Catalonia
Tarraco Viva, The Gladiators of Tarragona
Tarraco Viva lasts for 10 days in May and involves a packed programme of Ancient Rome themed events; the bloody highlights of which are the gladiator battles… […]
Spain
Barcelona
The Thrills of Watching the Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya
By the time we were walking under Fernando Alonso’s face smiling down from the Avenida de los Campeones, the fever pitched screaming and revving of Formula 1 cars seeped through the whole body… […]
Atlas Mountains
Ten Outstanding Ways to Arrive at a Destination
On occasions, the mode of transport that we’ve used to get to a destination has added a tasty dollop of exotic spiciness and adventure to the whole experience. These have been some of our favourite ways to arrive at a destination. […]
The Canary Islands
Summer Wildfires in the Canary Islands
The winter of 2011-2012 has been the driest on the Canary Islands for more than 70 years and has left the forested interiors of the islands tinder-dry. At altitude, Calima brings strong, hot winds and temperatures in excess of 40º Celsius (104ºF) which, combined with dry forests, are a constant summer fire risk. […]
Gran Canaria
Paradise Ignored, Gran Canaria’s Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo
The Viera y Clavijo Gardens cover twenty seven hectares of Canarian paradise, protecting and proudly exhibiting 2,000 plants (500 of them endemic)… and it’s virtually devoid of visitors. […]
Barcelona
Visiting the Camp Nou in Barcelona during the Champions League Final
I’m sitting in arguably the most famous football stadium in the known universe on the night of the biggest club game in football, the Champions League final. […]
Food & drink
Gourmet Coffee and Award Winning Wine from Gran Canaria
Agaete coffee is organically produced in the world’s most northerly plantation and is marketed as gourmet coffee. At €70 a kilo, it has a price tag to match its reputation. […]
Catalonia
Review of Hotel Hostatgeria del Monestir, El Monestir de les Avellanes
The Hotel Hostatgeria del Monestir is located amidst some divine Catalonian scenery near Montsec with the added bonus of being part of a 12th century Abbey… […]
Asturias
Why it’s Smart to Wear Clogs in Asturias
Wooden shoes have been functional footwear throughout Europe and Asia for centuries and during a five minute conversation in Ribadesella I finally discovered why. […]
Gran Canaria
A Sunday Stroll from the Parador to Tejeda on Gran Canaria
The Tejeda walk is bookended by two basaltic towers; Roque Nublo (without the clouds that inspired its name) at the start and Roque Bentayga, once the dramatic… […]
Hotels
Review of La Gomera Parador, Colonial Comforts
La Gomera’s Parador has 112 rooms but feels intimate. The good sized rooms fit with the colonial style with polished wooden floors and antique furnishings. […]
Gran Canaria
Review of Rural Hotel Las Calas, Gran Canaria
Las Calas is the sort of place that makes you want to kick off your hiking boots, tuck your sketch pad and pencils under your arm and head barefoot to the lawn to sketch the tree festooned with coloured glass baubles… […]
Asturias
Astounding Asturias, The Picos de Europa
The Picos de Europa have a Tolkienesque grandeur to them. They were a natural barrier to the invading Moors who marauded through most of the rest of Spain in… […]
Catalonia
Touring Historic Tarragona on a Segway
But within a couple of minutes of tuition by Segway Tarragona I could spin that baby on a centimo, safely whizz past pedestrians closer than a barber gets to his client’s chin… […]
Hotels
Being Pampered at the Hotel Botánico Oriental Spa
I became aware of the delicious scent of jasmine, the perfect ambient temperature, the gentle flutter of the candlelight and the soft melody of the Oriental relaxation music. I smiled and breathed deeply. Let the pampering begin. […]