During Las Fallas, Valencia is a heaving mass of people in costume, bands playing, and firecrackers exploding every minute. And that’s honestly not an exaggeration at all. Want to see how insane it was? Check out the view from our balcony at Purple Nest Hostel: Seriously. Imagine that, nonstop, all day and all night. After
Valencia: More Than Just Fire Read More »
My biggest reason for visiting Spain? Attending the Las Fallas festival in Valencia — the festival filled with a week of fireworks, explosions, and giant burning effigies! And it almost ended in disaster. Read through to the end of this piece to see how I averted one of the most horrifying calamities that I can
Las Fallas: Spain’s Festival of Fire Read More »
Madrid originally wasn’t on my Spain itinerary. With all I wanted to see in Andalusia, and needing to get to Valencia in time for Las Fallas, I didn’t think I’d have the time. But after I announced this, there was a mild mutiny on my Facebook page. “DO NOT SKIP MADRID,” my friend Hilary implored.
Madrid in One Day — As Curated By You! Read More »
In my life, I have experienced a few travel moments so spellbinding, so breathtaking, so fascinating, that they have left me short of breath. They’re not common. After visiting 28 countries, I can think of only about five instances that have affected me so deeply. And one of those was visiting the Alhambra in Granada.
Absolute Enchantment at the Alhambra Read More »
I had the feeling I would love Granada before I even arrived. And I was right — after 24 hours, I was thrilled to death with this city in southern Spain. And more importantly, I felt like I could live here. Easily. (Not all cities I love have that quality.) So what is it that
Granada — Yes, I Would Live Here Read More »
Sevilla was my first stop in Spain, and I couldn’t think of a better introduction to this wonderful country. The region of Andalusia is the romantic Spain of yore — Moorish architecture and bullfighting and flamenco — and Sevilla is its astoundingly beautiful capital. I’ve seen a lot of Spain in the past few weeks.
Sevilla: The Most Beautiful City in Spain Read More »
After landing in Paradise in Portugal, I knew my time at this lovely, low-key resort would include far more than just relaxing — I would be making my first-ever attempt of bird-watching. Birdwatching — or birding — is the main attraction of the Quinta do Barranco da Estrada. Frank, the owner, is a birdwatching expert,
Adventurous Kate Goes Birding in Portugal Read More »
Having arrived at the Quinta do Barranco da Estrada — better known as “Paradise in Portugal” — I stood and gaped at the image in front of me. A perfect blue lake — actually a reservoir — surrounded by green-gold trees, a perfect blue sky filled with chubby clouds overhead. The most amazingly fresh air.
Finding Paradise in Portugal — the Quinta do Barranco da Estrada Read More »
“Here, our bones lie, awaiting yours.” This is the macabre welcome to Évora’s most famous attraction — the capela dos ossos, or bone chapel. The bone chapel was my primary reason for visiting Évora, and it’s well worth a visit. The chapel was built by a Franciscan monk in the 16th century during the Counter-Reformation. Its purpose
Creeped Out at Évora’s Bone Chapel Read More »
When I added Évora to my Iberian itinerary, I didn’t have many expectations. I heard it was a lovely town, but my main goal was to see the Capela dos Ossos, the bone chapel. Anything else would be a fringe benefit. Sometimes, going into a place without expectations is best — because I was absolutely bowled
Évora: The Unexpected Beauty of Portugal Read More »