Travelfood

Spain is a vast country, with counties that differ from each other a great deal. Therefore it feels a bit odd to write about northern Spain in one article. Since the differences are so big, it is understandable that there are many groupings that would like to see for example the Basque country and Catalonia as independent states. What apparently unites the Spaniards is the will to create beautiful objects and eccentric buildings. The Guggenheim museum in Bilbao and the distinctive art and architecture by Gaudi in Barcelona are just a few examples of that.

When travelling by metro in Barcelona, you notice that the announcements are made both in Spanish and Catalonian. When arriving in Bilbao, you notice that the street signs are expressed in both Spanish and the very special Basque language. When the Catalonians are proud of their identity, the Basques go even further: they are both but still friendly towards tourists and visitors. In my youth I stopped also in Salamanca, Burgos, Avila, Santiago de Compostela, Toledo and Segovia and all those towns have their own expressions and atmosphere.

Well-known Spanish delicacies are tortilla (potato omelette), calamares (octopus), paella (rice, meat and vegetables), gazpacho (cold cucumber soup) and air-dried Serrano ham. In Bilbao I tasted Basque béchamel-sauce-filled tuna and in Segovia merluza romana (cod in tomato sauce). For dessert and the sweet-tooth I recommend turron, and especially the almond-filled nougat version.

I would also like to recommend a day-trip from Barcelona. Take the regional train to Montserrat and go by cable-car to the mountain top, where the world famous monastery is situated. The view and fresh air make a gorgeous contrast to the nearby metropol.

Europe, food, Spain, travel, travel experiences