Natalie the Explorer

Which Outing Would You Choose?

April 19, 2024April 23, 2024Natalie85 Comments

A friendly reminder that there will be no Weekend Coffee Share link-up on April 26 and May 3 as I will take a blogging break. Please plan to join me again on May 10 when I will resume hosting.

This week I had so much fun being outdoors every day, except Wednesday. I explored nature by bike and on foot and went to an outdoor light-based art exhibition. I am lucky to have wonderful places to explore and enjoy close to home. Here are some of the things I saw and did. To view captions, please click on the photos.

Don Valley Brick Works Park

Outing 1: I set out for Don Valley Brick Works Park which was once a former quarry on a sunny and mild morning (12C or 54F). I cycled to the park then hiked for about two hours before cycling home.

I started from the quarry gardens at ground level then climbed up the steep trail to the quarry ridge lookout. After enjoying the views from the lookout, I made my way down a few switchbacks and over to the Belt Line Trail to walk the Mud Creek Loop.

It was a glorious and peaceful hike. I listened to the trickling sound of water in the creek, birds singing and squirrels foraging in the woods. Pretty coltsfoot flowers lined the trails and on the banks of the creek. On my way back, I watched turtles and saw a small garter snake in the grass.

Sunnyside Beach

Outing 2: I rode my bike to Sunnyside Beach then jogged a 5 km loop along Lake Ontario’s Humber Bay. It was a beautiful sunny day with fantastic views of the bay. I love listening to the sounds of water gently touched the shore and birds singing.

The Sunnyside boardwalk was under reconstruction with the old section in grey and the new section with brown wood planks. As I returned to get my bike, I visited some of the swans and found two butterflies on dandelions.

Lumière: The Art of Light

Outing 3: I enjoyed a lovely walk with a family member to see the free outdoor Lumière art exhibition at Trillium Park. The theme this year is Connections which aims to explore the various ways in which light can create connections between people, the environment, and different aspects of our lives. Here’s a sampling. To see all 17 light-based installations and their descriptions, please click here.

Gardens

Outings 4 and 5: One final gallery to finish which shows a variety of spring flowers I spotted during my garden walks. Altogether, these outings made me a very happy explorer!

Link-Up

If I invited you to go for a walk, which outing would you choose? Feel free to choose more than one.

I’m linking up with Min’s #WWWhimsy this week.

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #161 below. The next Weekend Coffee Share link-up will be on May 10. Enjoy the rest of April and happy May!

Spring Hike in High Park

April 12, 2024April 9, 2024Natalie99 Comments

This week I was going to write about my visit to Vatican City in March. Then I had a wonderful bike and hike excursion on Sunday that changed my mind. Nature wins! There will be a Vatican City blog post in due course, but it joins a long queue of things to write about.

Spring Hike

I set out for High Park on a beautiful, sunny and mild morning (12C or 54F). I rode my bike on the Waterfront Trail for about 45 minutes. Although I passed many scenic spots and landmarks along the shore of Lake Ontario, I made no stop until I reached the south end of High Park. From here, I started my hike along the lower trail that runs along Grenadier Pond.

I saw two hawks, red cardinals, robins, common grackles and chickadees among the trees, as well as ducks, geese, swans and turtles in Grenadier Pond.

A beaver dam reminded me of my beaver sighting at the end of March when I saw a beaver chewing on a small tree trunk. It is common to see beaver dams in the wetlands around here but to see a beaver foraging on land at daytime is rare.

After reaching the end of the lower trail, I zigzagged my way to the upper trails. I love the magnificent tall trees that line these trails. They look bare in early April and will be green and leafy in the coming weeks. The small trees are already showing small green leaves.

Another section on the upper trails has trees with lighter trunks. I walked for a long time and just came across squirrels and birds along the way. What’s not in my picture is the beautiful bird songs that I heard.

Eventually I made my way down to the Maple Leaf Garden located at the bottom of Cherry Hill. This garden was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth during her visit to Toronto in 1958. In a few weeks and through to Fall, it will turn into an impressive floral display that is in the shape of a giant maple leaf.

I hiked up the hill and was delighted to see a carpet of pretty puschkinia and daffodils. Puschkinia flowers have delicate white petals with blue stripes. They compliment the cheery yellow daffodils.

I hiked down the steep hill towards Grenadier Pond and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings. In a few weeks, the flowering of the Sakura trees (cherry blossoms) will be spectacular here.

