Thank you Claire for offering this peaceful haven with a magnificent sea view. I already miss waking up in the morning, hearing the waves, getting greeted by Bruna (my dear dog friend), drinking tea outside, wandering through the dunes, sitting at the rocks daydreaming over the water. :) It was lovely meeting you, you have been a perfect host and I enjoyed our talks. Also thanks to Paulo for helping out and offering advice.
To future guests, if you want some peace and quiet, to be in nature but also do some sightseeing, Barra Mansa is ideal. The charming small house fits every basic need and gives you amazing views at the ocean. The first night I was just in awe of the starry sky, it takes your breath away.
Some practical tips: to get to Barra Mansa I used Google Maps offline, it got me there easily. You can get small groceries in the little shop in Fontanelas that is run by nice ladies. In the village of Magoito, just north of Barra Mansa, you will find a bigger SPAR that stays open all day and near Sintra there is a large store called Continente (20 minute drive). There is a new and very nice 'panaderia' (bakery) in Praia das Maçãs and a good place to eat at the very end of the big beach, Bar do Fundo. Two other good restaurants I know are Agua e Sal in Azenhas do Mar (a 15 minute walk along the coast) and D'adraga at Praia da Adraga. These are sea side locations, I imagine there are also some recommendable places off the coast.