Sunny Getaway to San Sebastian, Spain
In direct contrast to the colorful alleys and sun drenched landscapes of southern Spain is the green, Tyrolean flavor of Basque Country of Northern Spain. Scott and I arrived in Bilbao by plane from Sevilla, and were amazed at the verdant green of the hills. We rented a car and headed to San Sebastian, by the sea. I vacillated on whether to select a hotel more on the outskirts of town, or beach side, on the promenade. In the end we were delighted with our choice of the Hotel Niza, and it’s perfect location, right above the promenade, La Concha Beach and the sea.
A suite with a view in San Sebastian, Spain
In direct contrast to the colorful alleys and sun drenched landscapes of southern Spain is the green, Tyrolean flavor of Basque Country of Northern Spain. Scott and I arrived in Bilbao by plane from Sevilla, and were amazed at the verdant green of the hills. We rented a car and headed to San Sebastian, by the sea. I vacillated on whether to select a hotel more on the outskirts of town, or beach side, on the promenade. In the end we were delighted with our choice of the Hotel Niza, and it's perfect location, right above the promenade, La Concha Beach and the sea.
When we opened the door to our suite our mouths were ajar. Our sun-filled suite, with light and airy furnishings, had two large french windows that opened to a balcony with stone columns, and views of the promenade and the sea.
The Hotel Niza staff, and handsome Harri (above), welcomed us warmly and did everything to make our stay memorable.
It's impossible to choose between favorite spots on a trip, but if forced to decide, I would choose San Sebastian on this summer trip to Portugal and Spain. The seaside beauty, healthy lifestyles, stylish residents and family vibe all appealed to me.
San Sebastian is a chameleon beauty by day.....
and a scintillating temptress by night.
On our first night we ventured down the promenade, towards the old-town center, and discovered a tapas restaurant, Garagar. The charming Eneko treated us to tapas and conversation, as he shared the rich history of the area with us.
Cafe de la Concha
We dined at Cafe De La Concha, on the promenade near Hotel Niza, a record two days in a row. I enjoyed the tomato, arugula, goat cheese baguette so thoroughly that we returned the next day for my birthday lunch. We both enjoyed the refreshing sangria and the entertaining people watching on the beach.
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A glimpse of the promenade and beach
I enjoyed celebrating my birthday, July 15th, while visiting San Sebastian. I love a little pampering on a special occasion, and Scott treated me to a morning at the La Perla Centro Talaso Spa, a relaxing break from our travels. If you want more from San Sebastian, check out How to Dress European Chic. For more on our summer vacation to Portugal and Spain see Lisbon Getaway, Sunny Beaches of Algarve, Sevilla, Barcelona, a little walk down memory lane in Barcelona and my 'revealing day spa day in Spain.
For more romantic travel ideas here.
Signature Style: How to Dress European Chic Inspired by San Sebastian, Spain
We were enjoying lunch at the café outside our hotel, beside the promenade in San Sebastián, Spain, when the European chic styles strolling by caught my eye. I grabbed my camera and snapped away with the beauty of this seaside scene as the backdrop. I want to thank this couple for walking by at this exact moment, looking as though they stepped out of a French film noir. I noted the flowing maxi dress embellished with lace. Simply chic, whether in Europe or anywhere this season, maxis and lace are on-trend.
How to Dress European Chic
We were enjoying lunch at the café outside our hotel, beside the promenade in San Sebastián, Spain, when the European chic styles strolling by caught my eye. I grabbed my camera and snapped away with the beauty of this seaside scene as the backdrop. I want to thank this couple for walking by at this exact moment, looking as though they stepped out of a French film noir. I noted the flowing maxi dress embellished with lace. Simply chic, whether in Europe or anywhere this season, maxis and lace are on-trend.
Many of the women wore flowy pants and heels. Notice the pace is usually brisk!
Family life is a central part of the Spanish culture. We enjoyed seeing generations of families gather, strolling by together. Love the color of this maxi skirt!
Another colorful strapless sundress with wedges. I also spotted the ruffled lace mini made more casual by a black t-shirt and flats to the right.
More color!
This family looks like they stepped out of an Italian summer catalog, entitled "La Dolce Vita", with their brights, stripes and sneaker chic, strolling the promenade on a picture-perfect summer day.
The shoes are fierce!
