Category Archives: Europe

Lines of London

by Wendy

Part of a trip is often deciding where you want to wait in line.

I think my Disney-loving family would agree, and I’ve marveled at their strategic planning of activities and rides, considering newness, popularity, and Fast Pass options. But this applies to any destination with beloved tourist attractions, as well as any big city.

You can avoid some lines by going off the beaten track, visiting during an off-peak season, or booking in advance. A few years ago, Jack, my parents and I strolled right past a long line for the London Eye because we bought tickets in advance. This method is effective but since it holds you accountable to a schedule, requires careful consideration. You don’t want to lose your timed spot because of travel delays, or feel like you’re rushing through your vacation. Continue reading

Logistics of a Summer Trip to Spain, London

by Wendy

Planning a trip can be as daunting as it is exciting. Especially with budget and time-restrictions. Jack and I have had our share of successes and failures in booking the perfect getaway but we never give up, even when things get complicated. Here’s how we planned a recent holiday to San Sebastian, Bilbao and London. Continue reading

Dickens Bar

by Wendy

We randomly chose to visit Cocteleria Dickens in San Sebastián in 2015, and deliberately in 2019. The bar feels vaguely 70s, with dark glossy wood, shiny brass, magenta walls, mirrors and candy-color cocktails with umbrellas and pineapple. It is known for serving some of the best, if not the best, gin and tonics. There is a collection of trophies and framed photos of famous people breezing by for a famous drink. Prices are high and thus the topic of scathing internet reviews, but we find the legendary Gin y Tonic Donosti soothes sticker shock. We perch on barstools and admire their creation, a strong and beautifully blended beverage to fortify weak Spanish skills for a chat with the genial bartender about the rare bourbon on display. We sip and accept snacks and briefly talk with the older gentleman presiding over bottles at the counter; he grins and points to a page in the extensive menu listing his awards. A woman rushes in with important information for him about a Woody Allen movie scheduled to shoot in a few days. He seems nonchalant, he’s no stranger to celebrities and he’s one himself, a renowned mixologist. We do not learn if Dickens Bar will be featured in the film, but its slightly mysterious, unapologetic worn glamour and proud alcoholic pedigree provides an interesting scenic backdrop, for locals or Hollywood or those on holiday.

Hiking in San Sebastian

by Wendy

San Sebastian/Donostia is one of Jack and my favorite places. I still can’t believe we almost skipped it. On this third visit, we planned to enjoy activities we had done before: going to the beach, an afternoon at La Perla, steak frites at Gandarias, and snacks and drinks at other spots we liked in the Ondarreta neighborhood near the fabulous NH Aranzazu Hotel. But I also wanted to add a hike. 

You may have noticed the Christ statue in photos I’ve included in previous posts about San Sebastian. Perpetually watching over the city from Monte Urgull, shining like a guardian day and night, my eyes are always drawn to it. On a Saturday morning, we postponed the beach and resolved to follow the path to the top. Continue reading

Americans Drinking in Paris Part Two: Harry’s New York Bar

by Wendy
Bar Hemingway at the Ritz was brilliant, but it was not our favorite bar of this recent visit to Paris. Harry’s New York Bar has its own illustrious past and list of notable patrons, including Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, George Gershwin, Rita Hayworth, and even James Bond. Continue reading

Americans Drinking in Paris Part One: Bar Hemingway

by Wendy
The weather is cool as Jack and I walk from our hotel to Place Vendome, a large fashionable square particularly striking as its lights glow against the evening sky. My heels click on the cobblestones and I pull on my trench coat, trying to channel a chic Parisienne. We are going to Bar Hemingway in the legendary Paris Ritz, one of the top luxury hotels in the world.

This well-known bar is on the Paris itinerary of many fans of both Ernest Hemingway’s brilliant writing and the drinks he loved. I know from research that it’s perfectly fine to visit the bar without staying overnight here, but am still impressed by the hotel staff’s cordial welcome as we enter through the revolving door. Continue reading

The Rooftops of Beaune

by Wendy
Beaune is a beautiful walled city in the French region of Burgundy, about 2 1/2 hours from Paris by train. Besides the vineyards, Beaune’s tourist attractions include the Hotel Dieu, or Hospices de Beaune, a charity hospital from the 15th century founded by a wealthy aristocratic couple. Its brightly tiled roof is striking, refurbished in the early 1900s.

As Jack and I checked into our Beaune hotel, it was one of the first things the concierge mentioned. “You’ve noticed our famous roof?” Continue reading

Beaune Day to Night

by Wendy
When I’m feeling stressed or in a bad mood or wondering when gloomy, humid rain is going change to decent fall weather, travel memories are often an antidote. I keep thinking back to about three weeks ago when Jack and I were lucky to visit Beaune, France. I look at photos and read my journal and type on this blog, and it’s the next best thing to a time-machine. Let’s go… Continue reading