July 2013
The blissful hot August breeze and the singing cicadas are the basic elements of the constant dream of summer in the South, which we Scandinavians have to live with. The wavy, harvest yellow landscape that flickers and shimmers in the midday heat, but constantly changing nature with the weather and circadian rhythms has been a unimaginably beautiful nature given frame of our stay in Alcaria Fria. This tenacious and very extensive entrepreneurial project at one of this civilization's most advanced outposts must not only be praised to the skies, but it is with great and honest admiration that we must note that there is hope yet for the old nation whencontrymen throw themselves in a project where a hopeless ruin in the middel of nowhere at the end of a curly road turned into a blessed holiday paradise of this nature. And the very COMPLETELY genius fact that nearest well-stocked chandlers place is Intermarche in Sao Braz, means that the perfect rally route to Alcaria Fria shall be conducted at least once a day. Our rented Opel diesel picks and a pesky automatic handbrake was beaten so badly that the asphalt was even more wrinkled and more places pushed into the nice landscape, so the road authorities have had to make small detours with gravel roads, which only made the route even more fun ....
See you in Alcaria Fria
Biddi & Mads Rugholm
Our experience of Portugal in week 30 2013
We where in the little paradise in Portugal in week 30.
The site consists of two charming houses which the owner with great love has refurbished over the years , '
In the big house there are 2 double bedrooms, a lovely large bathroom with shower and washing machine, a passage and a kitchen with dining table and sofa at the other end . There are two large sliding doors opening onto the terrace , in the middle of the day is in the shade of a majestic Carob tree on the terrace , were two tables that we put together so we could all eat at a large table .
The terrace continues in front of the second house where there was a really nice outdoor sofa , which was always in use by someone who sat and enjoy talking, playing cards, reading or got himself nap .
In the second house there is a double room a large kitchen dining area with ceiling up in the ridge and with a double sofa bed , a lovely bathroom with access from the sleeping room and directly asses outside. Beside that there is a room which is used as a workshop with everything a "do it yourself" would wish for . ,
Between the two houses is a stairway to the roof of the big house where there is a terraces in full house sizes , from here you have a 360 ° view from the house.
Between the two houses , there is a staircase down to the foot of the carob tree, In this level there is a large paved terrace with a lovely swimming pool , deck chairs, there is an outdoor shower and a shady sitting area with table and chairs .
From the terraces there are magnificent views and the Portuguese mountains covered with ancient olive trees, a magnificent peaceful views you just can not have enough ,
We were two families , each with three children aged 11 to 17 years . We adults slept in one house and the kids in the large . One night slept all 6 children on the roof it seemed they were really nice .
In both houses are well equipped kitchens. We cooked in turns , one day at a time , fathers one day mothers another day , the three boys were together and the three girls were together to cook one day.
So we had two days doing nothing but swimming, read, play and really relaxing.
Lots of interesting books ("Owners comment:" mainly in Danish) and fun game where everyone in the family can participate. In addition to the lovely relaxing atmosphere in and around the house , there was opportunity for walks and get a sense of a bygone era where the Portuguese families lived up here
In addition to enjoying the beautiful tranquil scenery of the mountains , we were on trips to a big beautiful beach , a fish market , a shopping center, and a large market on Sundays.
A fantastic recommended worthy place for those who want to fully relax and enjoy the little paradise with a beautiful view you just can not get enough of.
By Jan Bjerre
June 2013:
We were 8 retired people, 2 of which had been there several times before, and we took 8 day vacation at the lovely place Alcaria Fria. All 8 agreed that it was a magnificent place in a quiet area with some lovely houses that met our needs and with a lovely nature. And we enjoyed the swimming pool very much.
Jørgen and Birgit.
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