One last look at the marsh in Grenadier Pond before I returned to where I left my bike and cycled home.

It was a gorgeous day and a wonderful hike. I did 45 minutes cycling + 2 hours hiking + 45 minutes cycling for a total of 3.5 hours outdoors. This excursion made me a very happy explorer!

Solar Eclipse

On Monday April 8 at 3:19 p.m. I watched the rare total solar eclipse in Toronto. The sun rays were blocked and the surrounding landscape turned dark for a few minutes; dark enough for the street lights to turn on. After the eclipse was over, it was sunny again.

Link-Up

Please note that there will be a link-up on April 19 and no link-up on April 26 and May 3 as I will take a blogging break. I will repeat this announcement next week.

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #160 below.

5 Grand Piazzas of Rome

April 5, 2024April 5, 2024Natalie81 Comments

When in Rome in March, I took a 3.2 km (2 miles) walk to visit five piazzas (public squares) and fountains in the Eternal City. Rome’s piazzas are the centre of daily life. Come along and let me know what you think of the sights we see.

1. Piazza Navona

The Baroque-style Piazza Navona is built on the site where the Stadium of Domitian (Circus Agonalis), founded in 86 A.D., once stood. The most imposing buildings which look onto the square are the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone and the Palazzo Pamphilj.

The most beautiful parts of Piazza Navona are its three fountains: Fountain of Neptune on the north end, Fountain of the Moor on the south end and Fountain of the Four Rivers with an obelisk in the centre of the square.

The Fountain of the Four Rivers was designed by Bernini in 1651. The four statues represent the most important rivers of the continents where Christianity had spread: the Nile with a lion (Africa), Danube with a horse (Europe), the Ganges with a dragon (Asia) and Rio de la Plata with an armadillo (America).

2. Piazza della Rotunda and the Pantheon

The Pantheon of Agrippa, also known as the Roman Pantheon, completed in 126 A.D., is the best preserved building from ancient Rome. I recommend entering the Pantheon to appreciate the awe-inspiring architecture:

The rectangular facade is comprised of 16 granite columns which are each 14 meters in height.
The circular building at the back has exactly the same diameter as its height: 43.5 metres.
At its top, the enormous dome 9-meter diameter opening allows natural light to illuminate the entire building.

3. Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)

Trevi Fountain, completed in 1762, is the largest fountain in Rome. The name of Trevi derives from Tre Vie (three ways), since the fountain was the meeting point of three streets. The fountain shows statues of Tritons guiding the shell chariot of the god Oceanus, illustrating the theme of the taming of the waters. There are always people throwing coins in the water of Trevi Fountain. To find out why and what happens to the coins, click here.

4. Piazza de Spagna and the Spanish Steps

Piazza de Spagna (Square of Spain) is where the majestic Spanish Steps, the longest and widest decorative steps in Europe, are located. At the bottom of the Spanish Steps is the Fountain of the Ugly Boat!

The Fountain of the Ugly Boat (Fontana della Barcaccia) was designed by Pietro Bernini, father of the famous Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who later helped with the creation. It was finished in 1627 and placed by Pope Urban III in the centre of Piazza di Spagna. It is shaped as a boat and has the emblems of the Barberini family (the Noble family of Pope Urban III), bees and a sun engraved.

5. Piazza della Republica

At the centre of the Piazza della Republica stands the majestic Fountain of the Nymphs (Fontana delle Naiadi) depicting four nymphs riding on sea monsters. It was constructed between 1870 and 1888 and decorated with four lion sculptures. In 1901 the lions were replaced by the statues of four water nymphs.

Piazza della Republica and Fountain of the Nymphs

One of the four nymphs riding on a sea monster

I hope you enjoy the walk. Thank you for coming along.

Link-Up

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #159 below.

Postcards from Italy

March 29, 2024April 2, 2024Natalie98 Comments

March was full of explorations, discoveries and marvellous moments at home and abroad. I returned to Italy and Vatican City for a second visit in the first half of March. Italy offers plenty of beautiful architecture, world class art, rich history, culture, culinary delights, scenic nature and more.

Let me catch you up on Italy first. I plan to write about my visit to Vatican City in another post. Here’s a sampling of what I explored when I was in Italy.

