Category Archives: Europe

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 →

Interlude at Invalides

by Wendy
We decided to go to Les Invalides because of rain in the Paris forecast. A museum day seems like a good idea, and none of us have been here before. It’s open on Tuesday, unlike The Louvre, and easy to access via Metro.

MJ, Sunny and Jimmy and I walk down a long tree-lined boulevard toward the entrance, as the sky wavers from blue to grey, bright to cloudy. Continue reading →

Favorite Dive Bars

by Wendy
What constitutes a great dive bar? I’ve read articles and watched television shows dedicated to the topic. Does a dive bar by definition have to be at least 10 years old? Can a dive bar serve delicious food? Is a dive bar allowed to remodel anything? What if it gets “discovered” – still a dive bar? Who knew it could be so controversial.

I’m no expert. The older I get, the more I gravitate to places not too crowded but lively, not too expensive but with a decent menu, not overly-stylized but with clean facilities. Yet I can think of a few dive bars that have been special to me in the past. Continue reading →

Madrid Restaurants, Rooftops and Ordering Rueda

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 →

Dinner in San Sebastian: Part One

by Wendy
It’s evening in San Sebastian/Donostia and we are going for a walk. We join locals and fellow visitors strolling the long stretch of boardwalk that follows the curve of the beautiful coastline. We’re on our way to have dinner in Old Town. Continue reading →

La Perla Spa in San Sebastian

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 →