Posts Tagged ‘Travel’
5 Historic Sites in Galicia
May 8th, 2013 by Carol Byrne
Galicia - the North of Spain, Think of crashing waves, long deserted beaches, bracing cliff walks. Make yours a really historic holiday! See the sights, explore the area, and delve into the history. A healthy sort of holiday, especially when dinner involves a plate of really good fish, freshly caught and landed that morning. Thinking about it is enough to put a bit of colour in your cheeks – so go to Galicia this year and see another part of Spain. Let’s start with 5 of the best historical sites to see.
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Read the entire post » 5 Historic Sites in Galicia
Bubbly Spain – Cava country of the Penedés
April 15th, 2013 by Carol Byrne
Holidaying this year in the North of Spain? Why not. Rolling countryside, vibrant cities, wild and rugged coastline - Catalonia has much to offer. If you like to celebrate your arrival pick up a bottle of the local bubbly – Cava in Spain is often superior to it’s French counterpart – Champagne. Take a day trip or longer and explore the Penedés, the region famous hereabouts for it’s production of Cava.
Let’s take a ramble around Cava country. Salud!
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Read the entire post » Bubbly Spain – Cava country of the Penedés
North of Valencia
March 25th, 2013 by Carol Byrne
From discovering the wonderful destinations ripe for discovery just South of the city of Valencia, we’re turning our heads in the other direction and looking North instead, don’t worry, it’s still sunny!
Valencia has many wonderful places in which to stop and spend a few hours away from the city itself, let’s continue on our journey and see what life is like North of Valencia, and a little way to the West too.
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Read the entire post » North of Valencia
Take 5 hikes in Tenerife
March 22nd, 2013 by Carol Byrne
Tenerife, one of the popular Canary Islands, has much to boast about. And so it should – year round sunshine, brilliant beaches, great gastronomy and a wealth of museums and attractions. It’s truly the island for all seasons. But for the walkers, hikers, climbers and scramblers, it figures as one of the top destinations in all of Europe. You’d have to climb high to beat it – let’s take a look at just 5 of the many walking and hiking opportunities in terrific Tenerife.
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Read the entire post » Take 5 hikes in Tenerife
5 Reasons to Visit the Costa Blanca
March 8th, 2013 by Carol Byrne
The Costa Blanca. Sun, Sea, Sand. You already know the reasons why the Costa Blanca – the White Coast – is such a – literally – hotspot for tourists. But if you had to name just 5 reasons to visit, what would they be? What are your top reasons for booking up the Costa Blanca this year?
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Read the entire post » 5 Reasons to Visit the Costa Blanca
Just 1 day – from Alicante
February 27th, 2013 by Carol Byrne
Have you ever wanted to explore more from your holiday base? It’s great to get two weeks to spend under the Spanish sun – especially the stunning Costa Blanca - but what about discovering more of the surrounding area? Perhaps you’re at the end of your holiday, and fancy a day trip before going home? Visitors flock every year to Alicante to take advantage of the great coastline…Let’s take a look at a few choice day trips from Alicante, each can be done in just one day.
Read the entire post » Just 1 day – from Alicante
Read the entire post » Just 1 day – from Alicante
Exploring Guadalest on the Costa Blanca
February 18th, 2013 by Carol Byrne
The Costa Blanca is probably one of the favourite destinations in the whole of Spain. Thousands of visitors flock there annually – to take advantage of the perfect climate, bathe in the warm Mediterranean waters and relax on the soft white sands – it is the White coast after all. Night life and clubbing, water sports, activities for all. It’s all very well and good, but if you’re after some dramatic scenery – and just want to wind things back a little for a day or two - then try a visit to Guadalest. Where is it? Just 25 kilometres inland from Benidorm – but also a world away, come and explore Guadalest.
Read the entire post » Exploring Guadalest on the Costa Blanca
Read the entire post » Exploring Guadalest on the Costa Blanca
A Scholarly New Year in Salamanca
December 5th, 2012 by Carol Byrne
New Year….New you?
Where will you spend it? What will you do?
If you’re still looking for some ideas on where and how to bring in the New Year of 2013, then look no further than the University of Salamanca.
A Spanish New Year with a difference, and you don’t have to be a paid up member of the Students Union to apply!
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An award winning beach – Port d’Alcudia, Mallorca
November 1st, 2012 by Carol Byrne
Today a new list has been published detailing the World’s Best Beaches for 2012, as voted by travellers.
It’s a list of real beach royalty, with, as you would suspect, the beaches of the South Seas and the likes of Florida right up there. But in at number 25 is one you may have been to, the award winning Port d’Alcudia on the island of Mallorca, or Majorca, ensuring Spain is right up there with the best of them! Take a bow, Mallorca, and collect your award…!
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Read the entire post » An award winning beach – Port d’Alcudia, Mallorca
Eye on Alicante – Moraira, the best bits
October 25th, 2012 by Carol Byrne
Let´s stay for a while longer in the Alicante region. We have explored Calpe and today it´s time for Moraira, where Spain Holiday have 191 properties for you to make the perfect choice. After all, you´ve worked hard all year for that break in the sun, so now relax- the only difficult part is making the choice!
