The Founder and President of EHICA, Vasilis Stahtakis was in Portugal, between 3 and 7 June 2019.
Mr. Stathakis visited Portugal, as an official guest and a keynote speaker of the Loule Municipality, and held a speech on June 5, 2019, at the 90th anniversary of the Historic Cafe Calcihna.
Earlier on the same day, the Founder and President of EHICA had an official meeting with the Mayor of Loule, Vitor Aleixo at the City Hall. At the meeting, the two men discussed both the possibility of co-operation between the Municipalities of Loulé and Chania regarding the importance of Historic Cafes and also their cooperation in the new “Cultural Route”, under the name “Historic Cafes Route” which is in progress and aspires to be certified by the Council of Europe.
Historic Café Calcinha, is a replica of an old Brazilian coffee shop, opened in 1927 and virtually unchanged since, with a gorgeous art deco interior and marble-topped tables. Live fado occasionally takes place at the Cafe. The statue outside depicts António Aleixo, an early-20th-century poet and a former regular of the cafe, sitting at his own bronze table.
During his official speech on Calcinha’s anniversary, Mr. Stathakis said: “I hope from the depths of my heart that this example will be followed by other Municipalities in order to promote Historic Cafes internationally.. (…) Thank you for your insight
For me, that really are Historic Cafes: they are as persons, with soul, heart, memories, telling countless stories, giving the lead for the future by creating everlasting relationships and emotions
… “
On 6 and 7 June 2019 Vassilis Stathakis traveled to Lisbon, to meet with owners of Historic Cafes, welcoming two Historic Cafes to the Association.
On June 6, Nicola Historic Cafe joined EHICA, and on June 7, the Founder and President of EHICA had the pleasure and honor to welcome the oldest Historic Cafe of Lisbon, the Café Martinho Da Arcada, located in Praça do Comércio that was inaugurated 1782 and was Fernando Pessoa’s favorite Cafe!
The Founder and President of EHICA, Vassilis Stathakis, with the Mayor of the city of Lule Vitor Aleixo at the official visit to the Town Hall.
From the official speech for the 90th Anniversary of the Café Calcinha, in Lule, Portugal. (On the left, Vitor Sa Marques, President of The Association of the Historic Cafes in Portugal, the Mayor of the city of Loulé, Vitor Aleixo and the Founder and President of EHICA, Vassilis Stathakis).
The Founder & President of EHICA, Vasilis Stathakis, with the owner of "Nicola" Historic Cafe in Lisbon.