Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 7
The seventh week of Fashion Around Europe, Literally was full of surprises, great people and gorgeous cities and places. We have spent the first days of the week in Spain, on Costa Blanca and from there we went back to France, but this time in the South of the country. Let’s take it step by step.
Valencia
Valencia is one of the most beautiful cities we have visited in Spain. It has everything: good vibes, art, old and modern architecture, narrow streets and amazing weather. It was the late November and it was sunny all day and around 20 degrees in the thermometers. Our favourite way of discovering one city is by getting lost on its streets, so this is what we have done in Valencia too.
If you go there you can’t miss the Le Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofia and the Museum of Science. The modernist architecture is just impressive. It doesn’t matter from which angle you are admiring it, you’ll be speechless. We wanted to spend there the hole day but unfortunately we couldn’t.
Hotel Caro
We had the accommodation at Hotel Caro Valencia. It is a five star hotel and you are going to find it in the heart of the city. From there you can explore the old town streets and the small places, but you are also very close to all the other attractions that Valencia has to offer.
We were pleased to find out that Hotel Caro is concerned about art, architecture and history as much as it wants to offer luxury services for it’s clients. Just imagine that you can enjoy the best services, while you are staying in the only historic monument-hotel in Valencia.
The designer of Caro Hotel kept the historical elements found in the building from centuries ago intact. We are talking about pieces like stones, tiles, rocks, wooden walls or a fresco. They are harmoniously integrated with the modern and elegant design elements and they all create a superb atmosphere.
During the hot summer days you can spend the day by the pool in the yard and if you want to have a culinary experience, you can book a table to the hotel’s Michelin starred restaurant
Visori
In the last day spent in Valencia, before heading to Barcelona, we passed by Visori, a Spanish fashion brand that creates cool and unique pieces for the smart, busy and stylish woman. Visori brand is not about numbers and numbers, it’s about making you feel special in a trendy way. Visori likes to recycle old denim and create new and cool outfits, but also likes to create capsule collections, which are timeless, chic and special. You will find out more about this in the upcoming documentary and book.
Barcelona
They say that Barcelona is the most beautiful city in Europe, so you can imagine how curios and impatient I was to discover it. We arrived late in the evening so we went straight to the Sir Victor Hotel and we didn’t get to see it until the next day.
Sir Victor Hotel
We spent three nights at Sir Victor Hotel in Barcelona and I have to tell you that they were a blast, because the attention paid to each detail makes you feel special and like home. The staff is so friendly and ready to help you every second of your staying.
There are so many aspects that I loved about Sir Victor Hotel, that I don’t even know from where to start, but I’ll take them step by step. First of all, you have to know the story behind the name of the hotel. Sir Victor is one of the most famous Spanish novelists and poets, but he was actually a woman. Caterina Albert i Paradis was fighting for woman’s rights and she used her writings in order to achieve this and not being banned, she used to sign her books as Victor Catala.
So the hotel is an homage to Sir Victor, but it also supports the young local artists. Around the rooms, the lobby and the common spaces you will find pieces of art, which worth around 2 millions euro. More than this, at the first floor you will find a library which is called The Study. It is an homage to Sir Victor, but also for all the women around the world. The Study is designed by Clementina, the hotel’s communications manager. She, with the help of one friend, gathered around 800 books about women and written mostly about women. Empowering women is their mission and we love this about Sir Victor Hotel.
Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 7
It will be hard to get out from the hotel and visit Barcelona because it has an amazing spa, a terrace with breathtaking views and an outdoor swimming pool on it. Also, you can enjoy a delicious lunch by the pool. The rooms are stylish, very comfortable and with modern and authentic design. By the way, Sir Victor’s beds are so comfortable that when you lie down, you feel like they are hugging you. The mattresses are specially designed for the hotel, you won’t find them anywhere in shops, but you can order them from the hotel’s website.
This being said, I guess you can imagine how hard was for us to get out the hotel, but in the end, we made it. At the first sight, I wasn’t very impressed by the city and I couldn’t understand why people are so in love with it, but after walking more around, I discovered its vibe, glamour and beauty. The harbour, the beach, Guadi’s work and buildings were impressive and I can’t wait for that moment when La Sagrada Familia will be finalised.
Barcelona is the city that has a bit of everything and we are very grateful for the fact that in each place we stop, we meet people, we find out their stories and we connect with their energy. I know I have told you this many times, but this is the difference between a tourist and a traveler.
If you are an art lover, you have to check Boca Grande Restaurant and Boca Chicca Bar. You will find them in the same building and you will have a wonderful time. Just imagine that you are having a Gin Tonic cocktail with gold particles while you are admiring original, yes original, Miro and Andy Warhol paintings or Dali’s drawings. This is something you won’t forget easily. Thanks to our friend Joel for taking us there.
Our culinary experience in Barcelona was quite hard to forget too. We have been invited to have lunch in two restaurants that received Michelin Guide distinction for high quality cooking and products.
