Catch It Clean It Cook It on in a Holiday Home Lagos Portugal Style

Recent read the Portuguese diet of excessive fish eating been criticized. Have to be honest was some what surprised to see criticism of the type.  But on further reading I could gasp the essence of the report.  It was the Portuguese love of tuna "atum" and other scarce fish species that was been looked at closely.  Yes indeed the Portuguese love their atum but the equally love their frango and porco.

They are a fish crazy nation, to be fair quite alot of their fish is farmed nowadays.  As well their is no waste your Sea Bass is served with head on eyes in and everything on the plate apart from the bones are eaten.
At weekends some very ingenious BBQs are produced on the side of streets and roof tops and the charred smell of sardines cooking hangs in the air as a reminder of healthy eating and goodness.

The Portuguese fishing in many ways Lagos has a full harbour of small fishing boats.  If your staying in a local self-catering holiday accommodation in Patio Do Convento or The Marina Apartments. Take a stroll any time on year at night down the Avenida and you ll see the fishermen with their poles hanging out over the canal wall.   Indeed the benefit of self-catering you can buy fish in the market and cook yourself.  Fish is so much in demand Lidl have a fresh fish counter in their stores in Portugal.

Harbour Fishing

There are many long breakwaters protecting the harbours and marinas these offer good fishing for many species in all sea conditions.

Boats, there are a number of charter boats available, some are excellently run, catering for experienced big game anglers, others are frankly only suitable for people looking for a trip out to sea for a few beers and possibly a few fish. At certain times of the year when the water temperature is high we get a run of Marlin, both Blue and White, there are yearly competitions run from Vilamoura marina and Tavira.

Cliff Fishing

On the weekend you can find people perched on the top of 200ft. Cliffs even on ropes half way down the cliff. They catch a variety of fish including many types of Bream, Bass, Mackerel, Garfish, Mullet etc. Best baits are Sardine, prawns and worms. A piece of fresh Mackerel with the blood oozing out is good for many species. Main problem in this fishing is lifting large fish up the cliff and a variety of lift net is usually employed
Beach fishing, there are miles of beaches that can offer some nice fishing, especially for bass. Bass to near 20lb are reported but more normal is 3 or 4lb.

Game Fishing

We have some of the greatest game fishing in the World off the Algarve coast and offer you the opportunity to experience this with our charter boat skipper who has been very successful in tracking down the various species available off this fabulous coast. Marlin, blue and white, tuna, a wide variety of sharks and much more. See the gallery below for more detail.
When you book a self- catering holiday in Lagos, or a holiday villa in Vilamoura if interested in fish make sure and get local details from the agent or owner.

Chestnuts Roasted on a Portuguese Fire

I can recall in childhood some 54 yrs ago street vendors on the side of the street selling roasted chestnuts.  Have to be honest its a vivid memory but I think it was on a visit to London. Personally my memory is triggered more often than not by smell.  The recollection of a smell of something brings back the image of the scene.  It the case of the roasted chestnuts its more the smell of the coal created the heat that I recall.  In particular I can recall the smoke coming from the roaster.

                                                          The poisonous Horse Chestnut

Horse Chestnut

It was a time we were less environmentally aware and small of smoke was a sign fires were burning and you d be heading home out of the winter cold.  But eating roasted chestnuts on side of the street as Irish was a thing other nationalities done.  We looked on curiously in the cinema or early television with the thought some people would eat anything.

Not that we were short of chestnuts the Irish countryside has been full of Horse Chestnut Trees for unfortunately are poisonous if eaten.  I can remember as a young guy going  the "Big Park" in Waterford city in the South of Ireland and collection what we referred to as Congers.   They normally would have fallen from the majestic Horse Chestnut Trees the Inner nut was protected by a green outer shell which nature allowed to have small barbs or thorns.  Its European Cousin the edible version has somewhat hairy outer jacket.

Anyway the sole purpose of this Big Park expedition was to prepare for a game of conkers.  I was one of those seasonal childhood games.   Must confess was always curious how they started or who was the first in the season and how did the last guy know the time was up.   In fairness you really stood out from the crowd if you carried on a season game whose tome had passed.

Congers was a simple game you used a nail to put a hole in the chestnut.  Then ran a piece of twine or string tied a big knot at one end and you were ready for action.

Cantasha Roster in Lisbon

Lets move forward quite a few years I was sitting in a Irish/Portuguese family home in Lisbon. I was staying a in an magnificent self-catering apartment in the centre of Lisbon booked on www.goholidaylets.com.  I was asked would I stay for dinner and to my surprise we had meat stuffed with chestnuts or in Portuguese  castanhas. I was once again in self-catering accommodation in Lagos for a short stay having golf in Vilamoura.  I called to a Cafe Cisne  to see owner Anna and she produced some wonderful roasted castanhas to have with my coffee.  The were excellent rich wholesome taste far cry from the Hores Chestnut congers of the Big Park In Waterford many years ago. If you have self-catering accommodation in the Algarve make sure you list free with www.goholidaylets.com

Tags. self-catering accommodation, luxury villas Vilamoura, self-catering accommodation Lagos,self-catering apartment in centre of Lisbon, Waterford, London.

