CHRISTMAS IN THE BLACK FOREST

 

 

 

 

 

HOTEL SCHWARZWALDHOF

HINTERZARTEN

 

 

The hotel Schwarzwaldhof is a delightful 3 star hotel, centrally located in the spa and ski resort of Hinterzarten. Accommodation in the 75 bed hotel ranges from double or single rooms, with or without balcony, to the large luxury room which is some 50sqm with a large sitting area and a west facing balcony, there is also the 'Tower Room' which has a four poster bed. Room prices start from €40 per person in low season, and €44 per person in high season. 

 

Built in 1883 and originally called  Gasthaus Zum Bahnhof' (Station Guesthouse) due to its close proximity to the train station, the building was purchased by Adolf and Doris Gutzweier in 1968 and has undergone extensive refurbishment. The hotel is very traditional and is much photographed by the many visitors to this beautiful Black Forest village.

 

I was not staying at the hotel on this occasion as I was staying with family. However, I have previously enjoyed a stay at the hotel's charming guesthouse, Hotel Garni Sonne Guesthouse and would highly recommend it.

 

 

I decided to take my family out for a meal on Christmas Eve. Having previously enjoyed a very good meal in the restaurant at the Hotel Schwarzwaldhof, where the food proved to be excellent, I decided to choose this hotel restaurant once again and was not disappointed. 

 

The restaurant can cater for up to 200 guests and normally provides two set menus as well as  a' la carte. The restaurant is normally closed on Tuesdays, apart from over the Christmas and New Year period. On Christmas Eve we were given the choice of a' la carte or two set menus, one with Goose, the other  with Venison. The set menus were priced at a very reasonable €31 for Goose, or €35 for Venison.

 

I had reserved a table for 7.30pm, I arrived with my family at 7.15pm and we were immediately shown to our table. Once seated, we were presented with the special Christmas menu and our drinks order was taken. We all chose the set menus, I opted for the Goose and my dinning companions chose the Venison. The set menu consisted of four courses, all of which were served by very friendly and accommodating waiting staff. Our waiter, Karsten, was very polite and attentive and spoke very good English.

 

The restaurant, although not full, was well patronised and there was a good ambiance.The restaurant was festively decorated, however, a little festive background music would have enhanced the experience. All four courses were beautifully prepared, delicious and well presented, we all enjoyed the exceptionally good food. All meals at the hotel are home cooked and freshly prepared from mostly local produce, and all cakes are produced in the hotel's own patisserie.  

 

This was an excellent meal at a very reasonable price, a most enjoyable evening and a wonderful way to spend Christmas with family, no one had to cook or do the washing up! I highly recommend the restaurant at Hotel Schwarzwaldhof, you are always assured of excellent food and service no matter what time of year you visit.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOTEL HEIZMANNSHOF

 

 

 

 

Hotel Heizmannshof is a beautiful hotel and restaurant. Recently renovated by the current proprietors, it is an original 300 year old Schwarzwaldstube built in a typical Black Forest style. Run by the Rieble family, the hotel is located at Bruderhalde 35, close to Titisee Lake, between the beautiful village of Hinterzarten and the town of Titisee. 

 

My family and I were looking for somewhere special to celebrate New Years Eve, and chose Hotel Heizmannshof for this special occasion. We could not have made a better choice. From the moment we entered the restaurant we were shown hospitality second to none, and were made to feel very much at home. After being shown to our reserved table, we chose our meals from the extensive menu. There was a very good choice and all courses were very reasonably priced.

 

 

The restaurant was busy, although not full, and the service and food was excellent. The restaurant was festively decorated with Christmas trimmings, and on each table there were table decorations of potted 'lucky' four leaf clovers and little chimney sweeps in top hats. These tokens of good luck were very kindly given to the guests at the end of the evening. The ambiance in the restaurant was a very relaxed one, the rustic setting and blazing fire all contributing to the wonderful atmosphere.

 

The proprietors, Gunter and Sabine Rieble, were very much in evidence throughout the evening and, along with their kitchen and restaurant staff, worked tirelessly to ensure all their guests had a wonderful experience. Herr Rieble, after cooking in the kitchen, took the time to mingle and talk to his guests, which was clearly appreciated by all. 

