Hey all! I am back from our two week trip to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. I am feeling so inspired. Here are some of the goodies I was inspired by. Some I bought and some I wish I had bought.
01. Morrocan Rugs. They definitely lived up to the hype. I wanted to buy all of them and bring them home to live with me. Instead I bought (and bargained) for two that were old and worn. Only $200 for both!
02. The Big Leather Satchel. In Morocco they had a giant satchel similar to this one except it was yellow. I bargained down to $70 but ended up not buying it. (I had just bought the rugs and was feeling poor.) I’ve been dreaming about it ever since. It was the bag that got away.
03. Churro Maker
04. Joaquin Sorolla Art Book
05. Catarina Martins Handmade Shoes. I came across a little boutique in Lisbon where they sell these increadible handmade shoes. They are honestly the prettiest shoes I’ve ever seen. The leather is soft and the edges are unfinished. Really really beautiful. For handmade shoes they weren’t priced outrageous either. Each pair was around $130.
06. Juicer. Drinking fresh juice everyday is such a luxury, it has me wanting a juicer. Anybody have one they recommend?
07. Baby Shoes. I found an entire baby shoe store in Sevilla where all the little leather shoes were only $20. We were in a rush so I didn’t have time to shop. I wanted to stock up so every time a friend had a baby I could give them an amazing pair of shoes. This picture is going to haunt me the rest of my life. (I didn’t write down the address but I think it was on Avenida de la Constitucion near the Cathedral.)
Amanda
February 29, 2012
Love your rugs! I was just in Morocco too and staying at Peacock Pavilions. Maryam who runs PP gave us a great tip about leather in Morocco. She said if you can see lines and markings on the bag, it’s not good stuff. She said they paint the colour on after the fact and often some of them are really smelly too and the smell never goes away. So she told us to avoid those kinds of bags.
I really regret not buying some rugs while I was there.
I’m super inspired to fill my home with Moroccan delights now. Love reading about your time too. 🙂
Sarah Heat
February 29, 2012
those shoes kill me! I want every pair for my kids! (and myself- especially the cobalt blue!) Sigh.
Tina
February 29, 2012
Oscar juicers are amazing and keep more of the nutrition in juices compared to centrifugal juicers: http://www.oscar-living-juicer.com/
Alyssa @ Aurora Shoe Co.
February 29, 2012
Wishing we had bought a rug or two while we were in Morocco as well. We knew they’d be a pain to carry in our backpacks so we passed. I still regret it.
Love for all handmade leather shoes…!
Amanda
February 29, 2012
That bag is fantastic! It would haunt me too 🙂
Kristen
February 29, 2012
I was in Barcelona the same weekend as you…. I LOVED those fresh juices from the market! Couldn’t get enough of them.
Congrats on the finds!
Kasey
February 29, 2012
That really is the bag that got away. I hate that! A churro maker? That seems like an ingenious invention that I really need in my house.
eva b.
February 29, 2012
For the love of satchels! What a loss, I have similar regret, and can relate. But those rugs, my goodness, what a steal.
Hana B
February 29, 2012
Acme juicers are the best! My grandpa has had one for over 40 years. I recently bought a used one from the 1980’s and still works like new!
TASTE
February 29, 2012
The rugs are gorgeous and what a deal!
xxx
Alice Q. Foodie
February 29, 2012
Thanks for sharing – looks like it was an amazing trip – can’t wait to do it myself someday!
Supal {chevrons and éclairs}
February 29, 2012
Love the satchel and the shoes!!
Molly
February 29, 2012
Breville juicer. Just got one. Love it. And I want one of those rugs!!
Tanya H
February 29, 2012
I need a churro maker. NEED! Ohhhh, why don’t we have ingenious little contraptions like this all over the place here in the States? Phooey!
kurt
February 29, 2012
so that is what churro maker looks like!
Yamila
February 29, 2012
I would love a churro maker. I have not seen any here in Australia where I live.
But being from Argentina we eat a lot of churros however, Argentinians eat churros con dulce de leche not churros con chocolate.
Love your blog!
Kristin
February 29, 2012
I’ve had a Breville juicer for the last four years and love it!
http://www.brevilleusa.com/beverages/juicers/juice-fountain-compact.html
Ronnie
February 29, 2012
That Bag That Got Away looks such lovely. I often dream of bags like that. And love those kiddo shoes!
Ronnie xo
sarah-mai
February 29, 2012
Breville juicer…so good!
Megan
February 29, 2012
I LOVE my Breville juicer. I have had it for 5 years. I use it everyday. Its quick very efficient and easy to clean. Fresh juice everyday is a must for me. You can make some amazing combinations. My son who is 3 loves making juice with me. It’s the only way I can get him to consume Kale.
Tulips & Tulle
February 29, 2012
Looks like a great trip! Thanks for sharing!
Livy
February 29, 2012
This left me so inspired! I am headed to southern Spain and then Italy this april and your recent travel posts so fun!
Alyssa
February 29, 2012
Hi Jordan!
I’ve been reading your blog for over a year now, but don’t comment often. However, I just finalized a backpacking trip with my boyfriend this summer – we’re going to be spending 8 weeks in Europe, and visiting all the countries on your list! I was wondering if you have any must-see/must-do lists? Andd I’m of course looking forward to using all your Paris recommendations!
Alyssa
mom in mendon
February 29, 2012
I went to a Sorolla exhibit in San Diego once while Dad waited for me outside, stretched out on the sunny lawn.
