Arcos: Sub-17 de Portugal venceu Cazaquistão na qualificação para o Europeu

A selecção nacional sub-17 venceu o Cazaquistão, por 2-0, no primeiro jogo da fase de qualificação para o Campeonato da Europa da categoria. William Carvalho (24m) e Ruben Pinto (75m) foram os marcadores dos golos, na partida que se realizou em Arcos de Valdevez. Read More/Ler mais...

Wine production is down 30%

Wine production in the Alto Minho is expected to be one of the worst in recent years. Not only has the weather been dismal this year with far too much rain and not enough sun, but there is also another worry: disease. Read a blog I posted on July 17th (Vineyards in Minho Threatened by Potentially Devastating Plague) for more information about this insect that's plaguing the region's vineyards.

Quebras de 30 por cento na produção vinícola
Correio do Minho - Braga, Portugal
26 Sep 2008: Há quebras de produção vinícola na ordem dos 30 por cento. Os concelhos de Amares, Arcos de Valdevez e de Ponte da Barca são os mais afectados, sobretudo, pela doença do ‘míldio’ - provocada pela humidade na época de Maio/Junho. Quanto à ‘flavescência dourada’ (transmitida por um insecto), as adegas temem a praga. Os agricultores já se queixam e as adegas cooperativas temem pela sustentatibilidade do sector na região minhota. (Fonte: Correio do Minho)

Vandalismo nos Arcos de Valdevez

Vandalism in Arcos de Valdevez is on the rise and Mayor Francisco Araujo doesn't seem to have a plan to properly deal with these idiotic drunks. He seems to think that better education will solve this problem. Maybe the next time one of these pathetic vandals is caught, he should be tied half-naked to the pelourinho for a day or two. This practice (caning) seems to work well in Singapore. Look, I understand perfectly that young people get drunk occassionally and act follish. I was a partier myself at one time in my youth. But I draw the line on vandalism of property, especially private property. Read the story in Correio do Minho Vandalismo não pára no concelho.

Arcos: Tentaram assaltar ourivesaria com o rabo entre pernas

Tentaram assaltar ourivesaria mas fugiram sem levar nada
Dois (burros e estupidos) homens armados e encapuzados tentaram assaltar, na madrugada desta quarta-feira, uma ourivesaria no centro histórico de Arcos de Valdevez, mas acabaram por se pôr em fuga sem levar nada face ao aparecimento «repentino» dos proprietários. (Fonte: IOL Diario)

Whatever happened to the good old days? This is yet one more reason why I support the right to bear arms. If every person was armed, there would be far fewer of these petty and idiotic crimes.

Referendo sobre integração de Viana do Castelo na Comunidade

Referendo sobre integração de Viana do Castelo na Comunidade
24 Sep 2008: A Câmara Municipal de Viana do Castelo aprovou hoje, por unanimidade, a pergunta do referendo local sobre a adesão de Viana do Castelo à Comunidade Intermunicipal Minho Lima que deverá decorrer ainda este ano. “Concorda que o Município de Viana do Castelo integre a Comunidade Intermunicipal Minho-Lima a constituir pelos municípios da respectiva NUT III – Arcos de Valdevez, Caminha, Melgaço, Monção, Paredes de Coura, Ponte da Barca, Ponte de Lima, Valença, Viana do Castelo e Vila Nova de Cerveira - no quadro da Lei n.º 45/2008?” foi a questão apresentada pelos vereadores do PSD e aprovada por unanimidade na reunião de 12 do corrente mês. (Fonte: Jornal Regional)

A polémica fronteira entre Soajo e Cabana Maior

Here's an interesting article in the Noticias dos Arcos by Professor Jorge Ferraz Lage, a tireless advocate for Soajo. Professor Lage has conducted extensive research regarding the history of Soajo and its status as a Vila. All Soajeiros owe Prof. Lage a huge debt of gratitude for his advocacy of Soajo. Click here for other articles written by Prof. Lage.

