Hello Geoff:

I don't know if you'll get this in time, but I've come down with a particularly nasty cold and won't be able to make your walk this am. If things are better on Monday, I will try to make that one, though.

Thanks very much e-richard. It's just what we were looking-for. When we last visited the Algarve several years ago, we learned that a Fado competition was being held at the Auditorio and thought that we could purchase tickets simply by showing up on the evening of the event. Of course, they had long...

Does anyone know of an online site where we could get a schedule of upcoming events at the auditorium in Lagoa? I can't seem to find anything in my searches.

Thanks.

We are going to be staying in the Algarve for February and March so we will try to make this walk. It sounds like it could be quite enoyable...as long as it isn't raining!

A little off-topic, but have the grounds (inside the old walls) of the lighthouse at Cabo de Sao Vicente been re-opened to public access? The last time we were there a few years ago, general access to the lighthouse grounds was prohibited. We were left with the impression that it was a temporary arr...

You might try http://holiday-rentals.co.uk/ or http://ownersdirect.co.uk/. They both seem to have a pretty large selection of properties in Carvoeiro and the local area.

I wonder what they got for one slightly abused ATM?

That's a good way to do it, if you can. However, the owners that we have dealt with normally require a deposit (25% to 40%) upon confirmation of the rental and then the balance usually 8 weeks or so before arrival. Paying in advance like that to someone you don't know is a bit of a risk, I suppose, ...

When we paid for our accomodation for a trip several years ago, we did it by means of a wire transfer to the UK account of the apartment owner. It was done through our local TD Canada Trust and seemed to take only a day or two (although it took about 10 minutes or so for the teller to figure out the...

This is an interesting question. Before going to the Algarve last winter, I checked the Travel Report for Portugal on Foreign Affairs Canada's website and I re-checked it just now. They advise that Canadians who enter the Schengen area and go through passport control in a country other than Portugal...

If you are interested in the cultural scene, Lagoa also has a pretty impressive auditorium that seems to bring in some interesting performances. At least they did so last winter. We tried to buy tickets to an amateur fado competition in March but they were sold out.

You could also purchase the latest edition of Julie Stratham's book entitled "Let's Walk" which describes 23 different self-guided walking tours around the Algarve. We purchased our copy at the bookstore in Carvoeiro near the top of the in-road but I'm sure that it's available at many other location...

We, too, took our laptop with us last winter and found that our apartment was within range of a secure private wifi service. We were able to buy time on it for a very reasonable rate (about 1€/hr) compared to some of the commercial services available (5€/hr). It was very convenient and, of course, a...

We travelled by bus (I can't remember the name of the bus line) a few years ago from Lagoa to Lisbon and return. The terminal was located somewhere a few blocks east of the Praca do Duque de Saldanha near Arco do Sego. I would imagine the easiest way there from the airport would be by taxi. A note o...

We ate at Medina the other night - good food, great service. Would definitely return. Not very busy though.

Edit - David's comment was posted here in error and has been moved to a new thread entitled Villa Medici