Today, we received this letter from DH Property Lda:
Graham,
We are in the process of buying and restoring a 16th century stone watermill in Central Portugal close to Penela. I wondered if your bloggers may be interested in occasional reports, design & construction issues,photographs and descriptions of any problems and fixes that we come across on the way. We expect this “Grand Designs” project to take approximately two years to complete. We are also intending to incorporate quite a few very modern ideas into this new home.
Please let me know if this is the sort of thing you are interested in.
DH Property Lda
The answer is of course yes! Our readers are always interested in property refurbishment, especially if it is illustrated step-by-step and done in the area.
It’s Festa time again. This time it’s the festa of St. Amaro.
He is our village patron saint and every year the village sends out a group of men and women to collect donations door-to-door to help pay for the festivities. Starting early in the morning 8am Sunday morning the peace shattering sound of what sounds like cannons echoing around the hills of Penela, Espinhal and Lamas. It is in fact loud rockets which are fired high into the air to alert people that there is a festa taking place. These loud bangs carry on throughout the week of the festa.
At 11am we started to hear the explosions coming closer to our house although we could not see any one we could also hear the pipe and drum band coming up the hill getting louder and louder. Their jolly tune echoing like the rockets. Eventually , sweating profusely they sat under a tree near our gate, drank a fortifying glass of wine and started to play again in 34 degree heat!.
Here is a short video so that you can hear the sound the pipe and drum band makes as they walk through the village.
When you give a donation to the festa you are joining part of the fun and tradition of your village. Many foreigners don’t know what to give they are afraid of giving too much or too little and offending people. The simplest way to decide what to give is to have a look at the list of people who have already given. The amount they have given is written down donation by donation. 15 to 20 Euros will be plenty and well appreciated. You may even have a rocket set off at your gate to let everyone in the village know you have made a donation. Some villages hand out little token gifts when you give a donation. This year we were given a soup bowl, embossed with a picture of the Saint.
A great deal of organization and work goes into the festas. Local village women and girls meet up to make the paper flowers and other decorations which are strung up from lamppost, houses, and trees around the village roads. In some villages where the inhabitants are getting old, plastic tapes are used instead of labor intensive homemade bunting (we have seen these with “danger electricity” written on them. These tapes are supposed to be buried above high voltage cables underground !
The festa will go on for 3 days from Friday to Sunday. There are fun and games, and of course wine and food stalls. Music is provided by local bands some of which are famous on the festa circuit. The music always starts late and is far louder than most people can bear. The whole village will be kept awake by the loud music all night long, often until 3 of 4 am and if you love dancing this is the place to be.
“Lets go out to eat”, you say. Then you sit thinking about those few same old restaurants that you always go to.
Why not try these restaurants (in image below) in Miranda do Corvo, Central Portugal?
They were all featured in the Chanfana gastronomic week. (Chanfana is mature goat stewed in red wine) it’d delicious and if you have never had it cooked in a wood fired traditional oven, you have never lived!
Ingredients
1 lb (half a Kilo)Boneless goat meat cubed
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
1 ounce Bacon diced
2 tablespoons Olive oil
1 medium Onion sliced
1/2 teaspoon Paprika
1 Bay leaf or Laurel leaf
2 cloves Garlic
Good splash of Piri-piri (chili sauce)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 bottle of strong Red wine
Instructions
In a covered, fire-proof casserole, heat oil. Add bacon and fry until starting to crisp. Add onions, garlic, paprika and nutmeg and sauté until onion is just starting to soften. Collect the mixture on the side of pan and add the meat. Brown well then mix with onion/bacon mixture. Add bay leaf, red wine and piri-piri sauce to taste.
On the stove, heat the casserole over medium high heat until wine starts to simmer. Cover the dish and place in the oven. After 45 minutes, remove the lid and cook for another 45 minutes. If the ingredients start to dry out too much, add more wine.
Serve with boiled potatoes and spinach or a side salad of onion, tomatoes and lettuce.
The home made carts of the Penela area once again took to the track to prove how brave or mad the people of central Portugal really are. This is a repeat performance from 2008 – which we also took pictures of and can be seen here.
Starting around 3pm on Sunday afternoon the event was a great success. We found out about it from the posters put up in the local cafes. The event is free to watch and we would recommend anyone who wants to be part of the local community to attend.
On a steep section of road some kilometers long, the home made carts were taken up to the starting position high above Espinhal and timed on their downward run through many twists and turns. Many crashed before the end, but for the brave few who skidded past the chequered flag at the finish and crashed headlong into the hay bales and old tyres at the T junction of the Espinhal/Relvas road.
The first contestants were moving very fast, close to the ground not on home made carts but on large wheeled skateboards. They looked more like scooters with the handlebars cut off. They certainly did go fast, that is until they cam to the end of the race and went tumbling into the bales.
Some of the home made cart drivers used too much brake on the sharp bends and went spinning down the track out of control. Others lost a wheel or simply couldn’t turn fast enough and went flying off the road.
Great fun for the spectators of which there were about 400!
