Mallorca, Spain (6): Cala Ferrera - The good and the bad

Ok, we all know how much I love Mallorca, however, just like anywhere else in the world, there are places that are not my cup of tea. Cala Ferrera didn't impress me at all. While we were approaching this beach, my gut was telling me to turn away and go somewhere else, as if it knew that it was too crowded, too touristic, it had too much of everything that I'd rather avoid. You won't see that on the photos because I always want to focus on the good side such as few nice spots: beautiful path to the beach with lots of oleander flowers and parts of the beach surrounded with rocks that still remain unspoiled, but you almost have to step on the people to get to those particular spots that represent the true beauty of the island, the beauty that I rave about all the time. 

Until next time my isla bonita...

Mallorca, Spain (5) - Caló des Moro and more

Caló des Moro is one of those names that you'll see on the top of any list of the best beaches in Mallorca. Well, yes, it's spectacular but we know that magic comes with a price. It's pretty much small and gets overcrowded. Besides, unless you're a resident of the island, the access is not very easy, especially on a very hot summer day. Is it worth it? Yes! In the worst case you can get to the viewpoint and enjoy some jaw-dropping views. You'll thank me later ;)

Mallorca, Spain (4) - Sunset fever

Those summer evenings made of burning sunsets, wet hair, tanned skin, golden glow, flowy dress, tropical flowers... those summer nights with barefoot dinners on the beach and the sand cooling down between the toes... Salty and sweet memories from Mallorca that now feel like a lifetime ago...

Mallorca, Spain (3) - Cala Mondragó

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Beaches like Cala Mondragó are the best proof that here in Europe we also have paradise spots. They are the reason why I insist so much on Mallorca. Beaches like this will satisfy both lazy and active tourists. 

I definitely belong to the second group and if you're like me, you can swim, dive, go on a boat tour, walk to nearby beach of S'Aramador or even choose different hike routs. 

Highlight of the day - my little yoga session surrounded by pines, above small white boats floating in this turquoise paradise. Vitamin Sea and Vitamin D - 100% guaranteed!

My tips:

1. Be careful with the GPS. It'll try to take you to the restricted area. We didn't have that problem 2 years ago, but this time, that wasn't the case.

2. The beach belongs to the national park so the parking is not free and it's usually full. However, if you park 100 m before the parking area, you'll get plenty of free spots and you'll save both money and time. 

Mallorca, Spain (2) - Yellow dress in Portocolom

My love for yellow color and maxi dresses is one of those that never ever fades. If we mix those 2 with my favorite island, Mallorca - it's a match made in heaven.

These photos were taken in a quote zone of Portocolom, one of the oldest natural harbors in Mallorca, which was allegedly the birthplace of Cristopher Columbus (?) - hence the name of the town. The rocks above the sea and lighthouse in front made everything look like a scene from a movie...

Mallorca, Spain (1) - Cala Pi and Es Trenc

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Since I live in Spain, I keep going back to one island, the one that more and more feels like home away from home. I'm talking about Mallorca and as much as I love her little sisters, Menorca and Ibiza, a barely 30 minutes flight keeps taking us there. Mallorca feels like déjà vu, yet its energy always brings me something different and unexpected. 

     

Today I'll show you a glimpse of two beaches that have nothing in common. The first one is small, narrow, hidden and surrounded with pines. These pines are the reason why its called Cala Pi (small coves are called calas and pi means "pine" in Catalan). We discovered it back in 2012 and since then a visit to Mallorca is never complete without it. 

     

The second one is wide, long, it has a Carribean feel and it's surrounded with sand dunes. That's Es Trenc and it's one of the most popular beaches on the island. Despite its popularity, it remains intact, authentic and somehow wild, due to the fact that it belongs to a national park. These two beaches are relatively near by car and also the first recommendation from these Mallorca series. 

* Click HERE to check out the article I wrote for "Travel with Photographers Series" by Design Alow. It's a guide to one of my favorite places and I also give some general travel tips.

