2008 EUROMEETING IN PORTUGAL
Since 14 years, the members of the European Group of Retired Staff from Saving Banks, Banks and Related Institutions have been fighting with passion and honor in order to live decently and with recognition, in a more and more selfish and materialistic society.
A meeting between 600 retired people from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, England, Scotland, Sweden and Germany was held last April. The aim was to exchange and share points of view. This year, the Euromeeting was hosted by the Albufeira, the biggest holiday centre in the region of Algarve.
It is a place where the sea, the famous beaches, the cliffs and reefs play the main role. The pace of life is determined by the tourism. It is worth visiting the old part of a town which was once a fishermen village, with its narrow patios and Arabian style arches. There you can feel the atmosphere of yesteryear. The most beautiful structures are the Igreja da Misericordia and the church of Sao Sabastiao.
This year motto during the General Assembly was “the discrimination to the elderly in healthcare and socio-political fields”. The representants talked about the situation of pensioners in their respective countries and gave their opinion on the changes that need to be done.
The claim expressed will be gathered in a final report that will be sent to the AGE Platform and to the European Parliament in Brussels, in order to force the Ombudsman to do what is necessary to take clear decisions about the situation of the elderly, and to draw up new laws.
We were all taken aback when we learned that Mr. Franco Salza had unfortunately resigned from the presidency of the European Group. At the present time, the Italian Federation is going through economic difficulties due to several proceedings it got involved in on behalf of retired people and which exceeded the budget; and also due to the fact that the banks withdrew their subsidies. So during a time the Italians will be sympathizing members, in the expectation that the problems will soon be resolved.
Mr. Lemchen presented this year invited orator: Mr.Göran Collert, President of the Pension Funds of Swedish Saving Banks. As an expert on pension issues, he gave us clear and direct information about pensions in Sweden and in Europe. Once more we could see that the situation differs from one country to another. There is still plenty of work to do to erase those differences in Europe.
This year, thanks to well organized trips along the south cost of Portugal, we discovered the Algarve. The region is delimited by sandy beaches on the east side and by bays and riffs on the west side. There is no industry there and the region only lives on tourism. There are 500.000 inhabitants, and during the high season, nearly 1 million of Portuguese and between 6 and 8 million tourists from abroad make their way to the Algarve. It is hardly thinkable to go there on summer holidays.
During our first trip, we visited the busy market of Loulé. We were impressed by a wide variety of fish, fruits and vegetables. Then we visited a small church at the top of a hillock, consecrated to Nuestra Senhora da Piedade (Our Lady of Piety). From that place we could look out on to the town, the country and the sea.
During the Holy Week, a historic procession carries the portrait of Nuestra Senhora da Piedade from the chapel in the mountain down to the local church, on the outskirts of the town. Two weeks later, the procession, in a festive mood and gathering even more people carries the portrait back to the chapel.
Then we went to Alte, a typical village of the Algarve. The streets of the old town have preserved much of their traditional character. Walking through narrow alleys, flanked with whitewashed houses with minarets on the roofs, we arrived to the basilica of San Sebastián, which inside is decorated with extraordinary azulejos (earthenware) in a Sevillan style. Two tree-lined fountains, Fonte Pequena and Fonte Grande proved to be a good place to take a rest.
The next day, with our guide Paolo, we traveled through the Albufeira and its golf courses, built by British people, until we arrived to Vilamoura. This modern holiday centre was only created for tourists. We went for a walk along the elegant promenade full of cafes and shops. The football supporters, as for them, went to the pub “Numero 7”, whose owner, Figo, plays in the Portuguese national football team.
Not far from Vilamoura is the National Park of Ria Formosa.
In Almancil we visited the most beautiful church of the Algarve: the baroque chapel of San Lorenzo. It was built during the XVII century by noble people from the north of the country. The 1755 earthquake did not caused many damages. The central altar, decorated with gold, is monumental. The walls, the roof and the cupolas are totally covered with white and blue azulejos, showing scenes of fishing, agriculture and the saint's life.
To arrive to the pedestrian zone of Faro, the capital of Algarve, we walked through the ancient central entry, the Arco da Villa. Paolo brought us from the cloister of San Francisco, which was turned into a gastronomy school, to the church of Carmen. We were very impressed by the magnificent inside decoration, the rococo style frescos on the roof above the altar, the organ made of real carved wood with Chinese drawings, and the pictures representing the Christ's Calvary in the old sacristy. This sumptuously decorated church also made us shudder since there is a chapel inside with 1245 skulls.
