Shopping etc.=
Baby Equipment Hire; Banking; DIY & Hardware Shops; Foam &
Upholstery; Hair & Skin Care; Markets; National Food-stuffs; Post Offic=
e;
Restaurants; Supermarkets; Wheelchair Hire
=
Baby Equipment Hire
Push chairs,
strollers, cots and high chairs can be hired from the NANDI Animal Charity
shop, beside the Galp Petrol Station, near the Boat Roundabout.
=
Banking =
=
The
town is well supplied with all the local banks, and there is a (Portuguese)
Barclays Bank, near the “Boat Roundabout”.=
Cash Machines are known by the name of the
independent company that operates them, “Multibanco”. They can be found all over the town,
including the NHS A & E Department, the private hospital and inside the
marina.
They all accept UK credit cards and bank
cards, but some require a SIX digit PIN number – they show 6 asterisks. If this happens, insert two single zeros
AFTER your normal 4-digit PIN. The
double zero - 00 - is not accepted.
Note that in summer the marina and town
centre dispensers can be emptied over any weekend. Stock up on Friday - or find out where =
there
is an under-utilised one!
=
DIY &
Hardware Shops
“Bricolage” is D.I.Y. and usually refers to the
bigger “B&Q” style of store. The nearest is IZI (pronounced “eesee”), 5=
km
along the EN125, heading towards Portimão, just past the first roundabout. =
The
A Onda bus, Line 3, Pink, serves the village and passes the door.
Their
original branch may be handier if you are in town. It is at the top of Rua
Infante de Sagres – that’s the pedestrian road beside the “Green Tiled Obri=
gado
Building” off the War Memorial Square.
Go through the City Walls and straight on, up to the roundabout, and
it’s on your left.
A good Builders’ Merchant is 1 km on EN 125,
heading towards Portimão, on the right, just past the BP garage. You may ha=
ve
to buy larger quantities, as it is aimed at professional builders, but why =
not
share your goodies with your fellow yachtsmen?
On the left of the Saturday Fruit & Vegetab=
le
Market, is a Garden & Smallholder Suppliers. They are un-signed, but are
very handy and stock an “interesting” range of goods. Well worth a visit, if just to have a l=
ook
around!
=
Foam & Upholstery
There are a number of local upholstery
suppliers. The first, at 31 Rua António Grisógno Dos Santos, up from the Ti=
voli
Hotel, has proved very helpful, speedy and accommodating. He will sell you foam for self
installation. Cosmin got a rave re=
view
from a member, for his excellent quality of work; he is very friendly and
helpful, too. Angela does first cl=
ass
work but can be expensive. =
=
Hair & Skin Care
Obviously this =
is a
very personal service and opinions are likely to vary. Also, the service totally depends on the
skill and personality of the staff members – who may change! Our original recommendations have now c=
losed
down or moved on, but any new recommendations will be welcome.
Markets
There is also an alternative market, at Santo Amaro, on the
short-cut walking route to or from InterMarché.
For a supply of “real” fruit and vegetabl=
es,
don’t miss the “Farmers’ Market”, every Saturday forenoon, in the big shed =
just
across the footbridge.
On the first Saturday of each month, ther=
e is
a “Gypsy Market” on the waste ground beside the Football Stadium, behind Pi=
ngo
Doce.
All sorts of clothes, shoes, and tools are
available, plus CDs and DVDs that may well be illicit copies.
=
National Food-stuffs
There are three major supermarkets, Pingo Doce,
InterMarché, and Modelo, all of which have a limited (but increasing) range=
of
non-Portuguese brands. The discount
stores, Aldi and Lidl, have a wide range of economical brands, frequently of
German origin.
Smaller specialist stores in Lagos are:-
U.K. Mari=
a’s UK
Food Shop has a good range and competitive prices. It is in the first road =
on
the left, off Rua Cabo de Bojador, the road opposite Lidls.
France. There=
is a
Charcuterie opposite InterMarché’s lower car park.
Germany. Try W=
ini’s
Bakery & Patisserie, 100 mtrs up from the Cultural Centre.
Holland. There is a mini-market on Rua Cabo de Bojador,=
the
road opposite Lidls.
Vegetarian.<=
span
style=3D'font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-lati=
n;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;
mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'> Store=
in
Rua Infante de Sagres, through the city walls, up 200 mtrs.
There is also a well-known supermarket in Praia=
de
Luz, called Batista's, which always has a wide range of UK products. Catch the A ONDA bus, just over the
footbridge.
Further afield, Apolónia prides itself on its
British Foodstuffs. It has two big
stores at Galé (near Algarve Shopping at Guia) and Almancil – but you need a
car to get there.
Some tips from Barbara. Marmalade is “Doce de Lara=
nja”,
ie Orange Jam, (“Mermelada” is actually Quince Jelly!) Marmite will often be f=
ound
with the jams and spreads, not with sauces and gravies. The nearest to bacon is ca. 500 gr. pie=
ces of
Bacon Extra, “Toucinhos”, which can be machine sliced to suit you.
=
Post Office
The normal office is located in the town
centre, beside the taxi rank on the Avenida, while parcels and registered p=
ost
can be collected from the main office, about 15 minutes walk away. It is a 2 to 4 days delivery service for
letter post to or from the U.K.
Note that the “Red” post boxes are meant =
for
normal mail, while the “Blue” ones are for the more expensive Express servi=
ce.
To have mail deliver=
ed
to the marina, use "YACHT NAME”; C/O Marina de Lagos, Edifício da
Administração; 8600-780 LAGOS; Algarve, Portugal.
=
Restaurants =
= We're spoilt for choice! We won’t recomm= end our favourites because tastes vary so much - and the chefs and staff - this year’s stars - could quickly move to pastures new. Besides, finding out is much more fun.<= o:p>
However, Adega da Marina, just over the
bridge and 100 metres down the Avenida, is a real experience, not to be
missed. They have a simple menu, b=
ut
great value and fast service. In
summer, the Portuguese and Spanish visitors are queuing outside the door by
2000 each evening. (We go at 1830!=
)
There are a couple of restaurants with
special offers of fresh fish, direct from the docks – all you can eat for €=
8.
WOW! Find one, eat like a local, and give your taste buds a treat!
Of course, you can be a tourist if you
like. Good quality and no rip-offs=
, is
the standard. Just be aware that s=
ome
fish and seafood is sold by weight; ask the actual cost for your meal when
ordering. And portion sizes can be
embarrassingly huge. Look at your
neighbour’s plate and don’t be afraid to ask for a half portion. (Meia dose,
faz favor.)
Supermarkets
There are three major supermarkets, InterMarché,
Modelo and Pingo Doce. Pingo has 2
branches - one behind the Marina and the second by the new Cámara, which is
usually less busy. They all have =
very
similar product ranges, with in-house butchery, fish and bakery counters.
InterMarché and Modelo have free “loyalty” card=
s –
(just ask at their reception). Man=
y of
their special offers will state “25% desconto – No Cartão”. This means the discount goes on your ca=
rd and
can then be used for future purchases at that store – usually at least 24 h=
ours
later. (No cash back!)
There are also 2 discount stores, Aldi and Lidl,
which will be familiar to most! Th=
ey
have twice-weekly special offers – and some of their tools are good buys.
Wheelchair Hire
A wheelchair can be hired from the NANDI Animal Charity shop, beside the Galp Pet=
rol
Station, near the Boat Roundabout.
There is also a
commercial supplier with a full range of mobility equipment. Contact “Algarve Mobility” at Chinicato, just outside Lagos on the N125.