worth seeing

ahendry · Post by **ahendry** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:35 am

just wondering for all the years we have been to cvo we have never been to lagoa we have driven through it on our way to other places but never stop here. is it worth a day here are there things to do? is there a central place like the square in cvo, shops that kind of thing.

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:50 am

The Church is really lovely and there are a couple of small 'squares' where you can get a coffee etc, couple of niceish shops but it is mainly a commercial town rather than a tourist one, but do go just to make up your own mind, not a full day tho' I would have thought.

Some nice restaurants around, altho' a couple of the good ones seem to be closed.

Go see, make up your own mind. Silves is the best place to go for a day out, lots of lovely little streets, the castle, church, shops, cafes and restaurants. Great views from the castle walls.

ahendry · Post by **ahendry** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:06 am

thanks for reply i think we will go just to see it anyway. we do fancy trying seeing other places this year we have enjoyed lagos, luz and portamio not sure thats the right spelling. we also tried staying in vale da para one year but found it very small not a lot do do. we need something for the kids and for the adults but staying in cvo and just having a day here and a day there. the other place i think sounds nice is alvor.

DaveK · Post by **DaveK** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:21 am

Yes, Alvor is worth a visit. Some nice cafes down by the water front and during the season you can go out on a high speed rigid inflatable to see the dolphins. This is very popular with both adults and children but I am not sure when this starts to operate after the winter.

ahendry · Post by **ahendry** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 11:47 am

that sounds great we would be in cvo in june so it should be on then. how long does it take to get there from cvo?

Ted P · Post by **Ted P** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:09 pm

And if you're in Lagoa it's also worth visiting the winery (guided tours) and the former convent - not grand but has a variety of art exhibitions and a pleasant cloister.

Gary/Gaynor · Post by **Gary/Gaynor** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:15 pm

I would say CVO to Alvor is about 15 - 25 minutes by car....

fmm · Post by **fmm** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:25 pm

The Sand Fiesa at Algoz is worth a visit - that can take you from half a day to a day.

I haven't seen any details of the 2009 Fiesa - hope that it is being held this year.

Basically, it is sand sculpture in an extreme form - last year the theme was Hollywod and there were 10 foot Bart SImpsons, 60 feet impressions of Harry Potter - James Bond, Laurel and Hardy - it was great. There are 40 or so exhibits, all created from sand. It usually starts in May and runs until October. May/June is the best time to go. I went in June last year and the exhibition was great - went back in October just before they closed and there had definitely been a few casualties!

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:45 pm

ahendry wrote:just wondering for all the years we have been to cvo we have never been to lagoa we have driven through it on our way to other places but never stop here. is it worth a day here are there things to do? is there a central place like the square in cvo, shops that kind of thing.

Lagoa was my old home ahendry in the early 90s so I have a soft spot for the place...and when I visit each holiday, it still feels like home to me.

The only thing I was disappointed with was when they took the central main road away and made it pedestrian.....that road was like the main artery and really bustled.

The large church (Senhora da Luz) up at the back of the old camara building is worth a visit....my Portuguese friend Maria used to sing in the choir there.
My friend's sister works in the Co-operative winery on the corner of road that leads down to Carvoeiro..he says she organises the tours.

Not a lot there for tourists but I believe (as a friend of mine here said) that it is the 'real' Portugal...I like to sit in the park there and have a coffee and watch the world go by.

When we lived there it was very lively but now its much quieter and a place for contemplation...I like to say a 'bom dia ' to the old folk who often gather in the park and often have a conversation with them.

If you walk through the pedestrian part and across the main road, you come to a tiny park that houses the 'Nossa Senhora'(Our Lady) statue, where ladies leave flowers to her..this is a tiny quiet place to sit in the sun, its filled with Lavender and Rosemary bushes.
We lived above this little park and in the evening would hear the women offering up prayers....
now Im feeling homesick

p.s. I recommend Lotus..opposite petrol station to eat, does authentic Portuguese food and also O'Casarao' on the corner..which in my opinion does the best chicken piri piri !
Have a super trip x

ahendry · Post by **ahendry** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 4:58 pm

ellie you sound as if you miss this place. it does sound nice, i was asking for somewhere like the square in cvo as we need somewhere to park my mum as she is not fit to walk and we sit her somewhere she can sit in the sun with her brandy while me hubby and kids go look around. i like the sound of the wine tour hee hee hubby has banned me from these cant think why.

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 6:12 pm

ahendry wrote:ellie you sound as if you miss this place. it does sound nice, i was asking for somewhere like the square in cvo as we need somewhere to park my mum as she is not fit to walk and we sit her somewhere she can sit in the sun with her brandy while me hubby and kids go look around. i like the sound of the wine tour hee hee hubby has banned me from these cant think why.

I do miss it a lot ahendry (whats your name please?)..
in fact apart from the birth of my grandchildren, I don't feel as though Ive been that happy since our return

Despite some of our business upsets, it was a wonderful life-style which I would highly recommend..
I loved the outdoors life and I miss the many friends (Portuguese) we made there...and the 'cafe' society. I did get a bit homesick at times (we left our 2 older kids in UK) and missed the English language sometimes.

But boy do I wish myself back there now.

When you go into Lagoa from petrol station, if you follow the road through to the park and cross the road into pedestrian area, on your righthand side there is a pastelaria (my other friend Maria's cafe)..where you can have lunch, do lovely toasted sandwiches

& coffee ( I usually have a galoa,large white coffee)..
so maybe your Mum could sit there (think they do brandy etc), while you have walk around..or maybe she'd prefer the park. You usually find something to entertain you there

Go on, do the wine tour...you only live once

p.s.and if you go to Alvor, please visit my friend Susana's bookshop there 'Magna Carta'....she does a great selection.
Happy hols

SJ & RE · Post by **SJ & RE** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 6:23 pm

Alvor is a very pretty place. The main drag on the beachfront hotel end is ok but I much prefer the other end with the glorious walkway along the harbour thrn going up the old cobbled streets with all the little cafes and restuarants. Our fav restuarant is opposite the fishnet hanging place. Its been running for god knows how long. The little shops and bars etc are so quaint up and down the cobbled hidden streets. A very pretty church stands at the top and beyond some lovely little houses with lots of seasidy colours painted. I love Alvor its great for a jolly good wander about. Best seafood restuarant down on the beach at the harbour end.

ahendry · Post by **ahendry** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 6:28 pm

hi ellie thanks for the info, sorry my name is anne thats what the a stands for. is there many shops if lagoa i do like a bit of retail therapy or just to spend hubbys money and hear him moaning cant decide which one. the cafe you mentioned sounds great for mum she loves to sit and watch the world go by, so do we but two kids aged 10 and 11 dont and have to be on the move or we get im bored mum can we do this can we do that. i would love to do the wine tour my fav wine when im there is borba or the vino verde. only proplem is i enjoy them to much and want to go dancing, that might be why hubby has said no wine tours. cant wait for june we alway enjoy our time in cvo would love to be there now the weather looks great pity the square does'nt.

EMM · Post by **EMM** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 7:15 pm

The shops in Lagoa cater very for the local trade its just like a UK high steet was 30 years ago.
There may be shops selling tourist tat but I can,t thinlk of one.
The market is currently being refurbished but should be finished by the summer.
For a good value lunch ( and wine ) go to the Fatacil show ground.

forester · Post by **forester** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:52 pm

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.

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