green onion season in Catalonia

Travel creates the opportunity to experience different cultures through their local food. If you click the graphic above, you can hear the story, aired on NPR this morning, about Green Onion Season in Catalonia. Catalonia is the region of northeast Spain surrounding Barcelona.

Were you in Catalonia right now, you'd have the chance to experience Calçotada, an annual food festival celebrating the calçot harvest. Per Wikipedia, these small green onions or scallions

are grilled over a hot fire, wrapped up in newspaper, served on terra cotta tiles and eaten, after peeling with bare hands, by dipping them one by one in romesco sauce and are accompanied by red wine and bread.

Yum! While it may be too late to plan for 2020, think about a trip to Barcelona from November to April to experience something utterly local and authentic.

copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

five reasons to book this Seabourn cruise

8-day Gems of Italy & Spain

Here are five good reasons to book this cruise, departing 27APR, 2019 from Athens to Barcelona.

(1) There's a two-week sale on this cruise aboard the Seabourn Ovation. Book by April 8th for Veranda suite upgrades and shipboard credits. Cost is from $2,999 per person.

(2) Virtually everything is included — Seabourn luxury on an intimate ship with all ocean-front suites, complimentary premium spirits and fine wines, no tipping, and Thomas Keller-inspired dining.

(3) interesting things to see and do... 

• 27APR — stay in Athens the night before, and explore the Acropolis on the day of your departure.
• 28APR — Pylos, Greece, on the southwestern coast of the Peloponnese, affords sightseeing opportunities to the castle of Neokastro or the achaeological site of Messini.
• 29APR — a day at sea, a chance to relax and let Seabourn pamper you.
• 30APR — dock in Naples and visit Pompeii and Herculaneum or perhaps the Amalfi Coast.
• 1MAY — 14 hours on the ground in Rome; ask you you can book a guided tour by Vespa.
• 2MAY — you'll spend the day at Bastia on the French island of Corsica, Napoleon's birthplace.
• 3MAY — walk narrow streets and small squares of Toulon, a harbor townon the coast of Provence, France.
• 4MAY — Palamos, Spain: Visit Dali's Castle Museum or wander through the town of Girona.
• 5MAY — Barcelona. Experience the innovative architecture of Antonio Gaudi.

(4) Receive Virtuoso Voyages amenities, your choice of a complimentary shore excursion in Palamós, Spain, a $175 per person credit towards a Virtuoso product (pre-cruise stay, post-cruise, stay, or shore excursion through a Virtuoso onsite), or a $150 per person shipboard credit.

(5) Meet me onboard! I'll be joining the cruise in Rome, along with my friends and colleagues from Brownell.

copyright (c) 2019 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

two luxury hotels in Barcelona + a newcomer

entrance of the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona (c) 2017 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

I visited two distinctly different hotels while in Barcelona ... and learned about a new hotel about to open.

First, the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona which hosted my stay — contemporary and bold, you can get a sense of its style from my photograph of the hotel's entrance above. A former bank was transformed into a contemporary hotel right on the Passeig de Gràcia. Indeed, safety deposit boxes from the original bank have been preserved in Bankers Bar where you can enjoy drinks and tapas.

Most guests will prefer the suites. I stayed in a very comfortable Studio Suite. With more than enough space (53 sqm), the suite offered a well designed work desk and a sitting area with sofa and sling chair. The large bathroom featured a large oval soaking tub, a step in rain shower, two sinks set in a wide double vanity, and a WC, and a separate dressing area. Due to high occupancy, I was not able to see many rooms. I was shown a Deluxe Boulevard room. On the small side (34 sqm), the long and narrow dimensions of the room make it feel cramped, and the stark interior design styling had an "industrial" feel. Fortunately, the hotel is planning a soft renovation in 2018, and I was shown a mock-up room of a new design. To my eyes, it was much nicer with warmer colors, a variety of textures, and a more residential ambiance.

Next, the Majestic Hotel, one of Barcelona's two most notable historic hotels (the other being El Palace, formerly the Ritz). Owned by the same family since 1918, the Majestic has a sense of history and local flavor. Though rooms are on the small side, the close-to-square dimensions of the bedrooms make a difference, making the room feel more like home. Walls are covered with padded silk with a vertical striped pattern. Bathrooms are small but provide everything you would expect. Step-in showers are available in most rooms and suites, so be sure to request one if you prefer this over a tub. Not to be missed is the Majestic's Sunday Buffet which attracts lots of locals, so be sure to make your reservation in advance. The 57€ meal features unlimited pours of Moet & Chandon champagne and an elaborate buffet of local tapas, entrees, and desserts — really quite a good value. You could make a meal of champagne and oysters!