Flights in and out of Malaga on a self-catering holiday

Flights in and out of Malaga on a self-catering holiday
Malaga in Spain is a beautiful place to visit and stay on a self-catering holiday in the glorious Costa Del Sol sunshine.

Our website www.goholidaylets.com has some splendid properties listed in the south of Spain  Marbella Cadiz to name a few.
Getting there is not an issue either as a number of large airlines fly daily and weekly.  Norwegian Air from London Gatewick ,,Easy Jet from Stanstead, Monarch out of Lutton,  Ryanair everyday of the week out of Stanstead,  British Airways  out of London Gatewick.

We have listed for your information the Airlines and their Flight Nos that fly in and out weekly
For total information check the websites of the relevant  airlines  Some of the flights are not direct.


6:45 am 8:25 am Norwegian Air International 5580 AGP-LGW
8:00 am 9:40 am Norwegian Air International 5580 AGP-LGW
10:55 am 12:50 pm easyJet 3112 - - - - AGP-STN
11:15 am 1:05 pm easyJet 8602                          AGP-LGW
11:25 am 1:25 pm Monarch 13 - - -          AGP-LTN
11:40 am 1:35 pm easyJet 2404 - - - - AGP-LTN
11:45 am 1:40 pm easyJet 3112 - - -        - AGP-STN
11:45 am 1:50 pm Ryanair 8163                                AGP-STN
12:10 pm 2:05 pm British Airways 2713 - AGP-LGW
1:00 pm 2:55 pm British Airways 2715 - AGP-LGW
2:00 pm 3:50 pm easyJet 8606                             AGP-LGW
2:20 pm 4:05 pm British Airways 8488         - AGP-LCY
3:00 pm 4:40 pm Norwegian Air International 2467- AGP-LGW
3:00 pm 4:55 pm British Airways 2717 - - AGP-LGW
3:35 pm 5:30 pm British Airways 2713     - - AGP-LGW
4:25 pm 6:30 pm Ryanair 8165                              AGP-STN
5:30 pm 7:25 pm easyJet 3112       - - - - AGP-STN
5:50 pm 7:35 pm British Airways 8488           AGP-LCY
6:00 pm 7:50 pm easyJet 8608 - - - - AGP-LGW
6:40 pm 8:35 pm British Airways 2713 -- - AGP-LGW
6:45 pm 8:40 pm easyJet 2404 - -         - AGP-LTN
7:05 pm 9:00 pm easyJet 2404             - - - AGP-LTN
8:05 pm 10:00 pm Monarch 743                    -       AGP-LGW
8:20 pm 10:15 pm British Airways 2715 - - AGP-LGW
9:00 pm 10:50 pm Monarch 743 - - - - AGP-LGW
9:10 pm 11:00 pm easyJet 8610                                AGP-LGW
9:25 pm 11:25 pm Monarch 19                             AGP-LTN

Connecting flights

4h 30m+ Iberia Express via Madrid
4h 30m+ Iberia via Madrid
4h 45m+ Vueling via Barcelona
4h 50m+ Air Europa, Air France via Paris
4h 55m+ Swiss via Geneva
Enjoy your self-catering stay

Buses Travel in the Algarve while on a holiday rental stay

When your on a self-catering holiday in any place if you dont hire a car it is of benefit to know the times of buses and trains. I tell refer pacific to the Algarve today as an example. Lets say you want to get from Faro Airport to your holiday rental accommodation in Lagos. If you arrive in Faro and your travelling to Lagos you have a number of options to get to your accommodation.

1. Get a friend or family to collect you.
2. Hire a car.  Cheap option in the Algarve if you want a self drive.  Try Marina Carhire Lagos.
3 Taxi or chauffeur driven car or bus.  Not a cheap option.
4. Shared shuttle transfer.  Online Resort Hoppa  are the most prominent.  They contract out to Greenbus.    It can be a little slow but cheap and reliable.
5.  Trains runs most days.   Long gaps between times  But cheap and comfortable.  You can get a bus from       airport to EVA bus terminal in Faro. Or a taxi for approx €11.00
6. Finally take a bus from the above bus station direct to Lagos
Lets take the bus option.

Times for Eva Bus is three hours from  Faro to Lagos, times  are as follows:
               
         Faro            8.00am                     9.05am              12.30     14.30
         Albufeira     8.55am
         Armacao     9.20am
 Lagoa         9.35am
 Portimao    9.45am
          Lagos         10.10am                     11.15am          14.40       16.40
A – Albufeira Bus terminal is 1.6km/ 1 mile from the town centre.
B – Portimão has no bus station. The buses stop in Avenida Guanaré, near the Largo do Dique
C – Praia da Rocha stop is at Clube Praia da Rocha
At Goholidaylets our aim is to provide you with different pieces of information that we think will make your holiday more enjoy able. We list self-catering, holiday rental accommodation for you to search, book and enjoy a fabulous holiday. Part of this role is to be available to you for advise on your destination choice and also provide you with interesting information about transport dining out etc.