Venice and Murano

My adventures in Italy began with a boat ride from Venice airport to my hotel. The following days, I enjoyed exploring Venice through the maze of alleyways and bridges on foot and by boat. I visited St. Mark’s Square (a World Heritage Site), Doge’s Palace, the Basilica, the Bell and Clock Towers, as well as Murano known for its artistic and colourful glassware. My once-in-a-lifetime experience was a gondola ride in the Grand Canal and small waterways of Venice with two musicians performing “Volare” and other beautiful songs in Italian.

Tuscany, Pisa and Florence

After Venice, I travelled through the beautiful landscape of Tuscany, dotted with olive and fig trees. I enjoyed wine tasting paired with delectable local specialties at a vineyard in Tuscany. On to Pisa, I revisited the famous Piazza dei Miracoli and its Leaning Tower. Last time I was here, I climbed 273 stone steps to reach the top. In Florence, I admired amazing art and architecture at Piazza del Duomo (a World Heritage Site), Piazza della Signoria, Piazza Santa Croce, Piazza Santa Maria Novella and bridges along the Arno River, including the iconic Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge).

Assisi and Rome

Reaching Rome, the Eternal city, I revisited several iconic landmarks: The awe-inspiring Roman Forum, the triumphal Arch of Constantine, the mighty Colosseum, churches, huge Roman baths, and grand piazzas of Rome. I took a day trip to the picturesque medieval town of Assisi, best known as the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Italy. The town is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its significant art and architecture.

Cinque Terre and La Spezia

Climbing the steep steps in Cinque Terre (another World Heritage Site) with stunning views of the Ligurian Sea and surrounding hills was a memorable experience for me. In low season, I enjoyed exploring and discovering delightful places and things around every corner in the five villages without crowds.

Heading to La Spezia before returning to Florence for my flight home, I was delighted by La Spezia’s beautiful waterfront, public gardens, churches, castle and vibrant city centre. Another pleasant surprise was a free upgrade to a beautifully furnished and spacious hotel room in Florence. It was a wonderful ending to an amazing trip.

Link-Up

I like to keep in touch with my blogger friends via their link-ups whenever our topics align. This weekend I’m joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Urban Sights photo challenge, Ju-Lyn’s March #TheChangingSeasons and #WBOYC link-up co-hosted by Donna, Sue, Jo and Deb.

I’d love for you to share your March highlights and/ or photos of public art around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #158 below. So, the first quarter of 2024 is done, tell me what fun plans you have for the second quarter.

5 Winning Stations at Woodbine Beach

March 22, 2024March 15, 2024Natalie70 Comments

Goodbye winter and hello spring! To mark the transition from winter to spring in my corner of the world, I am sharing two of my “bike and walk” outings. The first outing was to Woodbine Beach to explore the Winter Stations on display. The second outing was to the Toronto Music Garden to look for early spring flowers.

Winter Stations at Woodbine Beach

“Launched in 2014, Winter Stations invites the international design and art community to reimagine the lifeguard stations along Toronto’s east end beaches for the winter. The competition has seen entries from over 90 countries, bringing the world of design to the water’s edge“.

The theme this year is Resonance. Contesting designers for the competition were encouraged to reinvent previous installations and infuse them with fresh ideas and their unique artistic vision.

Here’s five of the six winning Winter Stations located from east to west at Woodbine Beach. Have a look and let me know if you have a favourite. Click on the title of the installation for its description.

Bobbin‘ by University of Waterloo School of Architecture (Canada)
Nimbus by David Stein (Canada)
Nova by Toronto Metropolitan University Department of Architectural Science (Canada)
We Caught A UFO! by Xavier Madden and Katja Banović (Croatia and Australia)
A Kaleidoscopic Odyssey by Brander Architects Inc (Canada)

The 6th installation Winteraction is interactive but simplistic in its physical form so I did not take a picture. It requires a phone to get the full experience.

It was a beautiful day with mild temperatures and sunshine. I enjoyed cycling, walking, experiencing nature and culture, all in one outing. I came home feeling happy and grateful.

Early Spring Flowers

I spotted several early spring flowers on my walk at the Toronto Music Garden this month: Crocus flowers, snowdrops, puschkinia and purple irises. Their simple beauty gave me joy. I look forward to seeing a wide range of spring flowers to bloom in the coming weeks.

Link-Up

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #157 below. Have a wonderful weekend!

