Tag Archives: Visit Portugal

Madère: 24h à Funchal

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Funchal express 

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Dîner au Design Center Nini Andrade Silva  

En arrivant à Funchal, à peine descendue du Ferry (parti de Porto Santo), je suis face à l’entrée du Design Centre Nini Andrade Silva, situé en bout de quai (photo 1 du montage ci-dessus). J’avais visité les lieux avec la designer Nini Andrade Silva, pendant les travaux. Quelle surprise en découvrant les différents espaces terminés avec ses créations emblématiques: l’ensemble est très réussi!

J’aime beaucoup les terrasses (première photo du post et photo ci-dessous) et le graphique restaurant noir et blanc, avec une vue à 360 degrés sur l’océan et Funchal (photos du montage ci-dessus). L’ambiance est très agréable, la cuisine goûteuse et l’équipe souriante. Seul bémol : je ressemble à un épouvantail après ma longue virée outdoors à Porto Santo, plus le ferry pendant plus de deux heures (lol)!

Et la batterie de mon appareil photo qui me lâche, la totale! Heureusement j’entends Bob (Marley), il y a un concert dans un des espaces (vidéos ci-dessous) et là je relâche toute tension. Une île sans Bob, n’est plus vaiment une île, non?

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Petit déjeuner à l’hôtel Meliá

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Oups, jour férié!

Réveil nonchalant au Meliá Madeira Mare. Je pensais découvrir quelques adresses de créateurs locaux et boutiques sympas pour vous (et moi!), mais tout est fermé. Alors je lézarde confortablement face à l’océan, avant mon déjeuner à l’hôtel The Vine. Suivi d’un tour du centre historique de Funchal, sous la houlette d’un guide.

Déjeuner au restaurant Uva

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Le retour!

Direction The Vine, encore un hôtel dont la décoration a été conçue par Nini Andrade Silva : je vais finir par tous les connaître au Portugal (lol)! Lors du Festival do Atlanticoj’ai dîné à l’excellent Uva Restaurant & Wine Bar (dont le chef est français), puis ensuite nous sommes restés admirer les superbes feux d’artifices, sur la terrasse.

A nouveau, le restaurant a tenu ses promesses : superbe déjeuner! Les assiettes se succèdent belles comme des peintures! Tout est délicieux, le service est impeccable et la vue sur la ville ou le port, apaise. On s’y sent bien. Avec le Design Centre Nini Andrade Silva, ce sont mes deux adresses préférées de Funchal!

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Promenade dans le centre historique

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Plus que deux heures

avant de quitter la ville pour l’aéroport (de Madère) Cristiano Ronaldo. Aussi après mon déjeuner tardif, je rejoins un des guides d’History Tellers (une initiative de l’Association Académique de l’Université de Madère (AAUMa) qui proposent des circuits “de visites à travers l’histoire de Madère“. En plus de vous cultiver, vous aiderez des étudiants en difficulté.

Je connaissais déjà un peu le centre historique que j’ai beaucoup de plaisir à redécouvrir avec un oeil plus “documenté”. La fois précédente, des portes et certaines façades de cafés m’avaient échappées dans ou près de la rue Santa Maria, comme celles ci-dessous. Sur la photo de droite : la célèbre Rainha do Fado, Amália Rodrigues. Pour lire mes précédents articles sur Funchal et l’île de Madère, cliquez ICI. 

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Photos: © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations 

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

Autres articles: HOTEL REVIEWS  &  DESTINATIONS

Un grand merci à Visit Madeira et Visit Portugal pour cette superbe invitation. Merci aussi aux équipes du Design Centre Nini Andrade Silva, The Vine Hotel et Meliá Madeira Mare. Comme toujours ce sont mes opinions.

Weekend in Porto Santo – Day 3

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Sunrise Walk

 

Challenge of the Day: 

invigorating walk of the 9 km beach while sun rises. A must do! The landscape looks like a movie set, with an impressive natural light (the photographer is speaking). Stunning blond-golden sand! We can only hear the sound of waves. Finally quiet!                            

First picture of the article: a wink to spaghetti westerns, my silhouette draped in a kikoi (sarong / scarve from Kenya). The bottom of the air is fresh. Video above: the start of walking, the day is struggling to break through. And video below: 1h30-2h later, how the light changed!   

Ditto for the two below pictures of the beach: the round trip. Between: the photo of the historic pier of Porto Santo. I feel being like on a Florida or California beach. No time to swim, I have to go to my spa appointment!

