Espanol Forefathers?

So it's official.

Despite my thick Australian accent, newly acquired Pacific Islander appetite, Irish heritage and Scandinavian appearance.. I am definitely Spanish at heart!

I already had an inkling but this was confirmed by a remark a local Barcelon(ian) woman made a few days ago who after speaking to me for just a few minutes about my travels around her beautiful country, took a step back and said to her friend in Spanish.. I think this woman has a bit of a Spanish soul.

 

Im also not sure if the news has gone global yet but if not then let me be the first to tell you that Spain is no longer in economic crisis. Basically since the development of my Spanish shoe addiction everything is going to be fine "What European financial crisis?" I heard one manager of a Valencia shoe store say as I made my way to the exit bumping people with my inappropriately sized bags with sharp shoe box edges. So if you thought it was big news that Spain won the European Cup this year then wait until the Minister for Economy and Finance here confirms Senorita Bruce's visit to Spain has turned the economy around!

As evidenced by my smile in the photo below that the proof is in the rosemary infused cheese (and not the pudding) purchased from the local farmers market that a visit to Spain is truly a worth making within anyones lifetime.

Gastronomy and a grande size bull

Lets see, how does one Aussie Señorita choose a blog report topic with all that's been observed, absorbed and yes, digested, over the last few days.

You could say I've been mixing it up to promote a well balanced holiday life. Best described by the Sangria ingrediant analogy as follows i.e oranges and apples representing my health, wine = my maturity, ice to keep things cool (in 42 heat + the Espanol Señors) and lemonade keeping things sweet as bro.

There was whale and dolphin watching in the totally chillaxed coastal town of Tarifa where the Mediterranean and Atlantic meet (a bit like Byron Bay with less tatts). Oh and a view of Morocco from the beach!

Then there was Ronda, 'the little Andalusian Gem where Christians and Jews alike (and Australians in general) feel under its spell'.

Here I attended a mass at a convent with local nuns (dear God please forgive me for making the fried cheese tapas option a regular addition to each and every meal).

I also enjoying the flamenco dancing and the local gastronomy (a word I dont use nearly enough).

Other highlights include spotting a kid in the street who's has taken the term 'toy car' to a whole new level (see image below) and did I mention I found 'the Big Bull'! he tried hiding behind a tree but I snapped him just in time!

When when in Seville

Its no wonder Im totally chillaxed and overwhelmed with gratefulness with all that has filled my stomach, the spare space in my bag and the last few days here in Southern Spain.

Highlights in stunning Seville (Sevilla) included a visit to ancient baths for a spa treatment in an old castle and visits to many of the the amazing sights such as the Alcaza and the Cathedral, of St Mary. Even town hall was fabulous with the exception of the protest going on against the government about the economic situation here where fish guts where being used to write messages on the ground.. very effective writing instrument to draw attention.

The smell of fish guts quickly faded and more memories where created when I listened to my gut (hard to ignore at the minute) and stopped for a mojito during happy hour to write a post card.

Here I was invited to join some locals and their visiting Australian relatives for a G&T resulting in a wonderful night out with strangers/locals (Sevillians)/now new friends and some wining and dining off the beaten track.

The kind of unplanned adventure that usually only happens 'when in Rome' aka Seville on this occasion.

We even stopped by their apartment where one of the ladies offered to sew back my missing button! (notably due to a pre holiday DFO bargain skirt purchase, not my expanding waistline).

Missing all the beautiful little people in my life I even borrowed the littlest member of the group for a little while. A gorgeous three year old named Lucina who seemed to really warm to the visiting Aussie blonde who they found on the streets and like the rest of Spain, showed no signs of tiring after hours of eating and drinking in the sunshine (from 9pm onwards of course).

Hola & welcome Señorita Bruce

If your not already aware I'm on a Mejor of Espanol (Best of Spain) tour right now. Perfecto description of all that is occurring on this trip!

