American Express The local agent is Top Tours, Avda. Duque de LoulA© 108 (tel 213 155 877).

Banks Main branches are in the Baixa; Banco Borges & IrmA?o, Avda. da Liberdade 9a (open Mon-Fri until 7.30pm). There's a currency exchange office at the airport (open 24hr) and at Santa ApolA?nia station (daily 8.30am-4pm).

Bicycles Adrenalina Gravidade Zero (tel 21 892 2300), at the north end of the Parque das NaA§Aµes, rent out cycles for Esc750/hr; a passport or other ID must be left as a deposit.

Car rental Avis, Avda. Praia da VitA?ria 12c (tel 213 561 176); Budget, Rua Castilho 167 (tel 213 860 516); Europcar, Avda. AntA?nio Augusto Aguiar 24 (tel 21 353 5115); Hertz, Rua Castilho 72 (tel 21 381 2430).

Embassies Australia, Avda. da Liberdade 244-4A° (tel 213 143 350); Canada, Avda. da Liberdade 198-200 (tel 21 316 4600, lsbon@dfait-maeci.gc.ca ); Ireland, Rua da Imprensa A  EstrA?la 1-4A° (tel 213 929 440); UK Consulate, Rua de SA?o Bernardo 33 (tel 213 924 000, britembassy@mail.telepac.pt ); USA, Avda. das ForA§as Armadas (tel 21 727 3300, conslisbon@state.gov ).

Hospital British Hospital, Rua Saraiva de Carvalho 46 (tel 213 955 067). For an ambulance call 112.

Internet Inside the Forum Telecom, Avda. Fontes Pereira de Melo 38 (Mon-Fri 9am-7pm; a?¬2/hr; metro Picas); Web C@fe, Ruo do DiA?rio de NotA­cias 126, Bairro Alto (daily 4pm-2am; a?¬4/hr); Ciber Chiado, Centro Nacional de Cultura, Largo do Picadeiro 10, Chiado (Open 4pm-7.30 and 8.30-midnight. a?¬3/hr); CafA©.com, Costa do Castelo 7, Castelo (Open daily 6pm-2am); Ciberbica, Rua Duques da BraganA§a 7 (Open Mon-Sat noon-2pm and 7pm-2am, closed Sun).

Laundry Lava Neve, Rua de AlegrA­a 37, Bairro Alto; Lavandaria Saus Ana, in the Centro Comercial da Mouraria, Largo Martim Moniz (Mon-Sat 9.30am-1pm & 3-8pm).

Police 24-hour office at Rua Capelo 13 (tel 213 461 144), west of the Baixa near the Teatro SA?o Carlos. Report here if you need to make a claim on your travel insurance.

Post offices The main office is on PraA§a do ComA©rcio (Mon-Fri 8.30am-6.30pm); more convenient is the office at PraA§a dos Restauradores 58 (daily 8am-10pm).

Sports For information on skates, paragliding, climbing, bungy-jumping, skimming, diving and sailing contact Adrenalina, R. Borja, 57-1A? Esq. (tel 21 60 42 07).

Telephones Next to the post office in PraA§a dos Restauradores; also at no. 65, on the corner of RossA­o (daily 8am-11pm).

Travel Agencies Viagen Wasteels, EstaA§A?o Cams F S ApolA?nia Gare International (tel 218 866 577); Abreu, Avda. De Roma 66 (tel 218 462 988).

Windsurfing Guincho (train to Cascais from Cais do SodrA© then catch bus #405/415) is one of the best spots in the world for windsurfing, with the best conditions being in July and August. Check Bar do Guincho at the north end of the beach, it has a windsurf shop, lockers for storing equipment and an equipment rental service (see prices and latest APF windsurf calendar at www.bardoguincho.pt ).