A Healing Summit in Portugal
Hello!
I am just back from a quick trip to Portugal, a very popular destination now for Americans. From New York to Lisbon, flight time is approximately 6 hours.
As soon as the plane flies over the shores of Portugal, you are on a descent to land in Lisbon. The people of Portugal are warm, the food is healthful and fresh, wines are fabulous, and the geography is stunning.
The purpose of my trip was to host and help produce Healing Hotels of the World’s annual HEALING SUMMIT held for the second time in the south of Portugal, in the Algarve region. This one was postponed several times (for obvious reasons) so coming together in person with lovely people from all over the globe in the natural beauty of the Algarve was quite amazing.
We held the conference at Pine Cliffs Resort in Albufeira, situated in one of the most spectacular locations I have ever seen. Between the different striations of color on the sweeping cliffs, the unique Portuguese pine trees and the sparkling blue ocean, with sea birds flying over head, it is easy to be transported and feel totally at peace.
We had a very successful summit, featuring changemakers and innovators like Paul Polman, Gina Diez Barroso, and Janet Rogan. We had interactive sessions, snack breaks overlooking the sea, movement classes in the morning, and even a banquet under the stars enjoying the delicious breezes off the Atlantic.
On my way back to New York, an evening in Lisbon proved to be fun and different.
Dining at the renowned Pharmacia and walking hilly cobblestone streets and alleys to discover charming shops, I was sorry to leave this beloved city after just one night.
At the airport, I found Comur, a completely delightful emporium that truly inspired me.
This is a store entirely devoted entirely to sardines and other varieties and preparations of canned fish in gorgeously designed tins, presented in a carnival setting. Now that is art and food combined!
If you go to Lisbon, you must find Comur at the airport or at various locations in the city and around Portugal. It is truly unique!!
Valerie Smaldone is a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and is well known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 on-air position in the New York radio market on 106.7 Life-FM, an iHeart station. She has hosted, produced, and created several award-winning nationally syndicated programs featuring in-depth interviews with stars like Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Mariah Carey among others. Her radio talk show "Bagels and Broadway" highlighted theatre and food personalities. She is an accomplished interviewer and voice artist heard on commercials, narrations, promos and audiobooks, as well as a sought after live announcer.
Most recently, Valerie produced and directed a film, The Thursday Night Club, featuring pop diva Gloria Gaynor in her movie acting debut. She is one of the creators and producers of a docu-series, Divine Renovation, starring Erik Estrada, on streaming networks soon.
