I've been a reader of Alyson Sheldrake's blog for a few years, and she's kindly asked me to review her book - Living the Dream in the Algarve, which was published in April this year.
"After a few holidays in the Algarve, in sunny southern Portugal, Alyson and husband Dave fell in love with the place and the genuine warmth and generosity of the Portuguese people and started planning to move there to enjoy a gentler pace of life.
Eventually after her husband retired from the Police, their dream became a reality and they were able to move from the UK to the Algarve in 2011.
Alyson has used her artistic skills to become a sought-after artist with her depictions of Algarve life, as well as painting dog portraits, and Dave is a professional photographer.
They've integrated well into the local community, helped by the fact that they make the effort of communicating in Portuguese.
The couple has earned my admiration, as they give back to their community by raising funds for the Bombeiros (firefighters) and The Madrugada Association, which has been providing palliative care and support to sick people and their loved ones in the Algarve since 2009. Alyson has also created the Algarve Society of Artists, a society for local artists, which earned her an entrepreneurial award and is a speaker at the annual "Live and Invest in Portugal" international conference.
Alyson's book is full of advice for those who would like to follow in their footsteps, as well as being entertaining, describing hilarious adventures of their new life in the sun, not forgetting their experiences with the "much loved" Portuguese bureaucracy when buying property and getting their Residency.
The book will be useful to anyone contemplating moving to Portugal as well as a travel guide with many useful recommendations - restaurants, trails, beaches... But even if you're not planning to relocate to Portugal, it's still an interesting book which I highly recommend.
I have to confess that even though I've often spent Summer holidays in the Algarve, when we lived in Portugal, Alyson has opened my eyes to so many hidden gems in the Algarve unknown to me.
Alyson's book certainly made me feel nostalgic about our family holidays in the beautiful Algarve, and at times I wished I could just pack my bags and head to the Algarve.
Who knows maybe when Jose and I retire from our working lives in Australia we might return to Portugal and go and live in our favourite holiday place - the Algarve!
Alyson's art (taken from the Algarve Society of Artists FB page)
Please note although I was sent a free copy of this book for review, all comments are entirely my own. This was a delightful book to read and it is my pleasure to share it with my blog readers.
Alyson's blog: - https://algarveblog.net/
Book available from Amazon in Kindle or Paperback form.
Looks like a good one.
ReplyDeleteThanks R :)
Delete...we are all living the dream these days.
ReplyDeleteSome of us are, some aren't :) Thanks Tom
DeleteBeing from the Algarve I have met some British tourists who fell in love with the province and ended up by buying property there. The ones I met preferred the country as opposed to the beach.
ReplyDeleteAs we say, the first British tourist who put the Algarve on the map, was Cliff Richard ( singer) who bought a villa in Albufeira in the 60s, I believe.
Thanks Catarina. I've also met a lot of foreigners who bought property in the country in the centre of Portugal. I do remember hearing about Cliff Richard buying in the Algarve, and I know there are other rich and famous living there.
DeleteHi, I came from Iris' blog. You seem to have many nice photos to look at. I'll be back. Aloha from Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your lovely visit Gigi :)
DeleteDearest Sami,
ReplyDeleteGuess you could write an interesting book on the subject yourself!
Don't know why, but this post as well as the previous one, is not showing any thumbnail on my sideline. No picture shows...
Hugs,
Mariette
Thanks Mariette. I have noticed in a couple of blogs my thumbnail is not showing now. Will have to investigate that, thanks :)
Delete😉
DeleteBefore we visited Portugal we looked at Algarve as a very distant English relative had property (flat?) there where we might have stayed. I remember while there was an historic area, much of it was Costa del Sol. I'm pleased we chose to visit Lisbon and Porto instead, although I expect the book is a good read.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrew. There are some areas of the Algarve that are too touristic, depending on the regions there could be Dutch, German or English. But there are areas that are quiet and worth visiting, but of course the Algarve doesn't have the history or monuments found in Lisbon or Porto, it's mostly a place to relax and enjoy the sea and sun.
DeleteThis does sound fun. I'm always motivated by people who can uproot their life and take on a new country. I think it's courageous -- and very cool indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeanie. It takes a lot of courage to move to another country, specially when you don't even speak the language!
DeleteO Algarve é sempre uma sedução.
ReplyDeleteBfds
Sempre uma boa escolha o Algarve. Bom fim de semana Pedro
DeleteIt sounds fascinating, especially for people who are willing to give up their lives elsewhere and move to a new and exciting place. It appears they have done well for themselves and have integrated nicely into their new (and probably forever) home. Nice review, Sami.
ReplyDeleteThanks Elizabeth. I agree Alyson and Dave seem to have integrated well.
DeleteSadly these days the thought of going on a plane... no.
ReplyDeleteAs tempting as it sounds! But! 22C, sunny. Maaaybe we get a bit of summer, too (still lack the ocean and all).
Maybe one day you will visit the Algarve for a Winter holiday, it doesn't get too cold there at all.
DeleteGood morning thank you for visiting my blog, taking advantage and I started following your blog. I'm a follower 158. Congratulations on your work. I wish I had the privilege of following you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Luiz, have a nice weekend
DeleteIt is ironic that I visited Madeira a couple of times, and Angola when it was still a Portuguese colony, but I have never set foot on the Portuguese mainland, My daughter and son-in-law vacationed there last year, and loved everything but the heat. Most days were up around forty and one day it hit forty-seven.
ReplyDeleteWow 47C, that sounds like she was in the Alentejo area where it can get quite hot in Summer. Never really experience such high temperatures when I lived there, but the weather is changing...
DeleteI've never been to Madeira, just the Azores Islands, where my husband was born and still has family.
There are many emigrés to Canada from the Azores, especially in the construction industry.
DeleteLooks a good read - I always admire people who follows their dreams and who publish a book. Congratulations Alyson.
ReplyDeleteThanks Wren :)
DeleteWhen I have more items to buy on Amazon, I will order this book. It is reasonably priced and I feel curious about it. Algarve from a non-Portuguese person’s perspective.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way… I liked your review. I should have mentioned it in my first comment.
Thanks Catarina, I'm sure Alyson will be pleased.
DeleteA good review!
ReplyDeleteThanks William.
DeleteOi Sami você ganhou um fã e amigo carioca. Um excelente sábado pois aqui ainda é sexta-feira.
ReplyDeleteObrigads Luiz. Bom fim de semana :)
DeleteYou have a wonderful blog full of interesting things. It's been a real pleasure browsing
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit Kurczak.
DeleteSounds like an excellent read Sami.. Alyson is a talented writer and artist, the paintings here are fabulous 💙
ReplyDeleteI quite like her painting style too Grace. Thanks :)
DeleteMany thanks for this review Sami.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thanks Jan.
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