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Old town today

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Category: Tourism / Turismo
Forum Name: Photo sharing / Partilha de fotos
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Printed Date: 17/June/2024 at 07:06
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Topic: Old town today
Posted By: cubsur
Subject: Old town today
Date Posted: 02/February/2021 at 16:03
Time for some pictures of the deserted streets.

Rua 5 Outubro around 12noon today

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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve



Replies:
Posted By: lucyr
Date Posted: 02/February/2021 at 16:30
oh my 

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my beautiful portugal


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 03/February/2021 at 08:41
Much of the rest is the same except for builders working at various restaurants and bars. Obviously almost everywhere is closed at the moment except for supermarkets.

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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: AJSUGGY
Date Posted: 03/February/2021 at 09:27
Just watched a video on YouTube called "Albufeira January 21" it shows how deserted Albufeira is, but nice to see drone footage of various sites though. Worth a watch.


Posted By: Jock
Date Posted: 03/February/2021 at 11:36
How can the traders, bars, restaurants etc. possibly survive without customers for so long?  Presumably they have fixed costs as well as living expenses to pay.  I was about to say they have my sympathy, but what they need is practical help. I hope they're getting it.


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It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear. Douglas Adams


Posted By: Teresa
Date Posted: 03/February/2021 at 13:30
So sad   :(


Posted By: dbaxter
Date Posted: 03/February/2021 at 18:04
AJSUGGY

Do you have a link for that video?


Posted By: Jock
Date Posted: 03/February/2021 at 18:43
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Xhc713QnI%20" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Xhc713QnI

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It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear. Douglas Adams


Posted By: S1gh
Date Posted: 03/February/2021 at 20:18
Just watched the you tube video “Albufeira January 21” sad times for everyone.
Some great footage seeing well know areas from different angles 👍🏼

To watch it just go to YouTube and type in - Albuferia January 21


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 04/February/2021 at 08:21
Albufeira council announced a business tax relief until the end of March, but as in UK rent and utilities still have to be paid for. Government is providing some support for staff costs where they have by necessity been made temporarily redundant.

But many will run out of money if they cannot open let's say by Easter (2 months) so even if tourists and locals can return there could be far fewer places open for them to patronise.

(As a side note I do wonder where national and local government is getting the money from to provide these funds. With tax income seriously reduced it's going to be an issue to be resolved over the coming years.)

If there is any better weather over the next two or three days I will do a little tour of town.  


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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: peteknopp
Date Posted: 04/February/2021 at 11:52
Never heard of a business tax levied by the council but what they have done is to extend until March, the suspension of payment for use of public space - ie terraces for bars and restaurants who are shut and unable to use this space!!!!!

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Posted By: pyrman
Date Posted: 05/February/2021 at 11:38
A part answer for Jock .... from just one site ... note the number of properties for sale ..  
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/overseas-property-for-sale/Albufeira.html" rel="nofollow - https://www.rightmove.co.uk/overseas-property-for-sale/Albufeira.html

and we already know quite a few that never recovered from the financial crisis of 2008 .. the obvious answer is that Albufeira ... Algarve ... needs people ... loads of them ... and one has to say that the `management` have not done too well in that respect. On the other hand, I have been studying an extremely energetic new city (57 years old) in Brazil, pop.150.000, about the same as Blackpool, which becomes 1 million around now (normally) in their summer. Algarve needs to take lessons ..

http://www.unipraias.com.br/precos" rel="nofollow - https://www.unipraias.com.br/precos

and the cable car and parque entry would cost me all of £3.15 with the Real at 0.13 currently ..
yesterday I watched a video of a beach city just a few miles south .. Itapema ... and restaurants showing a meal for a family of four .. £10 .. no wonder the crowds flock ...
sad to say Albufeira has been overpriced and under-acheiving for far too long .. that is the price we must pay for the local `management` system. Some kind of Development authority is badly neded here ..

also here     http://barcopirata.com.br/ " rel="nofollow - https://barcopirata.com.br/      and recently    http://fgbigwheel.com.br/" rel="nofollow - https://fgbigwheel.com.br/


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Pyrman


Posted By: jethro
Date Posted: 05/February/2021 at 19:04
I think the youtube video showing a deserted Albufeira would be reflected in many other locations in Europe who are largely dependent on tourism in Jan 2021. I am a tad curious about comparing the Algarve with Brazil. The Algarve is already one of the most competitive locations in which to holiday in Southern Europe and within a 2 to 2.5 hour flight of 500 million potential customers. I am sure many may disagree but I think that during a normal summer the Algarve is bursting at the seams with tourists as it is. 

