Karyne Lamidieu
During the Alcoutim festival2 weekend, Adriano was strolling leisurely, beer in hand, chatting here and there with people he knew. The festival attracted large crowds and marked the end of the concelho3‘s summer festivities. It was a beautiful, warm Saturday. Adriano felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around. To his surprise, he saw his cousin Eduardo.
“Hi cousin!
‘Hi Eduardo, how are you?’ he replied without much enthusiasm.
‘Ed,’ please…
‘Yes, “Ed”…’ he said, mimicking quotation marks with his fingers.
‘I prefer that!’
‘Still on holiday in the country?’
‘Yes, as you can see… And you? Still working?’
‘Not everyone is lucky enough to have five weeks’ holiday4…’
‘That’s right… See you later, cousin!”
Eduardo walked away without warning to talk to someone else, leaving Adriano standing in the middle of the street.
Adriano hated his cousin, who was the benchmark for success in the family: he lived in France and regularly returned to Portugal with his arms full of gifts, always with a new car, sometimes a new girlfriend: he liked to show off his well-filled wallet. Adriano had also tried his luck in France, in Perpignan, but his adventure ended in failure because he unfortunately fell in with a crooked boss who paid his workers under the table and mistreated them. So he ended up returning home, because after all, ‘misery would be less painful in the sun’5.
What the family didn’t know, however, was that Ed’s life was actually a big deception. He had invented a life for himself on social media, but he didn’t actually live in the magnificent flat with a sea view that he showed photos of to anyone who wanted to see them. No, it was a show flat owned by his boss. In fact, he was sharing a flat with colleagues, saving up all year to splash out in the Algarve during his holidays, and renting a state-of-the-art saloon car to make everyone believe he was living the high life.
Adriano, aged thirty, was fed up with his humble life as a bricklayer, with no recognition from anyone. Like many of his compatriots, he survived on the legal minimum wage6, counting almost every euro. He drove a car that was over twenty years old, lived in social housing in the town of Alcoutim, and bought his clothes at the local Chinese shop7 or at markets, even though he dreamed of comfort, travel, luxury, rooftop parties and bling, like all young people his age. He saw so many people like Eduardo, the bourgeois bohemians of Faro or Lisbon, and worse still, foreign tourists so well dressed, driving brand new sports cars, with beautifully dressed women on their arms, that his own situation disgusted him to the highest degree. To add to his despair, he had no one in his life. He was neither repulsive nor unpleasant, but he had never found love, going from one-night stands to failed encounters. He was constantly teased by his acquaintances because he was still a bachelor, while his school friends were all already married with children.
But when he saw his cousin that day, something suddenly clicked: things couldn’t go on like this! Things had to change! That same evening, he hatched a diabolical plan. His goal was clear: he wanted to live the high life too, and to do that, he needed to find a woman. But not just any woman! He was aiming for the ‘top of the range’: to charm a foreigner with a well-stocked bank account and quietly fleece her, so that he would no longer have to slave away under the scorching Algarve sun. If she happened to be pretty and not too old, he wouldn’t complain, and would savour his victory over life by making his cousin and friends green with envy, thus gaining access to the jet-set world of the Algarve!
So he gave himself a good month to get his life back on track, so that he would be ready for the Guadiana International Music Festival8: he stopped smoking, took up sport and started eating healthily, which helped him get back into shape. He visited the hairdresser, barber and beautician to take care of his appearance. He took advantage of the sales at Mar Shopping in Loulé to treat himself, thanks to a consumer loan, to a three-piece suit, some sportswear and a few pairs of smart shoes from Lion of Porches9; what could be more chic than English style?
He also bought a state-of-the-art mobile phone to match the style of the ‘new Adriano’: a Portuguese-style hipster dandy. He was aware that he now had a substantial amount of debt, but that didn’t worry him: it was a long-term investment and he would soon reap the rewards of his efforts. He had negotiated his consumer loan so well that he was able to sign a six-month lease on a magnificent new villa with an infinity pool overlooking the Guadiana River. The die was cast…
Adriano was unrecognisable. For his first ‘hunt’, he went to a concert at the praia fluvial1010 in Alcoutim, where his favourite band, Margem do Rio1111, was performing. After ordering a gin and tonic, he spotted a stunning woman in her thirties with fatal beauty. He approached her, glass in hand, and struck up a conversation. She was Brazilian, her name was Alina, she had a devastating smile, proposals to make you pale, and emerald green eyes he had never seen before. He found her so sublime and chic in her Chanel outfit, with her natural, almost feline grace, that he immediately fell under her spell, it was love at first sight!
