I cannot believe it!
With this economic crisis, one of the hotels that pretends to be a quality hotel in Lagos, the Marina Club, has disactivated all means of online-reservations and emailing them on their website.
I am in the process of trying to help organise an event in Lagos for Easter 2009 and I can't contact them.
I called them and got nothing but excuses.
They are not getting my recommendation for 2009.
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Places to stay in Lisbon - Beach & City
There are no good beaches close to the historic city centre in Lisbon, The nearest good beaches are at Carcavelos, and Estoril on the Cascais Line along the Tagus and at Costa Caparica on the South Bank of the Tagus. (Car recommended.)
The Great Western Riveira in Carcavelos might be off interest. See:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g780694-d1099391-Reviews-Riviera_Hotel_Carcavelos-Carcavelos_Estremadura.html
It is about 5 minutes walk from the beach and 7 minutes walk from the Railway Station with trains on average every 15 minutes into Lisbon Cais de Sodre Station (25 minutes distant) and also to Estoril/Cascais.
The Great Western Riveira in Carcavelos might be off interest. See:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g780694-d1099391-Reviews-Riviera_Hotel_Carcavelos-Carcavelos_Estremadura.html
It is about 5 minutes walk from the beach and 7 minutes walk from the Railway Station with trains on average every 15 minutes into Lisbon Cais de Sodre Station (25 minutes distant) and also to Estoril/Cascais.
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
A Tempestade - The Tempest - Shakespeare
"A Companhia do Chapitô" are staging the premier of their interpretation of Shakespeare's "The Tempest", at the Teatro Chapitô, in Lisbon at 22:00 on Thursday, 8th January 2009.
Performed by Jorge Cruz, Marta Cequeira, and Tiago Viegas, three excellent Portuguese actors, the work is directed by John Mowat, a British theatre director and mime artist, who for many years has been involved in productions in Portugal.
The work promises to offer an alternative and comedic look at the Bard's piece.
Given Mowat's emphasis on the use of mime and visual transmission of theatres pieces, it is likely to be of interest to both Portuguese and English speakers alike. If it performs to level of previous performances, including Medea and "O Grande Criador", it promises to offer an excellent evening's entertainment.
The play will be staged Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 1st March 2009. Tickets ara available from the Box Office at the Teatro Chapitô, Costa de Castelo, 1/7, Lisbon. For information or reservation call +351 21 885 55 50.
Web Page: http://chapito.org/?s=events&v=view&e=5
Performed by Jorge Cruz, Marta Cequeira, and Tiago Viegas, three excellent Portuguese actors, the work is directed by John Mowat, a British theatre director and mime artist, who for many years has been involved in productions in Portugal.
The work promises to offer an alternative and comedic look at the Bard's piece.
Given Mowat's emphasis on the use of mime and visual transmission of theatres pieces, it is likely to be of interest to both Portuguese and English speakers alike. If it performs to level of previous performances, including Medea and "O Grande Criador", it promises to offer an excellent evening's entertainment.
The play will be staged Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 1st March 2009. Tickets ara available from the Box Office at the Teatro Chapitô, Costa de Castelo, 1/7, Lisbon. For information or reservation call +351 21 885 55 50.
Web Page: http://chapito.org/?s=events&v=view&e=5
Hotel Aqua Meia Praia
Hi!
(With apologies to Messr.'s Cleese & Co )
The Aqua Meia Praia has passed on! This hotel is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! This is a late hotel! .... Bereft of life, it rests in peace! .... Its metabolical processes are of interest only to historians! ..... It's shuffled off this mortal coil! It's run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible! It.... is an ex-HOTEL!
In its place, currently lie dirty great big holes in the ground, accompanied by rather large pieces of earthmoving equipment and Meia Praia type mole hills of enormous proportions. ...Our moles obviously are huge, although I've never seen them!
The Portuguese group Iberotel ( http://www.iberotel.pt/ ) is currently constructing a massive 220 bed 5-star complex there.
With the recent rains and the works going on down the road at the new Vila Galé Hotel, Meia Praia is currently a great place for hippos!
exits singing..."mud, mud, glorious mud...."
(With apologies to Messr.'s Cleese & Co )
The Aqua Meia Praia has passed on! This hotel is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! This is a late hotel! .... Bereft of life, it rests in peace! .... Its metabolical processes are of interest only to historians! ..... It's shuffled off this mortal coil! It's run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible! It.... is an ex-HOTEL!
In its place, currently lie dirty great big holes in the ground, accompanied by rather large pieces of earthmoving equipment and Meia Praia type mole hills of enormous proportions. ...Our moles obviously are huge, although I've never seen them!
The Portuguese group Iberotel ( http://www.iberotel.pt/ ) is currently constructing a massive 220 bed 5-star complex there.
With the recent rains and the works going on down the road at the new Vila Galé Hotel, Meia Praia is currently a great place for hippos!
exits singing..."mud, mud, glorious mud...."
Faro to Nazare Toll Costs.
According to viamichelin.com, the current cost of motorway tolls from Faro, Algarve, Portugal to Nazaré, Algarve, Portugal is 22.75 EUR.
This fee is based on a class 1 group vehicle, (hatchback) and on the recommended viamichelin.com route.
This fee is based on a class 1 group vehicle, (hatchback) and on the recommended viamichelin.com route.
