Question #1: What’s the worst thing about traveling?
If your answer is “PACKING” you get an “A”
If you squeezed in 2 answers, including “Airport Security” you get an “A +”
Question #2: What’s the BEST thing about traveling?
If your answer’s “Learning”
DING DING! You WIN!!
(If you answered “shopping” you’re a naughty, naughty student but I love you and you may sit beside me in class)
So…
Imagine our delight in discovering this unusual little hotel in Portugal earlier this year.
Tucked away in a very quiet but convenient neighbourhood in the heart of Lisbon,
“Hotel da Estrela” has stayed true to the school it once was.
Even a good portion of the staff are students from a neighbouring hotel & culinary Institute.
Two views of the “study room”
The Honesty Bar
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I dihn’t see you take that 2nd glass of Port!
Halls are hung with old maps and cool art, even the baseboards are blackboards where inspiration may be chalked up daily.
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How fun is this custom carpeting in the rooms?! (yes, that’s my foot- for scale)
While not overly luxurious (which would feel weird in this funky/modern school ambience) the rooms and bathrooms are large, well appointed (though the giant showers could use a soap holder ) and reasonably priced. The staff are young, eager & courteous.
Coming home late in the evening even requires banging on a massive wooden door, just to add to the feel of missing curfew!
Full disclosure; we did not eat in the restaurant, as my friend’s friends who live in Lisbon took us out to dine at night.
Plus these egg custard pastries are mandatory every day. It’s a Portuguese law.
Chanel Resort 2013
Be True to Your School
For more information on “Hotel da Estrela”
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For more chalkboard fun check out; Chalkboard China ( I just love them-if you click on the link you’ll see why 🙂 )
Chalkboard candles & Chargers both from Chalkboard China
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* Ciate Chalkboard nails here (available in the U.S. in June 2013)
** Tutorial on chalkboard tags here
Glazed apple for teacher here
Lights Out
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Beautiful post! I stayed in Lisbon with my handsome husband and 4 children, 8-16 years old, back in ’99. Can’t wait to revisit with just the handsome husband, Your post has spurred my determination.
And so say all of us! Re: Chalkboard China”
MH
I’m enrolling! What a delight. Enough of the stuffy Ritz.
Thank you.
Mary
I’m in a total school daze…this was SO FUN!! franki
Dear Slim This is just great, a light bulb certainly must have shined a bright light for the designers to come up with such a great concept from the original school!
xoxo
Karena
How clever and fun! LOVE Portugal and the Portugese people–kind and proud. If I ever decided to live abroad, hands down, that’s where I would go.
My kind of school! Thank you Slim for wonderful posts, home and away.
Perhaps you already have this book, if not, it’s a must for you – Linda O’Keefe’s “Stripes: Design Between The Lines”, published 2012 by Monacelli Press.
Yes Cindy-I’ve heard about this book but I do not have it (yet 🙂 )
Slim,
Do you have Hydrangeas in your garden?im on a search for a garden full I just thought you might ,if so can you mail me a couple of photos?I know they are not in bloom yet but just tell me how many in each photo!Thanks,Contessa
I have so many hydrangea bushes but only a couple of Oak Leaf ones are in bloom at the moment.
This is for a magazine shoot………….can you send me some photos they donot have to be in bloom!
Why don’t you shoot me an email Contessa and fill me in on what it is you are looking for. Slimpaley@gmail.com
the worst part of traveling is unpacking when you return….i hate that. The best part is having to eat at restaurants day and night:)
cute post
I think I’d skip school for a few of those egg custards!
I’m sending in my application, love all of the details and your fashion images are the perfect addition, naturally. I agree with Canuck, the worst part of travelling is unpacking, please don’t look in my dining room right now….
Back to school looks very fun, Slim… 🙂 xv
I have read about this hotel before and it sparked my curiosity. This is why I love to travel because it feeds my soul. Great post.
Love it, and love Portugal – a cold country with a hot sun.