Things I love about Spain
This is a list of my happy discoveries as I explore Spain. Things that I find delightful, intriguing, beautiful, and above all, make me smile. It’s often a first encounter with something new that brings about this special joy of discovery. Keeping this list helps me remember this feeling of curiosity and joy in discovering something new. There is no order or categorization. It spans the gamut – culture, language, people, art and architecture, the weather, nature and cities, mountains and seas, and, por supuesto, the food and drink. Qué maravellosa!
Plazas, a meeting place for all, filled with energy and often leafy places to sit and soak in the lively scene (photo is Plaza Olavide in Chamberí)
There is a word for the early hours when you stay out all night: la madruga. I don’t tend to stay out until then but the word encapsulates Spanish nightlife (the verb for getting up super early, madrugar, is not so appealing)
100 km of hiking trails in the peaceful Sierra de Aracena
This tiniest cutiest little street in Alájar
Adding “ita” on the end of words to make it smaller, like cañita, pequeñita, perrita (a little doggie). Adorable.
Church bells ringing on the hour in pueblos, like Alájar, and chiming twice in case you miss it the first time
Rows and rows of olives trees as far as I could see on bus ride from Sevilla to Córdoba
Chorizo on pizza. It’s just so much better than pepperoni! (Photo is the restaurant Plazita in Alájar where I had my first pizza with chorizo)
Early afternoon is 3 pm. Love the long leisurely and bright afternoons.
Learned a new word in my Spanish class which brings new meaning to the name of a restaurant in Córdoba I really enjoyed: Tinaja. It’s a large earthenware jug to store wine. (It was at Tinaja I also had my first Ajo Blanco, a creamy chilled soup made of almonds and garlic)
The custom of a free tapa with your drink (in Madrid, the free tapa is often good quality potato chips or olives)
Getting a free tapa when you get a free drink. What’s not love about that!
Tomato salad at Taberna Elisa
The tradition of vermut. It’s sweet, herbaceous and always a unique experience if you order al grifo
Gambas al ajillo at La Casa del Abuelo. The garlicky oil is amazing.
Having your glass of wine poured at your table so you can see the bottle.
Walking from pueblo to pueblo, stopping for a morning coffee or lunch in one, and then continuing on to the next.
Spotting the village in the distance that you are walking towards. The destination is in sight!
A tiny pueblo with only one place to eat, drink, gather, and chalar. It’s where it all happens. It may not have a sign or any evidence on google maps so you may need a local to tell you where it is.
Friendly people in small villages, like the man in Facheca who offered his binoculars as I gazed at the view
Using a turnstile to buy nuns cookies (dulces) from cloistered nuns at a convent.
Train stations that feel like beautiful museums (like Valencia’s Estación del Norte)
A house drink not on the menu. Watch what they are making the bar. I had a shot of espresso and brandy in a café in Finestrat, a nice hit on a rainy day. In Facheca, the server plopped a bottle of their homemade aperitif (liquorice flavoured) on my table after a delicious and hearty dinner. Better than dessert!
Ordering a glass of the house wine and your server brings the whole bottle and leaves it on the table for you to enjoy as you please…just like at home.
Beautifully labelled food stalls (using azulejos) at Mercado Triana…and stopping to eating at one.
There is an ancient Roman wall at one end of Mercado Triana
The gorgeous stain glass depicting historical highlights of Málaga in the bustling Atarazana Market
Menú del día, a wonderful and delectable concept
Zamburiñas, a sweet scallop from Galicia, prepared simply with a squeeze of lemon and bread to mop up the juices
Spanish olives. Eaten daily.
Ancient olive trees, they can be 600-800 years old (like this one in Alicante mountains)
Spain has a unique deck of cards – baraja (deck) española. The four suits are: espadas (swords), copas (cups), oros (coins), bastos (clubs)
If something is “sota, caballo y rey” (in reference to the jack, knight and king in cards) it means it’s routine, predictable, tried and true…like a three course menú del día
Old men playing cards in the local taverna of small towns
Shopping at traditional markets like El Cabanyal. I love the sounds, chatter, the hum of energy and Bar Central for a café or tapa
The Art Deco glory of Mercado Colón (Valencia)
The struggle between good and bad government depicted in the 14th century golden coffered ceiling at La Lonja
Arroz Meloso, a creamier brothier rice dish compared to a paella.
The traditional breakfast of tostado con tomate y aceite de oliva (toast with fresh tomato and olive oil). Orange juice is almost always fresh squeezed.
Being called cariño by older women. It’s a term of endearment like “dear” but has much nicer ring to it.
Buen rollo or good vibes watching the sunset at Temple de Debod.
Exploring centenario businesses in Madrid – shops and taverns over 100 years old – which are filled with treasures…and often vermut al grifo
There are 2 cold tomato soups in Spain – gazpacho and the thicker salmorejo – and I can’t decide which I prefer because they are both absolutely delicious.
Strangers wishing me Buen Provecho at a bar or restaurant.
The ancient pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago – there are multiple routes through Spain (and other countries) but all lead to Santiago de Compostela.
Pinchos. More pinchos.
Spanish fiestas. Exuberant, joyful, fun.