Visual story from Tossa de Mar

Today on the menu - Tossa de Mar, my favorite little town near Barcelona. Some of you already know that I'm a huge fan of local tourism and visiting this little gem of the Mediterranean is our yearly tradition. This is also my warmest recommendation if you visit this part of Spain. I wrote many times about Tossa, so this time I'll leave you with the photos. There are a lot of them! If you haven't forgotten me, thank you for being here. I'll try to recover my blogging schedule very soon.

Mérida, Spain

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If you've been following me for a while, you probably remember Mérida, a Spanish city near Portugal which is dear to my heart since it's my hubby's hometown. That's where we ended our family trip that began in Lisbon.

Mérida was one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire (Emerita Augusta founded by Augustus in 25 BC) and nowadays is the capital of autonomous community of Extremadura.  Plenty of monuments from the Roman period are a very good reason to visit this city and southwestern Spain.

The majority of the photos were taken at the Roman Theatre, probably the most spectacular place in the city, also know for The International Festival of the Classical Theatre of Merida, which I was able to enjoy a couple of summers ago. You can also see a bit of the Amphitheatre, Aqueduct of Miracles, fortification Alcazaba, Roman bridge over the Guadiana river, the Temple of Diana and more. Hope you like it! :)

Lisbon, Portugal - Fun Facts & Travel Guide

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1. Lisbon is the largest Portuguese city and the oldest European capital after Athens. It's often considered as one of the most livable cities. It's home of 2,7 millions of people.

2. Its previous name Olissipo means "safe harbor" in Phoenician. The city was founded by the Phoenicians although a legend says that it was founded by Ulysses on his journey home from Troy. The raven is the symbol of the city.

3. Today is called "the city of light, the city of seven hills". The top of the hills offer the best views of the city and the area with Santa Justa Elevator which is right in the city center.

4. The typical yellow trams that you can see all over the city's center are originally American and they were even called "americanos" back in 1873. This public transport is one of the main turistic attractions in the city, especially the famous line number 28. These trams are often crowded so beware of the pickpockets, but if you're careful enough, the ride is a perfect way to experience the city's vibes that are at the same time chaotic yet relaxed.

5. The Vasco da Gama Bridge over the Tagus River is 17, 2 km long and it's the longest bridge in Europe.

6. The Belem district (which you can see on many photos below) is home of two Seven Wonders of Portugal (remember the one from my previous post?) The first is Belem tower built in 1514 in the name of Portuguese glorious Age of Discovery. It even served as a lighthouse, a jail and telegraph post. The second one is the Jerónimos Monastery.

7. From 14th to 18th century Lisbon had several big earthquakes and in 1755 the most severe earthquake of all (9 on Richter scale) destroyed about 85% of the city and it triggered a tsunami.

8. Looking for an authentic Portuguese experience? Check out the Alfama district (the only city's district that survived the big earthquake) and cozy restaurants. You can have a dinner and listen to the fado, authentic Portuguese music. It's something that I highly, highly recommend!

9. If you have a sweet tooth, don't forget to try pastel de nata, a typical Portuguese egg tart pastry, originally created by monks of Jerónimos Monastery in 18th century. It can be easily found in bakeries and pastry shops.

10. If you're a bookworm like me, in Lisbon you can find the oldest bookstore in the world (1732).

Sintra, Portugal

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If I had to describe Sintra in one word it would be a fairy tale. Yes, as cliché as it sounds. This resort town near Lisbon made of palaces, exotic gardens, all kinds of architectural styles, surrounded by calming, kind of mystical forests is something that words cannot describe. Lord Bayron called it a "glorious garden" and Hans Christian Andersen called it "the most beautiful place in Portugal". 

Sintra has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and it impressed me far more than I could imagine. This Portuguese gem must be my warmest recommendation if you find yourself in Lisbon (about 40 minutes by train). The senses get so overwhelmed only after few moments and the mind and soul can hardly process the concentrated beauty. I read somewhere that it's like a torn page from a fairy tale book and I couldn't agree more. 