 

Just before midnight, and with a glass of sparkling wine in hand, we were ushered out onto the terrace for the firework display. At precisely midnight we were treated to an excellent display of fireworks by our very kind hosts. All around us we could see fireworks being set off by other revellers in Titisee and the surrounding area. It was a most magical start to 2013.

 

All too soon, our taxi arrived to take us back to Hinterzarten where we were staying. As we said our goodbyes and wished our fellow diners a happy new year, we were given our lucky little chimney sweeps to take home with us. A wonderful evening amongts very hospitable people and, certainly, a new year's eve celebration to remember!

 

 

More information on Hotel Heizmannshof can be found at: www.heizmannshof-titisee.de



WORLD TRAVEL MARKET

ALOFT HOTEL, LONDON EXCEL
 

 

I recently attended the World Travel Market (WTM) at the Excel International Convention Centre, Royal Victoria Docks, London. I have attended WTM for a number of years, it is a huge event with exhibitors from all over the world.

In previous years I have travelled to the convention and back in a day. This is very tiring, given the size of the convention centre, the hundreds of exhibitors and the many talks and presentations available to attend. WTM is held over four days, so this year in order to see as much as possible, and to make the experience more enjoyable, I decided to stay overnight in a hotel. My choice of hotel was the Aloft Hotel, which turned out to be an excellent choice.

The Aloft is a four star, 252 bedroomed hotel and is the only hotel that is directly connected to the Excel Centre. It is a member of the Starwood Group of hotels and opened its doors to the public at the end of 2011. There are other hotels in the vicinity of the Excel Centre, indeed, I have stayed in a couple of them in previous years, but I would find it hard not to be drawn to the Aloft for any future stays in this area.

I arrived at the hotel at approximately 11am, having travelled there by train and Docklands Light Railway (DLR). The hotel and convention centre is a very short walk from Prince Regent DLR station. It was too early to check into my room, but I wanted to leave my suitcase whilst I attended WTM.

 

What first struck me about the hotel is how fresh and modern it appeared, with vibrant colours and interesting architecture. The reception staff, who were all young, were very friendly and helpful, their casual attire creating a relaxed and informal, yet professional, atmosphere. In no time at all my suitcase was securely stored and I was given a ticket to redeem when I returned to check in later. Free of the burden of my suitcase and overcoat, I was able to explore WTM in comfort.

 



Having spent an exhausting, although very interesting, day at WTM, I returned to the Aloft Hotel. It was now 5.30pm and there were a few guests checking in, however, I was quickly attended to by a very friendly and polite young man, who on learning that this was my first experience of an Aloft hotel, was very keen to explain everything to me.

The facilities at the Aloft London Excel include the w xyz bar, a vibrant bar area to relax and have a drink, re:mix lounge where guests can sit and relax, read, or eat a snack from the re:fuel grab-n-go snack bar. There is a restaurant on the second floor serving very good food at reasonable prices. The spa facilities include a good sized swimming pool (4ft deep), sauna, steam room and gym. There are changing rooms with lockers, loungers by the pool and an abundance of clean towels.

 

 



Once all the facilities had been explained to me and I had reclaimed my suitcase, I was given the key card to my room on the seventh floor, overlooking Royal Victoria Docks and the river.

To access the upper floors by lift, guests must first swipe their room key cards before pressing the button for the required floor.

 



On entry to my room I was very impressed to find a bright, contemporary, tastefully decorated and spacious room with ample seating, and wonderful views overlooking the dock and river. The room had a large and very comfortable double bed, writing desk and chair, bench seating area, 42inch LCD TV, tea/coffee making facilities and a very nice large walk in shower. There was also Internet connection and a safe.

 



 



After settling into my room I then acquainted myself with the spa facilities on the ground floor. The sauna and steam room were excellent and just the right temperature. The swimming pool seemed a little cold to get into, but I soon got use to it and had a most enjoyable swimming session. It was very quiet in the spa, with only two other guests using the area. I relaxed for a while on one of the loungers and watched, through the large window, the planes taking off from London City Airport, only five minutes away on the opposite side of the docks.

