Today I will take you to Mallorca, Spain where the Mediterranean Sea is so magical and so deeply blue, the sun is bright in the sky and the air is sweet with vacation vibes. A relaxing time for two was spent with my favorite person in the world, my husband.

My Most Romantic Dinner … Ever!

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and some of us may be in the beginning stages of making some romantic dinner plans? What really qualifies a meal as “the most romantic dinner ever”? This is certainly a very personal opinion and preference. Some couples enjoy snow-capped mountains and a picnic by the fire sipping champagne or some love watching the sunset at the beach, while others may enjoy a private dinner at their favorite restaurant.

We have enjoyed several over the top amazing dinners together during our thirty-four years of marriage and I think aside from sitting across from my husband, the setting is the most important criteria for me. I know I am a food lover, but for the romance part, you must have set design.

If I am away in a somewhat tropical, beachy location, it ranks high on my list for romantic destinations. I love to spend a relaxing day by the pool or beach, lounging in half sun/half shade, sipping ice tea, watching the water and reading a compelling book.

This is followed by a beautiful sunset dinner with all the trimmings. Location, champagne, white tablecloth, beautiful china, Craig (a must), delicious food and did I say location?

Recently we experienced a dinner just like I have described and the memory is still so strong and details still so clear!

The Details

We stayed at the Park Hyatt Mallorca, a spectacular luxury resort on Mallorca, a small island off the coast of Spain. A special restaurant was recommended to us by the concierge and we exuberantly accepted the suggestion and made the reservation. We dined at the impressive and newly renovated restaurant called Restaurant Vintage 1934. It occupies the sea-view side of the lobby area of the Cap Vermell Beach Hotel. The artistic and clever interior design was bright and inviting.

No tuxedo, no long gown, just short sleeves and lightweight slacks for Craig, sun-drenched shoulders and a sundress for me.  Our reservation was for just before sundown and we sat directly at the water’s edge of the bay in a magical place called Cap Vermell. It felt like James Bond could be sitting next to us in this exotic and sexy restaurant.

The beach was still busy with families playing in the water and on the sand. You could hear the faint sounds of summer joy in the distance. The restaurant started filling up with other patrons, but we never noticed, we were content with our little world and the makings of the most romantic dinner ever.

My words on this screen can barely do justice to the warm golden light and memorable view of the Mediterranean Sea or the sound of the rushing of bubbles from the bottle of Veuve Clicquot (it was a celebration after all and we were on vacation!)

Crisp French champagne, handsome husband, warm sunset, attentive but not too attentive servers, ironed white tablecloth, summer breeze and the FOOD! I mentioned before that the romantic part of the most romantic meal ever was the location, however, top that with bites of rich lobster and gastronomic art on a plate that tastes delicious? This my friends, put this “most romantic” meal over the top!

Food as art

When we set out for this special evening, we had no idea that all of these romantic dinner pieces would fall into place just like this! It was kind of nice that we did not plan for our meal to be so incredibly one of a kind, we just got lucky! Even when you plan something down to the last detail it doesn’t always measure up. However, based upon the Mallorca beach location and time of day, we had a head start!

I don’t know that we will ever duplicate this dinner, or even want to try, but the memory is still as vivid as ever and aren’t we fortunate to have experienced something like what James Bond might of enjoyed?

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Vacation for two please

Now that we are experiencing more rain, grey skies and in some areas of the country, harsh winter months, does warm sun on your face, eating tapas by the beach, watching cliff divers and gazing out at the spectacular turquoise blue Mediterranean Sea sound good? Yes, it does to me too.

For the second year in a row we visited an island off the coast of Spain that is spelled two ways (Mallorca and Majorca)and actually most people have not heard of it. Just a 45 min plane ride from Barcelona, sits an unspoiled, quiet vacation for two. The stuff that dreams are made of.

We discovered this magical place last year and we could not wait to return. This past summer Craig and I traveled with our family to Italy and the trip to Mallorca from Florence, Italy is an easy one. We needed a vacation from our vacation. Not really, but we had such a special time that we wanted to try to replicate it. And it was such a quick flight.

Side note: If I am stressed and need to imagine a quiet place that could transport me the calmness I hope for, I think of Mallorca.

