Weird, dark underbelly to this place?

[Almondcakefortea]

The Algarve?

This poor man who recently went missing on his stag do and was very sadly found dead.
Madeleine McCann of course
Reading up on things and apparently so many reports of people going missing over the years or bodies being found

Feels strange

For sure. There are people knocking around the southern Iberian Peninsula (often from elsewhere in Europe) who have pretty shaky backstories.

Fair few British criminals on the “Costa del Crime” and elsewhere.

Two Scottish men shot dead in a bar in Fuengirola earlier this week. Reportedly related to organised criminal gangs: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c991jpemrd9o

Another man arrested today in the Algarve: https://www.portugalresident.com/one-of-uks-most-wanted-fugitives-arrested-in-algarve/

Not sure about southern Portugal, but Andalusia was know for banditry, which lasted until the 1930s. Pretty wild landscapes, so plenty of places to hide out.

I guess a lot of holiday makers are oblivious to who’s lurking about. Places can feel safe, because of the locals, but it’s the itinerants you need to be careful of.

Dis and dat policing...

That’s what the CCTV shows.

Stop looking for a grisly death to bolster your weird theory.

I’ll have whatever he’s having….

I love The Algarve. Some beautiful small quiet tourist towns away from the Brits Abroad Stag and Hens. And let’s face it, everywhere has some kind of dark underbelly if you think about it. I live in a small town but there’s still streets you avoid, even in daylight.

Actually Portugal was where JK Rowling’s abusive Portuguese husband beat her up, wasn’t it?

...They also have one of the highest heroin addicts in the world.

Who's that then?

@Almondcakefortea I’m kind of bemused why you did not mention in your OP that you had lived in the Algarve for 20 years. Surely that was relevant background to the debate you were trying to start?

Also- why do you live there if it’s so sinister to you?

I thought this was going to be a thread about MN having a dark underbelly. Am a bit disappointed.

Same!!

Lots like this, so awful 😔

Is that you, Agatha?

It's 2 cases in what 18 years?

Lad on his stag do had an accident.

Child taken when left alone by parents in an unlocked apartment.

Hardly a dark underbelly of a place. think you're being a tad dramatic

I've just remembered - my friend's sister and her family had their home in Vilamoura broken into and robbed while they were asleep upstairs. They were so freaked out they sold it.

Exactly!

yes it was a paedophile ring called Wonderland I think. But tbh they exist in all countries don't they

Algarve?

They also have one of the highest heroin addicts in the world.

He must be pretty high! 🤣

Been recently to quite an affluent part popular with Golfers. I witnessed the dark under belly as in the large groups of middle aged Golfing men were 50% golfing and 50% hooking up with women/prostitutes. Apparently this is the norm, I wondered how many wives were sat at home oblivious whilst their husbands were golfing. Got my eyes open, it was like Ibiza for oldies!

Awful what happened to these two young Brit backpackers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koh_Tao_murders

Don’t forget the tourists in Spain who think after a few shandy’s they can fly off their balconies into the pool

There was an episode of One Foot in the Grave set there as well wasnt there?

So you might have a point OP

I lived in Lagos for years and worked in Praia da Luz. I miss it so much. I wish I could go back sometimes but that's not on the cards for me

@YellowBun Yes! My own daughter was repeatedly whistled at, followed and had comments hurled at her on her walk to school with friends in her uniform, in England.

I’ve seen men hanging out of cars and vans harassing school aged girls in France and Italy and the level of sexual harassment from strangers I experienced in Italy as a young woman was beyond belief.

I wondered this too.

I love the Algarve, but avoid Albufeira. Always seemed very friendly to me.

Having said that I have heard the same as you about what is probably the same affluent place @MonderMomen77

That’s quite a sweeping statement. I lived in Portugal as a late teenager and I found it similar to the UK in terms of cat calling/harassment. Shitty male behaviour all over the world sadly

You've since girls of 11 wolf whistled at in Italy, France and England? By whom? Not your average English French or Italian bloke, I'm guessing.

I'm in my fifties and was wolf whistled at a lot as a teenager, but mostly by other blokes who were teens or early twenties themselves. I'm not saying it never happens these days but I'm pretty sure it's nowhere near as common or acceptable/tolerated as it used to be and I doubt it happens that often these days.