DELECTABLE SPAIN

It’s always great to get positive feedback from a favorite couple- she’s a photographer, he’s an architect and they both enjoy excellent food, wine and culture. They visited Madrid and San Sebastian. The following list contains their top picks for food and things to see in each city.

Madrid

  • Museo del Prado – free admission in the evenings
  • Parque del Buen Retiro – beautiful, huge city park. especially loved the Glass Palace
  • El Rastro – biggest flea market in Europe, located in the La Latina neighborhood on Sundays.
  • Mercado de San Miguel – wonderful, modern food market with many vendors and delicious food

Madrid Restaurants

  • La Casa del Abuelo – specialty is gambas al ajillo (shrimp in garlic sauce). The sangria is also really good!
  • Casa Toni – tiny restaurant with tiny kitchen and fresh ingredients cooked right in front of you
  • Txakolina – modern tapas restaurant with a beautiful selection
  • San Gines Chocolateria – chocolate con churros after dinner
  • Museo del Jamon – they are EVERYWHERE, and have the best selection of jamon

San Sebastian

  • Museo San Telmo – fantastic renovation of a convent into a museum. Incredible murals in the old chapel space.We loved the architecture. The permanent exhibit is the history of the basques, which was interesting to see.
  • Chillida pilgrimage – see the pieces at the Museo San Telmo, the Abrazo (Hug) on the water, the Homage de Titian (also on the bay), the Wind Combs (INCREDIBLE) on the bay, and La Cruz de la Paz at Good Shepherd Cathedral
  • Monte Urgell – hike to the statue of Christ at the top and the surrounding fort for beautiful views. This takes a couple of hours if you take your time stopping along the way.

San Sebastian Restaurants

  • Baztan (pintxos)
  • Atari (small selection of pinxtos, but best to sit down)
  • Gandarias (great pintxos and sit-down, make a reservation or slip in early)
  • Bar la Cepa (pintxos)
  • El Caserio (sit down, French)
  • Casa Alcalde (pinxtos)
  • Izar (postres)

EAT pulpo (octopus), bacalau (salt cod), jamon, monkfish, albondigas, tortilla, pimientos de padron, gambas al ajillo and DRINK txakoli, rioja, sangria, cafe con leche

To see and read more about their trip go to Andrea’s blog.  -Brian and Andrea, Spain, November 2012

 

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