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.

Urban Golf at Silver Coast – Portugal

Next Saturday, the lovers of golf will have another opportunity to test their dexterity in an environment very different from usual, on the Island of Baleal (Peniche, Silver Coast –Portugal).

The Urban Golf is based on traditional golf, but this is practiced in an urban setting and with some adjustments. The players exchanged the fields with a space under construction, a parking lot or a street. Creativity, irreverence, innovation are some of the concepts that make this sport a growing one in Portugal.

The intention to promote this practice is not to achieve the glamour of the sport, but to stimulate interest and promote the considerable increase of practitioners and followers of golf, especially young ones. The goal is also to put together a Portuguese team of excellence in order to promote the first European Cup.

The receipt of all stakeholders to participate in a maximum of 80, is made in the Surf Castle in Baleal, by 14:00, where are all available resources and all the information. The inscription has a cost of 20 euros and entitles the use of bat, all of 12 balls and tees, an entry to the concert of the Festival Flavours of the Sea (DapunkSportif and Blasted Mechanism), merchandising of the Festival, among other offerings.

“I’m from Peniche” (Silver Coast-Portugal) Convention

Scheduled for June the 13th, and once again integrated into the Flavours of the Sea Festival, the Convention "I’m from Peniche" will again be a meeting point of all of those who feel part of the local community and wish to contribute actively in the discussion of its future.

After the success of the first edition, marked by strong public participation, 2008 will be the year of the assertion that this is already an important time to share experiences, debate of ideas and discussion about the development of the territory of Peniche.

Recalling, once again, the unique strengths and values of the county, the II Convention "I’m from Peniche" will, this year, as a focal point, show the first presentation of preliminary results of the Magna Carta- Strategic Plan - Peniche 2025.

Silver Coast – Portugal receives Festival “Flavours of the Sea”

The 9th edition of the “Flavours of the Sea” Festival, at Peniche, the self proclaimed wave capital of Portugal. Also "home” of the triathlon, Peniche will stage all this and much more from 6 to June 15, samples of food, crafts, entertainment, sports and other cultural manifestations.

Fifteen miles, the equivalent to 24 kilometres, is what will have to swim Nuno Vicente and Miguel Arrobas, defying the waves of the sea and the danger of Peniche on June 8, with the obligatory passage through Berlengas islands. The crossing is marked departure from Farilhoes, at 11 A.M., and arriving at the 5 P.M.

Peniche will also host other important events such as regattas, sailboat and kayak races, the Beach Football Championship, at Baleal, on day 6 (from 16 to 20h), and on the 8th (from 11 to 12 hours, and from 15 to 19h); the parade of pirates through the city, a competition of Triathlon School (day 11, to 15:30 at the Quebrado Beach ) and 25th edition of the Triathlon "City of Peniche" (day 14, from 15h), in homage to the place exactly where this mode was born in Portugal, for almost 25 years.

This communion between land and sea, the flavours and adventure, follows the initiative of the Municipal Council of Peniche together with entities such as the West Region of Tourism, the Association for the Development of Peniche and the Association of Commercial and Industrial Services of the Municipality of Peniche.

The music will also be a strong dish of IX Festival "Flavours of the Sea", with three concerts scheduled to Ribeira Velha: Jorge Palma day 7, at 23:30; Beto, August 13, the 23h and the Blasted Mechanism on 14, the 22:30, with the first part of the concert by local band Dapunksportif. Campo da Republica will also stage Portuguese popular music, with showcase by ethnic band Xaile, on day 6, at 22h.

Silver Coast sees high level Surfing

Peniche (Silver Coast – Portugal) hosted the Rip Curl Pro Junior surfing championship at the beach of Supertubos assured of world-class waves.

This year the event, originally scheduled for four days, had only three, after a joint decision with the organisation, Rip Curl, and the four athletes in the semi-final. Instead the decision to postpone the last day of waiting time, decided to end while there still where waves, at a time when the sea gave up a jump - a gift of more great waves from Peniche, as throughout the competition, and did not failed to appear at a time when the four best surfers of the event where found.

The semi-finals were held in French, by Maxime Huscenot and Marc Lacomare, France, and Medi Verminardi and Adrien Toyon, Reunion Islands, which were the athletes most in form throughout the championship, and in the last heat of the day, easily showed why
They put out a great show for the finals, hard fought, between Medi and Marc, ending a victory smile by the latter.

