Category Archives: “On the road again”

Madeira: Nature, Road Trip and Dinner At The Vine

Madeira-Portugal-Pico do Areeiro-Mountain-Jeep Tour-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Pico do Areeiro

Madeira-Portugal-Pico do Areeiro-Mountain-Jeep Tour-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

9 a.m. Departure From Funchal In Jeep

to Pico do Areeiro (1818 m), the third highest peak of the Madeira island (above photo). Different landscapes on the road (photo 1). And the view is stunning when we come to Pico do Areeiro! I think to serenely enjoy (-to avoid tourists-), you need to be there really early in the morning.

We get into the Jeep to go to Ribeiro Frio, for an easy 45 minute walk that follows the Levada de Serra do Faial. The Levadas are canals built between 1461 and 1966, to carry water to irrigate cropland. We get into the Laurissilva Forest unchanged since Prehistoric times (photo montage below). Lovely panorama of the valley from the Ribeira da Metade point of vue (on the photo montage below: the penultimate picture)!

Madeira-Portugal-Pico do Areeiro-Ribeiro Frio-Laurisilva Forest-Jeep Tour-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Driving To Santana

Madeira-Portugal-Road To Santana-Jeep Tour-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Heading To The North Coast of Madeira

to visit SantanaThe road runs along the ocean! And I love Ocean! Steep coast, hills that plunge in water: bright green on the ultramarine blue with emerald hues. Happiness! We cross Faial, one of the first places to have been populated in the North coast.

Madeira-Portugal-Road To Santana-Jeep Tour-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Madeira-Portugal-Road To Santana-Jeep Tour-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Returning to Funchal

Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

My Favorite Scenery!

I also love this part of the road leading to the most Eastern point of the island of Madeira. Where you can find the nature reserve Ponta de São Lourenço. Desert scenery and vegetation tormented by strong winds! I feel like in Sergio Leone movies… a palm tree here and there and this incredible light!

Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Miradouro Ponta de São Lourenço

Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K               Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KMadeira-Portugal-View From Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Dinner @ The Vine

Madeira-Portugal-Funchal-The-Vine-Hotel-Rooftop-Terrace-Bar-Swimming-Pool-Dinner-@-UVA-Restaurant-And-Festival-do-Atlantico-Fireworks-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Back To Funchal In Late Afternoon

A quick stop at the Pestana Casino Park and now I’m ready to go dinner to UVA, the restaurant of The Vine hotel. I’m very excited to discover the decoration of the hotel designed by Nini Andrade Silva.

I could spend hours on the lovely terrace deck, bathed in a golden light and views over the rooftops of Funchal (photo below). At night it’s even more beautiful! Excellent fish and vegetables at the UVA restaurant (on the last photo montage. The restaurant pictured in the penultimate photo montage is not the UVA).

Then we enjoy the Festival do Atlantico‘s fireworks from the lazy terrace of The Vine (photo montage below). Followed by a glass (no poncha for me!) to the Venda Velha. Followed by a music vintage disco … LOL!

Madeira-Portugal-Funchal-The-Vine-Hotel-Rooftop-Terrace-Bar-Swimming-Pool-Dinner-@-UVA-Restaurant-And-Festival-do-Atlantico-Fireworks-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KMadeira-Portugal-Funchal-The-Vine-Hotel-Dinner-@-UVA-Restaurant-And-Festival-do-Atlantico-Fireworks-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Madeira-Portugal-Funchal-The-Vine-Hotel-Dinner-@-UVA-Restaurant-Food-Meals-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations   

Visit Madeira, Visit Portugal & TAP 

Jeep safari tours : Mountain Expedition

Related posts : DESTINATIONS &  HOTEL REVIEWS  

Many thanks for this beautiful invitation to Visit Madeira, Visit Portugal and TAP. As always all my opinions are mine.

Madère nature, road trip et dîner au Vine

Madeira-Portugal-Pico do Areeiro-Mountain-Jeep Tour-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Pico do Areeiro

Madeira-Portugal-Pico do Areeiro-Mountain-Jeep Tour-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

9h, départ en Jeep de Funchal

pour le Pico do Areeiro (1818m), le troisième sommet le plus élévé de l’île de Madère (photo ci-dessus). Sur la route différents paysages se succèdent (photo 1) et lorsque nous arrivons : le panorama est grandiose! Comme toujours, pour en profiter sereinement (-sans hordes de touristes-), je pense qu’il faut s’y rendre très tôt le matin.

