Delectations

Color It Paradise

Southernmost of Portugal’s provinces is the Algarve (silent e), and midway along the Algarve’s southern coast lies the town of Albu-feira. Some 4,200 people live here, in white houses that look as if lump sugar had been scattered along the cliff-top above the crescent beach. It’s a pretty little place, neat and quiet—for the moment. It’s also on the eve of becoming the biggest boom town since Torremolinos, Marbella and Palma de Mallorca. Hotels, apartments and villas are sprouting, and still the clamor is for more. Two years ago, an American friend of mine paid $16,000 for a peasant’s cottage and spent $1,800 more on improvements; this spring she turned down an offer of $40,000. A Ger-man who bought one and a third acres in 1965 and built a handsome villa at a total cost of $70,000, refused $175,000 and is holding out for $200,000.

JB

About the Author

J. Bryan III

Color It Paradise

Southernmost of Portugal’s provinces is the Algarve (silent e), and midway along the Algarve’s southern coast lies the town of Albu-feira. Some 4,200 people live here, in white houses that look as if lump sugar had been scattered along the cliff-top above the crescent beach. It’s a pretty little place, neat and quiet—for the moment. It’s also on the eve of becoming the biggest boom town since Torremolinos, Marbella and Palma de Mallorca. Hotels, apartments and villas are sprouting, and still the clamor is for more. Two years ago, an American friend of mine paid $16,000 for a peasant’s cottage and spent $1,800 more on improvements; this spring she turned down an offer of $40,000. A Ger-man who bought one and a third acres in 1965 and built a handsome villa at a total cost of $70,000, refused $175,000 and is holding out for $200,000.