We spent a whole day in Sintra and managed to see 2 of the most famous places. The first stop was The Pena Palace - the most colorful and original palace I've ever seen, like a real life Lego structure mixed with a castle from 1001 nights. It's one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal (you'll see 2 more in my next post). The palace dates back to the Middle Age when it served as a chapel and later it was a royal Portuguese residence.

The afternoon was reserved for Quinta da Regaleira, a decorative residence surrounded by mystical gardens where every detail represents ancient secret orders and mix of symbols. The hidden tunnels take you to probably the most amazing spot, to The Initiation Well which is 27 m long. It resembles an inverted tower and it has symbols of alchemy, Masonry, Dante's Divine Comedy and more. If you're a mystery/legends/history lover like me, you will adore that one.

Before we drove back to Lisbon, we went to nearby town of Cascais, a perfect place for watching the sunset at famous Boca do Inferno (Hell Mouth) spot. Seeing the ocean, rocks and seagulls flying into the sunset was a perfect ending for this already perfect day with our families. No material thing could ever replace that feeling and richness of the soul.

Lisbon, Portugal

"Quem nunca viu Lisboa, nunca viu coisa boa."

("Who never saw Lisbon, never saw something good.")

- Popular quote

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If there's one benefit of having international families living in different cities and countries, that must be the moment when you finally manage to see each other. It's the best time ever, one of those memories that you'll cherish for a lifetime. Ulises and I already have this family tradition and that means that April is reserved for joining our familes together. This time the two of us and my parents visited my mom-in-law in Mérida, Spain and also spent few days in nearby Lisbon and the area. Today I'll show you the first day in Lisbon, a city that I've visited three times so far and one of my favorite places in the world. I love Portugal in general and having it so close to Spain, makes it a perfect excuse for visiting it every now and then. Welcome to the capital of Portugal, the city of yellow trams, 7 hills, fado music, city of contrasts and much more that I'll show you very soon. Welcome to the city of light, to the one and only - Lisbon! :)

Some old-fashioned things

Basic formula

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My simple basic formula because outfits that we like are not always easy to recreate. Sometimes you just need good old basics. Sometimes you need to respect that dress code. Sometimes you just want to look put together and don't complicate things. Sometimes less is truly more.

beige: trench coat

white: shirt + trousers

black: bag + shoes

brown: sunglasses + watch

Panda

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The other day I saw a documentary about pandas and there was this baby panda tumbling and playing over and over again. It was one those moments when I wondered why us adults often forget to have fun and take things less seriously? I'm wearing this panda sweatshirt to remind me of that playful spirit. We should all keep it and cherish it because life doesn't have to be so serious and terrifying all the time...

Fuerteventura, Spain: Fun facts and travel guide

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1. Fuerteventura is the second largest island of Canary Islands. Although it formally belongs to Spain, it's very close to Morocco and Sahara Desert. That's the main reason why most of the island is covered with sand.

2. This wild beauty was formed 20 millions years ago with volcanic eruptions that joined two islands (in the part of La Pared - The Wall - the big rock in the ocean that you can see on one of the photos).

3. The name Fuerteventura has different meanings such as: "strong winds", "strong fortune" and "great adventure".

4. With 3000 hours of sunshine per year and over 150 beaches is one of the most popular turistic destinations. You can enjoy great weather all year around. These beaches are considered "European Carribean".

5. Fuerteventura is a surfing and water sports paradise. It's the second most important world destination when it comes to windsurf. The first one is Hawaii.

6. The first settler came from North of Africa and were called Maho, like a type of goatskin shoe. Speaking about the goats, there are more goats than people on the island and if you ask me, there are even more squirrels which are easily spotted even on the beach and all the places where you least expect them.

7. Fuerteventura has the largest Aloe Vera Barbadensis plantation in Europe.

8. Due to its spectacular nature and wild landscapes, Canary Islands are one of the most popular movie shooting destinations. Fuerteventura "played" the role in movies such as Planet of the Apes (1968) and Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014).

9. Travel tip: there are plenty of cheap flights from major low cost companies, especially if you come from other parts of Spain, but also from many European cities. If you want to save some cash, avoid the high season, such as summer and winter. If you're only interested in beach, you won't regret it, but if you're like me and always infected by a travel bug, do rent a car and explore the island. There is so much to see and experience.

