There are three pousadas in the Algarve - Sagres, Tavira and São Bras de Alportel.
More information here on the website of Pousadas de Portugal:
http://www.pousadas.pt
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Lisbon Sintra Cascais Travel Card
I was at Lisbon Airport, last Sunday, and noticed at the Tourist Counter that Portuguese Railways, (CP) and the bus operator for the Sintra/Cascais area, SCOTTURB, are now offering a one day Euro 12 travel combi travel pass which allows one to take a train to either Sintra, Cascais or Estoril and use SCOTTURB buses to make connections between the Stations.
There are trains from Lisbon Restauradores to Sintra every 30 minutes at least and the same on the Line from Lisbon Cais de Sodre to Cascais. This offer the opportunity of a great day out.
I attach below a copy of an extract from the leaflet. (Click on it to enlarge:)
There are trains from Lisbon Restauradores to Sintra every 30 minutes at least and the same on the Line from Lisbon Cais de Sodre to Cascais. This offer the opportunity of a great day out.
I attach below a copy of an extract from the leaflet. (Click on it to enlarge:)
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Lisbon to Lagos by Train
You can also take the train from Lisbon to Lagos from Gare Oriente. Price is € 4.00 to € 6.00 more than the buses.
The Advantages are that you can wander around, not be cramped and if it is a nice day you get to see a lot of the rural Alentejo. There is also a cafe/bar onboard. Its also worh it just for the privilege of crossing the 25 Abril bridge over the Tagus where you have a great view.
Was up in Lisbon at the weekend and came back on the 13:20 Sunday train from Gare Oriente. It was great and the countryside was beatiful. Lots of happy free range porkers running about under the cork trees. :))
Bear in mind the last 1 hour to Lagos is by local train from Tunes Junction.
The Advantages are that you can wander around, not be cramped and if it is a nice day you get to see a lot of the rural Alentejo. There is also a cafe/bar onboard. Its also worh it just for the privilege of crossing the 25 Abril bridge over the Tagus where you have a great view.
Was up in Lisbon at the weekend and came back on the 13:20 Sunday train from Gare Oriente. It was great and the countryside was beatiful. Lots of happy free range porkers running about under the cork trees. :))
Bear in mind the last 1 hour to Lagos is by local train from Tunes Junction.
Friday, 7 November 2008
Santiago de Compostela to Porto.
Sorry for the delay in responding owing to Internet Access problems.
There are no direct train links from Santiago de Compostela to Porto.
There are two trains daily between Vigo and Porto.
Connecting Services as follows:
Santiago da Compostela: 05:50
Vigo: 07:37
Vigo: 07:40
Porto: 09:55
Santago da Compostela: 17:38
Vigo: 18:59
Vigo: 19:44
Porto: 21:55
For more information see Spanish Railways (Renfe) renfe.es and
Portuguese Railways www.cp.pt.
There are no direct train links from Santiago de Compostela to Porto.
There are two trains daily between Vigo and Porto.
Connecting Services as follows:
Santiago da Compostela: 05:50
Vigo: 07:37
Vigo: 07:40
Porto: 09:55
Santago da Compostela: 17:38
Vigo: 18:59
Vigo: 19:44
Porto: 21:55
For more information see Spanish Railways (Renfe) renfe.es and
Portuguese Railways www.cp.pt.
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Restaurante o Prato Cheio Lagos - RIP Sr. Jõao Camacho
It is with great sadness that I have to report the passing away of Sr. João Camacho, owner of the popular Lagos Restaurante "O Prato Cheio."
It appears he died after falling of the rocks while fishing near Sagres.
A report can be found here (in Portuguese):
http://dn.sapo.pt/2008/11/06/cidades/pescador_desaparece_local_onde_amigo.html
It appears he died after falling of the rocks while fishing near Sagres.
A report can be found here (in Portuguese):
http://dn.sapo.pt/2008/11/06/cidades/pescador_desaparece_local_onde_amigo.html
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Algarve - Lagos
If you are planning to travel by Public Transport, strongly recommend you consider Lagos.
Faro has some historic sights but it is not by the Sea. It is inland on a lagoon. It can be visited in a day by train or bus from Lagos.
Albufeira, has good bus services but the train station is 6 km from town. It is also tourist heaven.
In Lagos, we have great beaches including the 5km long Meia Praia Beach, some wonderful views and the town itself retains a strong Portuguese flavour. However, our town council has taken upon itself to dig up part of our main avenida in at present as part of a town modernisation project. Nonetheless, I think it would be a great place to stay.
