Cambodia is known as the Kingdom of Wonder and now that I’ve seen the Angkor temples for myself I couldn’t agree more. After 10 days in Vietnam we headed to Cambodia and were completely blown away by its beauty and history. In this post I’ve compiled some important tips that you will need to know…
What you need to know before visiting the Angkor temples of Cambodia
Angkor was the impressive capital city of the Khmer Empire (9th to 15th centuries) and is located in the province of Siem Reap, Cambodia. Khmer emperors constructed breathtaking temples and palaces to display their power, wealth, and religious devotion and (luckily for us) many of these structures are still standing today. Angkor Wat is the…
Part 1: Applying for permanent residency in Spain
I’m finally getting permanent residency in Spain! I’ve been living and working in Europe for the last five years thanks to me and Javi’s civil union (pareja de hecho). However my residency expires next month so we went to the Oficina de Extranjería (immigration/foreigner office) in Cádiz to submit my paperwork. Keep in mind you…
What I wish I’d known before filing taxes as an expat
I was on my second bottle of Fino at the feria of Jerez when the sobering topic of expat taxes came up. While chatting to a fellow American expat, who just happened to be banker, I learned the consequences of tax evasion could not just affect me, but my family as well. At this point we…
Attending the Feria del Langostino in Sanlúcar
Last night I had the pleasure to attend the first-ever Feria del Langostino here in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. The event was put on by a collection of local businesses and organizations with the intent of showcasing two of Sanlúcar’s star products—wine and langostinos (King Prawns). Eight restaurants were chosen to participate in the fair and the…
Weekend getaway guide to Lagos
With family in town I had the perfect excuse to plan a weekend getaway to one of my favorite cities in Portugal…Lagos! I love visiting Lagos for its quaint historic center, balmy weather, gorgeous grottos, and lively party scene—not to mention it’s home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches! Javi and I have…
Enjoying coves, caves & cava on a private yacht in Majorca
I‘ve mentioned before it‘s necessary to rent a car if you want to see the best coves of Majorca (i.e. Mallorca)…but it‘s even better if you can rent a boat! When Activity Fan contacted me about doing a yacht excursion post I jumped at the opportunity to go. If you watched my Instagram stories during…
Luxury yachts, sunsets & champagne in Mallorca
This past weekend Javi and I went to Mallorca to visit family and friends. Before the trip we were researching boat rental options, so you can imagine my delight when Activity Fan reached out to me about doing a yacht excursion post! Myself along with five friends were invited to enjoy a sunset cruise on…
Finding a flamenco dress for a Spanish feria (Feria de la Manzanilla)
In an attempt to fully immerse myself in Spanish culture during my year abroad, I decided to participate in all of Sanlúcar’s events and fiestas to the best of my abilities. This included learning how to dance sevillanas and purchasing my very own traje de gitana (flamenco dress) for the annual fair (aka. feria). As you…
Everything you need to know about Sanlúcar’s Feria de la Manzanilla
This year Sanlúcar de Barrameda’s feria will take place from June 6 – 11, 2023. When you think of stereotypical “Spain” what comes to mind? For me it’s flamenco dresses, good wine, music, and dancing…and Sanlúcar de Barrameda’s Feria de la Manzanilla encompasses all of these elements and then some! Cities all over Spain have…