Category ‘Basque Country’
Using your 5 senses in Spain
April 9th, 2013 by Carol Byrne
A holiday in Spain will leave you with all sorts of lingering, beautiful memories. Uploading your photographs when you get back home is all part of the pleasure, remembering each sun filled day out, that great Paella, the gorgeous beach you chose when you booked that perfect holiday home. Spain will fill all of your senses, and leave you relaxed and rejuvenated. What are your special memories of your best Spanish holiday?
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Too many cooks in Spain
February 20th, 2013 by vernon
Can you have too much of a good thing when it comes to Spain?
No, of course not. And that applies to the wonderful food you can taste on your holiday travels around the country.
When it comes to Spanish food, there really cannot be too many cooks.
Read the entire post » Too many cooks in Spain
Read the entire post » Too many cooks in Spain
Quick trips to Spain- in and around Bilbao
January 23rd, 2013 by Carol Byrne
Continuing with our quick trips, this time featuring Bilbao, the capital of the province of Biscay. The Green coast, as it is better known. Think about a few snatched days away, a long weekend, a break to slip in between longer holidays. Situated in the North-central part of Spain, Bilbao is a busy port that makes a great escape for a few days – or a little longer – of culture, art and great eating. Let’s take a quick trip to Bilbao!
Read the entire post » Quick trips to Spain- in and around Bilbao
Read the entire post » Quick trips to Spain- in and around Bilbao
January in Spain. Part 5 San Sebastian
December 19th, 2012 by Carol Byrne
Looking for some January sunshine in Spain for the New Year?
Like a bit of noise? Feel the beat of San Sebastian next month and come to the noisiest festival of all – La Tamborrada – and drum up a Spanish holiday with a difference!
Read the entire post » January in Spain. Part 5 San Sebastian
Read the entire post » January in Spain. Part 5 San Sebastian
Time to wine in Spain
October 25th, 2012 by vernon
Grapes are all around me. A friend cannot give me enough. A neighbour has land where I am encouraged to take as many grapes as I wish.
If things carry on this way I will soon be running my own bodega. But there is no need to. There are plenty for you and me to visit throughout Spain.
So let’s go on a road trip. You can drink. I will drive.
Read the entire post » Time to wine in Spain
Read the entire post » Time to wine in Spain
The 10 best Spanish stadiums to watch football
October 17th, 2012 by Carol Byrne
Ah… The Beautiful Game….watching a game of La Liga football on television is one thing, but actually attending a game is another thing altogether. The impossible bright green of the pitch, the roar of the crowd….
Spanish football is played differently from English football, tiki taka is a word you might hear, it´s because Spanish football is played more slowly and it´s a more technical game. Barcelona are the inventors of tiki taka – think of the seconds of a clock!
But, it´s still exciting to watch, and some of the stars are bigger – or think they are! – than the massive clubs that they play for…why not see for yourself? So let´s go to a game…
Read the entire post » The 10 best Spanish stadiums to watch football
Read the entire post » The 10 best Spanish stadiums to watch football
San Sebastian voted as having the best food in the World
September 10th, 2012 by John Kramer
San Sebastian in Northern Spain has been voted as the greatest gastronomic destination in the World.
According to a panel of food experts, travel writers and critics, San Sebastian is the place to be if looking for gastronomic delights.
It came out top for its food culture, the quality of its restaurants and the quality of the food on offer.
Read the entire post » San Sebastian voted as having the best food in the World
Read the entire post » San Sebastian voted as having the best food in the World
Speed Date with David Hockney in Bilbao
July 9th, 2012 by vernon
I can recall the first time i stepped off the boat in Bilbao. I was struck by how cool it was, and that was in June.
And Bilbao is certainly a cool location. But there is so much to see. And people often use Bilbao simply as a point of arrival or departure.
So if you go there today, and have no more than a couple of hours to spend in the city, what should you see?
Well how about a piece of Yorkshire?
Read the entire post » Speed Date with David Hockney in Bilbao
Read the entire post » Speed Date with David Hockney in Bilbao
Pamplona Bull Run – only for the very brave…
June 21st, 2012 by Carol Byrne
…or very stupid! And absolutely not for the very drunk! Would you do it? Not me! The controversial big event takes place next month - the hottest month of the Spanish year – during the San Fermín Festival which runs from the 6th to the 14th.
If you feel like taking the heat of the actual Running of The Bulls then follow a few guidelines – but it´s definitely not recommended!
What else goes on at the festival? It´s not just a load of old Bull….!
Read the entire post » Pamplona Bull Run – only for the very brave…
Read the entire post » Pamplona Bull Run – only for the very brave…
Surf´s up… in San Sebastian
April 24th, 2012 by Carol Byrne
San Sebastian – or Donostia in Basque – can be found in the north of Spain, a friendly, accessible city with the added pleasure of stunning coves, beaches and bays. Art and culture collide with the fun of the surf and the sea to provide an unforgettable holiday with a difference…so come and explore San Sebastian…
Read the entire post » Surf´s up… in San Sebastian
Read the entire post » Surf´s up… in San Sebastian
Guernica – war and peace in Spain
April 12th, 2012 by Carol Byrne
When you hear the name Guernica what do you think of?
