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[tralalala]

Hey,

Let me start by mentionning that I'm not English (I'm French) but most information and discussions in the forum are in Portuguese, making it difficult for any foreigner to understand a lot of the things that are going on. So it would be sort of cool if someone who could speak both English and Portuguese could help us foreigners with infos, tips or questions that we would have. It would also be a good way to see how diverse the festival is going to be and to get to meet people.
So I would just start with these ones: how's the food? is there anything decent for vegetarians? Is the camping ground outside/separated from the actual festival (stages, shops...), and if so how far is it? How far is the ocean from Paredes de Coura? and how far is the city from the festival site? Where can you shop? when would you recomment to arrive at the festival? how many people attend the festival? And last, why are people whining about the line up, I think it's pretty damn good, probably the best line up in PdC ever. So happy to see SY again, Dinosaur is going to rock, looking forward to see Crystal Castles, Linda Martini, Electrelane, CSS, Architecture... This year's PdC will get into the records.

Thanx for your answers, Pierre

[Migas]

Hey Pierre!

how's the food? is there anything decent for vegetarians?

I believe that you'll find vegeterian food easily in the village, but I don't think there is decent food  for vegetarians inside the festival space.

Is the camping ground outside/separated from the actual festival (stages, shops...)

no, the camping ground is side by side with the festival!

How far is the ocean from Paredes de Coura?

very far away  ....but you have a small river separating the camping ground and the festival....

and how far is the city from the festival site? Where can you shop?

paredes de coura village is very close to the festival site, and there are many shops and at least one supermarket (wich name I can't recall)

when would you recomment to arrive at the festival?

2 days before the begining of the festival should be enough to find a good place in the camping park (day 10/8)

how many people attend the festival?

I'm not sure, probably around 25.000 or 30.000....

And last, why are people whining about the line up, I think it's pretty damn good, probably the best line up in PdC ever.

lolll, welcome to portugal ....we always want more and better
just kidding....I personally like the line up, don't belive it's better than 2005 line up but I like it this way...

I hope this helped you and sorry for my bad english 

have fun in coura 

[mauve]

¿2 days before the festival to get a decent place in the camping park? ¿is it open for everyone before the 12th? ¿is there any security for those days?

Thanks!

[tiagocab]

How far is the ocean from Paredes de Coura?

As you can see the ocean is far from Paredes de Coura.
But as Migas said, you have the river

[King of Nails]

¿2 days before the festival to get a decent place in the camping park? ¿is it open for everyone before the 12th? ¿is there any security for those days?

Thanks!

There's usually no security guys around the camping site. But you already have some of the infrastructures available to you.
The camping site is open before the 12th because it is a public river beach that gets "converted" into a camping area during the festival.
Getting there before the oficial start of the festival usually ensures a godd place in the shade, and if you're lucky, near the river, which always comes in handy when you want that bear you just bought in the supermarket to be cold. It's also good to get to know your new "neighbors".

Hope you have fun here, the place is awesome and despite it not being the flashiest and most glamourous of line ups, I think the bands coming are of remarkable good taste, and show care in their selection.

Cheers!

[tralalala]

Hey,

Thanks Migas for all those answers, your English is perfect. I was wondering if the minivans and camping cars were allowed inside the camping ground, or if there was a special area for them, or if we had to park them outside the festival site?? Are there things that we aren't allowed to take inside the festival area (like glass bottles, knives or other)? What is the Portuguese legislation as far as pot smoking is concerned? Would any of you know a good place to camp and hike in northern Portugal?

"despite it not being the flashiest and most glamourous of line ups, I think the bands coming are of remarkable good taste, and show care in their selection" dixit King of Nails...  So true, I couln't have said it better, that's exactly how I feel about the line up.

[FeuerHerz]

Hi, and welcome;) about the minivans and camping cars i'm not sure how that works but even last year there were some minivans parked in the camping area. I'm don't know if you had to pay something extra or not.

"Are there things that we aren't allowed to take inside the festival area (like glass bottles, knives or other)?"

Glass bottles, knives or other sharp stuff, big digital cameras, are stuff that they never let go inside the festival area. Just a reminder, if you take plastic bottled they take the cap off :P:P

"What is the Portuguese legislation as far as pot smoking is concerned?"
I'm not sure about the legislation on that, but i know that's illegal to be caught with more than 5gr of it:P:P but in festivals here you can smoke freely, never saw anybody having problems with that:P

[King of Nails]

What is the Portuguese legislation as far as pot smoking is concerned?

As Feuer said, more than 5gr = crime. Also, I think you cannot be consuming in public.
But we have a long tradition of tolerance of behaviours that outside a festival would not be tolerated (drug comsuption is one of them). But lately, some festivals have begun to enforce the law rather strictlym with thorough searches and aprehension of illegal substances. I've never seen such things in Paredes, where you're free to do whatever you want to, as long as you don't somehow disturb the people around you. Everybody usually gets along on a mutual respect basis.
But you never know what the security policy will be until you get there.
Plus, don't ruin your chances of getting to the festival by having a "chance meeting" with the Portuguese or any other Police

[(un)lucky]

What is the Portuguese legislation as far as pot smoking is concerned?

there's only one law: its ok to smoke pot as long as you share it.
if you don't break this law you'll do just fine 

[100%courense]

¿2 days before the festival to get a decent place in the camping park? ¿is it open for everyone before the 12th? ¿is there any security for those days?

Thanks!

There's usually no security guys around the camping site. But you already have some of the infrastructures available to you.
The camping site is open before the 12th because it is a public river beach that gets "converted" into a camping area during the festival.
Getting there before the oficial start of the festival usually ensures a godd place in the shade, and if you're lucky, near the river, which always comes in handy when you want that bear you just bought in the supermarket to be cold. It's also good to get to know your new "neighbors".

Hope you have fun here, the place is awesome and despite it not being the flashiest and most glamourous of line ups, I think the bands coming are of remarkable good taste, and show care in their selection.

Cheers!

hmmmm i think there is security, last year and my friends went two days earlier and two cops even have dinner with us...

[masvx]

hi!

also an english speaker, just wondering what the afterhours is like?  is it separate from the main festival, on a different stage or different area?

[Migas]

What is the Portuguese legislation as far as pot smoking is concerned?

As Feuer said, more than 5gr = crime. Also, I think you cannot be consuming in public.

you can have up to 12gr if you are able to prove that you can smoke it in 2 weeks or less (I don't really know how you prove something like that )....about consuming in public, you can consume it in public but most probably the police will stop you to check how much pot you are carrying with you...

[(un)lucky]

hi!

also an english speaker, just wondering what the afterhours is like?  is it separate from the main festival, on a different stage or different area?

its on a different stage, near to the main one

[Migas]

hi!

also an english speaker, just wondering what the afterhours is like?  is it separate from the main festival, on a different stage or different area?

hi!
afterhours is a a diferent stage inside the festival spot...after the end of the shows in the main stage there will start the dj's show in the afterhours stage during all night!!

[masvx]

thanks for that info!  also, sorry for all the questions..  how big is the stage? do a lot of people stick around for the djs/bands during afterhours or is it just a small crowd?