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Tag Archives: getaways

back to madrid!

28 Monday Oct 2019

Posted by azahar in andalucia, friends, gastronomy, getaways, madrid

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

decanter, getaways, jose pizarro, madrid, writing

So while I was away in Galicia I got an invitation to the Spanish book launch of my friend José Pizarro’s Andalucía, which is being held in Madrid on October 30th. You may recall I went to London in May for a event at the Spanish Embassy that included celebrating José’s 25 years as a chef and was also the launch for the English version of this book. But you know, I want to be there to support José and so I booked my train to Madrid and a hotel for a couple of nights, even though I can’t exactly afford to travel right now.

And THEN something amazing happened. Out of the blue I was asked by Decanter Magazine to write another city break travel piece for them… on Madrid! This is my third commission from Decanter in a year, and I am thrilled about that. But also, it will end up paying for my trip and I can use my time there to do research for the article. How perfect is that?  🙂

day trip to cádiz with roma & peter

25 Saturday May 2019

Posted by azahar in cadiz, getaways

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Tags

cadiz, friends, getaways, travel

Ten hours in the city and 19,000 steps! Details and pics to follow…

cádiz market

15 Friday Feb 2019

Posted by azahar in andalucia, cadiz, getaways, markets, spain

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Tags

Andalucia, cadiz, cadiz getaway, getaways

Still my favourite market in Spain.

lustau & albalá

28 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by azahar in friends, gastronomy, getaways, restaurants, sherry

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

albala, getaways, jerez, jerez getaway, sherry

Day two of the Jerez Getaway with Pam & Gord started off with a WHACK of hot crispy fried churros in front of the Central Market. After that, following THE PLAN IS THERE IS NO PLAN format we had been going with, we decided to see if we could go to Lustau for their Copa en Mano bodega visit. And there was still places available! So off we went after a quick visit to the market and cathedral.

I really enjoyed the concept of this tour. Usually people visit a bodega and then have a tasting at the end. With this one visitors start off with a glass of manzanilla and then taste their way around the various Lustau bodegas, finishing with sweet wines and then a bonus vermouth tasting in the shop. So it was a lot of fun, and we tasted some very special wines which I don’t think are included in the regular visit. And then it was time for lunch!

My friend Tomoko met us at Lustau, since (no plan, right?) we still weren’t sure where to go. From there I called one of my favourites, Albalá, and was told they were fully booked, but if we showed up we could go on a waiting list. Well, good enough for us! And sure enough, after a quick taxi ride, and about ten minutes after arriving and enjoying a drink at the bar, we got a table. Food was amazing, company even better. And afterwards we walked back into the centre for a penúltima. Then it was time for me to go. I didn’t have a return train ticket, leaving it open since THERE WAS NO PLAN. In the end I left Jerez at 7.15, and was home, unpacked, showered and with a load of laundry on by 9 pm. With my cats! It was a great getaway.

 

bilbao bites

28 Tuesday Aug 2018

Posted by azahar in getaways, travel, trips

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Tags

bilbao, bilbao getaway, getaways, spain, travel

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Travelling in August, and especially arriving on a Monday, is not great for finding places open. At least half of the recommended pintxo bars on my list were closed for holidays. Perhaps because of this we found the food a bit uninteresting (and very mayonnaisey!).
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We fared better at Casa Rufo (below), a restaurant that was recommended by my landlord. Cosy ambiance, great staff, delicious food and wine… AND we got to sit down. 😉
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