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!,
Adventures/Travel
Provence, the French Rivieria & Catalonia…
Exploring Southern Europe – Tips and Highlights in Aix-en-Provence, Cassis & Barcelona… Another region of Europe to add to your travel list is southern France and northern Spain. We have highlighted three of our favorite spots in Provence, the French Rivieria, and the Catalonian region of Spain! Getting here was an easy, direct train ride from Paris. Exploring Southern Europe, including Provence, the French Riviera, and the Catalonian region in Europe is breathtaking in the summer. Here are some of our favorite experiences and recommendations for the area: Aix-en-Provence Highlights: Stroll the Cours Mirabeau: This main pedestrian street is perfect for a leisurely walk. The beautiful trees and historic buildings make it a delightful place to explore. Market Day (Tuesdays): Don’t miss the market in Aix! It’s full of wonderful stalls with fresh produce, local crafts, and delicious treats. Be sure to check out the many little shops and patisseries throughout town – they all have different specialties. Each town has a different market day, so be sure to check dates and times before heading out to surrounding towns. Taste of Provence Tour: This tour is great for first-time visitors. It’s a fun way to get to know the city, its shops, and its history. Home Base: We used Aix as our home base and it was perfect. Start your day with a morning coffee and pastry, then head out to explore the magic of southern France. We always pack strategically and leave room for unique items we find in our travels. Our packing essentials and travel style make packing simple. Day Trips: The lavender fields in the surrounding Luberon region are breathtaking when in full bloom in late June/early July. It’s a beautiful experience you shouldn’t miss. Cassis Highlights: Quaint Seaside Center: Cassis is a charming town with a lovely seaside center. We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and stunning views. There are some nice boutiques to explore and waterfront cafes to enjoy a relaxed meal by the sea. Hiking and Fjord Exploration: The fjords around Cassis are incredible. You can explore them by boat or on foot – both options offer amazing views and are a fantastic way to spend a day. Getting Around: When traveling in Europe, we highly recommend taking the train system, it’s fast, efficient and easy to navigate between cities. Although using the train is absolutely feasible in southern France, we chose to rent a car so we had a bit more flexibility exploring the region. From Aix we took the train direct to Barcelona. Barcelona Highlights: Las Ramblas: Walking along this famous shopping district is a must. The atmosphere is lively and there’s so much to see. La Boqueria Food Market: This market is a food lover’s paradise. We enjoyed the fresh produce, cheese, fish, and especially the chocolate strawberries! Park Guell: A relaxing walk through this beautiful park is a great way to spend a couple of hours in an afternoon. The views and architecture are stunning. La Sagrada Familia: Touring this incredible basilica was an absolute high point of our time in Spain. If you only go on one tour, this is absolutely the one we recommend in Barcelona. We have been to a lot of cathedrals throughout Europe and we can honestly say, this one is an absolute must see. The architecture is breathtaking. Whether you’re soaking in the charm of Aix-en-Provence, enjoying the seaside beauty of Cassis, or exploring the vibrant city of Barcelona, Exploring Southern Europe is an experience not to miss; it offers something for everyone. We never regret exploring new places – just go!