June 24, 2019
4 Charming Towns to Visit in Spain this Summer

4 Charming Towns to Visit in Spain this Summer

June 24, 2019
beautiful pretty village small town spain old countryside medieval lavender field mountain festival lavanda guadalajara brihuega
From quaint little towns to white washed villages, there's no shortage of beautiful spots in Spain. There are literally thousands of places all over Spain worth visiting that you’ll be missing if you stick to big cities like Madrid or Barcelona. Some of Spain's most beautiful towns are small beach villages, others are surrounded by spectacular flower fields, there's one for every taste.

On this post I want to show you four charming towns that are among the best places to visit in Spain this summer. I promise you will find incredible food and dreamy architecture in every single one of them, so if that's your thing follow me on this tour around some of the most beautiful towns and villages in Spain.

UPDATE MAY 2022 - COVID-19
You must show either a valid vaccination certificate or negative PCR result upon enterring Spain. Lockdown measures are gone. Face masks are only mandatory in hospitals and public transport. 

4 Charming Towns to Visit in Spain this Summer: BRIHUEGA (GUADALAJARA)

This small town that's only one hour away from Madrid hosts an annual lavender festival in July. The spectacular fields of Brihuega transform into a purple sea and spread the most amazing scent around the area. It's a wonderful experience for the senses.

The festival consists of concerts at nightfall and a gourmet experience for an unforgettable and magical experience. This year the festival is on July 19 and 20.

Read more about the Lavender Fields in Brihuega
beautiful pretty village small town spain old countryside medieval lavender field mountain festival lavanda guadalajara brihuega

beautiful pretty village small town spain old countryside medieval lavender field mountain festival lavanda guadalajara brihuega

4 Charming Towns to Visit in Spain this Summer: BINIBEQUER VELL (MENORCA)

This dreamy white washed village is a must if you are visiting the beautiful Balearic Island of Menorca. This place is made up of white houses all linked together through intricate passages. It's as if someone have carved houses in a huge chunk of white stone.

Read my 5 day itinerary for Menorca
beautiful pretty village small town spain old binibequer island balearic menorca
beautiful pretty village small town spain old beach white washed binibequer balearic menorca
beautiful pretty village small town spain old white washed beach binibequer balearic menorca

 4 Charming Towns to Visit in Spain this Summer: FRIGILIANA (MALAGA)

This little village in the region of Malaga is considered one of the Pueblos Mas Bonitos de España (most beautiful villages in Spain) and it's the only one in the region of Malaga in that list. Frigiliana's charm lies in its beautiful streets where you can find white houses with colorful doors and bougainvillaea, closeness to the beach and its location at the foot of a mountain range. The people who live here take good care of the village, walls seem to be recently painted, streets are immaculate, there are beautiful flower pots everywhere and restaurants look like they've been decorated by professionals.

beautiful pretty village small town spain old southern andalusia beach frigiliana nerja malaga
beautiful pretty village small town spain old southern andalusia beach frigiliana nerja malaga
beautiful pretty village small town spain old southern andalusia beach frigiliana nerja malaga

4 Charming Towns to Visit in Spain this Summer: GUADALMINA (MALAGA)

A quaint white washed village with colorful houses near Marbella. It's a lovely place to go for a late afternoon walk if you are in the area. But let me tell you something, it will be hard to choose a dream home from all the beautiful options.

Best beaches in Andalusia and the resorts to stay in
beautiful pretty village small town spain old southern andalusia beach guadalmina marbella malaga
beautiful pretty village small town spain old southern andalusia beach guadalmina marbella malaga
beautiful pretty village small town spain old southern andalusia beach guadalmina marbella malaga
WEAR THIS HERE

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beautiful pretty village small town spain old southern andalusia beach countryside medieval lavender field mountain balearic menorca
frigiliana malaga andalusia beautiful white village

June 17, 2019
My Favorite Clinique Skincare Products

My Favorite Clinique Skincare Products

June 17, 2019
clinique beauty skincare top products serum moisturizer cleanser vitamin c orange powder
We have all started our love affair with beauty products by going through our mom's makeup bag, am I right? My mom's has always used Clinique and I started trying out their products when I was a teenager. Their quality is amazing and the packaging beautiful so it's not surprising that I fell in love with their skincare and makeup. So much so that I often refuse to try any other brand. Because when something works for you, why change?

