Tag Archives: Costa de Prata

Costa de Prata, Portugal: Cliffs and Pristine Beaches

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-21-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

The nature, sea and light of late afternoon.

We cross the garden of the romantic beautiful Areias do Seixo to have a walk in the cliffs of the Costa de Prata. An organic chicken coop, where “real” chicken run outdoors and are fed grain, near an organic kitchen garden (picture below). The promiscuity of dunes gives a surreal touch to the landscape. The air is crisp.

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-12-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-13-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-14-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

We head towards the dunes

following the crafted signs of the hotel (above, pictures 3 & 4​​). As we move forward, we discover a wild part of the magnificent Costa de Prata. What a setting! Dunes shaped by the wind, short vegetation, porous high cliffs and the incredible light and sunset! 

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-15-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-17-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-20-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Nature, the eternal provider of wellness…

until we completely destroy it. Our species is so good at destroying all that is beautiful and rare … But that’s another story. While the light changes, we find the stairs leading to the beach, like a pirate treasure! 

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-22-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-25-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-26-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Motionless shape of a single fisherman

with his long cane in front of the ocean. Waves that break on the rocks, we silently walk. We try to avoid the darkness on the way back to the hotel and get lost in a field. A dog barks and gets closer.

The race to find the hotel before dark night, crazy giggles arriving up to the chicken coop. On the terrace of the hotel, a fire waits for us. I go to my room to shower before dinner.

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-27-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés.  

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Costa de Prata, Portugal: falaises et plages sauvages

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-21-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

La nature, la mer, lumière de fin de journée.

Nous traversons le jardin éco-responsable du superbe et romantique Areias do Seixo, pour nous rendre sur les falaises toutes proches de la Costa de Prata. Un poulailler bio, où de “vrais” poulets courent à l’air libre et sont nourris de graines, près d’un potager bio (photo 2). La promiscuité des dunes donne au décor une touche irréelle. L’air est vif.

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-12-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-13-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-14-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Direction les dunes,

en suivant les panneaux artisanaux de l’hôtel (photos 3 & 4 ci-dessus). A mesure que nous avançons, nous découvrons le spectacle grandiose d’une côte en partie sauvage qui s’étend sur des kilomètres. Dunes modelées par le vent, végétation rase et poreuse, hautes falaises et cette incroyable lumière, coucher de soleil! 

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-15-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-17-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-20-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

La nature, dealer éternel de bien-être…

jusqu’à ce que nous l’anéantissions complètement. Notre espèce étant particulièrement douée pour détruire tout ce qui est beau et rare… Mais c’est une autre histoire. Tandis que la lumière change, nous trouvons les escaliers menant à la plage, comme un trésor de pirates. L’euphorie gagne!

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-22-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-25-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014


Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-26-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Silhouette immobile d’un unique pêcheur

avec sa longue canne qui se dessine sur l’Océan. Vagues qui se cassent sur la caille, nous marchons silencieusement, les embruns. Au retour, l’obscurité gagne et nous nous perdons dans un champs. Un chien aboie, se rapproche.

La course pour retrouver l’hôtel avant la nuit noire, fous rires nerveux en arrivant à hauteur du poulailler. Sur la terrasse de l’hôtel, un feu nous attend. Je file dans ma chambre prendre une douche avant le dîner.

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-27-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés.  

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Areias do Seixo: Awesome Eco-luxury Hotel in Portugal

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Before exploring the beautiful cliffs and beaches near the Areias do Seixo, 

I have tea with a friend in the large lounge-dining room of the hotel (pictures 1, 2 & 3). I really like how light brings rhythm in the big hall, drawing shadows, chiaroscuro. The view of the nearby ocean (photo 7). Decoration: a successful mix of raw concrete, antique objects, the omnipresence of wood, cabinet of curiosities and ultra modern structure. The whole creates an unique world really contemporary and poetic. We are in the Costa de Prata, under an incredible blue sky, but I can also feel a little elsewhere, Morocco, Scandinavia … nomadic setting.

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-6-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-Gonçalvo Alves-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

In the evening I meet Gonçalvo Alves, 

co-owner of the Areias do Seixo with Marta Fonseca who are a couple of travelers, from Torres Vedras: 

– We wanted a big house where people meet to share simple things. We also had a real interest in ecology and sustainable development. We wanted something beautiful and very simple in hippie chic spirit, the best of luxury. We worked with the architect Vasco Vieira and designer Rosarinho Gabriel to create a unique place dedicated to people who are in love.

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-4-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-5A-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

How the Areias do Seixo is it an eco-friendly hotel? 

– We have a green cover on the roof to balance temperature. To consume less, geothermal underfloor heating and thirty solar panels for electricity and heating. We use compost to fertilize our garden and vegetable garden. Products of the restaurant are from organic agriculture and most of them are from the region, including wine. 

Ninety percent of people who work at the hotel are locals. It becomes common to worry about the environment in Portugal. Our great-great grandparents were very green and sustainable. And Portuguese remained very authentic, very attached to their roots. We draw our knowledge among the ancients. We apply the rule of the 3 R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle.

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Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés. 

What would you like your guests to take away from their experience of Areias do Seixo ?

– Some say they have redesigned their life and relationship to the environment after their stay here. It’s wonderful for us because it is our passion !

Obrigada to Gonçalvo Alves, Marta Fonseca and all the team !

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My friend and I were guests of the Areias do Seixo hotel and as always these opinions are mine.