“The worst thing that can happen to us is getting sick in August”, warns Graça Freitas the General Director of Health in Apliarca on Wednesday. During the presentation for the Summer Contingency Plan 2022, Freitas said that August is the worst month for accidents and diseases as tourists and locals are often far away from their usual health centers and doctors.
Graça Freitas even called out the traditional dish of Portugal – bacalhau à brás. This common dish is made from salted cod, fried potatoes, and scrambled eggs. Freitas said that the dish is one of the main causes of collective food poisoning in the summer in Portugal. Bacalhau à brás is often prepared hours before being served at restaurants and then badly warmed up, allowing for the development of salmonella, according to Freitas.
The General Director of Health also spoke of risky behaviors that are more present in the summer, as the heat leads people to relax. She warned parents to watch out for their children, particularly in pools and the ocean.
Moreover, she alerted that adolescents, particularly boys, can develop medullary lesions after diving into pools and the ocean.
She also mentioned that Portugal has many sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, making it “in this aspect a less developed country”.
The Summer Contingency Plan 2022 for Portugal also includes advice to hydrate and remain in climatized environments, particularly for the elderly and ill people.
Freitas also warned that despite a decreasing tendency of Covid-19 cases, the infection rates continue quite high.
At only 23 years old Francisco has lived and traveled to multiple countries, but still finds himself drawn to his hometown of Lisbon where he has been living since the Covid-19 pandemic hit. For Francisco, Lisbon provides the balance of a “small city” with “chaotic energy” where there’s always something happening, but you can always find a calming atmosphere. Francisco still feels like a tourist in his own city. He finds that there is always a new person to meet and a new place to discover. Many speak to him in English, especially Portuguese waiters. Although many Portuguese would be offended, to him, this reflects how diverse Lisbon has become and how welcoming the capital is. He says that the key to meeting like-minded people in Lisbon is to “speak up” and say good morning to people. Francisco says that the locals, in particular, love it when you chat with them “as they always have a story to tell”.
Meet Francisco, a 23-year-old Lisbon local.
Francisco’s perfect day starts at 9 am on a Saturday with a walk to his favorite bagel spot in Arroios – Thank You Mama Cafe. He brings his roommate Stitch with him, a small four-year-old Yorkshire with the energy of a puppy. Francisco orders his usual – an oat milk cappuccino and a mushroom Philadelphia bagel. After eating, he browses the weekly art exhibit at the cafe, often featuring upcoming Portuguese artists.
Thank You Mama Cafe. Photo provided by establishment.
Francisco and Stitch then head out to Lisbon’s flea market, a 15-minute walk away. The flea market, known as Feira da Ladra, has been around since the 17th century and is a Lisbon staple. He browses for some bargains such as vintage clothing, art, and antiques, a lot of times not even buying anything to avoid unnecessary consumerism, but looking for inspiration to upscale furniture for his apartment.
Feira da Ladra. Photo by Francisco Ferrer.
He then walks 10 more minutes until he reaches the Miradouro da Graça, one of the most popular viewpoints in Lisbon. His mom and sister are there to meet him for a coffee which they order from the kiosk. Since it’s the weekend, the line for the kiosk is busier than usual, but it doesn’t bother them because they get to enjoy the view. Francisco and his family grab their coffees and sit on the wooden benches, the trees shading them from the hot sun. After 40 minutes, he heads back home because Stitch is getting tired from all the walking and drops him off for a nap.
He grabs his bike and takes the brave ride to Alfama. Although the bike ride is less than 15 minutes, the steep hills that make up the oldest neighborhood in Lisbon make for an unexpected workout. He takes some photographs of the Castelo de S. Jorge, a historic hilltop castle dating back to the 12th century, and enjoys the calmness of the neighborhood. He then takes his bike back home as he’s too tired to bike around for the day.
By now, Francisco’s stomach is rumbling and it’s time to meet his friends for lunch. Francisco arrives at the restaurant Antù in Cais do Sodre, just in time for his 1 pm reservation. His international friends are already sitting on the restaurant’s terrace, but his Portuguese friends arrive 30 minutes late – as usual. Since it’s a Saturday, Francisco orders the Super Saturdays Brunch for 12 euros but asks for the vegetarian version. After lunch, they go inside Antù as it doubles as a store, selling designer vintage pieces.
Lunch at Antù. Photo by Francisco Ferrer.
The group then takes the 5-minute 28E tram to the Miradouro de Santa Luzia. Yes, the second miradouro of the day! Francisco browses the cocktail menu at the cafe at the miradouro and asks for one that has tequila in it. The friend group then sits on the stone seating made of blue and white Portuguese azulejo. The miradouro has views over the houses and churches of Alfama, as well as the Tagus River.
