velvet | Spain

Exploring Tenerife by land, sea and air

Tenerife is a popular tourist destination.  Of that, there is little doubt.  Indeed, since its boom in the 1980s and subsequent slow decline, Tene-grief has reemerged as a premier holiday destination.  Its beaches have been cleansed, golf courses preened, and the formally glorious Tenerife hotels have been restored to their shining best. Having shaken off [...]

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Exploring Mallorca – one nature reserve at a time

This may come as a surprise but the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands isn’t all about sun, sea and sand. There is of course ample opportunity to enjoy a pure unadulterated fly and flop getaway with a few nights out on the tiles in Magaluf if you’re so inclined however, for those times when you [...]

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Ten things to do in Barcelona

Barcelona is one of the world’s ultimate city break locations. No matter what time of year you choose to visit Spain’s second largest city, you will find fabulous sights, fine food and a carnival atmosphere. Bursting at the seams with unique experiences, world-renowned works of art, spectacular architecture and sporting excellence, Barcelona is one of [...]

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Plane views: the fields of Mallorca

Mallorca (or Majorca) is part of the Balearic islands, a Spanish archipelago in the north-western corner of the Mediterranean Sea. The island is a popular destination for package holidays; many people visit the island for its glorious sunny weather and beautiful beaches but its hinterland is absolutely fascinating and definitely worth exploring. My flight from [...]

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Velvet moments: travel photo of the week – City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia

The stunning architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain by night. Read the accompanying post: ‘An Architectural Marvel in Valencia‘. See other Velvet moments: Hainan Temple, Penang, Malaysia Seminyak, Indonesia Impalas at the Serengeti, Tanzania Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina Angkor Wat, Cambodia Laguna Chaxa, Chile

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The stunning fortified town of Peñíscola

The bus screeched to a halt, hurtling me out of my dreamy state. I looked out the window and saw a wide arc of glistening white sand and the gorgeous blue Mediterranean sea. I wondered where we were and my question was soon answered as I noticed a board near the traffic lights. It read: [...]

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Valencia in five restaurants

One of the aspects that struck me most on my recent trips to Valencia in Spain is the city’s culinary diversity. From simple food stands to lovely seafood restaurants at the beach to Michelin star outfits, Valencia definitely has lots of culinary highlights to offer. Paella and calamari dominate menus everywhere but look closer and [...]

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Velvet moments: travel photo of the week – Benicassim Festival

This week’s Velvet Moment was taken during my recent trip to the Benicassim Festival in Spain, where I had a pass to enter the photographers’ pit during the performances. It was an incredible experience to be mashed in between the band on the stage and probably 30,000 wild fans behind us. My initial focus was [...]

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Plane views: Valencia

My trip to Valencia in Spain has been an excellent source of Plane Views posts: there was Paris from the air and a study of the European patchwork of fields. On my flight back to Amsterdam, I chose a window seat on the left side of the plane (row ‘A’) and got very lucky! Row [...]

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Velvet moments: travel photo of the week – La Boqueria Market, Barcelona

The La Boqueria market in Barcelona, Spain. Read the accompanying post: ‘The Delights of La Boqueria‘. See other Velvet moments: Mt. Vesuvius, Italy Murals of Valparaiso, Chile Zanzibar, Tanzania Lago Grey, Torres del Paine, Chile Pompeii, Italy Bora Bora, French Polynesia Serengeti, Tanzania Sacred Water Temple, Bali, Indonesia Masaai Mara, Kenya Iguazu Falls, Brazil/Argentina

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