9 Best Features in Park Güell

March 15, 2024March 14, 2024Natalie88 Comments

In January 2024, when I revisited Barcelona, one of the places I wanted to revisit is Park Güell. The park is one of Barcelona’s great attractions so advanced ticket purchase is recommended. I was lucky to get a ticket the day before my visit and happily spent about four hours at the park.

Park Güell

Park Güell was named after entrepreneur Eusebi Güell. In 1900, Güell entrusted renowned Catalan architect and designer Antoni Gaudí to design Park Güell. The park was built from 1900 to 1914 and was officially opened as a public park in 1926. In 1984, UNESCO declared the park a World Heritage Site under “Works of Antoni Gaudí“.

What I love about Park Güell:

Beautiful nature, landscape design and art in 12 acres
Organic shapes (curves), natural materials and pretty mosaics (trencadís)
Upper and lower levels provide a nice hike and great views of Barcelona

Here are the nine features that I love at Park Güell in no particular order.

Gaudí Museum House

The Dragon Stairway

The steps of the stairway at the park’s main entrance are symmetrically laid out around the sculpture of a salamander. It is a busy spot with visitors posing and taking pictures so I only got one picture of the salamander.

The Hypostyle Hall

The Hypostyle Hall is a covered area with eighty-six columns supporting the upper Nature Square. It is a grand space to enter from the main entrance of Park Güell.

Hypostyle Hall outer columns and undulating profile of the upper part.

Hypostyle Hall inner columns and ceiling with mosaics of the four seasons.

Nature Square and The Serpentine Bench

Nature Square is a large square conceived of as a central space of the estate, in which social events could be held. Unlike the rest of the park, which tends to adapt to the relief of the terrain, this square is partly dug into the mountain and partly held up by the columns of the Hypostyle Hall.

The Serpentine Bench in the square is one of the most immediately recognizable features in the park. It is made of prefabricated pieces of cement and clad with broken tile mosaics (trencadís).

The Serpentine Bench at Nature Square in Park Güell.

Porter’s Lodge Pavilions

Casa del Garda (left), Park Güell main entrance (centre) and Porter’s Lodge (right). The two pavilions are currently a museum and a gift shop.

Portico of the Washerwoman

The retaining wall that supports the path that traverses the entire Park Güell horizontally takes the form of a portico with the profile of a great wave held aloft by sloping columns. It is popularly known as the Pòrtic de la Bugadera (Portico of the Washerwoman) because of the sculpture on one of the columns.

Palm Tree Promenade

The Gardens

Stone stairways lead to beautiful gardens.

The Viaducts

Upper Viaduct features tall pots planted with agave with small circular benches between them.

Park Güell is an enchanting place. I feel fortunate to have visited this park and enjoy Antoni Gaudí’s unique designs more than once in my lifetime.

Link-Up

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #156 below.

5 Favourites from February

March 1, 2024March 1, 2024Natalie87 Comments

Hello March and goodbye February! Before I get into my February favourites, please note that there is no Weekend Coffee Share link-up on March 8 as I will be on a blogging break. I will resume hosting on March 15.

After having an adventurous January in Boston, Philadelphia and Spain, I enjoyed a relaxing February at home. I intentionally kept my February calendar as light as possible and set two fun challenges for my mind and body. I love how the month turned out and feel grateful for two consecutive wonderful months.

1. Family

My family and I celebrated Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon, on February 10 and Family Day holiday on February 19. We enjoyed delicious food and good company. It was two wonderful family gatherings to ring in the new year and to have fun on a long weekend.

Dragon display at Nathan Phillips Square and delicious Thai food

2. Friendship

I met up with a good friend for a brisk 8 km walk together. She was away on a beach holiday while I was away in Spain so we had fun catching up. We saw the Jimmy Mount Rushmore mural at Jimmy’s Coffee. It features four musicians, from left to right: Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Jimmy Buffet and Jim Morrison.

*Jimmy Mount Rushmore* mural by artist Christiano De Araujo, 2014.

On our second brisk 8 km walk date, we visited the new and inspiring art installation “We Are Shaped by the Obstacles We Face“. It features a life-sized bronze statue of Terry Fox before he was diagnosed with bone cancer and three tall granite pieces in a small park.

The installation is designed to flow east-west, akin to Terry Fox’s journey, with visitors entering from Queens Quay and ending at vantage point at the southwest corner of the park. From this unique perspective, the granite pieces visually transform into a familiar silhouette of Terry Fox during his Marathon of Hope. (Look at the gap that the granite pieces create).

