Mattybaldy

Does anyone on here live in Praia da Luz?

I'm after a bit of local information.

Cheers.

steppitoe

Don´t live there myself but know the area and have friends there.

Cleri

Brodev lives there (sometimes)
I know it quite well too.So do others.

Mattybaldy

Hi, thanks for helping.

1, Do you know roughly what time they have their siesta in the area?

2, Would it be fair to say that many of the people who live in Praia da Luz probably don't work there?

3, Out of season, do a lot of the bars/restaurants close - leaving only a handful open for use by locals?

4, What percentage of the people living there are Brits (roughly)?

5, Do the locals mix when it comes to socialising? For example, are there British pubs and Portuguese pubs?

I'd really appreciate your help.

brodev

1. There is no siesta
2. If you mean Portuguese, then most of then do. If you mean Brits or other expats, then many of them are retired and don't work at all. Any, who I know who work work locally.
3. No, most stay open but don't have live music on for example
4. I would guess at about 50%
5. I have never seen a Portuguese pub. They have cafes that sell alcohol as well, these seem to be used by as many expats as Portuguese. I also don't believe that it is down to the locals to mix, it is more down to the expats. There are certainly British pubs but, as I don't frequent them except to watch an occasional football match I don't really know if Portuguese go there or not.
Only my opinion, if there is anything else please ask

Mattybaldy

Thanks, that's great.

When you say that people work locally, do you mean in Praia da Luz itself or in the nearby towns?

I was under the impression that a bar called 'Fernandos' for example is regarded as a 'local's' bar and not geared up for tourists. Is that not correct?

Supremegermalene

Fernando's which is down by the Golfinho is more of a Portuguese bar, yes. That doesn't mean you wouldn't be welcome there by any means, it is just that it's not on a usual tourist track so unless you know it's there you wouldn't tend to stumble across it. There are a few 'Portuguese' bars like this that you wouldn't know about unless you lived there I guess. Fernando's is where to go if you want to play pool or table football also.

There are no real English bars (as in only English go there), I guess the Bull is English but lots of Portuguese go there. I don't think they go to the tavern much, but they do (or used to when June & Paul ran it) go to the Duke of Holland, and definitely up to the Mirage to try and pull all the female tourists

I don't know what answers you would prefer, all I will say is if you are there all year round (or just the winter) you will get to know both Portuguese and English locals and will be welcomed into their groups of friends if you are nice

When my husbands mum passed away in August (she is Portuguese) it was lovely to see that some of the local brits who have known her and my husband for years came to the funeral, and we didn't expect it really.

Oh in response to your other question, yes people work locally...either in restaurants/shops in Luz or for Parque da Floresta golf course or Boavista, or they work up at the hotel, ocean club, luz bay club. A lot do work in Lagos also for car hire companies, restaurants, solicitors...just as you would get in the UK really? Not many people commute for hours though.

Some even work for estate agents....LOL

G

Mattybaldy

Thanks for that really thorough reply - it's great and very helpful.

Supremegermalene

You thinking of buying it or something?

brodev

It shows how little I know, especially when it comes to bars. I have never heard of Fernando's nor of the Golfinho. This gives me something to find out about next month when I go back. I too am nosy as to why you are asking.

Mattybaldy

Just trying to get a feel for the place really.

Supremegermalene

The Golfinho is wrong, sorry I should have written the Dolphin Restaurant! It used to be called the golfinho (portuguese for dolphin) when it first opened but I think it changed when it was taken over by some lovely people from South Africa. If you go to the square bit where the church is and go down the road almost opposite, The Bull is on the lhs and the car hire place on the right, follow the road down past Kellys bar (if it is still called that) then Fernando's is up a couple of steps. Not sure if it is still there but there used to be a restaurant/bar next door as well but not sure what it is anymore, I worked in the Bull in 1993 and haven't really been down that way since!

Showing me age now

G

brodev

Thanks. I know exactly where you are. Yes the Dolphin is owned by people from South Africa. I have bought from their shop but I have not used their restaurant.
PS I am in Montinhos da Luz

Supremegermalene

Me neither, have no idea when they took it over but I'm sure it was quite a while ago...me and the oh did a lot of our romancing in there when it was the Golfinho as I was only 16 and into dolphins!

brodev

If you have daughters are they mermaids