 

 

 





 

 

My entire experience of Aloft London Excel was excellent, my room was exceptionally clean and comfortable with everything I needed for my stay. Julia, the hotel Manager, and all her staff were very friendly and efficient, attending to my every need, ensuring a most pleasant and memorable stay. Although not in the city centre, the hotel is only approximately 20 minutes from the hustle and bustle of cosmopolitan London. It is also ideally situated for a visit to the Excel, Canary Wharf or the O2. I am already looking forward to returning to the Aloft next year for WTM.

    

NOW ON KINDLE

 

 

 

 

IN MY FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS

By

ROBERT M LIDSTER

DEDICATED TO ERNEST W LIDSTER

1918-1999

It was the 4^th June 1940 that my father’s regiment, the Royal Signals saw action just forward of Lille-Roubaix in France. Three men were killed, seven wounded and one man went missing during the withdrawal.

Although not documented, my father could well have been that missing soldier for I know that on the 12^th June 1940 my father was captured by the Germans at St Valery trying to get to England in a small boat, he and his companions came under fire and my father sustained injuries sufficient to see him admitted to the military hospital in Lille prior to his transportation to the P.O.W. camps at Lamsdorf in Poland.

In May 2010 to mark the 70^th anniversary of my fathers capture, I travelled to France and followed the route that the Royal Signals took from Cherbourg via Laval to Lille. In Lille I visited the military hospital where my father recovered from his injuries. I then made my way to modern day Lambinowice in Poland, site of the Lamsdorf P.O.W. camps.

This 58,000 word book is my account of my journey, part travel log, part biography and above all a tribute to my father and all those who took part in World War Two.

This book has now been published on Amazon Kindle for downloading to Kindle devices and PC. The link is: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0067LGVZO#_swftext_Swf

THE PERFECT CRUISE

(AN ODE TO CRUISING)

　

Breakfast in bed,

Whilst tied up in port.

A Leisurely stroll,

Souvenirs to be bought.

Seeing the sights

Changing each day.

Meeting the locals,

Life lived in a different way.

Sun on my back,

Feel the warmth of the day.

Sailing the seas,

Refreshed by the spray.

Watch the horizon,

For the next port of call.

Eating fine food,

Oh! The joy of it all.

Dressing for dinner

Can be such fun.

Watching the shows,

Second to none.

Relaxing in bars,

Or down by the pool.

Dancing in nightclubs,

Try to look cool!

Meeting new friends,

Seeing new sights.

Everyday brings

Another delight.

Sleep well in beds,

Made for comfort and style.

Experience the spa,

Just relax for a while.

Learn about life,

In far away places.

Meet folk that differ,

From the usual faces.

Live life to the full,

Enjoy whilst you may.

Let the perfect cruise

Soothe any troubles away.

 

 

Note from the author:

 

This poem was inspired by the many cruises that I have taken over the past six years. If you would like to read more of my poetry then please visit my poetry blog at: www.ahandfulofsongsandpoems.blogspot.com

 

My book 'A Handful of Songs & Poems' is available for download to Kindle and PC from Amazon.



Thank You

Robert M Lidster

SHIP VISIT

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

MS PRINSENDAM

It was 10:00am on a beautiful, sunny May morning, as I boarded the ms Prinsendam at London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury. I had been invited as part of a group of thirty guests, made up of journalists, travel agents and members of the public (prospective customers). The purpose of the ship visit was to highlight the facilities on board, and the high quality of service provided by Holland America Line (HAL), part of the Carnival Group. This is an ideal way for any cruise novice to see ‘what’s on offer’ before committing to a cruise.

The Prinsendam is a fine looking ship, the hull is painted dark blue with a white superstructure, at only 38,000 tons she is classed as a mid-sized ship, accommodating 835 guests, and making her the smallest of HAL‘s 15 ships. As soon as you step on board you can see why Holland America Line is classed as a 4 star+ premium brand. Crew members, attired in immaculate well pressed uniforms, wait to greet you, from the lift attendants in their splendid red ‘Bell Boy’ uniforms, to the hotel staff tending your cabins (or staterooms as they are referred to nowadays) your every need is tended to. The ratio of passengers to crew members is 2 to 1, one of the highest in the cruise industry, ensuring all guests receive the service that is expected of a premium brand.

