April 30, 2018
Madrid for Veggies: Superchulo

Madrid for Veggies: Superchulo

April 30, 2018
restaurante superchulo madrid vegetariano veggie vegetarian restaurant vegan
We love eating out and we like trying new things. On our latest gastronomic adventure we went with a group of friends to a 100% vegetarian restaurant even though none of us is a veggie. Superchulo is located in the district of Malasaña, full of cool eateries like this one. In fact, super chulo means "super cool" in Spanish. It's a trendy place that promotes healthy lifestyle through creative cuisine. Their slogan is "feeding lively minds" and their philosophy is to feed body and soul because food is not only about calories and a necessity, it's also about offering pleasure to the senses. Their plant-based recipes are made with natural and organic ingredients. The process of elaboration also contributes to that healthy lifestyle, they don't have a microwave or a fryer in their kitchen.

Care to join me? I'll show you around this wonderful place and what they call "rainbow cuisine", food full of color and happiness.
restaurante superchulo madrid vegetariano veggie vegetarian restaurant vegan
restaurante superchulo madrid vegetariano veggie vegetarian restaurant vegan
restaurante superchulo madrid vegetariano veggie vegetarian restaurant vegan
The restaurant is divided in different areas with decor and names that evoke nature such as "the forest", "cabin area" or "the market".
restaurante superchulo madrid vegetariano veggie vegetarian restaurant vegan
restaurante superchulo madrid vegetariano veggie vegetarian restaurant vegan
We were seated under a ceiling full of pumpkins, kind of an orchard upside down. The lights on the wall saying "no bad days" made it clear that only good vibes are allowed in this area.

We started by sharing "the picnic" which consists of focaccia, totopos and crudites to dip in hummus, tomato pesto, guacamole and cream cheese.
restaurante superchulo madrid vegetariano veggie vegetarian restaurant vegan
Then each of us ordered a dish, these were our favorites:

Aubergine with feta cheese, tomatoes, toasted almonds and a side of focaccia.restaurante superchulo madrid vegetariano veggie vegetarian restaurant vegan
The broccoli casserole
restaurante superchulo madrid vegetariano veggie vegetarian restaurant vegan
Delicious vegetarian pizza
restaurante superchulo madrid vegetariano veggie vegetarian restaurant vegan
"Buddha bowls" which is the closest thing to a salad but that you "build" choosing from a list of ingredients. Here we made quite a discovery. You may be thinking: how the hell did a chicken get into a vegetarian restaurant? Well my friends, that is not chicken. At Superchulo they call this no-pollo (not-chicken), a.k.a. heura, it's a vegetable protein that looks and has a texture similar to chicken.
restaurante superchulo madrid vegetariano veggie vegetarian restaurant vegan
And last but not least, my favorite part of any meal: a wide range of scrumptious desserts. By the way, they also offer vegan cakes.
restaurante superchulo madrid vegetariano veggie vegetarian restaurant vegan
restaurante superchulo madrid vegetariano veggie vegetarian restaurant vegan
A few things surprised us about this place:

  • We didn't expect to like vegetarian food so much.
  • We didn't know veggie meals were hearty. We were really full when we left.
  • It wasn't expensive at all. Considering the amount of unusual ingredients and their quality we thought this was going to be a pricey restaurant.

Needless to say, we'll be coming back to try more of their fantastic and superhealthy dishes.
xo Cristina

Superchulo
Calle Manuela Malasaña, 11
Madrid
Tel.: +34 910 23 27 06
Price: 20-25€

BEST OUTFITS FOR SUNDAY BRUNCH
April 23, 2018
The Australia Series: Honeymooners in Adelaide