Something so new it hasn't yet opened, the Almanac Barcelona will be the first hotel opened by a brand new boutique luxury hotel company. Like the MO and the Majestic, the Almanac has a great location right in the center of things. Pictured to the left is a model Gallery Suite (with view towards the central courtyard). The hotel hopes to join Virtuoso and plans to offer rates inclusive of breakfast, minibar, and WiFi. Opening is scheduled for August but — to be on the safe side — reservations are being accepted beginning in October, 2017.

copyright  (c)  2017 by Ourisman Travel LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

looking forward to Barcelona and Mallorca

map of southeastern Spain with the location of Mallorca circled

A very popular European holiday destination, a group of Brownell travel advisors is heading to Mallorca in just a week. Our purpose is to learn about Mallorca (sometimes spelled Majorca), its resorts, and what there is to do and see. Oh — and also to have a good time, but that goes without saying! I'm blessed with some of the best colleagues in the travel industry.

My trip begins with a return to Barcelona. I previously visited in 2009 and posted a couple of blog articles. One article, does architecture shape culture?, contrasted the authoritarian church architecture found in most of Spain with the freewheeling, art deco architecture of Gaudi's Sagrada Família. The other article discussed two local restaurants in Barcelona. Mas Bacus is an enoteca (wine store), located at Carrer d'Enric Granados 68, a 15 minute walk from the Mandarin Oriental. Open from 12 noon until 10 p.m., it's closed Sunday and Monday nights, so I'll probably have Saturday dinner here. I learned from the MO concierge that Can Ravell is permanently closed; he has recommended 2254, located at 335 Carrer Consell De Cent.

While in Barcelona, I'll be spending two nights at the Mandarin Oriental, doing a site inspection of the Majestic Hotel, and making a hard hat tour of a new hotel still under construction, the Almanac Barcelona. I also plan to join the El Borne & Gothic Street Art Tour.

Then, six nights on Mallorca, split between the St. Regis Mardavall and Belmond La Residencia. Our itinerary includes excursions to:

Palma — Castle Bellver, Plaza Mayor, old Jewish Quarter, and the town's gothic cathedral
Finca Son Bordils — a winery visit including wine tastings and lunch
La Residencia — a walk on the resort's donkey trail with a picnic lunch in the olive groves
Deià — artists walk

We'll also be doing site inspections of the Park Hyatt, Castillo Son Vida, Hotel Castell Son Claret, and Hotel Gran Melia del Mar. Here is a google map of Ourisman Travel's preferred hotels in Mallorca. When you work through us, you'll receive the best amenity packages available through Virtuoso, Belmond Bellini Club, Starwood Luxury Privileges, and Travel Leaders Select.

copyright (c) 2017 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

top 10 iconic images in Europe

The Matterhorn, Zermatt, Switzerland

What are the top ten sights in Europe? Abercrombie & Kent Europe recently published five different Ten Ten Europe lists that I will share with you in the next few issues of Travel Horizons. First, here's A&K's opinion of Europe's Top Ten Iconic Images. I've offered some reflections about each destination ... and suggestions on where upscale visitors will want to stay.

1. Eiffel Tower, Paris. This surely is the iconic image of Paris that I first saw when visiting Europe during the year after my high school graduation. Runners up in Paris: Notre Dame and the Louvre. Where to stay in Paris? Four Seasons George V is one of the best hotels in the world, close to the Eiffel Tower, and Le Meurice has a very Parisian feel with a great location to walk to Paris's other major attractions.

2. Colosseum, Rome. Nothing says Rome like the Colosseum and the nearby Forum, and don't miss the Vatican Museum. Ticket lines can be crowded, but you can purchase tickets in advance. Where to stay in Rome? Rocco Forte Hotel de Russie gets the highest accolades, and the Hassler resides at the top of the Spanish Steps.

3. Tower Bridge, London. Much to the chagrin of the investors who bought London Bridge and moved it to Arizona, Tower Bridge is the real thing, and while you're there, don't miss the Crown Jewels. I was also moved by Westminster Cathedral. London's best show (other than the occasional Royal Wedding) is the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace. The Dorchester is London's classic hotel, and Four Seasons Park Lane has become an instant new classic after its thorough renovation.

4. Acropolis, Athens. I've never been to Athens, or even Greece, but the Parthenon is the ultimate example of ancient Doric architecture. I also want to visit the Greek islands some day. The best hotels in Athens are the Grande Bretagne and the King George Palace.

