Author Profile: Kate Shoaf

You’ll fall in love with this ancient city as you explore the beautiful streets of Albaicín, taste traditional piononos at a local café, shop in the Alcaicería (great bazaar), and soak up Granada’s rich...   view more

Did you know Sanlúcar was the departure point of Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan and several Spanish conquistadores? This little town is full of interesting history, great food and some beautiful...   view more

Sanlúcar comes to life at night during the summer months and if you’re in town there’s a few stops you should make during your night out! Cocktails usually cost around 5 – 7 euros and beer (Spanish beer brands like Cruzcampo or Estrella de Galicia) go for 1 – 2 euros a...   view more

As a coastal town Sanlúcar is the epitome of what the Mediterranean diet should be; light dishes, lots of olive oil, local veggies, low in red meat, homemade breads, and let’s not forget fresh...   view more

As Spain begins to open its doors to tourists once again, some of my favorite restaurants in Sanlúcar de Barrameda are opening their doors too! Most people have heard about the classics like Casa Bigote, Barbiana and Casa Balbino…but Sanlúcar’s gastronomic scene offers a plethora of delicious destinations. Below you’ll find 10 restaurants (in no particular order) I recommend trying next time you’re in town. Don’t forget to make a reservation at these establishments if you’re...   view more

Once you’re in the center (near Barrio Santa Cruz), all of the main attractions are within walking distance – I would recommend visiting the Plaza de España in the morning and save the Cathedral and Alcázar for the hottest parts of the...   view more

I’ve just returned from a weekend trip to Zaragoza, Spain. The city was even more beautiful than I imagined and much hotter than I’d hoped (if you plan to go to Zaragoza try avoid the middle of summer…it’s worse than Seville’s...   view more

Winter and Spring are my favorite times to be in Seville! In winter is there are less tourists which means no waiting in line to see attractions like the Cathedral, Alcazar Palace, Seta, Plaza de España,...   view more

After our exciting Arctic Adventure in Tromsø, we headed to Oslo for two days. December turned out to be a good time to visit! We had the opportunity to see annual events like Christmas markets and performances at the Oslo Opera House which only take place this time of...   view more

We escape to Seville every chance we get. Not only for the great shopping, gorgeous scenery, fun bars and inspiring attractions…it’s also home to some of our favorite restaurants in...   view more

Hanoi is an enormous, dirty, and vibrant city. It is the epitome of organized chaos and it was the perfect introduction to Vietnam. The sheer quantity of scooters in Vietnam’s capital will blow your...   view more

Milan ended up being the perfect place for our second annual meetup and if you’re a fan of food and shopping this city is not to be...   view more

My family visits us in Spain every year during Christmas. They’re quite familiar with Sanlúcar (our home), so this year we decided to plan a mini getaway to someplace new. Last year I chose Galicia (a bad idea in winter, especially with sick kids) so this time I opted for a sunny and warm destination. Javi and I had never been to Valencia and there seemed to be a lot of attractions the kids would...   view more

If you find yourself in Sanlúcar de Barrameda during November or December, I highly recommend making a few stops along the unofficial Ruta de Mosto (Mosto Route). You’ll find cheap wine, great food, and plenty of flamenco...   view more

Three words come to mind when describing Sanlúcar de Barrameda: bueno, bonito y barato—good, beautiful and cheap! I moved to Sanlúcar over 10 years ago, and this post contains my go-to list of free activities for when family and friends come to...   view more

It’s easy to see why Dubrovnik is known as The Pearl of the Adriatic. You’ll fall in love with the city as soon as you walk through the gates of Old Town! Below you’ll find some of my favorite activities from our trip this April. Make sure to check out my previous post “The best time of year to visit Dubrovnik” for tips on when to go, what to pack, and other useful info for those staying outside of the city...   view more