Dan,
I don't need a lift, but could you quote me a price to sail two dozen cases of Monte Velho Tinto from the Marina in Lagos to the North Wales coast ???

SAGRES, I dont think I could trust myself with the wine! Its thirsty work sailing what with the salty air etc! BTW I used to sail out of Holyhead marina. I am on first name terms with every wave in the Irish Sea! Also (many many years ago) I did Army training near Rhyl! and recently got done by the Traffic Taliban for speeding on the Holyhead to Chester dual carriageway. (In a car, not my yacht!)

..... not by one of that nice Mr. Brunstrom's boys ??

not by one of that nice Mr. Brunstrom's boys

the same!

I think Mr Brunstrom has had each and every one of us North Walians at some pont.

Getting back to the property theme, we live very close to old town Albufeira in a block about 20-25 years old, without a sea view. Of the five flats on our floor we are the only ones who actually live here, the other four are Portuguese owned, and only occupied for about 3 or 4 weeks a year.

There are quite few properties around here for sale, but Portuguese estate agents push foreigners towards the modern more expensive properties that are being built in abandance on any site they can find in town.

When we wanted to buy in this area - because it is close to our bar - one agent even said "no, you don't want to live there", without even asking us why we wanted to (he then turned his back on us to have a chat with a Portuguese lady who had interrupted our conversation - but thats another story ). Needless to say we bought through someone else.

The point is, the development is purely down to the Portuguese, and their methods of building and selling and making money. There are loads of places already built up for sale, it's not the fault of foreigners that the estate agents discourage them from buying old properties.

Last month while looking at property around Lagos-Sagres (the village NOT our friend here!) I was directed by an estate agent to the new complex outside Sagres on the north side of the Lagos road (I think). Unfortunately ALL the houses looked exactly the same showing no personality as far as I was concerned. I had told the agent originally that I was NOT interested in new characterless premises, but to no avail. I kept getting information on the new stuff. So still looking but this time with an international property group, rather than a local one.

Hi Pat, sorry not to respond to your post sooner, I don't think we will have met, only went out for the first time last August and became an apartment owner there and then. We are up in Conciecao and I do share your concerns about the over developement. The change between when we bought last year and twelve months on is frightening.

I'm sure we will be there at the same time sometime and look forward to sharing a beer, wine and a sample of local seafood with you.

The one good thing is the it's still a lot more relaxed than where I live in the UK.

I live in a block of seven apartments just outside Albufeira. One is empty, one is owned by a Portuguese family who use it for holidays only and one is owned by a Brit who uses it for long stays.

The other three are owned by 'real' people.

When I bought here I made it plain to the estate agent that I wasn't interested in a modern condo type property (a) as I couldn't afford it and (b) as I don't drive I needed to be near the shops etc.

He took that on board and I have a place on top of a hill overlooking the Marina - can't beat the view on a nice day.

The area is 'developed' ie it's an established community but there are some horrors nearing completion just down the road which will fetch €€€€€€ no doubt.

Stick to your guns when buying as you would in the UK; agents get a higher commission on new properties (percentages) and as anywhere will sell you what they want to sell you so as to rake in more. Estate Agents, politicians and used car salesmen anyone?

Have a nice day.

The "Algarve Resident" has today reported that Portimao Camara have passed plans for the autodrome and,surprise,surprise, a huge hotel and apartment block.Forecasts are that the whole show could be up and running by September 2008.
If anyone would like the link to the article in "The Resident", just shout.

I don't think the Canadian, US or Russian visitors would wish to drive to the Algarve.

I have noticed that many from France, Germany and of course Spain do drive here already. A few British cars can also be seen.

The age of really cheap air travel must soon be over. Tickets are not subject to VAT and aviation fuel is tax-free and it surely cannot be beyond the wit of governments to figure out a way of gaining revenue from some scheme or other. That would add 30% to 40% to tickets overnight.

The environmental impact of ever larger and even more airports has to be factored in. OK I fly Portugal - UK 4 or 5 times a year and would find it difficult if flights were fewer and/or more expensive but sometimes you have to shrug your shoulders and say 'I won't go'.

Demand must be capped - some figures predict a doubling of air passenger numbers in 15 years or so. That is impossible to cater for without the direst impact on the world at large.

What is wrong with a theme park in the Algarve? i think a good theme park is one of the few things that are missing in the Algarve.As for the F1 circuit im against that.

What is wrong with a theme park in the Algarve?

I'm sorry but, if you have to ask that question then any answer I can give is not going to satisfy you.
For me, the sheer beauty of the landscape and the genuine friendliness of the Portuguese people,not to mention the cuisine and wine, is all that I could ever want from a holiday destination.
However if you were brought up on the Algarve, it may be that,being part of all that,you may not appreciate it as much as someone who only experiences it for a couple of weeks two or three times a year.I am often told that the scenery in North Wales is among the most beautiful in the world but,living so close to it, perhaps I tend to take it for granted.
At least we agree on the motor racing circuit.

Hi Sagres.Yes been brought up in the Algarve lived there for 25 years and of course back every year.I can undertand where you coming from but the way portuguese people are will not change i can assure you:-) Yes the scenery we have is beautifull and im blessed to have family all over the Algarve from Alcoutim to Portimao,so know the area very well and couldnt agree more with you about the scenery etc of the Algarve and Portugal. My point is that a theme park as you well know is one of the few things missing in the Algarve to be a complete tourist destination pleasing everyone,and for sure wouldn't spoilt all the Algarve beauty,but if it does then of course i would be against it.

luis,
The reports I read ( I've looked again but can't find them now, but think they were in "The Resident" 'tho' not absolutely certain - might have been in a paper I read in Lagos in September ) spoke of a 500 hectare development and one of the features that sticks in my mind was cable cars !! Now, you have to admit that they are going to be a tad difficult to hide !! God forbid that they intend to run a cable car ride into the foothills of the Monchique.
Apparently, one hope that the project will not go ahead is that there is, I believe, a disagreement over the planning permission for residential buildings - and I've a nasty feeling that they are not going to be one-storey artisans' cottages.
The Algarve is the only place where we actually fairly enjoy the trip from the airport to resort - if you keep looking to the right you have beautiful scenery - look to your left,however, and you see the concrete jungle that past developers have created;I just don't want them to spoil any more, that's all.

Hi Sagres. I really think that the Algarve at at least 2 big mistakes they are called Quarteira and Praia da rocha the planning and devolpement of those two areas were really bad,i think after them 2 areas it has been much betterdon't know if you agree with me or not? As for the cable cars well they should think of better ways to go around the park if that ever come to be build and really wouldn't be too hard to find better ways to do it:-)

Sorry for the delay in replying,Luis, but I've been in Lagos for a week and running around like a maniac since we got back on the 23rd.
Yes,I'd agree that the two towns you mention did let development get entirely out of hand, and I had hoped that everyone on the Algarve had learnt a lesson from that but it seems to me to be starting all over again.
Only last September we visited Amoreiras beach not far from Aljezur - it's one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen anywhere in the world and we made a point of visiting it after we had seen a photograph on the internet.However, on the top of the headland overloking the beach, someone with an awful lot of money has built a massive property with a huge wrap-around glass conservatory.It must be wonderful sitting in there looking out but it has completely destroyed the landscape for the rest of us on the outside looking in.
I'm not jealous-(well,that's a lie really,I'm as jealous as hell)-but I'd like to think that,if I had that sort of money,I'd give a little more consideration to the effect on the surroundings.The local Camara,however,is in a position to control building regulations in order to protect the landscape and,if they don't start doing so soon,no-one will be able to remember what it was that attracted people to the Algarve in the first place.The sort of scenery you have on the Algarve will,if left unspoilt,attract tourists and their money to the Algarve for hundreds of years to come.The thrill seekers who enjoy theme parks will,on the other hand,follow the latest and fastest rides all over Europe,or even the world.I've nothing at all against theme parks or those who enjoy them, but I'm so afraid that when they go out of fashion the Algarve will be left with a giant ghost town when the developers move on to newer and bigger profits elsewhere.

Unfortunately the local Camaras are raking in piles of money from the various developments they are permitting. Given that the Portuguese economy is in a very poor state and every public body is pleading poverty, it is no surprise that the easy cash is taken.

And yes the legacy will be a big mess - picture English seaside resorts fifty years or so before the advent of mass cheap air travel and what they look like now. Then draw the same picture for the Algarve etc in probably rather less than fifty years, when mass cheap air travel is a thing of the past. Doom gloom and I am glad I won't be around to see it.

I walked up from Monchique to the very top in the summer. All those tourist buses going past ha ha!

All fair points.Im for one that everything built have to take all the surroudings and nature in consideration,on another note don't know if anyone else agree but i think Armacao de Pera is another mistake looks awfull there.