10. Shall we go to the desert? Join me below on this virtual trip to National Park of Dunas de Corralejo, one of the "must-see" places if you decide to visit the island. It's in the northern part of the island and close to the airport and the capital of Puerto del Rosario.

I hope you enjoyed discovering Fuerteventura with me and that maybe you can considered it for a vacation. If you missed my previous posts from the islands, you can find them here:

1. Everything you can imagine is real
2. Explore. Dream. Discover
3. Is it a mirage?

Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain #3: Is it a mirage?

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When bright sunshine mixes with beige sand, its reflection makes the ocean looking almost like a mirage that you can see at specific points in nearby Sahara Desert. African wind makes everything wilder and dreamier and perfectly shaped waves makes you wanna be that surfer that's just put on his neoprene suit, he's grabbing the surfboard and is about to dive into the ocean. 

     Then the day comes to its end and golden foggy light makes the volcano ground even more black. Is it the mix of black rocks of La Pared and white sand of Lagoon beach, or the salty air sprinkled with desert dust? Is it the ocean, the vast space around you, the seratonin overdose naturally running through your bloodstream? Is that feeling a mirage? It must be. It must be a mirage...

Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain #2: Explore. Dream. Discover

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During our second day in Fuerteventura, we explored different part of the island and ended up in two villages and some spectacular viewpoints. First stop was Betancuria, the smallest municipality of Fuerteventura and Canary islands. What used to be former capital of Fuerteventura, now is a picturesque village in the mountain area, a surprisingly green part of the island, due to the fact that the majority of landscapes is either black and volcanic or beige and sandy. It was a perfect spot for the launch break surrounded with all kinds of exotic vegetation, green hills in the horizon and the sound of the carnival that took place in the center of the village.

     Our day ended in Ajuy, a small fishermen village with black sand beach, big waves and sea caves formed by lava which we unfortunately couldn't see because of extremely strong wind. Speaking about the wind, well, it was probably the windiest day of my life and I don't like it at all haha, but it was totally worth the experience and it made the whole day a bit more adventurous :)

Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain - Everything you can imagine is real

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I'm sitting on one of the volcanic rocks which number begins where the infinity ends and I'm looking this, too-good-to-be-true, turquoise shade that's disappearing in the Atlantic ocean. The calendar says winter, the temperature says summer. I'm still in my country, Spain, but much closer to Morocco and Sahara Desert. The wind is blowing in hundreds of different directions, there's just me, just us and the world. Freedom, wilderness, views and feelings that are making me so calm, like the most rewarding night sleep, yet my heart is jumping faster and faster. I don't know what's faster, my heartbeat or the wind, I just know that Picasso was right when he said - "Everything you can imagine is real". That's how it made me feel. 

     Welcome to the island which name means "strong fortune", "strong winds" and "great adventure". Welcome to the place where reality becomes something else, where you become someone else...

Welcome to Fuerteventura!

Master your destiny

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Simple, sleek design and golden hardware of my new watch that's matching the chain of my vintage navy bag is my go-to combo that I've been wearing on repeat. Classic gold ladies is the name of the watch, a simple name that's behind Lord Timepieces brand from London that offers the finest luxury pieces at an affordable price, including both women's watches and men's watches. They're designed for people who aspire to be great, for winners and achievers. And we all want to be that person, don't we? ;)
     Everytime I look at my watch, it reminds me of a simple, yet powerful mantra that's behind the brand - "Master your time, master your destiny". A motivating quote that makes my balancing between what must be done and what I want to do, a little bit easier.
     If you're interested in buying some of the watches, you can get 10% off if you use discount code TIJANA.

Tarragona, Spain: Fun facts and travel guide

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1. Tarragona is one of the most important cities of Catalan part of Spain and it's situated on the coast of Costa Dorada. It has the population of approximatelly 132 000 of inhabitants.

2. The easiest way to access Tarragona is by train from Barcelona for example (90 km). The train is very frequent, the ticket is cheap and you need only 1 hour to get there.

