USEFULL INFORMATION
The local currency in Portugal is the EURO.
Rules in Portugal:
1. By legal regulation you have to wear a helmet. They do not control it, but in case of an accident the insurance company is able to pull out if you did not wear a helmet. Please wear a helmet for your own safety;
2. Driving in double row is now allowed, but most drivers don’t know this new law yet, so be careful;
3. You have to cycle always on the right side of the road;
4. When you enter a roundabout, always give way to traffic already on the roundabout (approaching from the left). If the roundabout only has one lane, things are simple. Enter the roundabout then take the exit you want to;
5. When the traffic light is red, you must stop, you cannot turn right as in USA.
CLIMATE
Mainland Portugal
The climate in Portugal varies considerably from one region to another and is influenced by the relief, latitude, and proximity to the sea, which offers mild winters, especially in the Algarve.
The summers are hot and dry, especially in the inland areas (Trás-os-Montes in north-eastern Portugal and Alentejo). Temperatures are slightly lower in the coastal areas, because of the influence of the sea.
There are often warm, sunny days in autumn. Nice weather at the beginning of November is often called "St. Martin’s Summer" as this saint’s day is on 11 November.
Alentejo average degrees:
Jan-March: 10,5 °C
April -June: 16,6 °C
Jul -Sep: 28,4 °C
Oct – Dec: 13,3 °C
Regardless, weather is unpredictable. We cannot take responsibility if the weather is not what you expected. Please check the weather forecast and come prepared!
USEFULL READING
The Portuguese – Barry Hatton (non-fiction) – 2011
Skylight – José Saramago (fiction) – 2014
The Return of the Caravels and the Inquisitor’s Manual – António Lobo Antunes (fiction) – 2003
Night Train to Lisbon – Pascal Mercier (fiction) – 2008
Raised from the Ground – José Saramago (fiction) – 2013
Conquerors – How Portugal Forged The First Global Empire – Roger Crowley (non-fiction) – 2016
The First Global Village – How Portugal Changed the World – Martin Page (non-fiction) – 2002