We toured the ship in two small groups, and were given detailed information as we viewed the public areas and a number of staterooms. The ship was built in 1988, originally for Royal Viking Line as the Royal Viking Sun, later serving under the Seabourn brand as the Seabourn Sun, before, finally, becoming a HAL ship in 2002. There are 9 passenger decks, incorporating 22 public rooms. Facilities on board include putting greens, sports court, jogging track, 2 swimming pools, whirlpool, casino, library and internet access. There is a very good, well equipped spa and fitness centre, the Greenhouse Health Spa, which features 6 treatment rooms, sauna, steam room, and gym with fantastic sea views.

Dining options include the main restaurant, La Fontaine, where you can choose, either, early or late set dining times for dinner, or eat whenever you like (within service times) with the ‘As you wish’ dining option. The Pinnacle dining room is a small speciality restaurant (48 seats) where, for an extra charge of $25, you can experience a more intimate dining experience, with the food being served on Bulgari china and drinks in Reidel glassware. For a less formal dining experience there is the Lido restaurant, providing a self service, buffet style cuisine.

Bars and lounges are plentiful, ranging from the casual Lido Bar to the elegant Crow’s Nest with its panoramic sea views. There is also a private concierge lounge for those guests booked into the Deluxe Suites. Entertainment takes many forms, from the Wajang Theatre & Culinary Arts Centre, which provides cookery lessons, film shows and religious events, to the main show room, the Showroom at Sea, where all the main shows are held. There are two shows each night, allowing guests, at both early and late dinner sittings, to attend. Dress code on board is in-line with most other cruise lines, smart casual for the restaurants on most evenings, with either one or two formal nights a week.

There are 15 grades of accommodation on board, ranging from the standard inside stateroom to the more spacious and luxurious Penthouse Suite. All inside staterooms are equipped with showers, whereas, all accommodation above this level offer bath tubs. All staterooms are well equipped and, I can vouch from previous experience, the beds are among the most comfortable at sea.

Once we had completed our tour and seen all that ms Prinsendam has to offer, it was time to sample the food in La Fontaine dining room. Our menu choice, today, was not as comprehensive as it would be on a normal cruise day. Even so, what was on offer was of a very high standard, well presented, well cooked, and served by very friendly, competent, attentive staff. Everyone in our group appeared to enjoy, both, the meal, and the ship visit in general. There were a number of people who had never cruised before, and now, having sampled some of the delights of cruising, are eager to book their first cruise.

My overall impression of Holland America Line is a very favourable one, and ms Prinsendam looks to be a very comfortable and elegant ship for those who prefer smaller, more intimate ships, as opposed to the much larger, less personal, resort ships favoured by some cruise lines.

Our ship visit was timed for us to be able to board once arriving guests had disembarked, and before embarkation commenced for the passengers starting their cruise. This allowed us to view the staterooms before they were occupied by guests. As we were disembarking, I overheard a group of American passengers talking, as they waited for the lift to their staterooms, “ Have you been on this ship before?” one lady asked of another “Oh yes, many times” came the reply. This reinforced the statement, made earlier by Carly, our tour guide for the day, that 69% of passengers on Prinsendam return to the ship, time after time.

These particular passengers were embarking on a 15 night Baltic Explorer & Kiel Canal voyage, calling at Warnermunde (Berlin), Tallinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm, Visby, Alborg, Copenhagen and Amsterdam. Being a smaller ship the Prinsendam can reach ports that larger ships cannot reach, she tends also to spend more time in port, staying overnight in St Petersburg and Copenhagen on this cruise.

