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Power to the padel and the new Wimbledon

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We always like to be there at the birth of a new phenomenon so we say power to the padel and the new Wimbledon.

It was lights out, all out, this past week as London took its place on the Formula 1-style Premier Padel calendar.

Padel, described to us in Portugal as the child that tennis and squash would have begotten, has taken Britain by storm this summer.

And 20,000 padel fans, new and old, have filed through Olympia to see padel’s finest put through their paces.

And with the type of flair and salesmanship you would expect from the Saudis who are championing the event.

Padel Pedro

Bat’s the way to do it: Champion padel players

Sela chief growth officer Luke Lloyd-Davies predicted: ‘My hope would be it could become a Wimbledon of padel.

‘It is all up for being shaped and discussed with Premier Padel and with the Lawn Tennis Association.’

Padel’s popularity has long been enjoyed in the Iberian peninsula.

Where it is even more popular than tennis and the second highest participation sport after football.

Padel’s beauty is, of course, in its simplicity.

Keeeeep dancin’: With Judy Murray in Portugal

With its underarm serve, smaller enclosed court and glass walls keep rallies alive longer.

The underarm serve, smaller enclosed court, and glass walls keeping rallies alive longer.

And making it simple for beginners including this tyro in Quinto do Lago in Portugal.

Armed then with the tennis skills passed on to me by Judy Murray (only the best).

Padel prices

Its accessibility too makes it a clear winner with Spain and Portuguese courts costing between €6 and €20.

Meaning at its optimum only €5 for the four of you.

Ideal for couples and families on holiday.

Compared to the £100 it could cost you around London.

Just a nod there to the padel people who are trying to hit me up here for a donation for a court around East Lothian.

Although they might want to sign me up as a professional.

Countries, Deals, Europe

Porchewgal the foodie’s haven

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And here’s somewhere to get your teeth into… Porchewgal the foodie’s haven.

Where it’s two full three-course meals and grazing with pasteis de nata and quaffing Vinho Verde every day.

Which is probably why Cristiano Ronaldo decamped to the Gulf to hone his body.

I partly blame José, who puts on tours de force in Portugal for visitors, and the pounds.

With no carnivore or piscavore left behind.

While Quinta do Lago serves up sustenance and sports in equally oversized portions.

Fado, footie, Fatima & food

There are, of course, other resorts available, although only one for Special One José.

For whom everything and everyone came from Coimbra, including, of course José.

And here we turn to management experts Amazing Evolution will keep you sated.

Portugal savours its traditions and, of course, when it comes to food, they are a cod-fearing people.

No visit to its ancient capital, Lisbon, is complete without trying bacalhau à Brás.

The much-loved salted cod, finely shredded potatoes and egg dish.

Or enjoying that warm pastel de nata fresh from the oven from the Pastéis de Belém bakery.

Beyond the restaurants, food lovers should explore the Time Out food market.

And neighbourhoods including Mouraria, Intendente and Príncipe Real.

Where independent cafes, wine bars and traditional taverns sit side by side.

We’ve got it Infame

Amazing Locations will put you up in 1908 Lisboa Hotel which is perfectly positioned for exploring Lisbon’s thriving culinary scene.

Their restaurant Infame, has become a destination for Lisbon locals and creatives.

Serving modern Portuguese cuisine inspired by seasonal ingredients from local producers and the best cocktails and wines.

And get this… their dishes start from €15.

With rooms at 1908 from €140 per night.

Portugal’s take on a tale of two cities would, of course, be the capital and Porto.

Although Jose would have something to say about Coimbra.

Vinho Vici Verde

Hidden between Porto and the Douro Valley, Amarante is one of the north’s best-kept culinary secrets.

Set in the heart of the Vinho Verde region, at the heart of the town sits Casa da Calçada.

It is home to the Michelin-starred Largo do Paço.

Here, beautifully crafted tasting menus showcase the finest seasonal ingredients from northern Portugal.

Combining traditional flavours with contemporary techniques.

And you can learn too about that great vinho gateway Vinho Verde at one of their estates.

Or enjoy leisurely riverside cafes.

Or wander Amarante’s historic centre.

Where independent bakeries, wine shops and artisan producers celebrate the flavours of the region.

Largo do Paco’s exclusive tasting menus start from €150.

Rooms at Casa da Calcada start from €230 per night.

Porklife

If you prefer pigging out on pork then Alentejo is the region for you.

Here it’s all about timeless recipes, exceptional local produce and slow, seasonal cooking.

Signature dishes include porco preto, the region’s prized acorn-fed black pork.

And açorda alentejana, a rustic bread soup flavoured with garlic, coriander and olive oil.

While you can learn about local vintages Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez and Antão Vaz from family-owned wineries.

You’ll be based near Montemor-o-Novo at Sleep & Nature.

Monte do Vagar Restaurant showcases regional dishes filled with artisan cheeses, traditional breads, olive oils and fine wines.

Main dishes at Monte do Vagar Restaurant start from €12. Rooms start from €115 per night.

Countries, Deals, Europe, Sport

Tennis is a smash in the Algarve

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Ya dancer… Portugal is courting us again and proving once more that tennis is a smash in the Algarve.

We first crossed racquets with the tennis set in Quinta do Lago when Judy Murray put me through my paces.

