You can almost hear those sleigh bells ringing in your ears as the Christmas season approaches your world. The sound of Santa Claus' “HO, HO, HO” can be heard on the radio, television, in social media, and even as you you shop on the city streets. So let me tell you, there is no better time to visit a European Christmas Market than like the
Barcelona, Spain for Families… Visiting Barcelona is a wonderful family vacation destination because there are so many things to do in Barcelona with kids. From family-friendly restaurants to free activities galore, you can rest easy knowing that there is a long list of reasons why Barcelona family vacations top the list of so many traveling families. Barcelona, with its twisty streets and open-air plazas, is
A quaint little town, known for its privileged geographic location by the Mediterranean Sea, Begur, Spain in the Costa Brava has distinctive Cuban style houses, a crumbling medieval castle, and astonishing crystal-clear beaches. This is an area of Spain that I am wild about! There are so many little medieval towns within this area, that it will be hard to choose which one will be your favorite. The
Having Spanish tapas is so much fun for foodies in Spain to do. There may be a bit of misunderstanding about what exactly tapas means, but regardless of that, you have to try them! The Spanish tapas I tried were bite-sized morsels of food that ranged from tiny serrano ham sandwiches to prawn cones to quail eggs, as well as amazing desserts. So many of the
Rock of Gibraltar is a limestone peninsula and mountainous rock that jets out of the end of the British territory at the southwestern tip of Europe. It is almost 1500 feet high and borders Spain and the United Kingdom. It was captured from the Spanish in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. Gibraltar and its famous Rock were ceded to the British "in perpetuity"
I constantly find myself being the planner of things: the family vacation, the food that we eat, and the calendar that we live by. It was crunch time and I was in a spot: Our son was doing a study abroad program in Barcelona and we were going there with him to enjoy the richness of Spain, take in a few sights, and enjoy a
By Jennifer Anders Best Canary Island - Tenerife Photo by By Wouter Hagens (Own work) [GFDL (https://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Looking for exotic black –grey or pebble beaches instead of the traditional white sands? You don’t have to look too far to find many of them here in Tenerife due to the fact that this island, a member of
A quick jaunt over to the Hotel Arts Barcelona, had me excited about all the hype I had been hearing regarding this 5 star Hotel. Someone even told me it was the most luxurious hotel in all of Europe! I was ready to find out if Hotel Barcelona was the one! Arriving via ground transportation on the bottom floor, they quickly had me up the
Where to go in Barcelona I had arrived in the eclectic city of Barcelona, Spain, Madrid’s quirky half-sister, which is best known for its modern, undulating architecture, tapas bars and a laid-back Mediterranean vibe. It was a quick pre-trip for the Viking Ocean Cruises yacht, Viking Star, with little pre-planning done on my part for this city visit. I had only a few ideas as to where
Best Places to Visit in the World 2016 Written for Expedia By Dr. Cacinda Maloney “For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.” - Leonardo da Vinci As a world traveler, I am constantly asked: “Where are the best places to visit in the world?” I have
By Kerwin McKenzie of Cruising Altitude - One can typically find Kerwin flying all over the world, having taken an early absence from his airline job, he now travels even more frequently. I believe even I have seen him in more than 5 countries! He most graciously agreed to go on a trip for PointsandTravel and to post a travel related article here about a
The Most Charming Walled City in Spain Are you a fan of walled cities? If you are, then you should head to Avila, Spain in the Castilla y Leon (Castles and Lions) province of Spain. Located just about an hour and a half drive from the Madrid Bajaras airport, it’s a city waiting to be discovered. This walled city is also known as the “City of Knights” which
Colonia Güell and Gaudi’s Crypt Best Day Tripa From Barcelona – Colonia Güell and Gaudi’s Crypt My Grandfather, John Clark, was born in a tiny hospital in a small town in Texas back in 1898. At that same time, halfway around the world, there was an artist who had been asked by his friend to build a place of worship. It was
