Harbour progress.

Work on the new harbour is well advanced and things look set for completion long before next year's tourist season.

It would seem that the facility itself is to be no more than 2 L shaped floating pontoon type deckings, one protruding out into the Ria Formosa from the existing fisherman's pier and the other from the existing boat landing at the eastern end of the village. Huge steel posts have been driven into the bed of the Ria Formosa and the floating decks will be secured to these so they can rise and fall with the tides.

Opinions on other work still vary greatly but it certainly looks to me like the fish market will remain where it is which will mean there is little chance of widening the promenade in front of it.

I have also been informed by one local businessman that the Camara are considering importing thousands of tons of sand and constructing a small artificial beach in front of the new moorings but only time will tell the veracity or otherwise of that.

The pictures below will hopefully give some idea of events unfolding here.

The sun rises over the Ria Formosa and the huge posts which will hold the decking of the new harbour stretch into the distance where the floating pile driver that hammered them home stands ready for another days work.

The new harbour decking sections fitted with their flotation boxes wait on the beach to be floated out and secured in position.
Broad decking sections and huge prefabricated concrete blocks each weighing many, many tonnes stockpiled prior to installation.Workmen construct the concrete base where the decking will be anchored at the eastern end of the village beside the boat slipway.

Removing the pile driving machine from the Ria Formosa



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People 3. Fergus, bar Mundo.

In this the third of my "people" series I would like to introduce you to Fergus the only ex-pat bar owner in Santa Luzia.

Fergus

Fergus operates Bar Mundo which you will find on the promenade opposite the pier and fish market next door to restaurant Baixamar (fresh fish, nice steaks and excellent english spoken).

Hailing from north of the border Fergus offers typical Glasgwegian hospitality and is known to partake in the odd dram himself. Open from around 7-00pm till late Bar Mundo offers local drinks at reasonable prices plus a selection of imported canned beers.

Fergus' taste in music is a little obscure but if you can find something you like among his huge collection of CDs he is usually more than amenable to requests for a change.

Despite being an ex-pat's bar Fergus is determined not to let Mundo become a cliched and cliquey foreigners hang out and strives to attract local custom along with the more lucrative tourist trade.

Often on Sunday nights live music is provided by Peiter a friendly and approachable Dutch resident of Pedras Del Rei along with any other Local or visiting musicians he can muster.

The smoking ban can be a bit of a nuisance here as there is no outside terrace but Fergus makes a bench available and the public shelters are just a few strides across the road beside the public toilets.

Fergus has mastered the basics of the Portuguese language and is a great reference source for those who are struggling with simple phrases.

A range of imported beers are on sale subject to availability.

Try Abbot Ale or John Smiths.

During my recent visit with friends Barney and Darran we enjoyed a couple of very pleasant evenings in a bustling bar Mundo in the company of several different groups of Irish visitors.

It seems now that every time I am in Santa Luzia I run into readers of my blog. This time was no different so hello to Willie and Trish from Dublin, hope to see you again soon in SL.

It is sometimes a strange feeling to be talking to someone you know nothing about but who knows lots about you. I think I can now understand when big celebrities bemoan the fact that we all want to poke our noses into their private lives.