French Football Star does TV commercial at Beaches of Peniche (Silver Coast – Portugal)

The former French international Bixente Lizarazu, the world champion in 1998 and European in 2000 for the national team of French football is the head star of a television ad that was recorded last week on the beach of Cova da Alfarroba, in Peniche.

Surrounded by kids of various national football clubs, Lizarazu, who left the competition early this year, appears to play the ball on the beach, when the group hears a noise and notes that this is a family that behind the dunes is a picnic and enjoy themselves with a kind of chocolate cream - the Danete, a product of French agro-food group Danone.

That is the story of the "spot" recorded over two days in Portugal and will only be shown on French television. A strategy that is not new in Danone, which has used Luis Figo to advertise the same product.

Six times winner of the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich, Lizarazu, who also played in Bordeaux, in Bilbao and Atletico de Marseilles, announced his farewell in 2006 four days after Zinedine Zidane did the same, but only left professional football on January 1 this year.

The passageway of Lizarazu by Portugal was very discreet.

The other athletes of the ad were chosen from football schools, because some participants had to show us that they knew how to play football. Salome, of ten years, is the only girl to show football skills. "She is a bit timid but is pleased to have been chosen," said mother, Maria Joao.
With executive producer of the Tagus Films company, contracted by the French agency Bollywood, the ad will last about twenty seconds.

The choice of Portugal for the recording of the ad was due to the fact that it is cheaper. The search of the place was made through the Internet and came to place the possibility of recordings taking place in Praia do Meco, option abandoned in favour of the beach Cova, da Alfarroba at Peniche (Silver Coast –Portugal), taking advantage of the long sandy peninsula of Baleal with the landscape to be lost sight of, and the existing dunes. The recordings took place outside the concealed area and far the eyes of the turists.

The production was supported by the City Council and the Capitania of the Port of Peniche, bringing together a "staff" of around 60 people.

XXV Festival of Portuguese Wine (Silver Coast - Portugal)

The oldest wine event in the country, the Portuguese Wine Festival, is back at Bombarral (Silver Coast - Portugal), between days 19 and 27 of July.

Created in the 60s, the 1st Festival/ Exhibition of Portuguese Wine, as designated at the time, usually ran, as was reported at the time by the newspaper "Echos of Bombarral," between the days 6 and 9 of October.

Conducting as a non continued for some years, was from the year 1993, when the 10th edition, showed that the event was definitely affirming annually, assuming itself as a national event.

The 25th edition of the Portuguese Wine Festival, apart from being a high point of life for this event, it should also be understood as "a moment of reflection on the contribution of this event for the development and the dynamics of wine in Bombarral and across the Silver Coast in general, states the municipality promoter.

"Apart from a moment of celebration around the wine, the Portuguese Wine Festival is also an excellent vehicle for promotion, placing the county, the west region and Bombarral in the calendar of regional and national tours," notes.

According to the Board "from year to year the event has grown in a sustained and eventually asserting itself in the national scene, as one of the key events for the promotion and dissemination of national wines. This is evidenced by the increase of participants and the high number of visitors, who have during the event had opportunity to participate in wine tastes, buy good wines at more inviting prices, to attend various cultural and music shows and enjoy the local cuisine the traditional offers of the small local pubs. "

Over the years the Portuguese Wine Festival has had the ambition to raise its quality, contributing to disclose the name of Bombarral throughout the country and the good wines that are produced in the area as well as nation wide.

Ocean Spirit, major water sport festival (Silver Coast – Portugal)

The beach of Santa Cruz, in the county of Torres Vedras, will receive from day 16 to 27 this month, the Ocean Spirit - International Festival of Wave Sports, with six contests, national and international, to run for relevant championships.

According to the organization, that presented the event this Monday, "after the 80 thousand visitors of last year event, this year are expected 120 thousand."

Only in this country can all this action be observed, between the Vigia and Fisica beaches, in Santa Cruz. "The Wave Masters, which is the championship of Kitesurfing, there are five contests in the world, the first was in France, the second will be in Santa Cruz, we have the Zap Skimboard International, we have the World Cup of Kayaksurf, there was never a contest in national territory, and we have the National Championship of Kayaksurf that has never taken place in Santa Cruz, "stressed Bruno Melo's Ocean Spirit Association.

The show will run from the Beach of Fisica and the Beach of Vigia, in Santa Cruz, depending on the condition of the sea and waves and may even take place four contests simultaneously.

In the space of 15 square meters began to be erected the "Village of Neptune" that will have a pool, 12 schools, 19 shops, 12 bars and two restaurants.

The proposal of the organization for animation will be from sunset until three o'clock in the morning. "We want to start the animation at half past seven in the afternoon, at the first stage in Neptune, where we watch the sunset with sound more calm, around ten o'clock starts the second band, in the biggest stage, which plays until midnight when then enters the DJ who will carry on with the night until three in the morning "explained Bruno Melo. The area for night events has capacity for ten thousand people and this year the entries will be paid with prices between two and five euros.

Painting’s of Jose Figueira at the Cultural Center of Nazare (Silver Coast – Portugal)

The painter Jose Figueira exhibits from July, the 5th, some of his work in the town which is his place of birth. Until July 20, at the Cultural Center of Nazare, an exhibition of oil paintings of naturalist inspiration, where aspects as sunlight, the setting sun shades and colours of fruit are focused the most.