Can everyone fly off to a tiny Spanish island to “get away”? No probably not. I do believe that this is the kind of place I would spend my vacation fund however. It is so amazing, so special, so unique that I want my friends like you to know. If for nothing else than a 5 minute escape from whatever you were doing before you sat down to read this. We saved airline miles and hotel points and created this perfect vacation for two.

What to see in Mallorca

Exquisite views of the sea, seemingly endless white sand beaches, tiny little towns with brightly painted doors and stucco walls, vibrant public markets and adorable little restaurants.

What to do

Relax, take an afternoon drive, lay on the beach, go shopping, eat at a café, visit ruins, explore large castles, climb small mountains and visit a deep natural cave. Sound amazing?

Where to stay

Two years in a row we stayed at the incomparable Park Hyatt Mallorca. Regal and friendly, with impeccable rooms, world class dining and an extraordinary spa.

We lounged at the hotel much more this second time and indulged in a couples massage. The cavernous room was spectacular with natural rock and plant decor and offered the best views of the sea at the resort. At the end of the day we would set down our books and sunglasses, shower and dress, then go have drinks and a little dinner at sunset. So memorable!

What to eat and drink

Since this is an island, beautiful grilled fish and buttery lobster are abundant, but rich cuts of meats are always on the menu as well. Paella is extremely popular, beautifully prepared and the pans are enormous and so fun! We actually took a paella making class in Barcelona and it was an absolutely brilliant idea! We learned that it really isn’t that difficult to make.

We did venture over to an impressive and newly renovated restaurant called Restaurant Vintage 1934 in a tiny town called Cap Vermell. It occupies the sea view side of the lobby area of the Cap Vermell Beach Hotel. Our table overlooked the crystal blue water and families still playing on the beach. Even the blistering afternoon sun couldn’t spoil this special moment in time. We celebrated with Veuve Clicquot and I felt like I stepped into an extravagant movie set. I am sure that James Bond must have been sitting nearby. Seriously it was that cool.

A pinch me moment of enormous proportions. I will write about this most romantic dinner of my life very soon. It was breathtaking.

For some crazy reason, Mallorca doesn’t seem to make it to the “Best of” lists. Now is the time to visit before the word gets out. European families have been going here for years. There is still time!

This Spanish dream vacation is so appealing to us because it offers every type of activity we are interested in doing, as well as exquisite food options and postcard views. It is so lovely in fact that we traveled there two years in a row. We have never ever repeated a vacation destination for the very next year!

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I am back from the BIG Summer Travel Adventure – It was…absolutely AMAZING!

Miss me? I’ve just returned from twenty-nine adventure-filled days in Europe. Here’s how it went!

• I traveled to six countries – Italy, Spain, England, Germany, Czech Republic and Hungary
• Eight total flights: Los Angeles to London to Rome, Florence to Barcelona to Palma to Berlin, Prague to Budapest to London to Washington DC to Los Angeles
• 2 trains
• 2 Viking ships
• Many kilometers by Viking Coach
• Two rental cars
• Multiple cabs
• Several subway rides
• Miles walked? Who knows!  A lot!

For those of you doing the math… Craig and I traveled together for fourteen days and then I went on a Viking River Cruise with my travel writer partner Tam Minton, of Travels with Tam. What a month!

I am glad to be home but brimming with fantastic stories and endless photos to share. Trying organize it all will be challenging and I have been in a bit of a quandry… Where to begin? Logic tells you that to begin at the beginning would be an excellent place to start!

Start at the beginning ~

This is the plan, but don’t be surprised if I get a bit side tracked here and there. My hope is that by sharing my travel with you it will assist in planning your next trip to Europe, provide lots of brand new information, enthusiasm for taking a Viking River Cruise as well as contemplate a multi-generational trip with your family. Tomorrow, I will begin with The Palio, the centuries old horserace that takes place in Siena, Italy. And truthfully, one of the most remarkable and memorable experiences of my life. It is so unlike anything we have ever witnessed that it is in a category all by itself.

Please come back here to the blog often, because I have a truckload of photos and insights to share.

I hope your summer is going well and I look forward to hearing about what you have been doing too!

Check back here tomorrow! Ciao for now!

Suzanne

To learn more about The Palio, check out this post:

Adventures in Italy ~ Our Big Summer Trip to See The Palio in Siena

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Summer Travel Update

Hey fellow adventurers! I wanted to check in to let you know that we are embarking on a BIG Summer Travel Adventure!

