A change in latitude, does wonders to my attitude.

HQ ; ZARA Gran Via Ballerinas My Spanish girlfriend had so kindly shared some secret shopping addresses- where locals shop, so i was eager to visit them. It was a big success, as I came away with 5 pairs of leather ballerinas, some pieces of clothings and had to talk myself out of a crossbody leather bag. This is shopping destination as Spanish designs and styling are so varied, ranging from the yacky ( read Camper ) to the cool chic ( read Desigual ). The list is endless. The best and painless way to see Madrid is to join one of the many Free Walking Tours for a quick city overview. It is not "free" because you are expected to tip the guide according to what you think he/she is worth, at the end of the tour. If you must choose, then visit the Prado Museum, a haven for classic art lovers as this is where you will find an almost complete collection of Spanish paintings and numerous masterpieces by the world's greatest artists like Goya and Rembrand

Who would have given a thought to the Canary Islands? Apart from European sun worshippers who make this place their yearly ( sometimes bi-annually ) pilgrimage. The rest of us Asians who hide from the sun religiously, hardly venture this far. We flew some three hours from Alicante to Tenerife with Vueling Air, which I had vowed to boycott. Someone must have heard me because on this sector the seat pitch was a lot more generous. We didn't  have to fold our knees anymore like we did on the Barcelona to Alicante flight. My first impressions of Tenerife was one of black volcanic sand beaches, rocky perches, dry canyons and a drought prone place. There are two airports on Tenerife: north and south.The southern part of Tenerife is where the tourists flock to. The northern part of Tenerife is less frequented by tourists and generally quieter with much less sunshine days than the south. But that did not bother me as i am not a fan of rocky beaches and black sand. Iberostar G

Goggle Search best describes Alicante: "Alicante is a port city on Spain’s southeastern Costa Blanca, and the capital of the Alicante province. Its old town, Barrio de la Santa Cruz, has narrow streets, colored houses and a nightlife scene. From here, an elevator or a steep climb leads to medieval Castillo de Santa Bárbara, set on a hilltop with sweeping views of the Mediterranean coast. " ... View from Porta Maris Hotel And founded in 324 BC... caught my attention. Images of Phoenicians and Greek ships loaded with goods and slaves, Moorish invaders etc.. flashed through my mind.  Alicante , an ancient melting pot,  has been inhabited successively by Greeks, Romans, Muslims, and Christians.  History is exciting when you are walking in it. We flew Vueling Airlines, a low cost Spanish airline from Barcelona to Alicante. I get irritated when airlines treat passengers like sardines. When the 1.85m tall guy took his aisle seat next to me, he had to stick his knees out o

Hola,  I am jumping for joy as I packed for my Spanish adventure.  I have been to Pamplona and Seville many years ago and cannot wait to return to the sun belt of Europe. I will spend just three days in each city of Barcelona, Alicante, Tenerife and Madrid. I landed in  Barcelona after a short flight from Brussels. The evening balmy wind brushed my skin as we walked through the narrow streets of downtown Barcelona for a quick night tour. I liked the energy and buzz of the place, even at nightfall, the bars were alive with locals chilling out at bars for tapas and cocktails. This was "dian xi" or small eats with pre-dinner drinks. After a few more rounds of tapas, we were ready for real food, in which i meant the "main course". Situated away from touristic downtown, Bar Betlem , is a small bistro with a short menu ( which often translates to be a good restaurant ).  Eating communal style, our hosts ordered portions of pulpo ( octopus ), tartare on crispy