Tag Archives: Exclusive Photos

Review: Acer Aspire V15 Nitro Black Edition

Acer-Aspire-V-15-Nitro-Black-Edition-Laptop-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

If you remember: I had a big crush, it was my “Object of Desire” last November! For few months, I’ve extensively used the superb Acer Aspire v15 Nitro Black Edition. And when I say extensively, it quickly became my inseparable nomadic tool (and more …) every day!

Classy Sober Design

Acer-Aspire-V-15-Nitro-Black-Edition-Laptop-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

I am a creative and a visual first, so the first thing that struck me in the Acer Aspire V15 Nitro Black Edition is its uncluttered design. The object is beautiful to see and lightweight to take..

On the photo montage above: photo 1, first surprise, the outer coating of the 15.6-inch screen, is in a robust striated material that allows a better maintenance

Photos 2 and 3, beautiful metal finishes on the edge. Photo 4, the main features of this notebook which is particularly aimed at gamers. I add a very important detail for me: three USB 3.0 ports.

The Performances 

Acer-Aspire-V-15-Nitro-Black-Edition-Laptop-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

I’m not a gamer. But as a photographer and a wannabe videographer, I share with the gamers, the need for a powerful processor, capable of handling heavy software (HD video and photo), while using multiple Internet functions at the same time.

And as with any pro user, my machine has to run fast! Strengths: the Acer Aspire V15 Nitro Black Editions has a high performance processor, the Powerful Intel Core i7-4710HQ processor and the GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M graphics card.

Photo montage above: photo 1, in red my old Asus and in black, my new Acer. Size ratio for the screen, you can easily imagine the change for my eyes! Yet I loved my Asus!

Photos 2 and 3, a screen, what a screen! 15.6 inches with a screen resolution of 1920 by 1080: simply magic for working on photos, movies …! I think the color rendering a little saturated, can be improved. Photo 4, the lightweight charger is really important, because this notebook has a battery life of 2 hours on average. But it recharges very quickly!

New Applications For Me

Acer-Aspire-V-15-Nitro-Black-Edition-Laptop-6B-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Finished the feeling of having Shrek’s fingers (LOL)! I really enjoy the “Backlit keyboard” with a red light, easy to use and with the “normal size” keys according to the instruction booklet (I agree!).                       

I also discovered a new key with 4 rectangles: the Windows key (photo 1 on the photo montage above). It provides a direct access (or exit) to the Windows 8.1 home page (photo 2). Pictured 3: the default application list in Windows 8.1

I haven’t yet customized it, there are too many applications. I don’t use half! I really like Windows 8.1, but I found it a bit intrusive too! Sometimes I have the feeling that everything is already too organized for me in my own space!

By cons, very useful and comprehensive: Acer has developed the Acer BOYC cloud app (photos, music, files and documents) for synchronizing smartphone, tablet and PC. I’m not a big Cloud user, but I’m gradually improving ; )

Acer-Aspire-V-15-Nitro-Black-Edition-Laptop-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations   

Acer

Related posts : HOW TO PREPARE YOUR TRAVEL & DESTINATIONS  

Acer is a partner of the blog and these opinions of the Acer Aspire V15 Nitro Black Edition are absolutely mine, regarding my personal use of this notebook.

Centre of Portugal: Beautiful Hiking in Serra da Estrela

Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Central Plateau of Serra da Estrela

Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The road is pretty long,

two-hour drive from Casa da Cisterna to the natural park of Serra da Estrela, the largest protected area of Portugal: 101 000 hectares including a chain of mountains with a rare flora and fauna. And the highest top of Portugal that culminates at 1993 meters.

Today program: 19km (about 6 hours) of an easy mountain walk from the central plateau of the Estrela (classified as a biogenetic reserve) to Casa das Penhas Douras Hotel e Spa. 

Arriving at the car park, the set looks like a military base straight out of a movie about the Cold War (photo montage above). Very quickly we find ourselves on a trail and there I finally realize how much the view is absolutely stunning (photo below)! Let the adventure begin ; ))

Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-1A-Photo ©Joao Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-7-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Lagoons!

Even in the mountains, I need to see water, lol! Depending on the altitude, the landscape changes. At the beginning very steep, the landscape offers an impressive panorama on the glacial valleys (dating from 20,000 years), lagoons and granite rock formations. And further down, the scenery turns into green pastures. But water is everywhere, sometimes you can walk on a kind of waterlogged foam.

Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-14-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-8-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-10-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Carnivorous plants?

Photo above: a butterfly is trapped. I wouldn’t have seen, if an emeritus hiker had not showed us the “creatures” … Actually I expected larger plants. I am really not a naturalistic (lol), I love the space, silence and beauty of the landscape in the “big picture” …

A spectacular setting, by far my most beautiful and inspiring hiking of this short trip in the Center of Portugal, although I liked the natural reserve of Faia Brava too. Enjoy!  

Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-11-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-12-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-13-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-15-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-16-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-17-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-20-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-22-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Center-of-Portugal-Serra-da-Estrela-Mountain-Walk-in-the-Central-Plateau-23-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés – Thanks Joao for the picture 3.

Informations   

Visit PortugalTCP/ARPT Centro de Portugal, TAPA2Z AdventuresHistorical Villages

Related posts: DESTINATIONS & HOW TO PREPARE YOUR TRAVEL  

Many thanks for this beautiful invitation to Visit Portugal, TCP/ARPT Centro de Portugal et TAP. Thanks to our guide, Manuel Franco too. As always these are my opinions.

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.