The best of two worlds

Inside/Outside

New snow.

Ready to go to work.

Wishing you a great week ahead.

Gina 

Pousadas, historic Inns of Portugal

If you love to travel in style

then staying at a Pousada is your ticket.

portugalreisen
Pousadas are an exclusive chain of historic hotels.

portugalreisen
Luxurious Inns, often renovated castles, monasteries and palaces.

portugalreisen
They were created in the forties by the Portuguese government to help the economy of otherwise forgotten medieval villages and, of course, preserve the historic structures, their national treasures. 

jessicajones@the local.com
Should you take a little excursion into Spain, similar accommodations exist in Spain where they are called Paradores. 

portugalreisen
Often, Pousadas and Paradores are situated on hilltops (defense posts in earlier times) where they can be seen from the valley floor a long distance away, saving you the hassle of searching for the next stopover.  

portugalreisen
Regional cuisine is often served at these historic inns.

portugalreisen
You are transported through eight centuries of history.

Hotel Bussaco

Many years ago, we traveled through Portugal by car and visited many Pousadas.  We didn't need reservations then.  Pousadas have become very popular and reservations are recommended. 

So much of the old and historic has been honored while guests enjoy every comfort. 
Every single space has been renovated to a standard of the highest luxury.  

Of course I have picked most of our hotels which have preserved the tradition of hand painted tiles. 

This will be our first night's stopover, the Pousada Convento Evora.

The perfect hotel to rest up after a long flight

Can't think of a better place to become re-acquainted with beautiful and historic Portugal.


Wishing you a great week ahead. 

Gina 

Tulips say the darndest things.

Don't they. 

They stretch and grow in all directions. 

They are talking to you. 

They keep on growing. Don't they know that part of them was left behind?

Some like to show off their faces.

And some like to hide their faces. 

Will they come up again this Spring? 

They will have to work very hard to come through all this snow. 

Have a wonderful weekend dear friends, 
and stay warm. 

Gina  

There will be more

Snow, that is

The horse trough fountain is without water,  the Christmas tree has lost its splendor.

Only a little puddle is open, the rest of the pond has frozen over.   The geese and most of the ducks have left. 

Looks lonesome doesn't it. It isn't.

As soon as the sun comes out the world changes.

Have to clear the snow from the windows. 

The greenhouse is heated only by the sun.  

The rest of the snow has melted from the glass. 

That is where my geraniums live during the cold months. 
Some of them are more than 20 years old. 

My greenhouse has blue walls...
they absorb the sun's rays and give off the heat at night. 


 

Petunias are like geraniums, they never stop blooming.

One of my most favorite greenhouse flowers are the Nasturtiums.  
They don't ask for much, a little water now and then, that's all. 

Iceland Poppies are easy.  I make sure that I plant a few in pots so that I can bring them inside.  

Many species of cacti. 

In other words, I can have flowers all winter,
even if only a little petite bouquet. 


Stay warm dear friends, 

Gina 

Guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr

And so it was.
A very good Year.



The Haflingers pulled us into the New Year. 

And  champagne did the rest. 

Happy New Year dear Friends. 

Gina