Tag Archives: Short Break

Azores: My Addresses In Ponta Delgada

24 Hours in Ponta Delgada

A Walk in The Historical Center

First day of my trip to the Azores, where I will discover two islands of this beautiful Atlantic Ocean archipelago, São Miguel and Santa Maria. I am super excited, cause I’ve wanted visiting the Azores for a long time!

Départ aux aurores de Bruxelles vers Ponta  Delgada (capitale des Açores sur l’île de São Miguel), via Lisbonne avec la TAP. Nous arrivons en milieu de journée. Le temps est changeant, couvert avec des éclaircies. Mais ça fait partie du charme de l’archipel, les 4 saisons en un jour. 

In the old city, time seems to be stopped, with imposing monuments (Portas da Cidade de Ponta Delgada, 1783) and churches (Igreja Matriz de São Miguel) dating from the sixteenth century. Cobbled streets, green squares, some brightly colored facades (photos below) … 

  

Where To Sip A Tea From The Azores

Louvre Michaelense

Take time to get lost in the city! Take time to get lost. That’s how I found my address: where to sip a tea from the Azores!  

Louvre Michaelense is both a shop (photo 3 above), a tea room (2) and a delicatessen (1). It offers a selection of rare objects and sought local products, with regressive packaging in an ancient framework. The concept reminded me of A Vida Portuguese (in Lisbon). A friendly trendy spot.

Where To Sleep

  

La Casa das Palmeiras

I first saw from a distance the roof of the house that contrasted with the local architecture. Built in 1901, La Casa das Palmeiras is more like one of these Art Nouveau villas on the French Riviera. Recently renovated, this small hotel with 10 rooms is a gem. Perfect for an elegant weekend.

Awesome adress, less is more!   

    

What’s up?

Discovering Street art

What a fantastic surprise! I am a creative (photographer, former art director). So imagine my happiness walking and seeing these amazing Street art works in Ponta Delgada! Oups, I really apology, I lost my notes with the titles of the art works and names of the artists.

 

Where To Drink & Dinner

The Panoramic Terrace of The Azor Hotel

It is always a great pleasure for me to stay or dinner in a hotel decorated by Nini Andrade Silva! I love her work and personality. She has this ability to dramatize space and create unique universes in which we feel good.

After a long time on the relaxing terrace of the Azor Hotel, we dine at the restaurant A Terra Fornaria. The food (promoting local ingredients) and service are great. Definitely my chic address from Ponta Delgada!

 

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

Informations  

Visit AzoresVisit Portugal, TAPLouvre Michaelense, Street art with Walk & Talk AzoresCasa das Palmeiras – Charming House, Azor Hotel

Related articles : HOTEL REVIEWS & DESTINATIONS

Many Thanks to Visit Azores, Visit Portugal and TAP for this beautiful invitation. As always these are my opinions.

Switzerland, Graubünden: Skiing & Scenery (Days 3 & 4)

Skiing From Lenzerheide To Arosa

 

A Very Changing Weather

After an evening skiing until 11 pm, this morning the alarm clock is a beat too “harsh”! Back with my instructor on Lenzerheide‘s slopes in the direction of Arosa … if the weather allows us! I really like in Switzerland the bus stops at ski lifts scattered in nature! Everything is thought for skiing, the mountain is a real lifestyle!

I begin the crossing by the discovery of the T-bar tow! It is for two persons and you have to place a T-shaped bar under the buttocks. You don’t sit, but legs are slightly bent and skis must remain parallel. Pretty impressive, but very nice too! And you really can enjoy the beautiful scenery!

On arrival, we are in front of with this small structure (photo 1 below), where a friendly man checks our ski pass. Then we take this track surrounded by giant pines (2) which leads us to more difficult tracks. Later, we are supposed to take a cable car to cross the pass that allows to reach Arosa.

Too much wind, the cable car is temporarily closed: we have to wait in a restaurant of altitude (3) … in vain. The weather gets worse and we have to go down back to the foot of the slopes. We will have lunch with the rest of our small group! The issue, we are at the top of the slopes for experienced skiers (when I am a beginner!). Imagine the incline and worse, I’m tired! Finally (!) we arrive at the restaurant and I order a salad (4).