*We Are Shaped by the Obstacles We Face* by Jon Sasaki and landscape architects DTAH.

3. Being Outdoors

Just for fun, I set a challenge to cycle and/ or do brisk 8 to 10 km walk every day in February. This year February brought only one light snowfall so I scored 29/ 29. Even on cold days, I came home feeling warm, happy and grateful from my bike ride and brisk walk. I enjoyed the fresh air and nature’s sights and sounds. We are getting longer daylight hours and closer to Spring!

4. Being Indoors

After being active outside, I enjoyed being cozy inside, doing strength training, practicing yoga, blogging, reading and writing. Also for fun, I set another challenge to take daily Italian lessons on Duolingo for 30 days (from January 31 to February 29) and did 30/30.

I’m currently reading Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin after finishing:

The Measure by Nikki Erlick (a thought-provoking book)
The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary (a light read)

5. Trip Planning

I researched and made the essential bookings for my upcoming trip. I look forward to embarking on new adventures. I’ll share more by end of March.

Link-Up

This post is my contribution to the #WBOYC link-up co-hosted by Donna, Sue, Jo and Deb.

I’d love for you to share your February highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #155 below. The next Weekend Coffee Share link-up will be on March 15.

Happy March!

Postcards from Spain: Granada, Alicante, Valencia & Barcelona

February 23, 2024February 21, 2024Natalie87 Comments

Today’s post is the last of three in my Postcards from Spain series. The first post on Food & Drink in Spain is here. The second post on Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba and Seville is here. As usual, click on any image in the gallery to get a better view and use the arrows to move through the pictures.

Granada

From Seville, the beautiful weather followed me to Granada. I could see snow on the Sierra Nevada mountains in a far distance. The highlight in Granada was a visit to the 13th century Alhambra, served as the residence of the royal family during the reign of the Moors.

This imposing hilltop palace and fortress complex, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the world’s finest examples of Moorish art and architecture. I booked a guided tour and spent about three hours exploring several stunning palaces and gardens in the Alhambra complex.

Alicante

Alicante was a delightful addition to my itinerary. I enjoyed walking along Alicante’s oceanfront promenade and its long pier, with views of the wide sandy El Postiguet Beach and Santa Barbara Castle on a hilltop. I learned about Casa Carbonell and that the round-the-world The Ocean Race 2022-2023 started in Alicante. I hope to return to Alicante for a longer visit in the future.

Valencia

I love Valencia for its treasure trove of Roman architecture and the huge City of Arts and Sciences designed by contemporary architect and artist Santiago Calatrava, with its extraordinary avant-garde architecture that includes impressive buildings such as the Hemisfèric and Museum of Science. I also love Valencia’s public squares, markets, delicious food and drinks. Would I return to Valencia for a longer stay and more explorations? Definitely.

Calatrava designed many bridges and building projects around the world, including the award-winning Allen Lambert Galleria in Brookfield Place and Mimico Pedestrian Bridge in Toronto.

Barcelona

It was wonderful to revisit Barcelona. I took a long walk from Barcelona’s Old Harbor, along the popular La Rambla to Plaza Catalunya, the city’s bustling main square. Lots of things to see and many beautiful buildings along this route.

I passed two of Gaudí’s famous houses Casa Batllo and Casa Milà. Then continued on to view the iconic symbol of Barcelona, Gaudi’s masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia, a colossal church that is legendary and still unfinished.

I revisited Park Güell, my favourite park in Barcelona, for nature and Gaudí’s genius design of organic shapes. I also ascended Montjuic Hill, home to the Olympic Complex, built for the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Link-Up

Thank you for reading my postcards. It was a challenge to select which pictures to include as there are many beautiful sites that I explored in Spain. I hope you enjoy my selection.

Please note: No Weekend Coffee Share link-up on March 8 as I will take a short blogging break in March. I will repeat this announcement next week.

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #154 below.

Postcards from Spain: Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba & Seville

February 16, 2024February 20, 2024Natalie117 Comments

Today’s post is the second of three in my Postcards from Spain series. The first postcard on Food & Drink in Spain is here. Spain offers plenty of beautiful architecture, world class art, rich history, culture, culinary delights, fun entertainment, and more.

On this trip, I chose to revisit a few favourites and added a few new places to my itinerary. I intentionally spent more time wandering outdoors to take in the sights and sounds in each city than in an indoor space. The weather was sunny and ideal for outdoor walks (15C to 23C or 59F to 73F).

