Explore Seville and Southern Portugal! Our recent adventure to Seville, the southern coast of Portugal, and Lisbon was absolutely wonderful! The allure of the Iberian peninsula is captivating. Just remember to reset your inner clock! It’s typical for locals to have dinner around 10 pm and hit the bars or clubs around midnight or even later. Here are some of the highlights and why you should consider a trip to the southern Iberian Peninsula: Seville Highlights – a modern city with a rich cultural atmosphere. Bike Tour – You’ve got to try a bike tour in Seville! We recommend See By Bike via Viator. Our guide, Ivan, was fantastic and showed us all of the must-see spots and shared interesting historical tidbits that furthered our appreciation for this beautiful city. After our tour, we knew exactly where to head back to for further exploration. Santa Cruz Section – We stayed in the charming Santa Cruz section of the city at the H10 Casa de la Plata hotel. This location was fantastic – a lovely hotel with a beautiful rooftop pool and bar. Local Boutiques and Cuisine – Shopping at local boutiques and indulging in the cuisine was a blast. Our top food pick? Tapas at Lola Por Dios. Seriously, it was absolutely delicious! Rich History – Seville’s history is captivating. From the stunning architecture, beautiful patterned tilework to the vibrant culture, there’s so much to soak in. People here don’t rush, they seem to take their time and enjoy life. Southern Portugal Highlights Cascais & Sintra – Cascais is such a lovely coastal town, touted as the Portuguese Riviera and known for its green wine. We loved wandering through its charming streets, cooling off with some delicious gelato from Santini and pampering at the new Legacy Hotel and Spa, which we can’t recommend enough. Relaxing Beach Days – The coastline of southern Portugal is like a dream come true. We recommend spending a few days at the beach, just soaking up the sun and the amazing views. Parks, Palaces and Pottery – The Sintra-CasCais Natural Park is a beautiful area for hiking, biking and surfing. The area includes the Cabo da Roca, continental Europe’s westernmost point and extend to the Castle of the Moors. Sintra is known for it’s beautiful palaces (including the Pena National Palace), castles, scenic beaches and parks. We encourage you to take some time to appreciate the beautiful Portuguese handmade ceramics. There are many incredible small artisans and bigger names like Bordallo Pinheiro, Casa Cubista, Costa Nova found in shops throughout this region. Lisbon – known for its stunning Old-World architecture, lively nightlife and excellent cuisine. Avenida Liberdade – The top shopping street in Lisbon. Perfect for a shopping spree! Time Out Market – Like the Time Out markets in other major cities, the market in Lisbon is a must-visit for sampling a variety of local foods and enjoying the lively atmosphere. The slogan for this market is bringing together the best of the city under one roof. It’s a fun place to go with a group – everyone can find something to eat that they enjoy. Azulejos or Tiles – stunning tiles seem to be everywhere you look across Southern Portugal. It’s hard not to fall in love with the unique patterns and colors that blanket buildings and make this small European country and its streets beloved for their beauty. Ceramicas na Linha – It’s like a candy store for buying ceramics. Located in the heart of Chiado, this backstreet ceramic store sells all sorts of Portuguese pottery. There is also a second shop in the back called Luza. They stock other brands, including Bordallo Pinheiro and Costa Nova. Here are the beautiful Costa Nova bowls we found. Whether you’re exploring the vibrant streets of Seville or the stunning coastline of Portugal, these destinations offer unforgettable experiences. Pack your bags and get ready for an amazing adventure!,
Happy National Ice Cream Day…
Hot summer afternoons should be spent enjoying ice cream! We hope you are able to relax and enjoy this delicious frozen treat today. Perhaps this post will also encourage you to make homemade ice cream of your own. There’s something wonderful about homemade ice cream. Several years ago we listened to a radio program about an entrepreneur named Jeni Britton Bauer and how she started a company making unique flavored ice cream. The program inspired us to try making our own homemade ice cream. We purchased a Cuisinart ice cream machine and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream book. The recipes in her book have been an inspiration for many of the flavors we’ve made. Over the years, we have made good use of our little machine. We have created some wonderful flavored ice cream and frozen yogurt including strawberry, blueberry, peach and fig. These flavors have been added to some of our traditional favorites like lemon with a blueberry swirl, Thai peanut, and Oreo. We also added a waffle cone maker to our small kitchen appliances because, what’s ice cream if not served in a waffle cone and covered in guittard sprinkles or dipped in homemade magic shell. When we are not home making our own frozen treats, we are typically exploring new places. When we travel during the summer, we inevitably find small ice cream or gelato shops that make homemade ice cream and stop in to try a few flavors. We do have two favorites like Down East Ice Cream in Boothbay Harbor, Maine or The Juice Bar in Nantucket, Massachusettes. We are always on the lookout for new ice cream stands, let us know where your favorites are…