Andalucía – Exploring Southern Spain

25 April 2017May 18, 2017EddieSpain12 grapes, adventure, Andalucía, bla bla car, Córdoba, culture, Europe, family, flamenco, Game of Thrones, Granada, Ronda, Sevilla, tapas, travelLeave a comment

Andalucía

Earlier this year, we took a trip to the south of Spain, to visit Andalucía. This region is responsible for many of the stereotypes associated with Spain. E.g., flamenco, bullfighting, and the Moorish influenced architecture (it was under Moorish rule from the 8th-15th centuries). As we traveled though Andalucía, we began to feel a better sense of this amazing country. We saw olive orchards that seemed to go on forever. Green pastures with the famous fighting bulls (toro de lidia). Snowy mountains of the Sierra Nevada, with their views of the shore of northern Africa in the distance. Continue reading

4 Days in Madrid & Toledo

18 December 2016June 1, 2017HeatherSpainadventure, AVE train, bocadillos, Castilla-La Mancha, history, Madrid, tapas, Toledo, travel, wine, ziplining3 Comments

Last weekend was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception holiday in Spain, and we took advantage of the 4-day weekend to take a quick trip to Madrid. Thanks to the AVE high speed train, which goes up to 310 kph (192 mph), we made it from Valencia to Madrid in under 2 hours.

High-speed AVE trains between Valencia and Madrid
Madrid street vendors near Plaza Mayor
Chestnuts and sweet potatoes are common during the Christmas season
A perfect little wine and cheese shop in our neighborhood
Vietnamese Pho in Madrid
The nightlife was vibrant and energetic
Madrid's holiday decor was festive
Near Puerta del Sol
Legit street tacos at Takos Al Pastor, Madrid
Delicious champiñónes tapa at El Brillante cafeteria, across from Madrid Atocha station
The train station in Toledo is really cool
Exterior of the Toledo train station
The Alzacar in Toledo
Toledo
Toledo- Alzacar in the background
The Academia De Infantería in Toledo. Spanish Army Infantry school.
Toledo
Toledo
Toledo
Toledo
Toledo
The view from our Airbnb apartment
Carcamusas - traditional winter stew in Toledo
Interior of the Toledo train station

The Best Activities in Valencia For Kids

5 December 2016June 3, 2018EddieLife in Valencia, Recommendations in Valencia, Spainadventure, aquarium, beaches, bikes, christmas, day trips, family, favorites, go carts, horchata, imax, kids, laserium, museums, paella, parks, planetarium, pools, theater, Valencia, zoo4 Comments

Is Valencia a good city for kids?

You bet it is. The people of Valencia seem to adore children, and they’re welcome everywhere. There are lots of kid-friendly activities in Valencia, and we’re constantly exploring and discovering what our son and his friends like and keeping a list of the best. We’ve included active and passive activities, which will help you find something to do regardless of the weather or time of year.

Update: Christmastime activities in Valencia, from our friends Janis and Linda: What to do in Valencia this Christmas?

If you have any ideas to improve or add to this list, please add a comment. I’ll keep this updated as we discover new activities in Valencia for kids. For all-year-round activities, read on…

Why Spain, Why Now?

24 July 2016June 1, 2017EddieCalifornia Expat, Career on Hold, Escaping the Valley, Spainadventure, career break, culture, early retirement, travel, Valencia, work life balance16 Comments

Why Europe?

She and I have always enjoyed traveling, and have done a lot of it together over the years. We enjoy learning about different cultures, the history, and trying new foods. As a life-long suburbanite, I’ve always wanted to try living in a city, and love the idea of living in a really old city. We’ve talked many times about moving to Europe, and I’ve even had a couple of potential career opportunities here, but there was always something that held us back. Whether it was her career or mine, the birth of our son, or something else, the timing was just never right to make it happen.Continue reading