Latest news with #Portuguese-speaking
Boston Globe
a day ago
- General
- Boston Globe
Portuguese library in New Bedford lives to see another day
Advertisement But on Tuesday the Mayor's office The library has a deep history in the community. Founded in 1971 out of a store front, 'It was a very unique thing for the community to have a municipally funded library dedicated to a particular community, a language speaking community,' Melo said. 'And this was a cornerstone of the community, it was a gathering place.' Advertisement The library's collection, now half in Portuguese and the other half in English, has grown to 24,000 volumes from the few thousands it started with. It also hosts archives of Portuguese cultural and historical life in the city, Melo said. Books on shelves at Casa da Saudade Library in New Bedford. The library has been serving the Portuguese-speaking community in the city since the 1970s. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff Melo's connection to the library goes way back to when she was a new immigrant in New Bedford. It was at Casa da Saudade that she fell in love with literature. 'I started to visit the library because we were not a family with money to purchase books,' she said. She discovered she could borrow and read as many books as she wanted — in Portuguese at first and eventually in English. The library became so important to her that she went to work there. 'My first job was here as a substitute library assistant,' Melo, who is turning 60 this year, said. 'Here I am, almost 40 years later, as the library director. Because this place showed me the magic of libraries and what it means.' Melo said that part of the challenge the library has faced in recent years is that locals are not using it like they used to in the past. 'It still means a lot to a lot of people and it is still being used. But not to the extent that we're seeing with the other branches,' she said. Going forward, the library will open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and close on Mondays. It was already not available on Fridays. It will also go back to its original mission of focusing on Portuguese content and act as a research center for Portuguese-American life in New Bedford. Advertisement '[To] make sure that our new generation understands the value of the collection that's there,' Melo said. For some, public libraries serve a special role for communities. Sara Slymon, president of the Massachusetts Library Association and the Executive Director of The Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy, said libraries should not be valued in the same way that a society does a corporation. 'We're not meant to generate revenue. . . . We are a free service to provide lifelong learning and literacy opportunities for every person in our Commonwealth equally,' she said. 'You can never go wrong funding a public library, whether it is the heaviest use public library or the lightest use public library in the state.' Casa da Saudade operates like any other public library across the US. The only difference is things tend to have a Portuguese flavor to them there. An American flag flies alongside a Portuguese flag outside Casa da Saudade Library in New Bedford. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff In front of the building an American flag flies alongside its Portuguese counterpart. Inside, on a shelf next to Portuguese cook books, sits a crochet of soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo in his Portuguese team's red and green jersey knitted by a member of the crochet club that meets at the library on Tuesday afternoons. Also on the shelves, visitors can find Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs, Michelle Obama's autobiography 'Becoming' and the African writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novels — all available in Portuguese. There were books in English too but a lot of visitors come to Casa da Saudade for the Portuguese collection. Antonieta Lucas, 81, is Portuguese and has been coming to Casa da Saudade since it was out of a store front nearby. She likes the library because she can get books in Portuguese for herself and some to read to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Advertisement She was shocked to learn that it might close. 'Stupid idea. It's a long time, this is open,' she said on a recent afternoon. Melo said that the reaction of the impending closure of Casa da Saudade showed that the community valued the library and its place in the city. 'That was definitely a driving force that led to the conversations of how can we do this,' she said. Melo said that she will have to reduce some hours from other branches in the system to help keep Casa da Saudade open. New Bedford has one main library and four other branches. But she was glad that the library will stay open. 'We are so lucky that we have this institution. It is unique in the United States for being a publicly funded library with an initial mission to serve a specific community,' she said. 'We have to support it and we're going to develop it with a collection that will continue to make it unique.' Omar Mohammed can be reached at
The Star
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Angola ready to boost tourism; welcomes international travellers