Medi Verminardi known for his extreme kindness and professionalism, coupled with a huge stamina for surfing. The youngster from Reunion Island made much of the championship injured, having twisted the foot on the first day of competition, and still reached the final, even though he was limping from the beach: "I am very happy, I made it to the end, even a little injured, but this is a wave that I love. Where you can make great tubes, or than when it is small, because I love when I can make many manoeuvres and Peniche offers all kinds of ramps, it seems like a skate park."

For Marc Lacomare the victory was very important and was dedicated to his mother’s birthday. This result is very important for the intentions of Lacomare, aimed to be the next European champion: "This victory makes me feel very happy, I can hardly wait for the next event, these waves in Peniche helped very much, it was always possible to find a tube, a section to blast, or a wave with sufficient quality to make a contest here."

The three Portuguese who were better classified all lost in quarter-finals of heats with four men - Frederico Morais, Cesar Rosa and Vasco Ribeiro all finished equal 13th place, which is a result to improve in the future, but which can now count to fight for the top spots of the international Pro Junior circuit.

Antonio Pedro, from Alfarroba, organizer of the event, was very happy with the championship held, even if forced to cut one day of competition: "Great sun, many waves, very good surfing, and an opportunity for the Portuguese surfers to compete with the best waves and the best surfers. The beach of Supertubos was always packed with fans, with many following an event that will remain in the memory of surfers and surf fans alike, for many years to come."

Silver Coast and sport tourism, the best combination for the smart real estate investor

Berlenga Island, Silver Coast protects its jewels

The Natural Reserve of the Berlenga Island, off the coast of Peniche – Silver Coast of Portugal, has new marine inhabitants, revealed Julio Coelho, chairman of the Technology University of the Sea-ESTM, at the end of the ceremony of a protocol signing by the local municipality with Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Biodiversity - ICNB, Institute for Environment and Development - IDAD - University of Aveiro, and the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria - ESTM, aimed at drawing up the dossier of the candidacy of Berlenga Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO.

"There are species that have appeared here, in our seabed, which supposedly was not anticipated being there for these latitudes," said Julio Coelho. This is a specificity that "already identified and will be released, through a sub-aquatic photo investigation" which will be published shortly. "These are species of algae, which are set in stone, that it was not supposed to be there, and a species of fish that was not supposed to go there, as was identified," he explained.

These new species might be able to adapt to the climate change that the planet has suffered in recent years with increase in temperature, the teacher admitted. "It will have to do with marine currents, with temperatures of water, and micro-environmental conditions that meanwhile were installed, round the Berlengas, which provided the setting of species that were not supposed to exist here," he said.

Compiling programmes of environmental management

The preparation of the application file is now in charge of Professor Henrique Queiroga, of the University of Aveiro for whom it is necessary to ensure that there is "compatibility with the Human Nature" in the archipelago of Berlengas. "We will make the compilation of information that the UNESCO requires as essential, to decide on the programmes of environmental management that are under way and show that we will articulate the political, economic, social, tourist and conservationist, to preserve the environment "of the Natural Reserve of the Berlengas, explained.

According to the mayor of Peniche, Jose Antonio Correia, the municipality intends to promote sustainable development and preservation of important natural heritage, demonstrating in practice, "attitudes of social responsibility that morally assist this." The recognition which is to be expected from the UNESCO "will also disclose to the world the full potential and unique heritage that has Berlenga Island, and that is important to unveil and value," stressed.

“Flavours of the Sea”, Festival in the Silver Coast

June will be the month of the Summer launching season in Peniche, with one more edition of the Festival Sabores do Mar (Flavors of the Sea) that will be carried out between the days 6 and 15.

To the resemblance of the two last editions, the “flavours” will go beyond the gastronomy. Pottery, Animation, Knowledge and Sport will also have highlight place in the 2008 edition.

The Swim Crossing between Farilhoes (Smaller Islands next to Berlenga, the Bigger Island off the coast of Peniche) - Peniche, the 11th crossing by kayak between Peniche – Berlengas; the city’s XXVth edition of the “Triatlo”, that will count with the presence of the best national athletes, such as world champ Vanessa Fernandes, Bruno Pais, Duarte Marques, and the musical shows with Jorge Palma (7th of June), Beto (13th of June) and Blasted Mechanism (14th of June), all of these are some of the initiatives already confirmed in the program.

Regarding the Knowledge theme, the Festival of this year will count on with, once again, the "I Am of from Peniche Convention ", an open forum to everybody that in some way feels connected to Peniche and that wish's to contribute with ideas or projects for the development of the area.

