Miguel Velez, a figure linked to local development and for many years one of the souls of the In Loco association, never thought that his 68th birthday would have the right to the presence of the President of the Republic. But that's what happened late this Sunday afternoon, in Silves.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa visited the city, starting at the Castle – where he experienced the virtual reality of the new Orange Route – and then descending the streets of the historic center to the banks of the River Arade, with Mayor Rosa Palma as guide.
Just below the castle, on the terrace of the Café Inglês, one of the most emblematic restaurants in Silves, the President started a conversation with a group who were at a table, precisely on the birthday of Miguel Velez, who was there with his family and friends and even offered Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa a cold beer.
To register the moment, the President himself took the cell phone of one of the family members and took a Selfie, for posterity. “This is really cool!” said one of the children in the group.
Down Rua da Sé, after having climbed it from the Town Hall, the Head of State was greeted by many people, mostly Portuguese. One of them was Senhor António, an emigrant in France and a native of São João da Pesqueira, who was there on vacation with his family and some French friends. “I never thought I was going to see a President of the Republic like that live”, he said, very happy. Your wife was even entitled to a Selfie presidential.
After passing the door of Almedina, the entourage, which included councilors of various political colors, presidents of the Parish Council and other individuals, was awaited by Eduardo Ramos, who sang a song along with the lute, with two ballerinas squirming to the sound from music.
Farther down, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa saw a group of foreigners, of some age, sitting on the terrace of a restaurant and hurried to greet them and talk to them. They were Scots, all living in the Algarve, in the neighboring counties of Silves and Lagoa, as they explained. And there came a few more selfies, among many smiles hidden by the masks.
Heading for the riverside area, always at a hurried pace, but stopping to talk to the person who greeted him and never refusing a photograph, the Head of State arrived on the banks of the Arade river, in the riverside area of Silves, where more music awaited – this time Helena Madeira's harp – but also cocktails and other drinks where orange was queen. After having already drank the beer, upstairs in the Café Inglês, the President preferred to eat an orange. And he commented: «It's wonderful! Sweet sweet!".
After giving statements to journalists and taking a family photo with the local mayors and authorities who accompanied the visit, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa finally headed to the restaurant where he was going to have his eighth working dinner with the presidents of the Algarve Municipal Councils.
A visit to Silves, a city that, at this time of August, in one year normal, would be vibrating with the Medieval Fair, served precisely for the President of the Republic to show how much, despite everything, the city has to offer visitors.
Photos: Elisabete Rodrigues | Sul Informação
Help us to do the Sul Informação!
Contribute your donation so that we can continue to make your journal!
Click here to support us (Paypal)
Or use our IBAN PT50 0018 0003 38929600020 44
Comments