Will Grofic & Abigail Benson

Will & Abigail

October 17, 2009

Will Grofic & Abigail Benson

Will & Abigail

October 17, 2009

On October 18th, the day after our blessed union, we will be international! (Canada doesn't count, and they know it.) Now I know you've been thinking, "well I've seen there place (all 400 square feet of it), they don't need another gravy bowl holder," and you're right, you really only need 7 gravy bowl holders... one for each day of the week.

So we thought you may like to be a part of our adventure, our first time away from the states (again Canada, you are US's top hat, get over us). We thought you might like to know where we're going and what type of fun we shall have.

So this website is for those that would rather contribute to an experience, one we shan't ever forget.

Another reason to help: we haven't had a vacation in 3 years, are on sanity's edge, and fiend for this vacation. When we walk to the gym, we pretend we're walking around a fantastic city. We pretend we're Anthony Bourdain and wrap up every walk like it was a life-changing moment or we were Paul Theroux walking down Arlington sidewalks. Not really, but we are thoroughly looking forward to this vacation.

Note: Sorry for any Canadians. I love Arcade Fire, Patrick Roy, and Mike Myers, if that helps.

We're going to Andalucia, Spain!

Our honeymoon consists of three destinations, all centered around southern Spain (otherwise known as Andalucia): Sevilla, Costa de la Luz, and Arcos de la Frontera.

Sevilla is everything we want from a city: history, culture, flamenco, sangria, and Moorish palaces!

Costa de la Luz is supposed to be pristine beaches, which although it will be October should be still good swimming weather (well to those acclimated to the Jersey Shore and above it will be perfect, for us Ocean City and Outer Banks as Abby puts it "bath water" swimming types, it may be on the verge of reading only, but I digress). The beaches are buttressed by national parks, magnificent dunes, Roman ruins, and great seafood. For this beach-side relaxed portion of the trip, we will be staying in the small town of Zahara de los Atunes.

Arcos de la Frontera is one of the great beautiful white washed towns of southern Spain. It has the most beautiful side streets and is cheap! Beautiful and economical= travelers' delight. It's also a great jump-off spot to other destinations such as the beautiful ancient port city of Cadiz and sherry-producing Jerez de la Frontera.

Below we'll have dinners, places, and day trips available for you to help contribute to.

As the Spanish say, Hola! Muchas gracias, morado conejito!

Note: They don't actually say, "Many thanks, purple bunny!" Nor should they.

Our Registry

A Nights Stay
What to do in a foreign land
Transportation
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Night in Zahara de los Atunes, at Hotel Gran Sol on the beach
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Night in Arcos de la Frontera at the beautiful La Casa Grande
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Night at Hotel Alcantara in Sevilla. Note: Ed and Anna Grofic recommended this place when they stayed in Sevilla, but the hotel didn't have any double beds on our visit back to Sevilla, and who wants to push two single beds together on our honeymoon?
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Night in Apartamentos Murillo in Sevilla. They are apartments, but apparently also have studios? Otherwise known as a regular hotel room? I'm intrigued. One of the top rated budget hotels in the great downtown area Barrio de Santa Cruz.
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Day trip to the Roman ruins at Baelo Claudia in the little port town of Bolonia
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Day trip to one point on the "Sherry Triangle" in Jerez de la Frontera, includes a tour of sherry vineyards and imbibing in sherry
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Day trip to explore Cadiz, its golden Cathedral, old watchtowers, great city museum, and a church that contains 3 Francisco de Goya paintings.
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Seafood dinner from our hotel's terrace restaurant in Zahara de los Atunes. Share some paella and gaze out into the Atlantic Ocean.
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Eat tapas at El Aljibe in Cadiz, Lonely Planet's Author Choice. The cuisine's a delicious combination of traditional and adventurous-- Iberian pork sirloin stuffed with Emmental cheese, ham and piquant peppers, couscous with raisins and wine...delicious.
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Eat at El Faro in Cadiz, Starred review in Fodor's: This famous fishing-quarter restaurant is deservedly known as the best in the province.
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Drinks at El Garlochi(Sevilla) "Dedicated entirely to Christian iconography, El Garlochi hits you with clouds of incense, sombre processional music, Jesus and Virgin images and potent cocktails with names like Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ)."
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Eat tapas at Taberna Coloniales (sometimes called Los Coloniales). From Lonely Planet, "make sure you eat here at least once: the superb tapas are huge (try the churrasco) and as cheap as they get." How chill does everyone look in this link belo
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Flamenco Night! Either at the Cada de la Memoria de Al-Andalus which is a highly recommended show in a great patio setting or at Los Gallos, recommended but not "highly." Los Gallos is literally a block away from our place.
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Drink Sangria and watch impromptu flamenco at La Carboneria. A converted coal yard in the Barrio de Santa Cruz with two large rooms, each with a bar. Oh and it's open until 4am. Recommended by Ed and Anna Grofic, who probably shut the place down.
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Eat at El Convento in Arcos de la Frontera. Fodor's Review: "the sopa de tagarninas (wild asparagus soup) is one of the town treasures, as are the garbanzos con tomillo (chickpeas with thyme) and the abajado (wild rabbit or lamb stew)."
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Eat at El Rinconcillo in Sevilla. From NYT, "Not many tapas bars can claim to be 337 years old. This is a classic hole-in-the-wall. Standouts from the menu include tiny fried fish and a half-portion of jamon Serrano.
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Bus from Sevilla to Zahara de los Atunes
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Bus from Zahara de los Atunes to Arcos de la Frontera
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Bus from Arcos de la Frontera to Sevilla
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A rental car for day excursion along the Costa de la Luz
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Roundtrip Flight from Philly to Sevilla
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