4-17-24 AND DID I TELL YOU? THE STUFF YOU CAN DO IN BARCELONA - AMAZING!!

Barcelona is the  birthplace of many renowned creatives - Antonio Gaudi Architect, Joan Miro painter and sculptor, Antoni Tapies painter and sculptor and many others. Picasso grew up there and Salvador Dali was born in the small town of Figueres close by. So Barcelona has serious street cred when it comes to creative natives. Upon visiting this beautiful city, you will see the evidence of architecture, art and creative energy around every corner. And if you want to read about a very cool AIRBNB we stayed in just check out one of my former posts HERE. All five of us, my entire family, before grand kids, stayed in this reasonably priced three bedroom/two bath in the heart of Barcelona.

IMHO - the best way to travel in Spain is via train. Like the rest of Europe, the trains in Spain are immaculate, fast, comfortable and cheap. Upon arrival in the capital of Catalonia, you will immediately get a sense of the great art and architecture. Not only that. It is truly one of the cleanest cities I have ever visited.

To make things simple, here is my list of the museums, buildings and other things you should see and do in the "City of Gaudi".

First and foremost - The Sagrada Familia. 

This masterwork of architecture and art was designed by the modernist architect Antonio Gaudi. In the opinion of the architectural world, Gaudi was Spain's greatest modern architect. Some would even say he was Europe's greatest modernist. That issue has been discussed and written about since 1883 when he took over the design of the magnificent work of religious architecture. He worked on this project for forty three years until his death in 1926. Even though I studied this building in architecture school and had seen hundreds of photographs, I was not prepared for the experience of walking in, sitting in and observing this amazing work of beauty and power. And it is still under construction! The main tower will be 557 feet tall - the tallest religious building in Europe. It is scheduled to be completed in 2026. My suggestion is to go as early in the morning as you can. It is less crowded and the light coming through the stained glass windows is truly something to see.

Park Güell

Park Güell is a truly inspired work of architecture and design also design by Gaudi, it was built from 1900 - 1914 and opened as a public park in 1926. It was also named a World Heritage Site in 1984. The tiled roof terrace of this profoundly creative public place will give you many places to sit and enjoy the views over Barcelona. 

Salvador Dali House in Portlligat

The Father of Surrealism is the one and only Salvador Dali. Dali’s house in Portlligat is where the artist lived for over forty years. He first bought a small fisherman’s cottage in the 1930s. Later, he purchased some nearby homes, enlarging his property. Today, Salvador Dali’s House in Portlligat is a museum where you can see his former home, studio, and library. To say that Dali was a unique artist would be a colossal understatement.  

For an enjoyable daytrip we piled in our rental, kids and all, and drove to Dali's incredible place to see his work up close. You can see more of Dali's work as well as other artists in and around Barcelona in such places as the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art. Barcelona is never boring. Just click this link to see all the things you can do in this art filled city - THINGS TO DO IN BARCELONA.

If you can't get to Spain right now and you want to see some of Dali's work, just head to Saint Petersburg, Florida to see the Dali Museum in downtown Saint Pete. It contains the largest collection of Dali works outside of his home in Spain. To read the fascinating story of how the Dali Museum ended up in Saint Petersburg just click Mr. Dali below.

“I do not understand why, when I ask for grilled lobster in a restaurant, I'm never served a cooked telephone.”
― Salvador Dalí

TAPAS

All Vagabonds will enjoy the food in Spain, particularly Barcelona. There are Tapas restaurants everywhere. Typically, small bites of great food are served as you order. The only country that has better food than Spain is Italy.

‘Any reasonable, sentient person who looks at Spain, comes to Spain, eats in Spain, drinks in Spain, they’re going to fall in love. Otherwise, there’s something deeply wrong with you. This is the dream of all the world.’ – Anthony Bourdain

So, as I always say - Just GO! You will not regret it I promise.

D.L.Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

Here is a great performance from a great movie -  Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I realize it has nothing to do with Dali or Spain, but you could argue that it has a definite surreal quality! LOL! THE PARADE SCENE - FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF!