3. Tarragona is famous for its ancient Roman heritage and it was one of the most important cities on the Iberian Peninsula. In that period its name was Tarraco. 

4. The tallest point of the city is the cathedral from 12th cenutry and it was made of stones from the Roman amphitheatre.

5. The seaside apmhitheatre is one of the symbols of the city. It's situated below the Balcony of the Mediterranean which you could see in my previous blog post (HERE) where I told you that if you touch the iron fence, it should bring you luck. The views are breathatking.

6. Probably the most peculiar Roman monument is the aqueduct also knows as Devil's Bridge. It was built in the era of emperior Augusutus. The legend says that the Devil built it after winning a bet in which a fair lady bet her soul. The aqueduct was 25 km long.

7. If you visit Tarragona in August, you can't miss the festival and famous hundreds of years old tradition od Castellers - people who build human pyramids.

8. My recommendations to visit: all the Roman heritage (amphitheatre, circus, walls, etc.), Miracle Beach, Rambla Nova promenade, medieval old town and its narrow alleys, the cathedral (especially its gardens), Balcony of the Mediterranean, Paseo de las Palmeras.

9. Tarragona is famous for its surroundings and blue flag beaches. It's located near very popular resort of Salou. From there you can easily access Port Aventura, one of the most famous theme parks in Europe.

10. Food for thought: I will remember this weekend in Tarragona not just because of the great time we had while discovering the beauty of the city, but also because of very, very strange noise that was coming from our hotel room. I don't have a logical explanation but it's an experience that has never happened to before despite the fact that I've stayed at numerous hotels. Did you maybe experience something similar? :D

Thank you for joining me in this little virtual trip to Tarragona. Soon I'll be taking you to new destinations... :)

Tarragona, Spain - Balcony of the Mediterranean

While we're impatiently waiting for our upcoming trips for this year, we decided to make the waiting less boring and go for a quick weekend escape and visit Tarragona, only 1 hour by train from Barcelona. I've been in Tarragona a couple of times before and I always get enchanted by this Spanish beauty that feels like mini Rome looking over the Mediterranean. 

     What used to be Tarraco in ancient Roman times and one of the most important Roman settlements on the Iberian Peninsula, nowadays is a buzzing city that at the same time feels very calming. A perfect mix of ancient Roman monuments and remains, narrow colorful streets and city's position above the sea will enchant even the pickiest traveler. 

     Today I'm going to show you my favorite part, a huge open promenade above the sea, known as the Balcony of the Mediterranean. You can see the port of Tarragona, a beach called Miracle and Roman amphitheatre snuggled between Mediterranean greenery and vast blue horizon. An urban legends says that if you touch the iron fence, it will bring you luck. Who knows... ;)

...Stay tuned for part 2...

Winds of change

Caminante, no hay camino...

Wanderer, there is no path, the path is made by walking... - beautiful words of Spanish poet, Antonio Machado whom I discovered once upon a time when I was a student of Hispanistics. I have tatooed those words in my brain, the words that represent hope and freedom. They remind me that nothing is ever lost, that we have so much power in creating the lives we wanna live...

How to wear silver jacket?

Don't fall for a trend just because it's trendy

I find this ruffle trend being both cool and annoying. Annoying as all the "must have trends" usually are and cool because I genuinely like it. Since always. Although pretty much the most of the fashion bloggers have a sweater like mine, apparently the streets of Barcelona haven't seen one before :p My sweater (HERE) got so much attention, even from an old couple whose reflection I saw in a door of a bus. Attention can be good or bad, who knows? I don't really care anymore. I don't really care if someone else has it or likes it. I wear what I 100% like. Hope you do too! Don't fall for a trend just because it's trendy. It's something obvious but there are still so many people who get trapped...

Cold Weather Couture with JORD Wood Watches + Giveaway!