Miradouro de Santa Luzia. Photo by Claudia Schillinger (Flickr)
By now, it’s time for Francisco to join Stitch at home. Walking back to his apartment in Arroios would take over 30 minutes and he’s too tired. Instead, he decides to take the 15-minute walk to Chiado and get the 7-minute metro home. On the walk home from Arroios metro station, he stops by a pet store to buy Stitch a treat. Stitch jumps up and down with excitement when Francisco opens the apartment door and it’s time for his walk. They head to the closest park, Alameda de Dom Afonso Henriques Garden, a 5-minute walk away, and Stitch plays with other dogs for a few minutes. Francisco checks the time and it’s already 5 pm so he heads home for some self-care before his night plans.
He makes some tea and snuggles up on the couch with a book. After a few minutes, he gets his energy back and decides to finish an upcycling project for his brand Dunes by Dunes – making a coffee table out of some wood he found by a nearby dumpster. It took a couple of hours but the result was worth it!
Francisco’s upcycled coffee table for his brand Dunes by Dunes. Photo by Francisco Ferrer.
He then scrolls through TikTok while attempting to make dinner plans on his friends’ WhatsApp group chat. No one knows where to go and Francisco suggests trying out a new place called O Boteco. He continues to scroll through TikTok and then realizes dinner is in less than an hour.
He hops in the shower and picks out an outfit – a black crop top and jeans. He moisturizes his skin and adds some body shimmer to his torso. For his makeup, he decides to go for a natural 5-minute makeup look with some eyeshadow and mascara. With 15 minutes to spare, he pets Stich goodbye and calls an uber to the restaurant as he will be drinking. At O Boteco, he orders some Black Tiger shrimp ceviche and the octopus salad. He asks the bartender for a cocktail that is not on the menu – his Lisbon secret tip.
O Boteco. Photo by Francisco Ferrer.
After dinner, he heads out to a bar with his friends and then they all come back to his to hang out. He’s in bed by 1 am – which is arguably early for a Lisbon local.
When I asked him about his favorite LGBT+ clubs after bar-hopping, he says the queer scene goes beyond nightlife in Lisbon. Francisco prefers to discover restaurants and stores during the day that are LGBT+ owned, even if they are not officially queer spaces, as going out clubbing is a thing of the past for him. “Lisbon flea markets are super gay”, he said seriously, which made me giggle.
CNN Portugal has reported that the Policia Judiciaria (PJ) in Portugal helped with the investigation that has led to the arrest of a major drug lord from Brazil. Sérgio Roberto de Carvalho, 62 years old, is one of the largest drug traffickers in the world and was arrested on Tuesday in Hungary.
The “Brazilian Escobar”, according to CNN Portugal, laundered money through million euro investments, predominantly properties that were detained by PJ.
The Portuguese PJ and the Brazilian Federal Police also believe that the 578 kilos of cocaine caught on a private jet in Brazil destined for Tires, Cascais, belonged to Carvalho’s network. It is also believed that the drug trafficker might be behind the attempted purchase of the Portuguese aviation company OMNI to facilitate his operation.
Sérgio Roberto de Carvalho lived hidden in Lisbon for around two years, where PJ seized 12 million euros in cash from him, last November.
He is one of the most powerful drug traffickers in all of South America. He is the owner of the aviation company Airjetsul which also operated from Tires, Cascais, and was being used to transport drugs, according to CNN Portugal.
The Brazilian drug lord, Sérgio Roberto de Carvalho is a former military officer.
Fernando José Salgueiro Maia was a Portuguese military man who is considered one of the symbols of the Carnation Revolution. He led one of the revolutionary forces during the Revolution that ended the Estado Novo dictatorial regime in the country. Let’s take a look at the life of Salgueiro Maia, his role in the Carnation Revolution, and the aftermath of the 25 of April in Portugal.
Life of Salgueiro Maia
Fernando was born on 1 July 1994 to a modest family in Castelo de Vide, a small town in the district of Portalegre in Alentejo. His father Francisco da Luz Maia was a rail worker and his mother Francisca Silvéria Salgueiro would die when he was only 4. He lived most of his life in Coruche and Tomar. He only moved away when he was 16 to Pombal.
In 1964, he started at the Military Academy, being placed in the Cavalry Practical School (EPC) in Santarém. There, he rose the ranks to instruction commander and was sent to the North of Mozambique to fight in the Colonial War, joining a commando company. Two years later he would get promoted to Captain and, in 1971, was sent to Guinea.
