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: Europe Hugo and I were really fortunate to spend five weeks in Europe this year. We got to: Visit five cities in Spain Spend six nights in London Fly there …
: Virgin Atlantic We loved our flights between LAX and London on Virgin Atlantic. Hugo scored a great deal (with points and cash for taxes/fees) between the two cities. …
: London Our trip to London was split into two parts: four nights on our way into Europe, and two nights after Spain on our way out. Here are all my posts: …
: Here are some of my favorite shots from walking around London. Pictured: Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross, The Ten Bells in Spitalfields, St …
: For our last meal in London, we went to Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill, sat at the bar, and enjoyed a delicious meal of oysters, crab, and fish & chips. …
: On our last full day in London, we had traditional Afternoon Tea at The Park Room in the JW Marriott Grosvenor House. It was expensive, but a really …
: For our second-to-last night in London, we booked a reservation for “drinks and light bites in Sky Garden Bars.” I thought it was going to be a cozy …
: We popped into The Devonshire for Guinness twice during our trip (at the beginning and the end). We didn’t have food, but we enjoyed the liveliness of …
: After Notting Hill, we wandered down to The Churchill Arms. It’s so pretty from the outside! The inside was decorated for Victory in Europe Day (VE …
: We made a little trip out to Notting Hill and wandered around without a plan. We saw what is maybe the blue door and took a peek inside the bookshop. …
: While walking around Shoreditch, we stumbled across Lounge Bohemia, which I can only describe as a retro, speakeasy-vibes, pretentious-but-enjoyable …
: We took a Yeoman Warder guided tour of the Tower of London. It took a couple hours but it was neat to walk around, feel the bloody history, and see …
: In London, we visited two Dishoom locations (Shoreditch and Carnaby) as bookends to our Europe trip. Expensive, but a delicious treat.
: Houston 2025 Houston was a fun little weekend getaway that I wouldn’t mind returning to again. We went for the Cowboy Carter Tour but also enjoyed: The Pit Room …
: Cowboy Carter Tour We left for Europe the day that Beyoncé started her Cowboy Carter Tour, and she came to Europe right as we were leaving, so of course we had to make a …
: Houston’s Behind Closed Doors was such a cute little treat. We went to the back to the find the restroom… and stumbled upon rainbow arches, one of …
: No better time than the holidays to catch up on some blogging! Let’s go back to Houston and London…
: The weekend we were in Houston just happened to be Pride Houston, and thus I ended up going to my first pride event. 🏳️🌈
: The Pit Room. 📍 The line for The Pit Room was long (maybe an hour?) but it was totally worth it. Amazing brisket and ribs.
: 📍 I knew that I would lose steam in posting photos from Europe if I didn’t get them mostly done while I was there… and I was right! 🙈 Off to Houston …
: We made it back up the River Thames and got some great views of iconic London buildings. We started near Canary Wharf, passed under London Bridge with …
: On our first full day, we walked through Greenwich Market and stumbled upon the Armada Portrait at the Queen’s House! Then we walked through Greenwich …
: Take me back to April 28 ✈️ Hugo got us business-class seats on Virgin Atlantic to and from London.
