9 Cool Things to Do in the Province of Girona

One of the most beautiful regions of Spain, Girona is full of stories to tell. From the Pyrenees mountains to the incredible blue of the mediterranean coast and sky, this region will make you feel loved. Medieval towns, great food, amazing scenery, wonderful culture with traditions and so much more to explore, every twist and turn brings pure delight. 

Here are our 9 Cool Things to Do in Girona Province:

1) Stay in Moli de Mig Hotel, a rural modern beautiful property located in Torroella de Montgri , offering comfort and great service in a relaxed, trendy ambience. An old water mill converted into a hotel of 23 rooms, with garden suites and now a new extension of 8 brand new suites. The casual restaurant offers a fabulous a la carte option, for lunch an open air Bar-B-Q is waiting for you in the sage of the beautiful Morera Trees. 

2) Looking for a fishing village full of character?. Visit Port de la Selva, a traditional fishing village located in the Cap de Creus, north of Costa Brava, only about 20 kms from France. This beautiful town of little white houses offers a traditional holiday experience with charming surroundings.  A small bay, which forms a natural harbour, the town is sheltered by the surrounding mountains, making for a less harsh climate during the winter months. The town has a good network of shops, bars and restaurants, all within walking distance. Friday is market day so if you can plan your visit on this day, you will really enjoy it.  Try Ca La Paquita, a well located casual and traditional ocean view restaurant with some of the best fish dishes in all the area. Daily fresh products are used to prepare the most beautiful dishes with local fish. 

The beaches are beautiful, some of them specially popular for windsurfers offer the perfect white sand blue sea experience. Visit Cala Tamariu, our favorite secret corner to feel the paradise on your feet.  On walking distance you can explore some other small calas located along the coast to the Golf The Roses. 

3) Visit the medieval village of Pals, only few kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea. This beautiful village was built around a lovely old quarter, declared a Historic Artistic Site. In the Gothic quarter of Pals, pretty cobbled streets full of majestic houses await you. the village  is famous for the unique Rice cultivated in the surrounding areas. 

To taste one of the best rice dishes you will ever try, please visit El Pedro, located in a  beautiful  medieval building with internal terraces and corridors. El Pedro offers the best Mediterranean and homemade cuisine of Pals, utilizing the best rice from the local fields. This is a true family establishment with the Mother in the kitchen and three sons in front of house, the boys were born in the actual building that houses this fabulous restaurant, really not to be missed.

4) Visit the beautiful Coast town of Begur, a colourful and exuberant town, with narrow streets of Moorish and Spanish architecture topped with the ruins of a medieval castle that has views along miles of coastline. The town is a combination of most stunning neoclassical mansions,  fishermen's huts, art deco constructions and some  other new more modern buildings. The  coastline of Begur is full of charming Calas (small beaches) such as Sa Tuna and Sa Aiguafreda, offering great eating options, some more casual than others.  In Cala Aiguafreda try Vermut a really casual tapas bar with great food and drinks, for a more fine dining experience try Sa Rascassa, where the menu ranges from a deliciously fresh lobster to modern takes on traditional Catalunian dishes. Seafood is the speciality. 

Also a scenic 10 min walk around the coast to the call of SaTuna and you will find  more options for great culinary experiences, Try Hostal Sa Tuna, a fresh casual option full of passionate cooking and fresh local products. Also offering wonderful rooms, minimalistic and extremely tastefully done.  

5) Visit the Dali Museum in Figueres, the birthplace of Salvador Dali, and home to the globally renowned Dalí's Theatre-Museum.  Dali's art can be seen all around Girona, the main points are the villa of Port Lligat and the town of Cadaques in  the North of the province. The best way to understand the ideas behind Dali's creations is to visit the museum and then take a  drive around the region exploring the natural monuments that inspired this incredible Spanish artist. 

6) For a day of beach and enchanting nature, visit Cala Montgo, a sandy cove located in the beautiful forest's of L'Escala coast. The beach is only 200m long, calm and surrounded by beautiful views. 4 great restaurants to enjoy, but our favorite is Restaurant Oreig, the perfect place for a late lunch after a great beach day. Speciality in fish dishes and traditional cuisine, a must in this magical paradise. 