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The Thalasso Spa

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The Baleira Thalasso Spa

Perfect timing to relax my muscles after two hours of sport. Facing the beautiful beach (1), the Baleira Thalasso Spa is the only thalassotherapy center of Porto Santo and one of the best equipped of Portugal too (photos above and below).   

After a quick shower, I was guided to the saltwater bath heated to 37 ° (3 & 4) and a cold water course with powerful jets (much like the one I tested in Bali).   

Then I joined my smiling therapist in swimsuits, for a tonic “Vichy massage”! Fantastic: the best massage under (seawater) jets I’ve ever had, you feel the fat take off (LOL). After: no more tension throughout the body … or in the head! Grazie mille to my Italian therapist!

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Inside the Island

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Stunning Landscapes

After lunch, I’m on my way for a private tour in 4×4 of the island, with the Lazermar Travel Agency, a business run by a very professional and sympathetic family, passionated about its island! I have a less than 3 hours before my departure by ferry to Madeira!      

Check out the landscape diversity of this small island of 42 km (photos above and below)!         

I am wowed by the geological curiosities: above photo and in the center of the island, the ground covered with fossils of sea snails. Small vineyards enclosed by stone walls. And heritage with the old windmills near the Miradouro da Portela. I also visited a traditional house dating from the 18th century … Some of the landscapes remind of Africa.

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Departure to Madeira

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Ferry during 2:15

Rushed arrival at the harbour at the end of boarding (lol). I don’t have time to take few stuff in my suitcase to change me during the crossing. I am full of sand and dust (the joys of the outdoors)!                    

Because once arrived in Funchal (Madeira), I go straight to dinner at the Design Center Nini Andrade Silva (last picture of the article: the building on the left is the Design Center Nini Andrade Silva).                           

During the crossing, I stayed on a bridge to fix the horizon and I saw dolphins! And booster shot: the ad on the Porto Santo Line ferry: “Save Our Ocean, don’t throw litter in the sea”! See you in Funchal …

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Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations 

Visit Madeira, Visit PortugalVila Baleira Thalasso Spa & Lazermar Travel Agency

Related Posts : DESTINATIONSHOTEL REVIEWS & BEAUTY

Many thanks to Visit Madeira and Visit Portugal for this wonderful discovery of the island of Porto Santo. Thanks also to my awesome therapist at The Vila Baleira Thalasso Spa and the Lazermar Travel Agency for the fantastic tour of the island! As always these are my opinions.

Porto Santo: Diving & Dolphins – Day 2

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Good Morning Porto Santo!

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My First Nitrox Diving

This morning, no time to hang out on the beach. I go to Rhea Dive to try my 7 mm wetsuit and equipment. I don’t travel with my heavy equipment anymore. The diving center has a wide range of impeccable equipment to rent or purchase.

Two other confirmed divers join us. Miguel and Milton, the Padi instructors, drive us to the Porto Santo harbour (below photo 1). We change here (2). Not a sound, as if the whole island was still asleep! I’m a excited I will dive Nitrox for the first time! I’ve never dived with enriched air Nitrox! Small briefing by Miguel about the spot where we are going to dive.

Cloudy weather: on the small boat, the air is cold and a little choppy sea. Too much current, we move to another diving spot. I dive with Miguel which is really calm. The water is freezing, but I forget very quickly: the underwater world is so relaxing. And I’m euphoric, when I encounter my first and only ray of this 44 minute dive : ))

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Dolphin Watching

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After Lunch

Back to the harbour for a long boat ride organized by Mar Dourado Company, among some islets facing Porto Santo (above photo: the coastline of Porto Santo). And if we are lucky enough, we will see some dolphins.

Very temperamental my friends the dolphins (lol)! I’ll see just one or two super hurry : )) Now the sky is clear with bright light! What an impressive landscape! Better than a long speech, enjoy my photos (below)! Picture 1, The traditional cake of fishermen. In fact, its consistency looks like a rusk with a neutral taste pretty salty.

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The Beach

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Late Sunset  

Before dinner, I finally take time to explore some of the famous nine kilometers beach with golden sand. Magic! To be continued…

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Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations 

Visit Madeira, Visit PortugalRhea Dive & Mar Dourado Company

Related Posts : HOTEL REVIEWS & DESTINATIONS

Many thanks to Visit Madeira and Visit Portugal for this wonderful discovery of the island of Porto Santo. Thanks to Miguel Matos, the Rhea Dive team and the Mar Dourado Company too! As always these are my opinions.