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Portugal: Surf & Quad in Alentejo

Portugal-Alentejo-Comporta-Praia-do-Carvalhal-Surf-with-Carvalhal-Surf-School-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Surf Lesson in Comporta

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Praia do Carvalhal

I’ve told you about Comporta for years (lol!). This time, I discover the beautiful Carvalhal beach for a surf lesson with Ana, the smiling surfer and owner of the Carvalhal Surf School et Surfincomporta. On the black and white picture above, Ana shows us how to carry our surfboards.

I dread to enter the icy water, even with this thick wetsuit. Before: a short warm-up, we runs, jump and stretch in the sand. This morning, the beach is empty and the sun begins to hit. If it could warm the Ocean. Ana, assisted by another instructor, take each one of us apart to show us the basic moves. And we repeat several times on the board in the sand. And then … well let’s go (lololol)!

M, if you read me you must laugh (my surf coach in another life!), you know I have absolutely no balance on a surfboard! I plunge in the water: banzai! Small waves are finally enough powerful. Wash machine and I am ready to go.

For more than an hour (or two, I do not know) the game is to try to get up on the board: bad start, bad foot, in short always something (lol)! But as I like to be active in the water, it was a pleasure. My arms are dead! Ana is great, always attentive, determinated and patient. Everyone goes at their own pace. And when we come out of the water, we all look happy … and pretty tired too (yes!).

Portugal-Alentejo-Comporta-Praia-do-Carvalhal-Surf-with-Carvalhal-Surf-School-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Alentejo-Comporta-Praia-do-Carvalhal-Surf-with-Carvalhal-Surf-School-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Alentejo-Comporta-Praia-do-Carvalhal-Surf-with-Carvalhal-Surf-School-5A-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Alentejo-Comporta-Praia-do-Carvalhal-Surf-with-Carvalhal-Surf-School-6B-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Lunch of Regional Cuisine

After surfing, a little cold shower in the dressing rooms of the Parque Desportivo, where we laughed a lot. Then we head to the famous Restaurante A Escola (the chef and owner on the left picture below).

The food is delicious: very good wild rabbit meatloaf with orange slices. I, who never eat rabbit (the first left picture below)! Many different dishes and desserts.

Portugal-Alentejo-Comporta-Restaurante-A-Escola-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Quad Near Beja

Portugal-Alentejo-Albernoa-Quad-Tour-at-Vila-Galé-Clube-de-Campo-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

My First Time Riding a Quad

Same team. At the end of the day on quads in the beautiful property of the Vila Galé Clube de Campo hotel. I like motor sports: this winter, I had my first driving on ice. And teenager, I had a scooter. But I had never tried the quad.

I was a bit worried when I read the form to fill and sign in case of accident! Before following the instructor in nature, a drive lesson in the hotel car park. You have to slowly zigzag between the small signaling items. It’s fun.

The ride lasts 1-1h30 and when it was my turn, I really enjoy riding. You can’t see in the photos, some muddy parts of the trail (I managed to save my all white sneakers when rafting, but not here!). If you can, try! Especially in such a setting!

Portugal-Alentejo-Albernoa-Quad-Tour-at-Vila-Galé-Clube-de-Campo-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Alentejo-Albernoa-Quad-Tour-at-Vila-Galé-Clube-de-Campo-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K  Portugal-Alentejo-Albernoa-Quad-Tour-at-Vila-Galé-Clube-de-Campo-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Alentejo-Albernoa-Quad-Tour-at-Vila-Galé-Clube-de-Campo-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Alentejo-Albernoa-Quad-Tour-at-Vila-Galé-Clube-de-Campo-6-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Alentejo-Albernoa-Quad-Tour-at-Vila-Galé-Clube-de-Campo-8-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Alentejo-Albernoa-Quad-Tour-at-Vila-Galé-Clube-de-Campo-10-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Alentejo-Albernoa-Quad-Tour-at-Vila-Galé-Clube-de-Campo-9-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Alentejo-Albernoa-Quad-Tour-at-Vila-Galé-Clube-de-Campo-11-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Alentejo-Albernoa-Quad-Tour-at-Vila-Galé-Clube-de-Campo-12-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

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Many thanks to Visit Alentejo and Visit Portugal to this beautiful invitation. Thanks to Ana for the great surf lesson. As always, these are my opinions.

Portugal: Weekend in Évora – Day 2

Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-Walking-Tour-11-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K

Between Art And History

Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-Walking-Tour-13-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K  Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-Walking-Tour-14-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K

Fórum Fundação Eugénio de Almeida

After a brunch at the rooftop pool of the Vitória Stone Hotel roof, I head (this time without bike) to the historic center of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Facing the Roman Temple, the Fórum of the Fundação Eugénio de Almeida, where I visit the exhibition, “All Heritage is Poetry“.

