Tavira, Algarve - Sources of Medical Aids and Mobility Equipment

The first stop should be the local Farmácia (chemist) who may be able to provide all that is needed or, if not, will be able to direct one to an agency who can.

List of Farmácias in Tavira 

See: http://bit.ly/1hpqLZo

The second stop should be the Centro da Saude.

See: http://bit.ly/196fVEF

Third stop should be the local Cruz Vermelha(Red Cross). 

When I fell off my ladder last April, the local delegation of the Cruz Vermelha were able to rent me crutches etc.

In Tavira, their address is:

Convento de Carmo

Largo do Carmo

8800-311 Tavira

Telefone 281 323 473

Fax 281 324 301

dtavira@cruzvermelha.org.pt 

Bear in mind it may be cheaper in the long run to buy equipment than to rent.

This was the case in my need for crutches. I found out only later that I was able to buy crutches from the Farmácia a lot more cheaply that renting them.

P.S.: Also

SANTA CASA DA MISERICÓRDIA DE TAVIRA
Actualizado Jan 11, 2011

- Centro de Dia 08:00 - 20:00
- Lar de Idosos 00:01 - 00:00

Rua da Atalaia, Nº 5 - apartado 33
8800-378 Tavira
281-323955 / 281-326427
scmtavira@mail.telepac.pt

Portugal - Lisbon to Ericeira Bus Timetables

The current bus timetables for the Mafrense bus service to/from Ericeira to Mafra and Lisbon (Campo Grande) can be found here:

Weekday timetable Ericeira - Lisbon: http://bit.ly/1iFEYl5

Week-end/Public Holidays timetable - Ericeira - Lisbon: http://bit.ly/1cAZTgX

Eusébio - Morreu as 71 anos! Uma notícia trágica, mas não inesperado!

Eusébio, o jovem de Moçambique, que se tornou uma dos jogadores mais famosos do Benfica e Portugal dos anos '60 e '70 morreu esta manhã em Lisboa de complicações cardio-respiratória com a idade de 71.

Famoso e conhecido mundialmente, como um jovem adolescente em Lisboa, lembro-me vê-lo jogar para o Benfica e Portugal nas emissões da RTP TV (em preto e branco :)))) nos anos finais da decada '60.

Mais um outro ícone Português das decadas passados​​, como Amália Rodrigues, este homem inspirou gerações subseqüentes de jovens portugueses, dando origem, em parte, ao gênio de Luis Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo, José Mourinho e impulsionou o Portugal para se tornar uma das grandes nações do futebol do mundo.

Um elemento permanente nos jogos do Benfica e do Portugal, um grande homem e jogador!

VIVA A "PANTERA NEGRA!"

As minhas condolências à sua família, amigos, adeptos, Benficistas e para O Portugal.

Artigos da Imprensa:

http://bit.ly/1axOX3L

http://bit.ly/1bI5H87

http://bbc.in/1cAs4N3

Wikipedia: http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eus%C3%A9bio

Eusébio - Great Portuguese Footballer - Dead at 71

Tragic but not unexpected news!

Eusébio, the young man from Moçambique who became one of Benfica and Portugals' most famous players in the '60's and '70's died this morning in Lisbon of cardio-respiratory complications at the age of 71.

Famous world-wide, I remember watching him on RTP TV in black and white, playing for Benfica and Portugal as a young teen in the late '60's in Lisbon.

Another Portuguese icon from difficult day's gone by, like Amalia Rodrigues, this man inspired subsequent generations of young Portuguese, giving rise in part to the genius of Luis Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo, José Mourinho and impelling Portugal to becoming one of the world's great footballing nations.

A permanent fixture at Benfica and Portugal matches, a Great Man and footballer!

VIVA A "PANTERA NEGRA!!!"

As minhas condolências à sua família, amigos e para Portugal.

Press Links:

http://bit.ly/1axOX3L

http://bit.ly/1bI5H87

http://bbc.in/1cAs4N3

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eus%C3%A9bio#International_career
   

Portimão - Cruise Vessel "Funchal" lying off as no tug available.

The Portuguese national daily, "Publico" and the regional Algarve daily "Sul" report tonight that the Portuguese Cruise Ship "Funchal" is currently lying of the coast between Alvor and Portimão with 400 passengers aboard.

The vessel, which is returning from a New Year's cruise to Madeira and Morocco, was due to dock in Lisbon on Sunday but was diverted to Portimão owing to poor weather conditions. However, the Port of Sines which  is supposed to provide a tug boat to Portimão in such instances has been unable to dispatch one. Another tug dispatched from Setubal, after the intervention of the President of the Câmara Municipal de Portimão and Central Government authorities, has reportedly turned back to Setubal owing to 7m waves.

It seems incredible to me that the Algarve coast with harbours at Portimão and Faro does not have a single tugboat to assist vessels that need to enter local harbours in times like these.

The availability of such as vessel would probably also increase the usage of Portimão and Faro harbours with concomitant economic benefits to the local economy!

To me this is an issue of not just Portuguese national maritime security, but also EU maritime security.

Resources need to be found to make this happen!

Articles (in portuguese) here:

http://bit.ly/JASuYr

and

http://bit.ly/1hoisNq

Algarve 2013 - O preço do peixe foi o mais alto de tudo Portugal!

No caso, está se perguntar por que o preço do peixe durant o seu recente estadia na região Algarvio era tão alto ... não pergunta mais!

