After 5 weeks in Spain Blonde and Brunette were fairly bedraggled. We'd had a wonderful time but had also had many frustrations, not every single one of which was our fault. Maybe. We had arranged to exchange Blonde's condo in Boston for both a condo in Spain on the lovely Costa Brava and a home, from the same family, in Madrid. We knew the home in Madrid was in the suburbs … [Read more...]
Was government surveillance focused on Blonde and Brunette in Seville?
After two days of intensive sightseeing in Seville in withering heat we decided that we had seen the major sights and that was enough of that. It was time to find somewhere to swim! This was the first town in nearly 5 weeks of being in Spain where the swimming sisters did not have access to a pool or a beach. Brunette determined that the best course of action for our final day … [Read more...]
Our hot quickie in Cordoba, Spain!
One positive thing came out of the nearly 7 hours we spent in the Renfe train station in Barcelona trying to get someone, anyone, to know what to do with the discounted train passes we had purchased online before our trip. That one positive thing was that once we finally reached a manager, and rudely interrupted him planning a vacation for himself in Malta, he became very … [Read more...]
Conjuring in Calella
Last year Blonde and Brunette were in the Costa Brava region of Spain and kept intending to go to the Cap Roig Botanic Gardens but somehow never quite made it there. When we began to plan a return trip to the region this year the person with whom we were arranging a home exchange mentioned the annual music festival held at the gardens. Brunette began feverishly plotting an … [Read more...]
Home Exchange – Why didn’t I do this years ago?
For a good 10 years Blonde has contemplated the idea of doing a home exchange in order to travel more cheaply (financially, she's already quite cheap morally ) and stay longer in one place (sounds sexual too). But contemplating and actually doing it never got together (home exchange, that is) until meeting Nola of NewTakeTravel at the TBEX bloggers' conference in Girona, Spain … [Read more...]
Places we’ve loved: Begur, Spain
Begur, and the surrounding area, is so charming, untouristy and beautiful that we have been hesitant to write about it. We are afraid that if we paint an accurate picture then more people like us might go there. But after the fabulous week we enjoyed in the region we reluctantly decided to be generous and let you in on what we discovered. Begur is in the heart of the Costa … [Read more...]
Places we’ve loved: Binibeca Vell, Menorca, Spain
Binibeca Vell is Blonde's location version of an ideal date: attractive, well groomed, friendly but not intrusive and doesn't expect you to spend the night after enjoying its pleasures. When Blonde and Brunette went to Spain for the TBEX Travel Bloggers' Conference we managed to turn a three day conference into a three week trip. Five days were spent on Menorca, one of … [Read more...]
Lessons learned this year..Part 3 in a series: War + Eggplant + Sister = Inspired Product Design
If you’re a steady reader of this blog you know to expect decorum, gentle language and deeply held religious convictions. But not here. This blog (the blog itself , not the writer) is very poorly behaved and will cement that reputation with this post. This past September Blonde and Brunette attended the TBEX travel bloggers’ conference in Girona, Spain. Many truly wonderful … [Read more...]
Lessons learned this year……Part 1 in a series: Other species
For many people the end of the year is a time for reflecting on the previous twelve months and making well-intentioned resolutions relative to the next twelve months. They realize that material possessions don't bring true happiness, that aging naturally is beautiful and that there's more good than bad in most people. They resolve to be leaner, nicer, healthier and to finally … [Read more...]