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
  • Festivals 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, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Christmas Health & Wellbeing Lifestyle Portugal

OUR 3 YEAR MILESTONE

Wow, what a year we have experienced! Time has flown by at lightning speed and I can’t believe that...

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December 29, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Avião e Janela Penacova Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Miradouro (Viewpoint) Mountain Region Nature Penacova Penedo de Castro Penedos da Carvoeira Portugal PR1 PCV Praia Fluvial do Reconquinho Tourist attraction

AVIÃO E JANELA PENACOVA & PR1 PCV HIKING TRAIL

After all our tacky Christmas theme park adventures and bright sparkling lights of Portuguese cities it’s time to get...

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December 28, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Christmas Family Portugal Religious Celebration

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS 2022 IN PORTUGAL

I love Christmastime in Portugal as it’s such a calm and relaxing celebration. It’s a refreshing change and so...

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December 20, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Baloiço Celebrations Christmas Christmas Village Festivals Gastronomy Historic Portuguese Village Mountain Region Nativity Scene Nature Portugal Presépio Religious Celebration Serra da Estrela Swings of Portugal Tourist attraction

CABEÇA ALDEIA NATAL 2022

Cabeça is one of my favourite local historical mountain schist villages in Serra da Estrela. At Christmas time the...

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December 19, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Castelo Mágico Castle Celebrations Christmas Christmas theme park Leisure & recreation Montemor-O-Velho Portugal Tourist attraction

A DAY TRIP TO CASTELO MÁGICO (MONTEMOR-O-VELHO)

We had so much fun at the amazing Perlim Christmas theme park that I booked tickets for a similar...

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December 19, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Coimbra Important information Portugal SEF WA Biometric Card

SEF VISIT TO OBTAIN OUR WA BIOMETRIC CARDS – OUR EXPERIENCE

The long awaited WA Biometric SEF appointments are presently being issued in many areas. I was shocked to receive...

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December 8, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Castelo de Santa Maria da Feira Castle Celebrations Christmas Christmas theme park Leisure & recreation Perlim Portugal Tourist attraction

AN AFTERNOON TRIP TO PERLIM CHRISTMAS THEME PARK (CASTELO DE SANTA MARIA DA FEIRA)

Perlim is one of the largest and most unique Christmas theme parks in the country. The project was born...

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December 2, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Coimbra Coimbra University Hospital Doctors Health & Wellbeing Laser Eye Surgery Portugal Surgery

SUDDEN VISION LOSS, EMERGENCY LASER EYE SURGERY IN PORTUGAL & MY POST OP UPDATE

I recently experienced one of the most terrifying health scares of my life! Saturday 26th November was a glorious...

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November 24, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Castelo de Alcobaça Castle Monastery Mosteiro de Alcobaça Mostra Internacional Doces e Licores Conventuais Museu do Vinho de Alcobaça Museum Pedro & Inês em Cerãmica de Alcobaça (Percurso Camoniano) Portugal Portuguese cake Portuguese Gardens Religious Tourist Attraction Self guided walking tour Wine tasting experience

HUBBY’S BELATED 49TH BIRTHDAY TRIP TO MOSTEIRO DE ALCOBAÇA

Hubby’s birthday was last month but his birthday week was a wild, wet and windy week, a total wash...

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November 16, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Animals Egg Count Health & Wellbeing Keeping hens Pets Portugal

EGG COUNT

This might seem like a bizarre post but due to the fact that I am more than a little...

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November 15, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Bridges Cascata do Caldeirão Cascatas do Ribeiro dos Barrocais Forest Geopark Guarda Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Historic Portuguese Village Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Miradouro (Viewpoint) Mountain Region Natural Park Nature Passadiços Passadiços do Mondego Portugal Serra da Estrela Tourist attraction Waterfall

A DAY TRIP TO PASSADIÇOS DO MONDEGO

I have been eagerly and patiently awaiting the final completion of the Passadiços do Mondego (Mondego Walkway), located in...

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November 10, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Castle Celebrations Chestnut Festival Chestnuts Entertainment Festa da Castanha Festa da Castanha Aldeia de Montanha de Folgosinho Festivals Gastronomy Geopark Historic Portuguese Village Leisure & recreation Mountain Region Natural Park Nature Portugal Portuguese cake Serra da Estrela Tourist attraction

FESTA DA CASTANHA ALDEIA DE MONTANHA DE FOLGOSINHO (OUR FIRST CHESTNUT FESTIVAL IN PORTUGAL)

Autumn is a very special and magical season in Portugal. I LOVE this time of year as it’s chestnut...

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November 9, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Feira dos Santos Festivals Gastronomy Leisure & recreation Markets Portugal Portuguese cake Tourist attraction Wine tasting experience

FEIRA DOS SANTOS (MANGUALDE) 2022

Feira dos Santos is a cultural centenary event located in Mangulade which welcomes thousands of visitors each year. It...

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November 8, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Coimbra Forest Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Historic Portuguese Village Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Moinhos da Aveleira Nature Penacova Portugal Tourist attraction Waterfall Windmills

RIBEIRA DE ARCOS HIKING TRAIL (PENACOVA PR4 PCV)

All Saints’ Day fell on a Tuesday this year and hubby had a well deserved day off work so...

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November 8, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Coimbra Fornos da Cal Leisure & recreation Livraria do Mondego Miradouro (Viewpoint) Mirante Emygdio da Silva Moinhos de Gavinhos Monastery Mosteiro de Lorvâo Mountain Region Nature Penacova Penedo de Castro Portugal Portuguese cake Praia Fluvial do Reconquinho Praia Fluvial do Vimieiro Religious Tourist Attraction River Beach Roteiro do Arista Self guided driving tour Tourist attraction Windmills

ROTEIRO DO ARISTA (PENACOVA)

Penacova is such a hidden treasure of raw beauty that I just had to return to complete the Roteiro...

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November 4, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Clouds Coimbra Hiking trail Leisure & recreation Miradouro (Viewpoint) Moinhos da Aveleira Moinhos da Serra da Atalhada Moinhos de Gavinhos Moinhos de Portela de Oliveira Molinological Complex Mountain Region Museu do Moinho Vitorino Nemésio Museum Nature Penacova Portugal Tourist attraction Windmills

A DAY TRIP EXPLORING THE WINDMILLS OF PENACOVA

The Wonderful Whimsical Windmills of Penacova are simply magical. Penacova is located in the Coimbra region and the first...

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October 21, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Clouds Coimbra Convent Gastronomy Historic Portuguese Village Leisure & recreation Miradouro (Viewpoint) Moinhos da Serra da Atalhada Monastery Mosteiro de Lorvâo Mostra Nacional de Doçaria Conventual Mountain Region Nature Penacova Portugal Portuguese cake Praia Fluvial do Vimieiro Religious Tourist Attraction River Beach Roteiro do Arista Windmills

A DAY TRIP TO MOSTEIRO DE LORVÃO (PENACOVA)

If you have never had the pleasure to visit Penacova in your lifetime and you adore unique encounters with...

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October 12, 2022
  • By Helen
  • Bridges Coimbra Forest Health & Wellbeing Hiking trail Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Mountain Region Nature Pampilhosa da Serra Portugal River Beach Schist Village Tourist attraction Wells

CAMINHO DO XISTO DA BARRAGEM DE SANTA LUZIA HIKING TRAIL (PAMPILHOSA DA SERRA PR3 PPS)

Now that I am over the worst of my tooth drama I decided to make the most out of...

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October 10, 2022