European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 21, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A amps John Taylor Beach chairs and hotels at Praia a Rocha await the arrival of the Spring and summer crowds. At right the men of Lagos gather for an afternoon Chat in the Sun. J Ray its amps John Taylor moving vehicles generously use to let faster moving ones get by. The secondary roads Are worse. The Muddy broken pavement must be shared with flocks of sheep lackadaisical work Crews and old women in no particular hurry to get where they re headed. Sometimes it s hard to believe the roads Are actually in Western Europe. Anyone planning to make a Day trip to Lisbon or Seville Spain the closest Large cities should get an Early Start. The trip to Seville takes about 31/2 hours even though the roads improve greatly once you enter Spain. The trip to Lisbon is vhf to three hours on what the portuguese consider Good roads. But Why hurry this is an informal place where people take time to smile and to Stop for Long afternoon chats in the town Square. It s a place without airs that makes visitors feel comfortable immediately. It s a place where All the necessities of life Are found in a Small area and at a surprisingly Low Cost. The Algarme has plenty of modern hotels in the Small towns and along the beaches. The area is popular with tour groups particularly British and German and in the summer tends to get crowded making reservations a must. Information on booking rooms is available through the main tourist office in Faro or one of the 20 other offices in the Algarme. A finely carved Chimney above a whitewashed building is a Symbol of the Algarme. A amps John Taylor travel Erst tips the Dri a to Lisbon from Spain is Over slow but Scenic routes. The Seville to Lisbon leg took five hours the Lishon to Madrid leg eight hours. Many International tour companies run flights to Lisbon and to Faro. Other airlines Hae commercial flights into Lisbon. Lisbon has hotels from modest to luxurious. The portuguese National tourist office distributes a guide to hotels that begin at around 4,000 escudos about$30 a night for a double. One of the nicer ones is the Lovely 24-room Principe real at 53 Rua a Alegria. It sits on a Steep narrow one Way Street in a residential area of the Barro Alto a Short walk from the Center of the City. Taxis if needed Are easy to Flag the rate for two is about $145 a night including a substantial Continental breakfast. Lisbon sets a very Nice table with both traditional and Nouvelle menus featuring plenty of fresh seafood fruits and vegetables. Prices Are generally less than in other european capitals. Those looking for something special might try Gambrinus in Naixa. There a sizzling grilled shrimp appetizer followed by a poached White fish in heaps of vegetables two bottles of wine salad a dessert crepe and Coffee brewed at the table comes to about $65 per person. Prices Are generally cheaper in the Algarme. Hotels there often feature apartments and suites equipped with kitchens. Every town appears to have plenty of min markets making it easy to buy everything necessary to do your own cooking. A suite with a Kitchen in a moderately priced three Star hotel in the Algarme costs 6,000 escudos about $45 a night during the off season and 14,000 escudos about $105 during the busiest months of july and August. A one bedroom apartment with a Good sized eating and living area a Complete with two fold out couches a costs Between 7,500 and 19,000 escudos Between $56 and $142. Meals featuring fresh seafood Are excellent and fairly inexpensive. Servings of sole cod Hake or squid Are in the 900-1,000 escudos $6.75-$7.50 Range. Arroz do Marisco a Rice dish with a mix of fish is about $25 for two. For additional information on hotels and activities write portuguese tourism Board Rua Alexandre Herculano 51, p-1200 Lisbon Portugal or the regional tourist information office for the Algarme at Rua Atayde de Oliveira 100, p-8000 Faro Portugal. May 21, 1992 stripes Magazine 11