bus Sevilla to Faro

The bus from Seville stops in Faro Centre. It does not go to the Airport.

You have to take a local bus or taxi to the Airport.

Timetable here:

http://bit.ly/bP3ogK

Living in Portugal - US Citizen

This is a very difficult one to answer.

The first thing to note is that as a US citizen you would probably only get a permit to live in Portugal if -

1) You are a retiree with substantial private income
2) You make a substantial business investment which might entitle you to a residency and work permit
3) You are married to someone with Portuguese nationality. Even then there may be complication.
4) You work for a company who transfers you to work at their operations in Portugal and can organise a work permit.

Generally the Portuguese are friendly to foreigners although when one lives here, like in most places, one should learn the language and try to integrate socially. Do not expect to be welcomed overnight.

Buying a house is no problem once you have a work/residency permit but be aware that in my opinion property prices are still in excess of actual value and quality of construction is not always that good. Prices are probably higher than certain parts of the US.

You would probably need private Health Insurance for your first 18 months or so and during that time you would have also to pay into the local national public heath insurance system.

I would suggest that if you have further queries that you contact the Portuguese Embassy in Washington D.C. in the first instance.

2012 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
Estados Unidos da América

Hours: das 9h00 às 16h30

Telefone: 001 202 350 54 00
Fax: 001 202 462 37 26
E-mail: info@embassyportugal-us.org

Portugal

You still have not stated clearly which areas of Portugal you wish to visit from Spain!

In all, I would say that Madrid is the best jumping off point to visit Portugal as there are low cost flights from Madrid to Lisbon and Porto. There are also good regular bus services between Madrid and Lisbon.

There are no direct connections between Gibratar and Portugal. It is possible, however, to get a buses from Algeciras to Seville and then connect to a twice-daily bus to Faro and Lagos in the Algarve Region of Portugal or to the daily bus from Seville to Lisbon.

Portimão - Developers Video - New Aqua Portimão Shopping Centre

I cannot see that the opening of this Centre at this time os going to result in the closing an boarding up of, at least, two other shopping centres in Portimão!!!!

The video intro says it all! The 45 minute drive radius catchment area only offers a population of 75,000 for 10 months of the year! Crazy!!!!

Anyway click here to view: http://bit.ly/cxxyzS

Visit to Portugal

jabraltur? Sorry but I don't know that place!

Portugal is a fair sized country! Which place in Portugal do you wish to travel to from Madrid in January?

How long does one need to tour portugal? Depending on which areas in Portugal you want to go to and what you want to see I would say from 1 week to 1 month.

Portugal to Morocco - By bus from Lisbon or Faro to Seville, Spain and then by bus to Algeciras, Spain. Then ferry to Morocco.

Ryanair.com have announced that they will be operating three low-cost flights a week from Porto to Marrakesh as from November 2010.

Royal Air Maroc and TAP-Air Portugal also operate flights from Lisbon to Casablanca,

tolls on the A22

As things currently stand, perfectly true.

The implications for car-borne tourism from Spain etc are boggling.

However, the Portuguese Govt. has to tighten its belt and so hitting tourism by chasing visitors away by charging tolls is the obvious things to do. (This is instead of provoking public sector strikes/demos à la Greece by forcing public servants to be more productive!)

However, there will apparently be certain exemptions for locally registered cars etc.

The system is not yet clear but will apparently involve electronic payment.

I have not posted about this yet as the details are still hazy AND there is still 6 months of political haggling to go!

travel - Lagos and Fatima.

There are no direct public transport links between Lagos and Fatima.

By train it is not that easy as you have to transit Lisbon and disembark at Caxarias, 10km (6 miles) outside Fátima. There are only a few buses a day between Caxarias and the Sanctuary.

The best bet is by long distance coach.

I have published the current (Sept 2010) timetable for bus services between Lagos and Fatima via Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station offered by Rede Expressos here:

http://scr.bi/94Pjqg

The word "Diariamente" means daily. The first two services of the day do not operate daily. I would suggest that to do the return trip in a day would be uncomfortable. You probably want to plan on staying over in Fatima at least one night.

The full site for the bus company is here:

http://www.rede-expressos.pt

Travel from Fatima to Madeira by land

I find your question rather interesting.

Given that Madeira is an island in the Atlantic Ocean lying 1,000 km west from the Portuguese Mainland, it is impossible to get there by land. (Unless you walk on water!)

