Month: May 2013

Weekend getaway: London

Friday, 4:00 p.m. Arrived in London by train from Scotland. Hoped off at Queensway metro station and it was a 5 minutes walk until we reached the hotel. Strolling Notting Hill streets towards UMI Hotel London ,  felt like getting to my private apartment,  in one of London’s most known neighborhoods. There were children getting out from school, tourists taking pictures at metro’s logo entrance, hip shops and white painted houses in a row and there I was arriving at hotel’s first door steps. It was winter time and snow was forecasted for the next few days. A warm entrance and friendly receptionist  welcomes me “home in London“. The  hotel ‘s lobby was very nice…lots of light coming in from the big bright wooden windows lying along the front of the building and also inside my room. They had also o a handy cafe/restaurant that opened at night, for snacks and drinks. The room had a comforting white linen bed (white beds are the best) with a private bathroom and a hot strong streaming shower, the perfect ending for a long day travel! Saturday Waking …

Solar da Bica – Rural Tourism Retreat

Se procuras um lugar para dormir, longe do ruido da cidade, com um ambiente relaxante, no meio das montanhas… lembra-te deste nome Solar da Bica. Solar da Bica é uma casa de Turismo Rural, no vale de São Vicente, na costa Norte da Madeira. If you’re looking for a place to stay, far from the city buzz, with a relaxed atmosphere and stunning views, remember the name “Solar da Bica” Solar da Bica is a lovely sanctuary in the middle of São Vicente Valley, north coast of Madeira island. Uma antiga casa côr de rosa ( de facto, a única desta cor nas redondezas, por muitos anos, de acordo com memórias de infância) conquistou os seus proprietários que logo quiseram abraçar este projeto. Chegamos ao Solar da Bica ao final do dia, numa sexta feira. Saí do trabalho, fui buscar os miúdos à escola e lá fomos nós. Demoramos cerca de 40 minutos desde o Funchal, nas calmas. Está bem identificado o local. Apesar de estar nevoeiro e chuvoso, assim que lá chegámos soube-nos a …