Dining At CavaMar

After the captivating Flamenco show, we decided to go for a walk near the beach area. I was still a bit giddy from the cava (Spanish sparkling wine) that we had while watching the dance and the walk helped evaporate the alcohol so to speak. 

At the pedestrian bridge in Port Vell, Barcelona.

Hubby and I found ourselves walking towards the Port Vell and then on to Barceloneta beach. It was a Friday evening so it was teeming locals and tourists alike. The port reminded me of dear Yokohama, filled with yachts, shops and restaurants. We did a little sightseeing and a little shopping until our feet got tired and our bellies began to grumble from hunger.

CavaMar Restaurant and Tapas Bar is located along Barceloneta Beach.

There was a vast selection of restaurants on the beach front and since we didn't make any reservations for dinner, we decided on CavaMar, a restaurant and tapas bar that we found along Barceloneta Beach. 

It was a bit full but we were lucky to have found a table. We ordered a bottle of white wine and a platter of seafoods. While waiting for our food, we were served a small basket of bread and some olives to munch on. 

It must have been the wine but I found myself very light and happy. I was very talkative too and must have blabbed on and on about my thesis topic to my husband who found it sweet, endearing and funny to witness the state that I am in. Hehe! 

I guess it has also been a while since Hubby and I really went out on a date without having to rush with our food while looking out for the little one so it was a very refreshing experience for us. The atmosphere at the restaurant was a mixture of subdued and lively conversations, and the cool evening breeze from the beach added to the ambience.   

We didn't expect our platter of seafood to be very huge! It made a lot of sense why hubby ordered just one dish. :) It consisted of a large crab, different kinds of shells, big shrimps, and fish steaks. It was lightly spiced and seasoned just the way I want and I ate to my heart's content.

I had to eat most of the crab since hubby was allergic so that I was so full and very light headed by the time we finished dinner. We then walked a bit more along the beach before heading back to our hotel.

And yes, I love Spanish food... Looking forward to more servings of tapas and seafood! :D 

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Accessorize With Cuffs

Want to make a statement?

Then go to the next party you are invited to wearing a sleek sterling silver cuff. Or liven up your everyday outfit with a cuff. I am sure your office mates can't help but notice this chic addition to your wardrobe. Cuffs can instantly punch up any kind of outfit, no matter how simple it may be.

This sterling silver cuff bracelet is contoured
and features a sequence of smooth,
ridged rows and a hinged closure.

Cuffs come in different designs: from bold to sleek to ridged. They may be of leather, silver, metal or gold. They can be worn either on the wrist or on the arm. You can use two matching cuffs like Wonder Woman or Daenerys Targaryen does or use it to adorn just one arm as most Hollywood celebrities are wont to do. Although cuffs are not everybody's favorite kind of accessory, they definitely go well with evening wear.

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Mesmerized With The Flamenco Dance

If you are visiting Barcelona or any city in Spain for that matter, one of the best cultural experiences is watching a flamenco performance. So on our recent visit to Barcelona, we went to go see one on our first night. It was at the Tablao Flamenco Cordobes, located in La Rabla one of the the busiest parts of the city. And it was indeed a very memorable experience!

I booked days ahead for this performance so we can get a good seat. We chose the Afternoon Show for 5:45 PM so we still have time to explore the city later. :D We were all given a glass of cava so we can enjoy the show whilst drinking.

A date with my husband in Barcelona.

Cheers!

As the lights dim and the noise settled down inside the Tablao, I can't help but feel the excitement and awe growing in the audience. The music, the rhythm of the dancing shoes and hands, the clinking of the castanets and the beautiful voice and graceful dancers all mix together to create a very vibrant and mesmerizing performance. Although I do not understand the lyrics in the songs, you can feel the intensity of the emotions of the dancers as they interpret the music and the story. For me, it was a very passionate, intense and mesmerizing... indeed a beautiful experience of Barcelona.

We weren't allowed to take photos and videos during the performace except for the last five minutes so we only had a few photos taken. I guess it is in itself a good thing so you get to really enjoy the show instead of being preoccupied with your camera to get that good shot.

After a little over an hour, we left Tablao Flamenco Cordobes very happy and filled with excitement on the coming days. I have a feeling that the city of Barcelona has a lot more beautiful and exciting things to offer. We have just been to one.

Interested in watching a flamenco performance while in Barcelona? You can find more information on the Tablao Flamenco Cordobes website at www.tablaocordobes.com.

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5 Ways To Go Green This Autumn

The days are getting colder and we can feel it in the chill of the crisp morning breeze. Soon the leaves will turn red, orange and gold, the trees will soon shed their leaves but autumn is still a good way to become green.

So how to go green this fall season? Here are some five ways to get you started:

1. Buy green. Choose products that are environment friendly. If you have a home office, opt to buy eco-friendly office supplies. Although you may have heard it a thousand times, always recycle! What do you do with those tons of paper that's been printed on one side? You can use the other side for just about anything: notes, as sketch paper for your little ones to draw on, to print your drafts on. Once both sides are used up, you can collect them again to be sent to recycling facilities.

You can always look for these logos so you will know that a product is eco-friendly or supports environmental and sustainability causes:

2. Keep the bills down this cold season. Instead of turning up the heat, grab a sweater. Improve your knitting or crocheting skills by making a throw. If there's no one in the house, then by all means turn off your heater. Or better yet, get a programmable thermostat so you're only heating the house when everybody is at home.

3. Walk! The cold is always a good excuse to get into the car to make a trip to the groceries but try to minimize this one. Walking is a healthy routine that you should not miss except on days when the roads are really dangerous to thread on. The cool crisp air and the foliage is something to be enjoyed while they last.

Pumpkins of different shapes, sizes and color for your Halloween decor.

4. With the fall season comes Halloween. If you are decorating your home for the halloween, opt for the natural and non-commercial. Buy locally grown pumpkins to be used as gourds and jack-o-lanterns. Use recycled paper  to decorate your windows. Be creative and you will have a nicely decorated home with no extra spending.

5. What to do with all those fallen leaves? Collect them and compost them. Once the spring season comes, you will have your own organic fertilizer to enrich your garden soil. You can also use the leaves as fuel if you have a fireplace. These leaves make good decorations too!

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