If you fancy buying a nice bottle of cava to savour on your own then check out La Licorera (on Calle Taulat, el Poblenou). The bodega opened in 1932 and has been run by three generations of the same family. Look out for the parrot behind the counter – apparently he was given to the shop owners in 1957, and used to confuse the tram drivers as he imitated the whistle signal. He died in 1992 (aged 46) and was preserved by his owner.
Blend in with the locals and hire a scooter from Via Vespa. If you’re feeling brave you can just set off on your own, or you can book a guided tour. Travelling around by scooter is very popular in the city and it’s a great alternative to the tour bus!
Explore the Christmas market at the front of the cathedral, admire the fantastic lights around the main streets of the city (including the water and music show at Montjuic’s Magic Fountain) and check out the historic Circ Raluy travelling circus that is down by Port Vell – I love the old circus caravans.
Hotel Casa Fuster- for a special occasion this really is my go-to place. It was a gift from Senor Fuster to his wife (how’s that for a romantic gesture?) and is the most incredible building inside and out. The hotel is at the top of Passeig de Gracia – one of the main shopping streets - and it’s well worth walking the few extra yards to have a look. Woody Allen is just one of the artists who’ve played on their ‘Jazz Club’ nights, and the view from the roof terrace is amazing (so are the cocktails)!
Three things to try –
Pintxos – these are ‘tapas on bread’, a round of baguette with some sort of topping (hot or cold), held together by a small skewer (toothpick). Sample an assortment and then count up the skewers at the end to calculate your bill. These really are delicious, but be warned – they’re addictive!
Botifarra – a type of sausage that you’ll find on most menus in Barcelona. Very meaty and quite different to our own British bangers!
Patatas Bravas – cubes of fried potato served with a spicy tomato sauce and/or aioli. You’ll find this dish on most tapas menus, along with pan con tomate. Try both!
Or capture a warm and fuzzy feeling in Cheshire!
Tippermere might be a fictional village, but Cheshire is very much a real county and has been my home for many years. I’ve walked my dogs, ridden my horses, visited country shows and listened to the local gossip in many village shops and pubs. There is something special about the UK countryside at Christmas time – which is why I used it as the setting for ‘The Holiday Swap’. Florence is drawn back there because it’s like nowhere else in the world! Here are a few of my suggestions for wonderful things to do in the winter.
Tatton Park has always been one of my favourite places to walk the dog. In the winter it’s quite magical, with a lovely parkland that sweeps down to the water, and a mansion that takes you back in time (I like to imagine I live there – okay maybe a dream too far!). You can stroll through the park where deer roam freely then visit the mansion and listen to Christmas carols. I always used to take my son to visit Father Christmas at the Farm (he’s now a bit too old for that kind of thing) and then afterwards treat myself to a mince pie in ‘The Stables’, followed by a browse through the ‘Housekeeper’s Store’ which stocks delicious food!
Build a snowman – if the snowfall has been light, the one place within an easy drive where there is nearly always enough snow to build a snowman is on The Cat and Fiddle Road (A537 between Macclesfield and Buxton) in the Peak District National Park. It’s the perfect place for a bracing walk, and if the Cat and Fiddle pub (the second-highest inn in England) is open you can have a warm up by the fire!
Visit a Christmas market – these are more often than not at the end of November, or early December but really put me in the festive mood! I love the smell of roasting chestnuts, the cinnamon and spice from the mulled wine, and the scent of pine – not to mention the lovely golds, reds, greens and sparkles everywhere. I love the friendly small village fairs, and the much bigger town and city ones. And I always end up buying presents and decorations.
Visit The Bull’s Head, Mobberley – there is nothing quite like a cosy, country pub in the winter and this is one of my favourites. Sit by the blazing fire, admire the hops hanging from the beams and enjoy a glass of mulled wine or beer as you sample some of the home-cooked food. If you’ve been out walking, this is one place where dogs are welcome.
Stock up on some delicious goodies from The Hollies Farm Shop at Little Budworth, then for the perfect Christmas find a cottage (like Daisy’s) to rent with a fireplace. Make your own mulled wine, stack the logs on the fire, and roast chestnuts or marshmallows.
Three things to try –
Toasted marshmallows – toasted over an open fire (or grilled if you need to!), these gooey treats always cheer me up. Just make sure you don’t char them, or set them alight!
Mulled wine – what could be nicer than wrapping your hands round a warm glass of mulled wine after you’ve been out in the cold? Nothing says Christmas quite like that smell of cinnamon, fruit, cloves and nutmeg.
Chestnut stuffing – my favourite stuffing on Christmas Day is a Delia Smith recipe, http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/international/european/british/eighteenth-century-chestnut-stuffing Christmas wouldn’t be the same without it!
Why not visit my website at www.zarastoneley.com where you’ll find out more about the secret corners of Barcelona and Cheshire I love so much, plus news, competitions and giveaways. I look forward to seeing you there!
Zara x
Acknowledgements
A story is conceived by the author, but there are many influences and helping hands along the way that nurture and transform it into the wonderful end product.
As always I want to say thank you to the wonderful HarperImpulse team: Kimberley Young for her inspiration, Charlotte Ledger for her never-ending support, encouragement and instinct for what will work, and Emily Ruston who has managed to ensure that the thoughts in my head were translated perfectly into words on the page. Thank you also to the fabulous cover designers at HarperCollins – Alexandra Allden who never ceases to amaze me, and Holly McDonald. I do love working with all of you so much!
Alongside the publishing team I’ve also formed many great friendships as a writer - people who have helped with wine, coffee, words and wisdom. Thank you Mandy Baggot and Jane Linfoot for keeping me sane, The Knutsford Literary Society for their inspiring reaction to the exclusive (un-edited) extract of this story, and to Joanne Robertson who makes me smile and introduced me to Tracy Fenton and the fabulous THE Book Club (TBC) who are guaranteed to give me a giggle when the going gets tough!
Thanks also to Nuria and the team at Hotel Casa Fuster in Barcelona, and to my wonderful friend Georgina, who have all helped me fall in love with this incredible city.
And lastly to all my friends and family, whose friendship and support is priceless.
I came across this recently when I was in Barcelona and love the words -
Cuando descubres la verdadera Amistad … tienes un gran Tesoro
When you discover true friendship … you have a great treasure
The Holiday Swap is about friendship as well as romance, about mutual support and understanding, about working together, but most of all about living your dreams. I hope you enjoy it.
Also by Zara Stoneley
Stable Mates
Country Affairs
A Very Country Christmas (A Free Short Story)
Country Rivals
About the Author
Zara Stoneley lives in deepest Cheshire surrounded by horses, dogs, cats and amazing countryside. When she’s not visiting wine bars, artisan markets or admiring the scenery in sexy high heels or green wellies, she can be found in flip flops on the beach in Barcelona, or more likely sampling the tapas!
Her most recent releases, Stable Mates, Country Affairs and Country Rivals, are fun romps through the Cheshire countryside and combine some of her greatest loves – horses, dogs, hot men and strong women (and not forgetting champagne and fast cars)!<
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www.ZaraStoneley.com
@ZaraStoneley.
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The Holiday Swap Page 31