Tag Archives: Porto

Portugal: 5 Days By Bike From Porto To Coimbra

Posted on March 1, 2020 | Leave a comment

5 Days By Bike From Porto To Coimbra

Accompanied by a friend keen on cycling, I accepted the challenge of spending 5 days by bike – in fact 4 days actually pedaling – from the north of Portugal, Porto to the center, Coimbra. Or 180.7 km in 4 days! Hello! Far from being a great sportswoman, I had never done even more than 10-20 km in a day: the exceptional bike ride! In short I knew nothing about it and so much the better (lol)!

I was recommended for more comfort, an electric bike. My friend preferred a traditional bicycle. I’ll stop you right away: we also pedal on an electric bike! It’s not a moped, lol! Certainly less difficult than a real bike, but we pedal anyway! And I can say it remains physical, especially if you do it for 5 hours straight.

So that this challenge takes place in a pleasant way, without having to think about practical details, such as: what do we do with our luggage each morning (because we sleep each night in a different place)? Etc … The VOS Travel agency specializing in bicycle trips, organized our trp: starting with the route mainly on cycle paths in beautiful landscapes, our bikes with local assistance (we received a phone with an emergency number). And of course, our flights, hotels and restaurants. 

One of our bikes is equipped with a GPS with our route recorded day by day. No more unnecessary maps, a simplified navigation! Awesome! In the morning, our luggage is transferred by taxi to our next hotel (from one town or village to another). Our breakfasts and dinners are also planned in advance. And we discover for ourselves picturesque restaurants where to have lunch on the way. What happiness! And a lot of sweat (lololol!) …

Pictures of the best times and locations of our bike trip below.

Day 1: The Arrival In Porto

Day 2: From Porto To Ovar (46,7 km)

Day 3: From Ovar To Aveiro (40 km)

Day 4: From Aveiro To Praia de Mira (40 km)

Day 5: From Praia de Mira To Coimbra (54 km)

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations  

www.vostravel.be

Related articles : Destinations & Hotel Review

Many thanks to VOS Travel for this amaing invitation. As always these are my opinions.

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5 jours à vélo de Porto à Coimbra

Posted on March 1, 2020 | Leave a comment

5 jours à vélo de Porto à Coimbra

Accompagnée d’un ami féru de vélo, j’ai accepté le challenge de passer 5 jours en vélo – en fait 4 jours à réellement pédaler – du nord du Portugal, Porto jusqu’au centre, Coimbra. Soit 180,7 km en 4 jours! Hello! Loin d’être une grande sportive, je n’avais jamais fait ne serait-ce que plus de 10-20 km : la promenade à vélo exceptionnelle! Bref je n’y connaissais rien et tant mieux (lol)!

On m’a recommandé pour plus de confort, un vélo électrique. Mon ami a préféré une bicyclette traditionnelle. Je vous arrête tout de suite : on pédale aussi sur un vélo électrique! Ce n’est pas une mobylette, lol! Certes moins difficile qu’un vrai vélo, mais on pédale quand même! Et je peux vous assurer que ça reste physique, surtout si vous en faites pendant 5h d’affilée.

Pour que ce challenge se déroule de manière agréable, sans avoir à penser aux détails purement pratiques, comme : que fait-on de nos bagages chaque matin, puisque nous dormons chaque soir dans un endroit différent? Etc… L’agence VOS Travel, spécialisée dans les voyages à bicyclette, a organisé notre séjour : à commencer par le parcours essentiellement sur pistes cyclables dans de magnifiques paysages, nos vélos avec une assistance locale (nous avons reçu un téléphone avec un numéro d’urgence). Sans oublier les vols, les hôtels et les restaurants.  

Un de nos vélo est équipé d’un GPS, avec notre route enregistrée jour par jour. Plus de carte inutile, une navigation simplifiée, fantastique! Le matin, nos bagages sont transférés par taxi jusqu’à notre prochain hôtel (d’une ville ou village, à l’autre). Nos petits déjeuners et dîners sont aussi planifiés à l’avance. A nous de découvrir de pittoresques restaurants où déjeuner en chemin. Que du bonheur! Et beaucoup de sueur (lololol!)…

Notre parcours en images ci-dessous.

Jour 1: l’arrivée à Porto

Jour 2: de Porto à Ovar (46,7 km)

Jour 3: d’Ovar à Aveiro (40 km)

Jour 4: d’Aveiro à Praia de Mira (40 km)

Jour 5: de Praia de Mira à Coimbra (54 km)

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations  

www.vostravel.be

Autres articles : Destinations & Hotel Review

Un grand merci à VOS Travel pour cette superbe invitation. Comme toujours, ce sont mes opinions.

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Portugal, Oporto: MODtissimo Fashion Fair

Posted on February 27, 2017 | Leave a comment

Leaving the Sunny Brussels

I fly to Oporto (picture above, Brussels seen from above and picture below 2, what brightness)! What did you plan for your Valentine’s Day? I am invited to the 49th edition of MODtissimo, the fashion fair of the Portugese textile new trends that held at Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport (below, photos 3 & 4: program and mannequins of one of the fair exhibitors). 

At Brussels airport, hostesses offer Neuhaus chocolates (photo 1 below). Nice! When I arrive in Porto late in the afternoon, the sky is mixed. Time to drop off my things at the hotel and a pouring rain. Very quickly, I turn back: no, I won’t cross on foot the famous Dom Luis I bridge! 

MODtissimo

Fashion Fair On a Human Scale

The next day, in the shuttle to the Francisco Sa Carneiro airport, I chat with a German Buyer specialized in children’s fashion. The great novelty of this 49th edition MODtissimo is the Mini-Mi space dedicated to the world of the child.

MODtissimo by Manuel Serrão, The Director :

 

Innovation and Technology

In the departure hall of the Porto airport, the fair is divided into two distinct spaces. Next to their respective entrances, there is a presentation of the Portugese textile’s new trends: themes, colors and materials. I found really interesting the iTechStyle part with innovative textiles for sport and household linen. And the biodegradable buttons … 

 

The Aims

As Paulo Vaz, Director General of ATP – Associação Têxtil e Vestuário de Portugal / Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal, explains: one of the aims of the Portuguese textile industry is the sustainable development with materials and processes that respect the environment. Another aim: the Portuguese textile industry moves mid-market and upmarket, with the emphasis on the local design.

 

Back to the hotel: I have a free hour before the dinner with the organizers and press. Sportive walk with my Buyer friend (3000 footsteps at a fast pace, lol!) in the hotel’s neigbourhood. A short stop at Casa da Musica that closes (stunning architecture by Rem Koolhaas, click here for the interview). Then a lovely dinner in a fish restaurant in Matosinhos, followed by a drink at the hotel bar.

Photos & vidéos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations  

MODtissimo & ATP

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & FASHION

Many thanks to the team of MODtissimo and Salome for this beautiful invitation. As always, these are my opinions.

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