Tag Archives: Lifestyle

The Center of Portugal: Viseu, Faia Brava & Castelo Rodrigo

Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-6-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Oporto via Lisbon

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The Journey

Our flight to Oporto is not direct. During the stopover in Lisbon, we walk from the airport to Expo for a coffee facing the Tagus. Euphoric blue sky! The LIGHT, brightness of Portugal … Picture above: the Oriente Station of the Spanish famous architect Santiago Calatrava.

Arriving in Oporto, we met Manuel, the guide of our next walks in the mountains. After the flight, the highway towards Viseu, the city with the best quality of life in Portugal. 

Viseu

Portugal-Center of Portugal-Viseu-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Petiscos For Lunch,

the Portuguese tapas, in the covered terrace of the cozy Maria Xica restaurant (photos above). The atmosphere is cool, young customers and good electro music and superb view of the historic center of Viseu.

While new dishes are following, I take a short time to take some pictures of the impressive Viseu Cathedral Sé and lazy terraces (photos below). Under a blazing sun, we leave the beautiful Viseu, for the Natural Reserve of Faia Brava, it’s already 4 p.m.  

Portugal-Center of Portugal-Viseu-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Center of Portugal-Viseu-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Faia Brava

Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Our First Walk 

Golden light of late afternoon. A landscape that recalls more the Mediterranean than the Atlantic. The Reserva Natural da Faia Brava is well known for bird watching, especially the various species of vultures.

Manuel guides us to a panoramic viewpoint overlooking several hills (first photo and pictures below). No vulture, just wild horses: gorgeous shiny coat and totally indifferent to our presence. Nobody cares little men, what perspective …

We walk on hilly trails lined with bushes. I don’t want to leave, it is already more than 7 p.m. and we hit the road. Road movie!

Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-7-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-8-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Castelo Rodrigo

Portugal-Center of Portugal-Castelo Rodrigo-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Sleek Casa da Cisterna 

is nestled in the castle of Castelo Rodrigo, the medieval beautiful village on a hilltop. You can feel out of time and in a new world. And I sorely lack time to take pictures of the village. I need to check in. 

Upon our arrival, Anna, the owner of Casa da Cisterna and her team, do their best to please us. I go to my room and what a pleasant surprise! Simplicity, comfort and attention to detail (more in a coming post)! Each object is arranged with taste. 

To be perfectly honest, I’ve never been disappointed by the Portuguese hospitality. We have dinner on the terrace with a XXL view of the village and countryside (photos below). A feeling of fullness. Recharging the batteries before our next nature walk tomorrow. To be continued …

Portugal-Center of Portugal-Castelo Rodrigo-Casa da Cisterna-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Center of Portugal-Castelo Rodrigo-Casa da Cisterna-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

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Visit PortugalTCP/ARPT Centro de Portugal, TAPA2Z AdventuresHistorical Villages

Related posts: DESTINATIONS & COMMENT PREPARER SON VOYAGE  

Many thanks for this beautiful invitation to Visit Portugal, TCP/ARPT Centro de Portugal et TAP. Thanks to Manuel Franco and the team of Casa Cisterna too. As always these are my opinions.

Le Centre du Portugal: Viseu, Faia Brava & Castelo Rodrigo

Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-6-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Porto via Lisbonne

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Le périple

Notre vol vers Porto n’est pas direct. Durant l’escale à Lisbonne, nous marchons de l’aéroport à Expo, pour prendre un café face au Tage. Euphorisant ciel bleu azur! La LUMIERE, luminosité du Portugal… En photo : la gare d’Oriente du célèbre architecte espagnol, Santiago Calatrava.

En arrivant à Porto, nous rencontrons Manuel, le guide de nos prochaines marches en montagne. Après l’avion, l’autoroute en direction de Viseu, la ville ayant la meilleure qualité de vie du Portugal.

Viseu

Portugal-Center of Portugal-Viseu-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Déjeuner de petiscos,

tapas portugaises, à la terrasse couverte du très agréable restaurant Maria Xica (photos ci-dessus). L’ambiance est cool, les clients jeunes : musique electro de qualité et superbe vue sur le centre historique de Viseu.

Tandis que les plats s’enchaînent, je profite d’un court temps mort pour prendre quelques photos de la fameuse Sé Cathédrale de Viseu et des paresseuses terrasses (photos ci-dessous). Sous un soleil de plomb, nous quittons la belle Viseu, pour la réserve de Faia Brava, il est déjà 16h. 

Portugal-Center of Portugal-Viseu-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Center of Portugal-Viseu-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Faia Brava

Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Notre première marche

Lumière dorée de fin d’après-midi. Un paysage qui rappelle plus la Méditerranée que l’Atlantique. La Reserva Natural da Faia Brava est réputée pour l’observation des oiseaux, les différentes espèces de vautours en particulier.

Manuel nous guide vers un point de vue panoramique, surplombant plusieurs collines (première photo et photos ci-dessous). Pas de vautours, nous croisons des chevaux sauvages, poil luisant et totalement indifférents à notre présence. Personne ne se soucie des petits hommes, de quoi relativiser…

Nous nous enfonçons dans des sentiers vallonnés, bordés de buissons fournis. Je n’ai pas envie de partir, il est déjà plus de 19h et nous devons reprendre la route. Road movie!

Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-7-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Center of Portugal-Reserva da Faia Brava-8-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Castelo Rodrigo

Portugal-Center of Portugal-Castelo Rodrigo-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

L’élégante Casa da Cisterna 

est nichée dans l’enceinte du château de Castelo Rodrigo, superbe village médiévale perché sur une colline. On est tout de suite dépaysé, comme projeté hors du temps. Et je manque cruellement de temps pour faire des photos du village.

