The new square

[Michael Crane]

But without them all you drivers would be parking on the pavements again.

If they replaced them with benches it'd be far better. I think the stones are too small to see clearly when in a large vehicle, but a bench would be easier to see and physocologically drivers would perhaps keep further from a bench.

[Helen]

The granite blocks really are hideous, they don't blend in with the surroundings at all. Also, with their sharp corners, they are quite dangerous. All you need is for some child to trip over, or some drunk to fall over & bang their heads on them & it would be a very seroius injury. I don't know why they couldn't have put in the black bollards like they have on restaurant hill, which look far better. Also why have they got paving slabs on one side of the street & cobbles on the other?

[EMM]

I agree that that the black bollards would have been a much better idea, but remember we are not Architects so have no idea of what looks good or is safe and practical.
In this case maybe not so but one of the many good things about Portugal is the pragmatic view towards health and safety compared to the straight jacket the UK finds itself in.

[blue]

I agree the whole thing looks like two different sets of plans got mixed up. The grave stones are an accident waiting to happen, they're not clearly visible from the taller vehicles. It's not an either or situation, the grave stones or nothing, obviously there is a more attractive, more efficient & less dangerous alternative to them, in fact it would be really hard to come up with a less attractive, less efficient & more dangerous alternative. Mind you I suppose if they're already being damaged they'll be digging them up again soon anyway.
But then again I'm not an architect so how would I know

[wolfie]

The granite blocks do look nice and yes the idea is to stop vehicle going up the pavement . However I was watching the workmen putting them in and they are only cemented on top of the blocks and do not go into the ground so basically any decent shove is going to knock them over . I suspect this may become quite tempting to some folk

[Barry]

We were there when the granite blocks were being installed, and first thing we said was "tomb stones". The old bollards which were in the square looked far more traditional and attractive. It echoes the concerns of us and many of our friends that the new square might be too modern. One actually said it would probably look OK in Benidorm! I guess we have to wait and see if they soften it with plants and seating. Here's hoping.

[EMM]

It depend where the blocks are, certainly on the IN road one has been knocked over and has lifted a section of pavement exposing its steel fixings.
The last thing we need are drunken idiots playing lets knock over the blocks.

[TomUK]

For those who are about to visit Carvoeiro soon, I repeat my observations over the last two weeks which I originally entered in the other thread about the Square that got a little out of hand.

Made two visits to CVO during last couple of weeks and entered by the 'IN' road as normal (no signs to tell us otherwise) - when the square is reached drivers are guided by temporary plastic and concrete bollards in a semi circle in front of Matabixo and up Estrada da Farol (Restaurant Hill) because the 'OUT' road is still being worked on. At the moment Estrada da Farol is one way (up) and taxis have to do a three point turn by the rank and go up the hill. A check of the webcam today confirms that this is still the case. We parked at the top of the hill without problems and walked back down. When leaving we carried on up the hill and out that way. It is however, possible to drive a short way back down the hill until you are confronted by a 'no entry' sign and have to turn right. I presume this leads back to the top part of the original 'OUT' road.

The square is still pleasant enough closer to the beach area and restaurants seemed to be doing well. Noticed the public toilets have not re-appeared.

They have surfaced the square with nice block paving and the diagonal walkway has smart grey paving slabs. However, it struck me as typical of Portugal that the traffic that passes through the square is guided over the newly laid grey paving and this means EVA buses, tourist coaches and heavy lorries as well as hundreds of cars each day are driving over the new paving. What's the betting that when the diversion is removed, these slabs will have been cracked and broken under the weight of traffic and will need replacing!

Hope the above is useful to those visiting CVO by car in the near future.

[Barry]

The new toilets were due for completion mid-June ahead of the main tourist season. Was there any rebuilding activity, otherwise we are going find more bathers than usual wading waist high into the sea.

[Gary/Gaynor]

What worries me most is I think Im going to be one of those drunken idiots that falls over them

Gary

[tricky]

glad you said it first

[Michael Crane]

The new toilets were due for completion mid-June ahead of the main tourist season. Was there any rebuilding activity, otherwise we are going find more bathers than usual wading waist high into the sea.

The work on the new toilets is well under way, If you look at the last picture I posted where the rock is painted yellow, you can just about see them.

Here's a close-up:

IMAGE_282.jpg (151.43 KiB) Viewed 8002 times

[Barry]

Thanks Michael, must be my eyesight fading. Must close, here comes Nurse with my medication.

[Michael Crane]

Thanks Michael, must be my eyesight fading. Must close, here comes Nurse with my medication.

Are they dispensing G&Ts now on the NHS?

[blue]

As yet I'm not a fan of the new look square, Carvoeiro used to be the picture postcard village of the Algarve the classic photo of the beach & square cropping up in countless publications. I'm not sure that block paving & a mixture of black, grey, red & white surfaces will do anything to enhance its charm, in fact I fear the opposite might be achieved. I just hope that it all comes together once it's completed.