I love sharing my knowledge and helping out and I think you can benefit from my experience with Clinique's products so on this post I'm sharing with you the best moisturizers, cleansers and serums from this great beauty brand. These are my Clinique must-haves:

The most amazing boost of vitamin C for the skin. It consists of a powder cleanser and a serum. The treatment is used for a week and the results are amazing. The skin tone looks more even and brighter than before. I use it twice a year and it's enough to see the difference.
clinique beauty skincare top products serum moisturizer cleanser moisture surge boost pink
CLINIQUE MOISTURE SURGE
This is my current moisturizer. It has a light refreshing texture that is absorbed so rapidly it feels like the skin is drinking it. It's an instant moisture boost that lasts the whole day.
clinique beauty skincare top products serum moisturizer cleanser even better
EVEN BETTER SERUM & MOISTURIZER
If your concern is scarring or dark spots, Even Better is the right product for you. The serum does a gentle peeling effect which removes layers of skin if you use it consistently. To increase the effect you can use the Even Better moisturizer and make-up.
clinique beauty skincare top products serum moisturizer cleanser 3 steps clarifying lotion soap dramatically different yellow
Clinique's 3 steps are their most famous beauty routine. It's a classic. Since I started using Clinique, they have discontinued some of my favorite products but the 3 steps have always been there. It consists of a face soap, a clarifying lotion which removes dirt and dead cells and the dramatically different moisturizer lotion. They are meant to be used twice a day.
clinique beauty skincare top products serum moisturizer cleanser exfoliating scrub
EXFOLIATING SCRUB
Cleansing is the most important part of my beauty routine. I love Clinique's scrub because it leaves my skin with a wonderful refreshing sensation.
clinique beauty skincare top products serum moisturizer cleanser take the day off scrub floarming
TAKE THE DAY OFF & FOAMING CLEANSER
My two favorite products for make-up removal are the foaming cleanser for foundation and take the day off for eye make-up.
clinique beauty skincare top products serum moisturizer cleanser hydroblur pep-start
PEP-START HYDROBLUR MOISTURIZER
This is moisturizer + primer in one product. It has a soft non-greasy texture and its thickness conceals fine lines. It's my favorite moisturizer together with Moisture Surge because they are not greasy at all and I recommend them if you are looking for a regular moisturizer with no particular skin concern.

Have you ever used Clinique? What's your favorite product?
Let me know if you have any questions about Clinique's skincare or beauty products.
Read more about my beauty routine

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clinique beauty skincare top products serum moisturizer cleanser vitamin c


June 10, 2019
The Best Basket Bag for Traveling this Summer

The Best Basket Bag for Traveling this Summer

June 10, 2019
sezane basket straw raffia leather bag summer trend wicker purse tote strawberries
Basket bags are my favorite to carry during summer months. They make me think of the outdoors -the beach, the countryside...- of long days and good weather. In recent years I've managed to build a small collection of basket bags in different shapes and sizes. I love this one for picnics, this other one for the beach and this little one with the pom-poms your see me wearing all the time for every day. However, my closet was lacking the perfect one for traveling. I was looking for a shoulder bag that wasn't neither big nor small. 
sezane basket straw raffia leather bag summer trend wicker purse tote strawberries
sezane basket straw raffia leather bag summer trend wicker purse tote strawberries
A month ago, I stumbled upon this Sezane basket which suits all my needs. I couldn't have imagined a more perfect summer bag for traveling. It comes in natural raffia fibre woven by hand and you have a choice between with or without the cute strawberries. The handles are made of leather. It is very versatile and it adds a natural texture to the outfit which I love.

