Tag Archives: Mountains

French Alps, Les Arcs: Ski, Lounge & Fooding

The Village Igloo Les Arcs

When I Arrived 

at the hotel Taj-I Mah the day before, I tasted the dark siver macaroons of the Michelin Starred Chef Eric Samson (first photo of the article). This morning, I head with Lo, my gorgeous “snow BFF”, to the Village Igloo Les Arcs. 

Ten minutes walk from the hotel with an amazing blue sky! What a pleasure to walk on the footpaths of the freshly groomed empty ski slopes! I really enjoy the beginning of the ski season! No crowd, so calm!

Fairy Ice Cavern

    

Upon Entering,

I was just expecting the traditional ice bar plus few tables. What a surprise to discover an ice cavern of 150 m² too! You follow more or less narrow corridors adorned with sculptures inspired by Nordic legends.

We had the chance to meet the team of sculptors at work. You can extend the magic by spending one night in one of the two rooms (no sanitary facilities on site). You feel out of time …

    

Between Two Skiing Sessions

Lunch at l’Atelier d’Eric

During this relaxing weekend, I took my two lunch with beautiful views of the slopes at l’Atelier d’Eric (located in the hotel Taj-I Mah): each time, excellent! If you follow me on this blog, you know how much I enjoy the inventive simple light cuisine of the Chef Eric Samson. In your plate, you can recognize each flavor.

Photos below: left, first day, first lunch with tuna and Japanese mushrooms. To the right, second day: tuna and Walnut St. Jacques with a tian of vegetables. And for the two lunchs, the same Valrhona chocolate and pear dessert, I love it! 

And if you don’t know where dining, I recommend you the Diamond Noir, the gourmet restaurant of the Taj-I Mah, under the leadership of Chef Eric Samson.

The Apres-Ski at The Arc 1800

Tea time at The Lodge

We drive to the Arc 1800. Picture above: the classified buildings of the famous architect Charlotte Perriand. Then we take the cable car to Mille8, where the Lodge, a restaurant-café with modern decoration and Scandinavian influences, is located.

Here, no partying vibe like in la Folie Douce, but I immediately liked this place for the space, interior design, atmosphere and view. Thank you Lo! You feel as good inside as on the terrace. It was hard for us to leave, lol!

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

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Taj-I-Mah, Les Arcs

Related posts : DESTINATIONS, HOTEL REVIEWS & BEAUTY

Many thanks to the Taj-I Mah and the Tourist Office of Les Arcs for this beautiful invitation! As always are my opinions.

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.

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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: Encumeada, Porto Moniz, Cabo Girão &…

Madeira-Portugal-Encumeada-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Encumeada

Madeira-Portugal-Arrival-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le Arrivée

Intense Blue From My Window!

The Atlantic Ocean, landing on the narrow track, then road to Calheta to stop at the Saccharum Hotel – Resort & Spa. Followed by a very nice dinner with our small team at the hotel’s Restaurante Engenho. Where I enjoyed an excellent salad with octopus and filmed my first Periscope (epic)! Yep now you can also follow my streams (live video where you can interact with me) on Periscope! We laughed a lot!

This morning I’m a little late (big mess with the time change, my phone etc …), starting at 9:15 am instead of 9 am (okay)! First stop: the Encumeada viewpoint at 1007 meters. Magnificent panorama of chains of very green mountains overlooking the northern and southern coasts of the island and valleys of Ribeira Brava and São Vicente (photo 1 & photo montage below).

We continue towards the northwest of Madeira: Porto Moniz.

Madeira-Portugal-Encumeada-Pico-Ruivo-Sao Vicente-West-Side-Of-The-Island-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Porto Moniz

Madeira-Portugal-Porto-Moniz-Natural-Swimming-Pool-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Famous Natural Pools

As we head the north of the island, the vegetation changes and the sky is overcast with clouds when we reach the village of Porto Moniz. Pretty impressive weather contrast between the South and North of the island.

What fun discovering the natural pools: shaggy rocks with the ocean in the background … Like a decor of the golden age of Italian cinema. Awesome! The water is cold but not more than Sagres (which is the colder water of all over Portugal for me!). Occasionally a clearing in the sky… Great experience!

Delicious fish for lunch on the lovely terrace of the Aqua Natura Madeira restaurant with direct views to the pools. I am hypnotised by the ocean, horizon, waves, rocks and sometimes the blinding brightness … (photos below). And my tweets (LOL)! I take this opportunity to visit this charming family hotel, with new facilities and ideally located with stunning ocean views.

Madeira-Portugal-Porto-Moniz-Natural-Swimming-Pool-Lunch @ Hotel AquaNatura-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KMadeira-Portugal-Porto-Moniz-Natural-Swimming-Pool-Lunch @ Hotel AquaNatura-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Cabo Girão

Madeira-Portugal-Cabo-Girao-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Light & Vertigo

After a detour via the Saccharum, here I am at 580 meters above the sea level, on one of the highest cliffs in the world (no, these are not my feet)! Enjoying the different blues of the Ocean and beautiful golden light of late afternoon!

Madeira-Portugal-Cabo-Girao-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Madeira-Portugal-Cabo-Girao-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Câmara de Lobos

Madeira-Portugal-Camara-de-Lobos-Fishing Village-Dinner @ Vila-do-Peixe-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Picturesque Fishing Village

with colored boats (xavelhas). The specialty is fishing for black swordfish. It makes me think about Hemingway and The Old Man and the Sea … The navigator João Gonçalves Zarco who discovered Madeira in the fifteenth century, founded the first colony on the island in Câmara de Lobos (House of Wolves in English).

Dinner of very good fishes cooked on the grill at the Vila do Peixe terrace, enjoying the relaxing view (pictures below) … Time is pending. I could stay hours just for the peaceful view. To be continued

Madeira-Portugal-Camara-de-Lobos-Fishing Village-Dinner @ Vila-do-Peixe-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KMadeira-Portugal-Camara-de-Lobos-Fishing Village-Dinner @ Vila-do-Peixe-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

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Visit Madeira, Visit Portugal & TAP

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.