The little cathedral at the centre of the place Largo de Se dates back from the middle of the XIII century. Old and elegant buildings surround the cathedral, among them an Episcopal palace of the XVIII century and the City Council.
With a moto launch you can go from Faro to the lagoon beaches, in the natural park of Ria Formosa.
The little town of Olhao stands with its squared houses of flat roofs and Arabic style terraces. The most interesting place of the town is the central market, wreathed with towers and cupolas. There you can buy fish, sea shells, meat, fruits and vegetables.
The region produces 90% of the sea salt. The fields and salt marches along the shore of the town of Castro Marim exist from several centuries. Because of a heavy rain we could only see from the bus windows the medieval fortress.
In Villa de San Antonio, at the Spanish border, we could buy law-priced clothes. During the afternoon, the sky cleared and we could go for a walk on the streets of Tavira, a romantic village of fishermen, with a lot of spots worth visiting. We enjoyed the panoramic view over the Gilao River, the roman bridge and the vast sand beaches. The picturesque houses of the old part of the town have little pyramidal towers – called four-sided roofs or treasure chamber- that date back to the XVIII century. These towers are one of the most typical features of the east of the Algarve. In the whole region, the highest number of churches is to be found in Tavira. The most richly decorated is the church of Nuestra Senhora da Misericordia (Our lady of Mercy), with its baroque pictures made of azulejos and representing the Charity, and its porch with the statues of Paul, Peter and Our Lady.
In the inland, we went from La Laguna, the bigger vineyard of the Algarve, to the town of Silves, which remained during three centuries the first capital of the region and the see. During the middle Ages, Silves was the most appreciated fortress of the Algarve, which explains the vast Moorish Castle. The surrounding wall with its eleven towers offers a panoramic view on the tile roofs of the town and on the south side of the Serra de Monchique. Under the castle, there is a three-nave church which was a mosque built by the Arab during the XIII century. It was destroyed by the earthquake and then rebuilt with red sandstone. The high Gothic presbytery with its three big stained glass windows is impressive. Our guide Paolo was born in Silves. To our great delight, we met part of his family during the visit.
In the past, Silves was known for its cork industry and its important river port. However, the river silted up more and more. Nowadays, Silves is the first producer of citrus fruits in Portugal.
Through the fields of orange trees, we arrived to Carveiro, an old village of fishermen. There we tasted delicious vines of Oporto, honey and almonds liqueurs.
During the XV century, in the reign of Henry the Navigator, various Portuguese expeditions to Africa left from Lagos harbor. Those expeditions brought the first black slaves to Europe. In 1944, a huge market of slaves was created in Lagos, and the buildings still exist today. The salve trade was not prohibited until the XVIII century.
With Paolo we visited the church of Sao Antonio, the patron saint of Portugal, and he explained to us how the wood was sculpted during the Portuguese Baroque: drawings of hunting, fishing and battles. The paintings represent the miracles performed by the saint. In the neighboring museum there are roman and prehistoric remains.
At midday, we had a succulent meal in the open air on a terrace of the market. The grilled sardines were exquisite. With regained strength and good mood, we continued the visits: the bridge of Piedade, a rock surrounded by strange bays and with a spectacular view on the Bahía de Lagos. This place marks the beginning of the Algarve. Between the sandy bays, red and yellow shiny rocks rise at an attitude of 328 feet.
We went through the Natural Park of Sao Vicente, along little houses and nearly virgin landscapes, and we arrive to Sagres. The fishing port stands away from the foothills of the Atlantic cost. The fortress and a chapel remind us one of the most famous Portuguese: Henry the Navigator, the Infant of Sagres.
In Cabo de Sao Vicente we reached the extreme south west of Europe. Barely 500 years ago, people thought that this place was the end of the world. The cost is really steep, sheer, and rocky. The stormy waves continually lash against the porous and calcareous rocks. From that place, the most powerful lighthouse on the whole continent gives out light for 50 Km around, deep in the Atlantic. With this unforgettable view on the tempestuous sea we ended a week of excursions, a very instructive experience.
For the German group, it is always a pleasure to meet our European friends, and we want to thank the Organization and the travel agency, and the work they have done to make possible the celebration of this Euromeeting.
Our best regards to the new president, Mr. José Roberto López, to whom we wish the best success. Let us be pleased of our future and new collaboration.
Christa SAIA
Dear friends:
Unfortunately, for reasons of health, I could not join you in the Algarve. However, my thoughts were with you at any time.
I seize the opportunity to thank all the shows of affection and wishes of recovery I received from you.
See you next year.
Ruth REBERT