After exchanging a few glances and a few words, she confessed:
« I think our meeting is a sign of destiny… We are meant for each other!
‘I feel exactly the same way,’ he replied sincerely. »
They spent a delightful evening together, like two teenagers falling in love, losing track of time as they talked about their lives and dreams. Alina told him she was twenty-eight years old, single and had no children. She had grown up in an orphanage and had no family. She had made her fortune with a start-up selling sewing supplies, and after selling it, she had bought herself a plot of land in the hills above Rio de Janeiro with the aim of building a villa, as well as a small sailing boat to take on a trip around the world. She explained that she had chosen to stop off in Alcoutim to visit the Algarve and Andalusia hinterland, and that she had arrived the day before.
As he left her in the early morning, Adriano offered to be her guide for her visits. She accepted enthusiastically and said that she didn’t feel very comfortable driving the convertible she had just bought for the occasion. They exchanged numbers and promised to call each other the next day.
Throughout his entire working day, he thought of nothing but her: his diabolical plan was forgotten! She was right, she was made for him, he knew it, he felt it deep in his soul! The following night, he couldn’t sleep a wink. She was perfect; even in his wildest dreams, he would never have imagined meeting a woman like her.
The next morning, when his alarm clock rang, he called his boss to ask for at least three weeks’ unpaid leave, which the latter accepted without any problem as several projects had just been cancelled. Then he called Alina, who answered immediately. They exchanged a few pleasantries and agreed to spend the day together. In the blink of an eye, she was there, at the foot of the villa, in her convertible, looking more beautiful than ever. They set off on their adventure with their beach bags in the boot. They started by having breakfast on a terrace in the centre of Alcoutim, then decided they would drive to Cape Saint Vincent1212 via the motorway and travel up the coast as the mood took them.
This carefree life lasted a week, filled with walks, fine dining, and VIP parties that Adriano made a point of organising and paying for. She was his princess, and he refused her absolutely nothing. She seemed so happy on his arm. She told him several times that she had found her Prince Charming. When they were at the villa, she cooked him delicious meals, showered him with affection and went out of her way to be the perfect housewife.
Exactly one week after they met, he booked a candlelit dinner on the terrace of a restaurant in Olhão, overlooking the sea, and during dessert he popped the question:
« Alina, with you, I am living a dream come true: you are the woman of my life… Will you marry me?
‘Oh Adriano, I loved you at first sight! I can’t imagine my life without you! »
She burst into tears, threw her arms around him and said yes, she would marry him, tomorrow if possible. They ordered champagne to celebrate their future union, spent the night at the Marina Hotel, and didn’t return to Alcoutim until the next morning, when they went straight to the Câmara1313 to begin the administrative procedures for their marriage.
The registrar at the Câmara gave them a list of documents they needed to provide. The process took little time because Alina had connections in the Brazilian government and was able to submit the papers in a matter of days. The wedding was set for 1 December1414, a public holiday, so that guests could attend easily. They had five weeks to organise the happiest day of their lives, and Adriano was keen for it to go down in Alcoutim’s history. So he hired a wedding planner who took care of everything: the invitations, the hen and stag parties, the decorations, the dress code and their outfits, the organisation of the ceremony, the open reception, the French-style gourmet meal, the party, the DJ, the fireworks… Everything had to be perfect, and she had carte blanche when it came to the budget. He had even asked the bank for an additional loan to finance the wedding; the banker agreed when he saw the documents provided by Alina, who was acting as guarantor for the expenses. The invitations were sent out within a week. The wedding would take place on the esplanade of the castle, and the banquet at the Espacio do Guadiana. Adriano had invited around a hundred guests, including his dear cousin Ed, who had accepted the invitation. Alina, having no family, had invited a few friends, but only one was able to attend: Gustavo. That was something, at least; he would be her best man. Adriano, meanwhile, had chosen his best friend from childhood, who was a GNR1515 in Alcoutim: Tiago.
