Tuesday 27 April 2010

travel from Lisbon to Seville

Please see this article on my blog from last year:

http://bit.ly/dgjYq5

The content of the article is still valid although you may need to check the bus times.

You can try with alsa.es to book online.

Saturday 24 April 2010

Further Possible Transport Problems - Portugal

The possibility of a repeat of the truck drivers' strike and blockade which caused havoc two years ago is coming closer.

Portuguese Truck Company owners are meetinf today to discuss such action following the Portuguese Government's decision to impose tolls on stretches of recently built motorway in the North of the Country.

More info in Portuguese here:

http://bit.ly/98Odcv

If one recalls the previous strikes and blockades led to fuel shortages etc.

Train strikes in Portugal next week

More information here: (in portuguese)

http://bit.ly/buLaJi

It appears that it will affect the national and urban rail network and urban bus networks.

It reports that Lisbon and Porto Metros should be working.

Lagos - Building work waterfront

Works still ongoing on the carpark.

The square in front of the church and the city walls is now almost complete and open to the public.

I have heard rumours that there are already problems with water infiltration on the second lower floor of the carpark structure but these are only rumors. I cannto see how it can be ready before July.

The other car park being built up behind the city walls is now well advanced and based on my limited experience should be ready within a couple of months.

The electric, HVAC, lighting and gate systems are already in place and as as far as I can see it just requires external cosmetic works. So should be ready for summer.

Thursday 22 April 2010

Algarve - Boreholes

One of the main drillers of boreholes in the Western Algarve is:

Acácio da Silva Carreira
Email: acaciocarreira@sapo.pt
Telephone: 282 339 172
R Antonio Aleixo, 20 - 8375-128 S B Messines

This outfit have been in business for years and I know that they have bored holes in Raposeira, Ingrina and Sagres.

They do not have a website but are well known in the area.

I have spoken to them this morning and they say that if you send them an email in English they should be able to reply.

There appears to be an another outfit based between Faro and Tavira - SondaPortugal.

Website here: http://www.sondaportugal.com

As regards Boavista, a pipeline was built from the ETAR near Portelas and the course uses waste water from Lagos for irrigation if I remember correctly.

Wednesday 21 April 2010

Jerez de la Frontera

Had a great break over the last week-end in the Jerez de la Frontera / Cadiz area of Andalucia.

We stayed in Jerez de la Frontera.

Drove from Lagos, Algarve, Portugal on the A22 motorway to the Spanish frontier, then continued on the A49 motorway to Seville. Then took the A4 motorway for 21kms until it turned in the N4 national road and followed this for the last 90kms to Jerez de la Frontera. This avoided the need to take the AP4 toll motorway. I suspect that in a busy period the toll motoway would be the best way to go.

Transit time was about 4 hours with two stops for fuel and coffee.

The countryside as one approaches Jerez de la Frontera is rolling fields. The town itself is situated about 20kms from the coast and, of course, is famous as the home of Sherry wine.(an anglicised corruption of the town's name.) All the big names in the sherry name have their "bodegas" there, including Sandeman, Harvey's, Gonzalez Byass, Domecq etc. Tours can be made of the bodegas but usually only on certain days and by booking. The Royal Andalucian Horse Academy and The Centro Andaluz de Flamenco is also to be found in the city.Again check days of opening.

The Alcazar is also worth visiting, if only to view the city through the "Camara Obscura".

Monday 19 April 2010

Getting a coach to Lisbon from Vale Paraiso

As far as I know, there are no bus companies that actually organise trips from Vale Paraiso to shopping centres in both Lisbon and Amadora!

Renex operate regular services throughout the day to Lisbon Gare Oriente Train/Bus Station. This is also the location of the large Vasco da Gama Shopping Centre. You can also get Trains, Metro and Bus from there to most other parts of Lisbon.

You can find the Renex Timetable here:

http://bit.ly/renexalgarvelisbon

Alicante, Spain to Lagos, Portugal

There are no cost effective train or low cost flight option on this route.

Realistically if budget is important, I would recommend getting a bus from Alicante to Seville:

see: http://www.alsa.es

and then the twice daily DAMAS/EVA bus from Seville Plaza das Armas to Lagos.

see: http://bit.ly/sevillelagosbus

Travel From Lisbon To Caceres

There is no direct bus service between Lisbon and Caceres.

There is one direct train service per day. This is the overnight Lusitânia Comboio Hotel from Lisbon to Madrid which routes through Caceres. Cost about € 35.00 at present.

See: http://bit.ly/LisbonCaceres

The only alternative would be to tak a bus from Lisbon to Badajoz and then another from Badajoz to Caceres.

http://www.avanzabus.com have a service leaving Lisbon Oriente at 10:30 and arriving in Badajoz at 15:15 (Spanish time).

There is then a departure from Badajoz at 16:00 arriving Caceres at 17:15. Cost approximately € 40.00 at present.

Sagres recommendations

The Memmo is recently rebuilt with a modernistic styling and has a great view over the fishing port.

Do not forget the Pousada in Sagres....

see: http://bit.ly/pousadasagres

The Mareta also has good reviews.

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Jerez de la Frontera / Cadiz

After finally putting to bed another successful Dance Algarve, we aare about to have a few days off visiting Jerez and Cadiz.

Watch my tweets and this blog for more in a few days.

Lagos - Algarve - Onda - Urban Bus Service Award

Lagos Bus Service ONDA which was launched in 2009 has been awarded a national prize for the quality and implementation of its bus services.

More here: http://bit.ly/lagosbusaward

Friday 9 April 2010

Lisbon to Tuy

The best way from Lisbon to Tuy/Tui (Spain) is by train:

Timetable as follows:

lisboa_tui train timetable 2010

There is no direct bus service between Lisbon and Tuy.

However, Spanish Bus company http://www.autna.com/ offer a service with a change in Porto.

To view the timetable click on - Servicios and then click on - Lineas Regulares

San Sebastain to Lagos

You could probably drive san sebastian spain to lagos in about 12 hours if you had your own vehicle.

It is unlikely that you could rent a hire car in San Sebastian for drop-off in Lagos unless you were prepared to pay a hefty premium.

See this article one my blog for more information.

http://bit.ly/cnxqQ5


(Note prices may have changed)