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Catalan food traditions
Local specialties abound in Spain. Sampling them is an integral part of the travel experience. A couple years ago I was having lunch in Salamanca and struck up a conversation with a Spanish couple from Catalonia sitting at the adjacent table; they were visiting the city specifically to have a roasted lamb dish. A 6 or 7 hour car ride for a meal. I did not opt for the lamb that day but in nearby Segovia I had the local fat white beans (Judiones) served ceremonially from a large earthenware jug. A memorable experience unique to Segovia. It is one only of innumerable local dishes fun to seek out all…
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Otherworldly climb to the castle in the clouds
At the end of Star Wars Episode 7, The Force Awakens, Rey finds Luke Skywalker on an island of the lost world Ahch-To. In a scene from the following movie, The Last Jedi, Rey asks Luke to join the Resistance to fight against the evil First Order: the sky is overcast, the wind is blowing, and old stone buildings tower over the horizon. Day 6: El Port de la Selva to Palau Saverdera. Total Accumulated Ascent: 723 meters. Maximum Elevation: 680 meters. Distance: 14.8 km. We left El Port de la Selva after a nice breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant. The sun was peeking out, the sea was clam, the…
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We just kept on going…to the tower
The walking notes from Catalan Adventures were detailed. Easy to follow. There were even photos of turnoffs we needed to look out for. Plus we had GPX tracks. My husband generally held the paper walking notes and I checked the GPS. It was pretty simple. Day 3: Coastal trail to Cadaqués. Total Accumulated Ascent: 550 meters, Maximum Elevation: 229 meters. Distance: 15.3 km. Day 3 was a strenuous hike along rugged coastal cliffs. An optional detour to Cap de Norfeu would add significant elevation and time to the 5 hour hike. We were undecided whether we would do the detour. Let’s see how we feel when we get there, we…
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Hiking in Catalonia from the Mediterranean sea to mountain tops
We were greeted in Barcelona train station with loud chants, shrill whistles and a sea of flags. Flags with red and yellow stripes and a white star on blue triangle. My husband and I had landed in Barcelona a mere hour earlier so we weren’t yet familiar with the flags, but it looked similar to the Catalan flag. Surely we hadn’t stumbled upon an independence rally? The autonomous community of Catalonia, with its own language and traditions, has pushed for independence in past, inspired in fact by the Québec sovereignty movement. But this movement was not still alive today, as far as I knew. When we finally made our way through…
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Increase the Awesome
I now recognize the distinctive boisterous chatter of a group of flying swans. It’s my cue to look up to the sky. If I happen to be outside at the right time, I may experience this phenomenon once in a winter. It’s rare. Well, I got very lucky on a sunny day this March break. Against the blue sky I saw not one, but two, large V-shaped formations of swans sailing by. Two “wedges” of swans. Together there were at least 50 birds. I watched the flock glide in unison across the sky until they were out of sight. Awesome. Truly awesome. When the feeling of awe hits me I…
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Letters from across the Atlantic
In 1966 my parents travelled around Europe right after getting married. They purchased a beige VW Beetle direct from the factory in Wolfsburg Germany and embarked on their “four-month motor tour of Europe”. I only heard tidbits about this trip over the years, like their $5 a day budget or the Iberian cowbell they purchased that signals dinner call at the cottage, but overall not a lot. I was aware of the trip. That’s about it. Even for my mother, most details were long forgotten. But apparently not lost. Sorting through my father’s belongings, we discovered my Dad’s little green travel journal and my Mom’s letters to her parents. A…
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Making snow angels
My husband caught me in the act. I didn’t think anyone was watching. It was a snow day. Schools closed. My scheduled work drives cancelled. The storm had brought 30cm+ snow over night. Perfect conditions for making a snow angel. Pure joy. When I came inside the house he showed me the photo. I always liked making snow angels as a kid, I tell him. It’s been a few winters. I wear my snow pants now for extra warmth, not for playing in the snow. It’s hard to resist however flopping down on a good layer of fresh fluffy snow. Swish swish. The weekend brings another winter storm. Snow falling…
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Warm memories of Mexico
It’s been cold this winter. Polar vortex cold. So when I stepped into Nostalgia Latin Market on Kerr street, it was a wee escape to the tropics. Two women were talking in Spanish. Shelves full of Mexican canned good, spices, dried chiles, and other interesting looking products. Fresh made tamales cooling in a basket. I left with some chicken tamales and salsa verde, and knew I would return. On another visit I started talking to the convivial owner. He tells me more about some of the unique Latin and Mexican products he stocks. They offer cooking lessons too. I ask him where he grew up. “Guadalajara, though I spent a lot of…
