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Tapa Thursdays: Where’s Cat?
Studying abroad in Valladolid changed many things about me, from the way I spoke Spanish to the direction my life way to take. It also made me appreciated wine. Sitting just south of the Ribera del...
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Tapa Thursdays: Eating (and drinking) La Rioja
When it came to the last region of Spain left to visit, I didn’t have to do much planning: I was in La Rioja, Spain’s wine country, and I was going to drink as much vinate as possible. But, as any...
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Seville Snapshot: Bodega Marqués de Riscal in Eltziego (País Vasco)
As a traveler, I should take pride in really getting to know a city, to meeting and talking with its people and to finding its heart. Travel Confession: I love kitschy sites, kitschy souvenirs and...
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Tapa Thursdays: The Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid
When I came to Spain to study, my first meal was far from memorable – a slop of mayonnaise, potatoes and nothing else discernable. I was convinced that I didn’t like Spanish food, nervous to move back...
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Tapas Thursday: Eating Italy
Little known fact about me: Italian food is as much a part of my family’s table fare as meat and potatoes. And I have not one ounce of sangue italiano in me. There’s two parts to this story: firstly,...
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From Wine Tasting to Extraordinary Architecture: Discovering the Douro Valley
Author’s Note: Seville wasn’t always the object of my Spanish affection: I spent six weeks living with a host family in Valladolid, perfecting my castellano accent and drinking copious amounts of...
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Spain Snapshots: Little Known Wines from Spain and Portugal
You should blame my host family for my love of wine. Not used to drinking with dinner, they’d top up my glass with rich Ribera del Duero wines, saying it was all part of the cultural experience. (if...
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Picking Winter Fruit in Southern Spain
In the winter months, citrus fruits, figs, mushrooms and chestnuts are ripe and ready to be picked. Olive oil harvests begin, and crops like pumpkins, avocados and leeks begin to pop up in...
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Tapa Thursdays: Eating at a Guachinche on Tenerife
Julie’s plan had only three itinerary stops on my only full-day on Tenerife: Rental car. Teide. Guachinche Eager not to ruin my own surprise, I refused to give into sneaking a peek at what this...
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Tapa Thursday: Meson Sabika in Naperville, Illinois
Growing up, I didn’t even know Spanish food existed. My mother is not an adventurous eater, and even our tacos were devoid of spice, onions and garlic powder. When I began studying Spanish at age 13,...
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Autonomous Community Spotlight: La Rioja
Not one to make travel goals, I did make one when coming to Spain: visit all 17 autonomous communities at least once before going home. While Madrid, Barcelona and Seville are the stars of the tourist...
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Tapa Thursday: Vermouth
My biggest ambition in life is to become a Spanish abuelo. Who wouldn’t want to spend the days leisurely reading a paper in the bar down the street, sucking down a vermouth while looking adorable?...
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Wine Tasting for Dummies: An Afternoon with With Locals in Spain
“Wine snobbery is ruining the pure pleasure of a nice glass of wine,” Adolfo remarked as he poured us a young Verdejo from Northern Spain. “You like what you like, period.” We studied the color of the...
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