: Spain Here’s an index of all the cities we visited in Spain: València Sevilla Málaga Granada Madrid …and a couple other posts I wrote: Trains in Spain …
: We saw anti-tourist art in most of the Spanish cities we visited. I certainly understand the sentiment—housing, gentrification, cultural erosion, …
: Madrid We had so much more to explore in Madrid and so little time. Here’s what I’ve posted about Madrid: Taberna La Concha (One of our favorite restaurants) …
: Some more shots from walking around Madrid. It surprised me that Madrid has rolling hills throughout the city—it’s not all flat! It also felt …
: Some food shoutouts: Taberna Tempranillo (1): amazing duck. Casa del Abuelo (2): fun waiter and amazing garlic shrimp. Casa Revuelta (3): delicious …
: Hugo got a chance to go into the Royal Palace on a tour; unfortunately I wasn’t feeling great that afternoon, so the next morning we walked around the …
: We popped into Mercado Jamón Ibérico for our last jamón 100% ibérico de bellota tasting. As much as I’m not a huge pork-product person at home, I want …
: We went to the Monasterio del Corpus Christi las Carboneras to buy cookies from the cloistered nuns, but a sign on the door said no sweets until …
: We stopped into Pastelería El Riojano for a quick soletilla con chocolate and it was delicious! The melted chocolate was rich and the ladyfingers were …
: We popped into Mercado de San Miguel for cava and were surprised this market was entirely food stalls (unlike València and Málaga, which were focused …
: We went to Taberna Sanlúcar and really enjoyed the alcachofa, adobo sanluqueño, garbanzos con espinacas y bacalao, and of course the jamón ibérico. …
: My dad’s one recommendation for Madrid was visiting the Museo Nacional del Prado—it was a great recommendation! We did the two-hour self-guided tour …
: We went to Taberna La Concha a couple of times because we loved their pollo en curry rojo, ensalada de tomate y Mozarella (with a tasty honey-mustard …
: Trains in Spain We took hi-speed Renfe trains between Sevilla, Málaga, and Granada. The booking process online was straightforward enough. We booked all of them in …
: Granada Granada was a cute college town with beautiful sights and a unique tapas culture. These are all the posts I made about the city: Monasterio de San …
: Some more shots from walking around Granada. Along with standard ornate cathedrals and such, it felt like there was a lot more graffiti and art in …
: After three weeks in Spain, we got Hotpot (photos 1–2) and it was delicious. Taberna Andaluza (3–4) served us potatoes with fried egg and croquettes …
: We didn’t get tickets to go inside the Alhambra itself, but we did the Jardines y Generalife night visit and got to walk through the gardens and see …
: At the base of the church is the Mirador de San Nicolás, a plaza which is a beautiful viewpoint for seeing the Alhambra. We didn’t stick around long …
: We walked up the bell tower at Iglesia de San Nicolás for some of the best views of Granada and the Alhambra. Inside, the church has a glowing …
: We went to Rincón de Rodri and really enjoyed their zamburiñas (scallops), paella de mariscos (seafood paella), gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), and …
: The Granada Cathedral is enormous. Inside, towering columns rise into sweeping arches that seem to hold up the entire sky. Even the “smaller” chapels …
: Twice we went to Restaurante Oliver. We loved the alcachofas con almejas (artichokes with clams), almejas chirlas (clams in broth), and the tartar de …
: On Monday we went to the Monasterio de San Jerónimo in Granada, a 16th-century monastery that was occupied by Napoleon’s troops during his occupation …
: Málaga Málaga was a small, beautiful, touristy beach city with a lot to offer. These are all the posts I made about the city: Alcazaba (fortress with decent …
: A few food mentions: Los Patios de Beatas (photos 1–3) was delicious. Claus Bakery (4–5) was our go-to breakfast spot. Churros and chocolate at Casa …
: Some of my favorite moments from walking around Málaga—from churches and fortresses to street art, quiet alleys, playful shop displays, and more. The …
: Mesón Antonio was one of our go-to dinner places during the week. Our favorites were the alcachofas rotas con huevo frito y jamón (fried artichokes …
: On Friday we went to the Picasso museum—he was born in Málaga! It was great to see classics like Lola with a Doll, but I enjoyed the Man Looking at a …
: Twice we went to El Pimpi and loved the ensalada de pimientos asados con ventresca (peppers with tuna), cogollos de luchita con añito frito (lettuce …
: We had a quick visit to the Catedral de Málaga, which is a massive Renaissance-style church built on the site of a former mosque. The inside was …
: I’ve already confessed my love for alcachofas (artichokes), so Mesón Mariano was heaven: we tried half of their six artichoke dishes. We loved them “a …
: The Alcazaba and Castillo de Gibralfaro are next to each other, but we went back to the Gibralfaro the next day. It was a real workout to get up there …
: El Tintero was a unique dining experience—you don’t order food. Instead, as dishes are cooked, servers bring them and call out what they are to the …