4-10-24 - AFTER ALMOST 20 YEARS THE MEMORIES OF ITALY NEVER LEAVE MY HEAD OR MY SOUL

In 2005, we took our first  

trip ever to the continent. I wrote in 2012 about our trip to the land that invented romance. As Mark Twain said - "The Creator made Italy by designs from Michelangelo". Nothing truer was ever said. So, today's post is a remembrance of our first trip to the amazing, beautiful, grand country of Italy. If you have never been to Italy, and you want to travel to Europe, Italy is the first place you should go. Our experiences traveling there for three weeks changed my opinions, perceptions, and thoughts about the world. It is my hope that today's post will motivate you to Just Go! Take a look at some recent posts before this one for some tips on planning any trip, using your own Bucket Lists and desire for things yet unseen and experienced. And the most amazing thing, after a lot of research on current day hotels, restaurants, spas, and things to do and see, IMHO, the prices in The Most Romantic Place In The World are still reasonable.

Milan - Leonardo & Armani Slept Here - Life Imitates Art & Vice Versa

Planes, Trains & The Last Supper

As we settled into our seats at Tampa International for the nine-hour flight to one of the world's great fashion centers, Milan, we had read all the books, listened to the Italian language CDs for hours on end, researched late into many nights and planned our first trip abroad at a level of detail exceeded only by the Allied Invasion on D-Day. The excitement I felt was like Christmas morning, my first real date and seeing The Beatles in concert in '64 all rolled into one. Even my fellow Nomad and wife, Susie, demure though she may be, was unusually talkative and animated as she began to realize that we were actually doing something we had dreamed about for years.

As Americans traveling to the country that gave us opera, the Lamborghini, and Spaghetti, we had committed ourselves early on to learn everything we could about the history, traditions, and people of one of the great cultural building blocks of western civilization. Italy's architecture, music, art, and culinary contributions to the civilized world are well documented. But we were now taxiing to lift off to experience firsthand all of the things we had only read about in travel and history books, seen in Italian films, or heard on a Pavarotti recording.

No discussion of travel to Europe would be complete without the mandatory acknowledgement that flying for nine hours, even to Italy, is simply one of the least enjoyable experiences any human being willingly agrees to subject himself or herself to. There is no component of air travel, particularly to Europe, which can be described as pleasant, tolerable, or even slightly uncomfortable. In a word - it sucks! From the ergonomically masochistic design of the seating to the bland microwaved food to the C movies provided to help get your mind off your misery, flying on any commercial airliner for nine hours is proof positive that they just don't like you or care about you in any way. But in a world which is growing increasingly less civil by the day, it's the price one must pay to experience the joys of travel to the continent. And without hesitation, I can say it was worth every uncomfortable second spent with Delta to experience one of the truly great cultures of the western world.
 

After our uneventful flight  & arrival at Milan's Malpensa Airport, we made our way through customs and boarded a quick train to Cordona Station. As per travel guru Rick Steves, we planned to store our luggage in a locker at the train station as we had reservations to view one of the great paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci, The Last Supper, which was within walking distance of Cordona Station. Alas, this was not to be, as the lockers were closed for repairs. Since there was no plan B, we headed out for Santa Maria Delle Grazie Church with our luggage in tow. Then we got lost. As strangers in a strange land, we were at the mercy of various people on the street to give us directions to the church. After finally finding our destination late, the very nice English-speaking docent allowed us to view the great painting with the next reserved group.

 

With our luggage still in tow, exhausted from a nine-hour flight, we stood in awe of one of the most compelling works of art ever created. As we studied the great mural created by the original Renaissance Man, the first sparks of the paradigm shift hit us. We knew we were in a different time and in the presence of divine inspiration from another time at this place. Davinci painted The Last Supper around 1495. As with all great ancient paintings, the painting suffered extreme deterioration over five centuries. Fortunately for weary pilgrims and art lovers alike, the painting went through a major restoration started in 1978 and completed in 1999. Because of the popularity of this priceless 

work of art, viewing is only allowed by small groups 

in fifteen-minute intervals.

Just as Leonardo himself was obsessed with his mode of dress (many historians consider him to be the first real fashion conscience genius), any account of a visit to Milan would not be complete without a discussion of its position as one of the fashion centers of the world. Armani, Versace, Chanel, Prada and Gucci are just a few on the endless roster of world renown and less famous designers who have boutiques all over The City of Fashion. They even have outlet malls. And you thought outlet malls were only on I-75 between Atlanta and Tampa. No sir. Milan is the place for fashion conscience shopaholics, rich and fiscally challenged alike.

