Some helpful information. Print it and take it with you.    Children's (Young and old) Activities There's lots for kids of all ages to do in the Algarve including: Lagos Zoo - Barao Sao Joao - tropical birds, monkeys, domestic animals Zoomarine - Swim with dolphins, watch the tame sea lions and birds of prey, visit the giant aquarium and exhibition centre, try out their fairground rides Krazy World - mini golf; reptiles and animals. In the summer months you can easily spend a day at one of the Algarve's water parks and as it gets cooler there are lots of places to go horse-riding, cycling or walking.   Coaches There is the national network of Rodoviária Nacional (RN), and competing private operators who run quick non-stop services on the more popular routes and often to destinations not covered by trains. The RN tends to be slower but its prices are cheaper. Many private operators offer more facilities on longer runs such as toilet, video, air-conditioning and snacks. Prior to a long trip it is best to check what the coach facilities are before boarding. You will find that in major tourist areas or cities there are excellent local excursions by coach. In almost all cases tickets are purchased in advance.   Commercial Hours The normal shopping hours are from 09.00 hrs. until 19.00 hrs on Mondays to Fridays. Saturdays is from 09.00 hrs. until 13.00 hrs. There are some shops that extend their hours and their days of opening. In traditional towns the shops sometimes close for an hour or more at lunchtime. The large shopping centers usually stay open until late every day (9 or 10pm)   What to Wear In the daytime most people dress casually. In the summer the sun is very strong so you should bring a hat and suncream and a light cover up to protect yourself and particularly your children. In the evenings Portuguese people wear smart casual clothes- only a few very exclusive restaurants demand jackets/ties. Ladies should not bring a lot of jewelry.   Algarve Information on Driving You must always carry all car documents, driving license and passports. In Portugal you should drive on the right side of the road except when otherwise indicated. All vehicles approaching from the right have priority. The driver already on a roundabout normally has the right of way. Safety-belts are compulsory in all circumstances. Drinking and driving is severely controlled and limited to a restriction of 0.5g/l less than the UK and on the spot fines. Children under 12 years old are prohibited from sitting in the front seat. Child seats are required up to age five. Unless otherwise indicated urban limit is 50 km/h. Rural roads other than those zones indicated are limited to 90 km/h. Motorways are limited to 120 km/h. Fines are on the spot and can be expensive, if you cannot pay you will lose your car until the fine is paid plus storage cost, Credit Cards are accepted. Electrical Current The current all over Portugal is 220 volts AC and connection is made by a two-pin plug. The plug today acts also as an earth except in older buildings that use older models of this two-pin plug. Emergency Wherever you are in Portugal, call 112 and you will be connected to Fire, Police and Ambulance services. Every Fire Brigade also maintains one or more ambulances for emergencies. Chemists can give advice on simple health problems and suggest appropriate treatment. They are also permitted to sell many medicines without a doctor's subscription. A green cross on white background denotes a chemist. A red cross on a white background denotes a Red Cross station. In most towns there are Emergency Treatment Centres (SAP) that will provide medical assistance 24 hours a day. Security in cities and towns is handled by the Polícia de Seguranca Pública (PSP), rural areas by the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR), and the traffic by Brigada de Transito. On motorways and several major roads there are SOS phone boxes for help in accidents or breakdowns.   Food & Drink You will not go hungry in the Algarve! Dining is earlier than in Spain - normally 19.30 - 22.00. There is an enormous selection of good restaurants throughout the region. These range from very reasonably priced Portuguese restaurants specializing in excellent fresh grilled fish, wonderful salads and a wide range of seafood, to medium priced international restaurants and more expensive gourmet restaurants. Around the marina there are several pubs and night clubs as well as restaurants.  Also along the Quarteira Promenade there are many restaurants. However the best local food is mostly in Quarteira and NOT directly along the beach.  The farther away from the beach you go the better the food and the prices. About the cost of the meals, well it depends. At the Marina, you have 2 or 3 Chinese restaurants that are not too expensive (it is better if you compare the prices) they are all on the left side of the Marina so while you're walking you can see the menus that they have at the doors. The Portuguese restaurants are usually a bit more expensive but still, it depends on what you are eating. If you want to eat fish, it is better in Quarteira but not in the restaurants in road near the beach as it is much more expensive and sometimes not so fresh. There is a little restaurant near the fish market called Buzio, (YOU CAN HOP THERE ON ONE FOOT it is so close.. Well almost) not luxurious but very simple, it is a family restaurant, which serves very good fish. One disadvantage: always full of people and lots of people waiting outside for a vacant table. La Cabane in Quarteira is also very good. There is a restaurant called the Barca a bit further away so you would need to drive or a taxi but the food is great and cheap. A TRICK FOR PORTUGAL. Make an effort even a bad one to speak a few words of Portuguese to your waiter; he will do a much better job if you do. Anyway, at the Marina you will always pay more for a meal but the place is much nicer as you can seat outside watching the boats and people going by.  