What has happened ?

[Ellie]

Im sure youre correct Tim--Swiss& all that-though Ive never set foot in the place so cant vouch for it----just been informed by youngest son that they have the highest suicide rate in Europe(hes not sure -it could be the World!)---Is it so very boring that you just want "leap of one of those Alpine peaks"
Guest ! and why not ? red bricks (or in this case white casa walls) can be so bloody boring
My kids are all artistic--my home was "littered" with their early attempts---walls--doors---you name it-----BUT--not other peoples
Shall we all go and "litter-up" Switzerland---and give them a reason for living----get them a little angry perhaps

[Guest]

I would have to agree with Ellie to a certain extent. I dunno wether there are any ppl from Brighton on these forums but the last time i was down there I noticed that there was alot of graffiti around the prom-but really good stuff not just tags. apparently the local govt. had made these sort of canvas/walls around the area were the artists could paint away. Im not sure wether this is still in place down there but it was a really good idea, it reduced graffiti in the city dramatically, and the graffiti in the specified zones was good stuff and alot of ppl actually apreciated it. We shouldnt autimatically link the word graffiti with negativity, think outside the box man!

Also as a side note, through my experience the GNR have been prity unhelpful when called upon.

Matt

[Ellie]

Matt,
Think it could be true what you say-we were locked out of our apartment--no way of getting in---was told by local portuguese dont go to guarda -theyre only interested in issuing parking tickets! So we spent night inhotel
What you say about Brighton--I think this being undertaken in other of our big city centres-brilliant idea--brings colour and pleasure to the eye and a wondeful outlet for the young artist to express him/herself.
When we have bare brick walls --we usually want to cover them--pretty them up---being a gardener i would choose plants/ramblers/climbers etc--but if folk want to paint them -why not---your own of course ---get permission before you paint those of other folk

[Tiny Tim]

Shall we all go and "litter-up" Switzerland---and give them a reason for living----get them a little angry perhaps

Well Ellie I've a French buddy and he says there's Migros debris all strewn across the countyside in France, but none in Switz.. Migros is the BIG ORANGE distributor in Switzerland. So I guess go ahead and take some Waitrose or maybe a Sainsbury merchandise. Your son is correct about the suicide rates among teenagers in Switz..

[Ellie]

Tim and everyone ---I feel guilty at making light of a serious subject such as high suicide rate in young people ---but I also cant help thinking --could this come about when youngsters dont have much to strive for d'you think?
Beneath the"chocolate box" image --everything spic and span --orderly/ efficient---theres an underlying unhappiness--rebelliousness goes with teenage years--you want something to kick against--rules to be broken-----get angry--show what you are made of maybe--natural isnt it?
Oh lord Tim --what are you suggesting? We get armed with----bars of cadburys etc(the superior chocolate!) scattering wrappers everywhere

[Guest]

Ellie when i decide that my red brick,white walls, are boring i will do something about it ,not some little snot with a spray can or a marker.The same little s..t will be so protective of his property in ten years time.

[cowboy]

In the end, it is their town and their country...if they want to trash it...it's up to them...

[Gambrinus]

Well said, Coop - as foreigners who are we to judge the way Portuguese or Swiss or whoever handle themselves? Opinions voiced, it´s up to the locals to do something about it - if they want our help, they are welcome to ask for it.

[Red]

I don't agree with that. Gambrinus, you pay your taxes etc. in Portugal? so you have every right to object to graffiti, vandalism etc (graffiti is vandalism). Would you not complain if you saw a 'local' assaulting a 'local' or tourist? Its exactly the same thing!!

If yobs like this are allowed to get away with their activities then they will most probably go on to start robbing houses next, never mind just 'painting' them! In UK we have Home/business Watch schemes, can't you all get together and set one up?

If all law abiding citizens just keep turning a blind eye to this selfish behaviour then God help us all!
Isn't it time when people like Gambrinus etc. should be shouting louder to the Authorities and making their voices heard, not keeping quiet?
If not, then Cvo will lose its 'charm', tourists won't visit, businesses will close and then what's left ............... happy criminals?

[Tiny Tim]

Gambrinus,

I am Swiss too.

Tiny

[Guest]

All it takes for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing

[Guest - Sharon]

I started this thread. I would like to add that although I've been to Carvoeiro every year for varying periods of time, next year my family and I will not be returning. CVO in my eyes is becoming over developed, dirty and the atmosphere has changed. Package tourists on very cheap deals. You would not believe some of the conversations I've heard sitting in restaurants listening to the table next to me. (foreign sh*t food etc etc)
So CVO has lost another regular visitor (for the time being at least)

[digger]

Sharon, I hope the Minister for Tourism can hear you.

Red & most recent guest, you’re right.

Gambrinus, come on, someone’s got to do something.

Steen, I think Sharon’s comments should be brought to the attention of the advertisers on this site. Perhaps they collectively can kick bottom.


PS, I’ve not been to cvo since last February and it looked just fine to me.

[Gambrinus]

This is not a courage debate and I try very hard not to neglet my civil duties. If I saw something happen, I would do my best to stop it. Don´t think I am lethargic and that I just watch the world go by - these things p*ss me off - a lot! Unfortunalty experience shows that:

a. A foreigner is welcome to live, work and pay taxes here, but has no right to criticise. If I complained to local authorities (about anything - roads, public lighting, sewer problems, etc...) I would do more harm (to myself) than good - being branded as a troublemaker is something that comes by very easily and the smaller the town the worse it will be. Anonymity is a big issue and is almost non-existent in this town.

b. Most of the portguese are experts at criticising, putting down and generally ripping the p*ss - when it comes to actually doing something about something, most will prefer to stay home and watch it on the news - which incidentally resemble a telenovel rather than a program that should be soley based on facts.
Motto: somebody will take care of it.

Example: Nobody likes the traveling salespeople who come here at the end of August - nobody does anything to get rid of them either. You will hear every local voice a complaint about the smell, the scum and the thievery, if you ask them why they dont actually do something about it, they are either not up for the hassle or simply to shit scared they might be worse for thw wear.

I have no complaint directed at the GNR - they are underpaid, understaffed and overworked.

This goes directly to the Camera Municipal and the Junta de Freguesia who are both more intent on raking in the big €€€ from the rich suburban areas to invest them in the town centres - we are talking about administration that would rather invest in replacing the damaged property than paying the local law enforcement enought so they can prevent these things from happening in the first place.

[Red]

Sharon, I am a package deal tourist and that comment came across as very naive & snobbish! No holiday is 'cheap' unless you earn a fortune......

I could trawl around on this site and search Internet to stay in a Villa....but does that make me a better person??

And all this development?? It's not all for the squeaky clean rich!