Pizza, Coca Cola, and The Duomo

 

Upon leaving The Last Supper and the Santa Maria Delle Grazie with our first real memory of Italy, we headed for the famed Piazzo del Duomo, the main city square of Milan. Getting more exhausted by the minute, we snagged an outside table at a small cafe right on the piazza, ordered pizza and a coke (cut me some slack, it's my first day) and marveled at the most important work of Gothic architecture in Italy, the Cathedral Duomo. This majestic work of art took over five centuries to build. At over 500 feet in length, 300 feet in width and 350 feet in height, this massive church features five naves constructed of white Candoglia marble. Though thoroughly exhausted from our flight and first day activities, we enjoyed our first meal in Italy in plain view of one of the greatest works of religious architecture ever created. As we sat and took in the beautiful day in our new temporary home, we gathered up our luggage and headed to the train station for a connecting train to Lake Como and a little hotel on a mountain.

LAKE COMO

After settling into our first-class seats for about $90 Euro for two, we headed out for the three-hour train ride to the small resort town of Varenna on Lake Como and The Hotel Eremo Gaudio, a small boutique number in a re-purposed former monastery built on the side of a mountain in the 1400's. One note - Sadly - The Eremo Gaudio is now closed. However, there are countless other reasonably priced hotels and AIRBNB's on the shores of Lake Como and other nearby villages.  As we began to speedily make our way through the countryside to Lake Como, I thought to myself, these Italians have this train thing down. We were traveling the way human beings were meant to travel in what has to be one of the most amazing countries on earth. And we had only been there a few short hours. As we emerged from a long tunnel, the train sped around a curve and Lake Como came into view. I gently squeezed my favorite Nomad's hand and smiled. Sorpreddente (Surprising)! Next up, Varenna and Lake Como. 

So, get busy. Find places to stay and things to see and do in this great land of romance and beauty. As Giuseppe Verdi said - "You may have the universe if I may have Italy". 

Italy - you'll never forget it if you go!

D.L.Stafford
thenomadARCHITECT

Travel Quote of The Week. "A man who has not been in Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority, from his not having seen what is expected a man should see". Samuel Johnson 

Video Artists of The Week.  Even if you are not an opera fan, you will be moved by this classic - The Three Tenors performing O Sole Mio 1994.

 

4-3-24 SANTORINI HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED AND EVERYTHING YOU WANT FOR YOUR TASTE BUDS AND YOUR BUCKET LIST

This post picks up where I left off (May 2, 2018) when I first started writing about our three weeks in Greece and Portugal in 2018. I know. Kinda sad that I would be that derelict in my duties as a purveyor of great spaces to sleep and faraway places to enjoy. Just click the date/link above to see the post I reference.  Santorini is a one-of-a-kind place in this country of islands, amazing food and friendly people. And the views are to die for.

And now. The Rest of the story!!

Wine and Cheese Galore - Oh My!

OK. Let me get this out of the way. If you like great wine and ridiculous cheese - you absolutely, positively must go to Santorini! The red is outstanding, and the white is to die for. And kinda' cheap. And the cheese? Well, I recommend that you add Santo Winery to your Bucket List and, when you get there, ask specifically for their goat cheese. It is pure heaven to your palate. The photo above is the view from the terrace where we enjoyed said goat cheese and fabulous wine.

Upon arrival at the Morfes Luxury Residence and meeting our Super Host Ion, it became quite apparent that we were not in Kansas or Athens anymore. In many previous posts on this blog, I have hailed AIRBNB as one of the truly great opportunities for travelers who are looking for a great place to sleep, eat and enjoy travel for, in many cases, a very low price compared to high end hotels and other lodging choices. To be honest, this particular AIRBNB is no longer a bargain. It now runs about $450 per night. Inflation is rampant, particularly in Greece! The island of Santorini is probably Greece's most expensive place to vacation.

I don't generally like to pay for high priced places to sleep. However, Morfes Luxury Residence is worth every penny. There are dozens of restaurants nearby. It is located in one of the most desirable areas of the island and the views of the Aegean Sea are romantic, invigorating and peaceful. The place also has a private veranda with a large hydromassage tub with views of the beautiful, tantalizing Aegean. So, if you're going to this special place referred to as Thira by the Greeks, prepare to relax and absorb this island of beauty and romance that has existed since prehistoric times.

If you've never been, this island will make you feel young, passionate and renewed.

