It was there yesterday

I have sent you the pics, which include the demolition. Strange that it was not demolished at the start of the project. I'm only guessing, but taking it out will give access to the new building from Rua do Paraiso, and may enable more of the square to be completed ahead of the completion of the new building.

Hi Barry,

I'll be happy to publish the pictures if OK with you?

Thanks to Barry the photos can now be seen at http://www.gallery.carvoeiro.com/spgm/i ... pring_2009

Am I pleased I'm not going to be there until 18 December!

Great photos - they give a much better idea of the progress - personally I think they are doing a great job and appear to moving along at some speed.

Quite sad to see it go personally. I remember it on our first holiday in Carvoeiro many years ago, the roof was always covered with cats & bowls of catfood that people had put out for them. I always thought it a cute little building.

Steen Jakobsen wrote:Thanks to Barry the photos can now be seen at http://www.gallery.carvoeiro.com/spgm/i ... pring_2009

Great pics Barry & Steen...
do I take it that the second pic is how it will look when finished?

An avenue of trees....lovely

Oh and will there be seating, apart from the sea wall d'you know?

Hi Ellie,
The first two pics were taken of a somewhat inaccessible plan on a board in front of Smilers. For some reason they placed it high up on a pole, rather than at eye level.
Think they are both supposed to represent the future square and surrounding area. Seemed to be a small set back this morning since some of the layed paving was being re-layed, I think due to not being sufficiently level. The good news though was that there were 8 people working on the new building next to O Patio, and progress is looking good.

Many thanks for posting those pictures Barry. And good job on capturing the artist impressions so well.

I'm trying to work out what the traffic arrangements will finally be.

Is the out road to remain two way ?
Is there any vehicle access across the square in front of Metabixo - i.e. how will you drive from East side to West side and vice versa ?

pictures are brilliant.
I too remember all the cats and bowls of food for them. I did used to put food out as well for them. Interesting to see the street being demolished and tidied up.
It wil look fab when completed.

Thanks Barry ..had to laugh about the 'plan' being too far up the pole for anyone to see
But thats Portugal for you

Im curious too like Richard, about traffic plans for that area?

Does it look as though the uphill road by the ice cream parlour will be closed off? And will the road down from Quinta do Paraiso still operate round the back way past the post office?
and will the out road remain as an 'in & out 'road?
Wanna know a lot don't I?

Like e-richard and Ellie I am curious about the roads. Is restaurant hill going to go back to being 2 way. Just now it has a diversion on it. Everyone seems to have been told different things.

I think we are all curious about the roads, which is why there are so many versions of the final scheme. I understand that there will be limited access down the final part of the "in" street, and that traffic will be diverted past the Post Office and MaJa's. This is opposite the current direction, and signs are already up, although covered. The "out" street will be narrowed as per the "in" street (see photo). Not sure what "limited access" means, but it may vary between high and low seasons. From the plan, access from the"in" to the "out" streets is across the square so will have to be limited. There is already a diversion down hill on Farol, taking traffic right, by the market. We were there yesterday, and 90% of cars were ignoring the diversion! Not sure what happens to the ramps either side of the bay - to Algar Seco and to Monte Carvoeiro, but they both lead directly on to the square. One view is that they will be pedestrianised, with very limited vehicle access. (GNR?).
Other than that I guess we will have to wait and see. The stated aim is to make the square and the area around it pedestrian friendly, so be prepared to park and walk.

Sorry Ellie missed out one of your questions. Don't see any reason why the road down from QdP should be affected, since cars can turn up by the Post Office and the road past Jailhouse is already one way in the correct direction. There is a risk that more traffic might use this road to get to MC, but let's hope not. It's the route we walk to get to the village, and is very narrow on the final stretch, so not much room for people and cars!