7) Despite the touristic side of Peratallada, we recommend you to visit this gorgeous village, a true gem of the region. Beautiful narrow streets, heavy stone arches and amazing old houses make this a romantic place to walk. You can find products from all the entire province here on sale. Colorful restaurants and bars with great Tapa's menu, Catalonian food and local products will ensure that you enjoy a memorable night out, and bring you back again.

8) Visit Gore de Ter road that ends in a beach for dogs, located just outside of Torroella de Montgri, this long sandy animal friendly beach, is perfect for travellers with pets, peaceful, tranquil and with so much space, you can relax and know that your pet's will be having a blast, even the non water loving ones will be enticed into the peaceful lapping sounds of the Med.

9) For a fun time with friends, try Par 3 Pitch and Put for fun, also located just outside of Torroella de Montgri, this is a fabulous small yet challenging 18 hole par 3 golf course, with full range and putting practice facilities, you can hire clubs there, enjoy the restaurant or the chilled comfort of the 19th hole, inexpensive and a must for travelling golf lovers, the challenge is to play only once.

Prepare your next travel escape around this area, you will love it.. 

Created by Huellas de Luz Blog / D.Oballos 

15 Cool Things to Do in Palma de Mallorca

There is a reason that Palma de Mallorca has recently been voted (again) as the best European destination for a weekend break, Mallorca is a beautiful Island and it's Capital, definitely leads by example.

Situated on the bay of Palma, with the resplendent Bellver Castle at one end, moving along the stunning Paseo Maritimo, home to so many multi millionaire super yachts, passing the magnificent Cathedral and finishing at Can Pastilla (the first family holiday destination on the Island). Palma de Mallorca is often compared to a smaller Barcelona, and its very easy to see why.

With such a huge variety of options, you will be in for a very busy and fun filled time, so here are our recommendations to help you. 

1. Passeig des Born, Jäime III:  Offering the perfect shopping experience, Passeig des Born, is lined with magnificent old trees creating some welcome shade, and wonderful coffee bars, also the worlds leading retail shops and brands are all here, Jäime III continues from the Born, and again both sides of this beautiful old street offers pure retail heaven, and the chance to dive into the many small alleyways to discover some incredible wine and Tapas bars. 

2. Visit Santa Catalina district,  one of the upcoming trendy areas of Palma and walking around you will enjoy the casual vibe, the centre is the magnificent food market, surrounded by small restaurants and cafes, all sourcing their fresh daily produce from the market, offering you the chance to try a "menu del dia" (food of the day) you can have a 3 course meal, with wine and water ranging from €12-€24, Mona Lisa very close to the market is huge favourite with locals, in the evening the restaurants all dress up, and become very sophisticated with delightful local food offerings and some wonderful "menu del noche" options, a great area to walk around and enjoy. 

3. For a great Lunch in the area, try Patron Lunares, an historical and very famous local restaurant beautifully decorated with fisherman items offers great food, amazing ambience and the local experience of Santa Catalina that you can't miss.

4. Cappuccino Grand Cafe in Calle San Miguel:  For a coffee with a difference this is the place, situated in a wonderful narrow pedestrian street,(off Plaza Espana) located in an old Palace, Cappuchino's has long been a locals meeting place, the building is wonderful, with a lovely small garden to sit in, the coffee is great, the food offerings will tempt anybody to stay from coffee to lunch, this is really a place to stop and plan some more of your day. 

5. Back in Palma centre, visit Parliament Restaurant.   This incredible old building will give you the chance to eat with the local politicians, movers and shakers of the Capital, they are famous for Black Paella, this comes from squid ink and unusually, Paella can be ordered individually here, so you can try Black or Blind paella's. The atmosphere is always lively and busy, its worth waiting for a table if you need to.

6. Bullring Coliseu: We don't recommend bullfighting, however this place hosts amazing concerts and is the home of the ATP Mallorca tennis open, which is a real experience in its self, people are conducting business meetings court side while, Almagro, Verdasco and even Rafa Nadal can be seen hammering tennis balls past them, the surrounding area is filled with fabulous tapas bars.