When Feliesiano Muteca started surfing a decade ago, he had the waves at Cabo Ledo on Angola's long Atlantic coastline pretty much to himself. Now, the unspoilt and sandy beach about 125km south of the capital Luanda has become a prized destination for international surfers, with a reputation as a hidden gem. The Portuguese-speaking southern African nation is still scarred by a long post-independence civil war that stalled its development, although parts of Luanda flash with oil money. Wary of its dependence on oil and already burned by the market's volatility, Angola is embarking on a drive to lure back foreign tourists by easing access for travellers and boosting its attractions. These include Cabo Ledo, where Muteca is a qualified surfing instructor with the sport's accredited body. 'There are two of us, and we give surf lessons,' said Muteca, who started out when he was about 10 years old by borrowing boards from other surfers. 'Otherwise, we're there to help out on the beach,' he said, pointing to thatched cabanas being assembled on the sand. Further along, a small lodge has set up a beachside bar and cafe, with cabins on the hillside overlooking the Atlantic. It is filled with a group of Germans enjoying the shade between waves. The same company, Carpe Diem, has a larger resort just up the coast. Nearby tourist sites like the dramatic seaside Miradouro da Lua cliffs once had little more than a dusty road to a lookout point. Now there's a smoothie hut and a cocktail bar, with a branded wooden frame showing the best angles for photos and selfies. After five decades of war that ended in 2002, the vast country had a Stalinist government suspicious of the outside world. Oil fuelled a post-war boom but an oil crash sent the kwanza currency tumbling. In 2014, it traded at around 100 kwanza to the US dollar. It is now trading around 900 kwanza to one dollar. The oil boom days sent tourism to a high of nearly US$1.6bil (RM6.75bil) in 2014, with the yacht crowd filling Luanda Bay and splashing huge sums on lavish beach parties. That plunged to just US$14.8mil (RM62.5mil) last year, according to the National Bank. It led the government to adopt a new tourism strategy. Since last year, dozens of countries have visa-free entry. An airport where soldiers once patrolled with AK-47s is now staffed with smiling young travel ambassadors wearing denim overalls with bibs that read: 'Can I help you?'. The yacht club remains busy but Luanda has also become a stop for cruise liners. Local tour companies are opening to guide visitors through the less developed interior. And high-end international companies are adding Angola to their itineraries. Luanda-born writer Claudio Silva in June co-hosted a week-long journey for foodies, travelling with a top Angolan chef to visit new wineries and explore pre-colonial cuisine and heritage farming. 'Deep-dive gastronomic tours like the one we're doing with Roads & Kingdoms are an opportunity for us to tell our own stories, through food and culture, in urban and rural settings, where our journey is guided by the experiences of the people who live here,' he said. The city of Luanda is now a top stop for many international cruiseliners. South African luxury train operator Rovos Rail has also added the Angolan port city of Lobito to its routes, creating overland treks that can run across the continent from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic. Those journeys pass through inland areas largely unseen by outsiders for decades. That means accommodation can be basic or require camping. The once-rich wildlife population was decimated by the years of war but government-sponsored repopulation efforts are under way, said Pedro Monterroso of African Parks, a non-profit conservation group. Local rangers and communities are also being trained to become involved in the safari sector, said Monterroso, whose organisation has been hired by Angola to run Iona National Park along the Namibian border in the ancient Namib desert. 'The vision is they want to be Namibia or Botswana in 10 or 15 years,' Monterroso said, referring to Angola's neighbours that draw tens of thousands of foreign tourists every year to their unspoiled natural riches. – AFP
The Star
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Angola opens up to tourists in a pivot from oil
AFP | Published 4 hours ago When Feliesiano Muteca started surfing a decade ago, he had the waves at Cabo Ledo on Angola's long Atlantic coastline pretty much to himself. Now, the unspoilt and sandy beach about 125 kilometres south of the capital Luanda has become a prized destination for international surfers, with a reputation as a hidden gem. The Portuguese-speaking southern African nation is still scarred by a long post-independence civil war that stalled its development, although parts of Luanda flash with oil money. Wary of its dependence on oil and already burned by the market's volatility, Angola is embarking on a drive to lure back foreign tourists by easing access for travellers and boosting its attractions. These include Cabo Ledo, where Muteca is a qualified surfing instructor with the sport's accredited body. "There are two of us, and we give surf lessons," said Muteca, who started out when he was about 10 years old by borrowing boards from other surfers. "Otherwise, we're there to help out on the beach," he said, pointing to thatched cabanas being assembled on the sand. Further along, a small lodge has set up a beachside bar and cafe, with cabins on the hillside overlooking the Atlantic. It is filled with a group of Germans enjoying the shade between waves. The same company, Carpe Diem, has a larger resort just up the coast. Nearby tourist sites like the dramatic seaside Miradouro da Lua cliffs once had little more than a dusty road to a lookout point. Now there's a smoothie hut and a cocktail bar, with a branded wooden frame showing the best angles