Craig and I will be traveling with our family to see The Palio in Siena, Italy with a quick couple of days in Rome! Next, we say goodbye to the family and fly to the gorgeous island of Majorca, Spain. We visited last summer and it was so spectacular that we just had to go back! And there’s more…

Next, I say good-bye to Craig in Spain and fly to Berlin to start the Elegant Elbe Cruise on Viking Cruises. My friend and fellow travel blogger Tam Minton of Travels with Tam, will be my travel partner for this amazing cruise. We begin in Berlin, Germany and will end the cruise in the spectacular city of Prague in the Czech Republic. But, there is one more stop! Both Tam and I just couldn’t be that close to Hungary without visiting Budapest and will be guests of The Ritz Carlton Budapest.

This is a one of a kind, ambitious travel adventure, but I am up for the challenge! I do hope you will follow along with us on our journey.

This is where you can find me!

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Readers Please Note ~

Make sure you click over to the Home Page to see what else is happening on the blog – At the top of the home page you will find The Empty Nest, Restaurants & Food, Travel, Work with Me, Press and Contact. We have lots to offer here on AdventuresofEmptyNesters.com

The post BIG Summer Travel – Where are we going this time? appeared first on Adventures of Empty Nesters.

It has only been a couple of months since we returned from the incomparable island of Mallorca Spain, but I can’t stop thinking about it! My photos barely come close to the beauty of this place.

Day trips in Mallorca ~

My memories of the seaside towns, colorful architecture, café tables and icy cold beer have stayed with me in such vivid detail! The quiet, sunny, relaxing atmosphere coupled with scenery like this is unlike anything we have ever experienced. I nearly swoon when I look at the photos from the trip. Check these out…

Porto Colom ~

Mallorca is one of those destinations that is never on the top ten list (although it should be) and I bet if you asked ten people where Mallorca was located, seven of them would have no idea. It is a travel secret to be shared, but only to your favorite people!

It’s one of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea due east from Barcelona. The plane ride from Barcelona is so quick you don’t even have time for a cool drink.

We stayed for six memorable days, at the exquisite Park Hyatt and we utilized our rental car to explore the surrounding areas. I don’t think we drove more than an hour or so in any direction but we were able to see quite a bit. You can spend the day where you can see a couple of cities easily or choose just to go to one little town at a time over a few days. We ventured out on two different occasions.

These spectacular (if I do say so) photos are from a couple of wonderful day trips in Mallorca

Our server at the hotel told us about Cala Torta. We drove about 20 minutes to a bumpy dirt road and rode this rough ride another 15 minutes. I am just warning you, however it wasn’t that bad though and the end result is SO worth it! I read a few Trip Advisor reviews and there were complaints about the road. That’s awesome for you, there will be fewer people when you visit!

Look at this, are you kidding?

Arta ~

Arta is a historic and beautiful town about ten minutes from the Park Hyatt in Northeast Mallorca. The grandest part of the town is this massive fortress up high on the hill. The views of the city rooftops and landscape are spectacular.

 Santanyi ~

Porto Cristo – One of my favorite coastal towns.

Capdepera Castle

Colonia de Sant Pere ~

Only a short drive from our hotel, this unpretentious, authentic little beach town was such a treat to experience. Although we were there in the summer, there were very few people there.

Final thoughts ~

Besides relaxing, eating incredible food and enjoying the spectacular azure sea, there are so many sweet, authentic towns where you can explore, learn about the region and appreciate the long long history of the island.

Craig and I enjoyed our time there so much, we want to plan a trip back next year if we can swing it.

For more on Mallorca, check out this post.

Park Hyatt Mallorca: Our pick for the luxury resort of the year

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A one of a kind resort – The Park Hyatt Mallorca ~

The travel year is barely halfway through and we can already pick the Park Hyatt Mallorca for the luxury resort of the year. It is five star and beyond amazing. When we decided to plan a relaxing retreat in Mallorca, we knew it would be special, but it was not only special it was probably our favorite hotel experience of all time.

Where on earth is Mallorca? Mallorca is the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean. It is known for beach resorts, sheltered coves, limestone mountains and Roman and Moorish remains. It was just a forty minute plane ride from Barcelona and is truly the quintessential Mediterranean postcard. It’s gorgeous.