Cruises from UK ports are becoming ever more popular, and the London Cruise Terminal at Tilbury is ideally situated to facilitate those cruise passengers wishing to depart or arrive on a cruise close to the Capital. Located within close proximity to the M25 and with a good rail service, and a regular ferry service operating to Gravesend on the south bank of the Thames, transport is no problem and car parking is available directly by the passenger terminal. The port is compact, however, there is a snack bar, toilet facilities and a ample, comfortable seating area. Check-in, security and boarding are incredibly quick and efficient, making for a very comfortable start to your cruise holiday.

FRANCE

NORD-PAS-DE-CALAIS

My wife and I entered the French region of Nord-Pas-De- Calais via the port of Calais. The crossing from Dover onboard the P&O ferry ‘Spirit of France’ had taken 90 minutes and had been one of the smoothest Channel crossings that I have ever experienced. We were however, 30 minutes late; this was due to our late departure from Dover. The morning had been a very foggy one and the ferries had all been running a little late. Even as we boarded at 12:20pm, the fog was only just showing signs of clearing.

The ‘Spirit of France’ is a very new ferry, built in 2011 and only having been in service a couple of months prior to our crossing. The ferry is some 213 metres long by 32 metres wide and weighs in at 49,000 tonnes. Maximum speed is 23 knots but the average is a more sedate 18 knots. Facilities onboard are much improved to those on some of the older ferries; there is now a very nice outside deck bar with ample seating (starboard side for smokers, portside for non smokers). There are two other café/bar areas and for main meals there is the choice between the ‘Food Hall’ (self service) and the ‘Brassiere’ (waiter service). There is also the ‘Club Lounge’ where, for a supplement, passengers can have a comfortable seat in peaceful surroundings with complimentary tea/coffee and newspapers.

Having already gone through customs and passport control in Dover, once we had driven off the ferry in Calais, the way was clear for us to proceed to our destination. Our base for the next three days was to be ‘Chateau Tilques’ near St. Omer, just a short 30 minute drive from Calais. We chose to avoid the motorway and toll road and instead took the D943. Although a slower road than the motorway, we found the D943 a very good road to drive and much more interesting. Once out of the built up area of Calais, we drove for 22 miles through pleasant countryside and interesting villages and towns.

‘Chateau Tilques’ is a four star hotel and is part of the Najeti chain of hotels. We had booked a double ‘Charme’ room in the chateau. There are 29 chateau rooms with a further 24 rooms in the modern ‘Pavillion Du Parc’. Once settled into our room, which was a little on the small side but had wonderful views of the grounds and lake, we went for a swim in the indoor heated swimming pool.

The chateau was built in 1891 on the site of a 17^th century manor house, the restaurant is situated in the original 17^th century coach house. Facilities at the chateau include the restaurant (fine dining); bar and lounge; 24 hour front desk; tennis court; indoor pool; bicycle rental; free wi fi; free car parking and ten acres of wonderful grounds to explore.

Having enjoyed a relaxing swim, reasonable sized pool no deeper than 1.40 metres, we returned to our room to get ready for dinner. As previously mentioned, our room was not overly large, but it was comfortably furnished with everything we needed for our stay and it was clean. The bathroom was a good sized room with a full sized bath with shower attachment, tiled walls and floor which was of a modern design. This was in contrast to the bedroom which was decorated in a style more fitting to a chateau.

Dinner was excellent and the staff friendly and attentive. The meal was supposed to be three courses but with all the extra ‘From the Chef’ dishes that came between courses, it was more like a six course dinner.

For our first full day in France we were visiting St. Valery-Sur-Somme, a 60 to 70 mile drive away depending on which route you take. After a good breakfast of eggs, bacon, cereal, fruit and the customary meat and cheeses, we set off. We decided to take the cross-country route (the shortest) as opposed to the coastal route (some 10 miles or so longer). The morning had started off foggy again and there was little chance of seeing any coast from the road. The road we took was a surprisingly good road with very little traffic, it was tree lined on both sides and took us through towns, villages and of course open countryside.

We stopped at Forges for tea and coffee, today was Sunday so the roads were very quiet and very few shops or cafes open. We found a little bistro which was open, four or five Frenchmen stood at the bar and a couple sat at one of the tables. As we entered we were greeted by everyone in the place, staff and customers alike. After exchanging pleasantries, we ordered our tea and coffee and sat at one of the tables to drink them (one of the curiosities of French bars and restaurants is the system whereby, there may be up to three different prices for food and drink. There may be one price for standing at the bar, another for sitting at a table and a further price if they have a terrace). On leaving the bistro we were bade farewell by all assembled, a very friendly town.

