Portugal’s Alentejo Wine Region

A Land Of Endless Horizons This is a land of endless horizons and immense estates, latifundios, dotted with vineyards, undulating fields of wheat, olive groves and vast cork forests. A region populated by horses, goats, sheep, and the famed acorn-grazing black pigs, it boasting highly photogenic fortified hill towns, each with its own defensive fortress…

Dining in Rouen

Near the Place du Vieux-Marché Our gastronomic discoveries in Rouen included the sleek contemporary bistro Le 37, 37 rue St-Étienne-des-Tonneliers, opened by Michelin starred chef Gilles Tournadre, but sadly it has closed, as has the charmingly traditional le Bistrot de Panurge on Rue Ecuyère, where we feasted on its delectable gigot, roast leg of lamb….

In The Heart Of Cider Country

Cider Season In The Basque Country – A Visit To An Authentic Basque Cider House The vast majority of authentic Basque cider houses, Sidrerías, or sargardotegiak in Basque, are located in Gipúzkoa (156), with the largest concentration being in the village of Astigarraga, just outside of San Sebastián. In addition, there are 52 cider houses…

Lunch in Almagro

Cervecería El Santo We stopped by this small traditional bar-restaurant in the Almagro neighborhood at a Calle de Fernando El Santo, 4, not far from our hotel for an excellent, inexpensive lunch. We had discovered it during a trip earlier in the year and were delighted at it’s quality. There are only a few tables, so…

Dining in Asturias

Get Ready For A Gastronomic Adventure We had a fabulous lunch at Restaurante Güeyu Mar, Playa de Vega (Ribadesella) back in September with our friend Gabriella of Tenedor Tours who drove over from San Sebastián-Donostia just for this feast. Regional Dishes Here are a few of the regional dishes you’ll find in Asturias Seafood Dishes…

Mercado Chamartin

The markets, mercados, in Madrid are some of the best in the country and where you can find everything from your daily grocery needs to top gourmet items, shoe repair, laundry and gourmet dining options. Located in the northern business district of Chamartin, in the Hispanoamérica neighborhood, at the corner of Calle Bolivia and Potosí,…

Grazing on Ultra Hip Calle Ponzano

Something is most definitely brewing on the lower (southern) blocks of Calle Ponzano in the Chamberí district, the epicenter of cool and Madrid’s latest trend as it’s become a food Mecca for Madrid hipsters, where chic bars/restaurants sprouted up in 2015 at a vertiginous rate.  Some may be here today and gone tomorrow, but certainly…

Monuments in the Belém District

Plan on spending a half-day, from 10:00 am 3:00 pm if you want to see them all, but not on a Monday when monuments shut tight.  And don’t leave Lisbon without the Belém tour with its spectacular sights from Portugal’s Golden Age of Discovery.   To reach Belém you can take the modern tram 15…

Portugal’s Coastal Capital

Lisbon’s Top Attractions Discovering Portugal’s coastal capital can be an invorgating experience, from the imposing 11th-century Moorish castle of São Jorge overlooking the city and its bay, to the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, high atop the Bairro Alto, one of the city’s seven  hills, to the Miradouro de Santa Luzia with its views over the Alfama….

The Spanish Basque Country

Planning your trip to the País Vasco The capitals of the three Basque Provinces of Spain are San Sebastián-Donostia in Gipuzkoa, Bilbao-Bilbo in Bizkaia and Vitoria-Gasteiz in Álava.  Euskadi is the politically correct term for the Basque Country, but some prefer the more historically inclusive Euskal Herria, which means the Basque Lands or home of…