The Bubble Experience
A few nights ago, we slept in a literal bubble. I've been curious about what that would be like since I first saw a bubble hotel featured on Instagram. But, beyond just wanting to go through what seemed like a cool experience, part of my curiosity was for the practical, logistical side of things. (Yes - I'm that person who'll watch an adventure movie of a couple hiking through incredible landscapes, and wonder what they're eating, where they're going to the bathroom, and how the woman would manage if
Next stop: Faia Brava Natural Reserve
Today, 3 March 2021, is World Wildlife Day, an opportunity to honour the rich variety of wildlife we can encounter in Portugal. (Note: This is not a sponsored post! We don't stand to gain anything if you book any of the activities below.) Located in the ancient Côa Valley, the Faia Brava Reserve, known for birdwatching among other things, is the first and only private protected area of the country – and is less than 1h30 from Casa Beatrix. The natural environment consists of a mix of gorges, dramatic cliffs,
What to do in the Serra da Estrela area – Fall & Winter
The Serra da Estrela - the “mountain of the stars” - is the highest mountain range of mainland Portugal, two hours away from the vibrant city of Porto. As the largest conservation area in the country, the Serra da Estrela is well known for its wild and raw nature. This extends to wool making, artisanal products, the shepherding tradition, the abundance of wild rivers and vast green pastures. While summers are hot, averaging from mid-30s (centigrade) with a few days in the 40s, winters can be rough by Portuguese standards.
Interview on Farmstead Talk
Earlier this week, I had a wonderful talk with Gloria from Farmstead Talk. We "met" on Instagram, and chatted via Zoom. Ah, the beauty of social media and technology. Gloria is a retired nurse (back at work to provide additional Covid19 support to her community) who lives on a farm in the mountains and embarked on a project to interview one homestead for each of the 50 states in the US. Then she decided to expand her interviews to international projects, which is where we raised our hand, almost