Travel there was simple. From the moment we landed in the easy-to-navigate Palma Airport, we sped off in our automatic Renault and headed over to the east side of the island. A rental car is a must,the roads are excellent and the signage is very clear.

Fun sidenote: The rental car was brand new and came with an awesome navigation system, however it was in German. Evidently there are so many German tourists in Mallorca, the cars at Hertz were ordered this way. Ha! I took Spanish in high school, not German.

We ultimately ended up using the navigation on our phones when available and the rest of the time we used a map, made of paper. Do you remember those?

Both Craig and I were under the impression that Mallorca was fairly small in size. Wrong. We were surprised to learn that travel from one side of the island to the other can easily take 2 – 2 1/2 hours by car. This made a day trip over to the west side too arduous, not an option for us this time. There would be too much extra driving and not enough relaxing.

We wanted to relax and unwind away from busy cities and loud noise. With no pressure to be somewhere or stand in line or be on any sort of time-table. Our time in Barcelona was fantastic, but we were ready for some tranquil downtime in a private setting.

If you think of Mallorca as a clock, we were staying on the east side around two o’clock. Our day trips took us up and down the east coast as far as six o’clock. For the short five days we were there, that was just enough ground to cover.

If you have visited the blog before you will know that I am a huge fan of architecture. I love to study the building design and to indulge in the specific design details of the luxury hotels we visit. The Park Hyatt Mallorca is truly a gift of authentic, local Mallorcan architecture.

The hotel is located on the east coast of Mallorca about five minutes from the Balearic Sea, way up on a hill that overlooks the Canyamel Valley and the historic area of Cap Vermell.

The idea behind the design of the resort was for it to reflect the style of a traditional Mallorcan hilltop village. The local stone bricks were hand chiseled to create a hotel unlike any I have ever seen. It looked like it could have been built hundreds and hundreds of years ago. Everyday we leisurely walked through the hotel grounds, but felt like we were in our own private village.

There were clever touches of wrought iron, man-made rocky streams and large beautiful pots with cascading local vegetation. Although the resort was booked solid, the grounds are so vast that you never really see other guests unless you were in one of the four restaurants or by the pool.

The resort grounds at night ~

Our suite ~

Craig stays exclusively in Hyatt Hotels while on business and we choose all Hyatt Hotels and Resorts for our vacation travel as well. We have attained their highest level of status and this brand loyalty offers some fantastic benefits.

We were upgraded to a suite which was elegant, refined and so luxurious! There were two bathrooms, a dining room, an office, a bedroom and an enormous patio. The tag line for the Park Hyatt is “luxury is personal” and they really mean it. It felt like we were staying in the guest house of our chicest friends! Not so formal that you felt uncomfortable, but so lovely I would marvel every time I turned the corner.

It was complete with a small coffee and cocktail bar, and of course, beautiful sculptures. Seriously!

Ah, the food ~

The resort offers four distinctive restaurants with menus offering lots of delicious choices. Our dining experiences on the property were far more progressive, delicious and innovative than any we found off the resort. This is not to say that we didn’t enjoy eating at the local restaurants, but on this trip we didn’t find any that could hold a candle to what was available at the Park Hyatt. The cuisine is some of the best we have eaten anywhere let alone in a hotel restaurant.

Asia served fantastic Southeast Asian cuisine in an exquisitely designed setting. Tapas was a casual dining restaurant with gorgeous views of the fountain patio and served small plates of traditional Spanish cuisine.

We especially enjoyed Balearic, where amazing Spanish and Mallorcan cuisine was served using fresh ingredients from local farms and fishing ports. Local,mouth-watering summer tomatoes and fish with lemon and herbs baked in parchment paper were two of my favorites. Don’t forget the sparkling cava rosé!

The service was so personal and friendly and we enjoyed thoughtful conversations with the staff. We were greeted so warmly every morning and asked how we had enjoyed our evening. We learned about their local towns and why they loved Mallorca. It was easy to see why everyone would be happy living there!

The breakfast buffet was tremendous with so many fresh-baked goods, meats, bowls and bowls of fruit, egg dishes,  and many more authentic local plates. We almost never ate lunch, we were far to full from breakfast!

We also enjoyed the experience at Café Sa Plaça where we would share this amazing quinoa salad. So fresh and light! At each of the Spanish restaurants we adored their dining ritual. Prior to the meal, they always served Mallorcan sea salt with Spanish olives and olive oil with fresh bread, just out of the oven. Divine!