And that’s exactly what we did on Friday night. We and approximately 60 other people from the UK, Ireland, Holland and Portugal attended a Fado evening held in a local wine making “Adega”. For a nice change, the setting was not an old damp stone barn smelling of animals and sprouting potatoes – it was the spotlessly clean commercial wine production building of Maria Luisa D. Lapa dos Santos Reis. Produtore, Engarrafadora de Vinho.
Starting at around 8.30 on a beautifully warm evening we met in Poudentes, a smallvillage which has been making wine since before the Roman invasion. The wine here is well regarded in the local area and exported throughout Europe.
The evening was in aid of the CERSI charity of Penela and took the form of a full dinner with local wines, cheese, sausage, honey and other delicious morsels taken from the immediate area.
A word about the wine, we had red and white spumante, white wine, Silver medal winning red wine and Jeropiga or “farmers port”. Ten years old and wonderfully golden colored with huge flavors. All of this was supplied by our host Maria Luisa D. Lapa dos Santos Reis.
After chatting around the tables of starters we got down to the serious business of the fado. First of all we heard Lisbon Fado sang by a Fadoista with a beautifully melodic voice. Accompanied by the classical guitar, guitarra Portuguesa and a double bass. The sound filled the huge space even though there was no artificial amplification. The audience was captivated.
A short break for the serving of traditional deserts and coffees was had, after which, a duet including a male singer who sang Coimbra Fado began to perform.
The evening finished around one am with “Caldo Verde” soup served and heading for home.
Although the Fado is sang in Portugues. The shear strength of emotion that the singers sing each song with make you want to listen. A very enjoyable evening indeed.
I recommend that you check these posts out first to understand how this blog may help you.
Stone Property with Views Price: €40,000 Description: A fantastic investment opportunity featuring large garden, beautiful views and sound structure. Location: Cotas, Alvorge Reference No: 219
Services Connected… Now What?
If you are about to start work stripping out, taking the roof off or knocking down walls – Stop !
Now is the time to make sure that you have all the council licenses (penalties of €400 per offense are common) that you need to do the work and if you are thinking of enlarging the property, putting on a veranda, installing a new concrete first floor, fitting a new roof or simply knocking through a window or door, you should check that you don’t need planning permission first.
Ruin with Large Grassy Plot Price: €25,000 Description: A local stone ruin on a flat plot of land measuring 1000m2 10mins from town. Location: Vila Novo, Miranda Reference No: 193
If you do require a planning project and planning permission there are some stringent new regulations which will not only delay your work but may make the refurbishment of your property almost impossible. This is another reason why you should only deal with a fully licensed Portuguese company when looking to buy a low cost or bargain house. Who else can give you the advice you require on local building conditions and viability?
Of course if the agents you deal with are not licensed to sell property and are not registered in Portugal with an AMI number, you have ABSOLUTLY NO COME BACK OR SECURITY in your purchase at all.
Once you find a property that you like. You should ask for the details of the property in writing. If you intend to refurbish or enlarge the property get the seller/agent to go to the local authority planning department with you and ask if it is possible to do what you want to do.
This is the ONLY way you can be happy that what you are buying is what you are going to get.
Low-Cost Renovation Project
Price: €17,000
Description: A typical stone house renovation project in a beautiful village with shops, schools and amenities.
Location: Macas Dona Maria, Alvaiazere
Reference No: 162
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Everyone’s definition of a bargain is different and in the current economic conditions more people are trying to find an ideal property at a very low price.
Let’s look at the options. Low cost property. These homes are normally in poor to bad condition and although the buy price is low the build or refurbishment cost may be high, or at least, higher that you might have expected. These properties also tend to be smaller and at the lower end of the price range. You should keep in mind that the ideal low cost property could be a little remote. This may be what you are looking for but there other factors to take into account, such as the two below: 1) Is there a council water supply nearby? If not what will it really cost to have one installed and how long will it take for the water company to arrange the installation? The only way of knowing is to request and official quotation from the local council. This may take weeks.
Courtyard House in Casalinho
Price: €60,000
Description: This double property is enclosed completely within its own perimeter walls, acting as wonderful Mediterranean courtyard.
Location: Casalinho, Miranda
Reference No: 153
2) Has the house got an existing electrical supply? If it has what level of power is it metered for. Old houses normally have very low power supplied to them as this is a way that the old owners saved money. Think of one light and a radio, this is a typical usage. You may or may not be able to have the power supply strength upgraded. Even if you have the power supply in the house renewed the power getting to the house particularly if it is remote may not be sufficient for your needs. The cost of increasing this “line” power is immense.
Of course, the many advantages with being the lucky buyer to find and snap up and undervalued property are obvious.
Casa do Ze
Price: €28,000
Description: Originally built around 100 years ago, this typical Portuguese home has been brought up to date with new structuring.
Location: Estrada Real, Miranda
Reference No: 149
The hunting dogs are owned and trained by specialist handlers. They made a terrible noise when they arrived at the breakfast location in their dog transports. I had visions of being chased up a tree by a pack of mad dogs during the hunt.