In 1973, he would return to Portugal and be placed once again in the EPC. This is when the Armed Forces Movement (MFA), the movement that would start the revolution, started having meetings and the Captain would integrate the Coordinating Committee of the Movement.
After the revolution and the end of the Estado Novo, Salgueiro Maia studied Social and Political Sciences, in Lisbon, getting a bachelor’s degree, and adopted two children.
At the end of the 1980s, Salgueiro Maia found out he had cancer and was subjected to surgery in 1991. However, he ended up dying of cancer on 4 April 1992, at the age of 47.
Salgueiro Maia’s Role in the Carnation Revolution
After a failed coup attempt on March 16, the soldiers decided to try again on April 25, the date that would one day be known as the Carnation Revolution.
When it came the time to announce to EPC recruits that a revolution was about to happen with their help, which Salgueiro Maia himself trained, he said in his famous speech:
“Gentlemen, as you all know, there are many types of states: capitalist states, socialist states, and the state we’ve come to. Well, on this solemn night, we are going to end this state! So, anyone who wants to come with me, we go to Lisbon and we finish it. The volunteers can go out and get ready. Who doesn’t want to leave, stays here!”
All the 240 men immediately put themselves ready in front of him. They would march to Lisbon and overthrow the dictatorship.
Maia led the armored vehicles that would lay siege to the Ministries in the Terreiro do Paço. The regime tried to mobilize forces against the revolutionaries, but Fernando Salgueiro Maia persuaded them to join their side. Then, his regiment was about to be bombarded by a pro-regime ship, but this was stopped by a mutiny onboard.
Salgueiro Maia would then also surround the Carmo barracks, where the President of the Council (similar to a Prime Minister) and current dictator of Portugal Marcello Caetano fled to. He negotiated with Caetano and arranged for the President to surrender to General Spínola. Salgueiro Maia also escorted Caetano to the plane that would take him to exile.
Salgueiro Maia became the face of Portugal’s peaceful revolution.
Salgueiro Maia After the Carnation Revolution
On 25 November 1975, the day of the attempted coup by the “radicals” in the MFA, Salgueiro Maia would join the “moderate” forces and lead a group of cars on the orders of the President of the Republic.
After this, he was transferred to the Azores and then returned to Santarém in 1979, where he would command the Santarém Military Prison. In 1984, he returned to the EPC. Finally, Maia was promoted to Major, in 1981, and then to Lieutenant-colonel.
Photo of statue in homage of Salgueiro Maia in Santarem. Photo by Isabel Cruz (Flickr)
Many other offers were given to the Captain, but he would refuse them all, as he did not want any position of political power after the revolution. This is one of the reasons why he still is remembered, for his selfless acts to free his country.
He refused to be a member of the Council of the Revolution (still during the Revolutionary Period), a military attaché in an embassy of his choice, civil governor of the Santarém District, and to belong to the Military House of the President of the Republic, simply deciding to follow his military career.
Every year, on the 25 of April, his courage and determination are remembered by everyone, with documentaries and speeches about him such as the famous movie Capitães de Abril.
Awards & Recognition of Salgueiro Maia
In 1983, Salgueiro Maia received the Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty, the only award he got while alive. In 1992, he was awarded the rank of Grand Officer of the Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword, of Valor, Loyalty, and Merit. Maia was also awarded the Gold Medal of Santarem in 2007 and on 25 April 2016, the Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator. This last award was delivered to his widow on the 30 June 2016, the day before his 72nd birthday.
During the first CNN Portugal Summit, Prime Minister Antonio Costa’s promise to increase salaries by 20% in the next four years was repeatedly questioned. The Prime Minister of Portugal defended the measure and believes it is inevitable in the EU landscape.
Prime Minister Antonio Costa confessed he was “surprised by the surprise” caused by his support for a 20% increase in salaries in the next four years when the average wage increased by 22% in the last few years. He said, “It is necessary that we maintain the current rate of wage increase that we have seen in the last few years”.
Costa has said there is “no other remedy”, but to increase salaries. He said, “the new generation is not available to work the long hours that companies are used to. Young people do not want to work in a place with authoritarian management and that is uncreative”.
The Prime Minister reminded the audience that for the first time since the 16th century, the Portuguese have a qualified generation, above the EU average. Antonio Costa said that in the last few years, an effort has been made to decrease school dropout rates and increase the qualifications of young people. The government decreased school dropout rates “from 12.9 to 5%”, reminded Costa.
Mario Centeno, the President of the Bank of Portugal said at the CNN Portugal Summit that “there is no other way to increase income other than through the increase in qualifications”. He also argues that the state should increase the salaries of public workers next year, as long as “inflationary pressures” are not created.