: On Monday we went to the Alcazaba in Málaga, an 11th century Moorish fortress that offered us great views of the city and the sea. Most of the castle …
: Sevilla It was a joy to be in Sevilla for a week. These are all the posts I made about the city: Bodega Mateo Ruiz (our favorite local bar with tapas) Feria …
: Achievement unlocked: an older man asked me in Spanish for directions. Unfortunately my hands were full and I couldn’t help him. 😢
: These are some of my favorite shots from walking around Sevilla, including the row of restaurants near Alameda de Hercules, the Setas de Sevilla, and …
: We took an audio tour guide of the stunning Real Alcázar to learn about how the palace blends Mudéjar, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. I love taking …
: A few more Seville shoutouts: Our first salmorejo was at Taberna Águilas (photos 1–2). Dinner at ConTenedor (photos 3–5) was delicious. We visited El …
: In Seville we visited the gorgeous Plaza de España. Less than a century old but with classic architecture and tiling, the interior has alcoves for …
: While in Seville, we went to some tasty spots for breakfast. We had flaky pastries from Confitería La Campana (photos 1–2), a fresh açaí bowl at Feria …
: We took a guided tour of la Catedral de Sevilla. Come with energy! You take many steps up to the rooftops, in exchange for beautiful views inside the …
: Eslava was another restaurant that we fell in love with. Pictured food: Alcachofa navarra natural salteada con ajo frito y virutas de bacalao Un …
: We took a guided tour at Palacio de las Dueñas, which was the private residence of a duchess until it was turned into a museum when she passed away a …
: We went back to Bodega Dos de Mayo a couple times because all of their food was delicious! Pictured food: Espinacas con Garbanzos Alcachofas a la …
: We caught the last day of Feria de Abril, a 178 year-old fair held two weeks after Easter (May this year). There’s an amusement park, but the real …
: We made friends our first time at Bodega Mateo Ruiz and went back for their delicious bacalao (cod). They have jamón ibérico de bellota, which is the …
: We took Ryanair between València and Seville… and all the rumors are true. It was a rough experience—waited 30 minutes to check our bags, our plane …
: València Overall, I really enjoyed València. These are all the posts I made about the city: Bar Ricardo (our first meal and also maybe the best restaurant in …
: These are some of my favorite shots from walking around València. There are so many beautiful buildings all throughout the city. My favorite moments, …
: Last Friday we popped into Ostras Pedrín for lunch and had their titular ostras (oysters), both en escabeche (vinegar) and fresh. Their atún ahumado …
: The Mercat Central de València is the largest market in the city. A sign said “if you can’t find it here, it might not exist.” Not pictured here: we …
: One of our go-to local places in Valencia was Pelayo Gastro Trinquet. I love the culture of getting smaller “tapas” dishes that come out quickly and …
: On Thursday we went to the Museu de les Ciències for the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit (amongst others), where they had what the Mona Lisa would’ve looked …
: On Tuesday we took a paella cooking class in the Russafa neighborhood of Valencia with My First Paella and it was fantastic! We met in front of a …
: Navajas & Montanejos On Sunday we went on a thermal springs and waterfalls adventure just outside of Valéncia. It was fantastic! We went to the waterfall at El Salto de la …
: The first day of food in Spain did not disappoint—this has been my favorite meal so far. Papas bravas, tellinas, verduras, alcachofa, y calamares.
: I enjoy walking Soho, drinking in the afternoon 🍻
: Shoreditch in the afternoon 📸
: Just the beginning Thanks for following along this past week with where I’ve been the last six years. You can subscribe to my blog via email or RSS here: …
: Why now? So, why come back to social media now? After COVID started, like everyone else, I struggled with the sudden change and reshaping of our entire lives. …
: On August 27, 2020, I found a boy who would love me more than anyone ever did before. At my weakest physically, he’s there to take care of me. At my …
: Long Beach I quarantined in an Airbnb for two weeks before finding an apartment in downtown Long Beach. Along with COVID, the country felt in turmoil with the …
: New Zealand On March 17, 2020 (NZT), I was optimistic: I’m currently in Auckland, New Zealand. I’m scheduled to leave for Wellington this weekend, where I plan on …
: Southeast Asia I absolutely loved Thailand. The food, the prices, the people—everything except the air quality. My three weeks went quickly as I worked and spent my …
: Leaving for Spain I spent the summer of 2019 laying the groundwork to be away for years: I got rid of most of my belongings, packed up the rest, transferred my phone …
: Shortly thereafter, my heart and mind were freed from obligations and I knew… It was time to go. On NYE 2019, I wrote on the party’s wish-board that I …
: Hi, it’s Chasen. Six years ago, I quit social media. We have some catching up to do. Last time we talked, I was heading back from Europe to the …