|Home| Info| Community| Business| Beaches| What to do?| Rentals| News| Forum| Blogs| Finance| History| FAQ| Contact|
Disappearing World
-
Ellie
Disappearing World
Had a wonderful months vacation and as always its the Portuguese people i met and spoke with that stay in my mind.
Amongst the conversations i had,two in particular stand out. One with a young man in his 20s-a new aquaintance-the other with a woman of 35,married with a family.They both voiced the same fears about Algarve and what is happening there.
Id asked where i could go to see some authentic Portuguese singing and dancing. The woman--who i know quite well---was very vague and almost seemed embarrased that she couldnt give me any definite details.Then,she went on at length to say how worried she was that their culture was disappearing--that all would disappear by the time her son of 14 was agrown man.
The young manin his 20s spoke in the same manner.He was a barman and as business was quiet,we invitedhim for a drink at our table.He was serious and at times seemed upset at--as he put it--the loss of culture and tradition in Algarve and particularly "his" homeground and workplace Carvoeiro.He was so angry at the way the countryside in particular was being "carved up" with everything being handed over to the tourist industry and --in his words--foreigners!
He had all our sympathy as we too are devastated at seeing once familiar roads and open countryside that we drove and walked in,replaced by motorways and flyovers and never ending building.
" It was the smoothest of landings.Looking out of my window the sun was just setting and the fading orange light seemed to "marry" with the dry dusty red soil close to the landing strip.twenty months had passed since our last visit;the emotions strong as ever.A mixture of joy and sadness.Joy at being back in my old home--sadness that Id ever had to leave it and would do so again after four weeks.
Algarve pulls at my heart strings and I know it will always be so."
Please dont let it all disappear. Boa noite,Ellie
Amongst the conversations i had,two in particular stand out. One with a young man in his 20s-a new aquaintance-the other with a woman of 35,married with a family.They both voiced the same fears about Algarve and what is happening there.
Id asked where i could go to see some authentic Portuguese singing and dancing. The woman--who i know quite well---was very vague and almost seemed embarrased that she couldnt give me any definite details.Then,she went on at length to say how worried she was that their culture was disappearing--that all would disappear by the time her son of 14 was agrown man.
The young manin his 20s spoke in the same manner.He was a barman and as business was quiet,we invitedhim for a drink at our table.He was serious and at times seemed upset at--as he put it--the loss of culture and tradition in Algarve and particularly "his" homeground and workplace Carvoeiro.He was so angry at the way the countryside in particular was being "carved up" with everything being handed over to the tourist industry and --in his words--foreigners!
He had all our sympathy as we too are devastated at seeing once familiar roads and open countryside that we drove and walked in,replaced by motorways and flyovers and never ending building.
" It was the smoothest of landings.Looking out of my window the sun was just setting and the fading orange light seemed to "marry" with the dry dusty red soil close to the landing strip.twenty months had passed since our last visit;the emotions strong as ever.A mixture of joy and sadness.Joy at being back in my old home--sadness that Id ever had to leave it and would do so again after four weeks.
Algarve pulls at my heart strings and I know it will always be so."
Please dont let it all disappear. Boa noite,Ellie
[b]???[/b]
Ellie,
Can we assume you are not a tourist that is part of the global "collective" situation down there described by your Portuguese hosts
Tiny
Can we assume you are not a tourist that is part of the global "collective" situation down there described by your Portuguese hosts
Tiny
-
Guest
and are not the portuguese themselves busy destroying their own place...ie recent fires...a portuguese man told me that there are enough houses here for a population of 30 million but only 10 million live here...all these extra villas and apartments are not owned by foreigners of that i can assure you.
-
Ellie
Home&away
you are correct Tiny Tim.Im not a tourist as such.Having lived and worked in Algarve--albeit over 10years ago--I never see or think of myself as a "tourist".Our few years residency --mostly in Lagoa and some time in Porches--we were the only expats inthat part of Lagoa and were accepted as very much a part of the local community that we came to know and love.
Of course youre right guest(is this Tim as well?)in saying the Portuguese "powers that be" are having a hand in carving out the land and all the "over building" thats going on.
I merely wanted to express the opinions of local and "young" Portuguese--usually its the older generation that are accused of "bemoaning" the past .Again,it was "young" folk that told me they were not happy with the Euro--that they missed their own currency---that they hadnt been allowed a vote on it.
maybe Im being too sentimental about the past--but i felt a distinct underlying sadness amongst many that i met and spoke with.
With so-called "progress" --many things can disappear--not just swathes of beautiful countryside,but peoples heritage/culture and just as important---sense of community.Ive seen it happen here in UK and I fear that it will happen in Algarve too and for the first time in years, i feel worried about a return visit to a place i love dearly,as to what further destruction i may find.
Of course youre right guest(is this Tim as well?)in saying the Portuguese "powers that be" are having a hand in carving out the land and all the "over building" thats going on.
