May 23, 2016
Beauty Routine: Clinique, La Mer and More

Beauty Routine: Clinique, La Mer and More

May 23, 2016
clinique 3 step beauty routine
If I told you that I've always been a beauty addict, I'd be lying. I've been wearing foundation since my teens but I've only had a complete make-up/beauty routine for a few years. You see, I have big eyes and full lips so I spent my teens and early twenties believing that if I wore make-up on my eyes and lips I'd look like a clown. Then the digital era arrived with its blogs and YouTube tutorials and I started learning things. After some trial and error I found out what the colors that best compliment my features are and what my skin tells me it needs. Since I'm no beauty expert I can't tell you what you should use. Nonetheless, I'm going to review the products that work for me and that I've been using for years. Hopefully, this will be useful for you in case you are thinking of purchasing any of them. First of all I should tell you that my skin is combination: slightly oily forehead and nose and the rest is more on the dry side. Because of that, my make-up lasts all day. I may have to retouch the oily parts at the end of the day but that's it.
May 16, 2016
What to do in Seville

What to do in Seville

May 16, 2016
48 hours seville plaza españa spain
Seville is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. Its architecture, people and ambiance are quite unique making it a wonderful vacation destination. If last week's post was all about the best dinning spots in Seville, today I want to show you what you can do if you have 48 hours to visit this Andalusian city. From things to do and see, main attractions, to an itinerary to walk the city. After this post you'll be ready to conquer Seville.

Plaza de España
Hands down my favorite place in the city. I've been obsessed with seeing this plaza for years. We loved it so much that we went back two more times. We couldn't get enough of it. Even though there are many tourists at all times there's a certain feeling of tranquility here. Bring a book, rent a boat or hop on one of the horse-drawn carriages that go around Plaza de España.
boat plaza españa seville spain
tiles plaza españa seville spain
bridge tiles plaza españa seville spain
plaza españa seville spain
plaza españa seville spain
plaza españa seville spain view
plaza españa seville spain horse carriage
Barrio de Santa Cruz
It doesn't get much more Andalusian than this. This adorable neighborhood has the prettiest balconies and alleys. It used to be the Jewish quarter. Great place to have a drink al fresco in one of the many terraces.
barrio santa cruz seville spain bougainvillea
barrio santa cruz seville spain
flowers barrio santa cruz seville spain
tiles flamenco seville spain
typical restaurant seville spain flamenco
fan shop seville spain
flamenco dress seville spain shop
La Giralda
One of the city's landmarks. You can get to the top and behold amazing views of the city. It's also a great work-out!
giralda seville spain
This is a view of the cathedral -which is next to La Girlada- from Torre del Oro.
view rooftop seville spain
Close to the cathedral and La Giralda, you'll find the commercial arteries of the city: Avenida de la Constitucion and Calle Sierpes
avenida constitucion calle sierpes seville spain
avenida constitucion calle sierpes seville spain
El Pinton restaurant Seville Spain
Casa Pilatos
A privately-owned mansion that features Roman, Moorish and Renaissance influences. The colorful courtyard full of beautiful flowers is a sight to behold. 
Casa Pilatos Seville Spain
Casa Pilatos Seville Spain
Casa Pilatos Seville Spain
Casa Pilatos Seville Spain
Reales Alcazares
This is a magical palace dripping with Moorish detail and luxury. It reminded us of La Alhambra in Granada.
Reales Alcazares Seville Spain
Reales Alcazares Seville Spain
Reales Alcazares Seville Spain
48 hours was enough to see the most famous places in Seville but we can't wait to go back and enjoy Andalusia's joie-de-vivre again. 

For more information read my guide: Where to Eat in Seville
May 9, 2016
Where to Eat in Seville

Where to Eat in Seville

May 9, 2016
where to eat in seville
This post was updated in August 2018

I've always believed Seville to be the most beautiful city in Spain. However, I had only been there once when I was 6. This year my fiance and I decided to celebrate our anniversary spending 48 hours in this stunning city.

Today I want to share with you a round-up of the best places where we ate. All of the places we tried serve traditional Spanish dishes. We had salmorejo and gazpacho (recipe here)  every day, the best way to beat the scorching heat. Most restaurants were chosen from Pinterest. My secret to organize a trip is creating a Pinterest board. It serves both as photography inspo and it has proved the best way to find the cutest little spots and beautiful restaurants. Fortunately, all of them turned to be a wise choice. Without further ado, here's the list.
Click on the names to be forwarded to their websites.

