Tag Archives: Wellness

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.

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.

Madeira: Weekend in Porto Santo, Day 1

Portugal-Madeira-Airport-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Madeira Airport

Portugal-Madeira-Airport-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

One of My Shortest Flight Ever: 

From Funchal to Porto Santo, a dreamy small island with a unique nine kilometer beach of golden sand lined and crystal clear water! I go there for a long sport and wellness weekend, between ocean and spa. I am super excited: it will be my first time in the island! Departure from the Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport (Madeira) with some arty monochrome-corridors, where I am in transit (above photo). 

Of course I didn’t sleep the night before: as always a thousand things to absolutely do! I’m in great shape, if I sit down, I fall asleep (lol)! A little walk to the shopphing corner. Photo below: some Poncha, the ultra strong cocktail of Madeira! The pretty bottles on the top look like sunscreen aerosols flavored with orange, passion fruits etc …

That’s it, we are three passengers to board : ) The small plane could be a private jet (first photo of the post)! 25 minutes flight including the wait on the tarmac, takeoff, landing and probably 10 minutes in clouds. I feel euphoric! No you will not see my tired eyes (lol)! Photos below: beautiful views from my window of the Atlantic Ocean and Porto Santo.

I love the rocky side of this volcanic island! An island is always a little magic!

Portugal-Madeira-Airport-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Flight-5A-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K  Portugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Flight-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Flight-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K  Portugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Flight-4A-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Airport-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Airport-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The View

Portugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Room-View-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

How Many Shades of Blue?

Awesome ocean and beach view from my room balcony! Oops, I lost the key of my suitcase lock and need to take my swimsuit. Nice afternoon program: after a light lunch, I have a treatment at the Hotel Porto Santo spa, a specialty of the island … 

Portugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Room-View-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Spa

Portugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Hotel-Spa-Treatment-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K  Portugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Hotel-Spa-6-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

A Superb Spa All to Myself!

This is luxury, I know it’s insane! And even crazier: me in this “sandbox” (picture above)! I should say : me, from chin to toe, covered by the island warm sand (40 degree celcius, I believe). Muito obrigada to the therapist to have refreshed my face with a wet towel several times.

The explanation: the volcanic island of Porto Santo is famous for the beautiful 9 km beach. The “biogenic carbonate” (Terramiga) sand of this beach is good for the skin, arthritis and rheumatism among others. In the past, the islanders took sand baths on the beach, but there were a lot of accidents due to the burns. Now in spa, the temperature is controlled.

After the Geomedicin sand treatment and a long cold shower, I can notice the relaxing effect. The body released tensions, is deeply relaxed and flexible. The skin is extremely soft (still a little redish due to the warm). In photos below: the different spaces of the elegant spa with modern facilities and direct access to the beach (photos below). To be continued… 

Portugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Hotel-Spa-7-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Hotel-Spa-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Hotel-Spa-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Hotel-Spa-Treatment-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Hotel-Spa-9-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Madeira-Porto-Santo-Hotel-Spa-8-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations 

Visit Madeira, Visit Portugal & Hotel Port Santo

Related Posts : HOTEL REVIEWS & DESTINATIONS

Many thanks to Visit Madeira and Visit Portugal for this wonderful discovery of the island of Porto Santo. As always these are my opinions.