Dès notre arrivée, Anna, la propriétaire de Casa da Cisterna et son équipe, sont aux petits soins pour nous. Je file dans ma chambre, quelle agréable surprise : simplicité, confort et sens du détail (post à venir)Chaque objet est disposé avec goût. 

Pour être parfaitement honnête, je n’ai jamais encore été déçue par l’hospitalité à la portugaise. Nous dînerons sur la terrasse avec une vue XX-large sur le village et la campagne (photos ci-dessous). Un sentiment de pleinitude. Recharger les batteries avant notre prochaine marche dans la nature, demain. A suivre…

Portugal-Center of Portugal-Castelo Rodrigo-Casa da Cisterna-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Center of Portugal-Castelo Rodrigo-Casa da Cisterna-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

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Visit PortugalTCP/ARPT Centro de Portugal, TAPA2Z AdventuresHistorical Villages

Autres articles : DESTINATIONS & COMMENT PREPARER SON VOYAGE 

Un grand merci à Visit Portugal, TCP/ARPT Centro de Portugal et TAP pour cette belle invitation. Merci aussi à Manuel Franco, notre guide et à toute l’équipe de Casa Cisterna. Comme toujours ce sont mes opinions.

Thessaloniki, Greece: Shopping, Creative Tour and Outdoor Cafes

Shopping & Creative Tour

Thessaloniki-Greece-Fashion & Beauty Shopping-Outdor coffe-Marina Konstantinou-Lou-Nail Bar-Hotel Daios-1A-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Glam shopping in Proxenou Koromila Street

and its surroundings. To help, the street behind the Daios hotel (located in the waterfront). A mixture of a myriad of trendy cafes and posh shops. There you find international brands (like Vuitton, Tod’s, Dolce & Gabbana …) and multi-brand shops and local designers. Above picture : necklace of Marina Konstantinou. Hippie chic Tunic in the showcase of Lou. And the famous Lefas hairdresser (hair salon with a L.A. vibe).

Thessaloniki-Greece-Koupni Coffe & Crafts-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Drink An Iced Coffee While Making Your Souvenir Bag

DIY! Yes, I did it (above picture): the painted and sequined designs represent the iconic monuments of Thessaloniki! In the old town, opposite the ruins of the Greek agora and the Roman forum, Koumpi Coffe & Crafts is a cafe with a creative workshop. You can have different iced coffees (a Greek specialty), while choosing a creative kit. Really fun: my buddies and I had big laughs and even the boys made jewelery! And the result is far nicer than those cheap souvenirs made in China! 

Thessaloniki-Greece-reative Tour & Shopping-by Hand Peak- Art Gallery-Now by Yorgos Maraziotis @Nitra Gallery-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Discover the creative Thessaloniki

If you have little time and want to discover another side of the city (insider spots), do not hesitate to book a tour with Handpeak. After the Koumpi Coffe & Crafts: the visit of a new contemporary art gallery, the Nitra Gallery. Photo above (courtesy of the Nitra Gallery): an installation of Yorgos Maraziotis (Neon, 150×40 cm). Then we continue through several workshops shops.

My favourite :  Object2Repair, a deco vintage shop that also repairs furniture and lighting (below picture of the lighting). Margaritarenies, a small shop of jewelry made by two designers with the same first name Margarita (below picture of the hand). And if your boyfriend and you are a kind of wannabe rockstars, have a look at the guitar repair and manufacturing shop: Alfa Handcrafted Guitars. And you may come back from Thessaloniki with your guitar (lol)!

Thessaloniki-Greece-Creative Tour & Shopping-by Hand Peak- Art Gallery-Nitra Gallery-Margaritarenies Jewels-Object2Repair-Vintage-1C-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Outdoor Cafes

Thessaloniki-Greece-Outdoor Cafe-Navona Ristorante-@Makedonia Palace-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Culture of Outdoor Cafes

Outdoors cafes are absolutely everywhere! Often full. Morning by the seniors and then by everyone. Thessaloniki is a student city, with lively and busy streets until late at night. Above pictured: the terrace of Navona Restaurantopen from 9:30 am to 2 am, where I relaxed much of the afternoon facing the sea, with an excellent fresh orange juice ; ) 

Thessaloniki-Greece-Outdoor Cafe-To Palio Hamam-Cafe-Bar-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Lovely View of The Bei Hamam’s Rooftops

This outdoor café and bar offers a unique view on the roofs of the old Turkish baths, built by Sultan Murad II in 1444 (above pictures). Unfortunately you can not visit this historic monument, but you can admire the roofs with a drink at the To Palio Hamam Cafe-Bar. Too bad I didn’t have time to return at night (I was too busy, too much to see!)!

Thessaloniki-Greece-Outdoor Cafe-Near The Seafront-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Going to the statue of Alexander the Great, 

I discovered Dentrospito (Tree House): this bar under the trees, has a very nice atmosphere. Really cool spot, with a seaview (above photo montage)! As it was full, we walked on Nikis Avenue, munching Greek traditional pastry (forget diet baby!)..

The other place I’d have liked to taste some veggie sushi, is the Roots. The only vegetarian restaurant in Thessaloniki that also serves cocktails in the evening (below pictures)!

And you, what are your favorite outdoor cafes, shopping and activities in Thessaloniki? 

Thessaloniki-Greece-Outdoor Cafe-Roots-Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant-Bar-Cocktails-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

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Visit Greece, Thessaloniki Hotels Association & Ryanair

From Ryanair flies to Thessaloniki and ten other destinations in Greece including Athens and Santorini.

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOW TO PREPARE YOUR TRAVEL  

Many thanks for this beautiful invitation to Visit Greece, Thessaloniki Hotels Association and Ryanair. As always these are my opinions.