Touring Western Europe -Belgium-Scratching The Surface of Antwerp

Leaving Brussels behind we travel, by train, further north and arrive forty five minutes later in Antwerp on Saturday Afternoon.Our accommodation looks directly out onto Theaterplein which is the home of not only the city’s main theatre but also a Saturday market which is in full swing when we arrive. Our Air BnB host, whoContinue reading “Touring Western Europe -Belgium-Scratching The Surface of Antwerp”

Touring Western Europe -France -My New Friend Lille

Having left Paris on Friday we took the train an hour north to the city of Lille. Sitting just 10 miles from the Belgium border, it is the tenth largest city in France with approx a million citizens and was the original capital of Flanders. We had been drawn here, en route to Belgium, byContinue reading “Touring Western Europe -France -My New Friend Lille”

The Valencia Fallas Festival

As part of our explorations of this wonderful city we visited the Museo Fallero or Fallas Museum. From the outside the museum looks fairly small and unassuming. It costs just 2 euros per person to enter. The attraction for us stemmed from a previous visit to New Orleans where you can visit Mardi Gras WorldContinue reading “The Valencia Fallas Festival”

Valencia, It Just Has It All!

So what else did we see or do which made us want to stay in this wondrous city? We took a break from the Jardin de Turin to visit the Museum Faller. This museum is all about the art of carnival sculpture and to which I am dedicating a separate article on Tuesday because itContinue reading “Valencia, It Just Has It All!”

Touring Western Europe -Spain-Valencia, Please Can I Stay?

Wow! Oh my goodness! This is it! We have been looking for a city that makes us want to return and actually try life as a local for three months and this could be it! I am so excited………………… On Wednesday, we travelled from Granada back to Madrid Atocha and then using our previously learntContinue reading “Touring Western Europe -Spain-Valencia, Please Can I Stay?”

Touring Western Europe -Spain- Granada

We arrived by train into the city of Granada on Sunday Afternoon. At the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, but only one hour by car from the Mediterranean coast, it is of course famous for the Alhambra Palace. The Alhambra is one of the most revered monuments of Islamic architecture and one of theContinue reading “Touring Western Europe -Spain- Granada”

Granada -A View to Remember

In modern day society it’s sometimes hard not to be a tourist. As I’ve mentioned before all the key sights want you to book tickets in advance for a specific day/time. It started during Covid so numbers of entry could be limited and a 2 meter distance could, therefore, be guaranteed between strangers when visiting.Continue reading “Granada -A View to Remember”

More Adventures in Seville

We stayed 40 minutes walk outside of the “old town” within a fairly densely populated area surrounded by Spanish families, in an apartment on the sixth and top floor of a block of flats. Over 65% of Spanish people live in flats because they are more affordable, with reduced living costs, and it has been culturallyContinue reading “More Adventures in Seville”

The Courtyards Festival of Cordoba

We had never heard of this festival before travelling to Cordoba. It takes place every year during the first two weeks of May and before I start getting really excited, about the preparations we saw whilst there, I have to share how historically fascinating it was to learn about how it all began. On DayContinue reading “The Courtyards Festival of Cordoba”

Touring Western Europe -Spain- Seville

On Saturday we took the train from Cordoba and travelled 45 minutes south to Seville and settled into another Air BnB just a 10 minute walk from the main train station but alas 40 minutes walk from the main city sites. Our first adventure into the city began early on Sunday morning visiting the artContinue reading “Touring Western Europe -Spain- Seville”