago complex over in the eastern Algarve is still Irish owned and not in Nama.

[martin.cork]

"afaik the Quinta do Lago complex over in the eastern Algarve is still Irish owned and not in Nama"

Is this the one that Denis O' Brien of inital Irish Government mobile phone award fame is involved in ?

The centre in the Ukraine ? is this linked to Quinn - Is he Irish or English ? probably Irish when receiving the dosh and English when has to pay back !!!!!!!!!!!