Lured, like many, with the promise of virgin beaches, I made the pilgrimage to Almería. Though the city itself is rarely a stop on most tourists’ itineraries of Spain, I’m here to say, they’re missing out. For a foodie on a budget, Almería allures even more. Whether gazing longingly at a Mediterranean sunset or hopping … Continue reading
A year ago, I was living in another Spain. Though just four hours away from my current life in Madrid, it was as if stepping into another country, a place you may have heard of, called Andalucía. As I knew Baeza, my small city in Jaén, it was a place defined by poetic words, an … Continue reading
With 6.5 million in the metropolitan area, Madrid is mighty. If you have just a weekend in the Spanish capital, do this. I beg of you. There’s no flamenco listed, nor a stop for the Prado, but rather Madrid’s musts, from a local*. The places I have grown to love–or lust after. 1. Art Hop– … Continue reading
At 1,486 meters, Spain’s tallest village, Trevélez stands tall. Its bulk, painted white, is a postcard image of Spain’s South. Houses stack upon houses on the incredible mountainous slope. Not far off, Spain’s tallest peak rises. Originally, I went to hike. I had wanted to step inside Granada’s Sierra Nevada since living in its provisional … Continue reading
You may have realized by now, I love wine, especially Spanish wine. However, there’s another competing force here. Beer. Or rather, good, special, artisanal beer. In the past 20 years, craft breweries in the U.S. have flourished like Japan during the springtime. But unlike springtime, it shows no signs of abating, luckily. Madrid, on the … Continue reading
This is what happens when you aim and fail; life isn’t always on target. *Outtakes from my day trip to the mountains north of Madrid. Continue reading
“De Madrid al cielo” say Madrileños, (from Madrid to heaven). As Hemingway declared it, “the most Spanish of all cities.” Or bolder still, “The Capital of the World.”* But I confess, I always need to leave it. At least for a quick day trip to its surrounding mountains or relatively sleepy villages. Or, both. The … Continue reading
Cut the Kitsch 