Categories
what to do

Peniche and Baleal by bike?

It’s a lovely ride on those beautiful sunny days or when the surf isn’t that good and you decide to go around and find that special place!

Most of the way it’s pretty flat but you will encounter a hill. And take your camera with you so you can take some breathtaking photos of Baleal and the North coast line, Papoa and of Cabo Carvoeiro witch is the most Western tip of Europe. Look out for that Varanda de Pilates and for those rocks that may seem like something else.

To go from Baleal to/and around the Peninsula of Peniche it’s around 1h ride and 12km. Take water with you because i don’t think the Mayor’s office as heard me enough and decided to add some water fountains around the trail.

Also watch out for crazy driver’s because the street marks for bikers are worn out and they don’t really see us.

If you wanna go further check out Consolacao and also you can make a bit off road if you decide to explore the North coast.

Enjoy!

Categories
foodies

Top ten things to eat while in Portugal!

I always try got get my guests at Surfmoments House to have the best experience ever here in Peniche, Portugal.

So, lets start with sweets!

You have to eat a pasteis de nata (custard tart/pie) you will find then in almost any cafe, bakery. Bolo de bolacha (cookie cake) in some restaurants but its not always good, can’t be very dry.

Sardines with corn bread, Robalo (sea bass), Dourada (sea bream), Sargo (twig) Bacalhau (cod fish, my favorite is a Lagareiro with lots of olive oil and garlic). If you can manage t have a Portuguese help you eating a sardine for the first time it will be great.

For example, here at Surfmoments house eating in or going to eat sardines in a restaurant close by, i will always show you how we eat them on top of a peace of bread and we have to bite softly in some parts so that the bones don’t come out into your mouth. Not easy to explain, better to show you how to eat them.

You should also try a nice seafood rice and out shell fish is amazing (ameijoa a bulhao pato, sapateira, buzios, camarao frito, snails, etc…)

Eating seafood in Portugal is very fresh and cheap compared to most European countries, but off course lobster is not cheap here.

Pao com Chourico (bread with chourico), warm with mustard is so good!

Frango no churrasco (roasted chicken), spare ribs, bitoque (cheap and filling meal, steak with egg on top rice and fries), etc…

Don’t forget to drink a Galao, if you like coffee and milk; its really good for breakfast with a nice cake or tosta mista (bread with cheese and ham toasted).

I guess this is more then 10 things to eat while in Portugal! If you come and stay with us at Surfmoments house and school, probably we will tell you more.

Categories
what to do

What to visit when in Peniche, Baleal

There’s lots of things to do besides surfing in Baleal or Peniche!

Go walk in Baleal Island, there’s only 2 places in the world with that type of stone formation, theres a sick sunsets behind Berlengas Islands and the best view is from the island. Just grab a drink and get out there.

You should grab a bike and go around the Peninsula of Peniche and appreciate the amazing landscape, go to the Cape Carvoeiro and enjoy the sunset behind Berlengas Islands. Also when you are close to the city center you can see our South Coast like Supertubos beach, Consolacao and Areia Branca beach.

When in Peniche, you should go around the small streets in the center of town, go to the marina and see the fishing boats going out to work. Also check the museum inside the fortress that used to be a political prison in the days when Portugal was a dictatorship.

If you wanna skateboard around Peniche, you have a really small skate park close to Peniche’s gate. But the best skate park around Peniche is in Lourinha, 10min drive from Baleal. This skate park has a nice bowl. Or just grab your surf skate, carver or longboard and go around the Bay to Peniche and back.

Berglengas Islands, here you can go some diving, scuba diving, snorkeling, bird watching and fishing. Berlengas Islands are a nice thing to do if you have no surf, take a rest or go do something with your girl or family. Its a day trip where you have to book the ferry or rent a private trip at the marina. On another post ill explain you how to get there.

If you rent a private boat probably you can take more of your trip because you can go see other islands behind Berlengas Islands, witch i think that they are more beautiful and also Farelhoes Islands that a bit further away!

Also a bit after, in Lourinha you can go kart racing, or just go in town and check the dinosaur museum.

Do not miss the chance to go visit the small town of Obidos at only a 20min car drive from Peniche.

Its a very special Castle with a small town inside its walls and where you have to drink a Ginginha and i would say for you to go eat at Jamon Jamon, a small Portuguese restaurant right at the entrance before you go into the castle’s wall.

In the Obidos Castle there’s lots of year activities like the Medieval party/ Mercado Medieval de Obidos every year in July. This year its from the 13th Jul – 6th Aug. Its a great experience to see several shows from the time of the kings and queens! You should go rent a suit at the entrance and like this you will not pay the entry fee that has the same price, and its alot more fun to be all dressed up for this mini carnival. Go a bit before dinner time to avoid line ups but have you meal there. Do not forget to have a pao com chourico, bread with chourico, its really good and made in front of your eyes and warm!