7. Palma Cathedral:  No visit to Palma is complete without walking around this magnificent place, dedicated to San Sebastian, the patron saint of Palma, enjoy the vistas, the architecture, take a coffee and soak in the atmosphere, its truly magnificent. You may be lucky enough to catch a concert on the lake, the locals say as long as you can see the reflection of the cathedral in the lake, the Island is safe from attack.

Evenings in Palma are very special with the warm wind blowing across the Med, the sounds, vibes and aroma's, creating an atmosphere that is truly unique, here are a few places worth trying.

8. Start with a cocktail in Abacanto , A real secret gem, not many people visit this wonderful old palace located on Poligono Son Castell which is an industrial estate! The surroundings are incredible, the cocktails are a tad expensive, but as you are on holiday, they are worth it, a very special place.

9. Hogans Irish Bar: Palma's oldest and most revered Irish bar, you simply have to go and indulge in a pint of the black stuff, live music good food and fantastic atmosphere, means you will always find new friends and experiences in Hogans.

10. Baisakhi (Indian Restaurant):  This is an Indian restaurant like no other, the menu is a tasting menu allowing you to experience an incredible range of tastes and flavours, located on Paseo Maritimo, (not too far from Hogans) from the moment you enter and petals are thrown on the floor in front of you to the minute you leave, this is an experience you will love, the food is fabulous.

11. Visit Simpy Fosh, For the more sophisticated palate, this is one of Palma's coolest locations, Marc Fosh is the Island's premier Chef, English and renowned for his imaginative use of local produce, for that special occasion Simpy Fosh will most definitely tick all of your box's.

12. For a unique experience, visit  Bar Abaco (not to be confused with Abacanto): This is one of Palma's magic places, located in the lively buzzy area of la Lonja (not too far from the cathedral) this trip takes you through some lovely little streets culminating at a large brown wooden door, once you step inside the magic really begins, the cocktails are fabulous, decor incredible and make a point of being here at midnight, you will find out why.

For accommodation Palma has it all, from 1* to 5*, from Unique to Boutique, budget to pushing the boat out its all here.

13. We recommend you to try Bronco Architect Hotel, located in the centre of Palma is a perfect option to explore and feel the heart of the city. The hotel have 26 rooms, with wonderful common areas and a unique Bohemian chic style. The Insider Restaurant is open all day, offering a great menu with local and mediterranean products. It also offers fabulous cocktails and great wines. Try the Gin Tonic, the speciality of the Bar. 

14. If you are looking for a more elegant and chilled out experience try Hotel Cort. A quiet and inspiring property of just 16 rooms and suites, designed with cool splashes of ultramarine colour, reminding you Palma is a City on the Med, the restaurant is a busy social spot for locals because of the terrace that opens onto Placa Cort. 

15. Other great option is Hotel Portixol, Located at the Cathedral end, located on the tiny fishing harbour of Portixol, this boutique hotel is seriously trendy, a local delight is lunch on the terrace, with a fabulous menu, evenings offer live music, warm air and a real holiday vibe, check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Palma de Mallorca, a truly magnificent city, no matter how many times you visit, there are always gems to be found.

Created by Huellas de Luz

Photography from each places websites

12 Cool Restaurants to Visit in Mexico City

The biggest city of the world is also known for the most amazing cuisine, the combination of regional and experimental cuisine is making a strong statement in Latin American gastronomy. With michelin star restaurants such as Pujol to small cafes like Taller 42, there are plenty of choices for everyone, but we want to give you 10 options that we believe will give you a taste of the huge culinary offer's that Mexico City has..

So, here is our list of 12 Cool Restaurants to Visit on your next visit to Mexico City: 

1) Guzina Oaxaca, combining the homemade flavor of Oaxaca's gastronomy with the experimental cuisine of Chef Alejandro Ruiz. Fresh and organic products are the base of his creation. Mezcal and traditional coffee are also a must to try. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with hand painted walls, original plants and wood elements, all combing to make a tasteful place to be. 

2) Lunch in the garden?  Azul Historico, a wonderful and tasteful garden in the heart of the city, offering tradicional Mexican food with a touch of elegance. Breakfast, lunch and dinner with a great variety from all regions of Mexico. The old building will transport you to the glamour of the classic Mexican style and the aromas around the garden will make you feel loved. 