Algarve Autodrome 2009
The following is a link to the provisional 2009 race calendar for the new Algarve Autodrome.
http://www.autodromodoalgarve.com/articles/events-and-activities/
http://www.autodromodoalgarve.com/articles/events-and-activities/
Friday, 2 January 2009
Bus from Porto to Castelo Branco
Rede Expressos Buses to Castelo Branco from Porto depart from:
ROD. BEIRA LITORAL-GARAGEM ATLANTICO
RUA ALEXANDRE HERCULANO Nº366
4000 PORTO
Tel.: 222052459
To get there from Porto to Airport, one take the train to São Bento Station and walk from there.
See the following google map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=RUA+ALEXANDRE+HERCULANO+366,+4000+PORTO,+Portugal&sll=37.15781,-8.734502&sspn=0.25392,0.589828&ie=UTF8&ll=41.143889,-8.607552&spn=0.007498,0.018432&t=h&z=16
If this link does not work, go to this link on blog where I have posted a copy of this message.
There are no buses from Lisbon airport direct to Castelo Branco
View Larger Map
ROD. BEIRA LITORAL-GARAGEM ATLANTICO
RUA ALEXANDRE HERCULANO Nº366
4000 PORTO
Tel.: 222052459
To get there from Porto to Airport, one take the train to São Bento Station and walk from there.
See the following google map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=RUA+ALEXANDRE+HERCULANO+366,+4000+PORTO,+Portugal&sll=37.15781,-8.734502&sspn=0.25392,0.589828&ie=UTF8&ll=41.143889,-8.607552&spn=0.007498,0.018432&t=h&z=16
If this link does not work, go to this link on blog where I have posted a copy of this message.
There are no buses from Lisbon airport direct to Castelo Branco
View Larger Map
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Alvor to Fatima
A direct service between Alvor and Faro by Public Transport does not exist.
Your best option would be by bus.
Please see these articles on my blog from last year. This deals with a trip from Lagos.
http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/search?q=Fatima
Alvor is between Lagos and Portimão and in my opinion your best bet would be to get a taxi or local bus into the centre of Portimão where you could connect with the services quoted.
I have published a copy of the relevant timetable on my blog here:(click to enlarge)
There is a direct bus service to Lisbon from Alvor operated by RENEX. However, this terminates at Gare Oriente and does not provide convienent connections to Fatima Services which leave from Sete Rios.
Trains are not that easy either 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 only other means of transport would be by car. If you took at hire car, you should be aware that the main routes are toll-motorways.
Fatima lies about 350km North of Albufeira, in the Algarve. Alvor lies 50km from Albufeira via the A22 motorway. Total distance is circa 400km each way. If you have a car you can do a long day trip as follows:
- Follow the signs from Alvor of the A22 motorway
- Turn right onto the A22 motorway in the direction of Faro and Espanha.
-After +- 60km head onto the E01 / A2 / IP1 motorway toll road in the direction of Lisbon
-After 2 hours follow the signs for the A13 Santarém
-On arriving in the Santarem Area, head onto E01 / E80 / A1 / IP1 Motorway.
-Continue until you see the off-ramp for Fatima.
-Exit for Fatima.
Your best option would be by bus.
Please see these articles on my blog from last year. This deals with a trip from Lagos.
http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/search?q=Fatima
Alvor is between Lagos and Portimão and in my opinion your best bet would be to get a taxi or local bus into the centre of Portimão where you could connect with the services quoted.
I have published a copy of the relevant timetable on my blog here:(click to enlarge)
There is a direct bus service to Lisbon from Alvor operated by RENEX. However, this terminates at Gare Oriente and does not provide convienent connections to Fatima Services which leave from Sete Rios.
Trains are not that easy either 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 only other means of transport would be by car. If you took at hire car, you should be aware that the main routes are toll-motorways.
Fatima lies about 350km North of Albufeira, in the Algarve. Alvor lies 50km from Albufeira via the A22 motorway. Total distance is circa 400km each way. If you have a car you can do a long day trip as follows:
- Follow the signs from Alvor of the A22 motorway
- Turn right onto the A22 motorway in the direction of Faro and Espanha.
-After +- 60km head onto the E01 / A2 / IP1 motorway toll road in the direction of Lisbon
-After 2 hours follow the signs for the A13 Santarém
-On arriving in the Santarem Area, head onto E01 / E80 / A1 / IP1 Motorway.
-Continue until you see the off-ramp for Fatima.
-Exit for Fatima.
London Gatwick (LGW) - Faro - Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus has just announced the establishment of their first non-irish base at London Gatwick (LGW).
The have also announced the launching of flights from London Gatwick to Faro.
See:
http://www.aerlingus.com/cgi-bin/obel01im1/bookonline/index.jsp
and:
http://www.lowcostportugal.net/companhias-aereas/faro-%E2%80%93-londres-gatwick-via-aer-lingus-abril-2009/2008/12/
The have also announced the launching of flights from London Gatwick to Faro.
See:
http://www.aerlingus.com/cgi-bin/obel01im1/bookonline/index.jsp
and:
http://www.lowcostportugal.net/companhias-aereas/faro-%E2%80%93-londres-gatwick-via-aer-lingus-abril-2009/2008/12/
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