Have a look at these items on my blog:
http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/search?q=lisbon+lagos
As regards hotels in Lagos, have a look at the Albergaria Marina Rio or the Marina Club. You can find their details on this page or a Lagos-based event I am helping organise:
www.dancaiberica.org/index.php
Note that the Romatik is out of town and if you are not hiring a car you will be dependent on taxis or the daytime local buses to Lagos.
As regards taxis from Lagos Station or bus sstation...hmmmm!
Better pm me nearer the time with your details and I'll try to get one there for you.
Faro has some historic sights but it is not by the Sea. It is inland on a lagoon. It can be visited in a day by train or bus from Lagos.
Albufeira, has good bus services but the train station is 6 km from town. It is also tourist heaven.
In Lagos, we have great beaches including the 5km long Meia Praia Beach, some wonderful views and the town itself retains a strong Portuguese flavour. However, our town council has taken upon itself to dig up part of our main avenida in at present as part of a town modernisation project. Nonetheless, I think it would be a great place to stay.
Have a look at these items on my blog:
http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/search?q=lisbon+lagos
As regards hotels in Lagos, have a look at the Albergaria Marina Rio or the Marina Club. You can find their details on this page or a Lagos-based event I am helping organise:
www.dancaiberica.org/index.php
Note that the Romatik is out of town and if you are not hiring a car you will be dependent on taxis or the daytime local buses to Lagos.
As regards taxis from Lagos Station or bus sstation...hmmmm!
Better pm me nearer the time with your details and I'll try to get one there for you.
Monday, 3 November 2008
Faro to Lisbon - Scenic Alentejo route
Faro is only 280 kms from Lisbon and linked by a good toll motorway. It is therefore only 2,5 hrs drive.
I would suggest that if you do want to do something en-route you should consider the following:
Faro to Castro Marim.
Castro Marim to Mertola
Mertola to Beja
Baja to Evora
This will give you a taste of the interior of the Alentejo region. It will take about 5 hours. Certainly stop and walk around Mertola
Evora is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Hotels there include the IBIS. There are Roman Ruins, old churches etc. Spend the night there.
From Evora, Lisbon is only a 2 hours run.
I would suggest that if you do want to do something en-route you should consider the following:
Faro to Castro Marim.
Castro Marim to Mertola
Mertola to Beja
Baja to Evora
This will give you a taste of the interior of the Alentejo region. It will take about 5 hours. Certainly stop and walk around Mertola
Evora is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Hotels there include the IBIS. There are Roman Ruins, old churches etc. Spend the night there.
From Evora, Lisbon is only a 2 hours run.
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Granada to Sagres, Cabo St. Vincente
If you really mean that you wish to get to the Lighthouse at Cabo St. Vicente, you should be aware that in winter there is only one bus a day on week days that serves this location. As there is no accommodation, if taking the bus it means that you would have to walk the 5 to 6 kms back to Sagres the nearest town. You may be able to rent a bicycle in Sagres and visit Cabo St. Vicente that way.
This bus is as follows:
Lagos Cabo S.Vicente 10:30 11:25 Mondays to Fridays only.
On this basis, if you are intended making a return trip from Granada, and Cabo St. Vicente is your final destination, a rental car would probably be a good option.
According to Google Maps, the distance is 562 km and will take about about 6 hours each way. I have driven all this route myself and it is motorway all the way to Lagos 40 kms from Cabo St. Vicente - there is a good road from Lagos to Sagres and Cabo St. Vicente. The only potential problem can be bottlemecks on the ring road around Seville.
See this link for a map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Granada,+Spain&daddr=Cape+St+Vincent+-+SW+Portugal&hl=en&geocode=%3BCbs3T9TiCub8FUPaNAIdBLd2_yFjIe6EuYKFRQ&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=34.452218,5.493164&sspn=16.814361,37.749023&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=7
If you intend using public transport, the only feasible means is by bus.
This will involve three buses:
Granada - Seville
You would need to get a bus from Granada to Seville Plaza das Armas Bus Station.
www.alsa.es operate from Granada to Seville Est. Prado but then you would need to get a local bus from there to Seville Plaza das Armas.
Buses from Seville to Lagos.
Seville Plaza das Armas - Lagos (Algarve)
Dept: Seville 07:30 Arr Lagos 12:00 Daily
Dept: Seville 16:15 Arr Lagos 20:45 Daily
With the second service you would have to spend the night in Lagos and then continue to Sagres/Cabo St. Vicente the next day. Similiarly, neither of the two buses connects with the only service to Cabo S.Vicente as indicated above. You would need to spend the night in Lagos or Sagres.
