Let’s Travel (Virtually!) to Portugal, for “300 Days of Sun”

On June 10, we’re (virtually) heading to Portugal with some inspiration from Deborah Lawrenson’s novel 300 Days of Sun. Portugal has a fascinating history, and, as Lawrenson’s book reminds us, it was neutral in WW2 but a hotbed of spies! ⠀

If you haven’t been to Portugal yet you’ll want to put it on your bucket list. Founded in 868, it’s one of the oldest countries in Europe, and the oldest in the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal became a military, economic and political power in the 15th and 16th centuries, a time that is known as the ‘Age of Discovery’ resulting in shipping expeditions that created new trade routes with India and Africa and the discovery of what would become Brazil.  Portugal’s influence on the world has been extraordinary.

Not only does it have stunning beaches and 80-foot waves for surfers, Portugal has its own essence. Below we’ve compiled some information to help get you ‘warmed up’ for our JourneyWoman Book Club.  Please feel free to add your tips, advice and stories!

Book Summary

Combining the atmosphere of Jess Walters Beautiful Ruins with the intriguing historical backstory of Christina Baker Klines’ The Orphan Train, Deborah Lawrenson’s mesmerizing novel transports readers to a sunny Portuguese town with a shadowy past where two women, decades apart, are drawn into a dark game of truth and lies that still haunts the shifting sea marshes.

Travelling to Faro, Portugal, journalist Joanna Millard hopes to escape an unsatisfying relationship and a stalled career. Faro is an enchanting town, and the seaside views are enhanced by the company of Nathan Emberlin, a charismatic younger man. But behind the crumbling facades of Moorish buildings, Joanna soon realizes, Faro has a seedy underbelly, its economy compromised by corruption and wartime spoils. And Nathan has an ulterior motive for seeking her company: he is determined to discover the truth involving a child’s kidnapping that may have taken place on this dramatic coastline over two decades ago.

Joanna’s subsequent search leads her to Ian Rylands, an English ex-pat who cryptically insists she will find answers in The Alliance, a novel written by American Esta Hartford. The book recounts an American couple s experience in Portugal during World War II, and their entanglements both personal and professional with their German enemies. Only Rylands insists the book isn’t fiction, and as Joanna reads deeper into The Alliance, she begins to suspect that Esta Hartford s story and Nathan Emberlins may indeed converge in Faro where the past not only casts a long shadow but still exerts a very present danger.

Borders: Air borders are open with EU countries except for Spain and Italy, and with the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, the USA, Canada, Venezuela, South Africa, Brazil and other countries whose official language is Portuguese. There are still air traffic limits owing to reduced air transport operations, which it is hoped will be gradually restored.  

“Clean & Safe” seal: Turismo de Portugal has created the “Clean & Safe” seal, which distinguishes those tourist activities that guarantee compliance with the hygiene and cleanliness requirements for the prevention and control of Covid-19 and any other infections, in accordance with Department of Health recommendations. This seal covers the whole of the tourism value chain, including hotels, local accommodation, tour operators and restaurant and catering companies, which are simultaneously implementing specific codes and rules for the various types of services. The high take-up rate by companies, which have accounted for over 4000 of the available Seals, is very significant evidence of the commitment of Portuguese companies to welcoming tourists in safe conditions.

Phased Re-Opening: On May 18, Portugal took another step in the process of gradually opening up its economy and social life. This new phase was marked by the opening not only of our museums but also of other cultural amenities such as monuments, art galleries, interpretative centres, palaces and churches. Restaurants, cafés, patisseries, esplanades and shopping centres of up to 400 square metres opened as well.

This will constitute the second phased and controlled opening stage, following local traders, bookshops, hairdressers, beauty salons, libraries, sailing clubs, golf courses, taxi and rent-a-car companies and some public transport services, which previously opened their doors on May 4, with highly positive results. The effects of the pandemic in Portugal have maintained their downward curve, strengthening confidence and certainty in the measures implemented from the 18, and likewise those proposed for the subsequent phases.

The strict and rigorous health and safety measures imposed in Portugal by the Department of Health will remain in force, such as the obligatory use of masks, the continuation of two-metre social distancing, and conditions for frequent disinfection of hands by employees, visitors or customers, and of surfaces and spaces, the allocation of which will be subject to limits. In restaurants and similar establishments, ventilation and frequent air renewal will be given priority and all decorative elements will be removed from tables. Customers are advised to book in advance and payment must be made by contactless processes.

Photos: Carolyn Ray, December 2015

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