Portugal Holidays: England Football Squad in Vale do Lobo

Vale do Lobo Resort

Vale do Lobo Resort – Algarve Golf Holidays

Portugal Holidays: England Football Squad in Vale do Lobo Resort in Algarve, Portugal for World Cup 2014 Training

The English Football Squad has been in Vale do Lobo, for five days, training in preparation for the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil, from the 19th to the 23rd May 2014.

With news that some players were arriving in Portugal earlier than scheduled for the training, Manager Roy Hodgson was quoted as saying “Many go to Portugal, where they have homes” stating that “They don’t all go to Dubai and Las Vegas”.

Wayne Rooney also arrived early in Vale do Lobo, accompanied by two fitness instructors, in early preparation for the World Cup. Hodgson insisted that there were no concerns over his fitness, explaining that Rooney had made the arrangements for extra training.

This is the second time Vale do Lobo has been used by the English F.A. for training, the first being in 2006. This facility offers an excellent football pitch along with up-to-date gymnasium training equipment for the players and their training needs.

World famous Vale do Lobo, on the central Algarve, is home to two championship golf courses, that have twice hosted the Portuguese Open. The Royal golf course and the Ocean golf course both offer challenging and outstanding games.

Tee Times Tour Operator can offer all the support a golfer needs to play the Royal and the Ocean golf course in Vale do Lobo, plus the many golf courses that are within easy reach in this part of the Algarve. Including Quinta do Lago and San Lorenzo.

Tee Times T. O. offers an extensive selection of resorts and other accommodation for those holidaying on the central Algarve. These choices include Vale do Lobo Resort, Dona Filipa Hotel, Ria Park Hotel & Spa and Ria Park Garden Hotel.

By Richard FM Conlon

Portugal Holidays: 11th Sea Gastronomy Festival at Tavira

11th Sea Gastronomy Festival at Tavira, Algarve, Portugal

11th Sea Gastronomy Festival at Tavira, Algarve, Portugal

Portugal Holidays: 11th Sea Gastronomy Festival at Tavira, Algarve, Portugal (2nd-25th of May 2014) – Enjoy the last days!

This festival will be hosted by the town of Tavira, along with the villages of Cabanas and Santa Luzia, from the 2nd to the 25th of May 2014. With many restaurants and cafes taking part, offering local and seasonal produce from the sea, this festival is certainly worth a visit while holidaying in the Algarve to experience this seafood culinary extravaganza. This festival celebrates the culinary skills and tastes of the Mediterranean Diet, something that is recognised by Unesco as of Intangible Cultural Heritage. For Portugal, with nearly 500 miles of coastline, their vibrant fishing industry has been instrumental in the development of the Portuguese economy.

One popular Portuguese dish is Seafood rice (Arroz de marisco). This is a rice stew with a variety of shellfish. Along with tomatoes, onions, coriander and chili pepper. Also, there is the humble sardine. Popular in the Algarve with both locals and holidaymakers, they are commonly grilled, served up with a sprinkling of salt and a wedge of lemon on the side. Quite delicious and refreshing.

For those wishing to stay near Tavira there is a fantastic selection of accommodation: Pousada de Tavira – Convento da GraçaVila Galé Albacora, Vila Galé Tavira, Hotel Porta NovaPedras da Rainha, Pedras d’el Rei.

Tavira town, with an active fishing port, is a very popular holiday destination, while still holding onto its old world charm. Exploring the narrow cobbled streets, offers the opportunity to admire the Portuguese and Moorish architecture. Along with over 20 churches, described as some of the finest in the Algarve.

For those wishing to fit some golf in during their holiday in Portugal, there is a fine selection nearby: BenamorQuinta de CimaQuinta da Ria, and lot more in the Algarve. All offering exciting games in fantastic locations. 

by Richard FM Conlon

Miguel Angel Jimenez – Champion of Open of Spain 2014

Spain Golf: Miguel Angel Jimenez increases his legend – Champion of Open of Spain 2014.

Miguel Angel Jimenez - Champion of Open of Spain 2014

Miguel Angel Jimenez – Champion of Open of Spain 2014

Open of Spain – a spectacular and vibrant, with the best outcome dreamed, the victory of a Spanish player Miguel Angel Jimenez, ‘the Pisha’ relentless ‘Mechanic’, pure-player which smokes after the deeds and that holes in the greens – the golfer at is 50 years depletes laudatory epithets as a result of its ongoing magic in his art, his golf.

And all with a thrilling denouement, three players runaway towards a title that ended up in the hands of Miguel Angel Jimenez, who recalled a crowning glory, on a first moment, the historic playoff prompting Raphael Jacquelin to lift the trophy, now twelve months ago.

This time, however, even though the Open of Spain has to be defined as beyond even the last breath in the last two years, all was resolved at the first hearing, when the atmosphere was buzzing with tension to the surface that only the greatest and most experts, as Miguel Angel Jimenez, are able to handle.

The Malaga born has now filled a big deficit in his curriculum that was for a long time. Patriotic to the core, Miguel Angel Jimenez was missing from his history the illustrious victory in the Open of Spain, a notch on his belt of successes that shines with tremendous pride, motivation more than enough to get another new cigar from his bag , lighting it sparingly and give cheers with the thousands of people who supported him all these days in PGA Catalunya Resort.

And, moreover the triumph, Miguel Angel Jimenez won the affection of all, with that particular form of understanding golf that crosses borders. His victory, his expected and desired triumph, further forged with sharp edging drama, doubts and uncertainties dotted here and there on his last tour that magnified so much more this last victory.

With young Thomas Pieters as companion star game, Malaga soon marked the territory, with a birdie on the first hole, demonstration that from the start he was going for it. The Belgian, leader on the 1st tee, lost that honorable condition because of three consecutive bogeys between holes 2 and 4, advantage taken by the famous MAJ to access the highest position, with Australian Richard Green stuck to his neck, both tied to the passage by Ecuador turn, critical to the Malaga born golfer.

Bogeys on holes 9 and 10 were a major break in the brilliant career of Miguel Angel Jimenez to the title, consecutive setbacks giving wings to Richard Green, starting a continuous trade-off decision between the two that also took part Thomas Pieters, persistent in his refusal to stay out of the fight for the title.

With tension to the surface, two holes were critical in the outcome of such a frantic and exciting history. At hole 14, Richard Green, first in the rough before making triple bogey, fought boldly for lost ground and joined a heads up on wat appeared an exclusive between experience and the burgeoning youth between Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thomas Pieters, between the consolidated golf and the yet to be constructed golf.

The Belgian, shamelessly, raised Jimenez to his greatest challenge, an eagle on the 15th hole that produced a new tie between the two at the top of the standings. From there, drama, heightened tension, agony, hundreds of nail biting on the perimeter of the streets and the greens by thousands of fans eager to the triumph of Miguel Angel Jimenez, who stumbled as Thomas Pieters on the 17th hole, opportunity provided at Richard Green, who joined a tachycardia playoff tiebreaker.

And it was there, at the peak moment, when Miguel Angel Jimenez, patient and serene, luxury spectator of trembling strokes by their rivals, smoked a new cigar, win number 21 on the European Tour, win number 1 in the Open of Spain. Number 1 for a Number 1 player.

Source: Opengolf.es

Courtesy of Tee Times Tour Operator – Your Golf Holidays partner in Spain and Portugal.