More colorful skirts. This one is paired with a beautiful scarf.
Some of the heels were sky-high! Such a great looking couple headed somewhere fun!
Elegant and chic, at every age.
Bright color is big and I noticed that all generations in Europe seem to embrace color. Be it pops of color in a bag, skirt or even as the crowning glory, color is everywhere. I did my part wearing lots of coral, bold prints and this colorful halter number by Trina Turk. The gold skirt, lower right, had me swooning. I loved the way this woman styled the chiffon maxi with a casual shirt and distressed denim jacket.
I also spotted many neutral and pastel hues, pistachio, lavender, rose and baby blue. Maxis and flowing pants are big in Europe right now, just as they are in the U.S. European men were rocking the pastel shades too.
Note the second photo on the right. This man is wearing three pastel shades at once. I wonder why the woman with him is smiling (maybe he just told her a funny joke...or something? ;).
Essential Accessories
Panama hats were everywhere. As we know, they are the perfect go-to for a bad hair day, especially when traveling. I wore mine almost daily on our 18-day vacation through Portugal and Spain. This woman looked casually elegant sitting in a café. Note the bright shade of lipstick and lace cut-out details in her crop top blouse. There is a poise and confidence that seems essential to European chic.
Perhaps the second best accessory to your confidence and your Panama hat this season, to be truly European chic, is your pooch. It seems all shades of color are "in" for pooches this season.
I also spotted all heel heights, from stilettos to flats, on the women with their confident strides. Europeans wear chic shoes, no matter what the heel height. I think shoes are the perfect souvenir to bring home as a memory of travels, especially to Europe. In 2003, I scored a pair of black stiletto mules, in Rome, with the pointiest toes. Comfortable-NO! Chic-Most definitely! I felt like a million bucks when I slipped those beauties on.
On an earlier trip to Italy, I fell in love with a pair of nude ankle-wrap heels, with a zipper up the back, in Lucca. They remain one of my favorite pairs to this day and they always remind me of that trip.
On this trip, I purchased an ivory lace jacket, floral print dress, and a watercolor print blouse. It seems I hit most of the euro chic trends in this one shopping excursion.
There is nothing more Euro-chic than throwing on a colorful scarf to make an outfit pop.
Euro Chic Men
As for the men, I noticed European men have a range of styles--from ready to board a yacht in Saint-Tropez, to the pastels I pointed out above, to black on black, to sneaker chic with open cuffs as seen here.
.....on a daddy-daughter ice cream date!
What is the secret to dressing European chic?
It seems to start with the attention to detail and then the self-forgetfulness of it all. A healthy lifestyle, with regular trips to the spa, creates that glowing skin which needs minimal makeup. Dressing well, with a quality wardrobe of pieces that create a signature style, is essential. It is better to overdress well, than "underdress" poorly. Finally, having confidence and carrying yourself with poise is at the heart of dressing European chic.
--Heather's observations from San Sebastián, Spain.
How about you?
What do you think is the key to European chic?
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Getaway to Seville, Spain
In Seville we caught a taxi, and experienced an ultra wild ride, through the extremely narrow streets of the city center. I'm sure we could have reached out and touched the buildings on either side if we had only dared open the windows.
From the moment we entered the Fontecruz Sevilla we knew we had made the perfect choice with this sleek, modern hotel in the midst of Bario Santa Cruz. It's located within a couple of winding blocks to cafe-lined streets, the Sevilla Cathedral, the Alcazar, the Plaza de Espana, and the river front. From this 'wagon wheel' of a city center we could pick a direction, head down a tiny street to explore, and it would take us to a new hidden gem.
Along with the excellent location, I liked the vibe of the Fontecruz Sevilla. Our suite was sleek, well-appointed and spacious. The common spaces, were luxurious and comfortable. There is even an outdoor pool for a dip on hot summer days.
When I was making reservations for the trip the photos of this hotel had me at "roof-top terrace overlooking the city". The Fontecruz Sevilla is the perfect perch for capturing a brilliant sunset from the rooftop lounge.
We walked by this friendly fellow (with cap (center) who encouraged us to see the city, escorted by himself and his steed, in this colorful carriage. We politely declined, but a minute later changed our minds. Why not? We found the carriage to be a charming way to see the sights in Sevilla. We recommend a carriage ride in the mid-to-late morning, during the summer months, before the heat sets in.
