Hi, I'm Helen
Welcome to my blog and my home 'Casa Valhal' in Portugal. I hope you enjoy my adventures x
  • Home
  • What’s it all about
  • All about me
  • Intro
  • Guides
  • Contact Me
  • Galleries
    • Daughter’s Summer Visit 2020
    • Daughter’s Summer Visit 2021
    • Daughter’s Summer Visit 2022
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...

Continue reading
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...

Continue reading
March 16, 2023
  • By Helen
  • Cheese Festival Festa do Queijo Oliveira do Hospital Festivals Gastronomy Portugal Serra da Estrela

FESTA DO QUEIJO – CHEESE FESTIVAL (OLIVEIRA DO HOSPITAL – SERRA DA ESTRELA)

We attended our first ever local Cheese Festival! The biggest cheese festival in Portugal is held just 20 mins...

Continue reading
February 28, 2023
  • By Helen
  • Gastronomy Health & Wellbeing Lifestyle Portugal Weight Loss

STAYING FIT & HEALTHY IN PORTUGAL 2023

2023 is a whole new year to focus on my health and fitness. You may have read my previous...

Continue reading
February 24, 2023
  • By Helen
  • Adopting Guinea Pigs Animals Pets Portugal

ADOPTING GUINEA PIGS IN PORTUGAL

I have a crazy pipe dream of rescuing a couple of donkey’s. We don’t currently have a suitable plot...

Continue reading
February 22, 2023
  • By Helen
  • Carnival Celebrations Gastronomy Portugal Religious Celebration Shrove Tuesday

OUR SHROVE TUESDAY AND CARNIVAL DAY CELEBRATION 2023

We had a blast celebrating Shrove Tuesday and Carnival, what a wonderful double celebration. A day of confession and...

Continue reading
February 16, 2023
  • By Helen
  • Celebrations Gastronomy Portugal Portuguese cake Valentine's Day

VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATION 2023

If I’m honest, I am not a massive fan of Valentine’s Day. I don’t think we should be pressured...

Continue reading
February 3, 2023
  • By Helen
  • Garden Health & Wellbeing Insects/Wildlife Leisure & recreation Nature Portugal

FROM SEED TO FEED (OUR FRUIT, VEGETABLE AND FLOWER GARDEN DIARY) 2023

We are now entering our 3rd year of growing flowers, fruit and veg at our little Casa Valhal garden....

Continue reading
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...

Continue reading
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...

Continue reading
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...

Continue reading
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...

Continue reading
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...

Continue reading
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...

Continue reading
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...

Continue reading
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...

Continue reading
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...

Continue reading
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...

Continue reading
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...

Continue reading
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...

Continue reading
November 9, 2022