Let's take a lil' trip!
Upon sitting down for a drink near our centrally located hotel on Calle Bretón de los Herreros in Logroño, capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain, we struck up a conversation with some friendly locals who literally read us their list of go-to spots for pintxos around town. Shout out to those two ladies – we’d be lost without ya. Here is their list of hot-spots to pintxo-hop like a local, which we dutifully followed.
Continue reading “Logroño, La Rioja: Pintxo-Hop Like a Local”
Burgos, a city in the autonomous community of Castilla y León, makes for a fun and easy weekend getaway from Madrid. Although the length of train rides can vary, there are options that get you from Madrid to Burgos in 2.5 hours – not bad! I also think a weekend is a perfect amount of time to enjoy what Burgos has to offer at a leisurely pace. Also, Burgos BUZZES – I went in January 2022 and temps were around freezing, but that didn’t stop locals from taking to the streets for tapeo, both indoors and on terraces, all around town. Honestly, Burgos was great vibes. 💖✌🏼🏰🍻🍸
Although Bilbao is not known for its knock-out beauty, it’s def a must while in the north of Spain. The city’s appearance reflects its history as an industrial hub, but investments over the past few decades have breathed new life into the city: The Guggenheim, inaugurated in 1997, has become one of the world’s best-known museums. Below I sum up my weekend in Bilbao, featuring pintxos, pinturas (paintings), and paseos (strolls), from my visit with friends in July 2021 😍.
Granada is a gem among gems in Spain’s culturally rich southern autonomous community of Andalucía. Locals often refer to the city as Graná, cutting off the final syllable of the word, which is commonly done for various words in Andalusian accents. I spent a week in Granada in August of 2020 while working from a hotel to get out of Madrid on a “fake-cation” of sorts. I know what you may be thinking – Granada in August?! Yes, Granada was HOT…But so was Madrid, haha. Plus, having an air-conditioned hotel room to work from doesn’t hurt! (Can’t say the same about my room in Madrid 😂). Throughout my week in Graná, I got to know the city itself beyond just the world-renowned La Alhambra. So, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite sights in Granada that will help you appreciate everything this Andalusian jewel has to offer! Continue reading “My Favorite Sights in Granada: Beyond La Alhambra”
I highly recommend a weekend in Oviedo: we spent 3 nights in Oviedo during our week-long trip to Asturias, an autonomous community in the north of Spain, in late August of 2020. We used Oviedo as a base for day trips, including a visit to Covadonga and a quesería on our way to have lunch in Lastres. We then set off to the picturesque towns of Cudillero and Luarca on our way to our next stay in Gijón. We got great weather in our trip, although Asturias and the north of Spain are generally known for the rainy weather. However, summer temperatures are mild even on sunny days, so Asturias is a nice summer spot if you don’t want to be sweating all day! 😝
Continue reading “Weekend in Oviedo: Cider, Art, and Mafalda!”
In August of 2020, I spent a week in Granada – a world-renowned gem of Spain’s southern autonomous community, Andalucía – working from a hotel to get in a little summer “fake”-cation trip. Although Granada is no doubt a scorcher in the summer, I really enjoyed my week there! Since I had lots of time to spend and meals to plan, I was able to sample a variety of Granada’s culinary treats, from its famously generous tapas that accompany any beer or wine to pastries at Moorish-style tea houses. Below is my guide for where to eat in Granada – enjoy! Continue reading “Where to Eat in Granada: Tapas, Teterías, y Todo”
Lastres, or Llastres in asturiano, the Asturian language, is one of many picturesque towns in Asturias, a northern autonomous community of Spain. Be sure not to overlook this town, though – lunch in Lastres was definitely one of my favorite experiences during our week-long stay in Asturias.
Before eating lunch in Lastres, we set off from our hotel in Oviedo and made a worthwhile pitstop at Covadonga, home to a striking 19th-century church set among the mountains. The site commemorates the Moors’ first defeat in Spain at the hands of Pelayo, an Iberian Visigoth turned Asturian king, which marked the beginning of the Reconquista in 722 AD. Near the church is a small cave with a shrine to the Virgin Mary, who, according to legend, appeared to Pelayo and his men before the battle.
Continue reading “Lunch in Lastres, Asturias: Cider and Seafood at La Rula”
Welcome to Valencia, a city on Spain’s eastern coast, known for its food and culture (like so many other cities in this beautiful country! 😜). After spending a long weekend in Valencia, I’d recommend doing the same if you can: that way, you’ll have extra time to see the sights AND just chill on the beach 😎. Continue reading “Long Weekend in Valencia: Architecture, Arroz, & Arena”
Arcos de la Frontera is a treat. Located in the province of Cádiz, in Andalucía, this makes for a great day trip or one-nighter if you’re in the South of Spain. We visited by driving from Sevilla when we lived there. Continue reading “Arcos de la Frontera: A Picturesque Pueblo Blanco”
Evora, located in the Alentejo region of Portugal, is about a 3.5-hour drive from Sevilla. We visited Evora on a weekend trip when we were living in Sevilla, and we had a great time. Below I outline 9 things to do on a weekend in this little gem of a city. Continue reading “Evora: Bread Soup, Human Bones, & Tiled Churches”