The big day finally arrived, and at around 4:15 pm they said ‘I do’ for life. She wore a magnificent white mermaid dress and looked stunningly beautiful. He wore a fitted emerald green suit to complement his sweetheart’s eyes. The guests were dressed in green and white. The reception was a great success and almost the whole of Alcoutim had turned out. Adriano was happy. Even Eduardo had come to congratulate him. Watching his wife interact with his family, he realised that he had found true love, without having to carry out his plan or take advantage of a woman’s naivety. He then realised that, thanks to his wife’s fortune, he would no longer have to work and could live the life he had always secretly dreamed of. It was truly the happiest day of his life.
Alina had chosen several dresses for this special day: one for the ceremony and reception, one for the meal, and finally one for the ball. She had slipped away once before the meal began to change on her boat. Once the meal was over, the medronho1616 was flowing freely, and the evening was in full swing when she whispered to her husband:
“Darling, don’t worry, I’m going to the boat to change. Gustavo is coming with me because the weather is uncertain, there are a few drops of rain, he’ll hold the umbrella for me…
– Don’t be long, we have to open the ball!
– Actually, I’ll be more comfortable in my last dress. Here… “
She handed him a red velvet box. He opened it: it was a magnificent Rolex engraved with ‘Amor eterno’1717. He was speechless for a few seconds, then immediately put it on and said to her:
« Oh, Alina, you know I love you, don’t you?
‘I think so, my dear husband,’ she replied as she slipped away. »
After half an hour, while Adriano hadn’t noticed the time passing, the DJ came up to him:
« Now would be the perfect time to start the ball rolling, sir.
“I’m waiting for my wife, she’ll be here soon, she’s gone to get changed,” he replied.
‘Let me know as soon as she arrives.
‘I will,’ he assured him. »
But as he spoke these words, a deafening noise was heard, the walls shook, glasses fell, and a child began to cry. A few men went outside and came back soaked: a storm had broken out, and lightning had undoubtedly struck the church’s lightning rod. Adriano took out his mobile phone and called Alina to see if everything was all right, but got no answer. He tried Gustavo’s number, with no success. He went over to Tiago and said:
« Alina went to the boat with Gustavo to get changed. They’re not answering my calls. Can you take me to the quay?’
‘Of course, let’s go! »
As they left, they smelled something burning and saw thick black smoke rising from the lower part of the village. The fire brigade siren was already wailing.
« Lightning must have struck a house. Let’s not delay and get in their way,’ said Tiago, jumping into the car.
‘What’s that ringing?’ asked Adriano.
‘Damn, it’s my pager. Wait a second, I have to check it. I’m on call, so it’s probably an emergency! »
He looked at his pager and his face fell. The message read: ‘Boat on fire at the quay, call all available officers to ensure the safety of residents and firefighters.’ He hesitated for a moment and read it to Adriano. Adriano got out of the car and started running through the storm towards the quay.
When Tiago arrived, Adriano was kneeling in front of Alina’s boat, of which only a burning wreck remained, shouting: « Alina! Alina! Alina! »
The firemen were also shouting: « We’re too late, there are no survivors!»
Tiago tried to grab his friend and pull him back, but Adriano was beside himself with rage and despair. It was only with the help of his boss that he managed to get him out of the way. He explained the dramatic situation to the captain in a few sentences, who replied:
« Take him to the station, we’ll question him when he’s in a fit state. Just our luck, we’ve already got the investigation into the Spanish woman’s disappearance on our hands, and now this… »
Tiago did as he was told. Then he went to cancel the ball, and all the guests gave their contact details for the purposes of the investigation that was now underway.
Adriano, distraught with grief and in shock, was finally taken to Faro hospital, sedated, and was unable to answer the GNR’s questions until four days later. The captain gave the floor to Tiago:
“Adriano, we’ve been investigating day and night, and what I have to tell you will be difficult to accept…
– Ah, because finding out that your wife died a few hours after your wedding is easy to accept? Don’t forget that I’ve been a widower for four days! he replied curtly.
– It’s worse than that, Adriano. We only found one body on the boat, and after the autopsy, it turns out that it’s not Alina’s body, but that of the missing Spanish woman.
– What? How is that possible? Alina is alive? But where is she? And Gustavo?
