Blog on Holiday

Please note there will be no further blog posts until 1st October.


If you would like any information from us please e-mail to hotelgarbe@mail.telepac.pt

The Beach this morning at 8.30am

Winter Workshops - Computer Training

Becoming Proficient with e-mails, managing your files & folders, surfing the net and word processing

At last you have some time to yourself, to do those things you never have time for! Why not spend a few hours brushing up on your computer skills, in between the beach, the golf course and the pool. Return home, relaxed, with your computer skills refreshed, more confident and ready to tackle anything back at the office. Enjoy your specialised computer training on location at the Hotel Garbe!

Go on – dive in and freshen up those I.T. skills!

One Day Course: 10:00–12:00 and 13:30–15:30 (4 hours)
Lunch (included) 12:00–13:30


Course Dates:
24th October, 2007
21st November, 2007
20th February, 2008
26th March, 2008

Cost per Person: 90 Euros

Price Includes: 4 Hrs Training by MS Master Instructor
Relaxing Lunch Period between sessions
Protech Training Proficiency Certificate

For more information/booking:
Tel: 282 320260 or
Email: info@hotelgarbe.com

Blog Index

Index
IndexWe have been asked if we can index some of the posts on this blog - so they are easily available at all times:-


Hotel Services
Golf Holidays
Breakfast at the Hotel
Dinner menu - tonight
Junior Suites
Wedding Receptions
Raj Indian Restaurant
Television Channels
Afternoon Tea and Biscuits
Our Lunchtime Salad Menu
Summer Lunches
Barbeque Nights
Bar Boa Vista Sandwich Menu

Useful Information
Directions from Faro Airport
Car Hire

Christmas and New Year Programmes
Christmas, 2007
New Years Eve Programme
Christmas Day Swim for Shoes
Swim for Shoes Video
Christmas Decorations, 2006
Christmas in Portugal
Company Christmas Parties


Winter Workshops
Dates
Computer Training
Leisure Painting
Creative Wrting
Introduction to Travel Photography
Take better family photographs
Introduction to Portuguese Wine
Garden Design and Appreciation
Plants and Flowers of Southern Europe


What's On - Hotel Garbe
Bridge Club
The Algarve Artists Society
Middle Eastern Dancing
EXCERCISE AT THE HOTEL GARBE
Folklore Dancing

Reviews and Comments from our Guests
Received by e-mail
"Wonderful Honeymoon"
May Holiday
Letter of Appreciation
Neckermann Award
Thanks for the Memory - contributed
ODE TO THE GARBE
Thank you for your comments
Our Guests Say the Nicest Things
Painting Course Reviews
The Garbe Winter Experience
What our guests say
Creative Writing Course Reviews
"A Wonderful Evening" - Theatre Dinner
Cockfosters Bowling Club
Guest Review
‘Whispers’ - Palmair In-Flight Magazine
Thank you for your comments
From our Golf Desk
Theatre Dinner Review - Contributed
Thank you for your comments
Thank you for your comments
Thank you for your comments
Thank you for your feedback


Places to Visit
Days Out - Lagos Zoo
Krazyworld
Algarve Shopping
Zoomarine
Days Out - Costume Museum - Sao Brás de Alportel
Algarve Karting
Days Out - Aqualand Water Park

Armacao de Pera
Fisherman's Beach - Armacao de Pera
Armacao de Pera Market
Nativity Scene - Armacao de Pera

The beach
30th June - 9.00am
Nine O'Clock this morning
The Beach Today
14th July - 9.15am
Sunday, 13th August, 2006
The views this morning at 11.00am
Beach at Lunchtime today
The beach today - 1.30pm
The beach this afternoon - 4.00pm
8.00am this morning (3rd August)

Spotlights
Spotlight on our Reception Manager
Spotlight on our Head Chef
Spotlight on our Guests

THE WAY IT WAS
THE WAY IT WAS - 1962
Nearly Forty years on

You can also search the Blog by using the search facility at the top of the page.

