Tag Archives: Architecture

Croatia: Opatija,The French Riviera of Istria

Posted on March 19, 2015 | Leave a comment

Under a bright sun,

early in the morning we left by car the Esplanade Zagreb to the famous Opatija, a seaside town on the shores of the Mediterranean, in the Kvarner Bay. Halfway, we stopped at Lake Fuzine (picture 2), with emerald water. Beautiful landscape really green to walk and get some fresh air. The sky is blue, so blue. It is much cooler than in Zagreb and still impeccable, no paper, no butts lying around. A real pleasure!

We hit the road and soon we arrive in Opatija.

The houses architecture of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century reminds me of Nice and the French Riviera, or Sintra in Portugal. Quick jump to the hotel (with a direct view on a small marina) to leave my bags. And I go with Ze who lives in Opatija for a long walk in the city. What a great discovery!

I have the impression of being in a book of Agatha Christie:

architecture, historical figures painted on the wall of fame wall (pictures 8 & 9), including Isadora Duncan (pictures 6, her house & 9). A kind of slow elegance (pictures 4 & 5: Villa Angiolina) … There are few people, it’s very nice: the best time to avoid the crowds is June or September. Photo 7: Park Angiolina. Photos 1,3 & 10: Lungomare is a sublime seaside promenade, to enjoy day and night, by far my favorite part of Opatija!

Informations

Opatija Tourist Board & www.visitcroatia.be

Follow my whole trip in the CROATIA section. ENJOY! I was hosted by the Office National Croate du Tourisme and of course all my opinions are mine.

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Croatie: Opatija, la French Riviera de l’Istrie

Posted on March 19, 2015 | Leave a comment

Sous un soleil lumineux,

départ en voiture tôt le matin de l’Esplanade Zagreb pour la fameuse Opatija (photo 1), ville balnéaire située au bord de la Méditerranée, dans la baie de Kvarner. A mi chemin, nous nous arrêtons au lac Fuzine (photo 2) : l’eau a des reflets émeraude. Superbe panorama très vert pour marcher, s’aérer. Le ciel est bleu, bleu… Il fait beaucoup plus frais qu’à Zagreb et toujours aussi impeccable, pas un papier, pas un mégo qui traîne. Un réel plaisir!

Nous reprenons la route

et très vite nous arrivons à Opatija. Les maisons à l’architecture fin XIXième – début du XXième siècle, me rappellent Nice et la French Riviera, ou encore Sintra au Portugal. Rapide saut à l’hôtel (avec vue directe sur une petite marina), pour déposer mes affaires. Je repars avec Zé qui vit à Opatija, pour une longue ballade en ville.

Suis sous le charme, comme l’impression d’entrer dans un Agatha Christie :

l’architecture, personnages historiques peints sur le mur wall of fame (photos 8 & 9), dont Isadora Duncan (photos 6, sa maison & 9). Une certaine lenteur, élégance (photos 4 & 5: Villa Angiolina)… Il y a peu de monde, c’est très agréable : les meilleures périodes pour éviter la foule, sont juin ou septembre. Photo 7: Park Angiolina. Photos 1, 3 & 10: sublime promenade en bord de mer, à faire de jour comme de nuit, de loin ma partie préférée d’Opatija, Lungomare.

Informations

Opatija Tourist Board & www.visitcroatia.be

Suivez mon voyage dans la rubrique CROATIE (tous mes posts). ENJOY! J’ai été invitée par l’Office National Croate du Tourisme et toutes ces opinions sont bien les miennes.

Autres articles : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

L’And Vineyards: The Design Hotel Amidst Vineyards

Posted on October 6, 2014 | Leave a comment

Rolling the windows wide open and seeing the road,

and playing the Black Keys (my favourite band of the moment)! The Alentejo landscape has something unreal, olive trees lost in desert lands … white quintas lined with blue or yellow… white clouds looming on an amazing blue sky, in one of the least polluted areas in Europe (let’s pray very hard as it lasts)!

The trip from Lisbon to the L’And Vineyards is fast,

barely fourty five minutes. Stunning architecture of the hotel, maybe inspired by Alvaro Siza Vieira, one of my favorite architects. Straight clean lines, no useless frills (pictures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12). Time to explore and take some pictures of our suite, we reach the surrounding vineyards, the call of nature!

Soon the harvest!

The weather fluctuates between cloudy and light rain and vegetation starts to glow (pictures 6, 9 and 10). You can participate in wine tastings organized by the hotel. When we return, I swim in the outdoor pool (17 degrees) and the heated indoor pool (both on the picture 4). As for my long swims in the icy Atlantic, I spend hours swimming, floating, bubbled (lol). Especially when I have both pools all to myself!

Some of the guests attend the wine tasting,

while the others are preparing for dinner. I should do the same … Because tonight: gourmet dinner at the L’And, the one star Michelin restaurant of the hotel, to discover the cuisine of the talented Chef Miguel Laffan (coming up post). Mademoiselle Le K, it’s time to get dressed!

Informations

L’And Vineyards

L’And Vineyards: Minimalist Design Skysuite

Vila Vita Parc, Portugal: Stunning Gardens & Beaches

HOTEL REVIEWS, DESTINATIONS & LIFESTYLE

Many thanks to The L’And Vineyards for this lovely invitation and as always these are my opinions.

Tag Archives: Architecture

Croatia: Opatija,The French Riviera of Istria

Croatie: Opatija, la French Riviera de l’Istrie

L’And Vineyards: The Design Hotel Amidst Vineyards

Rolling the windows wide open and seeing the road,

The trip from Lisbon to the L’And Vineyards is fast,

Soon the harvest!

Informations

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