El Templo del Flamenco

Flamenco dance has been a part of Spanish history for hundreds of years and I'm so happy that I got to experience a show by El Templo del Flamenco while I was visiting Granada. It was a short hike up to the cave and when we got there we took a second to look back. With stunning views over the city of Granada, we were in a neighborhood where white cottages lined the hillside. We found the doorway to El Templo del Flamenco, mentioned my name for the reservation and was led to our table right at the front of the stage. The walls were adorned with Spanish decor and were lit with hues of pink and purple. It was magical walking into this setting and the music sounded even better being in a cave.

We arrived a half an hour early to enjoy a special tasting menu before the show. We first ordered glasses of red wine and clinked our glasses to start a great night. The starter was fried eggplants with black honey and sugar cane sauce, a sweet and delicious way to eat your vegetables. Next, we had a salad with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, walnuts, raisins, goat cheese and fried onion. Sweet honey dressing completed the salad.  Then, we had a plate of diced pork loin with mushrooms and a hearty sauce. Another traditional dish came after that, sliced jamon with egg and patatas. Before the show started, we ordered a round of refreshing cervezas to drink while watching and then we finished our meal with homemade flan for dessert. We were stuffed and I highly recommend eating dinner here. That was my first time eating a meal in a cave, definitely a bucket list item!

There were six performers and they were all very integral to the show. Each one showed an intense amount of passion whether it was through singing, dancing or playing the guitar. I was truly at the edge of my seat looking up in awe as they stamped their feet and clapped their hands. Each move was powerful and beautiful. The dresses were vibrant and flowed when they twirled. An hour and a half flew by and the show was finished, it was a perfect way to spend a night in the Albaicin area. 

Thank you El Templo del Flamenco // Granada, Spain

Granada Tapas Tour

Food tours are my favorite way to explore a city, and in Granada, tapas tours are essential for your Spain palate.  In Granada, when you order a round of drinks for your table, it's customary to also get a complimentary tapa. There are hundreds of bars just in Granada, so when we first arrived, it was quite difficult trying to choose which was the best to visit. 

We decided to book a private tour with Granada Tapas Tours. We met Gayle, our amazing tour guide, in the heart of the city. She was so welcoming and very excited to meet us! Three hours flew by as we ate, drank, laughed and stopped at four tapas bars, we were completely stuffed! Here are all the places we visited on our tour.

Stop 1 // Más Que Vinos

This bar was full of people enjoying an early lunch! At his taberna, Gayle explained the different types of beer that would be found in most bars. After hearing about the history of them and how they were made, she let us choose a bottle for us to drink! We popped open a  Socrarrada and La Roja, a refreshing first drink! While we sipped our beer, she also showed us three Spanish wines and told us what regions they came from. Next, we got to try a spinach, cream and sultana montadito. A creamy spread of golden raisins and spinach on top of a slice of toasted bread, it was delicious! Our second dish was pork meatballs in almond and olive oil sauce. They provided more bread to dip into the sauce as well.

Stop 2 // SECRET (the owner told us to not mention) 

This bar is a well-kept secret that the owner asked us to not name the bar on my blog. If you do end up stopping at this place on your tapas tour, you'll love it! Here we got to try Sunday made chicken arroz, a comforting rice dish, and snails in gravy sauce. I was hesitant to eat the snail, but Gayle assured me that all I would taste was the gravy. We poured a glass of vermouth and a Rueda white wine to wash it down. The snail wasn't bad at all, I'm glad ended up trying it, cheers to being adventurous! 

Stop 3 // Taberna Granados

Our next stop was this charming little tapas bar with a rich history and full of authenticity. At this bar, we sampled three different beverages. First was the Fino sherry, a dry pale white sherry wine. Then we compared it to the Pedro Ximenez sherry (my fave, a darker sherry that taste like sweet raisins. Next, we tried a Mejorana Wine which sat right in the middle of the two previous drinks. It was a perfect pairing for our tripe dish. 

