The climate is one of the healthiest and most pleasant in the world, comparable to California. There is sufficient seasonal variation to make the weather anything but boring, but winters are never too cold and the summers never to hot. The skies are predominately blue all year round.

The Algarve has managed to retain its timeless "old world" charm and traditional values even though it is an integral part of an ambitious, forward-looking nation, and tourism is its major economic activity.

Tourism has brought considerable prosperity to the Algarve and contributed sigificant1y to the overall economic strength of a stable democracy with a moderate, centrist government within the European Union.

The nations constitution and well-founded legal system give foreign buyers and property owners the same fundamental rights and protection as those enjoyed by Portuguese citizens.

Air 1inks and telecommunications facilities are excellent. Faro and Lisbon international airports, satellite television, cellular telephones, fax machines, computer modems and the internet mean you can be as globally in touch as you want to be.

While you personally may be stepping into relatively unknown territory by buying property in Portugal, plenty of foreigners have done it before you. There is a well- established procedure and there is no shortage of sound advice available on all aspects of setting up home in the Algarve.

Lt is both a place to relax and do little or, if you prefer it, indulge your every active recreational interest, much of it out doors in the clean, fresh air.

The environment is much less spoilt and polluted than other European countries. Growing popular awareness backed by EU directives incorporated into Portuguese law should ensure it stays that way.

The region is best known for its spectacular coastline, including scores of glorious beaches. Less known, but equally attractive, is its hinterland of vineyards, olive, almond, carob and fig trees, rising to rolling hills and the plains of the province of Alentejo beyond.

In the spring, from as early as Christmas until the end of May, the countryside is in full sparkling bloom beneath exhi1arating azure skies. It is a very different scene to the grey gloom that pervades northern Europe early in the year.

From a few kilometres inland, the Algarve is covered with evergreen trees and shrubs and so the countryside remains remarkably lush even in the height of summer.

Language is genera1Iy not a problem and, anyway, you wi11 enjoy picking up at least a smattering of Portuguese. You can get by in English or German, so long as you understand the Portuguese all purpose expression that sums up any and all of lifes minor travails: não faz mal- "it doesnt matter."

A cost of living table compiled by the London Sunday Times on prices in the UK, Holland, Belgium and Italy, augmented by a fair comparison made in Portugal, showed that the same basketof22 groceries cost much the same-around £50 - in Portugal, Holland and Belgium, £10 less than in Italy and over £30 cheaper than in the UK.

The only things completely missing here that you may find in sunny places such as Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Florida or the Caribbean are hurricanes, sweltering summers, pollution or high crime rates.