Heading to Portugal and looking to experience the country in a unique way? If you are sick and tired of the same old bus tours, booking a river cruise for a day could be the way to go. The main rivers in Portugal are the Tagus river, the Douro river, the Guadiana, Minho, and Lima, with the most popular cruises sailing the first two. Coming from Spain, the Tagus river is the longest on the Iberian Peninsula, over 1,000 kilometers long, and flows through Abrantes, Entrocamento, Santarem, Almada, Vila Franca de Xira, and Lisbon. The Douro river is the most popular for cruises, particularly wine river cruises. Located in the North of the country, it gave its name to the region of Douro near Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. If you are overwhelmed by endless river cruise options in Portugal, here are our top 9 Portugal river cruises 2022.
One of the most popular cruises in Porto is a 9.5 hour all-inclusive Douro river cruise that allows guests to spend a full day discovering the landscapes of the Douro valley. Hop on a traditional Portuguese Rabelo boat in Porto which will take you to Peso da Regua, Pinhao, and Sabrosa. The cruise includes two spots to wine estates where you will get to taste some of the finest wines produced in the vineyards. You will also get to stop at viewpoints to enjoy the scenery and taste a typical Douro lunch which includes an olive oil tasting. The whole river cruise includes a tour guide to teach you about the area, available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. This cruise is always ready to sell out so book ahead of your trip to Porto!
Organized by Taguscruises Boat Tours, this private 12-person river cruise sails off the Tagus river and Atlantic ocean to the quaint coastal town of Cascais. From Lisbon to the Portuguese Riviera, guests enjoy a ride on a luxury yacht that is between 7 and 18 meters long, featuring toilets, a kitchenette, an audio system, and a full crew. The departure is from Belem, cruising along the coast so you get to see the Lisbon sights, and then heads east to Cascais bay. Here, the yacht is anchored for 2 to 4 hours for some swimming. Soft drinks are included, but the food is not so pack a lunch.
Located in Aveiro, known as the Venice of Portugal, this cruise allows you to sail on the freshwater of the River Vouga on the colorful boats known as moliceiros. You will get picked up by your guide in Porto, either at a meeting point or your accommodation and they will drive you to Aveiro. Throughout the drive, you will get to learn about the history and development of Portugal. In Aveiro, you will ride a Moliceiro, a traditional Aveiro boat throughout the stunning river canals, with a stop at Costa Nova do Prado beach.
Departing from Porto, this Douro and Regua cruise on a large boat allows you to discover the Port wine region. The cruise includes a large breakfast, as well as lunch while you admire the Douro valley and goes through the 14-meter Crestuma-Lever Dam and the Carrapatelo Dam. Audio guides are also included in four different languages. The cruise stops at Regua where you can enjoy the town with friends. The route back is done by train.
This river cruises upon the Rio Guadiana river allowing you to see the real Algarve and discover its cuisine and culture. On this full-day cruise, you will get to follow the river that forms the border between Portugal and Spain, as well as top at Foz de Oleite and Quinta do Rio to explore the sights. Your guide will teach you about the history and cultural heritage of the Algarve throughout the discovery. Unlike many Portugal cruises, this one features an included lunch and entertainment as you will get to enjoy regional cuisine with live music playing in the background.
If you prefer a shorter cruise, this wine cruise on the Tagus river allows you to sail the river while discovering popular sights such as the 25th of April bridge, the Monument of Discoveries, and the Belém Tower. You can choose to have the cruise at sunset to enjoy a beautiful view, featuring alcoholic drinks and snacks.
Sail on a traditional “Six Bridges” cruise in Porto along the Douro river along the route of the Rabello Boats. This panoramic cruise provides gorgeous views of Porto and allows guests to follow in the footsteps of the old wine merchants that took the wine to wine cellars. You will get to snap stunning photos of Ribeira and Vila Nova de Gaia from the river, while a guide tells you about the history of the city. The cruise arrives at the last bridge where you can see the sandy beaches of Foz do Douro where the river finally pours into the ocean.
Douro river cruises are often busy so for a more luxurious and personalized experience, book this private yacht cruise along the river from Pinhao. The boat offers guests an opportunity to enjoy the Douro valley from an indoor glassed lounge with 360-degree views while enjoying a glass of Port wine. The boat also includes an outdoor deck where guests can sit outside and enjoy the panoramic views.
