Three minor developments in Luz 2020.
The Japanese restaurant that was Chaplins has failed after a single season. I never visited it personally, but it was reported to be mediocre. That's a sure fire recipe for death, as one can partake of better in Lagos. The word on the street is that it will open this season as a Tapas Restaurant. I'm going to have to get into that quick. That idea will last for just a season before the venture folds. It's a wrong business model in a wrong location.
Speaking of Chaplins, a visit to that lady's new venture in Lagos is high on our must-visit list. Beaches are filling up fast now, so places that are a little off the beaten track are rising to the top of our to-do list.
We made enquiries about the derelict property directly opposite the church in Luz. It has potential for a small morning-only take-away, because of the pedestrian traffic and ample car parking. There we hit a brick wall. It was bought 3 or 4 years back by an Englishman for €400,000 and he wants to make a profit from it. One can turn that site into a business, but I'll be dead long before it makes money.
The Galley, known in MBM's day as The Well, is also changing. It is to become a Thai/Malaysian restaurant. I would also predict that will fail within a year. The Galley flogs expensive British food to Brits (mainly) on the back of its major asset. It has an absolutely stunning view over the sea. Of course, that's useless in the evening, or when it's cold, or when it rains.
Chaplins, aka the Luz Japanese, almost certainly employed no Japanese staff. The Galley, aka the Thai/Malaysian will probably never have a Thai/Malay chef. Wrong offering in the wrong location, so I'm going for 1 season max.
Outside of Luz, the Brasilian to the east of Luz has a sign up, saying it is closed. At the moment, I have not worked out whether that is for winter, or whether it it is permanent.
There you have 4 small stories of MBM Luz 2007. The scandal at Chaplins. The body in the disintegrating lot opposite the church. OG tucking in to a Brasilian in 2014. The mysterious passageways under Luz that only the children know about.
You can do a pub crawl in Luz, if that is your inclination. At the moment, I am thinking of a food trawl. I could as fat as a pig by the end of the season.
Whoops, the Pig's Head. Yet another story.