By Cacinda Maloney Exclusive Luxury Cava and Wine Tour In Spain On the grounds of the Exclusive Luxury Cava and Wine Tour In Spain If there is one thing I love about my travels, it is the architecture that I get to see in different countries. I love to see the shape and form of places and how families live within them. I
Apples in the countryside of Spain, Costa Brava I was zipping along on my electric bike in the countryside of Catalonia Spain between Peratallada and Pals. I was way ahead of the rest of the group. The wind was breezing thru my hair, putting little wisps of strands of hair on my face. I felt like a kid again! Pump, pump, pump,
By Cacinda Maloney Something about graffiti always catches my eye. I usually photograph it in almost every city I go to. Here is Graffiti #1 post and I am sure there will be many more to follow. Which is your favorite? Train station in Italy Cuenca, Ecuador Barcelona, Spain Barcelona, Spain Barcelona, Spain
La Boqueria Barcelona and Ramblas Barcelona Take A Tour of Boqueria Barcelona: Sweet and Salty The tour I took in Barcelona was called: Farm to Fork, La Boqueria Barcelona and Beyond. It began at the intersection of Carrer de la Boqueria and La Rambla, and was founded in the 12th century, making it one of Europe’s oldest markets. La Boqueria Barcelona If you haven't heard
Spain, Costa Brava Peratalada and Pals By Cacinda Maloney If you are following along in my series on Costa Brava, Spain: Post #1: Costa Brava: Spain’s Northeast Coast, getting there Post#2: Girona, Spain: Diamonds are a girl’s best friend Post #3: So, you want to go to Spain’s Brave Coast: Seaside LEstartit Post #4: Medieval villages along the Costa Brava of Spain -Begur Post
Updated August 2015 By: Cacinda Maloney Aiguablava Aiguablava is a small indention of a bay on the Costa Brava Coast in Catalonia, Spain. It rests quietly along the Mediterranean Sea with miles and miles of Spanish coastline. As I sit out on my balcony, staring at the beauty and charm of the Bay, I am struck by the simplicity of it all. It has an old world
By Cacinda Maloney If you are following along in my series on Costa Brava, Spain: Post #1: Costa Brava, Spain's Northeast Coast: Getting There Post #2: Diamonds are a girl's best friend: Girona, Spain This is post #3: So, you want to go to Spain's Brave Coast? Seaside L'Estartit Costa Brava, literally, the "Brave Coast" of Spain, is not to be missed on a trip
By Cacinda Maloney This post is more of a "how to" versus a romanticized gallivant through Spain! I will be making a series of posts detailing the places to go and the things to do along the coast. That part will be gallivanting! (Posts#2-4) This is post #1 Costa Brava, Spain's Northeast Coast: Getting There Barcelona is probably the easiest entry way to get to
Updated August 2015 By Cacinda Maloney Girona, Spain Sometimes on trips, you find diamonds …I found one... I can say, without a doubt, that exploring Barcelona and the Costa Brava area of Spain is a guaranteed adventure and an amazing trip within trips. It is a trip that must be taken. It can be done in 7 to 10 days by a family, a couple
By Cacinda Maloney After Gaudi's art show, I was wandering the narrow, cobblestone streets of the Gothic quarter, considered the center of the old city of Barcelona when I got lucky. I came upon rustic-colored buildings with great texture, arches and window sills. Rounding the corner, there was this fabulous, nameless church, with an incredibly beautiful, maroon red and wrought iron front door. Nameless
BARCELONA, SPAIN If you have never heard of Antonio Gaudi, you will know who he once you visit Barcelona, Spain. Antonio Gaudi is Barcelona's inspiration, Barcelona's identity, and their love. He was a modernistic dreamer and architect of Catalan descent. Born in 1852 and having only died in 1926, after being struck by a train (while on his daily walk, without identification, he was not
By Cacinda Maloney When I was a little girl, my world-traveling grandmother came home from Spain and brought some beautiful Spanish flamenco dancer dolls: the female in her blazing red dress and the male in his traditional black pants, a shirt and short vest. The set came with a toro (bull). I was mesmerized by what they could mean: Seville: It intoxicates by merely the