5. Kremlin, Moscow. Another place I've never been. Also see St. Basil Cathedral and visit the Tretyakov Gallery and Pushkin Museum. Stay at the recently opened Ritz-Carlton Moscow, right on the edge of Red Square - and we're all awaiting news about the opening of the Four Seasons Moscow.

6. Duomo, Florence. You need to read about the Duomo before you visit it, or you'll miss the significance of what you're seeing. It is the largest brick dome ever constructed - and, amazingly, it was built without the use of scaffolding. You can climb to the top of the dome using the same steps that the builders used to carry their materials up and down. Most of my clients stay at the incredible Four Seasons Florence. I'll be visiting Florence in October, staying at Il Salviatino, and will post my site inspections here. 

7. Sagrada Familia, Barcelona. Barcelona came at the conclusion of my trip to Spain in 2009, and the contrast of Gaudi's architecture to that of the older, traditional Catholic churches in Spain could not be more dramatic. Read my full thoughts here. Also get a tour of Gaudi's apartments and Park Gaudi - and don't miss the Dali Museum an hour north in Figueres. If you want to stay in the center of things, choose the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona - or the Hotel Arts to vacation by the beach (the Club Floor is definitely the way to go here).

8. Charles Bridge, Prague. Prague is a magical city, especially when it's lit up at night. It escaped bombing during World War II and its old world charm has been preserved. Another iconic sight: the Prague Castle lit up at night. You can get a straight-on view from the Four Seasons Prague, or stay at the Mandarin Oriental Prague, a monastery converted into a five star hotel.

9. Matterhorn, Zermatt. If the picture above seems faded, that's because I took it in 1969, 43 years ago. I didn't stay in a five star hotel in Zermatt. Arriving the night before, I had no idea where I was. I slept in a field that night ... and when the sun woke me the next morning, there was the Matterhorn in a cloudless sky — a sight I will never forget! So if you're 18, that's my suggestion of where to spend the night in Zermatt.

10. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh. Scotland is still on my bucket list. Go to Scotland for the castles, the rugged seascapes, and to celebrate the birthplace of golf at St. Andrews. While in Edinburgh, I recommend you stay at Rocco Forte The Balmoral.

How many of these iconic images have you seen? Where do you want to go next? When you've decided, email your Virtuoso travel consultant or Four Seasons Preferred Partner to receive complimentary amenities at every hotel mentioned in this article, including free daily breakfast for two, room upgrades when available, and extra amenities that add value to your stay.

Top Ten Europe (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2012 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

10 days in Spain? an itinerary

So you're going to Spain? Here's a 10 day itinerary for Spain. Designed by an outstanding destination management company based in Madrid, you are welcome to use this itinerary as the basis of your own vacation. Or, for a totally customized tour put together for you with transfers, hotels, trains, guided sightseeing — even restaurant recommendations — drop me an email...

Day one — Madrid. Take a walking tour of the Old Quarter, including the Plaza Mayor. Visit the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum.

Day two — excursion to Toledo. Visit the Cathedral. See El Greco's famous painting The Burial of Count Orgaz at the Church of Santo Tomé. Visit the Synagogues of El Transito or Santa Maria La Blanca.

Day three — Segovia and Escorial.

On this day trip, visit the Royal Palace in Escorial, housing the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, the Basilica, the Royal Pantheon, an elaborate Library, and the Habsburg apartments.

Walk through the old walled city of Segovia. See the cathedral, the 14th century Alcazar (palace), and the Roman aqueduct (pictured above).

Day four — high speed train to Seville.

Rest of day at leisure to wander through this beautiful town. The fountain in the central square is beautiful when lit up at night; see the picture at the top of this article.

Day five — walking tour of Seville. Visit Seville's cathedral (third largest in Europe containing the disputed tomb of Christopher Columbus), the Reales Alcázares (Royal Palace), and the Santa Cruz district.

Day six — visit Cordoba en route to Granada. See the Mosque-turned-Cathedral and the Jewish Quarter with its tiny synagogue.

Day seven — Granada. Visit the Alhambra, an UNESCO World Heritage site and Spain's biggest attraction (pictured at left). This hilltop fortress and palace is a remarkable monument to Moorish art in Spain. In the afternoon, visit the tomb of Isabel and Ferdinand.

Day eight — fly to Barcelona. Visit the Boqueria Market, Las Ramblas, Gothic Quarter, and Picasso Museum.

Day nine — the architectural highlights of Barcelona. Visit the Church of the Sagrada Familia by Gaudí, his Park Güell, and the Pedrera, an apartment building he designed. In the afternoon, tour the Palau de la Musica Cantalana.