It's not a secret that very often a tiny accessory can make even the simplest outfit special and put together. One of those items has been my new JORD wood watch made of warmly toned sandalwood and cooling shade of mint. It's minimal, elegant, wearable, comfy on the wrist, perfeclty designed, it even smells so good (oh, I love sandalwood) and it just makes me feel special. When it comes to watches, I'm all about classic designs with a fun twist. I thought the watch would look nice with my outfit in black and especially with my dark green faux fur that makes the outfit a bit more glamourous. What I liked as well was a perfect wooden box that came with the watch. The box even has a little drawer that controls humidity level in order to maintain the watch in the best conditions. How cool is that? :) 

Lutkitza

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For the first time in my blogging career I'm collaborating with a Serbian brand - Lutkitza that comes from Belgrade, just like me :) Lutkitza is a variation of a Serbian word "lutka" - doll and one of those words that you can't really translate. Well, it is indeed a little doll, the center piece of a necklace that represents a personality and style of a person who wears it. Each "doll" - Lutkitza is 100% unique and handmade. 

     I fell in love with carefully designed details and endless imagination behind them and not to mention the feeling of the movement and life that these dolls have. As if you had your own marionette wearing something that you would wear as well. 

     Today I'm going to show you two of them. One is ladylike and yellow and represents my huge love for this color and the second one is burgundy with a fun chic twist, inspired by my party dress made of burgundy velvet that I've showed you last month. 

For more details, check out the info below:

Instagram: @lutkitza

Facebook: Lutkitza

Email: lutkitza@yahoo.com

...Find your own Lutkitza and be unique...

From Spain to Singapore

I easily get along with open-minded, "international" kind of people like myself and one them is Henna from Singapore, my fellow blogger who also considers herself a global citizen. We decided to join together and show you our winter/summer outfit proposals. Scroll down to see my winter in Spain inspired outfit and check out Henna's blog - The Travelaboratory for summer in Singapore vibes, exotic travels and inspiring (life)style in general. If you like my blog, you'll most likely like hers as well :)

Jaca, Spain

What used to be a city that I had never heard of, now is one of the places that we visit on regular basis. I'm talking about Jaca, Spanish mountain city known es "pearl of the Pyrenees". Not only there are plenty of options for dicovering the huge mountain area that surrounds it or trying some of the most famous Spanish ski centers, but you can stay right there in Jaca and emerge into 16th century while walking around the city's citadel that stands out in its huge pentagonal shape. Oh, and you might find some deers, too :) 

Pyrenees - Where the water falls

Water is something like magic, isn't it? It doesn't matter if it's an ocean, sea, river, lake, spring, artifical pond, ice-cold mountain waterfall or the simple yet incredible fact that we can enjoy all the benefits of this "liquid gold" while being at home or anywhere with the tap water. Water is a symbol of life. After all, we wouldn't be here without it. 

     So there we were, heading to this waterfall called Sorrosal above the little mountain village of Broto. I coulnd't stop wondering why I didn't bring any gloves, so I was mentally heating my hands while thinking how awesome it must be to jump into the water on a hot summer day, at the same time appreciating the fact that I could spend that day, the 1st of January, discovering another hidden corner of our beautiful planet, instead of recovering from some boring party that couldn't interest me less. I would always choose the waterfall.

Pyrenees - Postcards you cannot buy

Pyrenees mountains and family time. A lake as turqouise as Balearic beaches that I'm looking forward to revisit over and over again. Last day of 2016. Fresh mountain air that I want to bottle and breathe at 12 o'clock one day in August. Memories hidden in the real life postcards, the ones that you cannot buy but create for youself.

10 things I enjoy this winter

10 things I enjoy this winter:

Festive in Barcelona

Ok. So maybe you're tired of the festivites and the last thing you need is more sparkle, lights and all that stuff. Or maybe you're totally the opposite and already looking forward to next festive season. I'm somewhere in between, kind of wanting to stay cozy, warm and unproductive haha, but also to be more active and make sure to make this year even better than the last ones. Also, on Friday we celebrate Three Kings in Spain (Los Reyes Magos) - the day when Spanish children receive gifts and this weekend in my home country, Serbia, the majority of people celebrate Ortodox Christmas. So, festive Barcelona it is! :)