The painful, wonderful joy of Spain’s best tapas bars

by Neil Woodburn on

As a poor college student backpacking through Europe, one of the more painful ordeals I experienced was exercising enough self-restraint at Spain’s delicious tapas bars to not eat myself into even worse poverty.

The temptation was nearly irresistible. Let me set the stage for you: after a full day of walking for miles and taking in the sights, I’d find myself in an aged and weathered pub in the early evening, hunched over the bar and staring at dozens of small plates loaded up with the most tantalizing, bite-sized morsels–each of which pleaded seductively for me to wolf it down.

These compact, culinary masterpieces were dollops of perfection bursting with rich and addictive flavors that threatened to bleed my money belt dry. And, at a couple of bucks a pop, this was a very likely scenario considering that it would have taken a few dozen to satiate my appetite.

I’m looking forward to returning to Spain one day now that I have a real job and with it, the freedom to eat as many damn tapas as I please. In the meantime, I’m going to file away a wonderful Travel & Leisure article I recently came across featuring 36 of the very best tapas bars in San Sebastián, Barcelona, Seville, and Madrid. And then one day, I’m going to eat my way through Spain.

Spain versus Portugal. Can we get along?

by Iva Skoch on

Before going to Portugal for New Year’s, we were advised that we shouldn’t even try to speak Spanish there. If you don’t speak Portuguese, stick with English because the Portuguese don’t like using Spanish, even if they speak it.

I didn’t realize how deep is their resentment toward the Spanish until I saw this sign spray-painted on a building in Alfama, Lisbon.

I feel for you, Portugal. In the early nineties, there were similar signs in Prague: “Shut up, or stay in Germany.”

Want to get around the Prado Museum line?

by Iva Skoch on

I promise I will stop writing about the painfully long lines everywhere you look in Madrid, starting with the lottery lines to the King’s cake line, but seriously…look at this line at the Museo Nacional del Prado. People as far as the eye can see! I haven’t seen a line of art lovers this long even at the Louvre.

Granted, Prado is an amazing museum featuring one of the finest art collections in the world and I understand people want to see it. What I cannot understand is why everyone is waiting in line (for up to 8 hours, I hear) to purchase tickets if you can get tickets online and bypass the line entirely.

Please, do Velazquez a favor, and do not give up on him. Next time you are in Madrid, go to an internet cafe, buy a ticket in advance and get around the people who clearly enjoy queuing up.

Bite of the Real King Cake in Madrid

by Iva Skoch on

Happy belated birthday to Spain’s King Juan Carlos, who turned 70 this past Saturday. I was on hand to see the tradition: hundreds of people lining up for a bite of free birthday cake at Puerta dol Sol this weekend. Actually, that’s not true. They were lining up to celebrate Three Kings day and get a piece of the Roscón de Reyes.

I’d told you a few days ago about the lottery lines here in Madrid, but even they can’t compete with the free cake lines that I saw. The cake was enormous. Most families still celebrate “Kings Day” with the traditional Roscón de Reyes. The cake is eaten with hot chocolate on the night of epiphany when the Wise men come and leave gifts for children. Three Kings are better than one, I guess. Poor Juan Carlos is left behind…

By the way, Hotel Europa (pictured here) is highly recommended. For some 85 euro for two, it is a great deal considering its central location.

Hire a local to be your local buddy

by Neil Woodburn on

Anyone who has ever traveled knows just how rewarding a trip can be when you meet a local who takes you under their wing.

And now there is a website to ensure that this happens.

For a price, of course.

Like-a-Local.com specializes in hooking tourists up with locals in London, Antwerp, Barcelona, Madrid, Amsterdam, Paris, and Lisbon. Simply mention what you are looking to experience (local restaurants, local architecture, local shopping, local etc.) and your hired local will then do what locals do best: show you around like a local. Get it?

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.