- Spain
- (1854)
-
In addition to presenting the "history" of chocolate, the museum displays huge chocolate sculptures. There is also a cafe offering chocolate treats.
Comerç 36, in the Gothic Quarter;
tel: 93 268 7878;
metro: Jaume I or Arc de Triomf;
open: Mon-Sat 10am-7pm; Sun 10am-3pm
Niembro is a beautiful tiny village in Asturias, close to its border with Cantabria. This gorgeous beach, also known as Toranda, is surrounded by soft green hills, and by little tiny islands and rocks, the sand is extremely fine and white.
There's also a nudist beach within walking distance on the other side of a hill.
I've been to many beaches around Europe and Niembro's is certainly the one I've found most captivating.
Niembro, not far from Llanes, Asturias.
Salobreña is the weekend getaway for the people of Granada, but despite this, its sandy beach is quiet. The locals are very friendly, and the town itself is pretty, with a castle and a less commercialised atmosphere than nearby Malaga and Nerja.
Regular buses from Granada, which is 80km (50 minutes) away.
The beach in Tarragona is much less crowded than that of neighbouring Barcelona. It is clean and safe, with miles of sand.
Regular trains leave from Barcelona Sants Estacio. Journey time is around 1 hour 15 minutes.
There's no better place to sit for a late lunch, enjoying a bottle of chilled Rueda, than Bar Kiki, just off the Mirador de San Nicolas. Their food is good, the ambiance is great, and you can sample some typical Morisco specialties of the area.
For real foodies, check out the new Mediterranean Cooking School, which offers food market tours and multi-day cooking vacations. The School also has apartment rentals.
Bar Kiki: Mirador de San Nicolas, Albaicin, next to Inglesia San Nicolas
Mediterranean Cooking School - tel: 958 201 557 ;
email: info@alhambratravel.com;
www.alhambratravel.com
Car hire is very cheap in Menorca and you can travel the island end to end easily in a day. The roads are very quiet but if you are not experienced at driving abroad, avoid the city centres. The road system is a bit weird because there is one main road running between the two cities and the minor roads run off this to the resorts, to get to the next resort you have to go back to the main road then down the next minor road, there are very few coastal roads but all roads were quiet.
I have just came back from a short break in Valencia and stayed in a studio flat right in the centre for 45 euros a night. Close to the cathedral, market, main square, restaurants, bars, night life, etc.
Visit the cathedral in the Gothic Quarter, near Via Laietana.
Plaça de la Seu;
tel: 93 315 1554
My friend and I rented a duplex apartment in Barcelona for one week and were so happy with the decision to stay there. It was very clean and modern, and looked exactly like it did on the website. The people who work with this apartment were extremely helpful and easy to get a hold of. It is located on a narrow street in Barceloneta. I felt very safe in this area (which I was especially thankful for since my friend and I are both girls). It was a bit loud in the morning, but I felt like a local. Highly recommended.
After living here for the past 6 months I have discovered that Valencia offers some of the best mullet viewing in Europe, if not the whole world.
Anywhere in Valencia. If you see a tuned car with chrome wing-mirrors, you are on the right track.
Can't believe this hasn't been posted yet. Glad to be the one. Annual tomato fight lasting about two hours. The last Wednesday of August. About 10.30 in the morning. Bring old clothes, a change of clothes and a disposable camera. That's all I can say. Just go.
In the town of Bunol, about an hour west of Valencia on the train. Just get yourself to the train station in Valencia early in the morning. Follow the crowds;
www.thisisvalencia.com/thetomatinafesti.html
This is a wonderfully relaxed bed and breakfast set in the stunning Sierra Montanhchez, near Caceres. Just the place to chill out after getting all hot and bothered with the wonders of Caceres,Trujillo or Merida. The finca is within easy reach of all. Great decoration, atmosphere and lovely pond, set into the rocks of a mountain.
This is an unexplored area of the Castile-La Mancha region, with trekking areas, charming little towns around the Jucar River, great food and cozy B&Bs. Also has excellent local wine production, and it’s super cheap. Great day trips to Cuenca and the Mediterranean coast.
www.lamanchuela.net/hozjucar.htm (Spanish language website);
www.casadeandujar.com (B&B in Pozo-Lorente, 33kms from Albacete)
The construction of the Cathedral took from the 16th to the 18th century. It was built over the former Central Mosque and shows a mix of gothic, renaissance and baroque motifs. It is also the centre point to begin a walk around the town to discover its secrets.
Plaza Pasiegas, just off the Gran Via de Colon.
A beautiful unspoilt village to the north of Granada on the route of the Caliphs.
With a 14th Century Moorish Castle towering over the village, views to the Sierra Nevada and down into Granada, the village is an excellent base from which to explore all around the Granada province and even Cordoba.
Not much English spoken in the village but there are two great bars that both do food, a village shop and the church with the famous painting of El Cristo del Paño (The Christ of/in the Cloth).
www.spanishhideaway.co.uk - where we stayed and info about the village in English, or in Spanish : www.pueblos-espana.org/andalucia/granada/moclin/
View the Alhambra from the plaza beside Granada's Mosque. This is the only place to truly give a feel of what the Alhambra and Granada were like before the massive and extremely ugly building boom got underway some years ago.
The right time of day is at sunset when the Alhambra is tastefully floodlit. Afterwards casually make your way down through the barrio visiting the numerous Flamenco bars.
Numerous tourist buses go to Sacromonte barrio from the centre of Granada.
A hidden beach that's a perfect chillout.
These rental apartments put you in the heart of the Albaicin district and include a traditional Casa Cueva (cave house). Lovely terraces, and you can walk to flamenco shows in Sacromonte.
One of the most beautiful and secluded beaches on the island - and yet it's just around the corner from San Antonio. A nice little bar with very reasonable (if simple) food, clean sand and beautiful water. It's not exactly a secret, but is never crowded even in peak season despite its small size. The other sun worshippers are usually Spanish or Italian, and you'll be very unlikely to find noisy gangs of Brits. Good for families as well. When you get off the taxi boat you'll be at the Aquarium which is also beautiful and well worth a look.
Take a taxi boat from San Antonio for a few Euros, or it's probably walkable. Take a taxi to Hotel Tanit and walk towards the sea
A beautiful bar just along the coast from the Sunset Strip. Great cocktails, good cheap food, a pool (with twice weekly foam parties) and fantastic music. The 'secret' parties are legendary. It has sun-loungers available for free, live football on an indoor big screen (great if you're away during the World Cup) and the best atmosphere of any of the San Antonio bars during the day. This is where the island's workers often go to chill out. Also hosts pre-parties for some of the big club nights.
Calle Soledad 53, Calo des Moro beach. It's orange canopy is easily visible from Cafe Mambo etc if you look along the coast away from San Antoni. Next door to Coastline Cafe/Sunsea Bar;
www.ibiza-kanya.com
Is this your business?