The Day the "Rolling Stones" rolled into Castlemartyr

Nowadays Castlemartyr is a busy morner Irish village sitting comfortably on the side a busy main road. Castlemartyr is a beautiful village 20 minutes drive from Cork City and a 6 miles east of Midleton in the direction of Youghal on main Waterford road  the N25. It is also only 30 minutes drove from Cork airport. Primary roads allows access from Counties Waterford and Limerick.
The Celtic Tiger reached its paws into the village and constructed a number of housing estates. This has brought a new life to Castlemartyr which now hosts many people from different parts of Ireland and the world

In recent years it modern fame was created by outside influences. The very famous and funny Pat Short purchased a pub in the village and established and excellent Gastro eatery of note.

In the past this Castlemartyr pub was owned by the local Barry family. In January 1965 out of the blue the Rolling stones landed in the villages Main Street. They were playing in the Savoy Theatre in Cork and took a break stopping off in Castlemartyr. It is said Cork was their last gig before heading off on their third tour of the US. While in Castlemartyr its reported Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones had a few drinks at Barry’s Bar before they set off again for the city.

Many years later in what was known then as the Carmelite College was purchased by a Cork Development company and it was transformed into a €70 million hotel and golf course. Which included self-catering accommodation which included  excellent lodges and houses.

When opened it was hoped to employ up to 120 people. The Capella Castlemartyr was the original name which later became the Castlemartyr Resort. The house itself is a 17th century manor house set on 220 acres. Which also included the ruins of an 800-year-old castle.

A number of famous historical names are associated with Castlemartyr Manor. It had a number of owners in the past including Walter Raleigh and Richard Boyle. To keep with its historical past one of Castlemartyr Resorts most famous room is the The Knights Bar. It has a fully restored ceiling which has a beautiful featured rococo plasterwork. Great care and attention was paid to the restoration of the Manor House. The KnighThe 18 hole links-style golf course is available to hotel guests and those that use the self-catering accommodation. The course was designed by golf course designer Ron Kirby who also created the Old Head of Kinsale golf course. The self-catering accommodation is located on the old walled garden area. Other self-catering accommodation are located at the main entrance on the Castlemartyr to Ladysbridge road.

On the old Manor grounds there is also an excellent self-catering apartment which is listed as  The Demesnes Castlemartyr.    

ts Bar in the past has received comment from the english travel writer Arthur Young.    

HOW TO ENJOY A HOLIDAY RENTAL IN VILA REAL DE SANTO ANTÓNIO

 Posted by Hilda  On July 4, 2016  Filed under ALGARVE, Portugal  No Comments

Goholidaylets  are guide:  VILA REAL DE SANTO ANTÓNIO

Vila Real de Santo Antonio is located on the Rio Guadiana. This is the river that divides Portuguese Algarve from Spain.  If you are on the far eastern edge of the amazing Vila Real you can easily see the Spanish coastline in the distances and the extension bridge that connects the Portugal to Spain.  Hugely popular holiday destination with many exclusive holiday rentals.   Most people have heard of holiday rentals Albufeira but few have stayed in Vila Real de Santo Antonio.

Selection of meat from restaurant in Vila Real

Vila real is a relaxing and very peaceful town and it’s ideal for everyone who enjoys the quieter side of life, or have a different routine away from home. The location is charming with a lot to see and do especially those who like learning about the local ancient culture.  It is also ideal for taking walks and cycling since the area is extemely flat.

Quayside Vila Real de Santo Antonio

Vila Real has a gorgeous open sandy beach, which stretches for several kilometers.  There is a narrow road that is used to access the beach. If driving parking at the beach is not a problem as ample spaces are provided.

Vila Real provides a number of options if your in a mood to explore the area  but one to make top of your agenda is Cacela Velha.  The village itself is very small with only a small number of typically Algarve type whitewashed houses around a beautiful old Church and a Fort situated on the waterfront just past Manta Rota.

Algarve coastline

There isn’t a lot to do there it has to be said, but the village is certainly worth a visit. There are a few Portuguese type restaurants where you can order a Galao and sandes mista and stay to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. There is one on the approach to the village on the right and from the terrace you get a fantastic view of the surrounding area with views across to the beaches of Manta Rota. Extending to Monte Gordo and back to Vila Real the surrounding landscape as a backdrop. If you stop here it is so quiet you can hear yourself think. From an holiday rental accommodation point of view the area has some magnificent Algarve Villas the luxury type you see throughout this area. There are holiday rental apartments Vila Real de

Sao Antonio. Or you could rent an nice apartment in Tavira which is a short drive away.

The pretty Spanish town of Ayamonte, on the opposite bank of the Guadiana River and can be seen from Vila Real. If you have a car a short trip across the bridge on the A22 National motorway will get you there. To save the drive, a ferry regularly crosses between the two towns. The journey is very short only takes a quarter hour.  It is possible to do a little shopping in Ayamonte.  Remember that Spain is an hour ahead of Portugal!