The Australia Series: Honeymooners in Adelaide

April 23, 2018
remarkable rocks kangaroo island australia
The last stop on our Australian adventure was Adelaide. We got there around lunch time after our flight from Sydney and the first thing we did was leave our luggage at the hotel and look for a place to eat. Walking around CBD we found Treasury 1860 in King Williams Street. Located in a historic building, this spot has the cutest outdoor area. Since it was winter in Australia around that time they had cozy blankets for those eager to eat outside like us. We spent the rest of the day exploring the city's landmarks like Victoria Square, Saint Francis Xavier cathedral and Rundle Mall, Adelaide's shopping street.
treasury 1860 restaurant adelaide australia
treasury 1860 restaurant adelaide australia
haigh's chocolates adelaide australia
The following day we woke up at the crack of dawn to take a ferry to Kangaroo Island. We had experienced all sorts of things in Australia so far. We had been to big metropolis like Melbourne or Sydney, we had seen the rain forest and the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, the desert and the magnificence of Uluru. But there was something missing. Something we couldn't go back home without seeing: wildlife.
seals kangaroo island adelaide
Our honeymoon was organized by a travel agency which booked the whole package for us. It included this tour around Kangaroo Island with Sealink. It was so amazingly organized! We loved every minute of it. They picked us up at the hotel and took us to the ferry. Once in the island we took a bus to Seal Bay Conservation Park where we had a guided beach walk and learnt so much about these wonderful animals. Then we went to Vivonne Bay Bistro for a buffet lunch full of yummy traditional Australian food. Honestly, we weren't expecting too much of the lunch during the tour (due to previous experiences in other countries) but we were surprised by how much we liked it.

We hopped on the bus once again this time to see adorable koalas at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. This was one of the most exciting moments of the Honeymoon. Koalas are one of my favorite animals and I had been waiting for this moment for a long time. We didn't get to see them really close because they were high up in the trees but we still loved the experienced. I did curse myself for not bringing my telephoto lens to the trip though...
hanson bay wildlife sanctuary kangaroo island adelaide australia
hanson bay wildlife sanctuary kangaroo island adelaide australia
On our way around the island we got to see a few kangaroos from afar too.

The following stop was Flinders Chase National Park where we saw the breathtaking Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch.
remarkable rocks kangaroo island australia
remarkable rocks kangaroo island australia
remarkable rocks kangaroo island australia
admirals arch kangaroo island adelaide
And just like that the day had ended and it was time to board the ferry back to Adelaide. It had been an unforgettable experience.

The following day was our last in Australia. Our flight was in the evening so we decided to take advantage of our last hours Down Under and see a bit more of Adelaide. It was a lovely day, the sun was out, so we took a stroll around the riverbank.
riverbank adelaide australia
We found the Adelaide Oval, a sports ground that is used for cricket, rugby and Australian football. Surprisingly, it was open to the public. My husband is a huge fan of sports so every time we travel we include stadiums in our itineraries, however we've never been able to walk into one freely like this time.
riverbank the oval adelaide australia
The University of Adelaide is also worth a visit. The buildings are located along North Terrace, one of the main streets, and you can find beautiful buildings full of history and knowledge like this one.
university adelaide australia
Also in North Terrace we found this lovely house, the Botanic Hotel. Victorian architectural style is one of my favorites. If you are a fan as well, check out Sydney's Paddington area and of course the place where I left my heart: beautiful San Francisco
botanic bar hotel golden boy thai restaurant adelaide north terrace australia
The aptly name Botanic Hotel building is opposite the Botanic Gardens, a great place to get lost in on a beautiful day like this one.
botanic gardens adelaide australia
Nestled in the heart of the city's Botanic Gardens, we found the National Wine Centre of Australia. It's a must for wine lovers. You can learn everything you've ever wanted to know about Australian wine, admire their own vineyard or explore country’s largest wine cellar.
national wine centre adelaide australia
national wine centre adelaide australia
Our honeymoon ended with one of the best meals we had during our stay in Australia at Jamie's Italian. One of the restaurants of British chef Jamie Oliver. I'm a huge fan of his work and I had always wanted to eat at one of his eateries. It did not disappoint.
jamie's italian restaurant adelaide australia
jamie's italian restaurant adelaide australia
jamie's italian restaurant dessert adelaide australia
jamie's italian restaurant adelaide australia
Sadly, it was time to get out suitcases and go to the airport. We had a long flight to Madrid with a layover in Dubai ahead of us. 
dubai palm tree plane bird's eye view
The honeymoon was over but we had so many experiences that we are going to cherish forever. My dream had come true: I had been to Australia.
xo Cristina

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adelaide australia travel guideTHESE SHOES ARE MADE FOR WALKING

