Dance a fiery salsa for a burst of sensual energy.
006 SAN SEBASTIAN
CONTACT Cantabria Tourist Department Tel: +34 942 208 299 Fax: +34 942 208 286 www.turismodecantabria.com
Romance in Spain conjures up visions of delicious tapas and free-flowing sangria overlooking the sea. Sharing mouth-watering regional delicacies in a warm sea breeze epitomises the beguiling romantic mellowness of the Spanish coastline where exquisite seafood dining wows gastronomes from around the world, especially in San Sebastian in the north. Chefs throughout Spain speak of San Sebastian in gushing superlatives; this gastronomic stomping ground boasts extraordinary acclaim. Blessed by food-rich geography, San Sebastian (or Donostia in Basque) is the nation’s gourmand capital: an epicurean epicentre that boasts the highest concentrations of Michelin stars on the planet. Gourmet dining is a way of life in San Sebastian where menus deserving of rapturous applause are tantamount to the city’s daily bread. Stroll around San Sebastian’s scallop-shaped bay to discover rich and sumptuous culinary genius, be it a cosy, family-run cafe or a seductive candle-lit bistro. Everyone is a connoisseur in this gastronomic heaven where food is exalted with near-religious fervour and wine consumed with devout zeal. Dubbed ‘The Best Place to Eat on Earth’, San Sebastian draws on some outstanding regional ingredients, from succulent sardines, squid and tuna to tangy sheep’s-milk cheeses and juicy berries.
In centuries past, San Sebastian’s quaint belle époque coastal location provided a fashionable summer getaway where the affluent elite could escape the overpowering heat of the city. Today, the city continues to attract a moneyed mix of haughty aristocracy and blue blood together with a legion of foodie pilgrims seeking the ultimate gourmet experience. On the basis of its unforgettable gastronomic heights, San Sebastian is synonymous with romantic proposals and amorous rendezvous where wine and food play a starring role. Fine 19th-century grandeur fans out from wide promenades to cobblestone streets and plazas perfectly framed by mountainous countryside and the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. On the Paseo de la Muelle, fishing boats can be seen unloading their catch straight to the restaurants on the dock. For just-caught freshness, grab a rustic table on the harbour-side at lunchtime and ask to sample the latest haul cooked with olive oil and lemon. You don’t need to locate a French accolade in order to dine like a king in San Sebastian. Pop open a bottle of citrus-rich, semi-sparkling Txakoli, San Sebastian’s socalled ‘romance in a glass’ to witness show-offy waiters pour this light and fragrant white wine from great heights to give it extra fizz.
Food is exaulted with near-religious fervour in San Sebastian.
007 BARCELONA
CONTACT Hotel Omm Tel: +34 934 454 000 Fax: +34 934 454 004 www.hotelomm.es
Catalonia Tourist Office
Email: [email protected] Tel: +34 93 484 97 55 Fax: +34 93 484 98 20 www.gencat.net
Sharing a few intimate moments of peaceful ‘togetherness’ amidst Barcelona’s urban melee requires calculated planning. Noise permeates every stratum in a glorious metropolitan chorus of roaring traffic and blaring horns. Seductive and inviting, Barcelona’s buzzing vibe lures you in before delivering a mind-blowing sensory assault. Streetwise and stylish, it mixes contemporary architecture with wild imagination, adding tradition, style, neon-lit nightlife and primary hues to the blend. Bag-laden shoppers vie for curb space with street jugglers and vendors. Zen-inspired Hotel Omm offers a chance to flee the chaos of Gaudi and Gucci, offering a sanctuary of peacefulness where stepping into the ultra-chic lobby is to enter a meditative state.
Designed by architect Juli Capella to offer sleek and ambient city space, the Hotel Omm attracts a cool clientele who are hell-bent on chilling out. High above Barcelona’s madding crowds in trendy Paseo de Gracia, a funky rooftop pool provides awesome views. Its Michelin-starred restaurant Moo and hip bar Moodern may be permanently full but this shouldn’t put you off. Style is paramount at Hotel Omm where a clever jigsaw design pays homage to clutter-and-noise-free innovation. Even the rowdiest fashion-forward crowd is barely audible, such are the acoustics. Vast swathes of natural light flood the building, circumnavigating snug enclaves illuminated by mellow lamp glow. Muted earth tones are beautifully contrasted with lacquered crimson detail in a quirky twist on minimalist Asian chic.
In the sweet-smelling Spaciomm Spa, all stresses and strains are banished as you are swaddled in super-soft kimonos and serenaded by tumbling waterfall cascades close to to Jacuzzis, pools, Turkish baths, a steam room, sauna, ice fountain and gravity room. Perfect-pitch wind chimes are suitably soporific and have helped to sooth the furrowed brows of an A-list jet-set crowd that includes Natalie Portman, Joan Branson and numerous faces from Barcelona’s arts elite. An à la carte menu of therapies reads like an upscale Manhattan cocktail bar. As befitting an Asian-styled spa, several treatments centre on ancient Eastern health philosophies such as shiatsu and Ayurvedic massage. Keen to simply lounge around? Then cosy up in the Spaciomm’s stylish relaxation area where reclined steel Jacuzzi chairs offer the decadence of sleepy peacefulness close to a fizzing Champagne fountain.
Cuddle up by a very modern fireside in the Hotel Omm.
008 LANZAROTE
CONTACTS Holistic Holidays at Villa Iris Tel: +44 (0)20 8123 9250 (UK) Tel: +34 928 524 216 www.hoho.co.uk
Derived from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’, meaning ‘to join’, yoga has important connotations when it comes to strengthening romantic ties. As a couple, yoga needn’t purely be enjoyed as two separate individuals – but can be practised together, adding a new dimension to a relationship’s depth and spiritual growth. Couples seeking ways to enjoy a greater bond can use yoga to feel closer to each other, physically and mentally. If all this sounds a bit New Age then fear not. Rather than a far-fetched hippy fad, so-called Couples Yoga is a healthy, new and fun way to spend time with your partner. Based on the ethos that all things are interdependent, exercise and rest are viewed as essential for vibrant health. Laughter and play are life’s fountains of youth, so sessions are suitably packed with giggles, while trust and communication are focused on through touch. ‘Somebody becomes closer and dearer to you as you understand them better’, explains yoga guru Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. ‘Then you enjoy the greater closeness.’
As a core component of all romantic relationships, touch is a binding force. It exchanges energy, allows auras to blend together and unite. Couples Yoga uses prolonged touch with locked eyes to maximise that vital ‘connection’. Deep-breath inhalation, linked hands and bodies positioned just a breath apart preempt a series of slow yoga poses (asanas). Then there is a deep embrace. Many yogic teachings