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Burgos: Fun Weekend Getaway from Madrid

Burgos

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. 💖✌🏼🏰🍻🍸

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My Favorite Sights in Granada: Beyond La Alhambra

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”

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Weekend in Gijon: Sip Cider, Stroll, & Swim!

Gijon is the largest city in Spain’s beautiful northern autonomous community of Asturias and was a key stop on our weeklong trip to region. The city is not exactly jam-packed with sights – I’d say there is more to do in Oviedo, but don’t tell that to someone from Gijon because the 2 cities have some beef 😜 – so I’d say a weekend in Gijon will do just fine! However, Gijon does have beaches – which you can’t say about Oviedo – so you may want to make time for that too, although we didn’t get to hit the beach when we visited.

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Weekend in Oviedo: Cider, Art, and Mafalda!

weekend in oviedo

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! 😝

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One-Night Trip to Chinchón: A Cozy Madrid Getaway

While people often look to Toledo or Segovia as their first options for day trips or one-nighters from Madrid, Chinchón can get overlooked. However, this picturesque town, located only about a one-hour car ride away from the city but still within the Community of Madrid, really makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time. Although a day trip is totally possible, I think a one-night trip to Chinchón is an ideal getaway from Madrid city life. Spending the night is worth it to soak in everything this unique town has to offer without the rush.

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Weekend in Ronda: Bridges, Bull Rings, & Bottles of Wine

weekend in ronda

Ronda, known as the largest of Andalucía’s “white towns,” or pueblos blancos, is a cozy little spot in the province of Málaga. A weekend in Ronda is a must while in the south of Spain! We visited Ronda in December of 2018 when we lived in Bucharest to enjoy the mild Andalusian winter (i.e. clear blue skies, temps in the 50-60s Fahrenheit, and los naranjoooos.) Continue reading “Weekend in Ronda: Bridges, Bull Rings, & Bottles of Wine”

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Where to Eat in Granada: Tapas, Teterías, y Todo

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”

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Lunch in Lastres, Asturias: Cider and Seafood at La Rula

lunch in lastres

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.

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