April 16, 2018
My Favorite Dress For Traveling This Spring

My Favorite Dress For Traveling This Spring

April 16, 2018
spring flower silk dress sezane travel outfit
My traveling style can be defined with just two words: comfortable and stylish. It's not much different from what I wear every day. I find skirts and dresses really comfy and they are the base of feminine and girly style, my favorite. So that’s what you’ll find me in most days. When I travel, I don't wear jeans unless they are jeggings. If you are going to spend a long time in the car or in a flight you need something that's not tight. As for the shoes I either wear sneakers, platform shoes or low wedges/heels like the block heel court shoes with ankle strap that I’m wearing here.
spring flower silk dress sezane travel outfitspring flower silk dress sezane travel outfit
This Sezane silk dress is incredibly versatile. I ordered it because I thought of the very many occasions in which I could wear it, from Spring weddings and other celebrations to day trips and fancy vacations.
spring flower silk dress sezane travel outfit
spring flower silk dress sezane travel outfit
HOW DO I PLAN MY TRAVEL OUTFITS?
If you follow blogs that focus on lifestyle or on feminine and girly fashion you may have noticed the importance of choosing colors that match or complement the background. Photos turn so much better if you take that into account. This is my #1 tip if you want to get great travel shots of yourself. 

Since I do most of my trip planning on Pinterest, that helps me choose my outfits according to the place. The colors and textures depend on where we are going. Always keeping it real, of course. Some outfits are just not appropriate for certain trips, no matter how good the colors look together or how dreamy the snapshot would look.
spring flower silk dress sezane travel outfit
I need color in my life, it makes me happy. You can see that love for color in my photos on the blog or Instagram. I don't like filters because they take away the marvelous shades that the eye sees and the camera captures. At the end of the day, I want you to see and feel the same as I do when I take a photo. So if you like vibrant colorful pictures from around the world follow along!
xo Cristina

MY FAVORITE DRESSES FOR TRAVELING THIS SPRING

April 9, 2018
Chasing Windmills: A Road Trip Through La Mancha

Chasing Windmills: A Road Trip Through La Mancha

April 9, 2018
campo de criptana molino windmill quijote quijote la mancha ciudad real
Something you probably don't know about me is that I'm 50% Manchego (yes, like the cheese) on my father's side and I visit the Spanish region of La Mancha at least once a year. During Holy Week (our Spring break) we chased Don Quixote across the Spanish plains of La Mancha. The two most well-known things about this region are Don Quixote and Manchego cheese. Four centuries after the publication of El Quixote, the adventures of the most famous knight-errant, his loyal squire Sancho Panza and his lady Dulcinea are still alive in the towns and villages of La Mancha. Just as famous are the historic white windmills which Don Quixote fought in one of his adventures thinking they were giants.

Today I want to show you some of the most representative places in La Mancha, its beautiful villages and traditional cuisine.
puerto lapice ciudad real venta quijote quixote la mancha
PUERTO LAPICE
Our first stop in our road trip through La Mancha was Puerto Lapice. In this village, named specifically in El Quijote, you can find the famous inn, Venta del Quijote, which Don Quixote mistook for a castle and the inn keeper pretended to make him a knight. Nowadays it's a popular restaurant and has a small museum with beautiful illustrations of El Quijote made by artists from all around the world. A hidden gem.
stylish comfortable travel outfit blazer scarf jeans red white blue
puerto lapice ciudad real venta quijote quixote la mancha
puerto lapice ciudad real venta quijote quixote la mancha
puerto lapice ciudad real venta quijote quixote la mancha
Many houses in La Mancha are painted white and indigo blue which is not a coincidence. This region gets temperatures over 40ºC (100º F) most summer days, white reflect light so it keeps houses cooler on scorching days. Indigo on the base is a Mediterranean influence. It protects the base from splashes or brushes. Also, back in the day many painted their doors or windows this shade of blue to banish the devil. Finally, indigo has been used to mark the houses where young women that were of courting age lived.
stylish comfortable travel outfit blazer scarf jeans red white blue
ALMAGRO
Considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, Almagro was a very important place in the 15th and 16th centuries. The highlight of Almagro is its Plaza Mayor with its green framed window buildings. On one side of the square is the Corral de Comedias, a 16th century open air theater, the only one in Spain of this period. Every summer in July there is a festival where you can watch plays from the 16th and 17th Spanish theater. If you walk around Almagro you'll also find grand houses like the Maestri palace, and the place of the Counts of Valparaiso which are architectural marvels.

