Writer David Lugg has been a Luz resident since the summer of 2020. This is ‘A Letter from Luz’ – Spring 2026.
Sometimes in life, lady luck can smile upon us. Doors can open, fate can intervene and we feel that we have the midas touch. Everything turns to gold. Alas, these lucky days are few and far between. Instead of waiting for fortune to smile at us, surely there must be easier ways to be lucky?
A gentleman named Frek Selak is often considered to be the luckiest man in the world. He survived a plane crash, a train accident, a bus falling into a river, two car explosions, a bus collision, and his car falling off a 100-metre cliff. Arguably, he was unlucky to be in these scenarios in the first place, but there is no doubt that he was incredibly lucky to survive. To cap it all, in 2003, he also won the national lottery.
Those that follow numerology might suggest that April 13this a day where opportunities for luck may arise through love, family, finances and creative investments. Many western cultures have prophesised about lucky number 7, whilst in China, numbers 8 and 168 are linked to prosperity. For me, 168 was the number of my old local bus route (that was always late), so this doesn’t particularly provoke fond memories.
Luck, of course, is a rare blessing. For 99.99% of the time, we are neither lucky nor unlucky. We live our day-to-day lives in the best way that we can. We all have good days and bad days. But whether we can put them down to luck is debatable. Which brings us to the big question – what can we do to become a luckier person?
A recent psychology paper suggested that the key to a luckier life is through optimism. Continuous positivity can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy. For example, if you expect a social interaction to go well, you will naturally smile more, speak more engagingly, and stand taller. Other people will respond in kind. Conversely, unlucky people are more likely to expect rejection.
But there is one easy method that is almost guaranteed to make you feel lucky. One that requires a little effort but offers countless benefits. That method is called ‘having a holiday to the west Algarve’. Time and time again, people tell me how lucky they feel when they are here in this lovely region. Even on rare days when the weather is not so good, the overall spirit tends to be ‘well, it’s better weather than home’.
I dare say that taking a holiday to Luz can be linked to the positive mental approach that I highlighted above. We all feel excited to get away and take a break from our routines. We are inclined to make the most of our holiday come rain or shine. Yet, I would put forward there is something extra special about a holiday to this part of the world. Something that makes us feel particularly lucky.
The ‘lucky’ feeling derives from a combination of many aspects. On a tangible level, it’s the colour of the sea, it’s the spectacular wildflowers, the extraordinary birdlife, the plethora of stunning beaches. On the mental side, it is the sound of the waves, the smell of good food, the clinking of wine glasses. It’s watching your children take pleasure from building a sandcastle or jumping the waves.
The ‘Luz luck’ feeling comes down to synergy. You come here for a holiday, but you get so much more than you bargained for. The truth is that we make our own luck in life and there are few better places to make it than the west Algarve.
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All photo images owned by David Lugg