She might strike you as a “mala mujer” or even a “bruja” (witch): Andalusia will ignite your fantasies, painting them in the fiery hues of those wild, blood-boiling impulses. Too hot to handle in summer, this diva region of Southern Spain is simply smoking hot all year round. Andalusia isn’t a place you visit with a purpose or a strict time frame. Don’t even try to judge her: she’s as intense as the rhythms of her flamenco and as savage as her corridas. At times, she’s mute and arid, but then, so are you. This is a world of simple, raw power, with a gravitational pull so immense it can…
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Mallorca #SINEQUANON: Coveted Coves and the Rare Drama of the Tramuntana
Mallorca is a wonderland that can be so easily ruined, it’s ridiculous. She’ll give you postcard perfection, a predictable luxury bubble, or something else entirely. To be fair, it’s almost too easy to get it wrong. She can be a revelation, she can become a habit, or it can be the beautiful and boring holiday paradigm. And it’s ok. You know why? Because this way we get to keep the best of it for ourselves ONE: Timing and Place Matter Most Skip the summer crush, go for the shoulder seasons: late spring or autumn. The air is freer, the crowds are whispers, and the seawater temperature is perfect. Shun the…
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Valencia and beyond: the best day-trips
Valencia, as a city, is a happy few favourite for a city break: the sparkling sea, the vibrant taverns, that immense beach, and those incredible urban landmarks. But what if we make it a whole holiday in the area? Embrace the open road for day trips that are nothing short of an escape to wonderland. ESCAPE ONE: Peñíscola Who was first? The Knights Templar or the dragons? If this is your kind of mind race, you simply must go to Peñíscola. Take Costa del Azahar (Azahar means citrus blossom 🙂 ) north from Valencia towards Barcelona on either the highway or the national road, if you want to make a…
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ON RICE AND MEN (and possibly giraffes): VALENCIA
Delicate rice fields rolling under the sun, equally delicate elephants roaming freely, immense beaches stretching to the horizon, and the true, original paella – these are but a few of the rather extraordinary findings in one singular city, Valencia. A citybreak wonderland escape indeed, it’s the place where even a river lives a heroic second life, perfectly reincarnated into verdant gardens. I had underestimated Valencia for years; between the fascination of Andalucia, the pull of the islands and the overwhelming buzz of Barcelona and Madrid, Valencia never made the Spanish top list. I am happy to admit I was in the wrong. Surprises of such magnitude are priceless for the happy few, so…
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GoT LOCATIONS: MEEREEN
Game of Thrones lovers, don’t just sit and watch in awe: step into the story and go to Meereen. Season’s 6 Meereen was filmed in Peniscola, Spain, and this is one of our favorite escapes to wonderland 🙂 Retrace the tracks of Tyrion, Missandei and Varys and linger on the streets haunted by the Harpies. Plus the dragons are still there, remember?
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VALENCIA #SINEQUANON: THE CITY OF ORANGES AND LAUGHTER AND LIGHT
ONE: BIOPARC You can call it a zoo, but that would be a gross understatement. This is true bio-immersion: you walk and picnic into the animals’ world. In downtown Valencia, Africa comes alive: savannas, baobabs, and roaming wildlife, poof! the city has vanished. TWO: Turia – the riverbed transformed into park Turia is the ultimate urban playground. The river that once flooded the city was redirected and its dry bed transformed into nine kilometers of pure delight: orange trees and fountains, playgrounds and bike paths, bridges that tell the story of centuries, and futuristic wonders like the City of Arts and Sciences rising at the far end. It’s Valencia’s living…
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SINEQUANON Andalusia: The Keys to the South
ONE: RONDA There is an unbreakable quality about that place: it’s perfect; not intimidating yet not popular either, not humble yet by no means brassy, audacious yet familiar. Ideally situated in the mountains only 40 minutes drive from the sea, the city is fractured in the middle by an abyss, the two halves united by an old bridge. Ronda hangs over the most magnificent abrupt rocks without being terrifying or cold, it has small paved streets with charming boutiques, a Museo de los Ladrones (The Thieves’ Museum) and the most beautiful Plaza de Torros (the bullfighting arena) in the world. The most spectacular corrida in the world takes place here, the Corrida…
