When we can freely travel again, I am taking my daughters to Spain where we will explore the country from coast to coast.
We will hire a handsome tour guide named Javier who, coincidentally, will be well-schooled in the poetry of Federico García Lorca. We will learn the history, architecture, and lay of the land, and in the early afternoons, refortify with cava and white velvety anchovies cured in salt and olive oil .
White anchovies on crispy chicken skin
We will explore the shops and bars in Barcelona’s neighbourhoods, finding respite from the heat in the shade of giant oak trees beside fountains and pools in hidden courtyards. We will order plates of jamon Iberico de bellota and wash down the delicate shavings with goblets of chilled sangria.
Jamon Iberico
We will head south on the coastline to Valencia, dine on paella and roasted lamb and watch flamenco dancers perform beneath the light the moon. To the west, in Seville, we’ll indulge in buckets of plump shrimp and find restaurants that serve Secreto Ibérico, the most delicious part of the Iberian pig. There will be wine, lots of it, and castles, and staircases with treads worn smooth by villagers and kings and those persecuted for love and religion.
Oh, to travel again.
For now, we shall content ourselves by exploring through words and art and food. My latest segment on Edmonton AM was about Spain, and as you can tell, I loved it. Listen to the segment here.
If you’re planning to visit this enchanting country, get a good guide book like Dear Barcelona. It is written by locals and includes many off-the-beaten-path places to explore.
For now, lean on our grocery stores and seafood suppliers to create your own feast of Spain.
Everything procured from Edmonton food and wine stores.
Bilbao style salami, serrano ham, Spanish olives, calamari.
Pull on your stretchy pants, dig into some serrano ham, manchego cheese and olives, and queue up Vicky Cristina Barcelona or any one of these Spain-based films recommended by The Culture Trip.
Adios and viaje seguro!