St. Valery-Sur-Somme is situated at the mouth of the Somme River and is to the west of the Somme battlefields. Originally settled by the Gaul’s around the time of the Roman invasion the town has also been occupied by the Franks, the English and the Germans. It was here that William the Conqueror assembled his fleet before the 1066 invasion of England. It was also in St. Valery that whilst under the control of the English in 1431, Joan of Arc was held prisoner in the local prison prior to being moved to Rouen where she was burned at the stake.

Today, St. Valery (named after a 7^th century Gualaric monk) is very much a tourist town, popular with the French. The town has a delightful walkway along the river where pleasure boats of all types and sizes can be seen. There are boats providing pleasure trips and a seasonal narrow gauge railway known as ‘Chemin De Fer De La Baie De Somme’ (Somme Bay Railway). The train runs the entire length of the bay, connecting Le Croytoy with Noyelles-Sur-Mer. Car parking can be a little tricky at busy times, we managed to find a space by the river which enabled us to have a most enjoyable walk. The fog had now lifted and it was a beautiful sunny day, unusually so for March. After our walk we re-located to the beach area at the mouth of the river, here we could see the town of Le Croytoy on the other side of the bay.

As the weather had improved so much, we decided to take the coast road back to St. Omer. We drove to Berck-Plage near Le Touquet but as views of the coast were almost non existent, we changed course and once again drove cross-country. This deviation took us through some beautiful countryside, through tiny lanes and more tree lined avenues.

Our second full day in France was spent in Lille. As we didn’t relish the drive into the city with the inevitable traffic jams and hunt for parking space we chose to take the train. Chateau Tilques is only three miles from St. Omer, but to our surprise it was an 18 euro taxi fare to the train station, each way!. The train journey which would take 50 minutes cost 46.80 euro return for the two of us, much better value for money.

Lille is the capital of French Flanders and is at the crossroads of French Flanders and Champagne country. There are two train stations, the older Lille Flandres, where we arrived from St. Omer, and the newer, modern Lille Europe where the Eurostar train arrives and departs. Lille is a busy city both with commerce and tourism and there is an abundance of hotels. The quality and price of the hotels can vary enormously and for a decent 3 or 4 star hotel expect to pay more than the average.

The city has more than its fair share of attractive buildings and public squares. Unfortunately, it also has more than its fair share of beggars who along with the obligatory dog by their side, congregate on the streets and around the restaurants in the hope of extracting money from the shoppers and diners. This of course is evident in most cities nowadays and is not unique to either Lille or France. There are ample eating establishments and even in March, the cafes and restaurants around the main square were full of customers enjoying the spring sunshine.

Apart from the beautiful squares and architecture, Lille also has delightful botanical gardens; a zoo; many wonderful churches and the ‘Citadelle’ a star shaped military fort designed by the French military architect Vauban. Around the perimeter of the Citadelle is an extensive park area where the zoo is to be found as well as a children’s play area and food outlets. The canal runs alongside the park and it is possible to take boat trips. One of Lille’s claim to fame is the fact that General De Gaulle grew up in the city.

On our way back to the Chateau that evening we stopped in St. Omer to have dinner, we ate at ’La Terrasse’ and had a delightful meal. The restaurant is very popular with the locals, it doesn’t have an English menu and the waiting staff do not speak very good English. However, the staff were most friendly and helpful and at the end of the evening ordered a taxi to take us back to the chateau. All in all a perfect end to a delightful stay in France.

PORTUGAL

QUINTA DOS VALES

A HIDDEN GEM IN THE ALGARVE!

Hidden away in the heart of the western Algarve is the wine and art estate of Quinta dos Vales. Essentially a wine producer of award winning wines, it is also home to some spectacular artwork in the form of large, colourful sculptures which are displayed throughout the estate.

