Cheap as chips.

I'll be in S.L. from the 26th of Feb to the 3rd of march courtesy of Ryanair.
Joan, myself and our friend Darran depart from east Midlands airport for the meagre sum of £62 each return.
In truth we have had cheaper flights with the Irish low cost carrier (£18 return being our best yet) but still think this price is a snip. I don't know how they manage it but long may they continue.
Speaking of good deals..........on my last 2 trips I departed from my usual car hire company and gave Holiday Autos my business.
They do all the hoof work for you and supply you with a selection of low cost options from major car hire companies. On this occasion my car will be supplied by Sixt Portugal fully inclusive for less than ten pounds per day. If you knock off the cost of a taxi to and from the airport you have the convenience of your own transport for about a quid a day!!!
If your planning a trip to Portugal (or anywhere else for that matter) click on the link at the left hand side of this page for a really competitive quote.

Carnival

Both Joan and I are longing for a visit to Santa Luzia least of all because Camaras all over the Algarve, and indeed all over Portugal, are busy preparing for their Carnival celebrations which will include parties, parades,dances and fancy dress competitions to take place between February 20 and 24.

Traditionally, Carnival is a period of festivities including parades and dances and is fixed each year by the phases of the moon and marks the start of the Christian period of lent.
The word Carnival is derived from the Latin “carne vale”, meaning ‘farewell to the flesh’.

Each town has its own theme for this annual celebration and themes across the region this year include the year of astronomy in Albufeira, the Olympic Games in Vila Real de Santo António, the world in São Brás de Alportel and nature in Loulé.
Loulé carnival, first held in 1906 is widely acclaimed as the best parade in the Algarve and is one of the most renowned in Portugal.

I have been unable to find anything out about the big parade in Tavira, which is the nearest to Santa Luzia where unfortunatly only a small childrens parade is organised.