By Wendy
In recent years, overseas trips have centered on favorite places: London, Madrid, Paris, Rome – I could happily stay in these cities on repeat.
The day trip offers a way to explore a new spot while returning to the beloved familiar destination. To that end, we added a day trip to Brussels, Belgium during a week in Paris. Why Brussels? Continue reading
By Wendy
October settles in, the sun sets earlier and there is a chill in the air, and for some reason the atmosphere makes me think of Paris, March 2025.
I’m battling a cold. Me, who rarely gets sick, is hit with a bad cold the second day of an anticipated family trip to a favorite city. I had to miss part of an outing on Sunday and went to bed early. In Paris. Unacceptable. The next day I’m determined to rally. Continue reading
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
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 Wendy
It was the best of dinners and nowhere near the worst of dinners because we were in San Sebastián, Spain. Continue reading
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.
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
By Wendy
On a recent trip to Spain, Jack and I spent about 24 hours in Bilbao. We enjoyed walking around the city on a warm, cloudy Sunday in July, visiting the famous Guggenheim Museum and having a delicious dinner. Continue reading
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
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