Lo siento, I just woke up from a 12 month blogging siesta. It’s been a busy year with my budding meditation business (more on Mind House here) and my ever-evolving personal life. But my travel game has still been going strong – all year long!
In August 2017 (yes, I am that delayed in posting), I ventured to Spain to spend a week in the late summer sun, with only a little rain (that fell mainly on the beach). I started my tour in Madrid, the elegant capital city. Then, I moved on to San Sebastian for a coastal retreat.
See below for what I did, what I wore, and where I ate, while traveling around northern Spain.
Madrid
Day 1 // I started the day with a visit to the Royal Palace (a stunning site not to be missed), followed by a pick-and-mix lunch at the Mercado de San Miguel (where I ate veggie paella and olives upon olives). What’s a day in Spain without a siesta, taken on my hotel’s rooftop “Relax Zone”? And I finished it off with a fabulous 38th birthday dinner and dessert in the trendy neighborhood of Salamanca.
Day 2 // First I visited the Prado Museum (filled with dark and gory Spanish art, as well my favorite tryptic by Hieronymus Bosch). For sustenance, I stopped at a tapas bar for some local wine and light bites, and then took a relaxing walk through Buen Retiro Park. I ended the evening with another celebratory birthday dinner al fresco with bumping beats.
What I Wore:
Day 1 // tank dress: J.Crew / sandals: Birkenstock / bag: Kate Spade / sunglasses: Celine
Night 1 // dress: Whistles (not pictured, but also worn in Italy, shown here).
Day 2 // t-shirt dress: J.Crew
Night 2 // dress: Whistles / long cardigan sweater: AllSaints / sandals: J.Crew
Where I Ate:
Day 1 // Lunch: Mercado de San Miguel, Dinner: El Paraguas
Day 2 // Lunch: Taberna de la Daniela, Dinner: Ramses Life
Where I Stayed (& Drank):
The Principal Madrid – an upscale and contemporary hotel, complete with a rooftop bar and lounge with views to cheers to.
San Sebastian
Day 1 // After a scenic four hour drive from Madrid, I arrived at the seaside town, where it rained most of the evening. Due to ongoing showers, I treated myself to a lovely striped towel with tassels, worn as a shawl for the rest of the trip. The rain may have stopped me from going to the beach, but not from enjoying an ice cream cone and lots of delectable Spanish pintxos and wine.
Day 2 // With a window of sun in the morning, I headed to the beach (Playa de Ondarreta), where the weather held out long enough for me to yell out “Ole!” I finished the day with dinner at an excellent traditional Basque seafood restaurant and another ice cream cone eaten while strolling the streets.
Day 3 // On another beautiful morning, I hiked up Urgull Mount to pay homage to the Jesus statue and 12th century castle that looks out high above San Sebastian’s harbor. Then I ventured to La Concha Beach to watch the many surfers take to the waves, despite the grey threatening sky. Eventually drops of rain drove me into a local tapas bar, where I sat while it proceeded to downpour, flooding the narrow cobbled stone streets. Not a bad place to be stranded – surrounded by Spanish tapas and wine. At night I ate at an excellent waterside seafood restaurant (not pictured). But not without my umbrella handy for the rainy trek back to the hotel.
What I Wore:
Day & Night 1 // terry cloth towel shawl: Ale-Hop / shorts: J.Crew / bag: Kate Spade / sandals: Birkenstock
Day 2 // tank dress: J.Crew / bathing suit: J.Crew / sunglasses: Dior
Night 2 // dress: Whistles
Day 3 // top: LemLem / pants: J.Crew / hat: Hat Attack / bathing suit: Melissa Odabash
Night 3 // dress: J.Crew / long cardigan sweater: AllSaints / scarf: Gap
Where I Ate*:
Day 1 // Ice Cream: Oiartzun, Dinner: A Fuego Negro
Day 2 // Dinner: Txoko (upstairs)
Day 3 // Lunch: Casa Alcalde, Dinner: Mariñela (not pictured)
*While I tapas bar hopped all the way through the city’s streets, only my favorite places are listed above.
Where I Stayed:
Hotel SANSEbay – a boutique hotel with port views and modern decor.
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