Conquering Mt. Parnassus with Grit and Gratitude
As much as I love big cities, I also like to take a break and see the countryside surrounding them to get a better sense of the culture and the people. So on my second day in Athens I took a tour out to the ancient city of Delphi, home to the legendary oracle at […]
Athens: Heart of Theater and Rebellion
I arrived in Athens late at night and as usual struck up a conversation with my cab driver. I’ve come to believe they are the universal philosopher kings and provide a much needed service beyond their sometimes crazy driving skills. They are ambassadors for their city and listening to them always gives me a new and […]
The Florence Debate: Painting vs Sculpture
This is a city where you turn corners and hear spontaneous bursts of “Wow”. Regardless of the language, it still comes out as “Wow”. The sheer size of the Duomo is overwhelming. The Piazza della Signoria is huge and the Uffizi Gallery is immense, not just in size but in the importance and beauty of the art inside. It’s […]
Sunday Strolling Barcelona Style
When you read the guide books on Barcelona they always highlight La Rambla, a long pedestrian walkway filled with restaurants, shops and kiosks and warn you of the potential pickpockets. While it is a nice walk, it is also quite touristy. My personal preference, if you really want to get a feel for what the locals […]
The Must-See Mezquita in Cordoba
Most travel guides mention Cordoba as an optional side trip from Seville and the first time I was in this region I opted not to go. Given a second opportunity, I decided to go and I am so glad I did. The Mezquita is a must-see. Boarding the high speed rail from Seville to Cordoba got us […]
“Best in Show” Andalusian Style
In the planning for this trip, I wanted to include a visit to the Fundacion Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestra, more simply known as the Royal School of Equestrian Arts, located in Jerez de la Frontera. I was fortunate that our schedule landed on one of the days when they were performing (note that […]
Seville: Second Time Around & Searching for Sand Snakes
This was my second visit to Seville and it is fast becoming one of my favorite cities. It is a very cozy, walkable city with wide pedestrian areas, horse drawn carriages acting as taxis and a rich history of cultural tolerance, music, dance and architecture. Plus they have awesome gelato! What more could you ask for? As […]
From Arcos to Seville with a Detour or Two
Leaving Arcos de la Frontera, we quickly dropped down out of the hill towns into Jerez; best known for their sherry and brandy winery region, flamenco dancing and the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. Catching the horse show at noon (not available every day, so plan ahead) was spectacular and I’d recommend going early to wander the […]
Non-linear Travel Planning
There hasn’t been a lot about this trip that was conventional. I didn’t book a round trip ticket and I didn’t plan anything past the trip through Spain. So it should come as no surprise that the rest of the trip came together in a very non-linear way as well. Probably not the recommended […]
Hidden Hill Towns & Hidden Stories
Setting out for the hill towns of Andalusia, it’s probably a good thing we didn’t know what we were getting into because we might not have gotten in the car! Sometimes ignorance can be bliss and in this case, it also let us experience some very special places tucked away in the Sierra Nevada (“snowy range” […]
Malaga’s Massive Maze of Mayhem
One of the best things about travel is that every once in a while you run into what I think of as “happy accidents”. Those unexpected gifts that are given to you without planning; gifts that delight and surprise and make you realize that not everything in life should be planned. That sometimes just being […]
Everything is Grand in Granada
Arriving in Granada, you feel the dryness of the air, the expanse of the landscape and the beauty of the architecture. One of the main attractions here is the Alhambra, an immense palace and fortress set high on a hill that takes hours to tour. Prior to the tour, we wandered through the Albayzin quarter, […]
Catalonia is not Spain
There is a widely held belief here in Barcelona that Catalonia should not be part of Spain. In fact, they have officially voted to secede from Spain but the government in Madrid will not let them. They are voting once again very soon. [update on the vote here] Signs and menus are in Catalan first, […]
A One Way Ticket to Barcelona
As I exited the Corporate World in early July, I had 3 goals in mind. The 1st was to cleanse my mental palette, the 2nd was to restore my creative reservoir and the 3rd was to let my gypsy spirit travel the world for a bit and be reminded that I’m never lost, just exploring. I […]