El Pinton
Address Calle Francos 42, Seville
Phone: +34 955 07 51 53
Near Seville's cathedral is El Pinton. It's one of those places that make you fall in love as soon as you walk in. Whoever decorated this place has impeccable taste. If you are going on a weekend I advice you to book a table. Even though my trips are super organized I don't like to book restaurants in advance. Lots of things can come up and you never know if you are going to make it on time. We got there early but they told us it was fully booked. Luckily there was a free tiny table for two that had been waiting for us ;)

The menu is a modern take on traditional dishes. Their specialties are tapas and cocktails. We started with gazpacho and salmorejo and had cod fritter and cod with quinoa and sweet potatoes for seconds.

restaurante el pinton sevilla españa seville spain
restaurante el pinton sevilla españa seville spain
restaurante el pinton sevilla españa seville spain
restaurante el pinton sevilla españa seville spain
restaurante el pinton sevilla españa seville spain
restaurante el pinton sevilla españa seville spain
restaurante el pinton sevilla españa seville spain
Address: Calle Arjona, Seville 
Phone: +34 954 22 04 95
Advertised as a "pleasure for the senses", this market is a new and singular open spot in a strategic location. It is one of the best culinary, leisure and cultural experiences you can have in Seville. A spacious place with 20 stands that will meet the demanding needs of pleasure-seekers. You will find all kinds of tapas and gourmet dishes. Grab your favorites, order a Cruzcampo beer and enjoy your meal on one of the many tables available at the center of the market.

Its distinctive architecture is highlighted by the colorful food offered in the market. The building is classified as a World Heritage Historical Site. Eiffel was responsible presumably for the design of the market, constructed in 1861 by Portilla and White metallurgical factories and finished 22 years later in 1883.

We arrived at the market around noon. However, after a copious breakfast in the hotel we weren't hungry yet so we just shared a flat bread with veggies and jamon from the stand pictured below.
mercado lonja del barranco sevilla españa seville spain
mercado lonja del barranco sevilla españa seville spain
mercado lonja del barranco sevilla españa seville spain
mercado lonja del barranco sevilla españa seville spain
mercado lonja del barranco sevilla españa seville spain
mercado lonja del barranco sevilla españa seville spain
mercado lonja del barranco sevilla españa seville spain
Address: Calle Gerona 40, Seville
Phone: +34 954 22 31 83
TripAdvisor
Established in 1670, it is the oldest restaurant in Spain. It's a classic for tapas and traditional Spanish dishes. We arrived at El Rinconcillo (Spanish for the little corner) at 2pm which is Spain's lunch time. This time we weren't so lucky and there were no tables available. The place was swarming with both locals and tourists. People were even enjoying their tapas in the street. Their staff offered the possibility of eating at La Trastienda del Rinconcillo which is close by. I cannot say if the menu is the same but the food was good. Unfortunately, I'm unable to give a review of El Rinconcillo, but it's worth visiting because of its ambiance and classical character.
restaurante el rinconcillo sevilla españa seville spain
Address: Calle San Fernando 2, Seville
Phone: +34 954 917 000
TripAdvisor
This is hands down the most beautiful hotel I've ever seen. Hotel Alfonso XIII is today one of the most prestigious hotels worldwide. It is ideally located in the center of Seville, next to the Reales Alcazares and the Cathedral, in the historic neighborhood of Santa Cruz. Pop in for an aperitif or a sweet treat. It's pricey but isn't it worth it to be surrounded by such beautiful architecture?
hotel alfonso xiii seville spain sevilla españa
hotel alfonso xiii seville spain sevilla españa
hotel alfonso xiii seville spain sevilla españa
hotel alfonso xiii seville spain sevilla españa
hotel alfonso xiii seville spain sevilla españa
Address: Calle Sierpes 90, Seville
Phone: +34 954 29 32 32
Another traditional place which is close to calle Sierpes, the city's shopping hub. Open since 1930, it serves one of the best ice-creams in the Andalusian city. 
ice-cream milkshake seville spain
bar robles laredo sevilla españa
If you are planning a trip to Seville I suggest you read the complete guide 48 hours in Seville
Have you ever been to Seville? Would you like to try any of these places?
Let me know in the comments.