We loved to sit at a small café table adjacent to a garden stream. We could easily make a meal from this bread and oil appetizer. It was a challenge not to ruin our appetites!

The pool ~

There was large and sparkling family pool and a smaller quiet, adult swimming pool. We did not spend but about four hours total by the pool, but it was so impressive!

More praise for the Park Hyatt Mallorca ~

I know that I keep gushing, but our entire, extravagant experience was so heavenly and the resort and staff deserve this praise. The Park Hyatt Mallorca does everything right and offers a stunning architectural setting while their guests are pampered in every way.

We also used our Hyatt Hotel points to pay for our room which made the experience even sweeter. I hope that you will consider a vacation here on the magnificent island of Mallorca.

In addition to these palatial accommodations, Craig and I toured several charming towns on the island. Check back to read more of our Mallorca adventures.

Have you been to Mallorca? Do you build hotels points by being brand loyal?

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Glory is light, light gives joy & joy is the happiness of the spirit – Antoni Gaudí

Ten Terrific Things to do in Barcelona ~

The cosmopolitan city of Barcelona is one of my favorite (maybe even my most favorite) cities in the world! After returning from a spectacular trip to Spain, I wanted to share why I love it so much and to offer some suggestions for your next trip!

I think it is the allure of the Picasso Museum, the vibrancy of the people and a gorgeous dish of authentic seafood paella. It is also a glass of sangria, strolling the tree-lined streets and sitting in an outdoor cafe in the Gothic Quarter. On a larger scale, Barcelona his home to the architectural wonders created by Antoni Gaudí and it is a modern city with an interesting long history. The combination of old world and new gets me every time.

1. Sagrada Familia ~

Where to begin? Sagrada Familia dazzles me more than any other building, anywhere. I love it even more than the Sydney Opera House or the Eiffel Tower. Antoni Gaudí wanted to build church that integrated nature and light, told stories and paid tribute to God. His personal genius, sacrifice and dedication is something that I admire a great deal.The mystical Sagrada Familia is both Gothic and Modern. I am not a historian or architecture expert, but my heart races a bit as I walk through the bronze, sculptured doors. The light bounces off the cool, stone walls and the room demands you to look up and gaze toward the heavens.

The construction began in 1882 and was taken over by Gaudí a year later. The project has been funded by only private donations so the process for the past 135 years has been s-l-o-w. However, since my daughter and I visited eight years ago, there has been substantial progress. When I saw it last, the inside was dusty and dark filled with scaffolding, with no stained glass and now it is bright, light and colorful. At the time of his death he had almost completed 25%. Other architects have taken on the project as well as Gaudí’s vision and it should be complete by 2027! It is quite a story and an absolute must visit!

2.  La Pedrera

Although I am in awe of this mammoth building, it does not evoke the strong emotions in me like Sagrada Famila. La Pedrera “the stone quarry” was initially intended to be two apartment buildings with two entrances. It is bigger than you can imagine with walls that curve that are covered places with shiny tile. On the rooftop Gaudí collected all of the apartment chimneys to come together and they are shaped like a soldiers. What? So unusual, so intriguing and really cool.

3. Casa Batlló ~

Another modernist building of Antoni Gaudí’s is Casa Battló and it is different from La Pedrera as it is much more whimsical and colorful. The facade is covered in iridescent tiles just like the scales of a fish and he places what looks like stone Venetian masks as balconies. The design and architecture makes you feel like you have landed in a Dr Seuss book and I half expected The Cat in the Hat to stop in to say hello. It is crazy-weird and amazing too!

4. Park Güell ~

Another one of Gaudi’s so-far-out-there-creations is Park Güell. Pronounced “Park Gway” it was originally intended as a housing development but the project was unsuccessful so it became an enormous park with views of Sagrada Familia and the entire city of Barcelona. Every one of the Gaudí buildings requires an advance ticket if you want to stay sane, as well as use your precious vacation time wisely.

Tip: We purchased a 10:00 am ticket to Sagrada Familia and then a 1:00 pm visit to the Park Güell. It allowed for 90 minutes in the church, time for lunch and then a quick cab ride to the Park. 

