https://www.visitportugal.com/en/node/73754 Archives - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Now we all love our home cities but my old mucker and guide Jose Madomis takes civic pride to a whole new level and we just know he’ll be flagging up his people’s part in Portugal’s Carnation Revolution.

Jose, as you’ll discover, as we did, on a first meeting will need no invitation to talk about his beloved Coimbra in Portugal Centro.

Which he rightly credits with being the birthplace of the Portugal Revolution fifty years ago this year…

And hence our indulgence here.

As our friends gathered again in our second home of Dublin to mark the April 25 uprising early (but who needs an excuse) we reflect on our Portuguese peregrinations…

From then until now.

Port in a storm

A pup back then I could still feel a tension around the house as we readied ourselves for what was still a very exciting trip.

Into the unknown to a Portugal which was bubbling with rebellion.

And we probably didn’t help ourselves when my brother smashed the skylight in the villa in which we were staying with a football.

It was probably as violent as Portugal got that year with the changeover of power.

From the Salazar Fado, Football and Fatima social catholicism autocracy to a modern society.

The Carnation nation

With the uprising christened the Carnation Revolution on account of the flowers a restaurateur gave to the soldiers which were then put in the muzzles of guns.

More than this, of course, as Jose informed us was the part Coimbra played in the events.

With the local football club Academica de Coimbra and its fans who had turned the 1969 Portuguese Cup final into a showpiece political protest against the regime.

Coimbra and Portugal Centro is as its name signifies the heartland of Portugal, south of the quirky and popular Porto, west of legendary Lisbon and north of the Algarve hotspots.

Raise a glass of Vinho Verde

All of which will be worth visiting and which we have enjoyed.

And who have hosted us as only the Portuguese can.

There will, of course, be celebrations across Portugal this year.

To mark the Carnation Revolution.

And the brave and radical students of Coimbra who have gone on to greater things, though we can’t imagine much greater than this, will proudly take their plaudits.

We’ll certainly be raising a glass of Vinho Verde to Portugal’s Carnation Revolution and all those who stood up to oppression.

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?