Quicktrip: Campo de Arriba
When a friend suggested a quick overnight trip to the town of Alpuente, I was excited to visit a new region and see other nearby parts of Spain. Originally a Moorish settlement (noted by the "Al" in front of the name of the place), Alpuente is a beautiful place...
Soldier Boys and Girls
In previous posts, I mentioned how much the Spanish culture appreciates a good dress-up event (see here and here and here). I have even participated in some of this type of tomfoolery, as evidenced by my attendance, with a mask, at a full-on masquerade party for a...
The Almighty Calabaza
Occasionally, I will run across something that is surprisingly likable. That means, really, that I am surprised that I actually like it. Today's post is one of those surprises: the Calabaza. The pronunciation here is with the Spanish "th" where the "z" is placed, so...
Three Months
I have now lived in Spain for three months... plus a few days. This past month has been a whirlwind, but also a month of settling into a routine that fits both my new environment and my lifestyle. After all, being in Spain requires a healthy dose of "chilling out,"...
Day Trip: Alicante
The city of Valencia is the capital of the autonomous state of Valencia, which used to be the Kingdom of Valencia. That means that there is a whole lot more to being in the area than just a single city. There are incredible communities and historic sites all over the...
Orange Breeze
This morning, upon leaving the local gym after an invigorating workout, I turned the corner and was struck by an intense smell of oranges. "Welcome to Valencia!" my nose exclaimed. After all, there are days that I am convinced that Valencia is to the citrus world what...
Random Sample #1
Occasionally, I will publish pictures that I have collected but don't really fit in any category or larger post. When I am lucky enough to have my camera handy and find something interesting to photograph, or when the lighting is just perfect, I will take pictures...
Reflections on Senegal, Africa
Gentle readers, I have been taking a few days to get sorted back out after returning from Senegal, Africa. There are so many impressions of my short time there that I am still contemplating much of the experience. To be very honest, what I saw of Senegal was virtually...
Arriving in Africa
Gentle readers, you may know that I have a daughter who is in Africa from last August to this April, and I had planned to visit her since I moved to Spain. It’s much more accessible here than from the United States, and the flights take about seven hours total, not...
Antique Police and Cars
As much as Spanish people like to dress up in various period costumes, there is a real sense of history that extends to even contemporary times, as well as more contemporary settings. On one brilliant Saturday shortly before Christmas, my friend Cristina and I arrived...
Fallas Demonstration
Sometimes, you run across the most amazing things here just by being in the right place at the right time. In this case, I was walking through the city's Plaza de la Virgen and was immediately attracted to music and narration over a loudspeaker. Here's a glimpse of...
Belén de Botelles
I mentioned before that the nativity scene is important here, and many neighborhoods have some local representation of the scene available for viewinguntil Three Kings Day. There are several that stand out, and the Belén de Botelles is definitely the most... ummmm......
Saint Sylvester was a Joker
This post could be titled, "Spaniards Really Love to Dress Up in Costumes, Part One," but I thought that my subsequent posts would beat the heck out of that theme! Just wait! Gentle reader, you may have never seen a race like this before. On December 30th, La Carrera...
The Perfect Risotto
It was cold after the parade, and this risotto with pumpkin and gruyere was exactly what I needed. (La Vita e Bella, calle En Llop 4, Plaza Ayuntamiento, Valencia, España). My friend Cristina had an equally amazing pizza, so if you have chance, check this place out!
Tres Reyes
Valencia loves a good parade. It's a great way to observe cultural expressions while mixing with a huge group of people. On this night, we were celebrating the final night of the Christmas season, La Noche Reyes, or the night that the three kings visited Bethlehem to...
Two Months
Two months ago, I arrived in Spain to begin a new life adventure. I think I am starting to find my groove here, and, although Stella may have her groove back, I have a long way to go before I have mine. I am humbled by so many things in my new environment. It is...
¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Did you bring grapes?
I was surprised... the New Year's Eve celebration was relatively quiet. After dinner with a friend, I headed off to the city center to see what was going to happen at midnight. Unlike the fireworks-laden events that I have seen at malls, town squares, and driveways...
You May Have Noticed…
... that I am taking a bit of a hiatus. Never fear, though, there is much to come in the new year. New restaurant reviews, new location shots, and much more is being planned for the upcoming months. More importantly, though, I am really trying to actively learn more...
Vegetarian Win!
While roaming through the city, I found a new restaurant entirely by chance. I'm glad I did, though, because eating lunch there pretty much made my day. Why, gentle readers, do you ask that? Well, first, becausethe menu was extremely appealing. I knew they had a...
Glittery Night
On the same day as my walk through the city, I found myself happily unoccupied after an evening appointment. I didn't think twice... I headed straight back into the city to see the lights that were not on during the day. The following pictures are the evening version...