The dogs were a broad mixture of breeds there were some Podingoes the dog of Portugal and a lot of mixed breed hound like dogs.
We all boarded our pre allocated 4×4’s and set off up the winding mountain roads to our nominated hunting position. This was marked by a piece of tape tied to a tree we made ourselves comfortable in the 16 degree heat and waited for the signal that the hunt had started. This was a very loud rocket set off by the organizers. Anticipation mounted as we started to hear the dogs making that funny howling yelping noise that the do when they are following a scent trail.
I admit, my mind did return to the earlier though of what would happen if the pack came across the two of us sitting there in the middle of nowhere. I didn’t have to think long as the dogs didn’t even look as us as they ran past.
During this hunt we were told that we could only shoot adult male and female deer (viado) and wild boar (javeli).
As the dogs had passed our position a long time earlier we assumed that we were sitting in a barren area. When at a brisk trot came a magnificent stag boasting some very fine antlers straight past us. We were so taken aback that my friend missed completely from fairly close range and the stag carried on its way. Then followed a period of stunned silence and thoughts of missed chances. Just before the end of the hunt a fully grown female deer came our way and was shot and killed instantly with a single shot. The hunt stewards were called and they came and took the deer back to the meeting place to be examined and measured by the team of Vets. It was my companions first Deer and he was very pleased with
his skillful shot.
We returned in the 4×4 to the fiesta centre to find out what else had been shot and to hear the “one that got away” stories. A crowd of local men women and children gathered around to see the Deer and watch the Vets record the size, condition and age of the deer and take medical samples for analysis.
The hunters entered the village association hall and had a very late lunch of soup, vegetable rice with roast port and fresh fruit. During the meal it was evident that many people had grown up with each other and been friends a long
time.
An excellent day out even for a non hunter and not what I thought it would be like at all.
Incidentally. The deer meat is auctioned to the public and restaurateurs at the end of the hunt once the Vets have made sure each animal is fit for consumption.
Our friend was invited to a hunt by some of his Portuguese friends at the weekend. Here is his report.
Hunting is a huge sport in Portugal and is very strictly regulated by the government and the Police or GNR.
I knew in advance that I wouldn’t be able to even hold a gun let alone fire one without getting into trouble so I was happy to be a spectator and enjoy mixing with local people in their environment. The reason for the hunt was to reduce the number of deer which have been raiding remote farm land and eating or damaging crops.
The day started at 8.30 am when we met the other participants in a fiesta centre between Lousa and Miranda do Corvo. Around one hundred people turned up and were served outside standing up with a large breakfast consisting of boiled pigs head and trotters (called chispe) This is eaten between two half’s of a bread roll acting as a plate and sandwich. There was also grilled belly pork (entrameada), Chorizo sausage and boiled bones ( pork bones with a little meet left on cooked in a flavorful broth, delicious. washed down with orange sumol, water and local wine.
Then the draw was held to decide where each hunter would be positioned during the hunt. This is especially important as some hunters have high powered rifles (carbines) so they are positioned in a way that prevents them shooting fellow hunters at the other side of the hunt. Other hunters use a specially designed for the purpose, bullet that is fired from a 12 bore shotgun.
In each hunters envelope was a reminder of the rules of the hunt, a map of their hunting position and the number of the 4×4 vehicle that would be used to take them up to the top of the mountains. Then there was a briefing by members of the association committee to reinforce the rules and to talk about shooting safety. This was followed by the hunters payer and then were we off hunting.
Before going through the hunt in detail. I should mention how impressed I was with the fact that the GNR Police were checking people licenses to carry a gun and their license to hunt. Both carry big penalties if the hunter is found not to have the correct documents. An ambulance was on standby all day and a team of Vets were there to inspect the dogs and their individual medical cards.
(Note – you can find a great deal of properties for sale in the beautiful region of the hunt at Coimbra Property Shop. Many of these houses are under 70,000eur making them ideal for those wishing to take the plunge and mae the move abroad.)
Its always the same, you book your flights and then start looking for a hire car at a reasonable price. I personally get frustrated that car hire agents get in the way of my internet search for the main car hire players.
However, located at the majority of Portuguese airports are the usual worldwide companies. Please note that Porto airport is actually called Porto Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport just in case your hire car ends up at a different airport – we have heard of this happening. Note – Porto Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport is the nearest to Coimbra.
Avis – http://www.avis.co.uk/
Europcar – http://www.europcar.com
Alamo – http://www.alamo.co.uk
Sixt – http://www.sixt.co.uk
Holiday autos – http://www.holidayautos.co.uk
AutoEurope – http://www.autoeurope.com/
Budget and Thrifty are also based at the airport, which are great cheap options.
If you hire a car in Portugal, all drivers must be over 25 and have held a license for over 12 months. EU nationals need only their country’s licenses to drive in Portugal. UK holders of the pre-EU green paper license should have an International Driving Permit.
Warning, you can not book a hire car without a valid credit card. Cash and UK direct debit cards will NOT be accepted.
Today, we received this letter from DH Property Lda:
