The Salty people go this Way
During our Portugal trip we were privileged enough to stay at the Salty Way house, just outside of Lisbon on the beautiful banks of Praia Grande, Sintra. Bookinglayer’s long-term client and friend Julika Nolte is the owner of Salty Way, a surfing and climbing camp for the adventurous traveller.
Salty Way is located in a quaint “Moradia” that Julika founded and renovated with her own two hands. The house gives you a sense of grounding with it’s rugged brick exterior and open fire place inside. You will find travellers from all corners of the world here, usually relaxing next to the fire, reading books on lounges and windowsills, relaxing after their day of adventure.
Muffled sounds of a teacher’s instructions for Savassana seep up through the walls from the underground Yoga Shala below.
Julika is a German water-woman who learnt how to surf in Byron Bay seventeen years ago and since then has been addicted to the surfing life. When she’s not surfing, Julika is running this thriving house and showing her guests around the beautiful sights of Lisbon’s back lands in Portugal.
Julika knows all the secrets in town, from hidden surf spots to hidden restaurant spots — she makes your experience a personal and insightful one, something that makes staying at her guest house a unique experience that makes you feel more like a local than a tourist.
Julika took us to a local Pizzeria run by a Brazilian couple with Italian heritage — an indication of the regions diverse cultural history. We were the only ones in the restaurant and even shared a glass of wine with the chef. It was by far the most delectable Italian food I’ve tasted outside of Italy itself, complete with Italian wine and cheese that makes your taste buds fire and your arteries clog!
Salty Way is not just a surfers destination, it also offers rock climbing adventures, yoga, and an atmosphere of relaxation for the less active traveller.
The best thing about Sintra is that it’s only twenty minutes down the highway from Lisbon airport. You feel a million miles away from the city life but a fix is at your fingertips for those who crave a day of sight seeing or metropolitan coffee houses.
The road to Sintra is a winding scenic voyage along the cliffs of the western Portuguese coastline. Look up and see lush green terraces, vegetation as though you aren’t on the outskirts of one of Europe’s largest cities. Look down and see barren escarpments plunging into the Atlantic ocean below. It is wild and rugged terrain that makes you wonder how Vasco ever had the urge to venture into these oceans to discover new land! Regardless, the beauty is awe-inspiring.
Another thirty minutes along the road, a few more obscure turns, back track a couple of times as you’ll likely get lost with the shifty GPS routes, and eventually you’ll find Salty Way guest house.
We were so stoked to have spent time in Cascais and have Julika show us around the localities. It was short but sweet enough to know we will be returning in the very near future!
