THE ALGARVE
A taste of Portugal
Daily Mirror
A BRIEF DECANT TO THE ALGARVE
Firewater. Being offered such a fearsomely named beverage at midday could make even the strongest of men feel more than a little apprehensive.
But not wishing to insult our host, I dutifully accepted his invitation to a shot. Or few. With insides ablaze, I soon decided it better to switch to the more subtle melosa – a sweet, fragrant drink consisting of honey, cinnamon, lemon peel and… oh, firewater.
A glass or two of that later and I was forgetting where I was. Ah, yes, Portugal. I was here to visit the cultural side of the Algarve. How I love culture...
ROTTERDAM
Daily Mirror
Clubland of Holland's second city
HIT THE DECKS
The DJ is raised aloft on a podium of flickering video screens. In front of him is a row of sexy, wild-costumed dancers gyrating provocatively to the pumping bassline. In front of them is a dancefloor overflowing with sweaty revellers.
He pumps his fists in a silly manner, grins, then cuts in a new track. The crowd goes wild.
I'm there at the front of that crowd. I don't mind somebody knocking my drink over me. I don't mind being bumped and bustled by frenetic dancing. I'm just very happy to be here in the clubbing capital of Holland. The atmosphere's intoxicating. Or maybe it's the continental measures of vodka.