Καλό ταξίδι (Have a great Trip!)

D.L.Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

“Greece was a muse. It inspired creativity in magical ways that I can’t even begin to understand or explain.” ― Joe Bonamassa

Here is an amazing performance by one of the great rock bands, founded in the 70's and still touring. The Grammy winners and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, Ann & Nancy Wilson of HEART perform Stairway to Heaven in a tribute to one of the greatest rock bands in history, Led Zeppelin at The Kennedy Center Honors in 2012.

3-31-24 TODAY IS THE MOST SPECIAL DAY IN THE WORLD OF CHRISTENDOM

Easter Sunday is the day all Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ - A simple quote from the great evangelist Billy Graham:

"God undertook the most dramatic rescue operation in cosmic history. He determined to save the human race from self-destruction, and He sent His Son Jesus Christ to salvage and redeem them. The work of man’s redemption was accomplished at the cross.”

Don Francisco wrote an anthem of celebration in 1975 at the age of thirty. He was awarded two Dove Awards in 1980 - Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. 

And to celebrate this greatest of days - one of the greatest gospel singers in modern history delivers the story of power and grace of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as remembered by Saint Peter. David Phelps delivers HE'S ALIVE with help from The Gaither Vocal Band and many other great singers.

Celebrate Easter with the people you love!

D.L.Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

3-27-24 DON'T GIVE UP! GET ON THAT PLANE, TRAIN OR AUTOMOBILE & ENJOY TRAVEL TO THAT BUCKET LIST PLACE YOU'VE DREAMED ABOUT

Wow! Time does indeed fly when you're having fun. Except, here in North Florida, during January, February and the first part of March. April's coming fast. For Serious Vagabonds, It's the time of year when you need to get your tickets, reserve places to lay your head and the much-needed trip to a spa. Some of the spas in Italy are utterly amazing. And I have more good news. If you put in the time, you can put together a trip to Italy, Spain, France or Greece that will not break the bank. I know this, because I have been to those countries, plus I spend an inordinate amount of time researching cool places to stay, eat, relax and live like a local. Admittedly, we didn't do a lot of traveling in 2023. A very wise person once said - I retired last year, why am I so busy? Oh, so true - grandkids, kids, doctors, friends and more stuff that comes out of nowhere!   Inflation rates are off the charts making travel, eating out or just going somewhere for a few days to relax costlier than ever.

And I know, many Vagabonds read every word of my erudite opinions, advice and wandering thoughts on travel. LOL! Of course, nothing changes you quite like travel. Romance is more focused when you travel, and travel shows you things about places, people and cultures that you can't really see if you don't go there. If you care to browse through this blog, just enter a country, a city, a restaurant, or a place to see in the GO AHEAD ASK BOX to the right and something will come up.

In some recent posts, I have given various web sites and search engines you can use to find those places you want to go.  I've said it many times - you can travel to Italy, France, Spain, Greece or even The United Kingdom for far less than the good old USA. As an example, I just found a nice boutique hotel in the beautiful city of Florence - The Riva Lofts on the Arno River for a paltry $99 per night! A hotel in Northern California can run six times that! As an example, The Post Ranch Inn, voted  the No. 1 hotel in the world, is $4,800 per night! Nice room, nice view but Wow! 

The only downside of traveling to Europe is the cost of airfare. Generally, tickets run about 20-30% more than tickets in the USA. That can be overcome if you have Travel Points with a major airline. We haven't bought a plane ticket in years.  As I have said many times throughout this blog, the best web site to find reasonably priced hotels in Europe is i-escape. They list hundreds of hotels all over the world from low priced to very high priced. If you are desirous of inexpensive travel in America or Europe, by all means check out AIRBNB. You can find great places to lay your weary head from $70 to $200 in Napa, Texas, Tuscany, Spain or France.

One last thing to consider is traveling in Europe via trains. Train travel in Europe is the best, most comfortable and cheapest way to get from Point A to Point B. There are many web sites to reserve your seats for very reasonable prices. My recommendation for Europe is trainline. I just looked up a ticket from Rome to Florence for $22 Standard or $42 First Class. That is downright cheap! The trains are very fast, comfortable and immaculate with great service. Train travel in our beloved USA is for another post.