for photos and selfies. After five decades of war that ended in 2002, the vast country had a Stalinist government suspicious of the outside world. Oil fuelled a post-war boom but an oil crash sent the kwanza currency tumbling. In 2014, it traded at around 100 to the US dollar. It is now trading around 900 to one dollar. The oil boom days sent tourism to a high of nearly $1.6 billion in 2014, with the yacht crowd filling Luanda Bay and splashing huge sums on lavish beach parties. That plunged to just $14.8 million last year, according to the National Bank. It led the government to adopt a new tourism strategy. Since last year, dozens of countries have visa-free entry. An airport where soldiers once patrolled with AK-47s is now staffed with smiling young travel ambassadors wearing denim overalls with bibs that read: "Can I help you?". The yacht club remains busy but Luanda has also become a stop for cruise liners. Local tour companies are opening to guide visitors through the less developed interior. And high-end international companies are adding Angola to their itineraries. Luanda-born writer Claudio Silva in June co-hosted a week-long journey for foodies, travelling with a top Angolan chef to visit new wineries and explore pre-colonial cuisine and heritage farming. "Deep-dive gastronomic tours like the one we're doing with Roads and Kingdoms are an opportunity for us to tell our own stories, through food and culture, in urban and rural settings, where our journey is guided by the experiences of the people who live here," he said. South African luxury train operator Rovos Rail has also added the Angolan port city of Lobito to its routes, creating overland treks that can run across the continent from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic. Those journeys pass through inland areas largely unseen by outsiders for decades. That means accommodation can be basic or require camping. The once-rich wildlife population was decimated by the years of war but government-sponsored repopulation efforts are under way, said Pedro Monterroso of African Parks, a non-profit conservation group. Local rangers and communities are also being trained to become involved in the safari sector, said Monterroso, whose organisation has been hired by Angola to run Iona National Park along the Namibian border in the ancient Namib desert. "The vision is they want to be Namibia or Botswana in 10 or 15 years," Monterroso said, referring to Angola's neighbours that draw tens of thousands of foreign tourists every year to their unspoiled natural riches. | AFP
IOL News
09-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Angola opens up to tourists in a pivot from oil
The beaches at Cabo Ledo are a surfers paradise. Image: Supplied When Feliesiano Muteca started surfing a decade ago, he had the waves at Cabo Ledo on Angola's long Atlantic coastline pretty much to himself. Now, the unspoilt and sandy beach about 125 kilometres south of the capital Luanda has become a prized destination for international surfers, with a reputation as a hidden gem. The Portuguese-speaking southern African nation is still scarred by a long post-independence civil war that stalled its development, although parts of Luanda flash with oil money. Wary of its dependence on oil and already burned by the market's volatility, Angola is embarking on a drive to lure back foreign tourists by easing access for travellers and boosting its attractions. These include Cabo Ledo, where Muteca is a qualified surfing instructor with the sport's accredited body. "There are two of us, and we give surf lessons," said Muteca, who started out when he was about 10 years old by borrowing boards from other surfers. "Otherwise, we're there to help out on the beach," he said, pointing to thatched cabanas being assembled on the sand. The yacht basin at Luanda is the heart of the tourism drive in Angola. Image: Supplied Further along, a small lodge has set up a beachside bar and cafe, with cabins on the hillside overlooking the Atlantic. It is filled with a group of Germans enjoying the shade between waves. The same company, Carpe Diem, has a larger resort just up the coast. Nearby tourist sites like the dramatic seaside Miradouro da Lua cliffs once had little more than a dusty road to a lookout point. Now there's a smoothie hut and a cocktail bar, with a branded wooden frame showing the best angles for photos and selfies. After five decades of war that ended in 2002, the vast country had a Stalinist government suspicious of the outside world. Oil fuelled a post-war boom but an oil crash sent the kwanza currency tumbling. In 2014, it traded at around 100 to the US dollar. It is now trading around 900 to one dollar. The oil boom days sent tourism to a high of nearly $1.6 billion in 2014, with the yacht crowd filling Luanda Bay and splashing huge sums on lavish beach parties. That plunged to just $14.8 million last year, according to the National Bank. It led the government to adopt a new tourism strategy. Since last year, dozens of countries have visa-free entry. An airport where soldiers once patrolled with AK-47s is now staffed with smiling young travel ambassadors wearing denim overalls with bibs that read: "Can I help you?". The yacht club remains busy but Luanda has also become a stop for cruise liners. Local tour companies are opening to guide visitors through the less developed interior. And high-end international companies are adding Angola to their itineraries. Luanda-born writer Claudio Silva in June co-hosted a week-long journey for foodies, travelling with a top Angolan chef to visit new