There is only one ferry per week on Sundays taking 24 hours from the Portuguese Mainland to Madeira. This departs from the Port of Portimão in the Southern Algarve region of Portugal.

The company is:
http://www.naviera-armas.com

My own recommendation is that you consider an Easyjet.com flight from Lisbon Airport to Madeira.

Lisbon to Seville by bus

For winter 2011, there is:

a) One daily direct service between Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station (Metro - Jardim Zoologico) and Seville Estacion Plaza das Armas.

Dept Lisbon: 20:45

Arr Seville: 05:15 (next day)

b) There is a second direct service operating on Thursday, Friday, Saturdays and Sundays.

Dept Lisbon: 09:00

Arr Seville: 17:45

Both these service are operated by Alsa.es.

Timetable here: http://bit.ly/9JMgx6

Prices: € 35.00 one way - € 61.00 return.

It is also possible daily to get an EVA/Rede Expressos bus from Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station (Metro - Jardim Zoologico) to Faro and then connect with one of the twice daily EVA/DAMAS buses from Faro to Seville.

Dept: (Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station (Metro - Jardim Zoologico) 01:00

Arr: Faro Bus Station 04:50

Dept: Faro Bus Station: 09:20

Arr: Seville Estacion Plaza das Armas: 14:00

Dept: (Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station (Metro - Jardim Zoologico) 10:30

Arr: Faro Bus Station 13:45

Dept: Faro Bus Station: 16:25

Arr: Seville Estacion Plaza das Armas: 21:15

Lagos, Algarve - Can I attend a football match?

The local club is Esperança de Lagos.

Website (in Portuguese) here: http://www.esperancadelagos.pt/

The stadium is situated on the entrance to Lagos from Portimão, not far from Macdonalds. Unfortunately, the website does not easily a show of next fixtures.

Portimense would probably be a better bet as they are in the Premier Division this season.

Their website is here:

http://www.portimonense.pt/

However, I think they are playing all their matches for the first part of this season at the Estadio do Algarve near Faro as their own stadium is being upgraded.

You would need a car to get there.

League Fixtures are here:

http://bit.ly/a00wUo

Praia da Pinhão - Lagos, Algarve, Portugal

Praia de Pinhão may have attracted nudists at one time but these days the Maritme Police are doing more patrolling of the Lagos beaches and decorum seems to have been the watchword this summer.

One never knows, however, the odd nudist may still make it there. Personally, I don't see the problem as long as they act naturally and don't make an exhibition of themselves.

As to the location of the fire station, follow the Avenida out of town past the Fort, (fortaleza), (to your right,) continue up the hill and you will come to the Fire Station on your right. The access for Praia de Pinhão is to your right.

Praia do Camilo--Lagos

The road to Ponte da Piedade goes straight past the access road for Praia Dona Ana.

The distance between Praia Dona Ana and Ponte da Piedade is about 1km.

Half way to Ponte da Piedade on the right there is a turn off leading down to a small wooden structure cafe. (You can see it from the Road.)

The stairs to Camilo leave from behind the cafe.

Travel to Residencial Florescente

Actually, the taxi cannot drop you off directly in front of the hotel as it is on a pedestrian precinct.

How do I know? Barlaventoexpert has stayed at the Residencial Florescente!

However, the taxi should be able to drop you off on the corner of Rua dos Condes and Rua de São José and you can then walk the 30m or so to the Florescente.

Now you have explained where you are staying, I can advise that in Rua das Portas de Sãnto Antão (turn right out of the Florescente!) there are several Asian run electrical/electronics shops selling counterfeit brands who will be more than pleased, methinks, to sell you an iron!

A final point, Rua das Portas de Sãnto Antão, which mergers into Rua de São José, is an "ambush alley" of restaurants with touts outside. There is at least one recent report on these forums of punters being ripped off in these restaurants. Be very careful and wary. Check the prices of everything including wine and do not be intimidated.

Car rental and driving out of Lisbon

I think your idea of picking up the car at Lisbon Airport is a good one. You have good access to the A2 motorway to the Algarve via the Vasco da Gama bridge close to the Airport.

As regards taxis, they are metered. However, there is an excellent bus service from Lisbon Airport to the Avda. Liberdade/Restauradores/Rossio area operated by Carris.