I merely wanted to express the opinions of local and "young" Portuguese--usually its the older generation that are accused of "bemoaning" the past .Again,it was "young" folk that told me they were not happy with the Euro--that they missed their own currency---that they hadnt been allowed a vote on it.
maybe Im being too sentimental about the past--but i felt a distinct underlying sadness amongst many that i met and spoke with.
With so-called "progress" --many things can disappear--not just swathes of beautiful countryside,but peoples heritage/culture and just as important---sense of community.Ive seen it happen here in UK and I fear that it will happen in Algarve too and for the first time in years, i feel worried about a return visit to a place i love dearly,as to what further destruction i may find.
Where to start?....
Culture is as good as any...
local culture depends apon Tridition (do it this way, because we always do it this way), and that is running head long into Change...
....the Culture of Capitalism, and that culture will swamp Local Culture every time..the Muslem world is trying to deal with this).....but, there is a bright side....
those "postcard" moments of a donkey-cart moving down a winding road..is actualy a "postcard" of poverty....(that 20- something kid working in the bar, is most likely saving up for a car of his own)).....and you have to build roads to deal with all those cars...and so it goes.
Culture is as good as any...
local culture depends apon Tridition (do it this way, because we always do it this way), and that is running head long into Change...
....the Culture of Capitalism, and that culture will swamp Local Culture every time..the Muslem world is trying to deal with this).....but, there is a bright side....
those "postcard" moments of a donkey-cart moving down a winding road..is actualy a "postcard" of poverty....(that 20- something kid working in the bar, is most likely saving up for a car of his own)).....and you have to build roads to deal with all those cars...and so it goes.
-
Guest
-
Ellie
Yesterday/today/tomorrow
Iread and take in all thats said by Cowboy& Tiny Tim and as i do so i think I must come across as very naive;a sentimental woman dreaming about the past.But--I would like to stress how passionate i feel about this subject--and as "Guest " (thank-you for your support) said it is a serious topic and requires thoughtful response.
As for Cowboy asking where the "young man" would take his girlfriend for a drink--well--he is single --not saving up for a fast car--but saving to leave his beloved homeland as he is distressed at what is happening there.Im merely reporting my conversation with him--his obvious sadness affected me greatly.
Cowboy says that people in a donkey cart reflect poverty--I met and spoke with 3 different families that use this way of transport---and along with an Equadorian family that were in the square each night--selling homemade gifts--they were undoubtedly the happiest folk I met.
You could widen this debate and say "What is poverty?"
Many have everything -beautiful houses-fast cars- more than enought to eat -yet they remain unhappy--to me thats poverty.
On the road out of Algoz I met up with a little family in donkey& cart I dslowed down and asked if I could take a photo.We managed a "fractured" conversation-the exchange was quite marvellous--and all the time I watched their interaction with each other.They were happy --the kids were healthy and laughing-- grandfather teasing them-the father with his arm around his wife. They had "something" that many so-called wealthy folk dont have.Okay --they werent "well-dressed" and their life was obviously a simple one--but d'you know? I envied them. It took me back to my young days --with kids --and just enough to eat--but I look back and think--yeah--but we were happy.
I dont think Ive put this terribly well--but sincerely hope you understand what Im getting at. Ellie.
P.S. All the time I was talking to those nice folk in their cart-cars were flying past at breakneck speed --and i was so angry at seeing the old man desperately trying to control the frightened pony.After our talk--I watched them go off into the back streets of Algoz--feeling I made friends but knowing I probably wouldnt see them again. I sat in my car for a while and readily admit that I had a little weep.
As for Cowboy asking where the "young man" would take his girlfriend for a drink--well--he is single --not saving up for a fast car--but saving to leave his beloved homeland as he is distressed at what is happening there.Im merely reporting my conversation with him--his obvious sadness affected me greatly.
Cowboy says that people in a donkey cart reflect poverty--I met and spoke with 3 different families that use this way of transport---and along with an Equadorian family that were in the square each night--selling homemade gifts--they were undoubtedly the happiest folk I met.
You could widen this debate and say "What is poverty?"
Many have everything -beautiful houses-fast cars- more than enought to eat -yet they remain unhappy--to me thats poverty.
On the road out of Algoz I met up with a little family in donkey& cart I dslowed down and asked if I could take a photo.We managed a "fractured" conversation-the exchange was quite marvellous--and all the time I watched their interaction with each other.They were happy --the kids were healthy and laughing-- grandfather teasing them-the father with his arm around his wife. They had "something" that many so-called wealthy folk dont have.Okay --they werent "well-dressed" and their life was obviously a simple one--but d'you know? I envied them. It took me back to my young days --with kids --and just enough to eat--but I look back and think--yeah--but we were happy.
I dont think Ive put this terribly well--but sincerely hope you understand what Im getting at. Ellie.