Quinta dos Vales is situated near the town of Estombar, a small town which once had a thriving economy based on trade along the Arade River and salt production. It is also the birthplace of the 11^th century Muslim poet Ibne-Ammar. Estombar has a 16^th century church, the church of Sao Jiago (St. James), and many wonderful beaches are within a short drive of both Estombar and the wine estate.

The present owner of Quinta dos Vales took over the estate in 2007 and with his team of dedicated staff has transformed the estate into what it is today. Various farm buildings have been renovated and transformed into beautiful, modern, comfortable and very well equipped living accommodation. A total of 50 guests can be accommodated in 4 units which can sleep between 4 and 16 people. My wife and I were staying in ‘Casa Margarida’, a 2 bedroom house with its own outdoor (unheated) swimming pool. The house is spacious with a modern well equipped kitchen with oven, fridge, washing machine, dish washer and all the pots and pans etc that you could possibly require. The large kitchen/diner also has a dining table with 6 chairs. Also on the ground floor is a lounge with 2 sofas, a coffee table, TV and CD & DVD player. Adjacent to the lounge is a bathroom with a small bath with shower unit, W.C. and wash basin. Upstairs on the first floor are the two bedrooms, both of a good size with double beds and bedside cabinets. The main bedroom has an en suite shower room with shower, W.C. and wash basin. Ample towels for bathing and swimming are provided.

Facilities on-site are limited as this is not your typical resort, any provisions needed for your stay should either be brought with you or purchased from the supermarket in the nearby town of Lagoa. Quinta dos Vales can provide a ‘Do it yourself breakfast package’ which includes coffee, tea, fruit juice, eggs, butter, local jam, bread, fresh farm fruits, chourico and local cheese, all for 8.50 euros per person per day.

The main activity at Quinta dos Vales is relaxation, I spent many a happy hour just sitting, resting on the patio by my private pool, watching the workers in the vineyard and soaking up the February sunshine. Although dry and sunny for our 3 day stay in Portugal, and with temperatures in the mid 60s Fahrenheit, the pool was a little too cold for me to swim in, but nonetheless provided a most pleasing environment in which to relax. For a little exercise there are plenty of places to walk, with around 50 hectares of land in total. Much of this land is given over to vineyards, with the rest laid out into perfectly manicured gardens, thought provoking sculptures and a delightful animal enclosure.

The animal enclosure is a well presented, well cared for area which is ideal for families with children. The animals housed there include goats, sheep, horses, pigs, geese, chickens, kangaroos, llamas and deer, there are even some wild boar in an enclosure by ‘Casa Margarida’. Food for the animals can be purchased in the wine shop. On-site there is a communal swimming pool and sauna. The impressive ‘4 Seasons’, which can accommodate up to 16 people, is the only other property other than ‘Casa Mararida’ to have its own private swimming pool. There is also a communal barbecue area and the sculpture garden where weddings are held and a children’s play area. Dining is pretty much self catering or you can drive out to a local restaurant, the nearest large town is Lagoa where you can find something to eat, or take a short drive to the coast and sample some delicious, typical Portuguese cuisine. Quinta dos Vales has a resident Chef on-site who is available for hire for private functions (ask the staff for details).

The ‘Must Do’ activity whilst staying at Quinta dos Vales is of course the ‘wine tasting’ tours, these can be arranged from individuals to groups, the wine tasting room can accommodate up to 60 people. Depending on your choice of either 'wine tasting by the glass (3 wines)’ or including a tour of the ‘wine cellar’ or tour of ‘vineyards, zoo and wine cellar’, prices range from 4.20 euros per person to 33.60 euros per person. The wine tasting normally includes a selection of bread, cheese, meats and olives to accompany the wine, although, other meal options can be arranged. There is also the option of ‘try and buy’ at the wine shop.