So, get off the couch, get on your laptop and find places to go and things to do. You'll be better for it I promise. There is nothing like having a late lunch at the Castello di Tornano, a quick 45 minutes from Florence, sitting on a beautiful terrace with nothing but vineyards as far as the eye can see. A still photo of Castello di Tornano is shown at the beginning of this post. The video below features this amazing, repurposed stone fort/castle turned into a boutique hotel.  And it cost $136 per night today, including lunch, dinner and all the wine you can drink!

So Just Get Up & Go, Go, Go! Happy Travels!

D.L.Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

And for all Vagabonds - Here is a very cool version of the classic Stand By Me, written by the great R&B artist and Grammy Hall of Famer Ben E. King in 1961. It is listed as A Song of The Century by the Recording Industry Association of America. This deeply relaxing tune is by a Canadian duet Music Travel Love with a few friends. It will help ease your thoughts and relax as you travel.

3-20-24 - THE TEXT SAID - WE JUST GOT A FLAT TIRE - SOMETHING IN THE ROAD! THEN I SAID WHERE IS MILE POST 265?

My Fellow Vagabonds, we are truly living in the New Age of Technology that will lift you up, take you down, make you feel smarter, make you feel completely uninformed and send you all the way to San Antonio without actually sending you there. 

HERE IS MY STORY

If you follow this blog at all, you know that I adore travel. But traveling with family is actually one of the true joys of my life. A recent trip to Jacksonville Beach was an experience we will remember and laugh about forever. Traveling to the beach with family is always fun, interesting and can be extraordinarily funny. It can also bring things into the picture that you never dreamed could happen. Well, this quick three-day trip to Jacksonville Beach was all of that and more. My daughter in law, Tara, a true Vagabond when it comes to travel, reserved a stunning four bedroom, 2-1/2 bath home with a heated pool within walking distance to the beach. Everything directly on the beach was rented out or just too expensive due to the Players 2024 golf tournament in Jacksonville.

We loaded up two SUVs with enough luggage to take care of a small army for a month to anywhere.

In SUV No. 1

Hayes - Almost 7 / Smith - Just turned 1 / Lance - Dad / Tara - Mom

Cheddar - Always Active Dog - As Charles Schultz said - Happiness is a warm puppy! / Most of the one ton of luggage, toys and stuff required for any trip. Ha Ha!

In SUV 2

Susie - Ya Ya / Doyle - D - Yes, we're older! / The rest of the luggage, toys and stuff needed to insure complete happiness for all.

Susie, my one and only, and I headed to the place to stay for three nights to celebrate Spring Break with our crew. Lance, Tara, the kids and the dog would soon follow.

Stage 1

It's a fairly quick and easy drive to Jax Beach. About an hour from the AIRBNB, I received a simple text from Lance that turned our simple short trip into a very, very long trip! We just got a flat tire said the text! I called immediately. What happened, I asked. We hit something in the road he said, and this SUV does not have a spare. I said - the new world we live in is simply insane. Then he tried to apply a patch from the SUV's Repair Kit. Let's all laugh out loud! It didn't work. Where are you, I asked. Rest Area near Mile Post 265 he said! Then I said - OK, as soon as we get to the place, I will come get y'all. He said he was having the Acura towed to Jimmy's Firestone in Lee, Florida to have a new tire installed. Jimmy's told Lance to pick it up the next day. Stage 1 complete.

Stage 2-3-4-5-6

We arrived at our home for three days around 4:00 and unloaded everything. I hopped back into our SUV and headed north to pick up the crew. After about two hours, I see my people sitting at a table at the Rest Area - Mile Post 265. They looked really cold. They loaded up my SUV including the still growing black labrador in the back with a lot of stuff. Two hours later, we pulled into the Surf Luxe AIRBNB, unloaded and ordered dinner. After settling in, we enjoyed relaxing and watching the kids having fun - Stage 2,3 complete.

Then, the next morning, Lance and I drove back to Jimmy's Firestone. Lance picked up his Acura and we headed back for more fun - Stage 4-5 complete.

On Tuesday, we went to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens without Cheddar, who was boarded for the day. The zoo is a perfect place to take kids. Kids love everything about any zoo. The rhinos, the elephants, the snakes, etc. I would highly recommend to anyone with kids to take them to the zoo. It's a lot of fun and much cheaper than Disney. It's also great for exercise. I walked three miles. Seeing all of those amazing animals at the zoo, I always wonder - Do they miss their home on the other side of the world? The photo shows my crew feeding a very cool giraffe. Everybody loved feeding this gentle tall animal.

