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
By Jack
In March of last year I was treated to an extensive trip through several of the wine producing regions of Spain. Few things are as impactful when trying to communicate the character of a wine as a hands-on visit to the source, so it’s common for producers to sponsor travel to their vineyards for those of us who work in the industry.
The trip really opened my eyes to the diversity of Spain’s geography, and their wine culture. For nine days we travelled almost 3000 miles by bus and plane (mostly bus) from the arid southern Mediterranean coast of Jerez to the cool verdant hills of Galicia. I was struck by the variety and scale of the viticulture and the country, from the venerable traditionalists of Rioja and Jerez, to the innovators of Toro and Soria. Continue reading
by Wendy
Spending an evening in Madrid? Lucky you. Jack and I would prefer at least one date night here every week. Here are some of our recent finds.
Sidreria El Escarpin– We enjoyed a drink here during a previous stay in Madrid and made the right call to order dinner this time. This restaurant features cuisine from the Asturias region in the north of Spain, including the refreshing fizzy cider (sidra). We discovered the appetizer of our dreams: fries topped with chorizo and fried eggs. This beauty pictured above, along with hearty entrees (fish for me, oxtail for Jack) and two bottles of sidra were perfect and also reasonably priced at around $70. Continue reading
by Wendy
Here are a few basics for when you visit San Sebastian – you know you’re thinking about it. Continue reading
by Wendy
Avoiding rainy beach getaways was not our strong suit this summer. We had our heart set on visiting San Sebastian/Donostia – one of the prettiest city beaches we have ever seen – but there’s rain in the forecast. A week or so before our trip I frantically start searching for ideas on what to do in San Sebastian when it rains. The more I read about La Perla Centro Talaso-Sport, the more I think Jack and I should visit this spa even if it doesn’t rain.
Of course it does rain, so we visit La Perla in the early afternoon hours of a Friday. Wow, this place is a treasure. Continue reading
by Wendy
When Jack found an awards flight to Spain that we could book with accrued miles, there was little hesitation about where we would spend a late summer vacation. Continue reading
by Wendy
If only we could have a virtual cocktail party, featuring amazing gin and tonic drinks like the ones they serve in Spain. For those who do not drink alcohol, might I suggest the incredible fresh squeezed orange juice they serve in Spain. Yes, the theme is Spain. We’ll have plates of snacks too, of course. Continue reading
by Wendy
Follow me on twitter @wendylooksleaps
For all my posts on Spain, I still haven’t written about one of the stories Jack and I tell the most. It takes place in an area north of Madrid, where Jack had a quick business appointment. I’m convinced that whether you spend 18 days or 18 hours in a Spanish city, you will see or do something interesting. Especially if you stay flexible and change plans as opportunity presents itself.
Enjoying the view from our hotel balcony… the day after the festival
by Wendy
Follow me on twitter @wendylooksleaps
My husband Jack said I am a collector of cities. I love trying to find a connection to the energy and color and diverse daily scenes of cities I visit. Cities offer reinvention and reassurance. They spark imagination. You learn to share your living space with others, while you’re also challenged to showcase uniqueness. There is an art to living in a city.
Madrid is the city we’ve visited most often in Spain. It is magical to me. History and cutting-edge are side by side. The landmark plazas and modern restaurants. The seedy and the sophisticated. The architecture and museums. It can feel like New York City, a night owl’s haven, a refuge for the weird, a sense that there is always a new discovery no matter how many streets you wander. I’ve heard other visitors sound less enthusiastic, but I love Madrid and will always try to claim it as one of my cities. In my mind I pretend that I’m more than a tourist. Instead, Jack and I have a relationship with Madrid, we’re on familiar terms. There’s no real must-see must-do list. We keep the camera-crazy gaping to a minimum and instead, play it cool. Well we try. Here are some city scenes/observations from our recent stops at the beginning and end of our fall road trip. Continue reading
by Jack and Wendy
Follow us on twitter at @jacklhalsey and @wendylooksleaps . . . or not
These travel tips were inspired by our recent trip to Spain. Take them with a pizca de sal – we don’t really know what we’re doing either.