Our guide for our tour was Erhard Braun, a very knowledgeable and likeable German gentleman who has lived in Portugal for 30 years, and is clearly passionate about his job. Being fluent in German, English and Portuguese means that Erhard is often called upon to facilitate the tours as well as attend wine fairs and exhibitions. Erhard talked us through the 3 wines that we were to taste, a rose', a white and a red. He explained the process and gave advice as to how best to appreciate these truly wonderful wines. We sampled the standard wines but Quinta dos Vales, under the brand ‘Marques dos Vales’, produce a range of standard, superior and sparkling wines. Having won over 50 awards for their wines, Quinta dos Vales has quickly established itself as one of the leading wine producers in the area. The facts and figures that Erhard shared with us were both interesting and thought provoking. The estate use water from their own wells for the irrigation of the vineyard, and they can get through an astonishing 140,000 litres of water a day. Quinta dos Vales produce up to 130,000 litres of wine p.a. and although most of this is sold domestically, they can ship orders of up to 18 bottles to the UK for their guests. Orders for wine can be taken on their on-line shop.

After the wine tasting, we were given a tour of the wine cellar. Again the tour was punctuated with interesting facts and figures culminating with a visit to the lab where samples of the wine were being tested. We then toured the grounds with its many colourful and fascinating sculptures. These sculptures are designed and fashioned by the owner of Quinta dos Vales, Karl Heinz Stock and then painted by various artists. The sculptures include Bulls, Elephants, Bears and some rather large naked ladies. Many of these sculptures are for sale but with prices in the region of 6.500 to 8,500 euros, they are not within everyone’s budget. We continued our tour of the grounds with Erhard pointing out places of interest, the covered area where wedding guests can dine semi-alfresco, the orange, lemon, fig and date trees that are in abundance throughout the estate. There are also olive trees from which olive oil is produced for use on the estate. We then visited the zoo with its collection of very healthy looking and well cared for animals.

A car in the Algarve is a must and we rented ours from Europcar and collected it at Faro airport. There are many other car rental companies at the airport and prices start as low as £5 a day. The drive from the airport to Quinta dos Vales was in the region of 40 miles. Whilst in the Algarve we visited Estombar, Lagoa, Portimao and Alvor.

Portimao is a fairly large town of around 36,000 inhabitants, it is situated on the Rio Arade (River Arade) and the Atlantic Ocean. Here you will find a local market, fine restaurants and the popular beach of Praia Da Rocha. From Portimao you can take boat trips to the nearby caves and grottos, or hire a boat to go ‘Big game fishing’ for swordfish or simply to watch for dolphins.

Alvor is a small fishing village of around 5,000 inhabitants and dates back to Roman times, it is situated on the Rio De Alvor. There is a beautiful 16^th century church (rebuilt in the 18^th century) and the tiny cobbled streets are delightful. Alvor is also a wise choice for somewhere to eat as it has a good selection of restaurants serving locally caught fresh fish. We ate at ‘Sereia’ and I had a delicious meal of grilled Sea Bream with potatoes and salad for 8.50 euros, the cost of eating out is very similar to the UK. A walk along the river front in Alvor is highly recommended and the fishing huts are of particular interest, with the local fishermen often seen sat outside mending their nets.

Other places within an easy drive of Quinta dos Vales and worth a visit are the ancient maritime town of ‘Lagos‘, one of the most visited towns in the Algarve due to its beaches, bars and restaurants, ‘Loule‘, a large town which features an annual carnival, and ‘Silves’, with its 15^th century Cathedral and Castle which dates back to the 8^th century.

Portugal is among the 20 most visited countries in the world, averaging 13 million foreign tourists a year and is particularly popular with the British, German and Spanish. After the capital Lisbon, the Algarve with its wine, food, golf and many beaches is by far the most popular destination in Portugal. Faro is the main airport in the Algarve and it has regular direct flights from many UK airports. Flight time is between 2.5 and 3 hours and Portugal is in the same time zone as the UK (so no need to change your watches), flights start from around £70 p.p. return. The maximum temperature in the Algarve is around 25 degrees centigrade in winter and 48 degrees centigrade in summer, it seldom falls below 0 degrees in winter, making it an all year round destination.

Quinta dos Vales is a unique holiday destination, successfully combining wine, art and leisure. Their friendly staff are always on hand to give advice and information on both Quinta dos Vales and the surrounding area. For more information visit www.quintadosvales.eu