Tag Archives: Portugal

Portugal, Évora: Ecorkhotel

Posted on July 7, 2016 | Leave a comment

A Californian Vibe

The Suite

After a long day drive, we finally arrived at the Ecorkhotel Suites & Spa on the outskirts of Évora. The concept of this new 56 suite hotel, is based on the optimum use of cork as insulation.

What a joy discovering my 70 square-meter suite in an independent bungalow with a small terrace – patio. The architecture is awesome. And I don’t know why it makes me think of L.A. ( first photo of this post)!

The decoration is very simple and nice! Few elements almost rudimentary. Perfect. Not overlooked with other bungalows. And trees, centenary olive trees, cork oaks and nature everywhere!

The Dinner

I’m late

for the dinner at Cardo, the hotel restaurant where our large table is already full! Oops, I lingered by the pool with a real Californian twist (photo below). Unfortunately it was too late to test the spa.

The dishes are very good: a mixture of Portuguese and Mediterranean cuisine. Then, with two friends we stay a while at the bar. Very cool, we are the only ones (lol). And I discovered a new Portuguese artisanal gin named Friends! What a coincidence!

The next day: I am in hurry, I didn’t hear the alarm clock. A fruit as a quick breakfast in the large patio covered with white sails (above photo). At 9 a.m. sun is strong and my dream team is already on the bikes. Wow!

We start our little tour through the countryside towards the Évora historic center (in sweat and fun …). But that’s another story (bicycle and I, we are not exactly friends) LOL!

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Ecorkhotel, Visit Alentejo & Visit Portugal

Related posts : HOTEL REVIEWS & DESTINATIONS

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

Portugal, Alentejo: Ecorkhotel

Posted on July 6, 2016 | Leave a comment

Une impression de Californie

La suite

Après une longue journée de route, nous arrivons enfin à l’Ecorkhotel Suites & Spa, en périphérie d’Évora. Le concept de ce nouvel hôtel de 56 suites, est basé sur l’utilisation optimum du liège comme isolant.

Quel bonheur en découvrant ma suite de 70 mètres carrés, dans un bungalow indépendant, avec une petite terrasse – patio! L’architecture est top ; je ne sais pas pourquoi, elle me fait penser à L.A. (première photo de ce post)!

Décoration simplissime, très agréable. Peu d’éléments, limite rudimentaire. Parfait. Pas de vis à vis avec les autres bungalows. Et des arbres : des oliviers centenaires, des chênes-lièges, de la nature partout!

Le Dîner

J’arrive en retard

pour le dîner au Cardo, le restaurant de l’hôtel, où notre grande tablée est déjà au complet! Oups, me suis attardée à la piscine qui a vraiment une touche californiènne (photo ci-dessous). Malheureusement pas eu le temps de tester le spa.

Les plats sont très bons : mélange de cuisine portugaise et méditerranéenne. Ensuite, avec deux amis, nous nous attardons un long moment au bar. Très cool, nous sommes les seuls (lol). Je découvre un gin artisanal portugais au nom choisi de Friends!

Le lendemain : gros speed, je n’ai pas entendu le réveil et un fruit en guise de petit déjeuner express, dans le large patio couvert de graphiques voiles (photo ci-dessus). Le soleil est déjà fort à 9h du matin et la dream team sur les vélos.

Nous attaquons notre petit tour à travers la campagne jusqu’au centre historique d’Évora (dans la sueur et l’allégresse… ). Mais ça, c’est une autre histoire (le vélo et moi, on est pas vraiment potes), LOL!

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Ecorkhotel, Visit Alentejo & Visit Portugal

Autres articles : HOTEL REVIEWS & DESTINATIONS

Un grand merci à Visit Alentejo et à Visit Portugal pour cette superbe invitation. Comme toujours, ce sont mes opinions.

Portugal: Alentejo Road Trip

Posted on July 5, 2016 | 4 comments

Near Arronches

Bela Natureza

This morning, departure from Avis towards Arronches, in the district of Portalegre (Alto Alentejo, close to the Spanish border). On the program: visit the most important group of prehistoric cave paintings outdoors in Portugal, in the Junco Valley (Vale de Junco).

Classified national monument, they were designed between 4000 and 2000 years before Christ and represent the consecration of the place: the scientific interpretations differ (photo below). Last year I returned to the superb Archaeological Museum of Côa (Centre of Portugal). I am fan: child, I wanted to be a paleontologist, archaeologist …

Magnificent nature! We continue with a walk on the walking path PR1 ARR “Feel Alentejo Nature” – Percurso Pedestrian da Esperança (about 6km / 1:45 / low difficulty level) in the Serra of Sao Mamede Natural Park. Better than a thousand words, a few photos! And old girlfriends, cows ; )

Estremoz

The Old Town

Estremoz for lunch. I really enjoy the small intimate streets of the old town, deserted at lunchtime. Occasionally, a silhouette crosses. The contrast between blue sky and white walls, brightness, the South. As a photographer, I need a beautiful natural light!

What I also really like in Portugal, Japan and Croatia: it’s clean, streets are super clean. A real pleasure!

The Lunch

A place not to miss the Mercearia Gadanha restaurant, where we had a long lunch. Very good food in a cool atmosphere and decoration (photos below). And for chocolate addicts: a large selection of chocolates (including Belgian chocolates) in the deli section of the restaurant.

Monsaraz

Open-air Museum

Like Saint Emilion in France, Monsaraz is an open-air museum medieval city in which you aimlessly wander … Just for the pleasure. And enjoy an Alentejo wine tasting on the rooftop terrace of the Ervideira winery.

Some boho shops, winding clean streets and an arena that in September and Easter hosts bullfighting festivals. And panoramic views of the river Rio Guadiana (last photo). Now we drive to the famous Évora.