3-13-24 HOTEL VIURA IN ESPAÑA's BASQUE COUNTRY

It was May 2015 - Three weeks in The Land of La Mancha. We enjoyed our last two nights in this land of dreams in one of the coolest hotels on the planet - HOTEL VIURA located in Basque Country. 

After three weeks in the art filled country of Spain, including a week with our kids, in the Spring of 2015, we stayed in Hotel Viura for two nights before flying home. As an architect, I am always looking for interesting, well designed, places to lay my head after a full day of walking, sightseeing or viewing great works of art. Where you stay makes a difference on the pleasure scale when you travel.

If we're True-Blue Vagabonds, we must stay in unique places with great design and great service. With the choices available and the ease with which we can find them, the search for places to stay when you are planning a trip, large or small, is a pleasure. Or I could be an overzealous obsessive architect that refuses to settle. But I'm ok with that. LOL!

Spain is one of the most diverse countries in Europe. With different languages spoken throughout the seventeen communities established in 1978, it is both funny and intriguing to communicate with people all over this art filled country. It must also be said - almost every person we talked to in Spain spoke English. The country's people are friendly and helpful. And, of course, in Spain they create delightful, tasty diverse offerings of Tapas. Ordering is an art in Spain.

Now - Back to the Hotel Viura 

iescape, one of the top places online to find great hotels at reasonable prices states the following on Hotel Viura - 

"Super-cool design hotel bang in the middle of a lovely village and surrounded by Rioja wine fields."

As best I can tell, this ultra-modern funky hotel was designed by mup-arq architects. This group of architects and designers left no stone unturned to create a unique place to sleep, eat and enjoy the pleasures of travel. From the funky hand scribed graphics on the doors to the Bistro Restaurant that served great food and wine.

As we enjoyed the last of a three week stay in Spain, I was so struck by the beauty of the culture of this amazing country. Spain is the largest country in 
Southern Europe and it existed under various dictators until 1975 when it transitioned into a fervent Democracy that has blossomed as a country and a destination for all Roaming Nomads. And, it goes without saying, if you go to this diverse place of beauty

and elegance, you must venture to the Basque area of Northern Spain and stay in one of the coolest

hotels anywhere - The Hotel Viura!

As American Chef Anthony Bordain said -

‘Any reasonable, sentient person who looks at Spain, comes to Spain, eats in Spain, drinks in Spain, they’re going to fall in love. Otherwise, there’s something deeply wrong with you. This is the dream of all the world.’ – Anthony Bourdain"

As this Nomad Architect says - Just Go!! You won't regret it.

D.L.Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

‘Spain is a beautiful country with rich architecture and a huge cultural heritage. Arguably it has it all: mountains, a stunning coastline, and urban life, plus agriculture, mining, and industry.’ – Sir Norman Foster Architect

Sagrada Familia - Barcelona

Please enjoy a cool tune from one of the greatest - Prince. I had the pleasure of seeing this gifted artist a few years ago. I was mesmerized for three hours. He performed this acoustic version of one of his greatest hits - CREAM by PRINCE!