The best place to stay in Almagro is El Parador, a former convent turned into a hotel. If you go during Easter you can watch religious processions and the parade of  Los Armaos which represent troops of the Roman Empire during Holy Week. parador hotel almagro ciudad real la mancha
parador hotel almagro ciudad real la mancha
parador hotel almagro ciudad real la mancha
almagro ciudad real la mancha
stylish comfortable travel outfit colorful scarf grey spring coat jean crossbody bag
almagro ciudad real la mancha
almagro ciudad real la mancha
almagro ciudad real la mancha armaos semana santa
almagro ciudad real la mancha corral de comedias
CAMPO DE CRIPTANA
This town is crowned by wonderfully preserved 16th century windmills visible from kilometers away. The purpose of windmills is to grind grain into flour by using the power of wind. For a few euros you can visit some of them and a guide will explain how they work. It's actually really interesting. In a nutshell, the leaning pole outside of the windmill is used to turn the roof in the direction of the wind so the blades start moving and the machinery starts working. Needless to say this place is really windy so don't bother bringing a hat!
campo de criptana molino windmill quijote quijote la mancha ciudad real
campo de criptana molino windmill quijote quijote la mancha ciudad real
campo de criptana molino windmill quijote quijote la mancha ciudad real
campo de criptana molino windmill quijote quijote la mancha ciudad real
campo de criptana molino windmill quijote quijote la mancha ciudad real
TYPICAL FOOD
I've already mentioned cheese as the most famous food in La Mancha, but there are plenty of traditional dishes worth naming. On our last day we went to a typical food restaurant aptly called La Mancha in Alcazar de San Juan.

First, we had this appetizer which looks like a nest and then for starters we had a few of the most typical dishes of the region. typical food comida tipica restaurante la mancha alcazar de san juan ciudad real spain
Migas (bread crumbs), is probably the best known and most beloved typical dish of La Mancha. Sometimes called migas de pastor (shepherd's bread crumbs), it was originally a pastoral dish. It was created to make the best of the bread's leftovers. Basically, you soak the crumbs in water and fry them in a skillet with garlic and small slices of pork called torreznos. They are best paired with grapes, because the contrast of sweet and savory is so good!typical food comida tipica restaurante la mancha alcazar de san juan ciudad real spain migas uvas bread crumbs
Gachas which is similar to porridge. Its main ingredients are flour, water, olive oil, garlic, paprika and salt. Long time ago it was considered a rural dish because, like migas, it was cooked by shepherds and it's ingredients and methods are rather "unrefined".
typical food comida tipica restaurante la mancha alcazar de san juan ciudad real spain gachas
Asadillo is made with roasted red peppers, cut into pieces and with a bit of plain tomato sauce to bind the peppers, then sprinkled with mashed garlic and cumin seeds. It's basically a hearty pepper and tomato salad.
typical food comida tipica restaurante la mancha alcazar de san juan ciudad real spain asadillo
Tiznao means "dirty with ashes and slightly burnt" and it's also the name of this singular dish. It consist of salt cod (not desalted before used) with veggies such as potato, red pepper, garlic and onions which are grilled until the are slightly charred over a charcoal fire.
tiznao typical food comida tipica restaurante la mancha alcazar de san juan ciudad real spain
As the main dish with had a variety of fish and meat.
typical food comida tipica restaurante la mancha alcazar de san juan ciudad real spain
And finished with some decadent desserts such as carrot cake and cheesecake.
typical food comida tipica restaurante la mancha alcazar de san juan ciudad real spain carrot cake pastel zanahoria
typical food comida tipica restaurante la mancha alcazar de san juan ciudad real spain tarta de queso
WATCHING A PLAY AT CORRAL DE COMEDIAS IN ALMAGRO
On our last night in La Mancha we want back to the picturesque village of Almagro to watch a play at Corral de Comedias.
almagro ciudad real la mancha corral de comedias venganza don mendo
If you want to read more about La Mancha or want to try one of their traditional recipes, you should check out these posts:
In Search of Don Quixote
Somewhere in La Mancha: Almagro
How to make Spanish pastries: perrunas
xo Cristina

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