Check out www.eva-bus.com   Here is some further information for you You would like to travel across the Algarve, know and enjoy the various locations but all options seem too expensive?
Thinking in you, we offer a comprehensive concept and innovative in terms of mobility in the Algarve.
With only one card you can move throughout the region using the vast network of intercity transport, whether EVA Transport or Frota Azul Algarve  
The Tourist Pass is available for use for 3 or 7 days, NO TRAVEL LIMIT.
And all this at a very reasonable price!


Prices Tourist pass 3 days:        29,10€

Lagos Portugal a haven of quality Self-catering holiday accommodation

If you haven't paid a visit to Lagos in Portuguese in Western Algarve is a great place to visit. It has it all climate, good food, friendly safe environment.  The Algarvians are totally depending on tourism in one shape or another for their livelihood.  As are the owners of holiday rental accommodation.  They rent their self-catering properties to visiting guests.  Give them the luxury of having a wonderful property in this wonderful location.
Everything is a 100% the Carma in Lagos run the town in a very astute and professional manner.  Because visits have being coming here for many years every service required for a successful holiday is provide.  Carhire, bike hire,boat hire, boat trips particularly to the Grottos, coffee shops of all shapes and sizes and indeed quite a few nationalities. Restaurants Thai, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Portuguese, Italian, English, Irish, German, French,  and Ukraine.
Out door sports golf, water sports galore, horse riding, motor sport track, off road, fishing beach, and deep sea, tennis. A wide range of inner sports activities.

Experiencing of joys of Lagos on the Western end of the Algarve in  Portugal.    There is no doubt southern  European countries like Spain and Portugal is only are great place to live.   But a holiday here be in a hotel or the now very popular self-catering holiday option  has a lot going for it.  Today we are looking at Lagos  which is first and foremost a residential town for 10s of thousand of Portuguese and expats and secondly a very popular holiday resort.   Part of its holiday attraction is its geographical position, on one side the splendid resort of Alvor, and on the other the renowned resort of Praia de Luz.
Because of its size Lagos has a greater selection of restaurants having said that both Alvor and Praia do Luz have some excellent restaurants.   Alvor certainly has more Irish pubs last count  I think there were four.   If you stole through Alvor  in the summer months you will hear the Irish visitors accents coupled with other Europeans.  Where as in Praia do Luz visitors from England and Scotland are most of the accents to be heard.  On the other hand there is a complete mix of accents.  Of course England and Scotland some Irish.  But also German coming and going and the French have arrived in numbers. Nowadays in can see the odd Belgium accent.  Lagos as a substantial town can accommodate the increase in populations.   The large numbers of hotel and self-catering holiday rental accommodation can ensure a comfortable place to stay.
Lagos is a fantastic town  that can certainly be enjoyed by all age groups. It is full of historical interest with it's origins dating as far back as 2000 years BC when it was known as Lacobriga. Lagos has always had a seafaring connection, originally visited by Phoenicians and Carthaginians and then, during the 15th century, was the base for the 'voyages of the Discoveries' instigated by Henry the Navigator when trade between Africa and Portugal brought a great deal of wealth into the town.

The older part of Lagos is still circled by the city walls that were constructed during the 16th century when it was the residence of the governors of the Algarve and the fort, Ponta da Bandeira, by Batata beach is part of the 17th century fortifications that were added to protect the town. Behind it (on the opposite side of the road) is the Porta de São Gonçalo (St.Gonçalo’s gate) with a watchtower on either side and just to the right of this is the Governors' Castle (of Arab construction).

Lagos Restaurants get positive reviews On Michelin Guide

In order to provide you with the accurate information.  We become virtual tourists from time to time on your behalf. Some of the information we can be verified first hand by eating in that restaurant (if its pricey just check menu) or driving, walking or visiting that location.
But more often than not its virtual information we have compiled for your information. This means we check it out as much as possible. In relation to weather or transport times we will list where we have found the information.  Same goes for airline or transfers companys dates times always refer to their websites. 

As sources we use various websites to glean information. Most of these sites like ourselves have a commercial agenda. We at www.goholidaylets.com and we promote self-catering holiday accommodation. Tripadvisor are in the same business so they will get that message out there as well.  Check out our blog on www.goholidaylets.com for more information http://www.goholidaylets.com/Blogs/eating-by-michelin-guide-in-lagos/15406http://www.goholidaylets.com/Blogs/eating-by-michelin-guide-in-lagos/15406

One of Praia da Luz finest restaurant

 Fortaleza da Luz is one of Praia da Luz's on the sunny Algarve finest restaurant.

It is located on rocky outcrop overlooking this once quiet fishing village. Nowadays a sought after location for self_catering holiday makers.  Ideal location for wedding or other events