Sobremesa is a Spanish word that describes the time, after a meal, when everyone sits around the table, chatting. It’s about good food, friends and communication. The translation is 'sobre' (on or about) 'mesa' (table). After the meal, it’s usually the time for ‘el paseo’, the custom which sees Spaniards promenade leisurely through the main … Continue reading Sobremesa and El Paseo
Eat Drink Travel
Pimientos de Padron
When in Spain, be sure to order a small plate of pimientos de padron. They are little green peppers which taste similar to a sweet green capsicum, except that one in ten has a kick like a mule!! They are cooked in olive oil until they blister (about 1 minute) and then sprinkled with salt. It's a … Continue reading Pimientos de Padron
Food and Wine tour of Ronda
As someone who gets up at 4.30am on 330 days of the year, I’ve decided that 8.30 in the morning is a dignified time to wake up on the other 35. The Spanish lifestyle is kind of like daylight saving, but in the opposite direction. Wake up 8.30am, coffee/hot chocolate for breakfast, leisurely lunch at … Continue reading Food and Wine tour of Ronda
The search for Churros
Despite spending 20 days in Spain, I’ve not yet eaten any churros. Churros and long delicious pastries, deep fried, sprinkled with sugar, and often accompanied with hot chocolate. Typically, you would order churros y chocolate. On our last trip to Malaga, Ross, not one for exaggeration, famously said “there’s hundreds of churros cafes here”. But … Continue reading The search for Churros
Shopping and the search for Churros
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that the day following Three Kings Day (the traditional day for giving gifts, 6 January), is the equivalent of the Boxing Day sales in Australia. Shopping in Spain, as a tourist, is a beautiful thing for 3 reasons: 1) At Alice’s (where you can get anything … Continue reading Shopping and the search for Churros
The search for Churros
Despite spending 20 days in Spain, I’ve not yet had any churro (those long delicious donut-type things eaten with hot chocolate). On our last trip to Malaga, Ross, not one for exaggeration, famously said “there’s hundreds of churro cafes here”. But of course, when I wanted one, there wasn't a single churro to be found. … Continue reading The search for Churros
Mr Grumpy
There’s a waiter who works in San Pedro called Mr Grumpy. Actually, his real name is Diego. Yesterday, in the middle of the lunchtime rush, he picked up a chair and threw it about 4 metres at some pigeons across the laneway, to the collective gasp of those nearby. An Americano lady had the audacity … Continue reading Mr Grumpy
Sobremesa and Life in the Streets
Much of Spanish life is lived in the streets and the atmosphere is vibrant - especially on Sundays. Last Sunday, being turistas (tourists), we made a grave error – we went to a restaurant wearing our “walking” clothes, and we were decidedly under-dressed and unprepared. So we’ve been waiting, anticipating, all week to make amends … Continue reading Sobremesa and Life in the Streets
Sun Gods and Fishermen
Last night, we went for a nightcap at the Palace bar. But there was no Limoncello left, so we asked Tiago, the barman, to gave us a “traditional” Portuguese nightcap. Holy moly - after the first sip, I can only guess that it’s a Portuguese tradition to A) poison all the tourists or B) drink liquid … Continue reading Sun Gods and Fishermen
Portugal, Passports and a Palace
As the booker of accommodation, there’s always a moment of panic when you arrive and it looks, well…. below your expectations. Like the time I booked an apartment in Hong Kong – which on arrival looked like a slum, the tiny elevator was one where you had to pull the cage door across, and the … Continue reading Portugal, Passports and a Palace
The Tepid Travellers 