At Roig Robi we discovered a cosy place where the love for art is blending in with the passion for flavours. Inspired by the traditional Catalan cuisine, the dishes are interpreted and presented in a modern and urban way. All the ingredients are fresh and of high-quality. The menus are adapted to the seasons, so you can be sure that you are having the best food in such a tasty way.
Another day we had lunch at Xavier Pell restaurant and I have to tell you that we loved the concept behind it. This restaurant is made for everyone: gourmand, vegetarian or vegan, it doesn’t matter which are your preferences, because everyone will be satisfied and happy. Xavaier Pell’s menus are seasonal, they count a lot on the weather and on the production of vegetables and fruits of that time of the year. This is how you can make sure that you are having only fresh ingredients.
Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 7
Also, this restaurant it’s taking care of your health, which means that on your plate you will always find 70% vegetables and only 30% proteins. All the deserts are made without sugar or withe flower, this meaning that you will get the experience of fine dining without feeling heavy and full. Ahh, have you ever tried deserts made from vegetables? Here you will find them and they are so, so good. We totally recommend them.
In order to gather more information about fashion around Europe for our following documentary and book, we had a meeting at IED Barcelona. Instituto di Moda Barcelona is one of the best fashion schools in town and in Europe. It is focused on creating young well-prepared talents and with its busy, hard and demanding programme it is succeeding it year by year. It was such a interesting talk, especially because we found out that the young designers have sustainability and recycling concepts in their DNA.
Disfrutar
Our stop in Barcelona culminated with having dinner at the Disfrutar restaurant. I can tell you from the beginning that this is an experience that we will always talk about, because it was so surprising and tasteful. First of all, you have to know that Disfrutar received 2 Michelin stars for its exquisite.
If you think that having dinner in a 2 Michelin star restaurant is going to be very formal, it’s quite the opposite. From the first moment we entered the place we’ve been welcomed by a big smile. We felt relaxed and like home. The design of the restaurant is very interesting as you get to see everything in the kitchen.
The stuff is very friendly, always ready to give you informations about the courses and you have to know that in the restaurant are working around 30 persons or more. Their moves and way of serving the plates look like they are taken from a spectacle.
The experience at Disfrutar is complex and multi sensorial. Through the 25 courses journey, you have time to awake all your senses and explore different states of mind. The way the three chefs are playing with the fifth tastes and with your imagination is unique. With each course your are surprised again and again, they leave you wishing for more and more. Some of my favourite moments of the dinner were when rubbed our hands with fresh basil or with smoked whiskey in order to enhance the taste of the dishes. That was insane.
Check out: Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 6
Before, I was telling you that we feel so lucky because we get to know inspirational people. It happened also at Disfrutar. After the dinner, we had a chat with the Chef Eduard Xatruch Cerro, who showed all the place where all the magic happens. Thank you for this delightful moments, we can’t wait to be back at Disfrutar.
This being said, we had a wonderful time in Barcelona and it was like this thanks to the wonderful people that make our experiences complete.
Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 7
After staying in Spain almost two weeks, it was the time to go back in France, but this time on the French Riviera. We stopped for one night in a small and coquette city called Nimes, then we visited the pink flamingos which are found in the delta of the Ron River. It was so magical that I took around 1000 photos only with the flamingos. You have to write this on your wish list. It’s incredible how the beauty of nature can bring you such joy.
From there we drove to Saint Tropez where we spent 2 more nights. We visited also the coquette cities around and I must say that I have fallen in love for life with Cote D’Aur. We saw one of the most beautiful sunsets, the sky was literally burning and it was so romantic.
Before heading to Italy, we spent one more night close to Nice, at Cap d’Ail and we woke up with the sea in front of our eyes. It was magical and I wish you to take your time and discover too the French Riviera.
On our last night here, we were invited to have dinner at Les Bacchanales Restaurant. The Chef Christophe Dufau transformed a restaurant in the place where you feel loved, relaxed and spoiled by its cosiness, tasty food and lovely surroundings.
It was pouring rain when we arrived at the restaurant and when we entered the welcoming committee was already there. Kenzo and Eto the dogs of Christophe were absolutely adorable and cute. They were waiting for us and I couldn’t stop myself from kissing and hugging them. Also during the dinner, they stayed close to our table and we felt so happy enjoying the great dishes next to the fire place and them.
Christophe has an inspiring story, he is very kind and he put all his heart into building Les Bacchanales, which received one Michelin Guide Star. The place it’s perfect, because you won’t go there just for the food, you will go there because you feel like home.
On our way to Italy, we made a quick stop in Monte Carlo, where we interviewed for the documentary and the book the youngest emergent designer in Monaco.
Inessa Creation
Inessa Creation is a pure talent that is creating craft fashion. She is more than a designer, she is an artist and her paintings are full of emotions, motifs and meanings. Here inspiration comes from the people around her. She is so passionate about her work that you can see sparkles in her eyes when she is talking about fashion, design and creativity. Her future will be bright and you should keep an eye on her too.
Travel Report: Fashion Around Europe, Literally – Week 5
That’s it for now. It was such an intense week and we can’t wait to see what’s the next one cooking for us. See you in a few days!