Wine Touring in the Rioja Alta Haro, capital of the Rioja Alta We usually start our wine touring in the western end of the Rioja. Haro, the wine capital of the Rioja Alta, is an agricultural town of just under 12,000 inhabitants and has the largest concentration of centuries-old wineries in the world; CVNE, Gómez…
Category: Food & Wine
A Visit to Córdoba
Semana Santa came early this year and even through the weather wasn’t the best, we throughly enjoy it with stops in Córdoba, Sevilla and Málaga. On the Iryo to Córdoba We started our Semana Santa adventure this year on the new Iryo train from Madrid to Córdoba. The new service is still limited but excellent….
Hondarribia (Guipuzcoa)
This picturesque walled fishing village sits on the bay of Txingudi, across the estuary from the French Basque village of Hendaye. Featured in “The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain” (Hugh Palmer 2003), Hondarribia (Fundarribia in Spanish), is widely considered to be one of the most picturesque coastal villages in all of Spain from its charming…
Escaping to Navarra
Where To Stay in the Kingdom of Navarra Hotel Churrut There are a number of small, charming boutique hotels in Navarra where one can get away for a few days a peace and quiet, yet still be close to the action. One of our first discoveries a few years ago was this delightful 18-century family home…
Calle Ponzano, Still The Epicenter Of Cool
What’s happening on Calle de Ponzano Calle Ponzano continues to evolve since the end of the pandemic with several changes to the street, which is currently being upgraded. The city is widening the sidewalks, eliminating street parking and we would assume that the street will be one-way traffic only. We recently had lunch at Sala…
Dining in Rouen
Near the Place du Vieux-Marché Our gastronomic discoveries in Rouen included the sleek contemporary bistro Le 37, 37 rue St-Étienne-des-Tonneliers, opened by Michelin starred chef Gilles Tournadre, but sadly it has closed, as has the charmingly traditional le Bistrot de Panurge on Rue Ecuyère, where we feasted on its delectable gigot, roast leg of lamb….
In The Heart Of Cider Country
Cider Season In The Basque Country – A Visit To An Authentic Basque Cider House The vast majority of authentic Basque cider houses, Sidrerías, or sargardotegiak in Basque, are located in Gipúzkoa (156), with the largest concentration being in the village of Astigarraga, just outside of San Sebastián. In addition, there are 52 cider houses…
Lunch in Almagro
Cervecería El Santo We stopped by this small traditional bar-restaurant in the Almagro neighborhood at a Calle de Fernando El Santo, 4, not far from our hotel for an excellent, inexpensive lunch. We had discovered it during a trip earlier in the year and were delighted at it’s quality. There are only a few tables, so…
Dining in Asturias
Get Ready For A Gastronomic Adventure We had a fabulous lunch at Restaurante Güeyu Mar, Playa de Vega (Ribadesella) back in September with our friend Gabriella of Tenedor Tours who drove over from San Sebastián-Donostia just for this feast. Regional Dishes Here are a few of the regional dishes you’ll find in Asturias Seafood Dishes…
Mercado Chamartin
The markets, mercados, in Madrid are some of the best in the country and where you can find everything from your daily grocery needs to top gourmet items, shoe repair, laundry and gourmet dining options. Located in the northern business district of Chamartin, in the Hispanoamérica neighborhood, at the corner of Calle Bolivia and Potosí,…
Destinations by Maribel 