Stop 4 // DPlatos

Our last stop was a more modern tapas bar, inside was a clean black bar top, white walls, and green foliage. To finish up our tour we drank Muñana red wine and a 1925 Alhambra beer while Gayle ordered her favorite tapas for us to try. Our first taste was a guacamole and sardine toast, just like home but with a Spanish twist! Next was a small cup of salmorejo which is cold, tomato soup. This thick soup was super tasty. Then, we tasted a pinchito moruno, a Moroccan spiced meat on a stick. For a tiny bite, we had potatoes, octopus, and quails egg stacked on a slice of bread. Our final dish of the lunch was a creamy mushroom risotto served in a small pot.

All the tapas and beverages were absolutely delicious, but the best part of the tour was Gayle. It truly felt like we were out for lunch with an old friend. She's an amazing storyteller, super knowledgeable about what Granada has to offer, and of course, she has GREAT taste. She customizes each tour according to our likes and preferences, so each tour is unique and always a treat. Without the tour, we probably would not have visited these places listed above, but I'm glad we got to stop by and discover a unique part of Spanish cuisine. Thank you Granada Tapas Tours!

Gran Hotel Sóller, Mallorca

I looked out the airplane window as we were making our descent into Palma and I saw turquoise shores and mountains. We landed and found the bus that would take us to Sóller, a small town on Mallorca. Once we got to our stop we navigated to the Gran Hotel Sóller and realized there was directional signage posted everywhere just for the hotel. It was a short walk and we arrived at the front entrance. Nice cars lined the driveway, palm trees grew along the hotel building and to the left was a 1930's Bugatti T55 Super Sport Roadster parked by the doors. No wonder this place has five stars, everything about the arrival felt luxurious. Sóller is a quiet, traditional Spanish town, a gem not overrun by tourists.

THE ROOM

We checked in and were given a key to our hotel room on the 4th floor. Our room had a king bed, an all-marble bathroom, and a balcony that overlooked a river and the Tramuntana mountains. I took a moment to just soak in my surroundings, the sounds of the river, birds chirping, and the train just a few blocks away. We left the balcony doors open while we settled in the room.

THE POOL & SPA

Once we were all unpacked, we put on our swimsuits and went up to the rooftop pool. We thought it would be best to slow down before exploring the port the next day. There were only a few people relaxing by the pool and there were many lounge chairs open. From the rooftop you had a view of Iglesia de Sant Batomeu, everything just felt so serene. After a dip in the pool, we moved over to the large, white daybeds with a mountain view. Next, we went down to the spa which had an indoor pool, steam room, and sauna. 

BREAKFAST

Our reservation came with daily breakfast, so we took advantage of that before going to the beach. It was the perfect way to start the day, the breakfast buffet had everything for a complete and hearty meal. The server greeted us, offered some coffee, and gave an additional menu that listed custom omelets and other hot foods. The buffet had delicious bread and pastries, various cured meats, colorful fruits and a build your own yogurt bowl. It wouldn't be a vacation without mimosas, they had orange juice and champagne available to make your own breakfast drink!

THING TO DO IN SÓLLER

Aside from relaxing at the Gran Hotel Sóller, we had some time to explore the city and venture out to the port as well. There is a main square just a few minutes away where Iglesia de Sant Batomeu and restaurants with outdoor seating reside. We ate our dinners here and drank our sangrias every night. We also took a tram to Port de Sóller which cost about 7 euros each way. We walked along the beach, ate lunch by the ocean and enjoyed all the naranja specialties like an orange mojito and a Copa de Sóller (orange gelato). There are many hiking trails on the island as well.

We had a lovely stay at the Gran Hotel Sóller and it was just what we needed after visiting Barcelona. The change in pace and scenery allowed us to reset and immerse ourselves in Spain and I couldn't have asked for a better visit.