Comments and Suggestions please
In order to improve this blog - we would be very pleased to hear from you if there is any information you feel we should add to the blog.We also accept "contributions" - eg. something you specifically enjoy about our Hotel, a "don't miss" activity, or just general information about Portugal - all of which will be very useful to our future guests. These will be marked as a "contribution" and carry your name.Please send comments, suggestions and "contributions" to info@hotelgarbe.com

Market Days

Markets take place in many locations in the Algarve, with a huge variety of goods, especially baskets, woodwork and pottery, as well as household and dry goods.

Here are a few:

Aljezur - 3rd Monday in the month
Alte - 3rd Thursday in the month
Lagos - 1st Saturday in the month
Loule - Every Saturday morning
Monchique - 2nd Friday in the month
Portimao - 1st Monday in the month
Quarteira - Every Wednesday
Sagres - 1st Friday in the month
São Brás de Alportel - Every Saturday
Silves - 3rd Monday in the month

Calendar - Autumn and Winter 2007-2008

Winter Workshops

Wednesday, 24th October, 2007 - Computer Training
Saturdays, 20th and 27th October, 2007 – Creative Writing
Wednesday, 7th November – Introduction to Travel Photography
Monday, 12th and Tuesday, 13th November – Introduction to Portuguese Wine
Monday, 12th November - Take Better Family Photos
Tuesday 13th and Thursday 15th November, 2007– Creative Writing
19th, 20th, 22nd and 23rd November – Leisure Painting
Wednesday, 21st November – Introduction to Travel Photography
Wednesday, 21st November, 2007 - Computer Training
Monday, 26th November - Take Better Family Photos
Wednesday, 5th December – Introduction to Travel Photography
Monday, 10th December - Take Better Family Photos
Saturdays 8th and 15th December, 2008– Creative Writing
Wednesday, 19th December – Introduction to Travel Photography
Wednesday, 2nd January – Introduction to Travel Photography
Monday, 7th January - Take Better Family Photos
Wednesday, 16th January – Introduction to Travel Photography
Monday, 21st January - Take Better Family Photos
Wednesday, 30th January – Introduction to Travel Photography
Monday, 4th February - Take Better Family Photos
11th, 12th, 13th and 14th February, 2008 - Garden Design and Appreciation
Tuesday 12th and Thursday 14th February, 2008 – Creative Writing
Wednesday, 13th February – Introduction to Travel Photography
Monday, 18th February - Take Better Family Photos
18th, 19th, 20th and 21st February – Plants and Flowers of Southern Europe
18th, 19th, 21st and 22nd February – Leisure Painting
Wednesday, 20th February - Computer Training
Wednesday, 27th February – Introduction to Travel Photography
Monday, 3rd March - Take Better Family Photos
Saturdays 8th and 15th March, 2008– Creative Writing
Monday, 10th and Tuesday, 11th March – Introduction to Portuguese Wine
10th, 11th, 13th and 14th March – Leisure Painting
Wednesday, 12th March – Introduction to Travel Photography
Monday, 17th March - Take Better Family Photos
Wednesday, 26th March – Introduction to Travel Photography
Wednesday, 26th March - Computer Training
Monday, 31st March - Take Better Family Photos
Monday 7th and Friday 11th April, 2008– Creative Writing
Wednesday, 9th April – Introduction to Travel Photography

14th and 15th November - Raj at Garbe - Theatre Dinners
15th November - Literary Event -Eça de Queiroz
1st December, 2007 - Annual Christmas Fair
25th December, 2007 - Christmas Day Swim for Shoes
1st January, 2008 - New Years Day Swim for shoes
2nd February, 2008 - Carnival Fancy Dress Dinner and Dance
14th February, 2008 - Valentines Day Dinner

Recipes from Portugal - Caldo verde - Cabbage and potato soup

This tasty soup can be found in both fancy restaurants and humble family kitchens. Made with finely shredded “couve portuguesa”, this thick and filling soup also contains plenty of potato, and garlic.

The Soup can also be served with a slice of “Chouriço” and served at the table with oil.

500g cabbage

1.5L water

4 medium sized potatoes

1 onion

3 garlic cloves

Salt

Olive oil

“Chouriço” Sausage

Clean the cabbage, throw away the stalk and outer leaves. Separate, wash and drain the remaining leaves chop into very fine pieces. Peel the potatoes. onion and garlic. Chop the potatoes and onion. and place in a casserole dish along with the garlic cloves and three tablespoons of oil.