wineries and explore pre-colonial cuisine and heritage farming. "Deep-dive gastronomic tours like the one we're doing with Roads and Kingdoms are an opportunity for us to tell our own stories, through food and culture, in urban and rural settings, where our journey is guided by the experiences of the people who live here," he said. South Africa's Rovos Rail has added its copper route from the Angolan port city of Lobito to the Victoria Falls. Image: Supplied South African luxury train operator Rovos Rail has also added the Angolan port city of Lobito to its routes, creating overland treks that can run across the continent from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic. Those journeys pass through inland areas largely unseen by outsiders for decades. That means accommodation can be basic or require camping. The once-rich wildlife population was decimated by the years of war but government-sponsored repopulation efforts are under way, said Pedro Monterroso of African Parks, a non-profit conservation group. Local rangers and communities are also being trained to become involved in the safari sector, said Monterroso, whose organisation has been hired by Angola to run Iona National Park along the Namibian border in the ancient Namib desert. "The vision is they want to be Namibia or Botswana in 10 or 15 years," Monterroso said, referring to Angola's neighbours that draw tens of thousands of foreign tourists every year to their unspoiled natural riches. | AFP
France 24
03-07-2025
- Business
- France 24
Hidden gem: Angola opens up to tourists in a pivot from oil
Now, the unspoilt and sandy beach about 125 kilometres (75 miles) south of the capital Luanda has become a prized destination for international surfers, with a reputation as a hidden gem. The Portuguese-speaking southern African nation is still scarred by a long post-independence civil war that stalled its development, although parts of Luanda flash with oil money. Wary of its dependence on oil and already burned by the market's volatility, Angola is embarking on a drive to lure back foreign tourists by easing access for travellers and boosting its attractions. These include Cabo Ledo, where Muteca is a qualified surfing instructor with the sport's accredited body. "There are two of us, and we give surf lessons," said Muteca, who started out when he was about 10 years old by borrowing boards from other surfers. "Otherwise, we're there to help out on the beach," he said, pointing to thatched cabanas being assembled on the sand. Further along, a small lodge has set up a beachside bar and cafe, with cabins on the hillside overlooking the Atlantic. It is filled with a group of Germans enjoying the shade between waves. The same company, Carpe Diem, has a larger resort just up the coast. Nearby tourist sites like the dramatic seaside Miradouro da Lua cliffs once had little more than a dusty road to a lookout point. Now there's a smoothie hut and a cocktail bar, with a branded wooden frame showing the best angles for photos and selfies. Cruises and cuisine After five decades of war that ended in 2002, the vast country had a Stalinist government suspicious of the outside world. Oil fuelled a post-war boom but an oil crash sent the kwanza currency tumbling. In 2014, it traded at around 100 to the US dollar. It is now trading around 900 to one dollar. The oil boom days sent tourism to a high of nearly $1.6 billion in 2014, with the yacht crowd filling Luanda Bay and splashing huge sums on lavish beach parties. That plunged to just $14.8 million last year, according to the National Bank. It led the government to adopt a new tourism strategy. Since last year, dozens of countries have visa-free entry. An airport where soldiers once patrolled with AK-47s is now staffed with smiling young travel ambassadors wearing denim overalls with bibs that read: "Can I help you?". The yacht club remains busy but Luanda has also become a stop for cruise liners. Local tour companies are opening to guide visitors through the less developed interior. And high-end international companies are adding Angola to their itineraries. Luanda-born writer Claudio Silva in June co-hosted a week-long journey for foodies, travelling with a top Angolan chef to visit new wineries and explore pre-colonial cuisine and heritage farming. "Deep-dive gastronomic tours like the one we're doing with Roads and Kingdoms are an opportunity for us to tell our own stories, through food and culture, in urban and rural settings, where our journey is guided by the experiences of the people who live here," he said. South African luxury train operator Rovos Rail has also added the Angolan port city of Lobito to its routes, creating overland treks that can run across the continent from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic. Those journeys pass through inland areas largely unseen by outsiders for decades. That means accommodation can be basic or require camping. The once-rich wildlife population was decimated by the years of war but government-sponsored repopulation efforts are under way, said Pedro Monterroso of African Parks, a non-profit conservation group. Local rangers and communities are also being trained to become involved in the safari sector, said Monterroso, whose organisation has been hired by Angola to run Iona National Park along the Namibian border in the ancient Namib desert. "The vision is they want to be Namibia or Botswana in 10 or 15 years," Monterroso said, referring to Angola's neighbours that draw tens of thousands of foreign tourists every year to their unspoiled natural riches. © 2025 AFP
