Showing posts with label sola. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sola. Show all posts

03 August 2009

Costa Brava in Spain


10 top things to do in Costa Brava?

This summer we visited the Costa Brava coast in Spain. We flew to Barcelona and rented a car to go to Costa Brava on the coast close by. We drove to the small town Platja d’Aro. On the mountain with a view over the sea is the lovely small bed and breakfast hotel called Cal Fonei. This is a perfect vacation for a family with kids.

Vi spenderade den här sommaren i Costa Brava kusten i Spanien. Vi flög till Barcelona och hyrde sedan en bil. Vi bodde på ett litet jättefint hotell som heter Cal Fonei. Det ligger i bergen med otrolig utsikt över havet och kusten. Det här är en perfekt semester för en barnfamilj.

The hotel Cal Fonei has only a couple of rooms, big swimming pool and a super nice view. The friendly couple who runs the hotel arranged a lovely barbeque for us one night. It feels like staying with friends in their home. A great feeling when you are on vacation.

There so much to do. You can visit Barcelona to see the buildings by Gaudi. It is worthwhile the trip! When tired of sightseeing by bus in Barcelona we visited Spanish Zara mega store for some shopping. Summer sale was on. Shopping in Barcelona is great.

Three must do´s in Barcelona according to Ving travelagency are:

  • El Born, a bohemic are with the Picasso museum "Museo Picasso", cafés, restaurant, bars and vintage shops. 
  • The squares in Grácia with outdoor restaurants, bars, markets, bars. There are more bars per squaremetre here than any other place in the city.
  • Enrique Granados, a lovely street with art nouveau architecture, cosy restaurants and several masterpieces of Gaudi.


After Barcelona we went back to Costa Brava. We took the car and and drove around to new towns everyday. It is nice to eat out in the evenings in the different villages around the coast.

Restaurants Costa Brava?
We also visited the village Lloret de mar. Totally full of tourists. But I forgot about that while eating at restaurant La Pampa while watching the beautiful church. Address: Santa Lucia

The favourite place is the simple pub like restaurant Ray de Jamon in the harbour of Saint Feliu de Guixols. Address: Ctra de Palamos 2. They don’t speak English but it doesn’t matter because the food is marvellous. Quite expensive, but with great food and off the tourist streets is restaurant Toc de Sol in Castell d’Aro very close to Platja d’Aro.

Small scale shopping in the small shops in Palamos was nice. I couldn’t find any nice restaurants but I am sure the must be some.

Dancing in the street got a new meaning in Tossa de mar when the inhabitants of Tossa dance to the sound of Sardanes in the streets of the city. Happens one day in July every year. Wow!

Shopping in Andorra!When we were in Spain we took a days trip and drove to the Andorra for some mega shopping. But the stunning views in the mountains beat the shopping by far. It took far longer to drive there than planned. So all the shops closed about one hour after we arrived. Or maybe it was well planned?
I only bought one perfume in Andorra, it was kind of to many shops. Strange feeling. But at least I visited one new country. So I could get a tick in the box on my “must-visit-two-new-countries-a-year-list”

Andorra was full of cyclists and shops. Plan the shopping or nature adventures on http://www.andorra.ad/en-US/What_do_you_need/Shopping/Pages/default.aspx

Shopping in Costa Brava
There are not so many nice shops here but I managed to buy a DKNY bag on sale. One nice thing about a summer holiday in July in Spain is that the sale is on in all shops.... Go to Barcelona and shop at Zara, Mango, DKNY, Cortés Ingles, etc. etc.

15 July 2009

Österlen is fantastic


10 top things to do at Österlen?

I do love Österlen in Skåne in the South of Sweden. These are my favourite places...

Österlen is a region on the eastcoast of Sweden. It is by the sea and I really like the region for its nature, lovely small houses, art galleries, design hotels and great restaurants.

I looked at 25 artists work at KAOS south of Kivik. It is easy to find. I found a lot of things a liked and bought some. This is where I bought my giant tea cup I have at work. It is made by Saga Johnsson. You can also visit her shop and workshop on the way to Stenshuvud.

The must-try-drink when you are at Österlen is the local apple juice and food made of fruit made locally in Kivik. Buy it by the street. I tried a glass in the café and then I bought a lot in the factory shop at Kiviks musteri or the smaller and lovlier Kivikås close to Kivik.
Where to stay at Österlen? I like Östangård bed and breakfast and design shopBut I love Karlaby Kro hotel and spa even more.
Have lunch or dinner at Karlaby Kro and you will be happy for a month.
A friend told me that the hotel and restaurant Vitemölla Badhotell is a must. But I missed to go there last summer. But I will not miss it this summer. It looks supernice!
The best place for coffee and cookies is the bakery Olof Viktors
http://www.olofviktors.se/

The rooms are not so nice but the food is lovely at hotel and restaurant Brösarps gästgiveri. I had the fish "Helstekt Spätta från Simrishamn med Champinjoner och brynt Smör" when I stayed in Brösarp. Mums as we say in Swedish! But the best restaurant is Maritim Krog, address Hamngatan 31, in Simrishamn. Evelinas Kök is also nice for at meal, address Storgatan 3.

Some more shopping? I found Himla table cloths & things at great prices at Stärkan kvalitetsoutlet in Kivik. Dining at home will be even nicer this autumn with things I bought...

I feel in love with a painting when I visited the gallery on Eliselundsvägen 45 in Kivik. The artist was friendly enough to show us his gallery and studio which had a great view of Kivik.
Check out his marvellous paintings at http://www.hagman.se/main.php?page=konstnarer&subpage=konstnar.php&username=Bengt%20Yman
There is also a nice shop in Kivik at Eliselundsvägen 18, just opposite with handmade design things.
I feel happy when I look at Gunilla Manns paitings. A lot of colours and happiness. She has a studio in Rörum and a shop in Simrishamn. Buy a painting of a postcard as a memory of your trip to Österlen. I like the one of Nyhavn in Copenhagen a lot.
It is perfect to go to Österlen in May-August. But if you like art you should try to visit it during Easter beacuse of the "konstrunda". It is an art exhibition where 150 artists open their homes and studios to the public. I was there in 2009 and loved it, although it snowed heavily during the whole weekend.
Do you dream of a house at Österlen? Look at this real estate homepage. Their presentations of the houses that are for sale totally look like an interior design magazine! http://www.uppvik.nu/

Finally some must do things från my friend Eva who lives in Skåne:
  1. Play golf at one of the beautiful golf courses; for example the golfcourse Lilla Vik outside Simrishamn. You can stay at their hotel and play golf for a weekend. I tried their restaurant and checked their rooms last summer. Looks good!
  2. Visit Kronovalls vinslott (wine castle). Have a wine tasting sesscion, have dinner and stay at their hotel. It is quite expensive and I have not tried it but it seems like a nice place.
  3. Visit Konstrundan
You might guess what her hobbies are by the above tips?