This is a great place as well to explore and stay with family.  Search for Ayamonte Holiday apartment or Villa Andalusia or Villa Spain.

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Written by Hilda

I am of Kenyian origin and started my blogging career with Goholidayllets sometime ago. I adore travel and visiting new places. But my heart will also be in my beloved Kenya.

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The Portuguese Black Pork (Porco Preta)

Black Pork

If you travel to Portugal to a villa in Lagos and or rent and apartment in Albufeira your guaranteed to have a wonderful holiday.   But notice all the various lifestyle differences this part of the world has to offer.  Sun and pristine sandy beaches are obvious.  The small differences are hard to see at first and from a culinary view point Porco Preta or black pork is one of those items.


Pork (porco) is everywhere in Portuguese food and, this being a country where very little is wasted, pretty much every part of the pig can be found in one dish or another. Cheap and full of flavour, pork is often eaten pink, which can seem strange to those brought up in countries where this is still seen as dangerous (and not without good reason).

Porco preto ibérico (known in English as ‘black pork’) is sourced from a breed of grey and black pigs native to Portugal’s Alentejo region, which range freely while stuffing themselves full of acorns, resulting in incredible-tasting meat.  Some Portuguese favourite cut of porco preto is secreto – a long, fat-marbled strip that is perfect when cooked over a hot grill with loads of salt on it. Sadly it’s incredibly fattening, so has to remain something of a rare treat rather than an everyday meal!

One recipe  is black pork tenderloin grilled in the aroma of thyme and rosemary

Ingredientes-
One choice piece of black pork tenderloin,
Potatoes peeled and sliced into chunks ,
To garnish meat rosemary &thyme,
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper,
Sweet peppers cored and sliced
3 cloves of garlic,
Half the juice of a lemon ,
To finish a nice Alentejo red wine  and very good company.

Next time you go self-catering Portugal check out the restaurant menu for Porco Preta.
Tags : self catering holidays in portugal, self catering portugal, portugal apartments, lagos apartments,

News Updates from Portugal February 2016

Here are few interesting news item taken from the  The Portugal News  paper dated the 6th February 2016

1. There are plans to develop a hotel at the site of Oports famous Sao Bento railway station. The station structure is renowned for its architecture and history.   The design will include areas for a number off shops and also an arts and cultural centre.  The property is owned by Infrastructure Portugal.   Another station in the pipeline for redevelopment is Lisbons

Sao Bento Oporto

2.  The Portuguese city of Braga has been voted the best Portuguese city to live in.  It comes after a European wide study. The city of Braga reached the third place category. Alongside  the cities of Stockholm and Malaga in the over all European placings.  The cities of Oslo, Zurich and Alborg in Denmark Vilnius and Belfast were slightly higher.  Lisbon came in the middle of the table.

Braga

3 With the rise in the Portuguese economy. Locals are inclined to travel more.  The number continued to rise in the third quarter of 2015.  The report says 33.8% of population went on some form of travel between July and September up 3.7% on the same period in 2014. Private self-catering accommodation seems to be the principal choice.  Keywords like apartments Lagos, vilamoura villas would have been widely used.

4. The Portuguese airports of Oporto, Ponta Delgada (Azores) and Faro have fared well in the latest ranking compiled by ACI (Airports Council International) Europe in terms of growth and traffic.
Oporto was ranked among a ‘group three’ level of growth, alongside Milan, Gothenburg, Berlin and Glasgow, where in the northern airport’s case footfall for the year of 2015 rose by 16.7 percent, to between five and ten million passengers a year.
Ponto Delgada (Azores) was ranked among Group 4, where passenger traffic was below the five million passenger mark but still registered rises, in the Ponta Delgada’s case, of 29.5 percent.
Solely regarding the month of December 2015, Faro airport registered a growth in figures of 17.3 percent, compared to December 2014, and was placed among the top-5 European airports where monthly passenger figures most grew.
The many thousands of visitors staying in the Algarve having searched accommodation using keywords algarve villas ,  algarve villa holidays, algarve rentals, apartments algarve,  algarve apartments      apartments in algarve, algarve accommodation,  algarve villa rentals, would also also have searched their flight destination as Faro.

Faro Local Bus NEXT

When we rent a villa in the Algarve we try to use the excellent public transport system as much as possible.  In this short article I have taken a look  at Next - URBAN TRANSPORT OF FARO.

Faro Bus Company

Next is the new urban transport network of the city of Faro which gives you  a wide choice. Both in terms of the timetables, and in terms of routes available and that allow you to travel to most locations within the city area.

They are always had a high standard of comfort and convenience. Now  with a modern fleet of buses that will make your trip into a pleasant experience that standard will be maintained and improved.

Tickets can be purchased on board from the bus driver.  Each ticket is valid until the journey ends

Daily tickets

A paper ticket sold by the driver on the bus. Valid for an unlimited number of trips during 24 hours since the first purchased. Available only for use in circuits (current minibus).