Nous remontons en Jeep : direction Ribeiro Frio, pour une marche facile de 45 minutes, en suivant le Levada de Serra do Faial. Construits entre 1461 et 1966, les Levadas sont des canaux transportant de l’eau pour irriguer les terres cultivées. Nous nous enfonçons dans la forêt Laurissilva inchangée depuis la Préhistoire (photo-montage ci-dessous). Superbe vue sur la vallée au point de vue Ribeira da Metade (sur le photo-montage ci-dessous: l’avant-dernière photo)!

Madeira-Portugal-Pico do Areeiro-Ribeiro Frio-Laurisilva Forest-Jeep Tour-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Direction Santana

Madeira-Portugal-Road To Santana-Jeep Tour-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

En route vers la côte nord de Madère

pour visiter Santana. La route longe l’océan, ma passion! Littoral abrupt, collines à flanc d’eau : vert éclatant sur bleu outremer aux reflets émeraudes. Nous traversons Faial, un des premiers endroits de la côte nord à avoir été peuplé. Photo 6: la plage de Foz da Ribeira do Faial. 

Madeira-Portugal-Road To Santana-Jeep Tour-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Madeira-Portugal-Road To Santana-Jeep Tour-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

En rentrant vers Funchal

Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Mon paysage préféré!

J’aime beaucoup cette partie de la route menant au point le plus à l’est de l’île de Madère, où se trouve la réserve naturelle Ponta de São Lourenço. Décor désertique à la végétation tourmentée par des vents forts! Comme une impression de Western Spaghetti, d’un ailleurs… un palmier de ci de là et cette luminosité incroyable!

Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Miradouro Ponta de São Lourenço

Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K               Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Madeira-Portugal-Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KMadeira-Portugal-View From Ponta de Sao Lourenço-Natural Reserve-Jeep Tour-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Dîner au Vine

Madeira-Portugal-Funchal-The-Vine-Hotel-Rooftop-Terrace-Bar-Swimming-Pool-Dinner-@-UVA-Restaurant-And-Festival-do-Atlantico-Fireworks-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Retour à Funchal en fin d’après-midi

Rapide crochet par le Pestana Casino Park et me voilà repartie pour un dîner au restaurant de l’hôtel Vine, UVA. Je suis très excitée de découvrir la décoration de l’hôtel réalisée par Nini Andrade Silva.

Je pourrai passer des heures sur la très agréable terrasse en deck, baignée d’une lumière dorée et vue sur les toits de Funchal (photo ci-dessous). La nuit c’est encore plus beau! Excellent poisson et légumes au restaurant UVA (dernier montage photo. Le restaurant sur l’avant-dernier montage photo n’est pas l’UVA). 

Puis nous profitons des feux d’artifices du Festival do Atlantico depuis la paresseuse terrasse du Vine (montage photo ci-dessous). Suivi d’un verre (sans poncha pour moi) au  Venda Velha. Suivi d’un club à la musique vintage, suivi… LOL!

Madeira-Portugal-Funchal-The-Vine-Hotel-Rooftop-Terrace-Bar-Swimming-Pool-Dinner-@-UVA-Restaurant-And-Festival-do-Atlantico-Fireworks-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KMadeira-Portugal-Funchal-The-Vine-Hotel-Dinner-@-UVA-Restaurant-And-Festival-do-Atlantico-Fireworks-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Madeira-Portugal-Funchal-The-Vine-Hotel-Dinner-@-UVA-Restaurant-Food-Meals-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations   

Visit Madeira, Visit Portugal & TAP 

Jeep safari tours : Mountain Expedition

Autres articles : DESTINATIONS &  HOTEL REVIEWS  

Un grand merci à Visit Madeira, Visit Portugal et la TAP pour cette superbe invitation. Comme toujours ce sont mes opinions.

My Summer Beauty Routine: Face & Body Care

My-Summer-Beauty-Routine-Face-Uriage-Janssen Cosmetics-Nuxe-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Face: Water, Milk, Toner & Creams

Perfect for summer travel: the Eau Micellaire Thermale (Thermal Micellar Water) of Uriage gently cleanses and removes my very sensitive combination skin, providing a feeling of freshness. I put it in the fridge to multiply that feeling! 