Day ten — excursion to Gerona and Figueras. Walking tour of the medieval city of Gerona including the Cathedral and the Jewish quarter. Continue to Figueras and visit the Dalí Theater Museum and the jewelry exhibition in the annex next door.

Day eleven — fly home.

10 day itinerary for Spain (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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Dali museum | Figueres, Spain

An hour north of Barcelona is the village of Figueres, Spain. We spent an afternoon there during our trip to Spain (after spending the morning in Gerona). Pictured above is the home of surrealist artist Salvador Dalí, right next door to the Dalí Theatre-Museum.

Built in the former Figueres Theatre, the town asked Dalí to design a museum commemorating his own work. The museum itself has been described as "the world's largest surrealistic object," and indeed it is. You can easily spend two hours in this museum - and be sure to visit the jewelry exhibit next door; a separate ticket is included in the price of admission.

Even if you are not a fan of Dalí or of the surrealist movement, the Dali Museum is worth a visit. I was impressed by his technical skill as well as by the sheer creativity of the artist. Pictured in the inset is a room size piece incorporating several different objects. Only when you climb some stairs and look through the lens at the assemblage of objects can you fully appreciate the artist's subject, actress Mae West.

For a whimsical and fun morning or afternoon, the Dali Museum is a wonderful diversion!


Dali Museum (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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two local restaurants in Barcelona

When visiting a new destination, I look for smaller, lesser-known restaurants that cater to the local population. "Tourist restaurants" are likely to be higher priced with ordinary food. I always ask for recommendations for dinner spots that only the locals know about, restaurants that stay in business because they serve good, authentic food at reasonable prices.

Sometimes a hotel concierge can provide you with this information, sometimes not. In this case, I give the credit to a concierge at Hotel Arts in Barcelona who made two outstanding suggestions.

Can Ravell is an upscale grocery store with a single table at the very back seating eight. They serve good tapas and authentic Catalan cuisine. Not at all fancy, it's all about the food. We shared a salad to start, then each went for the roast kid (goat), not a menu item likely to be found back home in California. The meat was tender, and the skin was crisp and tasty — a great and reasonably priced meal. There's even a NY Times review of Can Ravell here, or check out the restaurant's website. Located at Aragó 313 in Barcelona.

Mas Bacus is an enoteca (wine store and specialty grocer) with a small restaurant at the back. Very small, just a few tables, you'll be warmly greeted by the owner. The chef (his wife) will come to your table and go through her entire menu. She speaks both fluent English and French and serves authentic food with a gourmet touch. Mas Bacus offers the friendliest dining experience you're likely to have anywhere. Check out their website here. The restaurant is located at Enric Granados 68.

These are two great local restaurants in Barcelona that I highly recommend. You won't be disappointed!

local restaurants in Barcelona (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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all-inclusive vacation in Europe | $3,598 for two

What if $3,598 got you an all-inclusive vacation in Europe including round-trip airfare, 10 nights accommodations, fine dining, and transportation from city to city?

What if your journeys took you to Barcelona, Marseilles, Monte Carlo, Florence, Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Malta, Santorini, and Athens?

What if you were sailing on a premium cruise line, Oceania Cruises? With a maximum 684 guests onboard any cruise, Oceania offers an intimacy and relaxed ambiance not found on 3,000 passenger megaships. Oceania's menus are crafted by chef and author Jacques Pépin, and open-seating is offered in all of their ships' restaurants.

This is just one of over 40 bargain fares for Oceania sailings. Interested in exploring the possibilities? Contact my cruise associate to book this offer - or to learn about the many luxury cruise vacations available to you.

all-inclusive vacation in Europe (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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travel bargains in Europe?

While the sad state of the U.S. dollar makes travel to Europe more expensive than it normally might be, there are bargains out there. Here's a deal that came across my desk the other day.

Spend twelve days on the Mediterranean, including round-trip air from the east coast. Your room, meals onboard, and entertainment are all included at a rate starting at only $2,199 per person. That's in U.S. Dollars. Yes, it's a cruise, but, no, it's not on Carnival or some other "budget" cruise line. This price is for an inside cabin on Holland America (while availability lasts); outside cabins with verandah begin at $2,899. Taxes and port fees are additional, and of course you're on your own when you visit Barcelona, Florence, Rome, Dubrovnik, Venice, and the many other stops on your trip.

Looking for an affordable way to visit Europe this Summer? This Mediterranean cruise might just be your ticket!


copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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