Here is a sampling of what I explored when I was in Spain. Click on any image to see its bigger version and use the arrow to move through the gallery.

Madrid

My favourite walk in Madrid is a 8 km loop (5 miles) that starts and ends in Plaza de España. On this walk, I get to see the magnificent Royal Palace, Miguel de Cervantes Monument (Cervantes is a Spanish writer who is best known for his novel Don Quixote), Plaza Mayor, Prado Museum, the Paseo del Prado promenade lined with sycamore trees, fountains and artwork, the two huge fountains at Plaza de Cibeles and Plaza de Neptuno, and Gran Via which has many gorgeous buildings.

When I was at the Royal Palace, the Royal Guards on horses were on duty as King Felipe VI’s car exited the palace. I visited Prado Museum and viewed an astonishing collection of masterpieces by Spanish painters Velazquez, Goya and El Greco.

Toledo

From Madrid, a 36-minute train ride whisked me off to Toledo, one of Spain’s most magnificent cities. Toledo is a city of three cultures where you can see the influences of Christians, Muslims and Jews in the same place. Once an Imperial city, Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive monumental and cultural heritage.

I love walking through Toledo’s medieval gates into its winding streets and exploring its many historic and stunning buildings (see photos below). The views of Toledo from Mirador del Valle are amazing. I was in awe of El Greco masterpiece “The Burial of Count Orgaz” in St. Tome church where photography was allowed.

Córdoba

I revisited the astonishing Great Mosque of Córdoba, one of the largest mosques in the world, built in 785, extended a few times and transformed into a soaring cathedral in the 16th century. I walked the winding streets in Córdoba historic centre (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to see the ancient Jewish Quarter, tranquil courtyards, picturesque squares, the 14th century Synagogue and the Roman Bridge.

Seville

I revisited the beautiful Plaza de España and its illustrious tiles and ceramics before visiting the gardens of Maria Luisa Park. I continued to Seville historic centre with a visit to the Cathedral of Seville, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and burial site of Christopher Columbus. Built on the site of the former Great Mosque, its original minaret, the Giralda Bell Tower, still stands.

Link-Up

This post is my contribution to Terri’s Iconic Places and Spaces photography challenge and Min’s #WWWhimsy link-up.

If you have been to Spain, which city is your favourite? If you plan to (re)visit Spain, which city is on your itinerary?

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #153 below.

Postcards from Spain: Food & Drink

February 9, 2024February 7, 2024Natalie104 Comments

I recently returned from a ten-day stay in Spain. Today’s post is the first of three in my Postcards from Spain series. I am sharing this postcard before the next two “sightseeing” postcards for the following reasons:

I learned something new about food and drink in Spain.
Eating out in a foreign country is a cultural experience that can make or break a trip, or affect one’s overall impression of the country.
It takes less time for me to write this postcard than the next two so I start with what’s quick and easy.

In Pictures

Spain produces and exports olive oil, wines, vegetables and fruits, to name a few. In southern Spain, the land is covered with olive trees, almond trees, vineyards, green houses, and orange groves. There are many good food options and tempting desserts. This is a sampling of what was on my plate when I was there.

What I Learned

Tinto de verano with ice is a refreshing drink made of red wine and soft soda (Sprite, 7-up). It is similar to Sangria but with less sugar.
Tapas are small plates that are great to sample and enjoy a variety of dishes and flavors.
Serrano ham is good; Iberico ham is better.
Pan tomaca is a dish with slices of bread and tomato cut in half. Squeeze the tomato juice or rub it on the bread, add olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and other toppings as desired.
Paella is best made with bomba rice.
Agua de Valencia is a drink made of champagne and Valencia’s delicious orange juice.
Horchata de chufa is a flagship milky drink in Valencia. It’s sweet, refreshing and vegan-friendly. Horchata is made from chufa, a tuber (also known as earth almond or tiger nut) and sugar cane juice.
Fartons (yes, seriously), an elongated confectionary glazed with sugar, usually accompany and to be dipped in horchata.

Public Art

The bull is the national animal of Spain and a symbolic figure in Spanish culture. I saw some of the Osborne bulls installed on hilltops and along roadways throughout much of Spain. The Osborne bull is a black silhouetted image of a bull in semi-profile. This colourful mosaic bull is much easier (and prettier) to photograph.