Pre-purchased tickets.

There a credit card type ticket which incorporates technology that allows the user to swipe on boarding the bus.  It can be loaded for the following journeys:

PXM1 circuits - Valid for use on all circuits and lines up to the limit of the PXM 1.

The PXM2 - Valid for use on all circuits and lines up to the limit of the PMX 2.

The PXM simple lines - For use only in a zone of the line where it is made the validation of journey. Exclusive use in those lines.

PMX3 - use up to three areas of the routes where it is made the validation of use. Exclusive use in lines.
The PXM4 - For use in four or more of the routes where it is made the validation of title. Exclusive use in routes.
Faro itself is a good place to take a holiday.   Praia de Faro is a beautiful location with lots of top class eateries.  Also some excellent self-catering accommodation and hotels.  Check out my Search Tips. For Faro Bus transfer search Faro Airport website.  For Faro local bus use simple keywords "faro local bus". As usual keep keywords simple.

Tags: villas to rent in albufeira,   villa to rent in portugal, self catering albufeira, albufeira accommodation,

Portuguese wine with its own style

Any of us that  spent time or spend time in Portugal realise how important the wine industry is to the economy of Portugal.   Strangely enough in Ireland we don't import as much Portuguese wine as we do Spanish or French and others.

Vineyard in Douro Valley

Each year a wine producers  awards are given to  winners of the Producers of Wines of Portugal 2015 This year the awards were presented on the  May 15, at a function held in the establishment of Dão Wine, in Viseu,

The contest had enrolled 1156 national wines from all wine regions of the country. Among the presentation 280 medals be distributed ,  24 Large gold and 47 of gold. The ceremony will finish with the announcement  of the best wines of the year in various categories: best sparkling wine, better fortified, Better and Best Wine Of Varietal Portugal 2015.

Jorge Monteiro, president of ViniPortugal, underlined that "not only we surpass the goals to count with over 1150 wines, as new if confirmed the excellent average quality wines because more than 60% obtained note that allowed them to obtain a medal although Regulation limit to 25% the medals to assign. But the most important thing is to bolster this high quality in most wines".

The award- winners that have received the highest accolades in winning wines categories will qualify to participate in in the marketing of Portuguese Wines as a national brand to International markets.  Next time you book a villa in Portugal or a self-catering apartment in Lisbon take the opportunity to taste Portuguese wines you will not be disappointed.

Search Tips:  Search for Portuguese wine  "wines of Portugal,  Douro wines,   Searching for Portuguese accommodation try  "holiday villas, holiday villa rentals, holiday rentals portugal , villas for rent in portugal, villa to rent in portugal, holiday homes in portugal, villa rentals portugal, holiday villas in portugal, villas in portugal, villas portugal, holiday villas portugal,  self catering holidays in portugal, self catering portugal, portugal apartments,

Algarve is the Golfing Capital of Europe

The Old course in Vilamoura is a well known golf course built in the beautiful Algarvian countryside.  The course designer was Frank Pennink .

Old Course Vilamoura

 It became a Golf club in 1967.  The visitors on a self-catering holiday with find it a great course to play.  If living in the Vilamoura area are fortunate enough to be a member count yourself lucky.  It was once described as the Grand Dame  of Algarvian Golf Courses and was the first of the Oceanico and easily the most popular of the five Vilamoura courses. When I do occasionally play golf I enjoy a number of aspects the challenge of the game itself, the ability to get sometime alone or indeed with good social company, the joy of being out doors in all weathers, but last but not least special of being one with nature.  The Old Course provides this in abundance. The Old Course is blessed with lush flora, pine tree lined fairways give it the feel of colonial opulence experienced in such places as Augusta. as in the American Masters. It is laid out over and around gentle sloping hills with tree lined fairway which meanders throughout impressive pine trees — the principal hazard – over gently undulating natural terrain, and poses quite a stern test and forces you to put the emphasis on accuracy and course management ahead of length........They offer discount golf rates for The Old Course in Vilamoura. This is the second oldest golf course in the Algarve. Set in an umbrella pinewood and laid out in an interesting way to take advantage of the natural contours. It is from the English school of Course design. The first Holes are easy and inviting with reachable Par-4s. The Par-3 on the attractive fourth is a Hole in One potential. Club selection from here will play an important part of your game, and straight shots will be needed. The ninth is an excellent example of this situation. The back nine has three interesting Par-5s. The sixteenth hole provides a 522 metre challenge for a shot of good length and hitting straight.  If you're planning a Golf holiday in Vilamoura  Goholidaylets has many excellent villas in Vilamoura also some excellent villas in Lagos.  Praia Village Vilamoura would be worth a try.
Search Tip:  Apartments Lagos, Golf holidays Algarve, villas Portugal, apartments Vilamoura villas in Vilamoura, villas Algarve.