For those looking to explore Lisbon in a unique way, the Tagus River yellow boat cruise cruises down the Tagus River, passing by the bridge, the Belem Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery, and other iconic UNESCO World Heritage sites. The ticket for the journey also includes access to public trams and the Santa Justa lift, as well as discounts on products and services. You can hop in the yellow boat whenever you feel like sailing through the Tagus River, as well as stop at local monuments and sights to roam on your own.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said this Monday, on World Refugee Day that defending the rights of refugees “is an obligation” in Portugal and that the Portuguese regularly show “inclusion and tolerance” to refugees. The president thanked the Portuguese for their “individual and collective effort”, in a press release on the official page of the Portuguese presidency.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said, “From Ukraine and Afghanistan to Mozambique, I cite merely three places where war, human rights violations, and climate change have led millions to dislocate in search for protection”.
He goes on to say, “Defending the rights of refugees, welcoming and integrating them, is more than just about conscience, it is an obligation in a democratic and plural society with a future”.
World Refugee Day is an international day led by the United Nations to honor refugees all over the globe and build empathy and understanding for the struggles of refugees. It promotes the right to seek asylum, safe access to open borders, and the humane treatment of refugees.
Every person has the right to seek safety – whoever they are, wherever they come from & whenever they are forced to flee.
AirBus A330 of the company World2Fly made an emergency landing at Lisbon Airport on Saturday at 7:09 PM. The aircraft departed Lisbon to Varadero, Cuba but had issues with its aircraft landing gear and had over 330 passengers on board.
The flight departed on Saturday at 4:36 PM from Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon and by 5:30 was flying over Sintra to waste fuel, a normal procedure in these situations. The plane did this for over 2 hours.
An orange alert was declared at 4:52 PM and air traffic was suspended for five minutes, but other flights were not changed to other airports. Security measures at Lisbon airport included a team of firefighters, the INEM, and police at the runway, as well as workers at emergency exits in case of evacuation.
The CEO of World2Fly said that “there was no damage in the plan, nor an emergency”. Lisbon Airport merely activated the measures of emergency out of precaution and all the passengers were safe. At 9 PM the plane took off once again on its 9-hour journey to Cuba.
Scientists at the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal have discovered a mechanism that can help repair brain cells that have been damaged by a stroke. Ten scientists at the foundation found that the brain can produce new neurons through reserves of special cells. Strokes lead to brain lesions that depending on their location, can cause motor and cognitive impairments. These can lead to a loss of memory or the ability to speak.
In an announcement by the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon, the lead scientist on the study Christa Rhiner says they “found neural stem cells that detect the damage and repair tissue”. They go on to say this development “constitutes a first step in the development of drugs that promote the formation of new neurons after brain lesions”.
Rhiner and her team utilized flies and rats to understand how brain regeneration works. Rhiner says that “like our brain, the brains of animals also contain neural stem cells”. Moreover, the scientist says that many molecules and forms of intercellular communication are common in humans, flies, and rats. Therefore, she says that “it is probable that these animal models are relevant to understanding human physiology”.
The scientists in the study found a transport protein called “Swim” in the damaged area of brains and found that it is crucial to regenerate brain lesions. They found that “Swim” is produced when levels of oxygen decrease in the damaged area of the brain, leading certain cells to produce the protein. This discovery means that the scientists now know the factors necessary to regenerate brain cells in rats and flies. They hope a similar mechanism is present in the human brain.
Anabel Simões, a PhD student at the foundation says that with this discovery, new questions arise. “For example, how can we help these new neurons survive in the tissue as it heals? This is a fascinating journey and we are excited to see what we find next”.
The Champalimaud Foundation is a private biomedical research foundation founded in 2004, by the late entrepreneur António de Sommer Champalimaud.
A 25 year old woman was arrested at Lisbon Airport for taking a 9 millimeter gun in her hold luggage. The arrest was announced by the Police of Public Security (PSP) on Friday but occurred on June 9. The gun appeared on the airport x-ray and was not declared at check-in.
The woman told PSP that she did not know about the 9 millimeter gun. She has been arrested, declared a defendant, and will face the judicial process. It is unclear whether the woman was a tourist, resident, or Portuguese citizen.
The PSP has said that “after collecting the luggage, a 9 millimeter gun was found with a charger, disguised in the middle of clothes”.
According to the TAP website, only licensed gun owners can take a firearm and ammunition. At Lisbon airport, passengers must contact PSP in the inspection area for a gun permit and legal verification. If accepted, the firearm must be declared at check-in and must only go in the hold luggage. Guns are NOT allowed in cabin luggage. This does not apply to all destinations, check out the legal requirements beforehand.
Subscribe to our newsletter below to get the latest news, reviews, info and more!
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.AcceptPrivacy policy
