June 2014 - ALL ABOUT RETIREMENT OVERSEAS

Billy Ocean 64-year old steals the show

Remember the 80s, rejoice the senior artists – Billy Ocean!

The largest-ever crowd at a Cascais Revival Festival was restless. A rushed performance by the preceding act, who were eager to be off to see England play in the World Cup, had sprinkled the warm night air with tension. Among the assembled audience the anticipation steadily grew as the crew meticulously rolled out, positioned and locked into place the drum kit, the backing singer microphones, the saxophonist’s stand, and then, in turn, the remaining equipment.

The musicians and backing vocalists to make their way onto a stage tinged with blue light. In what seemed like seconds, they found their groove and a jazzy, soulful instrumental set the scene for what was to come.

Billy Ocean arrived, strolling like a youngster between the backing singers and the bass player, with his trademark permanent smile lighting up a face seemingly untouched by age. The main sign of ageing was the silver-white Rastafarian locks tied neatly into a ponytail.

Initially a little faint, but quickly increasing in volume as he found his stride and mastered the acoustics, the voice was barely changed from the 80s. A little twirl, a finger immediately singling out someone in the crowd – creating an instantaneous personal link with each and every person – and the audience was soon chanting out the chorus of ‘Stand up – Stand Up’.

Billy Ocean owned the stage as he delivered wonderful renditions of many of his greatest hits, including Mystery Lady, Suddenly, Getta Outta My Dreams, and When the Going Gets Tough. One moment we were listening to the slow and soulful Colour of Love, the next the slightly snappier but equally soul-filled Love Zone, and then onto the catchy pre-80s Love Really Hurts Without You. During the entire show, he treated the audience to some smooth moves, little shuffles, sidesteps and moments of introspection, still able to lose himself in his art. I admit I was concerned he would displace a hip at the start of Loverboy, but from the shouts and hoots from some ladies in the audience, it was clear his sacrifice was appreciated!

Affable and engaging, Billy Ocean displayed all the traits of a man at ease with himself and the world around him. He epitomised, I thought to myself as the music rolled on and I watched him sing and dance on the stage, the image of the mature individual, or senior, who is able to do things he likes after a long working career. Of course, in Billy Ocean’s case, his ‘hobby’ happens to be the same as his life-long profession, but I thought it illustrated the point nonetheless. It was clear that his decision to continue to perform was purposeful. When he introduced one of the backing singers as his daughter, part of his motivation was there for all to see – the opportunity to perform with one of his children. Similarly to Kim Wilde, who on the previous evening had been accompanied by her vivacious daughter, here was a man who, happy with his own life, was now able to impart some of that joy and energy to others, even at sixty four. In fact, I thought, it is probably because he is enjoying life that he is able to find a connection to the audience so easily.

During the concert, I looked around the audience and saw a variety of ages, mostly middle-aged couples, but some seniors, a few youngsters who had accompanied parents and several young adults who arrived in groups or as couples. People quickly lost their inhibitions, dancing (or shuffling) to the songs that they remembered or simply because they liked the tune. I found myself unashamedly singing along, surprised that I could recall so many of the lyrics and embarrassed that my booming voice was so off-key. This was pop music at its most interactive. The artist danced and the audience followed suit.
When he bade the audience farewell, everyone knew he would be back for an encore, but no one begrudged him a little ‘time out’ to recover after almost an hour and a half on stage. And surely enough, he was back out to sing two more tunes, ending as expected with his massive hit Caribbean Queen (which I half expected him to do in the European Queen version, given where he was).

I observed the crowd as it melted, slowly, into the moonlit evening, and chatted to someone who I think expressed the general sentiment: “What an artist. Kim Wilde was good last night, as was Rick Astley, but Billy Ocean was fantastic. At his age, what a show! And what a personality!”

I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone in the audience when I say: It would be a pleasure to have this young-at-heart 64-year old back to entertain us again in the future. Well done, Billy Ocean, on such an engaging performance and to being a testament to what an active senior life should be like!

Cascais Revival Festival REMEMBERED!

by Luis Teixeira da Silva

Cascais Revival Festival REMEMBERED!

