ACADEMIA DE MÚSICA DE LAGOS of Lagos

The ACADEMIA DE MÚSICA DE LAGOS of Lagos has a very good reputation.

Website here:

http://www.academiamusicalagos.net/

Address:

Rua Dr. José Cabrita – Rossio de S. João
Apartado 411 – 8601-905 Lagos
Tel : [ 282 082 786 ] Fax : [ 282 081 905]
Telemóvel : [ 919 804 662 ]

http://www.academiamusicalagos.net/index.php?lg=1&idmenu=25

They are near the bus station in Lagos in new recently custom-built installations..

Videos here:

http://www.academiamusicalagos.net/index.php?lg=1&idmenu=8#99

Driving from Faro Airport to Seville

I would estimate Faro to Seville by car, dependent on traffic on the roads out of Faro, and on the approaches to Seville at 2hrs to 2hrs:15mins.

I have done Lagos to Seville non-stop in 2hrs 35mins.

Be aware that the approaches and entry to Seville itself can be a bit of a nightmare for the uninitiated and that it is very difficult to drive in the centre of the city.

For the centre, much better to park the car at somewhere like Colon in the underground car park and walk/bus it from there.

For return car hire into Spain from Faro airport, try Luzcar - www.luzcar.com. They do not charge for taking cars over the border to Spain.

Alternatively, for one way Faro Airport to Seville try the following guys, who I now understand are again able to offer one ways from Faro Airport to Seville, after the summer's capers.

http://www.iberiacarhire.com/

lisbon to peniche

The following company does transfers from Lisbon Airport to Peniche but it is quite expensive:

http://www.low-cost-transfers.com/lisbon-airport/index.php?goloc=202&transfer=Peniche

The cheapest way by public transport is to take a Rede - Expressos bus from Lisbon Sete Rios Coach Station. To get there from Lisbon Airport take the following bus which leaves from outside the Arrivals hall:

(Aeroshuttle - Copy of note from current Lisbon Airport website.

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

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

Tel. +351 213 582 334)

The following is the current timetable for Rede Expressos Buses from Lisbon Sete Rios to Peniche (Click on Image to enlarge):

Transportation between Lisbon Cruise Terminal and Lisbon Airport

There are no direct public transport links between the Lisbon Alcantara Cruise Terminal and Lisbon Airport. The distance from the quayside to the nearest station is at least 600m. You would then need to get a train from Alcantara Station to Cais de Sodre station and then get the Carris Aerobus no 91 that runs between that station and Lisbon Airport.

If you have luggage I do not recommend this option. You will be better to get a taxi from the quayside straight to Lisbon Airport.

If you are in a group arranging for a private minivan shuttle may be the answer.

The following company may be able to assist you.

http://www.low-cost-transfers.com/lisbon-airport

Lagos, Algarve, Portugal - Messe Militar/Military Mess

As has been mentioned above there is a full Portuguese Armed Forces Messe Militar/ Military Mess in Lagos, comprising:

- Officer's Mess - By the Slave Market.
- NCO's/Private's Mess - (By the Bombeiros/Fire Station)
- Camp Site (All ranks, I think! ) (By the Bombeiros/Fire Station)
(Web site here: http://www.manutmil.pt/modules.php?name=Lagos&Estabelecimento=5)

The General Directorate responsible for these units have been becoming stricter in who is allowed to use the facilities and have this year beefed up security.

As far as I know, the facilities are available to:

1) Portuguese Military and ex-Military.
2) Members of certain NATO armed forces. (I have seen a lot of Dutch registered vehicles there)

I know that, at the beginning of this year, the OC was Comandante Gomes. He does not speak much English.

Messe Militar de Lagos
Tel: (00351) 282 780 430
Fax:(00351) 282 780 439
email: mmlagos@netvisao.pt

If you are not getting much joy contacting them directly, I would contact your nation's military attaché at your nation's embassy in Lisbon and ask them what the form is.

Hyper/Supmarkets in the Costa da Luz/Huelva Region of Andalucia, Spain

There is a Carrefour at Cartaya about 40kms from VRSA.