Hoje, o Correio da Manhã informa que o preço médio por quilo do peixe no Algarve nos primeiros dez meses de 2013 foi na ordem de 2,45 euros, contra um preço médio no mercado nacional de 1,57 euros.

 Aqueles que viajam do Algarve regularmente para o norte costumam comentar que a comida é muito mais barato em Lisboa, Coimbra e Porto! Pôrem estes novos dados apresentam uma nova perspectiva sobre o assunto.

Por Toutatis, pessoalmente, não entende como os preços dos peixes podem ser + - 55% mais caro no Algarve do que no resto do país. Claro, há custos de transporte, mas este diferencial é impressionante. Talvez chegou a hora olhar cada vez mais para o resto de Portugal com um destino para as férias, especialmente quando se quer comer peixe! ;))))

Algarve - 2013 - Price of Fish Highest in Portugal

In case you are wondering why the price of fish on your recent holiday in the Algarve Region of Portugal, was so high...ask no more!

National Portuguese Daily, Correio da Manha today reports that the average price of fish per kilo in the Algarve in the first ten months of 2013 was 2,45 euros as against an average price in the Portuguese national market of 1,57 euros.

Those of us who regularly travel from the Algarve to the rest of Portugal often comment on how much cheaper food is in Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto but these figures cast a whole new light on the issue.

By Toutatis, personally, I cannot understand how fish can be +- 55% more expensive in the Algarve than in the rest of Portugal. Sure there are transport costs but this differential is staggering.

Maybe the time has come for potential visitors to Portugal to increasingly look at the rest of Portugal as more economic option for vacation.

Article here (in Portuguese):

http://bit.ly/1gyxhKr

Public Transport between Albufeira & Lisbon, Portugal - 2014

There are two main ways to get from Albufeira to Lisbon by public transport:

Rail:

The train station for Albufeira is located 8kms distant from the town in Ferreiras.

From Albufeira you would need to take a bus or taxi to Ferreiras.

For lcoal buses see the following page on Cubsur's site:

http://bit.ly/1kiaV4S

Depending on time of year there are 5 to 6 long distance trains daily between Albufeira and Lisbon. Transit time can vary between 2hrs30mins and 3hrs.

To view pdf copies of the current timetables, visit my blog:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/

»» Scroll down on the right hand side until you come to the panel entitled "Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links"

»» Click on:

- Porto - Lisbon - Faro (Algarve) Train Timetable for the train timetable in pdf format.

Note that both Alfa-Pendular and IC(Intercidades)trains call at Entrecampos and Gare Oriente Stations. Intercidades trains also call at Lisboa Sete Rios Station.

Bus:

There are three operators of long distance buses between Albufeira and Lisbon. Transit times take between 2hrs45mins to 4 hours. Some services have free wifi aboard.

1) RENEX

To view pdf copies of their current timetable (only available in Portuguese), visit my blog:

http://barlaventostravelblog.blogspot.com/

»» Scroll down on the right hand side until you come to the panel entitled "Algarve & Portugal - Travel Transport Links"

»» Click on:

- RENEX - Algarve timetable

Renex buses only depart from Avenida Liberdade in Albufeira and arrive in Lisbon at Gare Oriente Bus Station (below/alongside the Gare Oriente train station). This is several kilometres from Lisbon Centre which is accessible via the Metro Red Line (Linha Vermelha)

One changes buses at Vale Paraiso, the main Renex.pt hub for the Algarve, 6 kms from Albufeira. One can also board buses there.

Note: Renex does not have an english version of its website.

2) Rede-Expressos

This is the main national long-distance coach operator in Portugal.

Buses leave from Albufeira Bus Station and and serve Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station. (Metro Jardim Zoologico - Blue Line - Linha Azul / Sete Rios Train Station.).

Frequencies vary between weekdays and week-ends but there are frequent daily services.

Check their web-site (english version) for details.

Rede-Expressos now offer online booking and payment by Paypal.com.

3) Eva-Transportes

This company works in co-operation with Rede Expressos. Its buses depart from both Albufeira centre and Albufeira Bus Station and serve Lisbon Sete Rios Bus Station. (Metro Jardim Zoologico - Blue Line - Linha Azul / Sete Rios Train Station.)

Frequencies vary between weekdays and week-ends but there between 7 and 5 services daily.

Check their web-site (english version) for details.

The above instructions also apply to the return trip from Lisbon to Albufeira.

Spring in Portugal

Well, if you want to go to the Estoril area to see trees, green or otherwise, you are about 30 years to late! When I was a kid, the area between Estoril and Sintra was 8 to 10 kms of green pine forests! It was beautiful.

Today it's mainly concrete! True, there are trees lining some of the avenues and by the Casino but it's not what it was!

You should probably think about April.......

Listen to Bing Crosby (;)))): http://youtu.be/uR3CSWd55ko

Funny that, because the only time I ever saw Bing in person was with my parents one evening in one of the old traditional "Folklore" restaurants (that no longer exists) in the Bairro Alto in Lisbon in the late 1960's.

Now if you want the original version of "April in Portugal", you need to go to Coimbra, (which almost always has green ) and listen to my acquaintances Joã Farinha e Co at Fado do Centro....

See: http://youtu.be/8xry3cOuw2M

Aer Lingus - New Route - Cork/Lisbon - April 2014

Portuguese Travel Website http://www.idaevolta.net reports today that Aer Lingus will be launching a twice weekly route between Lisbon, Portugal and Cork, Republic of Ireland.

Service with operate twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays.

More here (in Portuguese):
 http://
bit.ly/1iyt0cU