Europe — Page 3

Consider Cadiz – an alternative option for Spain holidays

June 17, 2013 By Guest Blogger

The warm Mediterranean sun has done something special to southern Spain, or Andalusia as the autonomous region is called. This region is home to some of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Spain, such as the city of Seville and the fortress of the Alhambra in Granada. That said, travelling the region in the summer can be overwhelming and tiring if you stay to the tourist trail. If the tourist sites are not on the agenda for your Spain holidays this summer and the focus of the trip is the culture, food and the scenery of the region, there are numerous options to just relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

Rather than starting the trip in Seville, consider flying into Cadiz. Somehow the tourist hordes usually overlook this beautiful and ancient port city. This is both unfortunate and a blessing. When food is on the mind, Cadiz should come to the forefront. While in the city, everyone should ensure that they at least try the tapa of Cazon en Adobo, which is a small shark marinated in spice, or consider an order of the shrimp fritters, called Tortillitas de Camarones. Being a port city, almost all of the seafood options will usually be good.

For those looking for a beach to relax on where the scene is a little more laid back and less packed with tourists from around the world, consider Los Canos de Meca, which is less than an hour from Cadiz. This beach and adjacent small town are slowly gaining prominence, but they still retain that small town Spanish vibe and lightly tourist-packed sand.

The alternative vibe of Barbate-small and lonely beaches blending with their tuna-based gastronomy, with Mojama, the seafood equivalent to Spanish cured ham, as the highlight, would satisfy the tastes of all travellers and be an even further flung destination for most tourists. Once you are wandering around Barbate, you could also try and visit other spots such as Zahara de los Atunes.

When in the area around Cadiz, a wonderful option for taking in a bit of nature is the Bahia de Cadiz Natural Park. The park has numerous walks or hikes ranging from easy to challenging. A moderately challenging walk that is worth the work is the Sendero Pinar de Algaida. This 12km walk begins at the University of Cadiz and follows along the river. It is a truly peaceful walk that provides a glimpse of the southern Spanish natural bounty while also allowing for some quiet reflection.

And if you are interested in trekking, remember to take a look at Los Alcornocales Natural Park, one of the most unique natural parks in Europe. From the “canuto” forests to its strange animal life, Cadiz Natural Park per excellence is the ideal place to escape from the city while we learn more about the Tardigrada or waterbears

Often when people are thinking of Spain, holidays are focused on seeing the big sites, however a more relaxed trip focused on the area around Cadiz can be more memorable and rewarding, particularly when it comes to food and scenery.

About the Author: Samuel Stokes is a British travel writer. He spends most of his time planning or writing about finding the best budget and backpacking holidays in the Mediterranean coast, after spending most his youth living in different parts of Spain.

Photo Credit: Image by Michael Osmenda used under creative commons license.

How Feijoada (Portuguese Bean Stew) Made It Around the World

May 9, 2013 By Jillian

How many times can we repeat that one of our favorite aspects of travel is sampling new food? It seems like we aren’t the only ones given the complete obsession in America with global food. From Anthony Bourdain to the food network, American’s are obsessed with bringing a taste of their vacation or their dream travels home to their dinner table. We are really no different. From the unusual ingredients we saw hanging in markets in Asia to the easily recognizable beans and potatoes sitting in baskets across the Americas, we try to incorporate our favorite dishes or ingredients from our travels into our everyday life.

Guidebooks always tell you what the “staple” dish of a place is, but sometimes more interesting than the ingredients is the history of the dish. Sometimes you can get this from a recipe book, but better yet, get it from actually going to the place where the dish originated. We love the history of food, for it’s really the history of human exploration. Given that globalization started happening centuries ago, it’s not hard to draw similarities between the dishes of exploration centers like Portugal and far flung ports in Mozambique or Brazil. Enter one of the best examples of Portugal’s dominance in world exploration- the simple, yet delicious feijoada.