See: http://bit.ly/9b2Ga3

A taxi for 4 people & bags may be difficult. Hopefully there will be a slightly large people carrier on the rank. With bags, and dependent on time of day/night/weekend budget between € 10 and € 20 per run.

I am totally confused by this obsession with GPS. My main profession is as an IT Tech and web designer of some 15 years experience. I like Technology.

Yet I cannot fathom this fascination with GPS, when MK 1 eyeball, a good (Google/Michelin) map and an adventurous spirit will usually quite adequately get one where one wants to go.

BTW as you are from the "other side of the pond", remember when booking your car that most rental vehicles in Europe are "manual shift"! If you want/need an automatic shift, remember to specific this when booking and be aware that you will pay a premium for such a vehicle.

Bus from port coming from morocco to lisbon

You will need to get a bus to Seville from which ever port you arrive at:

See: http://www.tgcomes.es/horarios_33.htm

From Seville to Lisbon there are two options:

1) http://www.alsa.es

This company currently operates 2 daily services between Sevilla and Lisbon as follows:

SEVILLA(Prado) LISBON 23:30 07:30next day

2) EVA Transportes/DAMAS Change and buy ticket in Faro

Sevilla Plaza das Armas Faro 08:00 10:40
Faro Lisboa 11:00 14:15

Sevilla Plaza das Armas Faro 16:15 18:55
Faro Lisboa 19:00 22:15

The Algarve - August 2010 Tourism Trends

Interesting article here in Jornal de Barlavento about the main trends in the Algarve tourism sector in Algarve 2010.

http://bit.ly/cIvRMQ

What is interesting to note is that despite the problems with the Spanish Economy, arrivals from Spain saw a substantial increase over the equivalent period in 2009. This confirms a trend that has been evolving for several years now. If you are in the travel business in the Algarve DO NOT ignore the Spanish market at your peril.

The Dutch Market is also showing major growth with arrivals from Ireland were down by one third and from the Uk by 2,7%.

Visiting Oeiras

Funny this! Hardly ever anything posted about Oeiras...now this!

I'm going to be up in Oeiras tonight for the premiere of «ONNI - Objecto Náutico Não Identificado» directed by John Mowat who also works with Companhia Teatro Chapitu in Lisbon.

See: http://bit.ly/aC7Vmo

This is a comedy/play about the reaction of the native Brazilians to the first Portuguese appearing on the horizon.

The title is a play on the Portuguese acronym OVNI which means UFO. In the play ONNI the title stands for Objecto Náutico Não Identificado or Unidentified Nautical Object.

Don't forget that in Oeiras you are only a few stops by train from the Jeronimos Monastery and Belem with its tower and monument to the Portuguese voyages of Discovery.

You will also need at least 2 days to explore Lisbon.

The Algarve

I remember Albufeira +40 years ago when it was still principally a small fishing village with only one or two buildings with more than two floors. Driving down from Lisbon took five to six hours on twisty cork and almond tree-lined roads. Faro Airport had just opened.

However, at that time, Portugal still had an empire generating its economic wealth and Lisbon was the bustling capital of an empire. I remember the first morning in the Mundial Hotel, in Lisbon, waking up to sound of trams rattling through the streets and fishmongers and other traders still pushing their barrows though the area around Mem Martins and Praça da Figueira plying their wares. A fascinating introduction to a new culture for a young teenager, whose experience of life till then had been restricted to Southern Africa.

However, life is a dynamic and all things move on. 1974 saw the Revolution in Portugal and overnight the country lost it Empire and much of its economic wealth, It also had to accommodate over a million retornados from its colonies, One obvious source of such wealth was to promote the development of tourism in the Algarve to pick up on the overflow form the beginnings of mass tourism to the Spanish Costas and Greek islands.

Subsequently, following Portugal's entry to the EU in 1986, there was a increase in mass movement by retiree's and others from other EU states to retire/live in the Algarve.

Hence the transmogrification of the region into a destination for wine filled, sun splashed hedonism for Northern Europeans!

Regrettably, the Algarve's cultural heritage was not really protected or enhanced during this period, Lagos, where I live, has a phenomenal history with recently research by the University of Seville recovering artifacts of Phonecian origin. The Romans were here and in Tavira, The Moors were in Silves. At this time, the Algarve region was part of the Moorish kingdom or Al-Andaluz and was known in Arabic as the Al-Gharb.

Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins shelled Lagos while they were still privateers, and Lagos as well as Sagres were critical key ports in the Portuguese Voyages of discovery which opened the sea route to the Asia around the Cape of Good Hope in the 14C/15C. Without this great Portuguese success, neither the Dutch nor the British would have had their empires in the form they subsequently took. Lagos was the capital of the Algarve until much of the old town was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake.

I was privileged a few years ago to be passing a dig by the city walls near the Bombeiros and to see two skeletons been excavated from what was probably the graveyard of the church that stood in Largo Sta. Maria until the eartquake.

There are also apocryphal stories that illiterate fisherman without compasses from Olhão in the Algarve crossed the Atlantic to Brazil in 1830 to take news to the Portuguese Royal family resident in Brazil at the time.

The Algarve has a tremendous cultural heritage...it is just that there is not one museum, historical theme park, son et lumière, or other facility that promotes it in a way comprehensible to visitors. It is a tremendous shame!

This lack of cultural awareness and promotion of cultural tourism to the Algarve is problematical and contributes of the lack of year round stable economic activity here.

It is interesting that there is increasing evidence that European tourists, in particular, are increasingly much more interested in taking city breaks to Lisbon and Porto than visiting the Algarve.

See, for example, this recent article: http://bit.ly/biaR5d

Consequently, I must concur that if one is in Lisbon and one wants to take a side trip elsewhere in Portugal to see more than sea and sand, head north to Coimbra, Obidos, Alcobaça, Batalha, Porto, Torres Vedras etc.

A final note, with regards to the comments above about the behavior of foreign tourists here, I have been helping a friend out managing a 16 bed villa here this summer. The owner lives in the UK. What possessed her, I do not know, (greed probably!) but she rented the property this week to 14 English soccer fans.

I can tell you, that being called out to extract beer cans, various body coverings, hair etc, etc from a jacuzzi filter after a wild 18hr booze fueled party is not my idea of culture either!!

Scorchio

And at the risk of being ostracized by my Portuguese and Spanish friends, I think this 1990's UK Comedy clip sums up the current heatwave:

http://bit.ly/ctzx3u

Scorchio!!!!

Bus from Lisbon Airport to Albufeira

There is no bus station at Lisbon Airport. A metro link is being constructed but will only open within the next couple of years.

Take an Aeroshuttle bus from Lisbon Airport to Gare Oriente Train/Bus Station - see note below) to Gare Oriente Train Station about 10 minutes from the Airport.

Aeroshuttle (CARRIS Nº96) - Available everyday, every 30 minutes between 7am and 11pm, the aeroshuttle connects Gare Oriente - Airport - Entrecampos - Sete Rios - Praça de Espanha.

Tickets (3,50€) can be purchased onboard and also in the Tourism Office at arrivals (public area).

From Gare Oriente Train/Bus Station get a Renex bus to Albufeira.

Website: www.renex.pt

Timetables: Download timetables via my blog as indicated above. (RENEX Bus Service - Lisbon to Algarve timetable)

Note: Ask for a ticket for Albufeira. There will be a bus change at Vale Paraiso, the stop before Albufeira.

There are departures, currrently, at 11:00 arriving Albufeira at 14:10 and a departures at 13:00 arriving 16:10

Timetable in pdf format here: http://bit.ly/bfjtbB

1000 Articles!

When I started this blog, I never thought that I would write 100 articles let alone 1000!

After 3 years, finally reached the 1000 mark.

I hope that all of you that have found the information on the blog, especially that
infomation about travelling in Spain and Portugal useful.

I was going to write a big celebratory article but unfortunately, I have been down with the lurgi for the past couple of days. So this will have to do.

I am hoping that there will be big advances with this blog in 2011 so keep following it.

Thanks to all of you who read it.

Barlaventoexpert

Cadiz to Faro

There are essentially only two way to travel between Cadiz, Spain and Andalucia and Faro, Algarve, Portugal:

1) Hire Car
2) Public Transport

- Bus/Bus

Currently the best service would be:

Alsa.es bus from Cadiz to Seville (Est. Plaza das Armas):

Dept: CADIZ   12:00
Arr:  SEVILLE   14:30


and then:

a Damas/EVA bus from Seville (Est. Plaza das Armas) to Faro.


Dept: SEVILLE   16:15
Arr:  FARO   18:55

Hope this helps.