Things to do at the beach and beyond in Costa del Sol Introduction – Things to do in Costa del Sol: With stunning sandy beaches, you may well have already considered a sea and sand holiday in the Costa del Sol. If like me, though, you are the sort of person who likes having things […]
A Winter’s Weekend in Barcelona
Short Break in Barcelona: Barcelona is a ‘must visit’ destination so the opportunity to experience a weekend winter’s getaway combined with an invitation to stay at the glamorous Cotton House Hotel was too good to turn down. It’s a city you would need to spend a few weeks in to really get underneath its skin but […]
Catalonian short break
Exploring Catalonia – Terrassa, La Garriga and more: I was on the final leg of my journey through Catalonia and by now I had fallen in love with the stunning landscapes, celebrated art and architecture and the extraordinary warmth of the Catalan people I encountered along the way. La Garriga Spa Leaving the Osona region behind us, […]
Catalonia – Part 2
My journey through Catalonia continues to Osona…. Having left the charms of Berguedà behind me, I continued on my exciting journey through Catalonia where my entire itinerary was a complete unknown. In the hands of my guides, I became accustomed to arriving in new places with no idea what was in store for me… It […]
Discovering Catalonia – Part 1
A short break to Catalonia, Spain: Catalonia is a region of Spain that, other than from a couple of short city breaks to its capital Barcelona, has never been on my radar. Little did I know what I had been missing – read on and discover more of Catalonia with me! I have recently returned […]
Colonia Guell, a Gaudi UNESCO town in Catalonia
Colonia Guell – Catalonia: Just 25 kilometres inland from Barcelona, Colonia Guell is a UNESCO heritage colony town and is a working example of Antoni Gaudi’s architecture and Catalan Modernism design. Colony towns were modelled on the British industrial towns model, as the Industrial Revolution swept all across Europe. Eusebio Guell moved his textile factory to […]
All about the Basque Part III – San Sebastian
Of Cooks and Kings – San Sebastian: On those short trips where you have just a day or two in each destination it is always hard when the weather decides not to play nice. Our half day in San Sebastian was marred by a downpour which lasted for most of the day and resulted in […]
My Catalonian Journey of Discovery
Cava and More in Catalonia, Spain: Catalonia is commonly associated with the lively beaches of the Costa Brava, the creative geniuses of architect Antoni Gaudi and artist Salvador Dali and, of course, its vibrant capital Barcelona. They’re all great reasons to visit, but there’s more…a lot more. This diverse and beautiful region covers over 32,000 square […]
All About The Basque II – Vitoria-Gasteiz
Salt, Beans and Tortilla in Vitoria-Gasteiz Perhaps the single most important ‘ingredient’ for our forefathers, salt was not simply a seasoning but the most effective way known to preserve food through the barren winter months. Today, with modern refrigeration the idea of salting our meat and fish is more a culinary device than a means […]
All about the Basque (part 1)
An Introduction to the Basque Country – Bilbao: Just back from a five-day gastronomy tour of the Basque Country, which took me from Bilbao to Vitoria-Gastiez to Rioja Alavesa then San Sebastian, before returning back to Bilbao, I’m still enthralled by the wealth of food and the cultural heritage of the region. This is an introduction, […]