What does Moraira have to offer the discerning traveller? Well, sunshine, of course! What else? Let´s have a mooch around Moraira…
Read the entire post » Eye on Alicante – Moraira, the best bits
Read the entire post » Eye on Alicante – Moraira, the best bits
Short tours of the Almería coast. Part 3 – San Juan de los Terreros
August 8th, 2012 by Carol Byrne
We´re still on our tour of Almería, in fact half way through with our third short piece on unusual and slightly different locations from this sunny, dry and stunning province. There´s more to Almería than Mojacar, although that´s also very nice in it´s own way, sometimes it´s good to go out and discover the smaller places too! So at the mid way mark, for part 3 of this series of sunshine filled shorts, let´s take a look at San Juan de los Terreros…
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Read the entire post » Short tours of the Almería coast. Part 3 – San Juan de los Terreros
Staying cool under the Spanish sun
June 30th, 2012 by Carol Byrne
Whew….¡Que calor! It´s hot and getting hotter…
This last month of June saw extremely high temperatures hit Spain – last week was more like mid July.
That might be music to your ears if you spend 50 weeks of the year in the drizzle under the grey skies of Northern Europe, and indeed the sunshine is just what you want for your hard earned fortnight away from work.
But unless you want to explore Spanish hospitals instead of the wonderful country and customs, then take heed and keep your cool.
Sensible sun worshiping means safe tanning and respect for the intense rays…let´s have a quick check-list before you fry…sorry…fly!
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Read the entire post » Staying cool under the Spanish sun
A roast lamb festival in Asturias – not baaad at all
June 19th, 2012 by Carol Byrne
The first Sunday of July sees a Festival with a difference – visit Asturias in the north of Spain and you can experience the Fiesta del Cordero – one of the most popular festivals of the region. More than two thousand portions of roast lamb are served up to the tune of bagpipes and drums – all set within a green and verdant meadow. Interested? Pack your jar of mint sauce and come to Sunday lunch!
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Read the entire post » A roast lamb festival in Asturias – not baaad at all
Green fingers in Madrid
June 14th, 2012 by Carol Byrne
Are you enjoying the European Cup football tournament as much as I am? At least I shall until later on tonight when we will know the result of Ireland v Spain! I live in faint hope…
After tonight I may instead choose to spend match times in the garden – not a bad place to be whether you´re avoiding the TV or not! And Spain has much to offer in the way of formal gardens and parks to spend some time. Going to Madrid this year? Then take in the gardens…!
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Read the entire post » Green fingers in Madrid
An Eastenders Actress, Toledo and the Jewish quarter
May 9th, 2012 by Carol Byrne
Watching the actress June Brown from Eastenders on TV on Monday night – not in her usual Dot- Cotton- fag- in -hand pose, but researching her family on the programme `Who Do You Think You Are?´ which traces the genealogy of famous people and their unknown -sometimes better forgotten! – ancestors. Anyway, turns out her family were Spanish Jews, relegated to North Africa during the Spanish Inquisition, later allowed to Italy and then Holland where she was able to pick up the bloodline. What has this got to do with Spain? Well, read on…put the kettle on…!
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Read the entire post » An Eastenders Actress, Toledo and the Jewish quarter
Crossing over to Spain and the Día de las Cruces
April 28th, 2012 by Carol Byrne
The temperature is rising steadily in Southern Spain. The air is getting a little balmier by the day and Spring is well underway. For most that means an early Spanish holiday, a time for relaxing and recharging, a time to start the Summer with a smile and an early suntan. May for most of Spain means the start of the fiesta season, so let´s kick off the party with the floral Festival of the Crosses...
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Read the entire post » Crossing over to Spain and the Día de las Cruces
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
Puente Genil- a sweet Spanish place!
January 25th, 2012 by Carol Byrne
The Bridge over the River Genil – or Puente Genil – is actually the name of a town home to over 30,000 residents. Should you find yourself in the cultural city of Cordoba then travel just 45 miles south of the city to discover a town where you can satisfy your sweet tooth enjoying the taste of Membrillo- for this is where it is from.
Membrillo? A delicious jam-like pulp made and set firm with Quince and sugar, sold all over Spain in blocks or little triangles and best served with…Manchego cheese! One to take home and impress at your next dinner party!
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Read the entire post » Puente Genil- a sweet Spanish place!
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
Soria – A special sort of Spanish town!
December 20th, 2011 by Carol Byrne
Overlooking the river Duero and sitting pretty within easy reach of Zaragoza or a short hop from busy Bilbao, what will you find if you take a trip to Soria?
Riverside activities, an elegant plaza and park, a tree house open to the public, medieval architecture in bucket-loads and lots more….pay a visit to Soria in Old Castile and Leon - and prepare to be surprised!
Read the entire post » Soria – A special sort of Spanish town!
Read the entire post » Soria – A special sort of Spanish town!
