Happy new year! I know, I know, I’m a little late to the game on this one. But it’s been quite a busy 2014 so far, so I haven’t gotten around to doing any of the main part of my blog – you know, blogging!
So now that things are falling into place, it’s time to catch up on where I’ve been over the past year. It was a pretty good one for traveling. I even managed to hit three continents and four countries in one month!
Let’s kick this off alphabetically.
Bilbao
Although not as glam as San Sebastián, I was very pleasantly surprised by Bilbao. I spent an afternoon walking along the river and looking at the art at the Guggenheim (there may have been a few giggles at the more ridiculous pieces on display). Actually, I’ll be heading back to Bilbao this summer! Any guesses what there is to do in July in the city?
Borja
“Borja? Where’s that?” I can hear some of you wondering. It’s in Zaragoza, but that’s not why I went there. The reason? The ever-incredible restoration of the Ecce Homo that a local granny managed to accidentally come up with….otherwise known as Beast Jesus, which in terms of levels of enjoyment topped anything I saw at the Guggenheim. Sorry, serious artists!
California
Of course, I was at home in California for the holidays like every year (I’m very lucky to be able to do that). I’d break it up into individual cities, but then this would be the California post…and I’ve already done one of those! I made it to L.A., Newport Beach, San Diego, San Francisco, and the notorious Riverside (which isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be – honestly!).
Dublin
In December, I headed to Dublin for a weekend getaway, and it was absolutely lovely! Pub lunches, secret libraries, and lots of Christmas lights were involved, much to my delight. I haven’t written about Dublin yet, but it’s coming! Here’s one of my Instagrams from Dublin:
England
Another regular trip to visit family, I love spending time in the U.K. It’s always nice to see relatives and have a change of pace a bit, along with bottomless cups of tea (living the dream!). The only downside? It occasionally involves a mini-ordeal with Ryanair…but you can’t have everything now, can you?
Formentera
This almost counts as Ibiza (which I’ll be getting to later) because it’s so close, but it’s a separate island and has the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. White sand, clear turquoise water – it’s like walking into a holiday brochure. Definitely one of my favorite places in Spain.
Girona
Another repeat on the list, Girona is a beautiful little medieval city to the north of Barcelona with more than a few wacky legends to its name. The AVE train will zip you there in under 40 minutes, and it’s absolutely worth it for a day trip. If you’re around in May, you should definitely consider going for the stunning flower festival, where the whole city is cloaked in fresh flowers.
Ibiza
Yep, I went to the party capital of Spain again this year, and again it was a fabulous time in the sunshine. Apart from losing my voice after a foam party (oops!), it was a roaring success (and speaking of roaring, it was my roaring of excitement at the foam that may have helped my voice go on a holiday). But this year, I took some time to discover the part of Ibiza that doesn’t get as much press – the stuff there is to do when you’re not drinking! Spoiler alert: there’s a lot.
Istanbul
Why was everyone and their mother, and probably their grandmother as well headed to Istanbul this year? It feels like almost every travel blogger I read went to Turkey this year. While I wasn’t head-over-heels for the city like a lot of other bloggers, I did enjoy my trip a lot. The highlights? The amazing generosity of the Turkish people I met, the delightfully salty food, and the feeling of walking into buildings that have been around since the year 400. 400!
San Sebastián
The Basque jewel is hands-down one of the most chic places I’ve ever visited. Almost everything had a sheen of elegance, and it was especially enjoyable with the great weather we got. It’s not a huge city, which is just as well – you’ll probably be too full from all the incredible pintxos to do much walking!
Sitges
Celebrating Carnaval is one of my favorite Spanish traditions. You basically get TWO Halloweens! (And I never miss an excuse for fancy dress). Sitges is THE place to celebrate, with huge parades of elaborately costumed dancers stomping down the beachfront all day and night. It’s chilly and crowded, but a whole lot of fun! Pro tip: buy a bag of cheap paper masks and share them around. Instant friends!
Getting crazy at Carnaval!
Valencia
The city hosts Las Fallas, wild one-week party full of explosions and fires – my kind of scene! I went to join in the celebrations for 26 sleepless hours and loved it. No sleep, just parties! Of course, that meant I didn’t get to see too much of the city’s top sights or eat local dish paella….so I’ve got this one on my list for this year too.
