176th MGCP Concentração de Aniversário

José Gil, Vice-President, took upon himself to organizate the party to commemorate the 41st Anniversary of the MGCP. He elected the city of Santarém as a meeting point for the Members who, in whole or in part, wanted to participate in the weekend programme that was proposed to them and that had the support of the local Municipality.

Indeed, the Culture, Cultural Heritage, and Tourism Division allowed and helped exhibiting the MG vehicles in the former Largo do Seminário, where they were overseen by the Technical Assistant Margarida Machado, while the MGCP Members were accompanied by Vera Duarte, Superior Tourism Technician, on a guided tour of the historic area of the city. The tour started at the Convento de S. Francisco and ended at the Igreja da Graça, which has one of the most beautiful rosette windows in Portugal and where, in a shallow grave, Pedro Álvares Cabral is resting. In between, it was made clear why the Igreja de Santa Maria de Marvila is known as the “cathedral of the 17th century tile”. Lunch was served at Pátio da Graça, next to Torre das Cabaças, where Chef Rafael Duarte shared his Peruvian cuisine with Japanese influences.

After lunch, it was time to head towards Jardim das Portas do Sol and visit the Passos Canavarro House-Museum that is located on the Morro da Alcáçova built over the royal palace ruins of King D. Afonso Henriques (1109-1185). Dr. Pedro Canavarro, the great-great-grandson of the politician and parliamentarian Passos Manuel, was waiting for the group and guide them in the discovery of a rich estate consisting of furniture, porcelain, paintings and woodcuts. These objects chroniclethe relationship of Passos Canavarro with Japan where he was the 1st reader of Portuguese in Tokyo. It is not by chance that the house was immortalized by Almeida Garrett in “Viagens na Minha Terra”.

Dinner was served at the Dois Petiscos restaurant, where Chef João Correia prepared dishes inspired by Mediterranean cuisine. The meal ended with a toast and congratulations to the Founding Member, Joaquim Diniz.

Sunday morning was reserved for sports activities that took place inside the former Escola Prática de Cavalaria and new talents were revealed. Leaving in a caravan, the next destination was Quinta da Ribeirinha, in Póvoa de Santarém, for a traditional portuguese cuisine lunch, accompanied by the wines produced there and presented by its owner, Dr. Joaquim Cândido.

Prizes were given to the first three classified in each event of the Sport and Production Classes, and it was also imperative to value the performance of the only Veteran MG in the competition as the Best Car of the Concentração, and to present the owners, Dora and Rui, with an English reproduction of a Midget TF. To top a crescendo of celebration, all that remained was to light the birthday cake candles, sing Happy Birthday at the top of the lungs, and applaud the passage of another year in the life of the MG Clube de Portugal.

More on: Jornal dos Clássicos - MG Clube de Portugal celebra o seu 41º aniversário (jornaldosclassicos.com)

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