In Obidos there’s also a chocolate fair every year!

You should also go to Lagoa de Obidos and Foz do Arellho, its a really nice place for a walk or dinner. For surfing at Foz do Arellho its no the best most times, but maybe you will be lucky.

Nazare its a 45min drive and maybe you will see some monster waves coming in the canyon! Its a great town with lots of good food and culture. The women from there have to use 7 skirts! Its a very nice place to visit.

If you are more into going to surf in another place drive 45min and go to Ericeira, its world famous for its great right handers and its a really nice town too.

Its getting more and more beginners, and surf schools even it there’s only 2 beach breaks. Most of the beaches have a reef bottom so its a bit dangerous for you guys aren’t very experienced.

Have a great time and hopefully the tips from surfmoments house & school will be helpful!

Carla

Categories
foodies

Where and what to eat out in Baleal, Peniche?

Well i know many surf camps have a all inclusive deal with food, but do you think they will have you try our Portuguese cuisine? No way, they have to please everyone and their should be no waste or else its not a business, right?

Please don’t spend your money on that kind of package, its a waste of money and its like you never been here anyways; and probably you think its a good deal!? No way!

The chef probably its just someone that can cook like me and probably not even Portuguese or that has any knowledge about our cuisine.

This is not Morocco, or the type of country that you will get food poison, off course it can happen but its not normal. In Morocco happens alot because they have a water problem, witch we don’t you can drink from the tab. And food is great in Morocco by the way.

Restaurants that i advise as a Portuguese to eat real Portuguese food in Baleal and Peniche:

Churrasqueira a Caseirinha – best chicken in the country (need to work on this photo), a huge Bitoque and spare ribs are also good! Always take my guests there, don’t forget to try the cookie cake! On weekends they stopped accepting reservations. Closes on Sunday and Monday night.

Restaurant Prainha – really good for fish but a bit more expensive because its at the beach in Baleal. But you can have very fresh fish and i had the best Robalo/Sea bass of my life there, felt like butter melting in my mouth.

Restaurant O Febras – These three are really good for fish. At Febras try the Octopus “Polvo Lagareiro” it comes swimming in olive oil and garlic. Closes Tuesdays!

Restaurant O Pedro – on the way to the marina in Peniche eat “Acorda de Alfaquique”, its good for 2 people for sure and only if you like fried fish and garlic! Also love the fresh cuttlefish grilled its’s better then squid.

Restaurant Xhakra in Supertubos – banana beach, love this place right on the sand dunes and you can have the best seafood rice of the next 100 km. They also have other dishes that you should try. The owners are very, very nice!

Tasca do Joel – in Peniche, well this one is considered one of the best quality and price wise. I love it but i think that it can be a bit over rated. Usually i eat the shell fish like clams and buzios, for fish i go for Sequinhos (fish of choice stew), Codfish a Maria and the wild pork with chestnuts, everything is so good! Others always eat a nice steak!

And please try this wine called Invisivel, it’s so fresh; but i’m not a wine expert! Love the waiters here and off course Joel is a really nice guy!

Make a reservation and they only accept it if you arrive before 8pm, after this expect a line up. Closes Sunday night and Monday’s!

My favorite for seafood and  also affordable its As Pedras, in Consolacao! Here you just have to try all shell fish.

When i take my guests from Surfmoments House i order for all off course and they are always very happy! Make a reservation on weekends. Always open during the season.

Now the top one for seafood or shellfish is Mirandum in Peniche. Just order a castle for 4 people and eat it all. Maybe you will need some help to know how to eat some things; but you can always invite me! Lol! The owners are amazing and will do the best for you have a great dinner.

Make a reservation.

In my surf house i usually cook for free for my guests that have been coming back for years, and they usually love our food.

The thing is that i have to cook what my Mom cooks that is really Portuguese food and i’m a big mix because of all countries that i visited, so i try hard! lolol No i don’t its easy, our Portuguese food its really basic and tasty.

If you think Italian, or French food is good. Try Portuguese food but if you can have it home made its even better off course, my guests are really lucky!

And off course theres’s more restaurants to go to but i have to keep some secrets for my guests!

Please people don’t go to the restaurant and order salmon or another kind of fish that is what you usually get in your home supermarket and that comes from so far away to our restaurants too…

If you want to eat some of our fish so for sea bass (robalo), sea bream (dourada), sardinha, carapau, squid, cuttlefish, etc…

Food in Portugal its not expensive and eating out its not like Switzerland, no its affordable even for us that only earn the minimum wage of 535eur.

Why do we travel? To create experiences even if its not that great at a first try, but you will find something you will like a lot!