Lagos - Sagres - Cabo St. Vicente.
The first bus would connect with the following and later buses to Sagres.
Lagos Sagres 12:40 13:35 Daily
Lagos Sagres 13:35 14:40 Weekdays/Saturdays.
There are about 11 buses per day from Lagos to Sagres. Less at weekends.
A final thought. You might want to stay in Lagos and rent a scooter for the day and ride out to Cabo S.Vicente.
You could try:
Luis of Sidecar 32 in Torraltinha,Lagos is one.
He can be contacted via the following address.
Side Car 32 - Motociclos de Aluguer, Lda.
R. St Casa Misericórdia
8600-621 LAGOS
email: filipe_bolota@hotmail.com
Tel: 282798383
He can deliver a bike to you in town at the Luzcar Office behind the Repsol Garage on the main Avenida.
This bus is as follows:
Lagos Cabo S.Vicente 10:30 11:25 Mondays to Fridays only.
On this basis, if you are intended making a return trip from Granada, and Cabo St. Vicente is your final destination, a rental car would probably be a good option.
According to Google Maps, the distance is 562 km and will take about about 6 hours each way. I have driven all this route myself and it is motorway all the way to Lagos 40 kms from Cabo St. Vicente - there is a good road from Lagos to Sagres and Cabo St. Vicente. The only potential problem can be bottlemecks on the ring road around Seville.
See this link for a map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Granada,+Spain&daddr=Cape+St+Vincent+-+SW+Portugal&hl=en&geocode=%3BCbs3T9TiCub8FUPaNAIdBLd2_yFjIe6EuYKFRQ&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=34.452218,5.493164&sspn=16.814361,37.749023&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=7
If you intend using public transport, the only feasible means is by bus.
This will involve three buses:
Granada - Seville
You would need to get a bus from Granada to Seville Plaza das Armas Bus Station.
www.alsa.es operate from Granada to Seville Est. Prado but then you would need to get a local bus from there to Seville Plaza das Armas.
Buses from Seville to Lagos.
Seville Plaza das Armas - Lagos (Algarve)
Dept: Seville 07:30 Arr Lagos 12:00 Daily
Dept: Seville 16:15 Arr Lagos 20:45 Daily
With the second service you would have to spend the night in Lagos and then continue to Sagres/Cabo St. Vicente the next day. Similiarly, neither of the two buses connects with the only service to Cabo S.Vicente as indicated above. You would need to spend the night in Lagos or Sagres.
Lagos - Sagres - Cabo St. Vicente.
The first bus would connect with the following and later buses to Sagres.
Lagos Sagres 12:40 13:35 Daily
Lagos Sagres 13:35 14:40 Weekdays/Saturdays.
There are about 11 buses per day from Lagos to Sagres. Less at weekends.
A final thought. You might want to stay in Lagos and rent a scooter for the day and ride out to Cabo S.Vicente.
You could try:
Luis of Sidecar 32 in Torraltinha,Lagos is one.
He can be contacted via the following address.
Side Car 32 - Motociclos de Aluguer, Lda.
R. St Casa Misericórdia
8600-621 LAGOS
email: filipe_bolota@hotmail.com
Tel: 282798383
He can deliver a bike to you in town at the Luzcar Office behind the Repsol Garage on the main Avenida.
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Scandanavian Flights - Sterling Bankruptcy
The Algarve again is being hit by the current global recession.
This morning, Sterling A/S, the Icelandic owned Scandanavian based Low Cost operator has declared bankruptcy.
This affects twice weekly flights from Faro to Copenhagen, Stockholm and a weekly flight to Oslo.
This leaves Faro without any direct link to Stockholm to Copenhagen. Oslo still has a flight link to Faro via Norwegian Air Shuttle.
This a serious blow to the Algarve as a winter destination for Scandanavian Passengers. One can only hope that Easyjet, Ryanair, Air Berlin or TuiFly step in to fill this gaping hole.
See:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7948284
This morning, Sterling A/S, the Icelandic owned Scandanavian based Low Cost operator has declared bankruptcy.
This affects twice weekly flights from Faro to Copenhagen, Stockholm and a weekly flight to Oslo.
This leaves Faro without any direct link to Stockholm to Copenhagen. Oslo still has a flight link to Faro via Norwegian Air Shuttle.
This a serious blow to the Algarve as a winter destination for Scandanavian Passengers. One can only hope that Easyjet, Ryanair, Air Berlin or TuiFly step in to fill this gaping hole.
See:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7948284
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