by Matt D’Arcy
DAVID CAMERON has been sampling the local Portuguese firewater, Medronho, during his holiday on the Algarve.
And the British Prime Minister has also been named ‘James Cameron’ by local Portuguese media, after the man who won an Oscar for his film of the Titanic’s disastrous maiden voyage.
No doubt that will strike a chord with the PM’s critics who accuse him of piloting Britain onto the rocks.
Cameron, who is staying in a friend’s luxury £3,000-a-week villa in the hills of Monchique—a secluded property surrounded by dense vegetation–was also teased about his “English” tan, which is the name the Portuguese give to the bright pink skin of newly-arrived British tourists.
He was photographed with the Mayor of Monchique, Rui André, who had invited the Prime Minister to an informal reception in the council building.
There they were pictured toasting each other with a glass of the finest Medronho da Serra, a strong and traditional fruit brandy that non-Portuguese speakers call “firewater”, from the hot sensation as the strong spirit travels down the throat and is felt through the sinuses.
The Prime Minister’s pink face prompted one local website to caption the picture:
”Sorry Mr. Prime Minister, is that the Medronho Monchique or too much sun?”
Another described him as “Primeiro Ministro Britânico James Cameron” which might explain why he was able to visit local shops, restaurants and beaches virtually unrecognised!
But his presence is expected to provide a boost for tourism in the area, which is why he was invited to visit the local town hall, where the reception was “simple and relaxed” according to the mayor.
He now hopes that Monchique, already much sought-after by the British, who account for 20% of the local population, may now witness increased interest from UK visitors and property investors.
Cameron signed the city’s Book of Honour and received yet another basket filled with local Monchique specialities including some of the powerful liquor with which they toasted each other.
There, the Mayor reminded Cameron that the late Margaret Thatcher was also a fan of the area, having been spotted twice enjoying a meal at the Paraiso da Montanha restaurant.
The Prime Minister, saying the landscape and views of the region are “fantastic” added: “I am very happy, and plan to return. Here everything is close by and I have opted to go to a different destination each day, to the beach and other places in the Algarve region.”
Locals say the PM has visited a local “chicken shack”, a restaurant specialising in grilled or roast chicken cooked with the local piri-piri hot sauce, and also takes coffee each day in the town square.
The Camerons are accompanied by their three children – Nancy, 9, Arthur, 7, and Florence, 2 – and are guarded by more than a dozen security officers from Scotland Yard, providing 24-hour protection, as well as officers from the English and Portuguese secret service.
Desidério Silva, president of the Algarve Tourism Board, has no doubt that the presence of “one of the world’s most important figures” in the Algarve will be highly beneficial to tourism.
“Out of all the destinations in the world he could have chosen, the fact that he selected the Algarve for a relaxing family holiday is a real testament to the region’s qualities – beautiful weather, beaches and scenery, hospitable people, good food and total peace of mind,” he told the Algarve Resident newspaper.
Jams, sea salt and wine are among the products that the president of Turismo de Algarve has sent to the PM at the British-owned farm in Foia where they are staying.
Silva’s “food parcel” contained a selection of regional produce including a carob concoction, sweet potato, cinnamon, sea salt, olive oil, chilli paste, the inevitable sardine paste and more importantly a selection of red and rosé wines from the Lagoa winery.
The Prime Minister was not the only high-profile visitor to the Algarve last week.
Pamela Anderson was having fun at a Vilamoura nightclub with Portuguese-Brazilian Ferrari GT3 racing driver Lorenzo Carvalho, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday.
The skimpily-dressed Baywatch star, who was in Portugal for the first time and admitted she was not here for work reasons but for “pleasure”. “I’m here to make sure Lorenzo has a good time,” she told the press. “I adore it here and can’t wait to get on the beach.”
The famous glamour queen, considered one of the world’s sexiest women, made a 20-minute appearance at the lavish party and received a €150,000 fee for her brief presence, according to reports in the Portuguese press.
And recent visitors have included David and Victoria Beckham, Claudia Schiffer, Cristiano Ronaldo, José Mourinho, Hugh Grant, George Benson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer , Ernie Els, Colin Montgomery, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and various members of the European royal families.
Cameron photograph sourced from: