Praia da Luz & The Algarve Information

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Miscellaneous Algarve Info - Luz-Info.com

Miscellaneous Algarve Information
News, Holidays, Markets, Weather, Fire & Police

Click for Faro, Portugal Forecast
Faro

A collection of miscellaneous information for the Algarve, all can be found in many places on the web but I've gathered them here here to save you ( and me! ) looking. There is a news headline feed from the Resident, the Algarve's weekly English newspaper and also quick real-time Sterling / Euro currency converter. Actual weather and average temperatures, a few phrases, regional market days, national and school holidays. Tourist office, Police & Fire telephone numbers. Daylight Saving Time reminder. Algarve district abbreviations.

With regard to the Temperatures for the Algarve, bear in mind from East to West temperatures can be quite different especially the sea temperatures as you get toward the Atlantic coast (Sagres and North). You will find that a lot of 'local Algarve town' forecasts on the web but more often than not they use the Faro data, which can be significantly different.
 03/2009  I've added the useful Holiday Weather.com widget on the right ( it is the only source I've found that had a weather forecast for Praia da Luz ). However, I'm not sure whereabouts the temperatures are actually measured as they seemed 'a bit off', so I've used Portimao as 'the next nearest', and it seems a bit more realistic ( but is probably Faro's re-named ).
 04/2009  A new addition is the Babylon translator in the left column. Useful for a quick word or phrase either into or from Portuguese. ( You need to allow 'Pop-Up's for it to function properly )



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Algarve News


Daylight Saving Time. Algarve.Daylight Saving Time. Algarve.

Daylight Saving Time 2010

The EU's version of Daylight Saving Time runs from 01:00 on the last Sunday in March (when the clocks go forward by an hour) through to 02:00 on the last Sunday in October (when they go back by an hour).
For 2010 clocks go forward by one hour on the night of 28-29 March ( 01.00 ).
They go back again on the night of 31 October - 01 November ( 02.00 ).

Algarve Average TemperaturesAlgarve Average Temperatures

Algarve Temperatures

Algarve Average RainfallAlgarve Average Rainfall

Average Rainfall in Algarve ( Millimetres )

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jly Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
70 70 35 31 25 5 1 1 5 51 55 65

Algarve Average Air TemperatureAlgarve Average Air TemperatureAverage Air Temperature oC

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jly Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
15 16 18 20 22 25 29 30 26 22 19 15

Algarve Average Sea TemperatureAlgarve Average Sea TemperatureAverage Sea Temperature oC

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jly Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
14 14 16 16 17 19 20 21 21 19 17 15
Weather Conversion Chart: 25.4mm=1 inch - ºF= (1.8 x ºC ) + 32
Algarve National Holidays 2010Algarve National Holidays 2010

National Holidays 2010

Tuesday
February 16

Shrove Tuesday 4

Friday
April 02

Good Friday † 1

Sunday
April 04

Easter † 1

Sunday
April 25

Freedom day Portugal 1

Saturday
May 01

Labour Day 1

Sunday
May 02

Mother´s Day 5

Thursday
June 03

Corpus Christi † 1

Thursday
June 10

Portugal Day 1

Sunday
August 15

Assumption Day † 1

Tuesday
October 05

Republic Day Portugal 1

Monday
November 01

All Saints´ Day † 1

Sunday
November 28

First Advent † 5

Wednesday
December 01

Independence Day Portugal 1

Sunday
December 05

Second Advent † 5

Wednesday
December 08

Immaculate Conception † 1

Sunday
December 12

Third Advent † 5

Sunday
Dec 19

Fourth Advent † 5

Saturday
December 25

Christmas † 1

Friday
December 31

New Year´s Eve † 5

   

† Christian holiday

- no holiday

1 official holiday (public day of rest)

2 official holiday (like Sunday)

3 half-holiday (normally starting from noon)

4 legally not recognized holiday (business, schools, administrations usually closed)

5 event day

 
Algarve School Holidays 2010Algarve School Holidays 2010

School Holidays 2010

Saturday, March 27 to Sunday, April 11 Spring Break
Wednesday, June 09 to Tuesday 14th April Easter
Friday, June 05 to Sunday, September 12 Primary Schools Summer Holidays
Friday, June 18 to Sunday, September 12 Secondary Schools Summer Holidays
Saturday, December 18 to Sunday, January 02 2011 Christmas Holidays
Useful Portuguese PhrasesUseful Portuguese Phrases

A few useful Phrases

Just a few phrases for everyday use.
Try here ( Babylon7 ) or here for more comprehensive services.
Also give the 'quick' Babylon translator in the left column a try.
Ola Hello Adeus Goodbye
Bom dia Good Morning / day Ate logo See you later
Boa Tarde Good Afternoon Obrigado (a) Thank you
Boa Noite Good Evening / Night Por Favor Please
Com licença / Desculpe Excuse me Cuidado Take Care
Quanto / Quantos? How much / many? Porquê? Why?
Como? How? Quem? Who?
Enjoy the meal! Bom apetite! Quê? What?
Boa viagem! Have a safe journey! Onde? Where?
Desejo-lhe umas boas férias! Have a good holiday! Qual? / Quais? Which, Which ones
Sim Yes Não No
 07/2008  Thanks Nana, ( Brazil ) for a few corrections.
Just a few additional words that you frequently see whilst travelling. Maybe not that important but just make you wonder what they mean. I'll be adding to them as as they catch my eye.
móveis furniture I originally thought Portugal had a stack of video rental stores.
vende se for sale Not necessarily proper sign boards, sometimes just spray painted on ruins.
sem chumbo unleaded One to remember when filling the rental.
oferta (especial) offer ( special ) Worth remembering?
     
Algarve Market DaysAlgarve Market Days

Algarve Regional Market Days

These are not the permanent municipal markets as in Lagos, Albufeira, Faro. These markets move around and are set up just for the day. Those nearest to Luz are marked with an *.
E.g. 1st Monday in the month there are markets in Portimao & S.Marcos.
Monday 1st Portimao, S.Marcos
  2nd Algoz*
  3rd Silves*, Aljezur, Tavira
  4th Messines
Tuesday 1st Albufeira
  2nd Alvor*
  3rd Albufeira
  4th none
Wednesday 1st Alte( St Margarida), Quarteira
  2nd Qurteira
  3rd Qurteira
  4th Qurteira
Thursday 1st Armacao, Fuzeta, Vila do Bispo*
  2nd Vaqueiros
  3rd Alte, Armacao
  4th Boliqueime
Friday 1st Sagres
  2nd Monchique, Moncarapacho
  3rd none
  4th none
Saturday 1st Lagos*, Loule, S. Bras, Bensafim
  2nd Loule, Rogil, S.Bras
  3rd Loule, S.Bras
  4th Loule, S.Bras
Sunday 1st Almacil
  2nd Estoi, Lagoa*  (except July and August)
  3rd Vila Nova de Cacela
  4th Almacil, Santa Catarina
Algarve Tourist OfficesAlgarve Tourist Offices

Tourist Information Offices

Praia da Luz doesn't have a proper office, but it does have a small 'hut' located on the promenade ( beach bar end ) that is generally open during the summer season ( no fixed hours! ). They are good for local information.
Normally Open 7 days a week, 09.30 - 12.30 / 14.00 - 17.30
Albufeira
Rua 5 de Outubro +351 (289) 585 279
Monte Gordo
Avenida Marginal - +351 (281) 544 495
Alcoutim
Praça de República - +351 (289) 546 179
Ponte Int. Do Guadiana
Monte Francisco - +351 (281) 531 800
Aljezur
Largo do Mercado - +351 (282) 998 229
Olhão
Largo do Lago - +351 (289) 713 936
Alvor
Rua Dr. Afonso Costa 51 - +351 (282) 457 540
Portimão
Commercial Harbour and
across football stadium - +351 (282) 416 556
Armação de Pêra
Avenida Marginal - +351 (282) 312 145
Praia da Rocha
Av. Tomás Cabreira - +351 (282) 419 132
Carvoeiro
Largo da Praia - +351 (282) 357 728
Quarteira
Av.Infante Sagres - +351 (289) 389 209
Castro Marim
Praça 1º do Maio - +351 (281) 531 232
Sagres
Rua Comandante Matoso - +351 (282) 624 873
Faro (Head Office)
Av.da República - +351 (289) 800 400
Rua da Misericórdia - +351 (289) 803 604
Airport - +351 (289) 818 582
São Bras de Alportel
Rua Dr. Evaristo Gago - +351 (289) 843 165
Lagos
Rua Vasco da Gama - +351 (282) 763 031
Silves
Rua 25 de Abril - +351 (282) 442 255
Loulé
Edificio de Castelo - +351 (289) 463 900
Tavira
Praça da República - +351 (281) 322 511
Monchique
Largo dos Chorões - +351 (282) 911 189
 

Municipalities

ABFAlbufeira MCQMonchique
ACTAlcoutim OLHOlhão
AJZAljezur PTMPortimão
CTMCastro Marim SBASão Brás de Alportel
FARFaro SLVSilves
LGALagoa (Algarve) TVRTavira
LGSLagos VBPVila do Bispo
LLELoulé VRSVila Real de Santo António

Fire Brigade

Police

  • Albufeira - +351 (289) 513 333
  • Alcoutim - +351 (281) 546 269
  • Aljezur - +351 (282) 998 258
  •  
  •  
  • Faro - +351 (289) 822 122 / 823 630
  • Lagoa - +351 (282) 352 888
  • Lagos - +351 (282) 760 115
  • Loulé - +351 (289) 416 702
  • Monchique - +351 (282) 992 115
  • Olhão - +351 (289) 701 108
  • Portimão - +351 (282) 422 122
  • Silves - +351 (282) 442 411
  • Tavira - +351 (281) 322 122
  • Vila do Bispo- +351 (282) 636 628
  • Vila Real do Santo António- +351 (281) 543 202
  • Albufeira - +351 (289) 587 224
  • Alcoutim - +351 (281) 546 208
  • Aljezur - +351 (282) 998 130
  • Almancil - +351 (289) 393 200
  • Carvoeiro - +351 (282) 356 440
  • Faro - +351 (289) 801 828
  • Lagoa - +351 (282) 352 310
  • Lagos - +351 (282) 762 809
  • Loulé - +351 (289) 462 782
  • Monchique - +351 (282) 992 628
  • Olhão - +351 (289) 703 089
  • Portimão - +351 (282) 417 217
  • Silves - +351 (282) 442 414
  • Tavira - +351 (281) 325 704
  • Vila do Bispo- +351 (282) 639 112
  • Vilamoura - +351 (289) 313 040
  • Vila Real do Santo António- +351 (281) 544 355