I captured a moment during our carriage ride on this video:
The Seville Cathedral, also called 'Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See', is the third largest church in the world and adorns the ancient city center of Seville like an ornate stone wedding cake. We viewed the burial site of Christopher Columbus and the scope of that slice of history is awe-inspiring. This gothic cathedral is definitely worth a visit and we appreciated it's ability to transport us to another place in time, even for just an hour, on a sunny Spanish afternoon.
One a completely different cultural note, one of our favorite aspects of travel is meeting fellow travelers and locals along our path. Just across the cobbled street from our hotel we spotted 'Abbatia', an authentic tapas restaurant. We thought it would be an excellent first stop for our evening out. Little did we know that the warm, friendly owners, Pedro and Blanco, and their chef Andres, would capture our hearts. Our evening started with tasty tapas, lovely wines and lively conversation. We eventually made our way out on the town to discover more of Sevilla. As we ventured back to our hotel, late at night, our new friends waved us back in for a nightcap, an after-hours flamenco show/dance lesson and the hilarity ensued. We certainly felt the 3:30 am bedtime the next morning, but our adventure was more than worth it! In travel there are those memorable times, when a language barrier simply does not exist, and this was one of them. Thank you to our new friends in Sevilla!
A few more views of Sevilla (the street view taken from our tiny balcony).
We fell in love with the charms of Sevilla. Scott and I agreed that three days was not enough and next time we will plan to stay longer. Our plane reservation was already scheduled so we reluctantly boarded the plane to Bilbao, Spain. Join me on the next leg of our 'Summer Travel to Portugal and Spain' series for a glimpse of the sparkling seaside city of San Sebastián.
Lisbon Getaway
Our summer travel to Portugal and Spain had been in the works for over a year, so when we touched down in Lisbon, after 30 hours of travel, Scott and I were beyond excited. Portugal has always been on our bucket list. We were enamored with visions of colorful tile roofs, pastel buildings, old school trams, and vibrant bougainvillea brightening the neighborhoods, all enhanced by city and sea views.
Our summer travel to Portugal and Spain had been in the works for over a year, so when we touched down in Lisbon, after 30 hours of travel, Scott and I were beyond excited. Portugal has always been on our bucket list. We were enamored with visions of colorful tile roofs, pastel buildings, old school trams, and vibrant bougainvillea brightening the neighborhoods, all enhanced by city and sea views.
As the taxi pulled up in front of our hotel, the CS Vintage Lisboa, I knew we had landed in the right place. We were warmly welcomed by Ines and the team at this sleek, hip hotel in the center of Lisbon. Despite Scott's crash course in Portuguese on the plane (while I was glued to 'Orange is the New Black'), we found English speakers to be very common in Portugal. From our first trip to the Veranda Do Castello at the rooftop terrace of our hotel, Nuno treated us to a refreshing variety of sangrias, tapas, expansive city views and great laughs.
After a good night's sleep, day two found us eager to start exploring this picturesque city. We strolled through charming neighborhoods near our hotel, filled with cafes, boutiques, flower shops and charming parks where locals gathered.
On the advice from our concierge we made our way to a hilltop park, Jardim Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, with incredible city views. We settled in at the cafe for lunch and enjoyed the people watching, city views, fresh fare and more sangria.
Next stop, we chose to take the iconic, graffiti-covered tram down the hillside to Avenida da Liberdade, with luxury shopping and wide, tree-lined streets. Graffiti is everywhere in Lisbon.
With luxury boutiques and pop-up markets, we found a variety of shopping options in Lisbon. Boutiques generally take credit cards but for other vendors and most taxis you will need cash.
Here's where our tale takes a brief but costly turn. Scott picked up cash so that I could do some shopping and we could take a taxi back to the hotel. We bought some sweet gelato from this darling girl, and boarded the 'now we know' notorious Tram 28, to take in scenes of the old town. Read my account of what happened next on Tripadvisor here. In the end, Scott discovered that within 25 minutes of his wallet being lifted over $2000.00 had been charged to his visa/debit cards at perfume stores in the area. I'm not suggesting not to ever take a Tram, but we wish we had been more aware of the theft issue. In all big cities and tourist areas pick pocketing happens so simply be prepared. Thankfully, Visa graciously refunded all of the charges and shipped us new cards within two days.
