The Talking Suitcase

Cruise & Curated Travel Specialist

Destinations

Marimurtra Botanical Garden – A Garden with a View {Jardí Botànic Marimurtra Blanes, Spain}

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Visiting Marimurtra Botanical Garden with kids Costa Brava, Spain

The Marimurtra Botanical Garden , or Jardí Botànic Marimurtra, is situated on top of a rocky cliff in Blanes, Spain.  The garden is the perfect place to spend a few hours on a leisurely stroll, learning about the foliage and soaking up the breathtaking views of the surrounding Mediterranean Sea.

The gardens were founded by a German botanist, Carl Faust, in the 1920’s.   A statue in his honor occupies a prominent spot on the beach in the heart of Blanes.  My kids thought it was cool that they had  learned about him while visiting the beach and village, just an hour before our tour of the gardens.


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Can Segura Hotel Restaurant – High Quality at a Reasonable Price

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Can Segura Hotel Restaurant review

Can Segura Hotel Restaurant in Sant Feliu de Guíxols

We continued moving North along the coast in our quest to experience all that Costa Brava has to offer.  Our next meal was lunch at the Can Segura Hotel Restaurant in the village of Sant Feliu de Guíxols.

The restaurant in the Can Segura Hotel has an adorable beach vibe. The striking blue table cloths and beach decor made for a relaxing dining experience.  We sat in a cozy corner booth with colorful pillows surrounding the walls creating the perfect ambiance for eating great food and enjoying great conversation.

The kids sat together along the back wall laughing and chatting away while the adults discussed which of the tempting foods to try.

Salmon Salad at Can Segura Hotel Restaurant

Fish Soup at Can Segura Hotel Restaurant [Read more…]

Restaurant Aradi in Platja d’Aro {Don’t Miss the Paella}

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Aradi Restaurant Review

Restaurant Aradi – in Platja d’Aro

The second stop on our mission to experience Costa Brava through our taste buds was Restaurant Aradi for dinner.

Restaurant Aradi is located in the heart of Platja d’Aro. The restaurant has an elegant feel without being stuffy. You can dine inside or people watch on the outdoor patio.

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Aradi offers many dining choices. You can order a variety of seasonal dishes, select from a fixed “Fruits of the Sea” menu that looks absolutely divine,  order off a menu of the day, the Fave menu, a special cuisine Jornades or  a standard menu.

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El Ventall Restaurant – Experience the Gourmet Side of Blanes, Spain

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El Ventall Restaurant Review 1

El Ventall Restaurant in Blanes

During our time in Spain, we toured the Northeastern coastline along the Mediterranean which is named Costa Brava for it’s rugged landscape.  Over the coming weeks I will share our experiences at the seven family friendly restaurants we dined at during our travels.

Join me in our quest to experience Costa Brava through food…

Let’s start our culinary journey with the Southern most village of Costa Brava, Blanes. El Ventall Restaurant is conveniently located between Blanes and Lloret de Mar, serving high quality food using seasonal, local ingredients.

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Carnaval Nice 2015 – Your Ultimate Guide to Nice Carnival, France

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Nice Carnival Tips

The Nice Carnival or Carnaval de Nice is one of the largest carnivals in the world. Each year, approximately 1 million visitors flock to this winter event along the Côte d’Azur.  During the 17 day’s of Carnival,  Nice is brimming with people from all over the world enjoying the parades, beach and great food.

History:

Carnaval de Nice can be traced back to 1294. Before fasting for lent,  the people of Nice would celebrate by attending masquerades and indulging in rich cuisine. The celebrations also included mocking of everything and everyone while hiding behind disguises of masks and costumes.

In 1873, the 1st parade was introduced along with “Ymagiers” (image producers), a structured production and paying stands.   Just three years later, the 1st Flower Parade or Bataille de Fleurs (Battle of Flowers) emerged.   Although the Nice Carnival has changed over the years, it still retains some of it’s original grandeur, big head construction and peculiarity.

Each year,  the modern carnival boosts a new theme. The 2015 theme was King of Music and the 2016 theme will be King of Media.  I’m anxious to see updates as the Carnavaliers create new floats for the upcoming Carnival.  The attention to detail on the floats is phenomenal!

Where:

The Carnival Parades and Parades of Lights take place around Place Masséna.  The Flower Parades take place on the Promenade des Anglais. These locations are in the city center,  near Old Town.  As a tourist, it’s easy to find the locations – just look for the bleachers!  You can find a map of the parade locations through the Tourism office or online. This is a handy map to pick up, and will help you stake out your parade spot in advance.

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