It will never be able to compete with places like Brazil or indeed parts of Asia on price except perhaps on both the cost/time of getting there. 

Maybe I am showing my age and I am not partial to queueing etc to eat at restaurants and from my perspective July and August in Albufeira is not fun.  

Where there is room for growth is off peak which is my favourite time in the Algarve and while it cannot match the winter climate of places like the Canaries it is for the most part a very pleasant place to be.  Many from Northern Europe have this idea that the Algarve is very cold in the off season and so won’t consider it as a destination. This is an area that the people promoting tourism could work on. 

Finally, trying to complete on price with the likes of Brazil would only serve to widen the inequality gap which is already one of the worst in Europe. As it is many in the tourist industry are working for as little as €600 to €700 a month. 



Posted By: port princess
Date Posted: 05/February/2021 at 19:29
Sunbeds here are ridiculously expensive 15euros far to expensive you can go other places abroad a lot less !!
Food here is mixed I find if you want cheap as chips great what I think we need is decent quality food in nice restaurants that would definitely make a big difference especially old town at decent price it's a hit or a miss ? but perhaps I've not found all the gems yet 🤣🤣
Also entertainment plays big part of people's holidays something we're lacking maybe ?? Don't want Benidorm folks
I love Albufeira in winter and think we could sell as winter breaks but places would need to stagger their closing can't have people coming if everything is closed
I'm of course looking to the future of Albufeira
Just my thoughts guys x

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Portprincess


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 06/February/2021 at 09:14
Have you seen the price of chips lately! Why do most of the British want everything cheap?


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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 28/February/2021 at 14:11
Almost completely deserted Sunday lunchtime.

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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: bebop
Date Posted: 28/February/2021 at 15:15
I would happily pay E15 per day for a pair of sunbeds to my friend at Praia Azul, who has been there for years... if only I could get there!! 😞


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 05/March/2021 at 15:47
Traffic of all sorts including a taxi was driving around as it would have been 20 years or more ago!

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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: AJSUGGY
Date Posted: 05/March/2021 at 19:22
Yes, and don't forget the fresh vegetable and fruit stalls that where their then. 


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 08/March/2021 at 13:29
The traffic through the square is on an official diversion so that cars can get out of the car park. I didn't see the signs the other day. The usual way is blocked by the drainage works. Central Station have builders in, big time.

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I remember the market stalls from my first visit in around 1985.


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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 10/March/2021 at 19:03
Rua 5 e Outubro today

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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 28/March/2021 at 15:24
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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 04/April/2021 at 16:09
Completely deserted at lnchtime today. Nothing open and no sign of any of the tourist places intending to be open any time soon. Which is hardly surprising.

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This cat was able to stretch out on a path, as cats do,  so that I had walk around it.

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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: lucyr
Date Posted: 04/April/2021 at 16:31
How sad for the owners of businesses

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my beautiful portugal


Posted By: AJSUGGY
Date Posted: 04/April/2021 at 18:03
Going by the claws on the cat it was a good job you did.whew


Posted By: JuliejH
Date Posted: 04/April/2021 at 22:57
Awful, that is so sad to see, ! I hope there can be some hope with the vaccines


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 05/April/2021 at 09:51
What happens here is almost irrelevant if people from other countries cannot travel because of what their governments say about how dangerous the Algarve is, with 0.2% of the local population currently infected.

Vaccination here is expected to be completed for 70% of the population by September. I have yet to be offered mine, while those of a similar age I know in UK have all been done.

My upstairs neighbour who works at a restaurant whose main business is tourists does not expect to be back at work until mid-May at the earliest.

Zoomarine water park and marine zoo plans to re-open 19th May.


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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: Citroen
Date Posted: 05/April/2021 at 10:23
Originally posted by cubsur cubsur wrote:

What happens here is almost irrelevant if people from other countries cannot travel because of what their governments say about how dangerous the Algarve is, with 0.2% of the local population currently infected.

Vaccination here is expected to be completed for 70% of the population by September. I have yet to be offered mine, while those of a similar age I know in UK have all been done.

My upstairs neighbour who works at a restaurant whose main business is tourists does not expect to be back at work until mid-May at the earliest.

Zoomarine water park and marine zoo plans to re-open 19th May.
Here in Ireland by end of June 80% of adults will have have had a first dose and 55% completed with a second dose.
Vaccine availability wise (in the second quarter, April, May, June, availability is expected to hugely ramp up) there's no reason why the rest of Europe won't be the roughly same. The only variable really is the gap between first and second doses, here we're largely sticking with the 3/4 weeks, the UK has gone with 12 weeks which seems to have worked out quite well, that's a choice each country makes for themselves, but can seriously effect the apparent headline % "vaccinated" figure.