Of course despite her peerless coaching qualities it was clear that my tennis was as good as my dancing.

Which as many have found out around the world gives Dancing Dads a bad name.

Thing is though that tennis players, as Judy showed, are naturals on the dancefloor… all that moving from foot to foot.

Croft original

Another hotfooting it out to the Algarve is the charming Annabel Croft who also wowed us on Strictly Come Dancing.

Annabel, of course, has her own Tennis Academy at the Pine Cliffs Resort, a luxury collection resort in the Algarve.

And it hosted the 13th edition of their annual tennis competition the Winners’ Cup with Annabel dropping in to see the action.

Annabel, who came fourth on Strictly and will be dancing again with her former Strictly partner Johannes Radebe during his live tour played a few rallies.

The first day of the cup was full of free activities for competition participants and their guests, where Annabel led the Tennis Clinic.

Go for a padel

Meanwhile, Diogo Schaefer, Portuguese national padel player and professional coach, headed the Padel Clinic…

Padel was explained to me as the child that squash and tennis would bear.

The Winners’ Cup 2024 golf grand final took place on the second day with an 18-hole tournament, while the tennis semi-final and grand final took place shortly after.

Posting on her Instagram, Annabel wrote: “A wonderful weekend at my Tennis Academy at @pinecliffs Resort 🎾. It felt so amazing to be back wearing my tennis shoes and in Portugal, one of my favourite places in the world 😎.

Congratulations to all the players who competed in the Winners’ Cup – I so loved watching you all 👏🏼🥳 xxx”.

Every day is an education

The Annabel Croft Tennis Academy at Pine Cliffs has been running since 2013, and offers a huge variety of coaching activities as well as tennis camps over five days with 10 hours of coaching focusing.

There are camps for all ages, including a Junior Tennis Camp (4-13 years) and Teenage Tennis Camp (13-17 years), which start from €280/£254 per person. Meanwhile, an Adult Tennis Holiday starts from €340/£314 per person.

Private lessons can also be booked from €70/£64 per hour or shared lessons from €33/£38 per hour per person.

The resort won ‘The Best Family Resort’ in Europe by the World Luxury Hotel Awards.

And it boasts the Porto Pirata children’s club with life size pirate ships, MIMO Algarve – a cooking school with family classes.

For adults there is also a 9-hole golf course and Serenity Spa – The Art of Wellbeing with a myriad of treatments and its indoor Thermal Oasis with a herbal sauna, hydrotherapy pool, jacuzzi, steam room and a salt sauna.

The resort offers hotel accommodation as well as luxury suites, apartments, and private villas, for self-catering.

There are eight swimming pools at the resort, as well as 11 restaurants and bars, which offer a wide variety of cuisines and dishes to cater to every taste.

And all major airlines fly out to Faro.

Countries, Europe, Sport, UK

Anyone for tennis and Andy Murray?

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Do you have a battle for the remote between the Euros and Wimbledon? Anyone for tennis and Andy Murray?

The Bionic Man of tennis returns to the Centre Court to play Canadian Denis Shapovalov this afternoon.

And Mum Judy will be watching.

Mixed Doubles

It’s reassuring to think that the supercoach who honed my forehand in Portugal does the same for her wee boy.

Judy put me and my international party through our paces at The Campus resort in Quinta do Lago.

Without giving away any of Judy’s trade secrets she starts with the basics and short tennis before building up to full courts.

Easy Ryder

With my pal John pitching for a Ryder Cup spot

If you haven’t a lifetime to become one of the world’s elite athletes then this sportified corner of the Algarve is where to go.

You’ll be the envy of the park with your drop shot and sliced backhand.

While you can prepare for this month’s renewal of The Open by visiting Quinta’s Paul McGinley Academy.

In the swing of it

Paul’s pals will dissect your swing, let you practise it on the range and then let you on the course.

And yes, the clubs are in the bag, of course, ready for The Open at Royal St George’s Kent on the south coast of England.

An aside here from a previous life when I ran a newspaper sports desk.

And I had asked the secretary to arrange accommodation for our golf writer for that year’s Open.

Not easy but she was excited to find accommodation within a 20 mile radius.

The French name of the guest house ought to have given it away.

Back to Portugal and we’re all hoping for a clear run at it without the switching of traffic light colours.

Portugal’s delights

Portugal is of course The Algarve but it is so much more, Lisbon, Porto, our old tour guide pal Jose Madomis’s home town, Coimbra….

And his hero Cristiano Ronaldo’s island, Madeira.

Cristiano has left the building at the Euros and we trust Our Andy won’t go the same way in London.

If he does, of course, football-daft Andy will have more time to watch the Euros.

When asked this time whether he’d support England now his beloved Scotland are out, he blocked it as if at the net.

Andy had playfully worn the jersey of England’s then opponents Croatia at a previous Euros in his youth,

But this time the Surrey-based national treasure wished them well.

Andy’s castle

Otherwise he’d be taking refuge in his newly-acquired hotel, Cromlix, near his home town of Dunblane, back in Scotland.

Which is where your favourite blogger’s Travel journey began with his first trip 30-odd year ago.

Now myself and The Scary One could form a Mixed Doubles team against my old mate Judy and Andy.

Anyone for tennis and Andy Murray? Or Jimmy Murty?