Month: February 2018

Flamencos in Seville

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Back in 2016, I had a shit load of airline miles and an amazing friend who loved travel like I do. What did we do? Booked a free week in Seville, Spain for tapas, manchego, flamenco dancing and mas vino! It was the longest I had stayed in a place for a city trip and I was so excited to see what Seville had to offer.

I love Spain. When people ask what I prefer, Spain or Italy, it is always a hard decision but I always answer Spain. The main reason always falls back on the cultural impact every city in Spain offers. A prime example is the Giralda Tower, part of the Seville Cathedral, that has a twin in Marrakech, Morocco. This gorgeous tower fills up the city center and gives amazing views of the city from the top. And for you Americans out there, inside the Cathedral is the tomb of Christopher Columbus.

Something that can’t be put into pictures is the Alcazar of Seville. It blew our minds. For close to ten euros, you can be exposed to the historical evolution of the city within the very walls of the Alcazar.

Deep in the Parque de Maria Luisa is the Plaza de Espana where you fall back into Cinderella times. I kept expecting that broad to run out of the main building, lose a shoe and make her exit via pumpkin and mice…all while speaking Espanol, of course. We didn’t see any Disney princesses, only gorgeous fountains, bridges and cute little boats to take you around the plaza.

Other than UNESCO sites and parks to admire, Seville hosts a variety of charming streets, cafes and landmarks to behold. This post only covers the top three but you can easily get lost, like we did, for days eating delicious tapas and drinking the very fine Spanish sangria. Other than eating your face off, you MUST see a flamenco show. Most of them don’t let you video during the event but it’s an experience worth having.

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The teeniest country / island you’ll ever see: Malta

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It is no surprise that Game of Thrones tagged this country as one of its hot film locations; with everything from fun in the sun to casual strolls in majestic cities, this place is picture perfect for everyone. I had the immense pleasure visiting this little beauty for my first time in 2015 and instantly felt at ease in its warm, inviting landscapes and ancient city streets. I am going to let the pictures tell the story in this article because it’s one of those places where pictures actually do it justice.

Sliema

Usually, I recommend to always hire a car when traveling to new places. But in Malta’s case, you can easily use public transportation or taxis if you don’t feel comfortable driving on the left side of the road. The buses are from anywhere to 1.50 to 3 euro, depending on the time of year and the entire island can be reached within two hours. On my first stay, Sliema was city of choice as it was across from Valletta and offered lower hotel prices. Sliema also has a lot of excellent shopping and restaurant choices if you are interested in a small city trip.

Valletta

Valletta
Valletta
Valletta
St John’s Co-Cathedral
Upper Barrakka Gardens

Valletta has everything for you culture fanatics out there. I love to see the colorful windows pop out of the otherwise tan, sandy exterior of the city. It also has some lovely churches, such as St. John’s Co-Cathedral that are must see’s when visiting the city. When there, you must take time to visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens for the amazing views of the city and ceremonial cannon firing every day at noon and 4pm.

Marsaxlokk

In 2017, I had the great fortune of returning to Malta with my boyfriend for a long weekend. It was his first time and I couldn’t wait to show him my favorite parts of the country. We chose to stay in the adorable fisherman’s village, Marsaxlokk to gorge ourselves with fresh fish and teeny boats. We walked to St Peter’s Pool for an afternoon of jumping and swimming in the Mediterranean.

Blue Grotto

I have mixed feelings about the Blue Grotto. While it is beautiful, I find the price of 8 euros a bit high compared to other sites in Malta. However, if you only have a long weekend for Malta, then I would recommend to go out. The water is insanely gorgeous but the trip is usually very rushed through.

Mdina

St Paul’s Cathedral

Mdina is our last stop on mainland Malta but is certainly not our least favorite. You can spend half a day here and easily get lost in its back alleys. Mdina is known for glass blowing and I had to jump at the opportunity for my own piece of this gorgeous art. If you are a collector, then be sure to check out any of the local glass blowing shops for your own souvenir.

Gozo

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St George’s Basilica

On my first visit, we had an extra day to visit one of the islands off Malta, Gozo. We took the ferry for 4.65 euros, roundtrip, and just waited to have our minds blown.

Ggantija Temples are older than the pyramids of Egypt and just as powerful to see. In addition to that, you can see breathtaking views of the island and sea all while getting your cultural appetite satisfied.

Azure Window

My favorite place in Malta is Azure Window. Sadly, this arch collapsed due to rough winds and is no longer visible. It doesn’t change the views of the crystal blue waters, the pink and purple colors of the sea and the rocky landscapes above the water. Sorry, not sorry, for the picture overload but this can not be missed when visiting Malta.