Personally, I think of a visit many years ago to the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, where my then very young daughter stood in front of one of the most famous paintings in the world and wished aloud that she had brought her crayons to colour it in!
Pablo Picasso paid tribute to that ancient Basque place, destroyed one busy market day in 1937 when he accepted the commission to paint the horrors of war. You too can visit the Reina Sofía and see the painted mural for yourself, or you can visit the town now rebuilt since that day in April ´37 when 1,645 people lost their lives.
Read the entire post » Guernica – war and peace in Spain
Read the entire post » Guernica – war and peace in Spain
Feeling Fit? Head for Jaca in Aragon
January 7th, 2012 by Carol Byrne
New Year – new you? Feel like getting fit and hitting the slopes?
It´s not just about the fantastic runs up on the Sierra Nevada in the south of Spain.
Just 30 kms from France in the shadows of the peaks of the Pyrennees you´ll find the town of Jaca – a base for the ski slopes and the first capital of the Kingdom of Aragon.
Lively, historic – and a great departure point for snowy sports up on the piste – let´s go!
Read the entire post » Feeling Fit? Head for Jaca in Aragon
Read the entire post » Feeling Fit? Head for Jaca in Aragon
Spain´s loudest festival: La Tamborrada
January 4th, 2012 by Louise Juhlin
As we all might know by now is that Spain is famous for its many wild, crazy and loud festivals, and the madness of La Tamborrada in San Sebastian is no exception. The tradition of the massive drum festival, La Tamborrada, is without a doubt Spain’s highlight event in January (after the Three Kings that is..) and can even be considered as Spain´s noisiest festival.
Read the entire post » Spain´s loudest festival: La Tamborrada
Read the entire post » Spain´s loudest festival: La Tamborrada
Town of the Star – Estella la Bella
December 31st, 2011 by Carol Byrne
No, I haven´t gone all Christmassy on you again, not that star…although in Spain the Three Kings are still out there and getting ready to go…
I refer to a particular tradition, the one of taking a long walk in the fresh air for New Year´s Day.
We always used to do that, the dog pulling us uphill and down dale, the idea was, I guess, to blow away the cobwebs of the Christmas period, clear the head of hangovers and results of overeating – and the resolution of a healthier New Year - well, in theory anyway!
Now, you could just go for a ramble close to your front door, but what with all the sunshine and longer days that Spain has to offer, why not book a flight and pack your walking boots instead? I have just the thing for you…
Read the entire post » Town of the Star – Estella la Bella
Read the entire post » Town of the Star – Estella la Bella
Self catering in Spain? Cooking up a storm!
October 27th, 2011 by Carol Byrne
So, you´ve selected the area you want to visit for a break over Christmas, or perhaps in the New Year – nothing like escaping the British weather – or Irish, if the Dublin floods this week were anything of a prelude of what to expect 
– and browsed the Spain Holiday site. You´ve chosen a lovely property from the huge selection available, remembering that renting directly from the owners has the advantage of a home-from-home with usually well equipped kitchens and all that´s needed.
Now all you have left to do is to pack and look forward to your winter place in the sun!
What can you expect to buy and cook there? Forget the weekly dash around the supermarket that sells all – you can do that too – but it´s far more fun to explore the art of shopping – Spanish style!
Read the entire post » Self catering in Spain? Cooking up a storm!
– and browsed the Spain Holiday site. You´ve chosen a lovely property from the huge selection available, remembering that renting directly from the owners has the advantage of a home-from-home with usually well equipped kitchens and all that´s needed.
Now all you have left to do is to pack and look forward to your winter place in the sun!
What can you expect to buy and cook there? Forget the weekly dash around the supermarket that sells all – you can do that too – but it´s far more fun to explore the art of shopping – Spanish style! Read the entire post » Self catering in Spain? Cooking up a storm!
Visit Vitoria – stylish capital of Álava
October 26th, 2011 by Carol Byrne
If Spanish cities were a necklace of the finest jewels, then the understated elegance of Vitoria would be the sparkling central stone. Where is it? The capital of both Álava and Euskadi – it´s concentric rings of streets contain lots of new places to discover – as well as sightseeing, Christmas shopping and nightlife galore. Open the treasure chest that is Vitoria-Gasteiz, and imagine a winter weekend in this magical city….
Read the entire post » Visit Vitoria – stylish capital of Álava
Read the entire post » Visit Vitoria – stylish capital of Álava
The pearl of northern Spain, San Sebastian
September 30th, 2011 by Louise Juhlin
This classy and sophisticated city located on the northeastern Atlantic coast is an outstanding choice for travelers that are looking for a unique holiday a world apart from the big tourist destinations in the south. The city cannot be compared with any of the other destinations throughout Spain simply because it is very different in regards to culture, people, food, nature, bordering water and even language! No surprise that it has been chosen as the European Capital of Culture 2016! So what should one do if travelling to this fabulous Basque city?
Read the entire post » The pearl of northern Spain, San Sebastian
Read the entire post » The pearl of northern Spain, San Sebastian