The largest-ever crowd at a Cascais Revival Festival was restless. A rushed performance by the preceding act, eager to be off to see England play in the World Cup, had sprinkled the warm night air with tension. Anticipation steadily grew as musicians and vocalists made their way onto a stage tinged with blue light. In seconds a jazzy, soulful instrumental set the scene for what was to come.

Billy Ocean strolled on, his trademark permanent smile lighting up a face seemingly untouched by age. The main sign of ageing was the silver-white Rastafarian locks tied neatly into a ponytail. Initially a little faint, volume quickly increased as he found his stride and mastered the acoustics, his voice barely changed from the 80s. A finger singled out someone in the crowd to create an instantaneous personal link with each and every person. The audience was soon chanting out the chorus of ‘Stand up – Stand Up’.

He owned the stage delivering wonderful renditions of his greatest hits; Mystery Lady, Suddenly, Get Outta My Dreams, and When the Going Gets Tough. He treated us to some smooth moves – shuffles, sidesteps and moments of introspection, still able to lose himself in his art. I was concerned he would displace a hip in Loverboy, but from the ladies’ shouts and hoots, his sacrifice was clearly appreciated! Affable and engaging, Billy Ocean displayed all the traits of a man at ease with himself and the world. As the music rolled on and I watched him sing and dance on the stage, he epitomised the image of the mature individual able to do the things he likes after a long working career. Introducing one of the backing singers as his daughter, part of his motivation was plain to see – the opportunity to perform with one of his children. Here was a man, happy with his own life, who could now impart some of that joy and energy to others, even at sixty four. When he bade farewell, everyone knew he would be back for an encore. Sure enough, he came out to sing two more hits. As the crowd melted, slowly, into the moonlit evening, someone I chatted to expressed the general sentiment: “What an artist. Kim Wilde was good last night, as was Rick Astley, but Billy Ocean was fantastic. At his age, what a show! And what a personality!”

Well done, Billy Ocean, such a testament to what an active senior life should be like!

Algarve Set to Be the Next Big Thing

by Luis Teixeira da Silva

The Next Big Thing

It’s all about retirement. Portugal and the Algarve have been through major infrastructural investment such as highways— the country has Europe’s fifth best roads—and airports— Faro has already receives over 5 million passengers a year, equivalent to half the country’s population. The Algarve is set to be the next big thing and already is a world-recognized tourist and golf destination… at last count there were 42 courses in less than 100 miles. Healthcare is good and some public hospitals have gained a reputation for excellence, as is the case of Faro Hospital and its cardiology unit. Investment in public facilities is visible in the modern sporting and pool complexes that exist in many towns.

Major recent changes have been made to the legal and tax framework. The government has made it possible to earn pensions tax-free and there’s no wealth or inheritance tax (more on this below in “Tax And Financial Matter”). The region is moving away from a physical infrastructure and facilities focus towards an ever-stronger services and lifestyle drive. The next big thing is a move to senior living communities, allowing residents to rent or buy, as well as a huge push towards positioning the country as Europe’s most attractive tax-free destination for retirees.

The Lay Of The Land

The Algarve (the next big thing), located at Europe’s westernmost tip, has an area of 4,996 square kilometers (1,930 square miles) and a resident population of 450,993 inhabitants. It has an average population density of roughly 90.3 inhabitants per square kilometer (or 233 inhabitants per square mile) and an entirely Atlantic coastline that measures about 160 kilometers (100 miles) in length.

Lagoa’s 23,000 inhabitants reside in an area of 88 square kilometers (34 square miles)—the second smallest municipality in the Algarve by area—with a population density of 261 people per square kilometer (or about 676 people per square mile). In contrast, Silves’ population density is 54 inhabitants per square kilometer (or 141 inhabitants per square mile), with its 37,000 inhabitants scattered over an area of 680 square kilometers (262 square miles)—the largest municipality by area.

The region is geographically subdivided into three main areas, each of which contains some extraordinarily beautiful landscapes, and all of which are represented within the municipalities of Lagoa and Silves (* Source: www.visitalgarve.pt):

The coastal area is where most of the region’s economic activity is concentrated. In terms of landscape, the Algarve coast is very diversified, varying between an abrupt and jagged coastline and extensive sandy beaches, inlets formed by lagoons, marshland areas, and various formations of sand dunes. The coastal area has a low altitude and consists mainly of plains, divided into fields and meadows.