These sites are HUGE tourist destinations and travelers from all over the globe descend on this very special city. The numbers of people can be intimidating as well as overwhelming. By having advance tickets there is no waiting around for the next available timed entrance.

5. Museo Picasso ~

Another must see location, at the top of my list, is the Museo Picasso. This museum houses one of the most extensive and varied collections of one of the world’s greatest artists. Just imagine gorgeous portraits painted by a fourteen-year-old Pablo Picasso. The paintings seem almost like photographs which shows his astounding talent at such a young age. Most everyone is familiar with Picasso’s later works and Cubism and Surrealism. Did you know that he could paint life-like portraits? The museum is located in a what used to be five large houses in the Gothic Quarter of the city. For any art lover this is also a must do!

6. View from the hill ~

Sometimes just the views of a great city can be enough to make your day! We took the Bus Turista Tour which is a Hop on and Hop off bus tour of the city. It is a great way to get your bearings in a new place and to see where you may want to focus your touring later on the trip. We took the Red Bus Line all the way up and over to the Montujic area of Barcelona where the views will amaze you!

The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) in Barcelona’s Palau Nacional offers you a journey through 1000 years of Catalan art. The panoramic views of the city from the steps are a must do! The Olympic Stadium is right near by as well.

7. Walk along the harbor

The harbor, the beaches, the water, the boats and ships are spectacular. The area has a modern feel, yet there are historic statues and buildings. I love that about Barcelona. You can bike or walk and drink in the sea air, people watch, eat great seafood and enjoy another area of this incredible city.

8. Eat Paella ~

Even on our first evening in Barcelona, we asked the concierge for a recommendation for a special seafood restaurant and Catalan Paella. We saw this dish on every restaurant that we visited. We went to an old, fairly famous, traditional restaurant called Botafumeiro and it was outstanding.

9. La Rambla

La Rambla is a lovely and long walking street with cafes, shops and . . . tourists. That sounds negative, but it seems that it was mostly tourists, we were hustled to buy stuff and didn’t feel entirely safe. That being said, any visitor to a new city needs to travel smart and be aware of your surroundings. I have heard about pickpockets in Barcelona and actually know people who have experienced this. But don’t be afraid, just be cognizant of people around you.

10. Barcelona Slow Travel ~

In addition to the absolutely must see Gaudí architecture, there are more personal ways to immerse yourself into the local culture.There is no better way to get to know a city than to meet and talk and eat with locals. My friend Danica from Everywhere Agency recommended that Craig and I join a class called the Market and Paella Experience created by Barcelona Slow Travel. She described it as “dreamy”. Anything described to me as dreamy, rises to the top of my list! And it was all that and much more! Our host and chef, Guillaume, began the tour by taking us to the oldest bakery in Barcelona (Forn de Pa) and then to the large, spotless and spacious modern market, Mercat del Ninot, to pick up all of the ingredients we needed to make gazpacho, paella and strawberry-basil sorbet.

We carefully, cleaned, peeled, cut, chopped, stirred, grated and cooked all of the fresh local Spanish ingredients to make the most photogenic and delicious paella ever! I have already made the gazpacho recipe three times and the divine strawberry-basil sorbet once! We absolutely loved our time with Guillaume and his partner Cristina in their adorable studio and chic, urban outdoor patio.

Craig and I shared the class with two other traveling food lovers, Craig and Susan. Yes, those were really their names. The connection goes even deeper than our names. Craig and Craig both work in the tech industry and they live only about thirty minutes away from us in Southern California. The world is definitely small and delicious!

Barcelona Slow Travel deserves extremely high praise because Cristina and Guillaume have built a personal, authentic, Barcelona experience like no other. We were sorry to see our time together end! If you plan a trip to Barcelona let them know in advance because classes do fill up! They have other classes too, check the website!

There are many more things to do in Barcelona, but this will give you a foundation. In my opinion embracing the activities I have suggested are important to understand this one of a kind city. Depending upon how long you have the opportunity to stay, there is even more to Barcelona and to the surrounding areas too!

My other Barcelona post: Cotton House :: An Exquisite Luxury Hotel in Barcelona

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The post What to See and Things to Do in Barcelona – A list of 10 must dos! appeared first on Adventures of Empty Nesters.

When I set out to find a luxury hotel in Barcelona my first stop was American Express Travel. I had planned to use our travel points to pay for our upcoming hotel stay in Spain. We typically stay in Hyatt Hotels, but there aren’t any in this city, so I moved on to find something else.

