Tag Archives: Short Holidays

Spain : Stunning Formentera

Leaving Ibiza

A Well-kept Secret : Formentera

Ibiza has a well-kept secret, the island of Formentera. As much as Ibiza symbolizes flamboyant partying, Formentera is discreet and calm, with magnificent beaches of turquoise water. At the end of the day, we take the shuttle boat from the port of Ibiza to Formentera, under the golden light of an amazing sunset (photos above 1 & 2). The crossing lasts barely 30 minutes and here we are immersed in another universe on the small, more intimate island, with an area of 83.2 km2 (photo-montage below).

I advise you to rent a car, more comfortable than a scooter, especially to access certain beaches. Please note: it is very hot in the summer. We drive to Playa Migjorn, in the south of the island. Where is our hotel on a human scale: the very pleasant Riu La Mola facing one of the most beautiful beaches in Formentera, Es Cupinar beach. The atmosphere is family and friendly and the hotel team is very welcoming. Not to mention, the comfortable room with a superb view of the sea, sometimes emerald and ultramarine blue, sometimes turquoise, a pleasure that I never tire of (photos below in part: “4. Where to sleep”)!

No way to stay in Formentera without discovering its different stunning beaches! I think that’s the main activity! Don’t ask me which one I prefer, I will have a hard time answering you. Because each of them corresponds to a different atmosphere and panorama. Es Pujols, which extends over 690 m, is the best known and therefore the most touristic. Very nice for brunch. In the southwest of the island, Cala Saona with its fishing boats, is where I like to have a drink during the hottest hours. Other beaches are wilder like the iconic Ses Illetes. My advice: take a map and visit all the beaches!  

The island has its own nonchalent pace. And rather than giving you a list of places to go, I have collected in images a kaleidoscope of impressions, of rare and simple moments that a stay in Formentera evokes for me. The photos are below. I hope it will make you want to discover this wonder of the Mediterranean. Party people, go your way! Lol!

1. Discover All The Beaches

2. Lunch Facing The Sea

3. Go Around The Island And Visit Sant Francesc Xavier, The Capital 

4. Where To Sleep : The Riu La Mola

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations

FormenteraRiu La Mola

Related posts : Hotel Reviews & Destinations

Many thanks to the Tourism Board of Formentera and Riu La Mola for this beautiful invitation. As always, these are my opinions.

Czech Republic: Short Road Trip In Bohemia And Prague

  


Disclosure: this article was first published in late 2019, 
following a trip made a few months earlier. 

Before this trip, for me, the Czech Republic and especially Prague were exclusively linked to Milan Kundera and Kafka, two of my favorite writers. I am happy to have discovered a bit of Bohemia: the extremely green landscapes, forests and castles. And of course Prague, the architecture, rhythm, small and large streets.

Our short road trip begins with the Brussels Airlines flight which lands in Prague at 11 a.m. Then we collect the rental and take the road to Pilsen and its surroundings.


Text and images below of our exciting itinerary.

Day 1: Pilsen And Surroundings

On Our Way To Pivovarsky Dvur Plzen (Near Pilsen)

Where I experience my very first beer spa at the Purkmistr Beer Spa   (photo above 1). In fact, I’m immersed in a warm beer. Nice! We continue to Pilsen, where we join the Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour, in order to discover the huge Pilsner Urquell brewery (photo below 3). The tour is interesting, but a bit long if like me, you don’t drink beer (2).    

On the road again, we cross beautiful super green landscapes and arrive in the early evening at Kašperské Hory (4), a picturesque village. We dine at the restaurant of Nebespan, Boutique Hotel, whose chef is French. I really enjoy the cool setting, atmosphere, food and team. 

Day 2: Kašperské Hory & Sušice

On The Program: Castles And Bikes

We spend the day with our very friendly guide, Veronika who takes us to the emblematic Kašperk castle (photo above 1 and the two first photos of the article) built in the 14th century on the Ždánov mountain. Near the castle, hiking trails in the Bohemian forest allow you to have different panoramas of the castle.

In the afternoon, from Sušice we take a superb (and sporty) 46 km bike ride in the countryside. Thanks to Veronika, we visit small villages and a romantic castle transformed into a luxury hotel, the Zámek Hrádek (photo above), where we stop for a drink.

Day 3: From Dobříš To Prague

Dobříš & Slapy

We leave Kašperské Hory, where we slept the first two nights. After 1 hour 40 minutes, we arrive in Dobříš, to visit the Dobříš chateau dating from the 18th century (1 & 2). We have lunch on the terrace at Zámecká restaurace Dobříš, the castle restaurant. Then back on the road, we head to the Slapy Water Reservoir on the Vltava, in the Prague-West district, a famous resort for Prague people. 

Lively and colorful surroundings: many small sailing boats come and go (3). While the shores are filled with people in bikini sunbathing on grass. Family and summer atmosphere. We do a nice ride on the water which allows us to better enjoy the landscape sourrounded the lake. And then, we are off to Prague. We leave our luggage at Mama Shelter Prague (6). I cool off and we go to the historic center.

I am super excited: Prague! I’ve been wanting to see Prague for so long! In the historic center, there are too many tourists! We step on each other and lots of drunk young tourists (from 7 p.m.). The monuments are superb, but we decide to return to the Mama Shelter’s area with a quiet hype neighborhood. We dine in the very trendy Cobra Bar (4). I liked everything, the cool atmosphere, music, my hamburger with coconut sauce (5) and the proximity to the Mama Shelter: I said, e-ve-r-y-t-h-i-n-g! 

Day 4: Prague

The Last Day Of Our Breakaway

And my real first day in Prague! We walked for a long time in the center much quieter and more pleasant than the day before. Finally, I enjoy the beauty of the city. Long dreamy break in a terrace bar overlooking the Vltava. I would love to explore more and visit the museums, but we must return to the hotel to collect the car and go to the airport, our return flight is at 6 p.m.

Prague, I will come back!

Where To Sleep? The Mama Shelter Prague

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations  

Czech Tourism 

Related articles : Destinations & Hotel Review

Many thanks to Czech Tourism for this beautiful invitation. As always, these are my opinions.