Experience
the Exhilaration of Spain
Hola! Are you ready
to experience the land of the flaming flamenco, football and fiesta?
Bienvenidos! Come with me to experience the rain in Spain, the fascinating
cities, gorgeous beaches and the captivating culture. I am and will always be
intrigued by the kingdom of Spain located on the Iberian Peninsula in Europe.
With endless and attractive sights, things to do and explore, Spain has been
featured on my bucket list as an exhilarating destination.
In my mind, the
land of exotic and vibrant Spain is the epitome of color which takes you by
surprise and wonder. I was so intrigued by La Piel de Toro or The Bull Skin as it is popularly
called, that I started making notes of the exciting sights, festivals and
especially the delicious dishes that I was going to experience. I was also
planning on being chased by the bulls at the much-awaited ‘Running of the Bulls’ at a noted Andalusian
city called
Pamplona which also
showcases Islamic architecture. I am just waiting to include interesting and
inviting fiestas like the Fiesta
de los Patios and
the Romería de Nuesra Señora de le
Cabeza which has been held for over 800 years! Can you
imagine being covered with ripe tomatoes at La
Tomatina where you will
be dripping over with juice from tomatoes? Sightseeing in Spain covers
innumerable UNESCO heritage sites, art museums the most famous being the Museo del Prado, the Picasso
Museum, the Salvador
Dalí Museum and the Guggenheim
Museum and
of course other awesome destinations.
Go on a Tasteful Sojourn with
Breathtaking Culinary Adventures
Being an ardent chef and a foodie at heart, my
adventurous spirit has been inspired by gourmet and peasant cuisines. Steeped
in Mediterranean roots, Spain showcases the popular paella which can be
combined with vegetables, seafood or meats. I am waiting to devour pescaíto frito or fried fish, Castilian soup, vegetable and
fish-based stews, the lightly cured lacón ham and a variety of seafood. It would be
great to start off my day with graham crackers and Magdalena, a sweet muffin before I move to an adventure-filled culinary
journey with a before-lunch snack of bocadillos calientes which are hot
sandwiches filled with bacon, tortilla, pork loin and sausage.
Disfruta tu comida…enjoy your food! That’s what warms the
cockles of my heart! I just love the cultural influences of Spain with its
Mediterranean Spain, Inner Spain and the Atlantic Spain cuisines that range
over soups like gazpacho, rice
based dishes, stews and seafood. It would be wonderful to sit down to a meal
filled with culinary delights after exploring the cathedrals, museums and the
awesome architecture of Barcelona. Exhibiting the much-talked about Catalan
cuisine, Barcelona showcases the famed truffled sweet potato, cod brandade and
oxtail soup to enchant the taste buds of adventurous spirits. Madrid opens out
avenues of shopping with its central barrio and is ideal for picking up quirky
gifts and souvenirs. Which adventurer is not fascinated by history? I just love
the passionate and sophisticated lifestyle of Spain as it uncovers the secrets
of the Alhambra in Granada with its fortified palace, the seat of the Nasrid
emirs.
Witness a
Kaleidoscope of Sights, Sounds and Sensations
If
you love exploring, the Alcázar in Seville ranges out the Mudéjar and Christian
architecture which houses the UNESCO-listed palace complex of Palacio de Don
Pedro which is breathtaking and memorable taking pride of place. Enriching a
rich culture, Córdoba beckons with its spacious and remarkable Mezquita. Toning
up the sweet life, I would just adore to sink into a cushion of oblivion at
Ibiza and relax on the sun-drenched beach sipping a Cava and enjoying the Tapas
or starters. Did I tell you that the beaches of Tenerife, Mallorca and Gran
Canaria are just as inviting and relaxing? I could sit all day watching the
waves and chilling out with great seafood dishes such as Pulpo a la Gallega or boiled octopus, Sepia or cuttlefish, Calamares
or squid, Buñuelos de Bacalao deep
fried and breaded cod, garlic shrimp or Gambas
Ajillo and Pescado Frito or
fried fish.
My bucket list
seems to grow immeasurably with sights, sounds and sensations of Spain as you
visit San Sebastián. Your day will turn into myriad adventures as you explore
the amazing Aquarium and its marine life. Not to miss sights are the scenic Parque de Cristina Enea, the
fiesta-inspiring Playa de la Concha and the Playa de Ondarreta and the
Kursaal which showcases cultural and conference centers. You can make a pit stop at the numerous bars and cafes where you can
enjoy the pintxos and sip Horchata, a non-alcoholic
drink, Sangria,
sherry wine or Fino and Cider or Sidra.
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