3) Yuban, is experimenting with Zapoteca's Cuisine, an area very rich in flavors from the center of the country. Natural and organic ingredients make this restaurant a must to visit. The ambience is cozy and traditional and the aroma of such wonderful will make you eat more. In the Zapoteca cuisine, dishes are related to ceremonial acts and health rituals, so don't expect less than great food, combining fresh and unique flavors. 

4) The Bar Alipus Endemico offers a selection of Mezcal, a traditional type of drink similar to Tequila, produced with a more rustic process. This small bar offers some tapas, ceviches and a cozy ambience full of Mexican colors and local vibes. We are sure you are going to enjoy it.. 

5) Bar Tomate, a fresh and pleasant environment, inviting guests to stay and enjoy the place and its food, the menu comprises dishes from various restaurants from the Group in Spain, and the local staff provides the hospitality usually displayed by Mexicans. And all this in an environment where decoration also plays an important roll and allows for a unique experience in Mexico City.

6) Cafe Tacuba, one of the most emblematic and historical cafes in Mexico offers you an authentic Mexican experience full of cultural glamour and unique flavors. A daily choice for locals, Cafe Tacuba is a meeting place of politicians, artists and intellectuals looking for a good coffee and long conversation . The walls are decorated with beautiful paintings and the traditional ornaments from 1920's. You can enjoy fabulous breakfast, busy lunches and succulents dinners. Please try one of the specialities Beef tongue Viscaine style or with vinegar Viscaína, also the Tacuba tacos and the Pambacitos. 

7) A more elegant option is Rosetta, with a menu based around seasonal Mexican products, and a dining area that spreads through several rooms in an old mansion house in the city’s Roma district, this elegant restaurant offers a warmth ambience of hospitality that contributes to a life-affirming dining experience. The menu includes Italian influences (most obviously in its home-made pasta section), but is fundamentally Mexican at heart, with dishes such as sea snails with nasturtium leaves; quail, cereals, alfalfa and smoked milk, or a dessert of roasted figs, orange and hoja santa ice cream. If you are looking for a romantic dinner full of details and ambience, this is the place for you. The best of this restaurant is definitely the pastry so leave space to more. 

8) If you are looking for the real deal, Mercado del Carmen, an everyday modern market right at the heart of the San Angel district, is waiting for you. Beautify decorated with indoor and open air spaces that attracts big crowds because of the great variety of food and drinks offers. From Dim Sum to hamburgers to tacos or deli gourmet options, this food market have it all.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner, you will enjoy a gastronomic collective effort to put together great food for you. 

9) Restaurant Maximo Bistro, passionate for the local gastronomy, this restaurant offers a simple menu full of delicious fresh products from local markets, offering menu that changes according to the seasonality of the main ingredients. You can enjoy a Menu of the Day that will include all types of products, All the decor is locally produced, helping to create an great and fresh ambience in this beautiful restaurant. 

10) If you are looking for Fish options, De Mar A Mar restaurant is for you. The Menu is designed by rising star Chef Eduardo Garcia, who has included ceviches and Tostadas (baked or fried tortillas) combined with fresh ingredients that will make you feel the vibes of a Mexican beach. In a casual ambience, this small restaurant full of wood panels and blue walls creates the perfect to enjoy a friends reunion, casual lunch or Saturday dinner. Try the dessert cart that is just a piece of heaven. 

11) We all love small and cozy Snack Bars, and L'Encanto de Lola is doing it for us. This beautiful and totally Mexican enchanting place offers a simple menu full of goodies. The famous "Tortas" a big and round sandwich full of fresh products is the main attraction, there is a full menu with lot of options, also desserts, coffee and Milkshakes make this place a perfect afternoon snack option. San Angel is a beautiful and colonial area of Mexico, maybe far away from center but you should take a taxi and enjoy this little southern secret. 

This is just an small list, we will come back with more Cool thing to do in the beautiful Mexico City. Keep Tuned !!!

Created by Dayiana Oballos

Photos from Restaurants websites.