A few weeks ago I posted on my Instagram Stories the unboxing of the bag. I had to share it with your because the packaging was impressive! The box had my name on it, welcoming to their new collection. The basket comes in a big dust bag which is great because I always store my bags in them. Every time I've ordered something from Sezane, it has included a gift. This time it was a little scarf which is the one I'm wearing on my hair. The scarf came with a card with pictures of how you can tie it to your hair, wrist and bags. I love details like these. Sezane never disappoints when it comes to quality and service.

Because I know you love straw bags as much as I do, I've rounded up the most beautiful baskets I've seen online which you can find throughout the post. They come in different shapes, colors, sizes and prices so there's one for every occasion and budget.
Let me know which is your favorite basket bag!

sezane basket straw raffia leather bag summer trend wicker purse tote strawberries
sezane basket straw raffia leather bag summer trend wicker purse tote strawberries
sezane basket straw raffia leather bag summer trend wicker purse tote strawberries


sezane basket straw raffia leather bag summer trend wicker purse tote strawberries

June 3, 2019
Beautiful Parks of Madrid: La Rosaleda at Parque del Oeste

Beautiful Parks of Madrid: La Rosaleda at Parque del Oeste

June 3, 2019
rosaleda rose garden show madrid parque oeste west park beautiful moncloa spain flower
Retiro may be the most famous park of Madrid but it's not the only one worth visiting. Madrid boasts a number of amazing parks such as Parque del Oeste (Park of the West), a hidden gem near the bustling Princesa street. This park contains a real Egyptian temple, the famous Templo de Debod-, an aerial cable car giving access to the huge Casa de Campo park and a pleasant promenade.
rosaleda rose garden show madrid parque oeste west park beautiful moncloa spain flower
rosaleda rose garden show madrid parque oeste west park beautiful moncloa spain flower
The best kept secret of Parque del Oeste is a beautiful rose garden -la rosaleda- which hosts every spring an international rose show. It's like the Spanish version of the Chelsea Flower Show in London.

Designed in 1955 by Ramón Ortiz, Madrid’s head gardener, the Rosaleda occupies a surface area of 32,000 m2. Around 600 different varieties of modern rosebushes are grown. In 2006, it won the Garden Excellence Award granted by the World Federation of Rose Societies, recognizing it as one of the exceptional rose gardens in the world.

After four years in Madrid, this was my first time at la Rosaleda and now I wonder, why didn't I go before? From the moment I arrived, the place took my breath away. There was a sea of colors in sight and the wonderful smell of roses took over me. I thought I was in heaven. I never wanted to leave...
rosaleda rose garden show madrid parque oeste west park beautiful moncloa spain flower
rosaleda rose garden show madrid parque oeste west park beautiful moncloa spain flower
rosaleda rose garden show madrid parque oeste west park beautiful moncloa spain flower
If you like flowers, I highly recommend you go to Parque del Oeste. Right now the roses are in bloom so strolling around the park at golden hour is the perfect plan to add to your Madrid itinerary. Plus, entrance is free!

If you have time, take the aerial cable car for the most spectacular views of Madrid!
rosaleda rose garden show madrid parque oeste west park beautiful moncloa spain flower
rosaleda rose garden show madrid parque oeste west park beautiful moncloa spain flower
rosaleda rose garden show madrid parque oeste west park beautiful moncloa spain flower
rosaleda rose garden show madrid parque oeste west park beautiful moncloa spain flower
PARK INFO
Adress: Calle Rosaleda, 1 Madrid - Google Maps
Barrio / District: Casa de Campo / Moncloa-Aravaca
Phone: +34915489512
Opening times:
Nov 1 - March 1: 10 am to 6 pm
March 2 - April 15: 10 am to 7 pm
April 16 - Sept 15: 10 am to 9 pm
Sept 16 - Oct 31: 10 am to 7 pm

Do you like visiting parks when you travel? If you do, I recommend you read the following posts:
El Capricho
Secret Places in Madrid
Preppy in Retiro Park
What to do in Madrid this Spring
The Most Instagrammable Places in Madrid

MY FAVORITE FLORAL DRESSES

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rosaleda rose garden show madrid parque oeste west park beautiful moncloa spain flower