Traditional Valencian outfits. I’m the tallest here, but I’m actually really short – the taller girls must’ve only been around 13.
This year, I didn’t travel quite as much as last year, but it was still a good one. I got to check off lots of my travel resolutions for last year, like seeing a new region of Spain (Valencia, the Basque Country, and Zaragoza), spending more time in a place I’d already been (Girona), and going to a new country (Turkey).
What’s ahead for 2014? Well, that’s coming in a new post, but I’ve got to say it’s already shaping up to be a fabulous year!
What was your highlight of 2013?
Besos!
-Jess
Highlight for me was definitely my three week trip to Spain! Sublights: The festival of St. George, complete with fiery dragon, in Caceras, the teleferico to the top of Fuente De in Picos de Europa, and my nephew-in-law’s tortillas fabulosos (not flat corn cakes as in Mexico, but potato-onion-cheese-egg tart – best in Castile et Leon!
Ooh that festival sounds great! Fiery dragons are always a good call. 🙂 And homemade Spanish tortillas are amazing. Happy 2014!
Wow you sure were busy this year! Can’t wait to see where you will travel this year as well. And your Ireland posts! I have family headed there in February for a reunion. Sadly I am not going but I may have some trips planned later this year… to be continued…
Oh cool! Hope you get to go. Have you ever been before?
Wow you’ve inspired me to want to travel! We just recently moved to Barcelona! Lots of places on my to do list! Thx for this wonderful post. I’m also from CA, San Diego 🙂
Oh how cool! I don’t often meet fellow Californians in Barcelona. How are you liking it so far?
Sounds like an amazing year! Such a shame we couldn’t meet up in Valencia (which was one of my highlights last year too) but I’ll let you know if I’m Spain-bound again this time around!
Yes, that sounds great! I may have to make another trip to Las Fallas this year. Hope to meet up with you somewhere someday!
Nice recap!
We visited a lot of similar places in 2014- California (haha), Turkey, San Sebastian, Zaragoza and Bilbao…
Nice Recap! Looks like we were in similar places in 2014- Bilbao, SS, California, Turkey and Zaragoza. Woo!
Lauren @ Roamingtheworld recently posted…Walking to the beautiful hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
And somehow we didn’t manage to meet up in any of them! Haha let’s hope it happens this year.
I know! Just wasn’t meant to be…yet.
Let’s see where 2014 leads us!
A friend keeps telling me I should just go back to visit friends for a few weeks while I’m job searching to take advantage of my “time off.” I think about it but trading sunny skies for rainy gray skies of Basque Country doesn’t seem right. Ha.
Lauren @ Roamingtheworld recently posted…Walking from Bakio to the beautiful hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe
Haha that’s true! But pintxos…think of the pintxos. 🙂
I know I know. The pintxos. Heavenly!
Lauren @Roamingthworld recently posted…Flashbacks and what I gained from my first year in Spain
AND good luck with your job search! Fingers crossed something cool turns up.
I’ve been enjoying your Spanish travels as it is now my home away from home. Last year I traveled more than I ever have before, which is really odd, considering it is also the year I got to travel to Spain for 6 weeks. I was in LA, San Francisco, and Phoenix too. But I do have to say that living in Seattle is right up there with other touristy type cities in the US. It is beautiful here.
Ardis recently posted…The Denial of A.D.D.
Thanks very much! I’ve never been to Seattle but it’s on my list for next time I’m in the States. I’ve heard only amazing things, so I’m pretty excited!
I’m glad you liked Dublin!..it is a great city I live in. I hope you get to visit outside of Dublin sometime. I think there are greater treasures to be found in Cork and Kerry and on the West Coast. A lot like Galicia on a rainy day!
I walked 300km of the Camino de Santiago and I guess that would be my highlight. I spent a day in Bilbao also and thoroughly enjoyed it there. I will be back this May and hope to take in San Sebastian also.
David recently posted…A different way of taking notes..
Yes, I’ve often heard Galicia described as the Ireland of Spain!
Enjoy San Sebastian, the food is spectacular there.