Feijoada is one of those “traditional” dishes that calls multiple countries, separated by a vast ocean, home. Originally from Portugal, Feijoada is a bean, beef and pork stew that we saw in Brazil, Mozambique and pretty much anywhere we traveled along a coastline that the Portuguese had explored. The Brazilians in fact, call it their national dish. Why? Well, like so many of the “great” dishes of a culture or region it’s simple, homemade food. Although you can find it at the best restaurants and although you can find it at any Portugal hotel or restaurant, it’s a dish beloved by many and found in all levels of Portuguese cuisine. There’s nothing pretentious in feijoada, just beans, pork and oh let’s say the most delicious mix of spices you’ve ever had. Think of it like a Sunday supper meal that stews all day. The name, feijoada actually comes from the Portguese word for beans – feijao.

Although I love anything that has the word “stew” in it, for me the most interesting aspect of feijoada is its long history. Just as their ancestors did hundreds of years ago, Portuguese families still make this dish, albeit with certain variants for a delicious weekend supper. Food made at home and meant to be consumed family style is the best, especially for those travelers looking to get a taste of regional flavor and take it home with them.

Maybe on our next trip through the Iberian Peninsula we’ll make a tour of feijoada….who’s with me?

Photo Credit: Shared via a creative commons license from flickr user Fotos Gov/Ba.

Right to Roam – Hiking in the United Kingdom

April 15, 2013 By Jillian

After backpacking around the world, we’ve settled into a more normal travel routine, taking shorter vacations here and there to relax and recharge. That’s not to say the adventure is gone- in fact we’re probably pickier and more selective about the places we visit now given that we have only a short time to get there and explore. Our focus now is to go to places where we can do the activities we love like hiking and camping instead of focusing on places where we can check off a list of must-sees.

High on the list of activity focused vacations is the United Kingdom. Although I spent several weeks there on a teen tour and a few pamper days in England in college during my study abroad semester, my time in the United Kingdom so far really only hit the highlights of each country and a week or so running about London. With all of the big “must see” tourist destinations out of the way, I’m planning to spend my next trip there focused on activities we love like hiking the hills or even better Scotland’s highlands. Why hiking in the United Kingdom? Well, walking, as it is called in the United Kingdom is apparently the most popular outdoor recreation activity in Great Britain, at least according to the Ramblers Association. Government laws protect the right to roam in Scotland in places that walking has been unhindered for more than 20 years and in England and Wales the public has right of way on many routes through private land. That’s pretty cool, especially coming from America where the freedom to roam is often curtailed by signs warning about trespassing.

In England and Wales many of these “right to roam” routes are signposted and you even have the right to camp along the footpaths if you wish. Although there’s a substantial network of these trails, most of the long-distance paths are far from civilization, allowing you to really get away from it all – something that doesn’t generally come to mind when I think of the United Kingdom. The terrain may not be mountainous by most people’s standards, but the fact that you can get up and just start down a footpath and see where it takes you is very inviting.

Apparently challenge walks, or long-distance timed walks are also popular in the United Kingdom. We completed a 100K/24 hour hike a few years ago along the C&O canal in D.C. which was fun, exhausting and definitely the kind of hike that needed to end in massage treatments. Danny did another one in February along the same route that was just 50 miles (just!) and I could see us doing another long-distance hike again. With names like the Lake Wake Walk and the Three Peaks Walk, I think we’re in!

Photo Credit: Photo1 courtesy of flickr user Russell J. Smith, Photo 2 courtesy of flickr user Paul Stevenson, both via a creative commons license.

A Dream or is it Just a Night in Barcelona?

March 15, 2013 By Jillian

Groggily stepping off the plane in the middle of the night, I was shocked to find Barcelona awake. So awake in fact that when I checked in to my accommodations, the desk clerk asked me if I wanted to have my luggage stored behind the desk until I came back from dinner. Where am I? I thought as I checked my cell phone and saw that it was already well into the next day. Needless to say, I never forgo a local travel tip and I headed out with my travel partners.