Pour in a litre and a half of water and cover the dish. Leave to slowly boil for about fifteen minutes. Once the potatoes. onion and.garlic are cooked. blend them together with the stock until a creamy soup is formed. Add the chopped slices of cabbage and a pinch of salt. Cover the caldo verde and leave to boil over a slow heat for approximately fifteen minutes.

Serve hot.

Other Recipes from the Algarve
Sopa da Pedra
Sweet Rice Pudding
Pudim Flan
Dom Rodrigos
Broad beans - Algarve Style
"Fig" Cheese

Our Lunchtime Salad Menu

Chef's Salad.............................................................. €:12,50

(Chicken,Lettuce, Cheese, Ham, Apple, Egg,Tomato, Olives, Mayonaise)

Primavera Salad………...........................................…€:12,50

(Lettuce,Carrot, Beetroot,Cucumber, Red Cabbage, Tomato, Walnuts, Cheese,”Croûtons)

Tuna Salad................................................................€:12,50

(Tuna, Potatoes, Tomato, Onion, Black-eyed Beans, Egg, Parsley)

Christmas Card Competition Winner

Congratulations to Jeanette Elliot of Ourique, Portugal for submitting the winning entry for our Christmas Card Competition.

Our thanks go to all the entrants for their entries - it was not an easy decision for our judges.

Jeanette has won a weekend for two at the Hotel Garbe. Her entry will be printed as the Hotel Garbe Christmas card this year with an acknowledgement on the back of the card.

If you would like to see the winning entry please send e-mail with your postal address to info@hotelgarbe.com.

Fatacil - Lagoa

Lagoa will be hosting its 28th Fatacil Fair this summer from August 17th to 26th at Parque Municipal de Feiras e Exposicoes de Lagoa.

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As well as craft, food and company stalls, the fair will have different musical concerts each night..

Artists will include Da Weasel, 4Taste, Mickael Carreira, Paulo Gonzo, Xutos & Pontapés, and Tony Carreira.

Opening hours are from 4pm until 1am. Entry tickets are 4 euros for adults and children under 12 are free.

Winter Workshop - Take better family photos

Fortnightly - Mondays
November, 2007 – March, 2008

First one on 12th November

This 4-hour course starts at 9am at the Hotel Garbe.

101 Tips, techniques and ideas to help improve your photographs of people. We begin the day with an introduction to the key concepts that will transform your images. You are also invited to bring examples of any specific problems that you have encountered with your own photography. You will then be guided through a series of example shots so that you leave with the experience of success and not just theoretical knowledge.

Topics covered include:
Know your camera
Posed and candid images
Using available light
Flash photography
Framing and composition
Facial expressions
Children
Groups
Special Occasions
Troubleshooting common problems

This is a hands-on workshop so bring along your camera, loaded with films/memory cards and fresh batteries. Most importantly of all, bring along your imagination.

The 4 hour course is tutored by Adrian Bell, an experienced wedding and portrait photographer. Course notes will be provided to help you develop your photographic skills further once you return home.

Price per person is 40 euros.

Days Out - Costume Museum - Sao Brás de Alportel

The Algarvean Costume Ethnographic Museum is located in what was once the home of Miguel Dias Andrade who grew rich in the cork trade, this building is a good example of bourgeois architecture at the end of the 19th century

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In addition to an exhibition of the typical Algarvean costumes worn in the 19th/20th centuries, there is also a collection of popular religious sculptures.

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The old farm buildings contain about twenty- old vehicles once used in the Algarve, ranging from carriages and buggies that were the favourite means of transport of the rich to mule carts and ox-drawn wagons used by farmers and farm labourers.

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The museum also includes an exhibition of agricultural implements and tack and an area dedicated to cork and the cork industry.
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Open Mondays to Fridays from 10h00-13h00 and 14h00-17h00. Saturday, Sundays and public holidays from 14h00-17h00.

More information please click here

Barbie Exhibition at Fabrica do Ingles - Silves

20th July- 2nd September

The largest exhibition of Barbie Dolls in Europe is taking place in the Fábrica do Inglés in Silves, it opened on 20th July and will run until 2nd September, 2007.