The “Barrocal” area marks the transition between the coast and the mountains, consisting of limestone and schist. This area is also known as the “beira-serra” (literally the mountain edge) and is where most of the agricultural produce of the Algarve originates.

The hills occupy 50% of the territory and are formed from schist and some granitic rocks.

A Long, Nautical History

Lagoa’s history is linked to the sea. Despite the capital city of the same name being inland, the fisherman’s villages of Carvoeiro and Ferragudo played an important part in the fishing and fish-preserves industries. The villages of Estômbar and Porches were important centers in the Islamic and medieval periods; Porches became the leading center for the design and manufacture of pottery and has become synonymous with the center of the modern pottery industry in the Algarve.

Modern Lagoa meshes well with its ancient history. Cobbled streets, whitewashed houses with lace-patterned chimneys, and an abundance of fig, olive, almond, and carob trees, are all vivid memories of important aspects of what made this area unique.

Silves is also a municipality steeped in history. The presence of man during the Paleolithic period is confirmed by one archaeological site. The municipality was inhabited during the Neolithic period and the Bronze and Iron Ages, a fact borne out by numerous archaeological finds. Impressive megalithic monuments—menhirs—carved out of the region’s red sandstone and limestone, are scattered across the municipality.

The Arade River was the route to the interior favored by the vessels of the Mediterranean peoples—Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians—who were drawn to the region by the copper and iron mined in the western Algarve. This much is evident from the archaeological site at Cerro da Rocha Branca—unfortunately destroyed—about half a mile away from Silves, which was inhabited from the end of The Bronze Age onwards. In the 4th century B.C., Silves boasted a strong defensive wall. In the ensuing centuries both the Romans and the Moors occupied it.

Silves owes its existence to the navigability of the Arade River and to its strategic position atop a hill that dominates a broad swathe of countryside. It was possibly founded during the period of Roman rule, but it was with the Moorish invasion that began around 714-716 that Silves became a prosperous city. By the 11th century, it was the capital of the Algarve and according to some authors surpassed Lisbon in size and importance. At this time Silves was also a center of culture, home to poets, chroniclers, and lawmakers.

The religious and political tremors that rocked the Moslem world in the 11th and 12th centuries were felt in Silves too, where they manifested themselves in clashes between rival factions and frequent changes of ruler. King Sancho I took advantage of this internal division to lay siege to the city in 1189. His army was aided by crusaders from Northern Europe who were on their way to the Holy Land.

The fight for Silves was long and cruel and, according to chronicles of the time, many of its inhabitants perished, killed by hunger and thirst, or were slaughtered when the crusaders sacked the town. Portuguese rule was short-lived and in 1191 the city was recaptured by the Moors.

Despite having lost many of its inhabitants and much of its wealth, Silves was elevated to the status of Episcopal see and headquarters of the military government after the definitive conquest of the city in the context of the Christian occupation of the Algarve—1242 to 1249—which was concluded in the reign of King Afonso lll.

The centuries that followed were a difficult time for Silves. With the severance of its former links with North Africa and the gradual silting up of the river, it found itself side-lined from thelucrative maritime trade. Consequently, its economic, political, and military influence dwindled, while places like Lagos, Portimão, and Faro grew in importance. Natural catastrophes like the plague, earthquakes, and fevers caused by the swamp that formed where the Arade had once flowed also contributed to the town’s decline.

The coup de grace came after the Episcopal order in 1534 instructed the transfer of the Episcopal see to Faro. Silves was never to recover its past splendor and for almost three centuries it was a city inhabited by only a few remaining citizens.

In the second half of the 19th century dried fruit and, above all, cork breathed new life into the city, which became one of the main processing centers for those products. Today Silves has Europe’s only cork museum as testament to the importance of that product to its economy. It is orange farming that today makes Silves the most important citrus producing region in Portugal. Due to its central location, Silves also plays an important role in the national transport infrastructure, with Tunes the main rail entry and exit point from the Algarve province, and the A2 and A22 highways, the most important routes within and from the Algarve, passing through the municipality. (* Source: www.visitalgarve.pt).

Algarve – the next big thing in Europe.