And then, surprise, surprise upon entering the first room: an art piece of Ai Weiwei, Stone Pilar (above right). In the first photo of this post: at the entrance of the exhibition, one can read on a table, “O e a amanha Questão” (“Tomorrow is the question“), a reflection on what are heritage and its conservation. The visit of the Forum and the exhibition was exciting. 

The left picture below: a ceiling dating back to the terrible Portuguese Inquisition, which lasted nearly three centuries (from the 15th to the 18th century). Part of the premises of the Foundation Eugénio de Almeida is located in the former Palace of the Inquisition (exterior view of the building on the fourth picture below).  

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Strolling And Looking Up

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Taking Time

I like to walk when people have lunch at the terrace of restaurants. The streets and sights are deserted. I can focus on my photos, see and discover. And when we travel two, I prefer to be photographed when there is none.

On the above left photo: I dream having the same terrace. Photos below: Páteo de São Miguel, one of the properties of the Fundação Eugénio de Almeida. In the courtyard, a contemporary art work and a bench covered with ancient tiles, Azulero

Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-Walking-Tour-4-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K  Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-Walking-Tour-5-Photo©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Alentejo-Evora-Walking-Tour-6-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K

A Small Museum

A l’entrée du Páteo de São Miguel, se trouve le musée des calèches (Coleção de Carruagens). En plus des calèches, on découvre dans un court métrage l’histoire de la famille Eugénio de Almeida. At the entrance of Páteo de São Miguel, you can visit the Museum of Carriages Coleção de Carruagens). Besides the carriages, you can discover in a short film of the Eugénio de Almeida family’s story.

A travel through time: a tailcoat suit in giant trunk and toiletry and hat bags …

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Late in The Afternoon

Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-Walking-Tour-22-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K

Walking Through A Maze Of Narrow Streets

with buildings lined with yellow or blue paint. Meeting with above-away rare passersby. I end my long walk (begun in late morning) at the terrace of Páteo.

See you soon in Comporta for a surf session with my happy team (of the rafting and bike)! To be continued…

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Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

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Visit Alentejo & Visit Portugal 

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Many thanks to Visit Alentejo and Visit Portugal to this beautiful invitation. As always, these are my opinions.

Weekend in Évora – Day 1

Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-Art-1-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K

Cycling Tour of Évora

Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K

Departure From The Ecorkhotel

The night was too short. I always need to redo my suitcase X times until no time … As a result, now my dream team is already on bikes, while I have a green tea break in the patio of the Ecorkhotel  (photo below).

In front of the hotel, our two guides including Teresa Vilas Boas, the owner of Touraventur, explain us our bike tour of Évora (photos below). We start by crossing countryside, because the Ecorkhotel is located on the outskirts of the city and historic center classified World Heritage by Unesco.

Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-Ecorkhotel-Terrace-Photo©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-6-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K  Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-5-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K

The Capela dos Ossos

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We stop at the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), built in the 16th century by a Franciscan monk. Upon the entry, it says: “Nós ossos que aqui estamos pelos vossos esperamos” (“We bones that here are, for yours await”, traduction Wikipedia). 

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The Beautiful University of Évora

We take up our bikes and the street steeply climbs and then goes down! This is the first time I use a bike with gears (I think so, LOL)! What a surprise when visiting the Évora University, built by the Jesuits in 1559 and closed in 1759 by the Marquis of Pombal!

The walls of classrooms and corridors are covered with Azulejos (photos below). The kind of university where I would have liked studying!

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Wine Tasting and Shopping

To be honest, I’m not fond of the wine tasting, except when I visit a “terroir” (vineyards) or have a wine tasting course like in the Ecole des vins de Bordeaux (the School of Bordeaux wines, in Bordeaux, France). But I really enjoy the decor of the Ervideira wine cellar in a small shopping street in the historic center (left below).

Just opposite, I discovered a restaurant very popular with the local youth … and just about everyone: the Páteo. Before the last bike climb in narrow streets leading to the famous Roman Temple from the second century, I spot these beautiful colorful dishes. And to buy homemade jams : Loja Mó sells products made by people with a handicap.

Pictured below: near the Roman Temple, the Convent of Lóios which is now a pousada. Around 3 p.m., we have lunch. By late afternoon, I finally bring my luggage in the Vitória Stone Hotel, a new design hotel. Well, I feel fantastic, just a few leg cramps (LOL)! To be continued…

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Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

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Visit AlentejoVisit Portugal & Turaventur

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Many thanks to Visit Alentejo and Visit Portugal for this amazing invitation. Also thanks to the great team of Turaventur to turn this bike tour in real pleasure! As always these are my opinions.