Sophia
March 1, 2012
Breville Juicer…get the highest equipment you can afford in their line!
Hannah @ Sparrow + Spark!
March 1, 2012
What great inspiration! Love churros, yum!
Inma
March 1, 2012
Hi Jordan!
Be very,very careful when you cook the churros, if there is air into the mass, they explode!! and the boiling oil can burn you. Make small tests with children away. The mass must be very , very well done, hope your churros maker will work perfect,:)
I wish to see more photos of your trip.
Best regards from Spain
Inma
Kristen
March 1, 2012
I love your finds! I also never thought of making my own churros! That’s very exciting. Let me know if you want to try it out in Paris before you head out 🙂 we’ll be there in a jiffy.
Jaclyn
March 1, 2012
Love hearing about your travels – living vicariously through you while I sip my coffee at work each morning!
Mar
March 1, 2012
Hi Jordan,
Do you still do your shopping in USA and get it ship overseas or have you find a way to avoide International shipping?
Specially for the wedges, I’ve been looking for something like this for ages!
Mar
Natalia
March 1, 2012
Those shoes are adorable! As almost all baby shoes;)
It’s great that you had a very nice journey.
Best wishes from Poland,
Judy Havrilla@cuteanduseful.com
March 1, 2012
Juicer: Short of recommending a brand in particular, I will say that a friend of mine proved (side-by-side test) that most inexpensive juicer makes almost the same amount of juice (the difference was slight, very slight) as a really expensive juicer. One of the selling points on the expensive juicer is more juice from the fruit.
I have a $1 garage sale Juiceman Jr. that the same friend’s mom bought for me. Fresh juice is great, and sometimes I use the pulp directly from the juicer as a face wash/mask sort of thing. A little messy but feels great and is invigorating.
http://www.cuteanduseful.com
Molly W.
March 1, 2012
Lovely list! We lived in Ireland for a year and traveled to Italy, there was a piece of jewelry that I felt too guilty splurging on (I think it was around $100), and it haunted me for a long time. I’m sure the bag was amazing. BUT, the rugs will be such a treasure!!
Katie
March 1, 2012
I love all of it! You are giving me the travel itch so badly. I must go to Morocco.
Belén
March 1, 2012
Hey!!!!!! i love to see this place! made oh happy my day! thanks!
I,m from spain, not from sevilla but if you want we can try to find the shop and buy it! let me know.
Siamsip@hotmail.com
Kisses( aaa i,m living in Austria if you would like to visit us!)
Danielle
March 1, 2012
Ah, I just got back from Morocco, too! Where did you go? I was in Marrakech. Essaouire, Anezi and Agadir (links to my blog posts: http://daniellesotherblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/tour-time.html).
I bought a ton – mirror, bracelets, RayBans…. But wish I had gotten a rug, lantern and purse, too. Too much cool stuff… not enough money! ha!
Txell
March 1, 2012
Hi!
I’m from Barcelona and I’m sorry to say that those juices from Boqueria Market are not traditional from here. They are delicious, but I want to say that they started to do them mainly for all the tourist that arrives each day to this market.
Juices are more typical from Brazil. In Spain we only make orange juice.
I like your blog!
Txell
simone
March 1, 2012
I bought that exact leather yellow bag at a tannery place in morroco. I was so in love with it, but then it realllllllly started to smell like a stinky goat. So I had to get rid of it. I know how you feel about international purchases that haunt you, but this one would have turned goaty! So do not feel too bad.
Amanda Jane Jones
March 1, 2012
LOVE those handmade shoes. great finds Jordan!
Alice
March 1, 2012
Sorolla, good taste! Did you try melindros with chocholate or just churros?
Laura - Fueron Felices
March 2, 2012
Hi Jordan,
Happy to hear you loves Barcelona
There’s a cheaper and smaller version of the churro maker, if you want i can send you one
You just have to make the dough and fry them
http://bazarvictoria.es/tiendabv/product.php?id_product=9953
Have a Good weekend
Laura
Barcelona
H*
March 2, 2012
Love the shoes!!!!!
kisses from Spain!
Zsa Zsa
March 2, 2012
That satchel is divine. And a churro maker? There’s only one place that sells churro con chocolate where I live. Their chocolate is the best but their churros are too oily. I wish I had a churro maker.
Deepa
March 2, 2012
These are all great finds! Where in Morocco did you score the rugs? I love the idea of buying old, worn ones instead of new.
Ana
March 2, 2012
So wonderful!
Jillian In Italy
March 2, 2012
I think we all have a few “bags that got away”. I still have a few from years past that I think about every now and them…
I have a juicer and it’s one of those appliances I was super keen about for around 2 weeks before it was moved to the storage cupboard under the stairs. They just take up a lot of room on a kitchen counter! And some are quite fussy to clean.
Looks like an amazing trip!
Sarah @ Williamsburg Baby
March 2, 2012
Off topic, I wrote about our painting from The Commission Project on my blog! Yay.
http://williamsburgbaby.blogspot.com/2012/03/family-portraits.html
Heather
March 2, 2012
Sounds like a great trip! We’re thinking of planning a trip to Portugal later this spring with our soon-to-be 4 year old, and I’d love to hear more about the places you went, and the experiences you have had.
Jo
March 2, 2012
Oh my… I LOVE that bag!! Never mind, you can buy it when you go back again 😉 And that churros maker!! love all your finds!
caitlin
March 2, 2012
love the moroccan rugs! your trip sounds amazing! i am going to morocco in may – any suggestions or must see spots / cities??