After recovering from the football party and finishing reading the newspaper, [insert first 12 pages of the paper reiterating Spain is the best and an additional 31 page football lift out for your perusal - in case you missed it - plus a few more pages at the back] we've headed South. Here they are still celebrating, although I did see a Spanish flag on a clothes line today so perhaps they are on a break?

We have been to the amazing ancient city of Cordova. An incredible UNESCO world heritage listed sight that has more history than Elizabeth Taylor's love life bless her soul. Andulucia Southern Spain is where you will find the incredible remains of ancient ruins that date back to something like the 8th century BC. With historical references like these who else feels like their time in the century is rather brief?

I have now also made several new friends both locally and of course from the tour - mainly from Canberra (where else right?) and from Australia in general confirming we all do indeed come from the lucky country.

As I embrace the traditions of an afternoon siesta, indulge in tapas and sangria (that's what we have at happy hour mum) and discover the incredible history and culture of this country, its becoming more and more obvious that Ill need to commence planning my next trip already and it may not be the last time I see the welcome Señorita Bruce sign at Madrid airport.

Espana es el mejor

Hola Madrid!!

So if you didn't know already (where were you?!) Espanol won the world cup in 2010. And if its possible you missed that, then I'm sure you have heard by now (literally) that Espanol (and I) recently celebrated world domination once again with a 4-0 win over Italy in the European Cup. This confirms (as per confirmation I received from many Madrid locals) that Espanol is the simply the best (gracias Tina Turner for saving me from using italics here).

What a fabulous night to be in town with every bar and plaza packed full of red and yellow striped foreheads, flags, and fingernails. I ended up with with a striped forehead and surrounded by very happy and proud citizens. I am envious of their passion for the game and whilst Australia has lots to say about world domination in the sporting arena, I don't remember celebrating my 1989 Eveready basketball grand final in quite the same way!

Just to add a visual or two here is the mini laptop our Argentinian waiter leant us to watch the game as the bar we wanted to go into (as featured) was already packed with red and yellow people.

What a fabulous welcome to Espanol. Watch this space where I have plans to feature what else do they do well..

Parisian Macaroons

Ok so back to food for just a minute.. not just because the Parisians do food so well but mainly because the last couple of days in Paris have basically revolved around it. And frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way [Id like to quickly thank again my parentals JB & BabZ for instilling this value in me]..

So my mate Betsy from Boston was in Paris at the same time as me visiting her mate Danielle who's there studying pastry amongst other things. Needless to say with shared interests like this we clearly got along and Danielle's tour de Paris was a highlight of my trip thus far! What a fabulous and generous tour guide who describes what's required of a picnic at the Eiffel tower very well here in her own blog in which gratefully feature http://bonjoursweetparis.wordpress.com/2012/06/30/a-perfect-picnic/

It was a truly sensational evening full of lovely friends, laughter, local cheeses (we are talking slabs), beautiful french wine, chocolate, bread and joyful (drunk) Parisian youths who appear to do this regularly in the summer. The whole evening just makes me want to sing just thinking about it!

She also let me try on her baking hat and used me as a test dummy (what's not to like about this scenario) for distinguishing the quality of varying ingrediants of an imported English biscuit and local Vanilla tart to which I'm still salivating over and can confirm there is simply no comparison. As you can see featured in the photos even the airport tarts (and I don't mean I saw Paris Hilton) are phenomenal..

Thinking outside the Parisian kitchen

Just briefly when thinking outside the Parisian kitchen for a minute Id also like to share some other observations I have had in Paris..

- there is no such thing as 'too much cheese'

- the arc de triomphe is in the middle of a round about with 6 unmarked lanes, like Canberra's Adelaide Ave round about on steroids

- you can never have too many photos of the Eiffel tower

- the bank of 'Bred' is a major financial institution here

- there is no such thing as 'too much cheese'

- donuts (this is not a food reference) on the river Seine in a large boat are fun

- pedestrian crossings are safer with accompanying traffic lights

- the louvre museum is bigger than all of Australia's 'Big Things' put together (reference: http://www.bigthings.com.au/)

- French children dress better then me

- there is no such thing as 'too much cheese