Self learner, Jose Figueira began to paint in the eighties. Only after his retirement did he devoted himself full time to painting and has participated in several exhibitions, both individual and collective, with some of his works incorporating private collections in Portugal and abroad.

Now you can see some of his work in the building of the former fish market Nazarene, an organization of the local city hall, between 10.00 and 24.00 hours on working days and 15.00 and 24.00 for week-end and holidays, as the Cultural Center closes for lunch from 13:00 to 15:00 and for dinner from 19:00 to 21:00.

Fiscal incentives for good construction policies (Silver Coast - Portugal)

The City Hall of Obidos (Silver Coast - Portugal) is finalising a regulation of tax incentives for buildings that are made taking into account its sustainability. These incentives translate themselves into reductions in the amount of tax payable on the Municipal buildings or other fees.

This measure appears through the project Obidos Social Carbon, which aims to implement 24 measures that have as their main objective to contribute to 40% fall in emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020.

The announcement was made by Humberto Marques, councillor for the Environment, during a seminar devoted to the Environment and Nature, sponsored by the Obidos School of Advanced Studies of Tourism (ETUR) in the auditorium of the House of Music, June 27. This regulation is now being finished and will be released anytime soon.

During the seminar, were presented by Luis Rodrigues, the new courses of this school, which are "Eco tourism and Energy Certification", "Best Practices for Energy and Water Management in Tourism" and "Waste Management and Waste Water Treatment."

The first course has the duration of 16 hours (for two Saturdays) and plans to address the bio-climatic architecture, which allows substantial savings in energy consumption of buildings. This happens through air conditioning, lighting and ventilation. The course has the price of 195 euros.
The course of "Best Practices for Energy and Water Management in Tourism" is to the fact the invoice to pay for these two aspects in hotels is very high. "The costs of energy and water occupy the second place of bills to be paid on lodging, then human resources," said Luis Rodrigues.

The trainees will be able to structure a system for a tourism organization that includes details on the management of energy and water. The price of tuition is 97.50 euros (eight hours).

The third course aims to respond to growing legislative requirements in the area of waste and water treatment

The completion of these courses is subject to the number of entries received. Luis Rodrigues stressed that the courses are practical, so people will know what and how to do.

Blue Flag for Beach of Porto Dinheiro (Silver Coast - Portugal)

During an inspection carried out by technicians of CCDRLVT and Health Centre to several beaches in the county of Lourinha (Silver Coast - Portugal), on June 20, a Blue Flag was awarded to the beach of Porto Dinheiro and the award of Accessibility for the Beach of Peralta.

The allocation of the Blue Flag for the Beach of Valmitao is dependent on an opinion of the company Lisconcebe, which had a project, awarded by the Institute of Water (INAG), for improving the local security conditions in this seaside resort. According to the planned, the City has made interventions related to the protection of cliffs, with a defined perimeter security for the fall of objects, with the construction of a ditch and putting a protective net at the base of the cliff.

Regarding the flag of Accessible Beach - which certifies the quality of access for disabled citizens - the beaches of Areal and Areia Branca may also receive this award, whose assignment is dependent on the replacement of portable toilets therein.

Medieval Market of Obidos dedicated to Love and War

The 2008 edition of the Medieval Market of Obidos (Silver Coast – Portugal), 10 to July 20, will have more space and more animation.

The park's Village, opened on June 5 - World Environment Day, will stage a wide range of activities, including an International Meeting of Groups of Historical Recreation and "Medieval Hunts." The entrance of the Medieval Market will be the Port of Talhada, through the park.

"O Amor e a Guerra" (Love and War) is the theme of this Year’s Medieval Market of Obidos, which will have two distinct areas: a more rural one in the Town Park, with weapons and camps, and a more urban one, by the Castle wall, with new design.

The International Meeting of Groups of historical recreation joins seven groups of six European countries: Portugal, Spain, Poland, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Germany.

Also in the Village Park will take place medieval tournaments and hunting. A novelty in this year's edition of Obidos Medieval Market, where those interested, dressed accordingly, with arrows, bows and crossbows will have to shoot (and adjust) on targets in three dimensions, mimicking animals.

The wooded area is bounded by a rope for security reasons. This activity is subject to a paid membership. A kind of medieval "paintball" that promises to attract many visitors.

The Park will also stage the Village of exposure of individual animals, including horses, donkeys among others.

Another novelty in the 2008 edition is the parade of Medieval Costumes, on July 19, by 21:00, by the Castle wall.

The costumes are the same as those used in mainland Europe in the centuries XII, XIII and XIV, and represent either the economic and social classes of that period.

During the public presentation, a jury, composed of five experts in the field of history, will examine the costumes, with particular attention to the historical accuracy of the design, manufacture of quality craftsmanship and accessories.

The three best costumes will be distinguished, being ranked the best and rewarded with the offer of a voucher for purchases amounting to 500€ in the company's products "The Master of Arms" (www.omestredearmas.com).

Even the children were not forgotten in this event, with a space to play in the Auditorium of S. James, with traditional board games and face painting.

Like previous years, the entire animation will happen in different places, without appointment. The entry is five euros, except for householders, children under 12 years and people dressed the season.


Schedule

Week-ends - from 12.00 to 24.00

Day 10 - from 18.00 to 24.00

Other working days - from 17.00 to 24.00