Tag Archives: Travel Notebook

Seychelles, Praslin: Beaches & Coco de Mer

The Arrival At Mahe

The Departure To Praslin

As soon as I got off the Air Seychelles plane, I took in a cab to catch the Cat Coco Catamaran ferry from Mahe to Praslin, the second largest island in the Seychelles archipelago.

We arrive at the pier under a blazing sun at 9 plus a.m. I stay in the shade, patiently waiting to embark. What a light! Incredible blue sky and white clouds! I arrive in Praslin at 11.30 am, in a landscape of postcard with turquoise waters (photo above).

The crossing lasted an hour … of pure ecstatic contemplation of the Indian Ocean (with air-con)! In the taxi to go to the Coco de Mer hotel, I am surprised by the lush vegetation, steep road and small mountains. Like Mahé and La Digue, Praslin is a granitic island. 

The Charming Hotel

When arriving in the lobby of the Hotel Coco de Mer – Black Parrot Suites, I am attracted by the ocean view and the verdant gardens of this 200-hectare property.

The welcome is warm and friendly. Like Ash Behari, one of the owners and General Manager of the hotel (video below), all the staff are smiling and professional. It feels like visiting friends. 

And guess where the hotel gets its name from? According to a local legend about the Vallée de Ma! nature reserve: 

 

The Suites Black Parrot are located in the exclusive part of the hotel, on a small cliff with a pool offering a panoramic view of the ocean and beaches. My suite in pictures below.

The Island Tour

The Vallée de Mai

I really enjoy taking the road (taxi or rental) to visit the island at my own pace (sometimes exhausting for others, LOL). I am too eager for breathtaking scenery to stay on the beach of the hotel … 

Thanks to my need of action, I discovered stunning coves and beaches! Beware of currents in the water (they can be dangerous), the best is to inquire before bathing.

First stop under tropical rain: the Vallée de Mai, a primitive forest with six species of endemic palms. I have an appointment with the guide Shaun Larue for a detailed visit. He begins by explaining the formation of the Seychelles granite islands (video below). 

Oops I was about to forget ; ) The biggest seed of the world grows on the palm trees of the Valley of May nature reserve : the endemic iconic Coco de Mer (photo above).

 

     

Back On The Road

Anse Lazio

Crystal Clear Water

It doesn’t rain when I finally arrive at Anse Lazio considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I agree, it is superb!

The quality of the very fine sand, the crystal clear water with emerald, turquoise and deep blue reflections, the rock blocks scattered here and there and the palms and vegetation with different green tones.

Unfortunately I don’t have time to swim. I have a ferry to take to another island. To be continued…

 

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations  

Seychelles Tourism Board, Coco de Mer HotelAir Seychelles.

A guide to visit the Vallée de Mai: Shaun Larue, shaunlarue22@gmail.com, tel. (+248) 2595110.

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks the Seychelles Tourism Board, Air Seychelles and Coco de Mer Hotel for this beautiful invitation. Also thank you to Ash Behari and Shaun Larue. 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.

Portugal, Madeira: 24 Hours in Funchal

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Funchal Express 

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Dinner at the Design Center Nini Andrade Silva  

Arrival in Funchal: just down from the Ferry (from Porto Santo), I am facing the entrance of the Design Centre Nini Andrade Silva, located at the end of the dock (photo 1 of the photo-montage above). I’d visited the building with the interior designer Nini Andrade Silva, during the work. What a surprise to now discover the different spaces with her iconic design furnitures and items! Awesome!

I really like the outdoor café (first photo of the post and photo below) and the black and white graphic restaurant with a 360 degree view, of the ocean and Funchal (photo-montage above). The atmosphere is really nice with a tasty cuisine and friendly team. My only downside: I look like a scarecrow after my long outdoors day in Porto Santo, plus the ferry over for more than two hours (lol)!

And my camera has no more battery, bad! Fortunately I Bob (Marley) saved me! There is live music in one of the spaces (videos below) and I feel more relaxed. An island without Bob is no longer an island, right?

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Breakfast at the Meliá

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Oops, It’s Public Holiday!

Slow wake-up and breakfast at the Meliá Madeira Mare. I planned checking out cool shops of local designers for you (and me!). But everything is closed. So I comfortably lay near the swimming pool facing the ocean. Then I will have a lunch at The Vine and a guided tour of the historical center of Funchal.

Lunch at the Uva Restaurant

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The Return

I go to The Vine, another hotel designed by Nini Andrade Silva. I’ll end up to know all of them at least in Portugal (lol)! During the Festival do Atlantico, I had dinner at the excellent Uva Restaurant & Wine Bar (with a French chef) and then we watched the beautiful fireworks on the terrace.

Once more, the restaurant kept its promises. Great lunch! The food looks like paintings! Everything is delicious and the service is impeccable. I really enjoy the soothing views of the city and harbor. It feels good. The Vine and the Design Centre Nini Andrade Silva, are my two favorite places in Funchal!

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The Walk in the Historical Center

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More and Less Two Hours

before leaving the city to the Cristiano Ronaldo airport. So I joined one of the guides of History Tellers (an initiative of the University of Madeira Students’ Union (AAUMa). They offer circuits through the history of Madeira”. In addition to learn about Madeira, you will help students struggling financially.

I’ve already visited the historical center. But I have fun to rediscover it with a “documented eye”. Last time, I didn’t notice some doors and facades cafés in (or near) Santa Maria street, like the ones below. Pictured right: the famous Rainha do Fado,Amália Rodrigues. To read my previous articles on Funchal and Madeira, click HERE. 

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Photos: © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations 

Visit Madeira, Visit PortugalDesign Centre Nini AndradeThe VineMeliá Madeira Mare & History Tellers 

Related posts: HOTEL REVIEWS  &  DESTINATIONS

Many thanks to Visit Madeira and Visit Portugal for this beautiful invitation. Thanks also to the teams of the Design Centre Nini Andrade Silva, The Vine Hotel and Meliá Madeira Mare. As always these are my opinions.