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.

textures of the Alhambra

Golden Arches at the Alhambra (c) 2017 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Travel photos bring back treasured memories. I was just perusing my photographs from a 2009 trip to Spain, and they brought to mind one of that country's true treasures, the Alhambra. We enjoyed the services of a superb private guide, and I most remember how much his stories added to the experience.

One of the highlights of the Alhambra is the Tower of Comares, containing the Throne Room. Just like ambassadors seeking an audience once did, we entered the Tower after passing along this pool. This picture shows the dazzling reflection of the tower in the brilliant sun, but what it really can't convey is how intensely bright the light really is.

reflections at the Alhambra (c) 2017 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Because our eyes adjust to the intense sunlight, anyone who enters the throne room is overwhelmed by its relative darkness — but not so the King, already on his throne, his eyes acclimated to the darkness. This clever architectural design put the King at a distinct advantage over his visitors who are effectively blinded in his presence.

Granada belongs on everyone's bucket list. Team Ourisman, in conjunction with our travel partners in Spain, can help you Discover More™!

will Americans need visas to visit Europe?

Have you seen this headline? Is it anything to worry about?

EU Parliament Urges Visas for US Citizens Visiting Europe

The backstory. There is an ongoing dispute between the European Union (EU) and the United States over the requirement that citizens of Bulgaria, Croatia, Poland, Romania, and Cypress obtain visas before visiting the United States. US citizens have the right to visit any EU country without obtaining visas, and the EU is understandably concerned over the lack of reciprocity.

So the EU Parliament made a symbolic gesture to make its point. A simple "show of hands" was taken on a motion to urge the EU develop a new regulation requiring Americans to obtain visas before visiting any EU nation.

The facts of the matter. No such regulation has been formally proposed. Once approved, it would have to be approved by the European Union countries, a process that could take years. And it is not in the interests of countries like Italy, France, or Spain to take such a step, as Europe receives much economic benefit from American tourism.

My guess is that there's nothing to worry about. Of course, I would also have guessed that Britain would have voted "no" on Brexit and that the US would have elected Hillary Clinton ... but the smart money says that this is only a negotiating ploy.

Bottom line: this is a great time to visit Europe as the exchange rate is highly favorable. 100€ = $105.45. I remember when it was 140 dollars to the euro.

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.

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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se habla español

Something to be aware of when visiting Spain ... unlike most of the countries I have visited, a large percentage of the population here does not speak any English. I have encountered this repeatedly with waiters at restaurants and with housekeeping staff in hotels.

Example... we ate at a restaurant whose "menu of the day" included a choice of meat or fish. "What kind of meat? What kind of fish?" I tried to ask.

The waiter was uncomprehending (although I thought the gist of my question should have been pretty obvious to a professional waiter, given the context of our conversation).

Tip: brush up on your Spanish and/or bring a phrase book along with you when you visit Spain.


visiting 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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Portugal and Spain | an October trip

I have never been to Spain or Portugal, and I am very much looking forward to my upcoming trip this October. An official francophile, I've been countless times to France, even to the Basque region in the southwest of the country, just a skip over the Pyrenees to Spain, but this is my chance to visit the Iberian Peninsula.

I'll be posting trip reports, complete with photographs, on Travel Horizons, so if you haven't subscribed, just click here for an RSS feed or click here to be notified by email when a new posting has been made. I'll keep you posted on my discoveries in Portugal and Spain.

I used a Virtuoso on-site in Spain, Valesa Cultural Services, to put together my trip. If you've never experienced the pleasure of a completely planned trip, you're missing one of the true pleasures of life. It is sheer luxury to just relax and enjoy your vacation - knowing that local experts will take care of all the details. Small example: when you're catching a flight the next morning, your guide will simply tell you what time you'll be picked up in the lobby of the hotel; you don't need to figure it out for yourself... It's a small thing, but it's just a taste of the difference an on-site can make.


Portugal and 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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guaranteed US Dollar rates in Europe

Upscale travelers look forward to staying in five star hotels with beautifully landscaped lawns, ornate lobbies, exquisitely furnished guestrooms, and incomparable service. They also expect to pay a small fortune to enjoy such luxury, especially with the sad state of the weak US Dollar.

So this offer is quite a value. Spend five nights at two or more of five Orient-Express hotels, and enjoy a flat rate of only $480 per night with daily buffet breakfast for two included. This rate is guaranteed in US Dollars (and is equivalent to about 322€).

1. Reid's Palace, Madeira (pictured above) is high on my wish list of places to stay. The island of Madeira is in the Atlantic Ocean, some 535 miles from Lisbon. It was discovered by Portuguese sailors in the early 15th century and, with a pleasant year-round climate, is a popular tourist destination for European travelers. Reid's Palace is a beautiful and gracious resort located on 10 acres of botanical gardens on a cliff top overlooking the waters of the Atlantic.

2. The Hotel Ritz, Madrid is one of the grand old hotels of Europe. It is located right across the street from the Prado Museum, one of the must-see attractions of Madrid. Convenient to museums, galleries, and shopping, and offering an elegant Afternoon Tea service, the Ritz is a storied and elegant hotel in the heart of Madrid.

3. Hôtel de la Cité, Carcassonne. Find yourself in a fairytale... reads the headline on the hotel's brochure. Carcassonne is an ancient walled village set in the wine country of Southwest France. Part of a medieval citadel, the Hôtel de la Cité has magnificent gardens on property and offers you the opportunity to make your home for a few days in this part of French history.

4. La Residencia, Mallorca is located on an idyllic island in the Mediterranean Sea. With hot summers and mild winters, La Residencia is a luxury hotel and spa on the northwest coast of the island, set in the midst of a grove of olive and citrus trees. The hotel was created from two 16th and 17th century manor houses and offers spectacular views of the sea.

5. Lapa Palace, Lisbon is set on a hilltop with beautiful gardens in the center of Lisbon, overlooking the river and the city itself. Originally built as a private residence, Lapa Palace offers an oasis in the midst of a busy city.

I would especially recommend this package to travelers planning to visit Spain + Portugal, or Portugal + Madeira this year. Conditions apply, but this is an incomparable value at several of the world's finest five star hotels.

five star hotels (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2008 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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