Local governments lower property taxes

In a stunning move, local governments in the Alto Minho district of Viana do Castelo are lowering taxes on real estate. This is an action rarely undertaken by governments at any level. Politicians generally find it easy to raise taxes and hardly ever have the intestinal fortitude to lower them. In Viana, for example, property taxes will be lowered by 20%. In Arcos de Valdevez, the town council is reducing property taxes by 20% for properties assessed since 2003 and by 12.5% for those assessed prior to 2003. The political leadership should be applauded for acting to reduce the tax burden on their citizens. With the real estate markets languishing and property values declining, these governments are behaving responsibly. Read more/ler mais

Lobo com GPS na Serra do Soajo

While I personally believe, and have already blogged on this topic earlier this year, that the indigenous Ibérico wolves of our Minho region should be protected from arbitrary killings by hunters, our people also have the right to be properly compensated for animals killed by wolves. It's fantastic that the government's researchers are now using GPS to track the wolves' movements in the region. The problem remains, however, that as long as the government and the national park's bureaucrats refuse to compensate shepherds and farmers for their losses, the wolves will continue to be hunted. Some shepherds have simply given up altogether (read story). The simple solution, which would invariably lead to harmony between the wolves and the residents, is to promptly compensate them for losses.

Lobo Ibérico: Colar GPS no pescoço de Fojo 'revela' segredos da ...
LUSA - Lisboa,Portugal
Melgaço, Viana do Castelo, 19 Set (Lusa) - O jovem lobo Fojo não sabe, mas o colar com GPS que tem no pescoço permite aos investigadores do Projecto de Investigação e Conservação do Lobo no Noroeste conhecer todos os seus passos na Serra do Soajo.

"Este pode ser um dos animais que ajuda a alimentar as crias, uma espécie de 'baby-sitter' da alcateia, já que regressa sempre ao local onde estão as crias", afirmou a bióloga Helena Rio Maior, que tem monitorizado as deslocações do lobo desde que lhe colocou o colar, na manhã de 20 de Agosto.

O Fojo, um macho entre um e dois anos de idade, pertence à alcateia do Soajo, que tem oito elementos confirmados, entre crias, adultos e sub-adultos, tendo sido apanhado numa armadilha colocada na serra, junto ao local onde os investigadores tinham detectado a presença de crias na noite anterior. Ler mais/Read more..

Os Bombos de S.to Andre

The "Bombos de S.to Andre" of Freixo de Cima in Amarante performing in Soajo on August 12th during Soajo's festival.

Video: Vila de Soajo

Vila de Soajo
Uploaded by chiolo-maia

Alberto with his horse Sparky walking to Soajo

Video: Soajo's Avenida 25 de Abril during the Festas

I shot this video .... while driving from Arcos de Valdevez. Gasp... hope the GNR and my car insurance company don't read this Blog!

Passing the festas on to other "festeiros"

In this photo, taken August 15th, Franco Leiras, Russo and Domingos are leading the pack of Festeiros as they officially hand over the 2008 Festas to the new 2009 Festeiros. As they walk from house to house singing folk songs, the festas are officially handed over. Lots of singing and partying ensues.

Vacation is Over

Hello my friends in Soajo and around the world. My last post on this Blog was in mid-August while I was vacationing in Soajo. Thanks to our friend Joaquim Neto for letting me access the Internet from his laptop. My visit to our ancestral land was tremendously enjoyable, especially during the August festivals. I met up with many childhood friends I had not seen for decades. We drank lots of beer, wine, and talked for hours in Soajo's cafes. We're all older now, but it seems just like yesterday that we were all running around Soajo's narrow lanes playing and wide open "terras" without a care in the world. Today, with families and responsibilities, our lives are much more complicated. Visiting our land and mountains refreshes the soul, and, however brief the visit, it's always a welcome relief from the hectic lives we lead overseas as immigrants.

Now that my vacation is over, I'm back to the rat race. Thank you all for your patience during this all-too-brief respite. Check back regularly for new posts, videos and photos of the "festas". With tons of photos and videos to sort out, I will be adding new posts weekly, if not daily.