P.S. All the time I was talking to those nice folk in their cart-cars were flying past at breakneck speed --and i was so angry at seeing the old man desperately trying to control the frightened pony.After our talk--I watched them go off into the back streets of Algoz--feeling I made friends but knowing I probably wouldnt see them again. I sat in my car for a while and readily admit that I had a little weep.
-
Gerry Cullen
- CVO Master
- Posts: 774
- Joined: Thu Jan 16, 2003 12:39 am
- Location: Southern Ireland
Hi ellie,nice to talk to you again.I can read the sincerity in your words but just one word says it all ``enough``,enough to eat,enough warmth,enough time and enough security not to fear what tomorrow may bring.
Both my parents,god be good to them were brought up in inner city Dublin at a time when it was being compared to the black hole of calcutta.My mothers father left when she and her two brothers were small children .I remember her telling her story,of how as a 6 year old child walking to school in the rain wearing a pair of mens boots and no coat, constantly cold and hungry.I won,t go on and labour the point as this really does get heartbreaking but can,t you see where i,m comming from.When we talk about poverty we really don,t know the half of it and if we have to lose some of our culture to combat it then so be it .Sorry to have gotten so heavy ,i suppose most prople have their storey.
Both my parents,god be good to them were brought up in inner city Dublin at a time when it was being compared to the black hole of calcutta.My mothers father left when she and her two brothers were small children .I remember her telling her story,of how as a 6 year old child walking to school in the rain wearing a pair of mens boots and no coat, constantly cold and hungry.I won,t go on and labour the point as this really does get heartbreaking but can,t you see where i,m comming from.When we talk about poverty we really don,t know the half of it and if we have to lose some of our culture to combat it then so be it .Sorry to have gotten so heavy ,i suppose most prople have their storey.
-
Ellie
losing it
Hi Gerry--thanks for your comments--and i understand very well what you are sayingand you are correct in it coming down to the word "enough"
Maybe I am being a sentimental fool--but i can only speak as i feel--and i do feel very deeply--especially for the Portuguese people who mean a great deal to me. I listened to what they had to say and simply repeat it here.
I wouldnt like to give the impression that i had a "sad" month in Algarve--i had a lovely time.Great evenings out and days on the beach ---but my favourite times were sitting in local cafes and pastelarias with portuguese folk talking and getting to know them--making new friends and visiting old ones.These people are important to me and I want them to have a fair share of the cake--idont want to see them left behind witheverything handed over to big business.
My old home of Lagoa is a ghost town.When we lived there it was a lively bustling place.My friend maria runs a pastelaria there and most times we visited it was almost empty and we saw the sadness and worry in her and her mothers eyes.
i just wonder where its all going to end.Will Algarve simpy become a land of villas and golf courses with places like once thriving Lagoa and Algoz empty wastelands. I sincerely hope not.
Perhaps they do have to a lose a little culture/tradition Gerry--but please God not all.Ellie
Maybe I am being a sentimental fool--but i can only speak as i feel--and i do feel very deeply--especially for the Portuguese people who mean a great deal to me. I listened to what they had to say and simply repeat it here.
I wouldnt like to give the impression that i had a "sad" month in Algarve--i had a lovely time.Great evenings out and days on the beach ---but my favourite times were sitting in local cafes and pastelarias with portuguese folk talking and getting to know them--making new friends and visiting old ones.These people are important to me and I want them to have a fair share of the cake--idont want to see them left behind witheverything handed over to big business.
My old home of Lagoa is a ghost town.When we lived there it was a lively bustling place.My friend maria runs a pastelaria there and most times we visited it was almost empty and we saw the sadness and worry in her and her mothers eyes.
i just wonder where its all going to end.Will Algarve simpy become a land of villas and golf courses with places like once thriving Lagoa and Algoz empty wastelands. I sincerely hope not.
Perhaps they do have to a lose a little culture/tradition Gerry--but please God not all.Ellie
As for Cowboy asking where the "young man" would take his girlfriend for a drink--well--he is single --not saving up for a fast car--but saving to leave his beloved homeland as he is distressed at what is happening there.
..........................................................................................................
That's as good a place to start as any.
...He's Leaving his Beloved Homeland because he is "diststressed" at what is happening there?!? ..and it's all the fault of..."Foreigners" ??!...in his own country!!
Ho Boy, we have a serious problem here..I was always tought to stand up for what you thought was right...
Not slip away, blaming "Someone Else"..
I don't buy that for a second...
Must be a Cultural problem on my part.
..........................................................................................................
That's as good a place to start as any.
...He's Leaving his Beloved Homeland because he is "diststressed" at what is happening there?!? ..and it's all the fault of..."Foreigners" ??!...in his own country!!
Ho Boy, we have a serious problem here..I was always tought to stand up for what you thought was right...
Not slip away, blaming "Someone Else"..
I don't buy that for a second...
Must be a Cultural problem on my part.