 

To finish, not a lot of people think to visit Malta because it is so far below the rest of mainland Europe. But, Malta has become a favorite spot for (especially) my boyfriend and I to discover new places every time. This island is so affordable and welcoming to all sorts of people.

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Iceland: For the weekend or longer

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When you think of Iceland, majority of you will imagine this picture: snow, ice, gray, cold, a winter wonderland. While this is exactly what awaits you on this post’s destination, Iceland has so much more to offer. We will look at hot spots for a weekend getaway as well as longer stays for the lucky ones who have the pleasure of more time in this amazing country.

Weekend in Reykjavik and the Golden Circle

Number one tip for this quaint city: be prepared to spend some money. Just to put it in perspective, you’ll spend 34% more on consumer goods than in places like Paris, London and Berlin. Best you know this going in and not think about it. My trick here is to withdraw the amount of cash you want to spend on food and drinks per day and don’t go over that spend. All of the stores accept credit cards, typically not American Express but welcome to Europe. Tip: Check out the duty free store in the airport on your way out. They have some nice selections of wine, beer and spirits that will save some bucks out in the city. However, if bar drinking is your cup of tea, then make sure to hit up the happy hour. Every place has different time slots but it’s usually between 5pm-8pm.

After you’ve done your shopping, just take a walk in the city! The websites will give their top 5 or 10 things to do and see but if you just take the afternoon to walk, you’ll see all you need.

Hallgrímskirkja church is more impressive from the outside than the inside but be sure to go up to the top for the gorgeous city views. The Tjörnin lake is a gorgeous spot to watch the birds (if you’re into flying rodents) and people watch. All can be found easily by foot!

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The Blue Lagoon is on everyone’s list…and it should be. It’s a pricey attraction but worth the trip out. You’ll certainly have your ideal time to go but if you are not picky, I recommend going as soon as you land as it is closer to the airport and saves you a journey back out. Book online first!

Now, let’s get to my favorite part of any trip: the food. Reykjavik is full of tasty spots for a delicious meal: both quick and the long haul. Since budgets were in play, we opted for one fancy meal and filled the rest of our options with “quick” meals. Here are my top 3 must eats:

  1. Saegreifinn – The Sea Baron– This delightful little spot in the harbor is a MUST. You will not find a more delicious bowl of lobster soup…get whatever you want as long as you pair with the soup.
  2. Ramen Momo— Delicious ramen for a great price! Tiny little spot so either be patient or take it to go. It is also close to the harbor so lots of outside options to sit with your ramen
  3. El Santo— I seek out the best Mexican restaurants in every city and this one did not disappoint. They have everything from tacos and burritos to nachos con guacamole!!
Gulfoss Waterfalls
Strokkur geyser
Pingvellir National Park

After your day or two in the city, I am sure you ready for the Golden Circle. I hope you are packing proper ski clothing; not because you’re skiing, but because the weather is so unpredictable in Iceland. Wet jeans suck and could potentially send you home with some cold or flu thing that no one likes. Don’t think about being pretty; just focus on being warm and dry. Do them in any order you wish but the sights to see are Gulfoss Waterfalls, Strokkur geyser and the Pingvellir National Park (you drive through it so if you’re pushed for time, just enjoy the view from the car).

Longer than a weekend?

Lucky you! Get in your car and head west towards Vik to see black sands, Jokulsarlon, some epic waterfalls and amazing hot pots along the way. It is a much different vibe the further you move from Reykjavik but don’t think the pricing changes…it is still expensive. If you go to Vik, there are only like two restaurants in the city but be sure to make a reservation!

Jokulsarlon
Diamond beach
Vik black sands

Seeing is free…just dress warm!!

We all know I like to do something on the extravagant side on these trips and this was no exception. We decided to try out ice climbing on the Sólheimajökull glacier courtesy of Mountain Guides. We also had a lesson on how the glaciers are melting at an extraordinary rate which got me into pure save the glacier mode. The picture on the left depicts how much of the glacier has melted just over the last decades. I encourage all of you to watch the Netflix documentary, Chasing Ice. 

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From Vik and the Jokulsarlon beaches, you can make any other travel arrangements that suit your needs. Other destinations to keep in mind are the West Fjords. We drove through them but with the ice and snow was a bit difficult. This is a place I would like to visit in spring/summer when the weather is nicer and we easily drive through the mountains.

Websites to follow:

http://en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/aurora/

This website will let you track the northern lights and where to best see them

http://www.road.is/

This helps you track the weather conditions for your journey through Iceland.

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