If you’ve never been out in Barcelona you need to be prepared for the joie de vivre that is Barcelona at night. Every café we went to was packed, literally to the brim with people that seemed to be enjoying a happy hour like atmosphere at midnight. Musicians strolled the boulevards, stopping at tables of unsuspecting tourists and lovers, serenading the entire café with music before moving off into the darkness to the next café. A large extended family sat next to us at a café, their joy and laughter was infectious and even with my very limited Spanish and even less Catalan we soon found ourselves sharing mystery liquor from a clear bottle. I was exhausted and yet enthralled by the scene. It was like a dream you never wanted to wake up from.

Like dreams, there are some places and some experiences that you just can’t recreate. The next time I search out the dream hopefully it will be from the interior of one of the terrific Barcelona apartments dotted across the city. That way when I wake up and look out across the city, I’ll still feel like I’m in a dream.

Photo Credit: Flickr user dweekly via a creative commons license.

Five Places to Re-visit in Europe

March 13, 2013 By Lauren

I’ve been traveling for ten years, and the number one question I get is “Where’s your favorite place?”

My answer differs depending on my mood. Some days, it’s the Galapagos. Others, it’s Cambodia or Australia.

But quite frankly, Europe will always have my heart.

These days, I hear more about Southeast Asia and South America as backpacker destinations, and it’s true that these regions are much easier on the budget. Although Europe costs a little bit more, it is still a traveler’s dream.

Because of Europe’s many options, you can tailor your trip to suit your budget and time frame. You can travel by bus, train, budget airline, and even ferry. You can sleep in bare bones hostels, fancy hotels, or seek out a vacation apartment through Go with Oh. You can eat at markets, sidewalk cafés, upscale restaurants, or shop at supermarkets.

I can’t pick my favorite European cities, but I can tell you about five places I’d definitely go back to. They’re not off the beaten track. They might get crowded. You might not agree with me. But they’ve still got that European magic.

5. Croatia

I can’t say enough about how gorgeous Croatia is, only that I could have stayed much longer than the eight days I spent there, sailing down the coast. The white cities feel ancient and powerful, and the coastline is craggy with clear, salty water.

4. Greece

Mykonos, Greece — Wouldn’t mind seeing this again.

I went to two places in Greece: Athens and Mykonos. Somehow I suspect that there’s more to it than a famous capital city and an overrated party island. If I ever get back, I’m heading for the volcanic island of Santorini. And I’m eating way more Greek food. And not drinking any ouzo, because it tastes gross.

3. Turkey

Istanbul, Turkey — Next time, I’d go inside instead of being too lazy.

Five days in Turkey, regrettably, is not enough. You could easily spend 5 days in Istanbul alone, let alone tackling the rest of the enormous country. I’m tempted by the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia and the Mediterranean coast.

2. Berlin

Berlin, Germany — Regrettably, this is the only photo I could find from my trip to Berlin.

I would happily return to all of Germany, but Berlin really knocked my socks off. I wasn’t expecting it to, but it did. It was one of the first times that I felt history come to life – all that we’d learned about WWII in high school suddenly seemed shockingly relevant, from the remains of the Berlin wall to walking gingerly through Sachsenhausen, a Nazi work camp.

1. Paris

Sacre Coeur, Paris — The Sacre Coeur in Paris.

Many people don’t like Paris. That’s okay. I get it.

Okay, I don’t get it. It’s PARIS. The city of love. The city of lights. The Eiffel tower, crepes, baguettes, the Seine. I’ll love Paris until the day I die, all based on my first trip abroad when I was 12. That’s when I learned that the French language was more than just 7th grade French class – it was a door opener to a whole new foreign culture.

What do you think – agree or disagree with my choices?

What European cities most appeal to you?

Consider Cadiz – an alternative option for Spain holidays

How Feijoada (Portuguese Bean Stew) Made It Around the World

Right to Roam – Hiking in the United Kingdom

A Dream or is it Just a Night in Barcelona?

Five Places to Re-visit in Europe

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