That said a 70% figure by the end of September is low no matter what way you cut it.


Posted By: Jock
Date Posted: 05/April/2021 at 11:55
Vaccines are great but useless until they are put in an arm.  With open borders all EU countries must be as fully vaccinated as possible, otherwise the infection will just leak from one to another.  I used to have great faith in Germany as a well run technocratic country. However,  it's federal structure means that each of the Bundesländer decide on vaccination policy and they are making a pigs ear of it.  I'm sorry to see what's happening there.  If Deutchland can't get it right who can? 


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It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear. Douglas Adams


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 12/April/2021 at 16:28
Fairly empty still today. None of the tourist restaurants and bars were open except Casa Nova. The various pastelarias and cafés were open, but few customers. Daimler's has the builders in. One or two other places looked like they might be stirring but the majority are not.

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The square seems to have turned back into a car park.

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A lot of the souvenir shops along the Avenida da Liberdade were open.

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But not the eateries except for the coffee shops.

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This is the new bit at the back of Sir Harry's, a hostel if I recall correctly but nothing to say so.

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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: Jock
Date Posted: 13/April/2021 at 11:37
Thanks.  How can any business survive this?

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It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear. Douglas Adams


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 14/April/2021 at 08:59
Some have not and I dare say many more will not. I did spot that one or two places were brushing themselves down as it were in the hope that tourists might come in a month or so when flights resume, but the signs are not good.

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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: Gazza
Date Posted: 14/April/2021 at 16:30
Going by how the British government have handled the pandemic so far the UK may be in another lockdown by then.


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 15/April/2021 at 09:11
As I said elsewhere, if this virus is that dangerous, everything should remain closed including schools, shops, factories and offices and all travel prohibited until the last case is cleared. Even if it takes five years.

The regular announcement is expected this evening concerning what restrictions will apply here in Albufeira for the rest of the month. We already know that the state of emergency will run until at least May 3rd.




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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: Jock
Date Posted: 15/April/2021 at 11:50
There are always pressures on governments from commercial interests to ease restrictions early.  This is understandable.  The UK Govt. is very susceptible to those pressures.


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It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear. Douglas Adams


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 16/April/2021 at 09:49
 No easing of restrictions here within yesterday's announcement, so nothing will be open at weekends (in effect) for another two weeks.

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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 19/April/2021 at 10:51
There's a new bit of art down on the Cais Herculano, under the old fishermens shelter. Thanks to Bob D for bringing it to my attention. There's nothing to see yet about who made it etc. It's in shadow, sorry, a fisherman in a boat with his net being dragged into the boast.

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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: Jock
Date Posted: 19/April/2021 at 10:55
I like the public art around Albufeira.


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It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear. Douglas Adams


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 03/May/2021 at 10:51
I think Friday's announcement that restaurants could open over the weekened caught a lot unprepared! I noticed that Aquario and Casa Nova were open and reasonably busy, also that expensive place next to Inatel, but nothing much else. Geordie Viking bar and Tunes were open.

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The work by the pier is almost done and the hole filled in.

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Also finished is the new storm drain under the road outside Inatel. Road open and traffic flowing as normal.

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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 10/May/2021 at 09:27
Still very quiet in town yesteday for the simple reason that (officially) there are no tourists therefore no customers.

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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve


Posted By: lucyr
Date Posted: 10/May/2021 at 09:54
oh my, hopefully not much longer

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my beautiful portugal


Posted By: JuliejH
Date Posted: 10/May/2021 at 12:01
I think from 17th there will be an influx of brits , if the increase in prices are anything to go by 🤔 this will be a better year I think .


Posted By: Richardk
Date Posted: 10/May/2021 at 12:46
I hope it will be a decent summer but listening to Kiss FM this morning the cost of the tests will be more than the holiday
Without cheap tests I fear it wont be as busy as the bars/restaurants would like


Posted By: cubsur
Date Posted: 22/May/2021 at 17:26
The old town was a little busier today than it has been, but I was slightly surprised by the number of places that were not open. For example, in the square only Sir Harry's, Vertigo and Tic Tac were open. Down at the front several were still closed and the same around town generally. I have been told by a couple of people that work down there that they plan to open at the bergining of June.

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Albufeira Resident

www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve



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