Tag: Spain
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The Final Day of Las Fallas
Las Fallas finally came to its fiery conclusion on Sunday, March 19th with the midnight burning of all of the fallas sculptures. Called La Crema, this always happens on the Feast of Saint Joseph, who was the Patron Saint of carpenters. One of the underlying themes of Las Fallas is to clear out the waste of…
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Fallas: One Big Street Party
We have made it to the last day of Fallas and our heads are spinning. The sights, the sounds, and the smells of the festival have all come together in a whirlwind of sensory overload. Last night, Valencia threw 1,200 kilos (1.3 tons) of pyrotechnic explosives into the sky at 1:30 AM for La Gran Nit…
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Fallas Street Food
When bunuelo and chocolate and churro stands started popping up on nearly every block in Valencia, we wondered how there could possibly be enough people to consume all of these sweets. Now we know. This city is jam packed. I’ve read estimates of between 1 and 3 million visitors to Fallas and, after being out…
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Fallas is Here, Now Cover Your Ears
There has been a lot of excitement during the weeks building up to the Fallas. At this point, it seems that the city is about to explode. The sulfurous smell of gunpowder permeates the air. Fireworks, M-80s and bottle rockets have become common place. Explosions can be heard in all directions, night and day, sometimes…
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Getting Ready for Las Fallas
Valencia is busy getting ready for Las Fallas, the most important celebration of the year. Every March, Valencia celebrates the arrival of spring by erecting giant sculptures, called fallas, in the city streets and then burning them to the ground on March 19th during the Feast of Saint Joseph (the patron saint of carpenters) and…
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A Little Bit of Germany in Valencia
Who would have known that a plate of sausages could make me so happy? We have walked by Cervecería Baden Baden in Ruzafa nearly everyday for months, reminding ourselves each time that we wanted to stop in for some brats. Now you might find it strange to be craving German food in Spain, but when you…
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Beyond Tapas in Sevilla
Oh yes, we ate well in Seville. We discovered some great restaurants with delicious and creative takes on local Andalusian ingredients. As in other cities we’ve visited in Spain where the people are very proud of their part of the world, these restaurants in Seville (Sevilla in Spanish) focused on food and wine from local…
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A Glimpse of Sevilla, Spain
We’ve been itching to visit other areas of Spain and Sevilla was at the top of that list. Sevilla (Seville in English) is the fourth largest city in Spain and the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia on the southern coast of Spain. The Moors ruled in Andalusia for 800 years and their influence is stronger…
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Creamy Artichoke Soup
Artichoke season is still going strong in Spain, with huge piles of them in the markets. Artichokes are a cold weather crop that are at their best from November to April. Once the weather heats up, the artichokes will grow too quickly, open their leaves and begin to transform into beautiful but inedible flowers. Artichokes…
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L’Alquimista: magical pasta in Valencia Spain
There are many pizza and pasta restaurants in Valencia, but where do the Italians living in Valencia go for authentic Italian food? Our Italian friends recommend a place that they affectionately describe as their grandmothers kind of Italian food. That special place is L’Alquimista, a tiny little gem hidden in the Russafa barrio. Owner Mario…
Julia Eats 