The hope: the weather improves and this time we go up with different cable cars to be sure to be able to cross the pass for Arosa. At the top, the weather changes again between blue skies, clouds and violent wind (photos above and below).

 

 

Arosa, Here We Are!

Awesome Views In Late Afternoon

I took the cable car with two British friends, to get down to the Arosa station. While the other three decided to arrive in ski and snowboard. Once all together, we head to the hotel, where our luggage (transported by taxi) await us. Great organization and  panoramic view from my room (the last two photos below).

On the picture montage: 1, selfie in the kitsch corridors of the Sunstar Alpine Hotel, before a very lively dinner where we laughed a lot! 2, the next morning, fantastic view of the Alps from Mount Weisshorn. 3, Mural painting of the Weisshorngipfelrestaurant. And 4. On the train to Zurich airport.

Buure Z’Morga At Mount Weisshorn

Woke Up At Dawn

We take the first cable car at 8:20 am for a delicious Buure Z’Morga (huge “farmer breakfast”) in the panoramic restaurant Weisshorngipfelrestaurant at 2653 meters above sea level! We are the first customers in the nice minimalist interior design. The brunch is excellent with local specialties (including cheeses and breads). The view of the Alps at dawn is breathtaking (photos above and below)! 

  

 

Back To Zurich By Train

 

It snows

Yes it is, as every time I leave a ski resort (like a magical ritual, lol)! After a quick stop at the hotel to change us and retrieve our luggage, we take the famous red train from Arosa to Chur. Then another kind of trains from Chur to Zurich airport. The mood is contemplative, gorgeous landscapes! Bye bye intimate Graubünden, I will be back!

 

 

 

 

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

Informations  

Graubünden FerienFerienregion Lenzerheide, Arosa TourismSWISSSwiss Travel System (STS)Switzerland TourismBiathlon Arena Lenzerheide, SnowNights

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to the Graubünden Ferien, Lenzerhaide, Arosa, Switzerland Tourism, SWISS and Swiss Travel System (STS) for this beautiful invitation. As always, these are my opinions.

Switzerland: Graubünden Ski Weekend (Day 1)

Allegra (Hello)!

Perfect Timing

Flight to Zurich with SWISS airline, then a train and bus to Lenzerheide with a Swiss precision and I really enjoy it! From Brussels center to the hotel in Lenzerheide, it takes more than half a daytime in transportation.

Stunning landscapes and pure air: a real change of scenery, the Swiss Alps (first picture of the post). Welcome to the Graubûnden! In the early afternoon, we arrive at the cozy Hotel Schweizerhof Lenzerheide, ideally located opposite the bus station in the center of the village. 

The sun plays hide and seek. What a pleasure to discover my vast bedroom! As always, I didn’t sleep the day before my trip. The bed looks so comfortable … Neat simple interior design, I feel like in a nice cocoon with a panoramique mountain view from my balcony (below pictures).

  

The Scalottas Terroir

  

Gourmet Dinner

For this first evening: a 5-course tasting menu dinner at the Scalottas Terroir, elaborated with local high quality products. The restaurant is a 5 minute walk and belongs to the owners of the hotel. Forget the high heels, wear after-ski boots to go to the restaurant. LOL! My little team was really entertained when I arrived at the hotel reception desk in high heels!

Left picture above: our table nicely set up in the “Mountain Pine Parlour”. The atmosphere is cozy (thanks to Simone, our super waitress!) and the concept is based in slow food. The restaurant selects its ingredients at local producers concerned about sustainable development.

Since I don’t eat meat except chicken, I had a slightly different menu. Let’s say a (chicken) version of the menu dishes (below pictures):

a Grisons tartar duet (with une brioche de pomme de terre), Mountain pine soup (composed with apple raviolis), Swiss egg (poched egg with patatoe, cabbage, waffle and Andeerer Grantit cheese foam) and Highland ox duet. The dessert (a mix of sorbet and fruit pie) is also delicious. To be continue …

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations  

Graubünden FerienLenzerheide, ArosaSWISSSwiss Travel System (STS)Switzerland TourismHotel Schweizerhof Lenzerheide & Scalottas Terroir 

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to the Graubünden Ferien, Lenzerhaide, Arosa, Switzerland Tourism, SWISS and Swiss Travel System (STS) for this beautiful invitation. As always, these are my opinions.