While browsing through various travel blogs some time ago, I discovered an article about the powdery-soft, often pinkish beaches of a place called Formentera. Upon further googling, the crystal clear, calm waters and rose-hued sands immediately left me eager to visit. I finally got that chance when Joe and I visited Ibiza, and our trip to […]
Celebrating Love in Ibiza
When you value experiences over material things, events like birthdays and anniversaries have the potential to become grand adventures and to produce memories that will last a lifetime. Fortunately, Joe and I would almost always choose a trip over presents, so to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary we booked a last-minute weekend trip to the […]
Education and Inspiration in the Douro Valley
When I asked friends who had recently been to Porto whether they recommended a day trip to the famed Douro Valley for a wine and port tasting tour, the answer was a resounding yes. I had seen photos of rolling hills packed with vine-filled terraces, steep slopes ending in the winding Douro river, and sometimes humble […]
Porto revisited: We Didn’t Come Just for the Port!
Despite the ample opportunities we took to taste beautiful, local Portuguese wines and ports, much time still remained to explore the lovely city of Porto and take in the culture of “the North.” Porto is an extremely hilly city, and in certain areas its tightly packed buildings appear to be stacked on top of one another, […]
Highlights of Porto: Tasting Our Way Around
Ever since we decided to spend time in Spain, I knew we needed to visit nearby Portugal as well. I’d heard tantalizing stories about the coastal cities, tiled buildings, eclectic architecture and valleys packed full with terraced grapes that produced unparalleled port wines…sounded like a dream destination to me!
Continuing Cultural Education: Tastes of Barcelona
Joe and I often stop for a minute and marvel at the fact that we’re currently living in Europe. Out of nowhere, one of us will turn an awe-struck, giddy smile on the other and say, “holy CRAP, can you believe where we are right now…?? Can you believe how beautiful ___ is??” or something […]
Getting Cultured: Saturday at the Museum of Catalan History
In an attempt to get the most out of this year as possible, we’re making it a point, while living amidst so many architectural, cultural, and natural marvels, to engage in least one culturally/personally enriching experience a week – preferably more, but we set reasonable (surpassable) goals. After all, we’re not tourists here – we’re living, working, cooking, […]
Semana Santa: Easter in Barcelona
In the Turner household growing up, we primarily celebrated Easter on Easter Sunday: I received a colorful, wicker-woven basket overflowing with edible treats, the “Easter Bunny” (my mother) hid brightly colored eggs and a decent amount of candy around the back yard while my dad cooked piles of pancakes or waffles, and there followed a […]
La Pepita: A True Gem
Once in a while, we’re fortunate enough to dine at a truly wonderful establishment where the food is innovative and delicious, the service is attentive and friendly, and the ambiance is just the right blend of mood-setting and lively. All this we found when we visited La Pepita in Barcelona’s Gràcia neighborhood.
Mercado de la Boqueria – A Lot of Everything
There are always thronging, milling crowds clustered just outside and at the entrance to la Boqueria market in Barcelona, making it seem both impassable and strangely inviting at the same time. We had walked by this massive, indoor market many times on the way elsewhere but had never ducked inside – until this morning. Planning ahead […]
Little Treasures: Sunday Street Markets
I’m discovering that Sundays are special in Barcelona – everyone is out and about, the cafes are as full as can be, many shops are closed, the beaches showcase more people than sandy space, and the city’s vendors are well aware and prepared.
The View from the Top: Hiking Montjuïc
This past Saturday, after a fairly relaxing morning, Joe and I casually embarked upon what would become an epic hike up (and back down) Montjuïc, one of Barcelona’s many (sometimes steep) hills.
Mas Vino, Por Favor! Fun Facts about Spanish Wines.
While reading today, I came across a site called The Local, which shares Spain’s news in English. A wine blogger, Timmer Brown (@catalunyawine), had posted some interesting articles about Spanish wine, which intrigued me immediately. After reading about some of the best wine bars in Barcelona (I’ll be visiting every single one, thankyouverymuch), I found […]
The First 48 Hours in FOOD (and Drinks)
Ah, Spanish food – tapas, paella, various (myriad, really) types of thinly-sliced pork products, incredible cheeses…and so, so much more, as we quickly discovered. After settling in to our adorable, extremely well-located apartment (thank you, Airbnb sublets), we turned our attention to getting out of it.
Forgotten Wine, and Other Travel Foibles
Here’s how to do the Austin airport right: get there early enough to imbibe a wine flight and/or a glass at Vino Volo before your flight – hell, spring for a snack if you feel particularly swanky (or hungry) as the food is delicious. Stopping by the wine bar has become our pre-flight ritual and always […]
Date Nights with Joe and Abbey
Tuesdays are special in the Turner household: my mom has court and my dad has a weekly office meeting. This means both get home and don’t want to lift a finger in the kitchen, so they indulge in one of their favorite little luxuries: healthy, macrobiotic food cooked by a wonderful family friend. And so, […]
Heaven on Earth: the 2017 Oregon Cheese Festival
Imagine a wonderful place full of tables laden with many types of cheeses, truffles, chocolates, jams and jellies, pickled delicacies and baked goods, all overflowing from their displays. And almost more abundant than the tasty treats are the breweries, wineries and distilleries whose bold, delicate, earthy and even naughty beverages beckon to visitors and help wash […]
It’s Not the Destination, It’s the Journey
Me: “So, it’s settled, then: we’re moving to the Bay. Even if I don’t have a job. We’ll get settled, and then I’ll job-hunt like a mad woman.” Him: “Yep, that’s the plan.” [Apartment search commences/continues, plotting and planning for a life in Alameda or Oakland is well underway…] Me: “I guess we’ve ruled out […]
