Hi, I'm Helen
Welcome to my blog and my home 'Casa Valhal' in Portugal. I hope you enjoy my adventures x
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Casa Valhal
March 23, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Home

CASA VALHAL (Living the dream)

Welcome to Casa Valhal, a rustic 3 bed schist house, located in the village of Vinhó, a few minutes...

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March 21, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Portugal

WELCOME TO VINHÓ

Welcome to our little village of Vinhó which is situated in the parish of Vila Cova de Alva, in...

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December 31, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Lifestyle Portugal

OUR 12 MONTH MILESTONE

Today is New Year’s eve and our 12 month milestone. It is really weird to think that we have...

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December 27, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Christmas Portugal

CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY AND BOXING DAY IN PORTUGAL 2020

My family Christmas was cancelled just hours before my children were to board the plane from Bristol to Porto....

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December 13, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Christmas Gastronomy Portugal Religious Celebration

CHRISTMAS IN PORTUGAL

Celebrating a Covid Christmas This is going to be our first Christmas in Portugal. Easyjet cancelled so many of...

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December 8, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations National Public Holiday Portugal Religious Celebration

DIA DA IMACULADA CONCEIÇÃO

Immaculate Conception Day (8th December) Today Portugal celebrates its National public holiday: Immaculate Conception day otherwise known as the...

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December 1, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations National Public Holiday Portugal

O DIA DA RESTAURAÇÃO DA INDEPENDÊNCIA

Restoration of Independence Day (1st December) Today Portugal celebrates its National public holiday: Restoration of Independence Day. Portugal commemorates...

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November 26, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Course Health & Wellbeing Portugal

NATURAL BODY CARE COURSE AT QUINTA DO COBRAL

I have always wanted to try making my own body and hair products at home but have never really...

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November 1, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Death National Public Holiday Portugal Religious Celebration

DIA DE TODOS OS SANTOS (ALL SAINTS’ DAY)

Today (1st November) is All Saints’ Day and a National Public Holiday here in Portugal. All Saints’ Day is...

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October 31, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Halloween Portugal

HAPPY HALLOWEEN (O DIA DAS BRUXAS)

Halloween is not widely celebrated in Portugal and will never have as strong a tradition as the U.S.A or...

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October 30, 2020
  • By Helen
  • City Park Health & Wellbeing Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Nature Portugal Tourist attraction

A DAY TRIP TO PARQUE MANUEL BRAGA AND PARQUE VERDE DO MONDEGO

Park Life On a recent trip to Coimbra we discovered two wonderful city parks. Parque Manuel Braga is a...

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October 28, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Death Important information Portugal Wills

MAKING A WILL IN PORTUGAL

Where there’s a Will there’s a relative (ha ha) We made U.K wills a few years ago before we...

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October 26, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Botanical Garden Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Nature Poetry Portugal Self guided walking tour Tourist attraction

A DAY TRIP TO JARDIM BOTÃNICO AND PENEDO DA SAUDADE (COIMBRA)

Mission and History of the Botanical Garden The Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra, founded in 1772 by...

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October 25, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Health & Wellbeing Hotels Leisure & recreation Portugal Thermal Spa

A BIRTHDAY TRIP TO TERMAS DE LUSO

Termas de Luso (Luso Thermal Spa) Termas do Luso (Luso Thermal Spa) is located in the parish of Luso,...

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October 21, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Circus/Aerial skill classes Health & Wellbeing Leisure & recreation Portugal

AERIAL SKILLS

Now that we have settled into Portugal life I thought it was about time I joined a class or...

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October 19, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Animals Convent Forest Hiking trail Hotels Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Mountain Region Nature Portugal Tourist attraction

A DAY TRIP TO MATA NACIONAL DO BUÇACO

A snipet of History Buçaco National Forest is an ancient, arboretum in Luso, a protected area located in Serra do...

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October 12, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Animals Coastal beach Forest Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Mountain Region Nature Portugal Tourist attraction Zoo

EUROPARADISE PARQUE ZOOLÓGICO

Hubby decided to take me on a mystery tour which included a trip to Europaradise Zoological Park then onto...

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October 2, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Building work DIY Home and Garden Portugal

OUTSIDE MAINTENANCE

We have a few big DIY jobs that need to be completed on the outside of our home and...

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September 26, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Pets Portugal Vets

SOURCING A VET IN PORTUGAL

Rabbit vaccines Although there are many vets in Portugal it was quite difficult to source a vet that provides...

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September 17, 2020
  • By Helen
  • House purchasing Important information Location Portugal

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

When we purchased our house we did some research and knew that we wanted a casa in a tranquil,...

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September 17, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Gastronomy Home and Garden Insects/Wildlife Portugal Recipes

FIGS, FIGS AND MORE FIGS

We have a gigantic fig tree in our garden and we have no clue how to look after figs...

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September 15, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Forest Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Leisure Zone Nature Portugal Tourist attraction

ZONA DE LAZER DA BARRIL DO ALVA

This leisure zone area is located in the village of Barril de Alva, next to the bridge and on...

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September 15, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Animals Castle Forest Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Mountain Region Nature Portugal River Beach Tourist attraction

SCHIST AVÔ WALKING TRAIL

On Sunday afternoon I had a great idea of going on one of the official hiking routes along the...

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September 15, 2020
  • By Helen
  • Forest Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Nature Portugal River Beach

A DAY TRIP TO PRAIA FLUVIAL DE SÃO SEBASTIÃO DA FEIRA

The river beach season is coming to an end so we decided to explore one more local treasure. The...

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September 11, 2020