Opening time

The next step on our second life journey

Sometimes we thought it would never happen, but four years after moving to Portugal full time and two years after construction work started on our retrospectively but objectively crazy off-grid eco-luxe lodge project we are finally ready to open.

The cut-down-and-dug-out eucalyptus forest where our new buildings now stand is a distant memory, the views are as stunning as the first day we found this amazing property, and we’re ready to start tackling a new chapter in our second life: running a tourism business.

Wine tasting: we’ve already been hosting a few events…mostly centred on wine

We were warned how long the finishing works would take – especially as it’s all been down to us – but the beds are made, the rooms look beautiful and we’ve already been using our Clubhouse for trial-run dinners and wine tasting events with friends.

You won’t find us on AirBnB just yet of course...the licensing process and the permissions are still pending, but we’re on track to start hosting some events and retreats over the next few months and will open to all in the Spring.

The tourism authority’s help in postponing capital payments has lifted a huge weight off our shoulders, but now it’s up to us to lure people to our perfect part of Portugal.

Rubbish views: one of the biggest problems is the ugly beaches nearby

Alongside frustrating bureaucracy, the biggest challenge of all has been overcoming our lack of connections to power and water grids.

But our water is no longer salty, the waste-treatment reed beds are thriving, and a test run of the villa’s underfloor heating sent the temperatures soaring along with our confidence that it’s going to be a toasty winter.

Reedy and waiting: the water treatment plants are thriving

Real time power use data is streaming into my phone, which I’m also using now to control the heat pumps.

We haven’t got all of the monitoring systems in place just yet, but the first post-summer storm was a good test for the rain-collecting systems and to work out how to manage all the pumps and heating systems so we’re never without power.

It sounds so easy written down, but we’ve been ironing out all the bugs, and learning by doing I’ve realised I need to write a guide-book if we are ever going to get away from the valley for a few days and leave it all in the hands of someone else!

I’ve grumbled about DIY, but seeing things finished and installed lifts the spirits.

Toasty: Simon likes the handmade coffee tables and cork walls but prefers the underfloor heating which he believes should be on full blast all the time

The coffee tables look great, the wooden tables work as well as the wall of homemade shelving units and we’re happy with our homemade outside LED lighting.

Ana’s done an incredible job with the interiors which look amazing – so much time and effort has gone into choosing the furniture, the finishing touches and the style and now we’re plumping up the beds ready for their first proper photo-shoot.

Shelving it: with thanks to Pedro for keeping everything level

Once those are taken we can launch our new website, and that comes complete with booking engine so we can start lining up some guests.

We’ve been doing some tours for friends who visit, so we thought we’d record one to give you an idea of what we have done with the place so far.

We’re obviously itching to get open and it’s been a frustrating time with the goalposts moving and different documents being variously needed or not needed.

We have been stalking our architect and our structural engineer to the point that the latter complained he feels like we’re holding a gun to his head.

After months of waiting for his particular piece of paper we have occasionally considered it...although his draftsman assures us that this won’t be necessary and it’s “almost ready.”

There seems to be some movement at the town hall as well...with a request coming in for a final payment...and then of course there’s the tourism license to come...but we’re quietly confident.

The Post-It Note wall is back and is filled with ideas for retreats and packages to bring people to Vale das Estrelas.

We’ve decided the best way to get started before we can advertise accommodation to the general public is to run specific events at particular times.

The notes on the wall include writing and storytelling workshops, art and photography classes, making ourselves a base for long distance walkers on the Rota Vicentina trails...all interspersed with wine, local food and a bit of yoga and massage.

We’re thinking of astronomy stays and events based around our own personal solar system (and water system), to encourage people who might like to follow in our footsteps either off the grid or into an entirely new direction in life.

Would you, or someone you know, be interested in partnering with us and getting something fun up and running to bring people together in Portugal?

We’re open to all sorts of ideas so please get in touch.

Wine is going to be at the heart of what we’ll be telling stories about, so what we can get on with in the meantime is some events to bring together friends from here with visitors from overseas.

Pour it and they will come…hopefully!

We hope to host something new next month, so if you’re interested in coming to see us in the last weekend of November to hear more about Portuguese wine, do get in touch.

We’ve learned so much about Alentejo wine over the past few years and the Wines of Portugal marketing body seem keen to help publicise our podcasts worldwide.

It was amazing to attend the opening party for our closest local vineyard’s brand new beautiful winery.

Vicentino has invested in a cutting-edge winery just a few minutes down the road, and owner Ole Martin Siem toasted its opening with their first ever Espumante – or Portuguese champagne.

Cheers: Ole Martin Siem toasts the opening of his new Vicentino winery just down the road from us

Vicentino is the first stop on our podcast wine journey and we had even had a sneak preview of the new winery a few months ago.

I’ll be writing more about that on the wine blog soon, so do sign up for updates and new podcast episodes.

Episode 1: Starting local

Our friend Luís Martins also made a big step recently – leaving Vicentino to launch his own wine-tasting business, and we’ve been happy to host him for an introduction to some local wines we hadn’t come across before.

The Gledsons were back in town for some dog-sitting duties while we ran some errands and did some DIY on our flat in Lisbon (which we do rent out on AirBnB!).

We've had some great visitors to Vale das Estrelas already: the Gledson's were back to dogs; we showed George & Heather the birthday beach; an impromptu wine tasting with Luís; and a lunch with old friends

There’s still a load to do, but finally the momentum is starting to switch from the construction, to constructing thoughts about how we make a success of Vale das Estrelas – particularly during the winter months and our first proper season in 2025.

We hope to see you here very soon!