Preceding the 9th Festival “Flavors of the Sea”, is scheduled a gastronomic week of Peniche in the Restaurant Dom Tonho (by the Port), between the days 15 and 18 of May, that will mark the launching and official presentation of the festival.

Silver Coast, always looking for quality of life!

Silver Coast to receive Golf mega-tournament

A mega-tournament of golf in the Silver Coast will be one of the events that will be part of a plan of international promotion of the west region with financing of the State, to the resemblance of what was already done in the Algarve.

The guarantee was given by Frederico Costa, administrator of Tourism of Portugal, in a first meeting had with the president of the RTO (West Tourism Region) about this plan. However, it is also predicted the achievement of an international golf meeting to take place in the region in June, with the presence of 20 foreign speakers.

The main goal of this initiative will be to encourage the tourists dislocated to the Silver Coast for certain events to stay longer in the region. "Anybody going to the Opera festival in Obidos can take advantage of the day or two in the region, and go eat a sweated lobster at Peniche and buy some cavacas in Caldas da Rainha, for example", explained Antonio Carneiro.

Luis Garcia (RTO vice-presidente) highlighted the way the Silver Coast region has becoming more and more successful; referring that magazine "Golf Weekly" did an article in its central pages about golf in Portugal, where the Silver Coast/ West region fields were referred.

In the last week of March, GolfeOeste has been participating in a marketing operation for tourism agencies in Germany.

Lena Corporation in contest for the Waves Energy Project

As in Peniche, the Lena Corporation is in contest for the Waves Energy Project

The Lena Corporation, through it’s participation in Eneolica, is going to present a proposal to the contest for the exploitation of waves energy of the zone delineated by the government for the coast of Sao Pedro de Muel, in the council of Marinha Grande, to the resemblance to what they already did in Peniche.

The entrance of the Lena Corporation in the waves energy business started last year, when, in partnership with the Finnish enterprise AW-Energy (that detains the patented Wave Roller technology), created a joint-venture, Seaner, to install a waves energy park at large of Almagreira beach, in Ferrel - Peniche.

History has demonstrated more than once that the Portuguese never chose to jeopardize their future on nuclear plants and radioactive spills…

The Silver Coast is all about sustained development, showing us the sign of things to come. Even though Portugal is a highly oil and energy dependent country, all efforts have been in order to protect the environment, investing in renewable energy sources such as the wind, sun and now… waves.

Enjoy the SILVER COAST ( OESTE ), Portugal

OESTE The most diversified tourism region of Portugal

Located between the two main cities of Portugal (Lisbon and Oporto), the SILVER COAST (OESTE, Costa de Prata) is indeed, a special place, starting off from Castelo de Paiva, all the way down south to Arruda dos Vinhos, you will be amazed by all the wonders this unique stretch of coastline can pack.

Very well served of motorways and other quality accessibilities, you just can’t miss it. From picturesque fishing towns (Nazaré, Peniche, Ericeira), to the beautiful lagoon of Óbidos that links to stunning the beach of Foz do Arelho, you’ll find it impossible to get bored, as culture meets nature and history embraces modern ways.

The SILVER COAST (Costa de Prata) has a flavour for everyone, as you can visit the worldwide famous shrine of Fátima in the morning, buy local fruit and veggies at the traditional open market of Caldas da Rainha mid day, only to finnish a perfect day with a candlelight dinner at the castle town of Óbidos.

Experience the portuguese food, arquitecture and landscapes

Anyone that has ever been to Portugal, will most certainly rave about the food, specially about all the delicious fish dishes. Sample some Caldeirada at the harbour town of Peniche and understand immediately, not to mention all the other world-class wines you haven’t tried yet, or you thought Porto was the only top wine in Portugal? And while visiting Peniche, don’t forget to try out one the many action sports, as this former island facing the deep blue is pretty much the portuguese capital of nautical sports (surfing; bodyboarding; windsurfing; kitesurfing), and with nearby islands of Berlenga and Farilhões (accessible by regular boat trips), you can always choose to contemplate a spectacular view to a always stunning coastline. For those less fond of the adrenaline rushes, a great game of golf, at one of Europe’s finest golf courses (Praia d’el Rey) will keep you relaxed and unperturbed, as you’ll be in walking distance from the pristine beaches facing the vast Atlantic Ocean.
But don’t be satisfied with how nature blessed this striking piece of Portugal, as Batalha and Alcobaça are home of two of Portugal’s seven wonders, as the ancient monasteries are very worth the visit and only a few kilometres apart.