Valeriya, @valeriya_gogunskaya , invites you on vacation to Praia de Santa Cruz, on the west coast of Portugal. Her little corners of paradise, her summer essentials, her must-have book for lazing around... and her selection of favorite Balzac Paris pieces. Check out his interview!

VALERIYA GOGUNSKAYA

🇬🇧 Praia de Santa Cruz, the very pretty coastal town where I live. It's a 10-minute walk from the ocean, surrounded by cliffs… I don't really need to go very far to feel like I'm on vacation! In truth, summer vacations and owning a business in tourism are not really compatible. From June to September, my holidays are often scattered: three days here, five days there. Sometimes I can make short stays somewhere in Europe, but most of the time I prefer to stay in Portugal. This year, I discovered the islands of the Azores: if you've never heard of them, look on Google! With my boyfriend, we are going to spend 10 days there in August. 

🇬🇧 Vacation in summer and being an owner of a tourism business aren't easily compatible, so throughout June to September, my holidays are usually scattered, three days here, five days there. Sometimes they are short trips somewhere in Europe, but most often in this period I prefer to stay in Portugal. I live in a beautiful coastal town called Praia de Santa Cruz, just 10 min walk from the ocean and magnificent beaches, fringed by the cliffs, so I don't need to travel far to get a feeling that I am on holiday. This year though, I also started discovering more of the Azorian Islands - in case you have never heard of them, please google it! - and with my boyfriend we are heading there for 10 days in August to explore and camp!

VALERIYA GOGUNSKAYA

🇬🇧 I'm always very careful when it comes to sharing precisely the places I like, because I'm afraid they will attract too many people afterwards (a bit like Bali!). Going on a road trip along the west coast to discover your own favorite beaches would be my best advice! But if I have to reveal a specific place for a skate session or a nice view, I advise you to ask people to guide you to what is called "THE" place for sunsets: Praceta! It's next to the Boca Santa restaurant, which serves the best octopus in town. 

🇬🇧 I am always very careful when sharing the exact locations of places dear to my heart because I am afraid of them becoming the Bali Gate, so I will just say that a road trip along the West coast and discovering your own favorite beaches will not let you disappointed! Just to give at least one specific location for a skate session or just sunset watching, check out what we call THE Sunset Spot or Praceta, right next to the restaurant Boca Santa, which serves the best octopus in town. 

VALERIYA GOGUNSKAYA

🇬🇧 My Adriane shirt , my Thaïs skirt and my Elisandre sandals .

🇬🇧 My Adriane shirt , my Thaïs skirt and my Elisandre sandals .

VALERIYA GOGUNSKAYA

🇬🇧 "Women Who Run With Wolves: Stories and Myths of the Wild Woman Archetype", which had been on my wishlist for way too long!

🇬🇧 “Women who run with the wolves”, that has been on my wishlist for way too long.

VALERIYA GOGUNSKAYA

🇬🇧 Juls cattáneo – Animal. And I LOVE dancing to electronic music at “open air”, small festivals or even on the terrace of bars!

🇬🇧 Juls cattáneo – Animal. And I absolutely LOVE dancing to some electronic dj set at an openair, small festival, or the terrace of a local bar.