Rammed, the place is rammed!

I guess overall, for the sake of the traders, I'm pleased to see it... the place is heaving, absolutley rammed. Last night in Old Town virtually every restaurant had people queueing for tables, yesterday and today lunch time Gale beach is close to gridlock, you can't get onto, never mind down the access road, an ambulance (sadly) was needed today and couldn't get down, the cafe's and bars are just shrugging shoulders, they are just overwhelmed, no chance of a table, no chance of a spot to stand, they are just rammed out!!! Everywhere is manic!

No comparison with last year, honest Carol. Add about 25% to that and you are close to the mark. It's back to how it was eight or nine years ago. The manners, parking and driving of the Portuguese (and French) is a sight to behold - every time we leave the house we see about three near misses. If you get off the beaten track a bit you can find it a little quieter, but we are booking restaurants, or eating very early if we do venture out. Ironically in August, One 4 the Road isn't madly busy, because the Brits are mostly those with kids that are only interested in joining the mad throng in town, and then getting back to their hotel for the young ones bed time, or they are on the dreaded all inclusive. Other nationalities are not big drinkers, despite the low prices. The start of the football season will improve matters for the "drinkers" bars.    

Please save my place at the bar for Tuesday evening, 16th August.

AA is right, the driving standards are dire! Twice now when we were on an island a car has pulled out causing us to break, hard, and both times the drivers have jesticulated at us! Woa, we are on the island, you pulled out in front of us!!! I just do not get it! The roads are overloaded so peoples driving standards or safety margin have just gone, when we go out we don't adopt 'aggresive' mode, we adopt 'survive' mode!

Hi we go on Friday not been since 2012 . I have been reading some awful stuff on trip advisor that the old town has become some sort of Magaluf with lots of rowdy stag and hens and people weeing in the street. Can someone tell me honestly how it really is? We are staying on the marina but like to go into the old town for something to eat and a few drinks before going back. Going into panic mode because that isn't the old town I remember. We always holiday in August so know it will be busy . THANKS

Very few hens and stags now - if any. Cost too high to justify a p"ss up. I've been at work til 10pm and the Strip is busy but fine around our area - maybe later and further down it becomes a bit raucous later but we're rammed with families and everyone having a real blast with no complaints. Even earlier in the year, the number of people on hens and stags or out to get lashed is such a very small %age of the number of people on the street as to make them insignificant - yes, if they tumble into a bar where you are chilling it's not so good but it would surely take repeated events like this to annoy anyone - there are just so many places/areas to use that stay blissful and fun all the time.

Andrew wrote: AA is right, the driving standards are dire! Twice now when we were on an island a car has pulled out causing us to break, hard, and both times the drivers have jesticulated at us! Woa, we are on the island, you pulled out in front of us!!! I just do not get it! The roads are overloaded so peoples driving standards or safety margin have just gone, when we go out we don't adopt 'aggresive' mode, we adopt 'survive' mode! Actually we are avoiding old town altogether, if we go out we head in land or down the coast away from the hoardes who think driving like you're at the fair ground on the bumper cars is acceptable! Loving the weather but not happy with the crowds and how busy shops, bars etc in town are and the driving? Plain stupid, crazy.

I just take pulling out on you at a roundabout as par for the course now, I have even thought are the laws different to UK and you hit them when they pull out are you in the wrong?
My favourite is on a roundabout when they are in right hand lane and decide to go left.
No indication or apologetic look  then look at you as if you are daft and should have known what they are doing .

Actually it's weird, can't quite reconcile what is going on.