For more information please telephone: 282 440480

Summer Lunches

During the months of July and August - we serve a Portuguese Speciality of the Day at lunchtime - enabling our guests to try the local dishes:


MONDAY - Oven Baked Bream Fish
TUESDAY - Duck cooked with bacon and “chouriço” baked with rice
WEDNESDAY - Grilled Fish with “Algarve” Salad
THURSDAY - Steak Portuguese Style
FRIDAY - Codfish with Chickpeas
SATURDAY - Broad Beans with Pork
SUNDAY - Monkfish Rice

Speciality Of The Day - €.8,50

1.00-2.30.Pm

Golf Summer Specials

For two players with free buggy

SALGADOS - €110

GRAMACHO/ PINTA - €88

MORGADO/ALAMOS - € 99

BOAVISTA - €89

PALMARES - €102

Please contact our Golf Desk on 282 320260 for more information.

8.00am this morning (3rd August)

What's On - August, 2007

Wednesday, 1st August - João Caracol - music for dancing barbeque night – 7.30- Restaurant
Thursday 2nd August - The Kotland Trio - music for dancing
Friday, 3rd August - Xico - guitar
Saturday, 4th August - Sandra & Jorge - music for dancing - barbeque night – 7.30- Restaurant

Sunday, 5th August - Carlos Pontes - music for dancing
Monday, 6th August - Folklore Dancers - 10.00pm
Tuesday, 7th August - Arte Viva - music for dancing
Wednesday, 8th August - João Caracol - music for dancing- barbeque night – 7.30- Restaurant
Thursday, 9th August - Ilze – singer
Friday, 10th August - Xico - guitar
Saturday, 11th August - Sandra & Jorge- music for dancing - barbeque night – 7.30- Restaurant

Sunday, 12th August - Presumed Innocent - dancers - 9.45pm
Monday, 13th August - Nuno - resident organist
Tuesday, 14th August - Arte Viva - music for dancing
Wednesday, 15th August - João Caracol - music for dancing-- barbeque night – 7.30- Restaurant

Thursday 16th August - The Kotland Trio – music for dancing
Friday, 17th August - Xico - guitar
Saturday, 18th August - Sandra & Jorge- music for dancing - barbeque night – 7.30- Restaurant
Sunday, 19th August - Carlos Pontes - music for dancing
Monday, 20th August - Folklore Dancers - 10.00pm
Tuesday, 21st August - Arte Viva - music for dancing
Wednesday, 22nd August -João Caracol-music for dancing- barbeque night – 7.30- restaurant
Thursday, 23rd August - Ilze - singer
Friday, 24th August - Xico - guitar
Saturday, 25th August - Sandra & Jorge- music for dancing - barbeque night – 7.30- restaurant
Sunday, 26th August - Presumed Innocent- dancers -9.45pm
Monday, 27th August - Nuno - resident organist
Tuesday, 28th August - Arte Viva - music for dancing
Wednesday, 29th August -João Caracol-music for dancing- barbeque night – 7.30- restaurant
Thursday 30th August - The Kotland Trio - music for dancing
Friday, 31st August - Xico - guitar

Happy hour every day with Nuno – Our Resident organist – from 6.00 to 8.00pm

The facilities and entertainment featured may change without notice


Daily
Precious Stones Exhibition - Reception Entrance - from 10.00am to Midnight - until 14th August

Weekly
Tuesday & Friday Evening - 6.00pm – Mineral Stones Exhibition - Reception Area
Wednesday & Sunday Evenings - 6.00pm - Silver Exhibition - Reception Area
Thursday Evenings - 6.00pm - Pearl Exhibition - Reception Area


Monthly
Monthly - First Thursday - 10.30pm - 12.30pm Writing Circle ( 2nd AUGUST)

Barbeque Nights

During the summer - every Wednesday and Saturday

Guests from both within the hotel and from outside, can enjoy the sumptuous tastes of the juicy meats, piri piri chicken and fresh fish, not forgetting the tasty salads and mouth-watering table of deserts.

As always the enviable terrace and restaurant of `Por do Sol´ is the setting and Sangria will be flowing the whole evening long.

LIVE MUSIC FOR DANCING
7:30 p.m €: 25,00 per person

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To book - please call 282 320260 - or send e-mail to info@hotelgarbe.com