-That’s where things get complicated, my friend. You’re not a widower, because Alina isn’t Alina.
-What are you talking about?
– According to Brazilian authorities, Alina does not exist in the Brazilian civil registry. There is no trace of her in any orphanage. She created a false identity for herself, everything was fake:
NOTES
11 The title in French « Coup de foudre » has two meanings: « love at first sight » and a « thunderbolt ».
22 Alcoutim Festival, second weekend in September.
33 Concelho: Portuguese local administrative division, equivalent to a town council or borough
44 In Portugal, employees are entitled 22 working days of paid leave e.i. 3 weeks and one day, plus 13 public holydays depending of the sector. Source :guia_trabalhadorestrangerio_FR.pdf
In France, employees are entitled to 5 weeks of paid leave, plus public holidays and other benefits depending on the sector.
55 Lyrics from Charles Aznavour, Emmenez-moi ; https://youtu.be/0OrKMaeQUx0?feature=shared
66 In autumn 2025, according to the same source as note 3, the gross minimum wage is €870 gross per month for 40 hours of work per week, over 14 months, or €1,015 gross over 12 months.
77 Cheap, poor-quality shops such as Poundland, for example.
88 Music festival held on the third weekend of October in Alcoutim, officially known as the Festival Internacional de Música do Guadiana; musicaguadiana.org
99 Lion of Porches: Portuguese ready-to-wear franchise with a chic, relaxed English style, somewhat like M&S.
1010 River beach: river beach
1111 Margem do Rio, https://web.facebook.com/musicanoteutempo
1212 Cape Saint Vincent is the westernmost point of the Algarve.
1313 Câmara: equivalent to a town hall
1414 1 December Restauração da Independência: Restoration of Independence, marking the end of Spanish rule; the War of Independence began on 1 December 1640 and ended with the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon on 13 February 1668.
1515 GNR: Guarda Nacional Republicana; Portuguese State Police , GNR officers are commonly referred to as ‘GNR’.
1616 Medronho: Arbutus brandy, often consumed as a digestif
1717 Amor eterno : Everlasting love
BIOGRAPHY
My name is Karyne Lamidieu, I am French and have been living in the concelho of Alcoutim for four years. I am in my early fifties. I was a primary school teacher and then a secondary school teacher working with pupils with severe learning difficulties. I left France to change my life and I sincerely believe that it has been a success. I lead a simple life, but one that is rich in encounters, learning and new challenges: for example, learning Portuguese at over fifty years of age!
I consider myself an approachable, sociable, cheerful, curious and epicurean person. I enjoy meeting people, learning about their stories and life journeys, and sharing with them in general. I am a good cook and would even say that I am a « Food addict ». I enjoy crocheting and sewing. I also enjoy hiking and swimming. I adore cats.
I lived in England during my studies and remain very attached to that country, its language, culture and cuisine. I also love Italy, but I am particularly touched by the Portuguese people, their history, their resilience, their relationship with individual freedom and their pacifist nature today. I try as much as possible to integrate into the concelho community by participating in various activities offered by the câmara, such as sports (gymnastics and hiking, among others), certain workshops (which is how I took up crochet) and the marcha de São João de Pereiro. I am also a member of the association that organises this event.
When Paul Doody asked me to take part in this short story competition, I jumped at the chance because I had been thinking about writing for several months. I would like to try my hand at writing a cosy mystery novel one day, but I always find an excuse to put it off. This opportunity gave me the push I needed, and so I present to you my very first piece of writing: a short story entitled Love at First Sight in Alcoutim.
I wanted to offer an immersion into Portuguese society as I know and understand it, which is quite different from what we see in ‘postcard-style reports’. I got the idea for this story while rereading some short stories by Maupassant, a 19th-century French author who, for me, remains a reference in this field.
I would therefore like to thank Paul for organising this competition, and I must mention my dear friend and volunteer proofreader Maylis, who made me smile when she suggested these words for my biography:
‘A stunning brunette with azure eyes and a devastating smile, Karyne hung up her French superhero cape to seek exile in the sun and live out her days peacefully surrounded by her furry friends.’ After all, our friends are the best people to talk about us…
NB I used the DeepL website to translate my short story into English and Portuguese, hoping that my original intention will not be too distorted.