As my dermatologist prefers that I use a cleansing milk with a tonic, I also use the Nuxe Comforting Cleansing Milk and Gentle Tonic Lotion with rose petals. A caress for the skin! The Comforting Cleansing Milk doesn’t irritate the eyes. 

For care, I’m minimalist in summer. In the morning, I apply the excellent Skin Contour Cream of Janssen Cosmetics, a German brand I discovered recently. Nourishing and very pleasant texture, it smoothes the skin and brightens the complexion. I also like its discreet perfume. 

Before going to bed in the evening, I use the Nuxe Nuxellence Detox to repair/prevent the harmful effects of the sun on my skin. As always with Nuxe cosmetics, the smell and texture are fantastic! I love sun, sea and outdoor cafes and no way to deprive me of these, even though I avoid the hottest hours. So before and after sun exposure, I treat my skin, to heal, moisturize and nourish it!

My-Summer-Beauty-Routine-Body-Collistar-Rituals-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Body: Scrub and Cleasing Gel, Foam and Balm

For taking a shower twice a day without stripping my skin, here are some the products added in my suitcase! The Rituals Wai Wang is an exfoliating body scrub made with organic White Lotus, Yi yi ren (a cereal) and really fine particles of organic Bamboo. I apply the scrub to damp skin in very light massage, then I rinse with cold water to amplify the freshness feeling. 

As you may know, I’m a fan of the Rituals shower foams, including the Zensation Foaming Shower Gel Sensation with organic rice milk and cherry blossom, has an incredible good scent! 

Finally I discovered the famous italian brand Collistar! Two products especially for beach: the Moisturizing restoring after sun body balm in the shower. This balm cleans, moisturizes, firms and refreshes, amazing! And the After sun shower-shampoo moisturizing restorative for all those who wish to keep their holiday tanning back home.

My-Summer-Beauty-Routine-Body-Rituals-Weleda-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Body: Oil & Creams

I really enjoy natural oils and I’ve been addicted to Weleda body oils for months! This time, I really liked the 100% natural Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil that activates cell renewal. A blessing for my skin! And the pomegranate fragrance is awesome! I apply the oil all over the body, just after the shower on damp skin with circular massages from bottom to top and then I rinse with cold water. Tonic effect and good mood guaranteed! As it contains essential oils, I use it in the evening only to avoid skin reaction in the sun (photosensitizing).

I sometimes change by applying the velvety cream, Mandi Lulur of Rituals, that contains rice milk and frangipani fragrance. 

I am obsessed with feet. What a pleasure in summer to let them breathe! But often they overheat with friction. So in the evening, So in the evening, I refresh them with a jet of cold water, or I plunge them into a tub of water filled with ice. And then I apply the Rituals Tao Loa Tze Cooling foot balm, with China mint and Yi yi ren. And the feet are soothed and fed. 

For hands, I always have with me the Rituals Ginkgo’s Secret cream with ginseng and ginko biloba. The nourishing light texture softens my hands. I really like its discreet perfume too.

My-Summer-Beauty-Routine-Face-Body-Sunscreen-Uriage-Collistar-Weleda-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Specific Care and Suncare

Recently I use ultra concentrated serum, Pure actives collagen + hyaluronic acid of Collistar, to prevent sun damage on the décolleté and breasts. With its high performance ingredients, I find this serum full of promise, but I can’t tell you more now, I’ve just started. I will update the article in a few weeks. 

My darling sunblock is the Uriage Bariésun Stick SPF50 + that I apply on the face (no ugly white layer), décolleté or hands. Super practical and hygienic, I slip into a pocket, it weighs nothing! 

Usually I don’t use an after-sun care on face. But conquered by the Bariésun Stick SPF50 +, I tested the Bariésun Soothing Cream After Sun after a long exposure to the sun. And guess what? It really calmed and deeply moisturized my skin. 

Last and not the least! I decided to get back to sport (yes I know I say it often !!!). 10 000 resolutions later: a bit of running, hiking and a Bikram yoga class (yep). So for dealing with aches, my miracle product is the Weleda Arnica Massage Oil

Do you use these products? If yes I’d really like to know your opinion! And what is your summer beauty routine? I enjoy discovering new products!

Related posts : BEAUTY