On Wednesday, we loaded up our portion of stuff and headed home. We walked into the house, poured a big glass of Pinot Noir and ordered pizza! LOL! Stage 6 complete!

A final thought - We drove 998 total miles in less than four days. We could have driven all the way to San Antonio, Texas with all those miles used completing Stages 1-6! And that, as they say, is the unvarnished truth of a great trip, with a few side roads, turnarounds and U-turns with the people I love.

As the great writer Mark Twain said - " I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them."

Spring officially started March 19. You need to get busy and Go Go Go! Head out to parts unknown or places familiar. It will make you feel better, especially if you go with the ones you love.

D.L.Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

• 
  

And for a little music this week - I don't know how they do it, but take a listen and a look at some great old time movie stars dancing to one of the biggest funk-pop, soul, boogie songs ever recorded - UPTOWN FUNK written and performed by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson with a crowd of rappers & singers. Great actors and dancers such as Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelley even Frank Sinatra dance to perfection in some of the greatest movies ever made.

And just to show that the young'uns are gettin' it done, enjoy this great tune and video by Bruno Mars and his boys doing UPTOWN FUNK released in 2014!

 

3-13-24 HOTEL VIURA IN ESPAÑA's BASQUE COUNTRY

It was May 2015 - Three weeks in The Land of La Mancha. We enjoyed our last two nights in this land of dreams in one of the coolest hotels on the planet - HOTEL VIURA located in Basque Country. 

After three weeks in the art filled country of Spain, including a week with our kids, in the Spring of 2015, we stayed in Hotel Viura for two nights before flying home. As an architect, I am always looking for interesting, well designed, places to lay my head after a full day of walking, sightseeing or viewing great works of art. Where you stay makes a difference on the pleasure scale when you travel.

If we're True-Blue Vagabonds, we must stay in unique places with great design and great service. With the choices available and the ease with which we can find them, the search for places to stay when you are planning a trip, large or small, is a pleasure. Or I could be an overzealous obsessive architect that refuses to settle. But I'm ok with that. LOL!

Spain is one of the most diverse countries in Europe. With different languages spoken throughout the seventeen communities established in 1978, it is both funny and intriguing to communicate with people all over this art filled country. It must also be said - almost every person we talked to in Spain spoke English. The country's people are friendly and helpful. And, of course, in Spain they create delightful, tasty diverse offerings of Tapas. Ordering is an art in Spain.

Now - Back to the Hotel Viura 

iescape, one of the top places online to find great hotels at reasonable prices states the following on Hotel Viura - 

"Super-cool design hotel bang in the middle of a lovely village and surrounded by Rioja wine fields."

As best I can tell, this ultra-modern funky hotel was designed by mup-arq architects. This group of architects and designers left no stone unturned to create a unique place to sleep, eat and enjoy the pleasures of travel. From the funky hand scribed graphics on the doors to the Bistro Restaurant that served great food and wine.

As we enjoyed the last of a three week stay in Spain, I was so struck by the beauty of the culture of this amazing country. Spain is the largest country in 
Southern Europe and it existed under various dictators until 1975 when it transitioned into a fervent Democracy that has blossomed as a country and a destination for all Roaming Nomads. And, it goes without saying, if you go to this diverse place of beauty

and elegance, you must venture to the Basque area of Northern Spain and stay in one of the coolest

hotels anywhere - The Hotel Viura!

As American Chef Anthony Bordain said -

‘Any reasonable, sentient person who looks at Spain, comes to Spain, eats in Spain, drinks in Spain, they’re going to fall in love. Otherwise, there’s something deeply wrong with you. This is the dream of all the world.’ – Anthony Bourdain"

As this Nomad Architect says - Just Go!! You won't regret it.

D.L.Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

‘Spain is a beautiful country with rich architecture and a huge cultural heritage. Arguably it has it all: mountains, a stunning coastline, and urban life, plus agriculture, mining, and industry.’ – Sir Norman Foster Architect

Sagrada Familia - Barcelona

Please enjoy a cool tune from one of the greatest - Prince. I had the pleasure of seeing this gifted artist a few years ago. I was mesmerized for three hours. He performed this acoustic version of one of his greatest hits - CREAM by PRINCE!