At the Marina you will certainly find lots of bars with good music. Try Figo's Bar at the Marina as it has always lots of people and also very good music (people can dance there also). About Blackjack, the Casino Discotheque), it is very near our place, so you will not need a car (high fines if you drive after having some drinks - highest blood level 0,5) and you can find there a mixture of young and older. Only people older than 18 years can enter. You also can try Kadok which is a different type of Discotheque with a different type of music (more techno) but if you go there do not drink if you are driving or go by taxi (police is always around). This is on the way out of Vilamoura. Also a mixture of young and older people.  Some local specialties to look for: Sardines - the staple dish of the Algarve, served in most restaurants. The most atmospheric place to enjoy them freshly grilled is on the quayside at Portimao. If you find the Barca restaurant ask them to make you 4 at a time and then keep bringing them HOT as they see you eat them. They will keep bringing them until you say stop. To get them to do this tell them that that is how they do it for me and my step dad who's name is Alberto Ferreira Nobre (U Meigas is his knick name) a master electrician and owner of an electrical install company in Quarteira and eats there a lot when he is in town. Chicken Piri Piri - Piri Piri is a spicy condiment (Hot) brought to Portugal from Africa. It comes in a variety of forms - paste, oil and powder - and is used to give zest to a number of dishes, the most popular being grilled chicken. Although available in most restaurants the best place to enjoy it is on the Monchique mountain. Carne de Porco A Alentejana. A fantastic porkl stew. Presunto - similar to Parma Ham. A Speciality of Monchique, served in most restaurants often with melon. Caldeirada - delicious fish stew with tomatoes, onions and potatoes. Cataplana - clams, chourico (sausage), onions, tomatoes and herbs all steamed in a copper pot. Arroz Doce - traditional rice pudding. Molotoff - a traditional dessert made with egg whites and a caramel sauce. Torta de Amendoa - Almond roll. Tarte de Amendoa - Almond tart. Vegetarian meals are available in many restaurants. Portugal is becoming better known internationally for its wide range of wine. Try some of the following: Aperitifs - white port Vinho Verde - "green" wine from northwest Portugal - Casal Garcia, Gatao, Alveleda. Vinho Rosé - "Pink" wine - light and refreshing - Lancers, Casal Mendes. Vinho Branco (white wine) - BSE, Planalto, Monte Velho, Porto da Ravessa, Joao Pires, Topazio. Vinho Tinto (Red wine) Angelus, Periquita, Porto da Ravessa, Redonda, Reguengos, Colares. Sparkling - cheaper than Champagne and very pleasant.   After Dinner Drinks : Ruby Port Tawny Port Vintage Port Brandymel - brandy and honey liquor Amendoa Amarga - almond liquor (sweet or bitter) Licor Beirao - aromatic liquor Medronho - local firewater made from the Arbutus "strawberry" tree Bagaco and Bagaceira - made from the pips and skins of grapes Setubal - Muscatel wine from the Lisbon area Madeira - dessert wine from the island of Madeira. Around the corner from our place there is a little place for breakfast outside. Nothing fancy mind you, just good Bica (strong coffee), or Galao (cafe latte), and a sands mista con manteiga (a mixed sandwich that is ham, cheese and butter on a Portuguese roll). We have that every morning when we are there. Picture: http://www.algarve-beach-golf.co.uk/Algarve571.JPG As for the Barca restaurant (nothing fancy mind you) I am enclosing a picture of the outside and a picture of the owner. Print his picture and take it with you. If he thinks you are kidding about knowing a good customer of his show him his smiling face on the picture. Also it will make him smile and will get you good service and Portuguese portions. Picture Outside: http://www.algarve-beach-golf.co.uk/Algarve609.JPG Picture Barca owner: http://www.algarve-beach-golf.co.uk/Algarve612.JPG Restaurante A Barca Address: Avenida de Ceuta, Quarteira Telephone: (011 If outside of Portugal) (351) 966 088 620 I don’t remember but I think in Portugal you don’t dial the (351). Go down to the Lota (fish and meat market) you can walk there in just a couple of minutes. First it is a great spectacle and second there are fresh vegetables and cheese and chorico etc you can buy there and have on the Veranda. Fantastic. Bread. There are bakeries all over. When you buy bread DON’T buy it for more than one day or better still buy it in the morning for lunch and afternoon for dinner. The bread at the bakeries is REAL no preservatives to harm you but because of that it won’t last. Hipermarkets 09.00 - 21.00 Monday - Saturday. 09.00 - 13.00 on Sunday. Most supermarkets stock a wide range of international foods as well as local products.  Things to do: I strongly advise to go to Zoomarine to spend the day. You have the dolphins show among others that is very good. To refresh yourself you also have a swimming pool if you want a swim. Also, near Vilamoura you have an aquatic park Aquashow.  Also there is a really nice one day cruise you can take off of the Marina. It is the one that is a replica American Schooner that takes you on a wonderful trip along the coast of Algarve. Then they pull into a small beach that cannot be reached except by sea. The drop anchor and take you ashore (unless you want to swim, lots of people swim in if they are strong swimmers) and cook diner of Sardines and chops and stuff while you enjoy the beach and then a slow lazy cruise back. The bartender on the boat (usually a young girl daughter of the skipper about 14 years of age) will make you any drink you want during the cruise. Also on many weekend nights during the summer there will be live music concerts at the far end of the promenade in Quarteira. You walk there along the beach (Turn left from our place while looking at the sea) It is a bit of a walk but a lot of fun when they do it and there is a bar there also. Along the way stop to see entertainers such as mimes, clowns marionettes, painters and many other entertainment new ones almost every night. Also along the way in the promenade there are little playgrounds for kids to play. Walk along while you enjoy a cool glass of Champaign sangria. The promenade at night is a really nice walk to settle your tummy from dinner and maybe get in some desert and a drink. There is so much more but too little time to do it all and still enjoy the beaches. Take this with you as a rough guide and also our phone number 001 845 878 2223 When I think of more pertinent information I will send it along (with love from me to you) LOL A Beatles moment :). Cheers for now. Paul