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20-482: The area previously hosted the annual Almond Blossom Cross Country competition between 1996 and 2003, and the same course was selected as the venue for the 2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships . The resort developed around a small harbour, flanked by sandy beaches and close to the Roman ruins of Cerro da Vila . In Roman times this location was important in producing a fish paste known as "garum". The ruins also include

40-465: A host of other ailments ranging from acne to kidney ailments. Many dishes made with apples and apple blossom are of medieval origin. In the spring, monks and physicians would gather the blossoms and preserve them in vinegar for drawing poultices and for bee stings and other insect bites. Descending from China and south east Asia , the earliest orange species moved westwards via the trade routes. In 17th century Italy peach blossoms were made into

60-482: A month later. The competition itself was selected in 2010 to host the Portuguese Cross Country Championships , in which Yousef El Kalai and Ana Dulce Félix took the honours in the men's and women's races, respectively. The national competition returned to the race in 2012 and Manuel Damião was the men's Portuguese victor, while Félix again won the women's title. A year later Damião became

80-546: A multiple European champion . On the women's side, past winners include Olympic champions Fernanda Ribeiro and Gabriela Szabo , the 1996 World Cross Country champion Gete Wami , and world champion in the 10,000 m Berhane Adere . Only two Portuguese athletes have won at the World Cross Country Championships ( Carlos Lopes and Albertina Dias ) and both have been victorious in Albufeira: Lopes won

100-401: A poultice for bruises , rashes , eczema, grazes and stings . In ancient Greek medicine plum blossoms were used to treat bleeding gums , mouth ulcers and tighten loose teeth . Plum blossoms mixed with sage leaves and flowers were used in plum wine or plum brandy as a mouthwash to soothe sore throats and mouth ailments and sweeten bad breath. Hanami ( 花見 , "flower viewing")

120-456: A tennis and padel academy, a sports club, 5-Star and 4-Star hotels, tourist apartments, self-catering villas, night clubs, a medium-sized Casino and a horse riding and show jumping school. With five different golf courses, since 2016 in ownership of Dom Pedro Golf as a part of the Dom Pedro Group , Vilamoura is a very popular destination for golfers all year round. At the heart of Vilamoura

140-687: Is an annual international cross country running competition which takes place in Albufeira , in the Algarve region of Portugal , in early March. It is one of the IAAF permit meetings which serve as qualifying events for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships . It is held in co-operation with the Associação de Atletismo do Algarve (Algarve Athletics Association). The race gets its name from

160-434: Is extensive and well-developed, with many different resorts with ratings from three to five stars. This is a substantially higher average than the surrounding areas, which have ratings varying from two to four. As a consequence of being mostly privately owned, the town is very opulently designed. The town and marina have an extensive variety of activities which are usually on Tuesdays, Thursdays and at weekends, including touring

180-498: Is the marina which has the capacity to berth over 1,000 vessels. The marina is surrounded by large hotels and luxury holiday homes as well as a medium-sized casino , numerous restaurants and vibrant bars. At the far corner of the marina, it is possible to charter boats for big game fishing. There are also facilities for jet skiing and parascending. Close by there are also a number of sports clubs and many night clubs. Tourism in Vilamoura

200-563: The flowers of stone fruit trees (genus Prunus ) and of some other plants with a similar appearance that flower profusely for a period of time in spring . Colloquially, flowers of orange are referred to as such as well. Peach blossoms (including nectarine), most cherry blossoms , and some almond blossoms are usually pink. Plum blossoms , apple blossoms , orange blossoms , some cherry blossoms, and most almond blossoms are white. Blossoms provide pollen to pollinators such as bees, and initiate cross- pollination necessary for

220-600: The baths in which the mariners used to bathe. The resort was founded by Portuguese banker Cupertino de Miranda who, with the resort's management company Lusotur (now Lusort) started initial planning and building in 1966. In 1996 Vilamoura (i.e. Lusotur) was acquired by Quinta do Lago 's André Jordan. In 2004 the resort was purchased by the Spanish PRASA group. Vilamoura has the largest marina in Portugal (inaugurated in 1974) with 845 berths, two beaches, an environmental park,

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240-700: The competition remained there until 2003. The 2004 edition was not held due to financial problems, causing the race's annual history to be interrupted for the first time. The Almond Blossom Cross returned to its original home in Albufeira in 2005 and has been held there annually ever since. The race takes place at the Açoteias Cross Country course; a looping track which is 2 km (1.2 mi) in length and comprises sections of both grass and sand. The race distances have traditionally been 10 km (6 mi) for men and 6 km (4 mi) for women, but this

260-800: The first Portuguese man to win the Almond Blossom race itself since 1995 – the invited African contingent (including four-time winner Josphat Kiprono Menjo ) did not arrive due to travel issues. The 2014 race again hosted the European Clubs event and Morocco's Mohamed Moustaoui continued to break the Kenya dominance of the men's race. Key:     Portuguese championship race (12 km and 8 km races) Distances:    8 km and 5 km races    4 km race 0 (10 km for men and 6 km for women where not stated) Blossom In botany , blossoms are

280-485: The first ever Almond Blossom race in 1977 while Dias won the 1989 women's race. The Açoteias Cross Country course was also used to host the European Clubs Cross Country Cup in 2008, as it had done a number of times in the 1980s and 1990s. During the Almond Blossom's time in Vilamoura, it served as the tester race for the 2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships , which was held on the same course

300-496: The fishermen used to bathe. The marina will be extended with Cidade Lacustre, the new project that Lusort will be developing in Vilamoura in the next few years. An area with 271 hectares in the western part of Vilamoura is listed by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area , as it is an important site for Porphyrio porphyrio , and 20 other bird species during reproductive season, as well as an important number of transaharian passerines. Many different types of fish populate

320-412: The local caves along the coastline (which are nearer to Albufeira than they are to Vilamoura). This cave tour is usually done on tour boats. The area also has two companies which operate trains-on-wheels for travel between resorts. For the avid historians there is a preserved Roman site and museum providing an insight to the area's past. Originally a Roman fishing town, the ruins include baths in which

340-398: The marina among the boats and are often attracted to the colour changing lights under the vessels. This results in what's known as a 'fish disco'. 37°4′40″N 8°6′55″W  /  37.07778°N 8.11528°W  / 37.07778; -8.11528 Almond Blossom Cross Country The Almond Blossom Cross Country ( Portuguese : Cross Internacional das Amendoeiras em Flor )

360-435: The trees to reproduce by producing fruit. The ancient Phoenicians used almond blossoms with honey and urine as a tonic , and sprinkled them into stews and gruels to give muscular strength. Crushed petals were also used as a poultice on skin spots and mixed with banana oil, for dry skin and sunburn . In herbalism the crab apple was used as treatment for boils , abscesses , splinters , wounds, coughs, colds and

380-614: The white blossom which appears on the almond trees native to the Algarve region during the spring. The competition was first organised in 1977 through a joint partnership of the Federação Portuguesa de Atletismo (Portuguese Athletics Federation), the District of Faro and Turismo de Portugal , with the aim of promoting both sport and tourism in the region. The race relocated to Vilamoura in Loulé , another town nearby, in 1996 and

400-466: Was extended in the 2010 edition to 12 km (7 mi) and 8 km (5 mi). The Almond Blossom Cross Country competition is international in its nature, attracting a large number of foreign athletes each year, but it is also a significant draw for Portugal's top domestic runners. Among the past winners in the men's race are Portuguese world medallists Fernando Mamede and Paulo Guerra , track world champion Charles Kamathi , and Serhiy Lebid –

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