Scott's advice: Carry minimal cash, carry only 1 credit card at a time, keep your wallet in your front pocket with your hand on it.
My advice: consider a waist belt that you wear under your clothes for cash, credit and passports.
Despite the inconvenience, and lost time making a police report, we got back on track in time to enjoy dinner at Povo on the famous 'Pink Street' in Cais do Sodre, a former red light district turned trendy night spot.
We enjoyed delicious dishes, plentiful wines, and Paula took excellent care of us. Povo is also a perfect place to listen to the local Fado music in a non-touristy environment.
We were up bright and early, fueled with cafe com leite, said goodbye to the wonderful staff at CS Vintage Lisboa, and headed to Sintra, the famed summer vacation palaces of royalty, only 20 minutes away.
We felt as though we were transported to another place in time in Sintra. Even the climate was dramatically different with undulating clouds, verdant pinnacles and lush foliage. There are number of medieval and Moorish palaces in this magical hilltop enclave. In these photos we were at the Seteais Palace viewing the Pena Palace on the pinnacles. Despite the weekend crowds this is a fascinating place to visit.
For the next leg of our trip we headed about 4 hours south to our next destination, the beachy Albufeira in Algarve, Portugal. I will explore our time there in an upcoming post. Thank you for joining my series 'Summer Travel to Portugal and Spain'. Please click title of the post to leave a comment.
Bon voyage!
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Getaway Rome & Umbria!
Glimpses of our trip from iconic vistas in Rome to the rustic, natural beauty of Umbria.
Oh Roma! We got up at 3:00 am and took four flights just to get a glimpse of you....
and you are so worth it!
This visit we stayed right in the city center with beautiful views.
Our room with a view~Rome June 2011 {The Trevi Collection}
Chico, California to San Francisco to Washington D.C. to Rome in a day!
Too excited to be jet-lagged--let's enjoy cafe life.
We stayed just a block or 2 from the Spanish Steps
Dinner on the Terrace-couldn't be happier, seriously!
Making new friends-everywhere!
Oh....the gourmet delights!
Iconic Trevi Fountain
Night scene near the Spanish Steps
Off to Umbria.............
From Big City Rome.....to tranquil, rustic Umbria, less traveled than Tuscany, and
filled with incredible hill towns just waiting to be discovered.
La Casella, an Eco Resort in Umbria where we stayed for a week. Rustic Umbrian village with a unique charm. It is a 45 minute drive into the villa on a gravel road. The simplicity and beauty were a unique experience. No phone, no email, no web, no English TV.....how do you say 'unplug' in Italian?
Our villa......pristine pool
The Simple life~bread, cheeses, vino, peaches and tomatoes, olive oil and aged balsamic, sweet basil......
a splash of lemoncello to end the night.
Orvieto, Umbria
(Scott-We rented this car at the train station on our way out of Rome. The line was a bit long, but became a party, of sorts. Yes, you too can drive in Italy! Not that hard, and loads of fun driving down the tiny streets in the center of an old hill town. Oh, and when you score a parking place like this, be sure to look for a meter, because parking tickets DO follow you home to the States. Note the blue "P" in the background.)
Our new wonderful friend, Franceso. Authentic specialty foods and the freshest produce of Umbria. Check out his website and be sure to visit him in Orvieto!
L'Antica Piazzetta Umbria~perfect afternoon on the patio.
Sleepy little town of Fabro. No English spoken here, but a woman suggested we go find the keeper of this church, and he would show it to us.
How do you say "You are welcome!" in Italian? We saw this guy every time we turned around.
This was the view from our table at dinner in Todi.
Another glimpse of the view-I can't help myself!
Loving the cafe' lifestyle
Gelato--a must have!! (Cioccolato, please.)
Perugia
Imagine driving on streets like this through beautiful towns of Cortona, Orvieto, Todi, Citta della Pieve
New friends~Colleen and Kevin from England ......
Lovely evening!
(Scott remembers that at 2:30 a.m. we looked at the time, and realized we might be annoying the neighbors!)
So much fun and so wonderful to hear of their adventures and their horse farm.
Enjoying the cafe life in Umbria.
More on the next chapter of our adventure another time....to Lucca, Italian Riviera and Paris from here. Scott, thanks for commenting as a guest blogger.
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