Category Archives: Uncategorized

Ok so I (Laura) have to admit, seeing the lavender fields at the height of their bloom has been on my bucket list and oh my goodness I have been rewarded. Having never been to the south of France before … Continue reading →

The ancestral home of Syrah, grapevines have been cultivated on these steep slopes for centuries – perhaps millennia, given the Roman settlements nearby dating back to the first century BC. The reds here vary greatly based on only a kilometer … Continue reading →

In Borg L’Etang we stayed at a Chateau that was one of the watch towers for Chateau Ravel. So of course we visited the ruins of the Ravel while here. This is the heart of Auvergne and my favorite quote … Continue reading →

Carcassonne, located in the Languedoc-Roussillon region (France’s second-most visited tourist spot after the Tour Eiffel) was a treat. Thankfully the cloudy skies and rain kept many of the tourists at bay. Of course when it did rain we just happened … Continue reading →

I have a hard time envisioning a trip to Spain as a “beach trip” – but that is clearly a different point of view from many (northern)  Europeans.  Turns out this is a pretty good beach town (with standup paddle … Continue reading →

Of course, upon landing in Spain you need tapas right away.  But of course, it’s Spain. So you must wait. Which means tourist walking, taking in the many sights – but not all of them, not yet.  So you stumble … Continue reading →

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Visiting wineries and wine tasting in Rioja can either be relaxed, personal and educational, or a more commoditized and tortured affair (much like it can be in other well-develop enoturism areas with a mix of large producers and small, family-run … Continue reading →

One of the bastions of Basque/Spanish avant garde cuisine, too many accolades to recount, and the sort of reputation for obsessive attention to detail that makes you worry that you might not be an adequate customer. No worries; they make … Continue reading →

Great city: good food (more Michelin stars per capita than anywhere else, supposedly), very pretty, nicely kept, walkable and some reasonable surf. La Jolla of the Basque coast? BUT, they keep spelling my name wrong. So I fixed it. Good … Continue reading →