Taking my time, I looked through the various luxury hotel options and the photos of this boutique establishment were so appealing that I made my decision quickly. I hit the lottery when I found the extraordinary Cotton House. As a fan of architecture and design, I couldn’t wait to stay there!

Welcome to Cotton House! The Perfect Luxury Hotel in Barcelona

As we stepped out of the cab we were welcomed by two Cotton House hosts insisting on taking our bags and directing us into the cool air of the stunning lobby. The towering wall of antique mirrors reflected the grand ambiance of this truly one of a kind setting. I think I silently squealed with delight!

We were offered an icy cold glass of cava (Spanish sparkling wine) and taken on a quick tour of the enchanting public spaces. We glanced up six floors through the suspended (yes you read that correctly) staircase lit by art deco light globes. The staircase hangs by a stainless cable and our hostess assured us that we were safe!

We stopped into the Library and the room took my breath away. There were several quiet seating areas, perfect for having a cocktail, afternoon tea or espresso. Craig and I spent memorable relaxing moments in this room. Notice the original wood inlay floor. It is magnificent!

Our hostess shared with us that Cotton House is in the former headquarters of the Association of Cotton House Manufacturers. You could feel the colonial history in each of the rooms. The designers were careful to maintain as much of the original building as they could and the mix of old and new was striking. Additionally, there are many cotton references throughout the hotel and you can even order custom tailored cotton dress shirts if you wish! Two of the room types were “Madras and Egyptian”, so clever!

Our room wasn’t large but it was well appointed, sound proof and chic. The crisp, perfectly-ironed cool cotton sheets felt so comfortable, especially during the intense summer heat.

Each morning we enjoyed breakfast in Bataur, the elegant hotel restaurant. The restaurant is named for the machine that was responsible for pressing cotton to eliminate all its impurities. Just outside of the restaurant there is an enormous outdoor patio perfect for a late evening dinner alfresco. The Cotton House service is personal and attentive and everyone is incredibly friendly.

We did not get a chance to use the pool, but it sure was a lovely oasis on the rooftop!

Barcelona has great public transportation, however, we took advantage of the outstanding number of very clean cabs to get us where we needed to go. Barcelona is packed with fantastic places to see and experience, with views to match. I can’t wait to share the details of one of my favorite cities coming up in my post “What to see and do in Barcelona – A list of 10 must dos!”

Have you been to Barcelona? Do you love it as much as I do?

The Cotton House Hotel was a delightful surprise because we had no idea what a special find it would be! I cannot say enough nice things about our experience and I hope that you plan to stay there when you take your next trip to Barcelona!

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The post Cotton House :: An Exquisite Luxury Hotel in Barcelona appeared first on Adventures of Empty Nesters.

Our adventure in Europe ~

Hi Friends!

Tomorrow I take off for my adventure in Europe. If you recall, I was invited to attend Tuscan Women Cook, an Italian cooking school in the hills of Tuscany. Yes, it is a pinch me moment.

I am grateful and excited to be invited and I can’t wait to share it with all of you!

Not everyone is a traveler and that’s ok. I appreciate you reading about our adventures and I can feel your enthusiasm. Our kids are grown and living successful happy lives pretty far away from us. They are not in my day to day life, so I figured out a few years ago that I needed to find my own happiness and not to rely on being a mother and wife to fulfill me.

Adventures of Empty Nesters was created from this need to do something else and amazingly enough it has created opportunities I never knew possible.

I hope whatever you do to have fun or whatever lights your fire makes YOU happy. It’s not the cars you drive or the clothes you own, but whether or not you are a good human being and that you are joyful on the inside. At least that is my philosophy…

Go out and find adventure now that your nest is empty. Midlife is the starting line!

Our trip ~

After my week in Tuscany, I fly to Spain to meet Craig and we will explore Barcelona and Mallorca. It is all pretty awesome and I am thrilled to be going.

You can follow along most easily by going to my Instagram. Click here to get to it. You don’t even need an account to look at the photos. You can also find me on Facebook, Here and Here.

I hope you have a beautiful beginning of summer and I will see you back here in a few weeks.

Ciao for now!

Suzanne

The post An Exciting Empty Nester Adventure in Europe appeared first on Adventures of Empty Nesters.