Caceres - Badajoz - Lisbon - Faro

Please note that there is currently no train running between Caceres and Lisbon.

The Lusitânia Comboio train that used to run this route is now running via Vilar Formoso. I believe this is due to imminent construction works on the new high speed rail link between Lisbon and Madrid.

See:

http://www.cp.pt/cp/displayPage.do?vgnextoid=a6176e29d6b74010VgnVCM1000007b01a8c0RCRD&lang=en

You can find a link to the Lisbon to Faro rail timetable on my blog here:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/

Scroll down on the right hand side panel till you come to:

»» Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links

»» Continue scrolling down in this section till you come to:

Portuguese Railways - 2008 - Lisbon - Algarve Faro/Lagos Timetable

Click on it and you will be able to download the latest timetable in pdf format.

Please note that the autumn/winter timetable will only be online after September.

You will probably need to get a bus from Caceres to Badajoz and then another one to Lisbon.

Alternatively, you could try getting a bus from Caceres to Seville and then the twice daily DAMAS bus from Seville to Faro.

Cubsur has timetables for the latter route here:

http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/001.htm

For Caceres - Badajoz - Lisbon try

http://www.auto-res.net

They have several daily service between Caceres and Badajoz and at present at least two daily service between Badajoz and Lisbon.

http://www.alsa.es

This company also has several services a day between Badajoz and Lisbon.

Check the timetables in October as the winter schedules are not yet available.

Elefante Azul - Car / Dog Wash - Guia

Down at Algarve-Shopping this morning and saw that the Elefante Azul Car wash by the Guia roundabout also has a dogwash unit for those Algarve Residents who want to do two things at the same time.

One very happy rescued Cão da Agua had just been cleaned. Hus owner's car looked happy as well!

East Midlands - Algarve - New Route

According to news reports Ryanair have announced the launching of a new route linking East Midlands Airport in the UK with Faro Airport in the Algarve.

See:

http://www.easier.com/view/Travel/Flights/Ryanair/article-186416.html

Açores - New Air Route

Air Berlin announced yesterday the launching of a new weekly flight from Nuremburg to Ponta Delgada in the Açores beginning November 3rd, 2008.

This will be the first direct link between the archipelago and Germany.

More info here (in Portuguese):

http://www.lowcostportugal.net/aeroportos/voos-air-berlin-para-ponta-delgada-comecam-a-3-de-novembro/2008/06/

Lagos - Algarve - Gas Boiler Assistance

Lagogas

Website in English here

http://www.lagogas.com/lagogas/Default.aspx?Content=Contacts

and

Servilas

Tel: 282764953
servilas.ld@netvisao.pt

Be aware that if your boiler is not a major brand, you may have difficulty getting support.

Where we live the builders installed Sylber gas combi boilers in the 8 townhouses in 2000. Sylber is an Italian brand. The only agent in Portugal was in Aveiro near Porto, and they stopped selling them years ago.Cut a long story short we had to install a new boiler.

Algeciras, Spain - Restaurante

Although not a tourist city, Algeciras may be one of the places you need to visit en route to Morocco or Gib.

Situated in the center, Restaurant Asador La Carbonera offers good cuisine and a nice relaxing enviroment.

Prices are expensive, however and watch the wine list, particularly!

Address:

Corner of Calle Muro/Calle Murrillo
Algeciras.

Tel: 956 66 37 38

A Curva, Algoz, Algarve

A Curva, Rua Moinheta 25, Algoz, is nice traditional Portuguese restaurant situated in the centre of the agricultural village of Algoz, inland of Guia and Albufeira.

Tel: 282 574 827

Closed Sundays.

Hostal/Pension - Lepe, Province of Huelva, Spain

Lepe is a joke town to the Spanish, noted as the strawberry capital of Spain.

However, it is a lot more, being both an agricultural and commercial centre for the region.

Situated 20 kms from the Portuguese frontier at Ayamonte and 30 kms from Huelva, it is an ideal base for anything exploring the area to purchase a property. It is also a good stop-over for anyone from the Algarve with a very early morning flight from Seville Airport or anyone driving down to the Algarve through Spain and who just have to sleep.

I can recommend Hostal El Patio, operated by Srª. Josefa Ma Cruz Guerrero, Avd. Diputacion 10.

Tel: 00 34 959 382 690
Tel: 00 34 656 42 75 49

email: 654763252@amena.com

website: http://www.hostalelpatiolepe.com/index.html

Prices are very reasonable ranging from € 36 for a double in low season. Rooms include TV, aircon and there is a wifi facility.

There is no breakfast provided but there are several cafes within a 3 minutes walk.

Obidos Medieval Festival 2008

According to the website of the Camara Municipal de Obidos, it will take place between 10-07-2008 and 20-07-2008. (European Calendar Format).

Link here:

http://www.obidos.oestedigital.pt/events/PesquisaEventos.aspx?uid=8f3fdb91-e7ee-4a7c-8d30-340dd7c70bc8&cat=0&d=15-06-2008

Portugal to Morocco

I have just got back to Lagos in the Algarve, from a trip to Sevilla and Algeciras and can comment as follows:

1) There are several ferry services operating several times a day between Algeciras and Morocco.

See this page for links.

http://tarifa.costasur.com/en/ferry-to-morocco.html

2) TRANSPORTES GENERALES COMES operate a regular Seville to Algeciras Bus Service four times per day.

Timetable is here:

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

3) Using the information shown on Cubsur's site, you should be able to get from Lisbon or the Algarve to Seville and easily connect to the above service.

Be aware that Algeciras is a real port town and not exactly salubrious. There are not many hotels nor hostels and those that are not exactly new nor welcoming.

We stayed at the Hotel Alboran Algeciras which is a bit out of town and cost Euro 70+ per night for a double room. It was clean and pleasant though.

If you have to stay en-route, I recommend overnighting in Seville.