Saturday morning in Xativa: A Celebration of Valencian Traditions and History

Yesterday we ventured into Xativa to “almorzar”(the consuming of a mid morning sandwich snack accompanied by beer or wine,olives etc,this is very typical in the Valencia area) and to see some traditional dancing. Why was there music and  dancing on this … Continue reading

Pascua or Semana Santa? (Easter or Holy Week?): A Spanish Fiesta of contrasts.

It is a fact that all the  great Anglo-Saxon writers  who have written about Spain whether it be Gerald Brenan, Laurie Lee,George Orwell, Jan Morris or VS Pritchett all found Spain a land of contrasts. And who I am to … Continue reading

Spanish Treasure Hunting is Good For You

All foreigners when they live in another country come across customs,food and habits  that are extremely strange to them or  at the least different from their own.  This post is about one of these “differences” which is searching,hunting,looking for, or … Continue reading

The Hitch Hikers Guide to Spanish Gastronomy in Black and White.

If you ask most people what was their first holiday to Spain like most would say they spent all the time sunbathing next to the hotel pool or frying themselves lobster red on the safe, sandy beaches in reach of … Continue reading

Paella:The Valencian Enigma

A seemingly straight forward  recipe and  Spain’s best known gastronomic dish is curiously misunderstood by  a lot of  foreigners and some Spaniards. Of course, Paella and sangria on the beach are  all on a tourists’  “must do” list which gives  … Continue reading