Tidbits from Portugal

im Pena park

Hallo liebe Leute!

Der Sintra Naturpark im sonnigem Portugal – Portugal hat die meisten Sonnestunden von ganz Europa – ist eine wirklich besonders schoene Gegend.  Strand, Wald, Flora und Fauna,viele Sportarten: Surfen, Wandern, Tennis, Golf, Segeln, Radeln usw.,  historische Schloesser und Bauten, Parks, tolle prieswerte Restaurants, freundliche Menschen, gemuetliche Herbergen und Tophotels all dies und mehr hat diese Gegend zu bieten.  Und noch dazu das super milde Mittelmeerklima.  Ein paradise fuer Urlauber das ganze jahr hindurch.   www.parquesdesintra.pt gibt viel Auskunft.

Und dann gibt es noch Colina Flora,ein kleines aber feines, “gruenes” Landgasthaus, friedlich gelegen im Herzen vom Sintra Naturpark  www.colinaflora.commit tollen Wintersonderangebote.  

Ein Teil der tollen Kueste vom Sintra naturpark

waterfall in Monserrat park

Hello Everyone!

After two years of living and loving it here,  avidly walking and exploring the amazing Sintra Natural Park, we are still discovering new incredible paths and places.  Yesterday was a bright sunny day and we hiked from Colares Velho, a quaint little village, dreamily tucked on a hillside, through parts of the magical Sintra forest with its unique flora and fauna, past some crumbling houses,  to the remote village of Gigaros.  This hidden gem sits high in the hills of the Serra da Sintra, seems to have been forgotten by time.  There are  a few very old  village houses  still without have running water, an ancient convent being restored by an American who, according to rumors, collects houses in remote areas of the planet,  several large, beautiful manor houses,and  even a B&B which is for sale.  The public wash fountain was being used by several elderly and very friendly  ladies srubbing their laundry.  I was intrigued by the special huge bars of brown soap being used to remove stains the natural way with lots of  added elbow grease!!

Monserrat Palace,

We continued along  a high ridge to wonderful Monserat.  Monserat is a palace  and incredible park once a favorite retreat of Lord Byron´s.  It has been lovingly restored and is truely a place of special beauty.  The park has many species of unique flora and fauna, , grotos, waterfall, bridges, coves, follies etc and a cafe.   Visit www.parquesdesintra for more information.

a view from the walking trail in the Sintra Natural park

Hello Everyone!  Happy New Year!!

Thinking of escaping to a warmer climate with lots to offer ?  Consider Portugal!!  Due to the mild Mediterraean climate  many parts of Portugal  are  perfect for seeking warmth and sun during the winter months.  Portugal has the most sunshine hours of any European country. The Algarve is a sun seekers heaven with very little rainfall.  The Sintra Region is a bit cooler than the Algarve.  But also gets lots of sunshine.  There is some rain.  Most of it falling during November and February.  But daytime temperatures are usually between 12 and 17 degrees Celsius with cooler nights in the Sintra Region and between 16 and 22 in the Algarve. Flowers bloom abundantly during the Autumn, Winter and Spring.   

 The temperatures and sunshine are perfect for walking holidays.  Walking Holidays in the Sintra Natural Park are a delight: breathtaking coastal cliffs, pristine beaches and shorelines, magical forests, romantic historical sites, unique flora and fauna, friendly people, great restaurants at affordable prices etc.   All this and more  makes for a memorable and truely enjoyable experience.

Colina Flora, a rural, ” green” country guesthouse located in the heart of the amazing Sintra Natural Park offers year round centered walking holiday tailored to suit  each walker.  Walking holidays begin any time of the year.  But from November 1 to March 31, low season, prices are lower.  www.colinaflora.com for more information.   Also check-out the Sintra Natural Park website www.parquesdesintra.pt for information.

Hello Vegetarians!!

A new wave of vegetarian restaurants, cafes and inns is flooding Portugal.  In 2009 the Lonely Planet guide to Portugal stated that Portugal is a difficult country for vegetarians.  This has drastically changed.  Many new vegetarian venues have recently opened and continue to open and not only in the big cities such as Lisbon and porto.

Even in our small village of Almocageme, Centro Tinkuy  (sse them on Facebook) is  serving delicious vegan meals. 

The wonderful Gallery/Events venue Flores Do Cabo www.floresdocabo.pt will be opening a vegetarian cafe in the Spring.  Currently they are offering a wide selection of cooking classes, meditation/yoga/tantra workshops.  Flores do Cabo is also selling a wonderful selection of organic artisan sourdough breads, artisan organic olive oil, honey and more, besides their selection of wonderful art, unique furniture, antiques and floral arrangemnets.

Flores do Cabo

Quinta 7 Nomes www.7nomes.pt , the local Natural Foods Cooperative in Colares, offers vegetarian lunches on Tuesdays.

And Colina Flora www.colinaflora.com is a “green” B&B peacefully located in the heart of the beautiful Sintra Natural Park (a walkers paradise), with ocean views, and only 3km to the most amazing Adraga Beach (one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in portugal – some say in Europe).  The owners are vegetarians and serve great Food For Life organic breakfast and dinners upon request.

Hello Everyone!

More and more visitors to Portugal  are seeking environmentally friendly places to stay while traveling in this hidden gem of Europe.  And more and more guesthouses, B&Bs and hotels are jumping on the bandwagon to offer “green” services to guests.  Recently the first certified bio-hotel was opened in Portugal.  The Hotel Lusitana is located in north central Portugal in the lovely city of Guarda  www.hotellusitanaparque.com.  This area is a bit off the beaten tourist track but truely worth exploring while touring Portugal. 

Travelers desiring to tread lightly are also seeking  charming, unique and “green” B&Bs that are usuallyoffer a much more rewarding experience thanlarge mass tourism hotels.

A beautiful small hotel is the Monte da Xica www.montedaxica.com.  In a Nautre preserve in coastal Alentejo it is a wonderful place to retreat to.  Beautiful beaches, glorious countryside, great rooms,and friendly hosts dedicated to sustainablilty.

Colina Flora www.colinaflora.com is a small, yet lovely “green” guesthouse peacefully located in the heart of the Beautiful Sintra Natural Park, with ocean views and only 3 km from amazing Adrag Beach it is a delight refuge and yet centrally located.  The hosts are enthusiastic about organic agriculture, Food For Life meals, and supporting locally groen/produced products.

 Colina Flora

Hello Everyone!

I must admit the only time of the year when I miss my homeland of Germany is with the on set of the Holiday Season/Advent.  I still decorate the house and have made wreaths for the doors and dining table, bake cookies, make wonderful soothing pies.  And I do not miss the snow, ice and freezing cold and am thrilled with  all the flowers in bloom. 

So instead of pine boughs, www.colinaflora.com guestrooms are decorated with these  wonderful flowers of the season.

These are some of the flowers currently blooming in our garden and I am so and amazed with.  The 6 Camellia trees in our organic garden, next to the guest kitchen, have just started blooming.

 Calla Lilys are popping up in our garden and grow abundantly along our walking paths in the Sintra Natural Park.  These will bloom into March.

 Birds of Paradise are so amazing and I love putting one in each guest room. 

 And yellow Asters grow wild.