Address as follows:

Hipermercado Carrefour Cartaya

Dirección:
Antigua Carretera Huelva-Ayamonte
Polígono Industrial La Estación
21450 Cartaya (Huelva)

Teléfono: 959 625 700

Horario Comercial:
L - S: de 10:00 a 22:00
Festivos: de 10:00 a 22:00

There is also a large Carrefour Hypermarket in Huelva itself:

Dirección:
Ronda Exterior Zona Sur s/n
21007 Huelva (ver mapa)

Teléfono: 959 211 000
Fax: 959 211 007

Horario Comercial:
L - S: de 10:00 a 22:00
Festivos: de 10:00 a 22:00

The nearest El Corte Ingles Dept. Store/Hipercor(Hypermarket) Complex is in Huelva:

Centro Comercial Costa Luz.
Alcalde Federico Molina, 1
Tel.: 959 282 000. Ext. 234.
Fax: 959 280 259
Restaurante: 959 282 000
Directorio de plantas

Faro Airport to Vilamoura by bus

There are no direct buses from Faro Airport to Vilamoura. One either has to take a taxi or a private airport transfer.

One can also take a bus from Faro Airport to Faro City Bus Station and from there get a bus to Vilamoura. However, frequencies are not that good.

Cubsur has the times for the above services on his excellent website here:
http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/003.htm

For Faro to Vilamoura services see his site here:
http://thomasallen.home.sapo.pt/travel/002w.htm

Loulé Aerodrome Project

If one reads this page on the Loule Camara site (http://www.cm-loule.pt/index.php?option=com_noticias&id=369) and the reports in the Portugues press, this project in Loule refers to a new general aviation airfield handling light aircraft and exec jets, not a commercial airport.

One of the reasons for siting it next to Cimpor is that is will be close to Vilamoura so that the Hoi-polloi can park their exec jets. I understand that will be like the one at Tires, Cascais outside Lisbon. (http://www.aerodromo-cascais.pt/)

This certainly would free up landing slots at Faro for commercial flights. I think, from memory, that Faro can handle up to 22 flight movements per hour.

Getting the smaller aircraft out of there would certainly allow for more commercial traffic at Faro, particularly, in peak summer periods.

Lagos vs Faro - Hostels and How to get here

I would recommend Lagos any day over Faro,

Faro, although the capital of the Algarve, is really an administrative centre and not a travel destination. The old centre around the Sé (Cathedral) is small.

Lagos, however retains the feel of a historic Portuguese town while having great beaches as well as restaurants and night life. The west coast, if you have a car, is well worth exploring.

I must declare an interest here....I live in Lagos.

As regards hostel accommodation, the Pensão MarAzul is great but be aware that a dirty great big car park is being built right behind it at present.

If you are hostelling and on a budget have a look at the following.

http://3monkeys.me.uk/monkeyhouse/
(Good food at night in their cafe next door )

http://www.risingcockhostel.com/
(In-crowd destination - But you are always well looked after by Mama)

http://juventude.gov.pt/Portal/Lazer/pt/PLagos.htm
State-Run Youth Hostel

http://www.goldcoasthostel.com/
Gold Coast Hostel

For information on getting to Lagos, have a look at the articles on the following page on my blog:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/search?q=Lisbon+to+Lagos

Cascais vs Algarve

You have not stated when you are travelling. I live in Lagos and would always recommend a visit here.

However, you are in Lisbon for only a week. Cascais is only 25km from Lisbon and although the sea front is perhaps not as natural as Lagos, it is very pleasant.

To be direct, I think that if you are visiting Lisbon in the run up to winter, there are other places better worth visiting than Lagos at this time of year given the travel time.

You will need at least 3 days in and around the Lisbon/Sintra area. I would recommend you consider alternative days trips (by train) to Porto and/or Coimbra and by Bus to Evora. There are historic towns such as Obidos, Alcobaça and Batalha which can be easily visited in a day from Lisbon on organised tours.