If you are in a vehicle going the speed of light, what would happen if you turned on your headlights?
Q. Driving in Sao Miguel - Charley Swagger
- A. Driving is on the right and traffic rules are the same as they are in the rest of Western Europe.
- Most towns and villages have very narrow roads, so it is best to
hire a car that isn’t too wide, and to fold your wing mirror when
passing through narrow streets, or when parking. It can get quite tight
at times.
- Probably due to lack of hard shoulders on the island, Azorians are
in the habit of stopping their cars just about anywhere. You can drive
at a 60 KPH on a B-road, and suddenly find that a car is parked in the
middle of the road in front of you. Take extra care, expect parked cars
on the road, and don’t speed.
- Pedestrians in Sao Miguel appear to assume a right of way on the
roads, or are simply not fazed in the least by cars. Don’t assume that
they would move out of the way, give them plenty of space and slow
down. It is not uncommon to find a person standing in the middle of the
road, expecting a car to overtake them.
- I haven’t found any satellite navigation system that covers The
Azores. This is not surprising, considering the natives would know all
the roads on their islands by heart, and the limited number of visitors
has not made the archipelago a priority for digital mapping companies.
This should not be a problem in Sao Miguel’s simple grid, but here are
the two pitfalls to watch out for:
- All villages and towns run a one-way system, which is not always
predictable. The capital Ponta Delgada isn’t huge, but can get a little
confusing, and you may end up going around in circles for a while, at
least initially.
- Road signing is usually good and reliable, but in some places,
especially a little off the beaten track or where there are diversions,
there is an assumption that you know where you’re going. The good news
is that on an island the size of Sao Miguel it is very hard to get lost
for very long.
Q. Can I get broadband connection to the Internet? - Don Higgs
A. Yes. Most villages have ADSL and there are hotspots in Horta
and at the
airport.
Q. Do mobile phones work on the islands? Mr & Mrs Boone
A. Yes. There are a few areas where the signal is not good, but
that is mostly out in the countryside, well away from any buildings.
Q. Will we be able to use cash machines to
withdraw money whilst on Horta islands or should we bring travelers
cheques with us? - No Name Given
A. There are plenty of cash machines in Horta and one at the
airport, too. Traveler’s cheques can prove expensive to cash.
Q. What health service is provided on Faial Island? - Kathrine Ligens
A. Faial has an excellent hospital, with an accident and
emergency unit, and also a Health Centre. Each village also holds
surgeries each week in the village hall.
Q. What is the climate like? - No Name Given
A. The Azores has a mild maritime climate controlled by the high
pressure area, known as the "Azores High", and the warm Gulf Stream.
Statistically temperatures vary between 13º and 14º C (55º-57ºF) during
the winter and 22º-23ºC (72º-73ºF) during the summer, frequently
climbing to the high twenties and even low thirties in July and August.
The sea temperatures vary from between 14-15ºC (57-59ºF) in winter and
22-23ºC (72º-73ºF) in the height of the summer, largely due to the
warming effects of the Gulf Stream. Rain falls throughout the year,
however in summer the showers are brief although sometimes very heavy.
There is an average of 78% humidity.
Q. Use of Australian driver’s licences within Portugal - Sharon Alsop 
A. Holders of Australian driving licences are able to drive in
Portugal for a period of up to six months without an International
Driving Licence. Should a holder wish to drive beyond the six month
period, they are required to exchange their licences for a Portuguese
licence. Otherwise, the holder may be subjected to heavy penalties (eg.
approx. Eur 300).
Q. Exchanging Australian Driver’s Licence to Portuguese - Sharon Alsop
A. The Embassy is able to issue declarations for persons holding a
valid Australian Drivers Licence upon the presentation of their
original driver licence, as well as a certificate issued by the
relevant Road Traffic Authority in their particular State or Territory.
Persons requiring such a declaration now need to directly
approach the appropriate Road Traffic Authority in the particular State
or Territory, requesting that a declaration be issued confirming that
the person is the holder of a valid drivers licence in that particular
State or Territory, as well as confirming the type and class of
licence, when it was first issued and when it expires.
Please verify the contact details of the respective entity responsible for the renewal of Australian driving licences under Renewal of Australian driving licence.
Once
you have received the declaration from Australia, you will need to
present your original Drivers Licence, the certificate issued by the
relevant Road Traffic Authority (copies or facsimiles are not
accepted), as well a copy of your Australian Passport or your
Portuguese B.I.There is a consular fee
for the issue of the declaration. Please verify the Consular Fees under
‘Preparing a declaration (inc. letters of introduction – e.g. For
Visas). The fee can be paid at the Embassy in person if you are making
a personal request, OR by “Vale de Correio PAGAR AO DOMICÍLIO” – sent
from Post Offices in Portugal. In the text of the “Vale de Correio
PAGAR AO DOMICÍLIO” slip, you should state it is for a driver's licence
declaration and give your full name. The receipt given to you by the
Post Office should be sent with your application to the Embassy.
CHEQUES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
The Embassy will then be able to issue you with a declaration for presentation to the Portuguese Direcção Geral de Viação.
Should
you require to have your Australian documents translated in Portuguese,
the Embassy does not provide translation services. However, it is able
to provide a list of translators. Please check our List of Translators and Interpreters.
Q. Australian Elections - Sharon Alsop
Q. Are there any radio stations in the Azores? - Beckie M
A. Rádio Atlântida
| Rua Bento José Morais, 23-5ºSul |
Ponta Delgada
A. Rádio Pico
Madalena-Pico
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