Walking Wednesday

Cádiz's historic quarter, the Casco Antiguo, a virtually car-free labyrinth

Below: neighbors gather; a taberna opens; a 460-year old convent off Calle San Francisco

 

 

Tapear Tuesday

 

Tapear, that distinctly Spanish custom of going out for small, shareable plates, tapas, is alive and thriving more than ever in Andalucia.

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Whenever I think of the art of tapear, which is often, I think of it as an informal food crawl - moving from bar to bar, savoring delectable small dishes typically paired with a cold caña (small draft beer), wine, sherry, or vermouth. The whole experience is less a formal meal than a social ritual.

“Tomar tapas en bares y tabernas” simply means a casual, lively way of eating and connecting. Aficionados drift from place to place, sampling house specialties of the day or a few personal favorites at each stop. The classic “one bar, one drink, one tapa” rhythm often stretches into an entire evening’s entertainment. 

Tabernas hum with energy and seem to occupy almost every corner. While tapas can certainly serve as a pre-dinner appetizer, the key difference from the French apéro is this: Spanish tapas are substantial enough to become the meal itself, usually enjoyed while taberna-hopping. The focus stays on the small plates; standing or perched at the bar is perfectly normal. The French apéro (short for apéritif), by contrast, is a pre-dinner custom centered mainly on drinks, accompanied by light, casual nibbles, typically enjoyed at home or on a café terrace before a proper sit-down meal. 

Tapas themselves range from the simplest (olives, slices of jamón, cheeses) to the more elaborate (croquetas, gambas al ajillo, tortilla, seafood/fish, and two longtime personal favorites, patatas bravas and chicharrones especiales). In parts of Andalusia, such as Granada, a free tapa still traditionally arrives with whatever drink you order. ¡Salud! - BPJ 

 

 

Andalucia

3 hours (or less) from Paris

 (2 1/2 hours direct flight)

 

Mocha Monday

 

Strong coffees and morning papers start the day near the Mercado Central.

Andalucia

3 hours (or less) from Paris

 (2 1/2 hours direct flight)

 

Sunday solace

Sidewalk sipping in the south of Spain, where walls keep watch... One glass at a time. 

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Next week: more Andalucia 

 

3 hours (or less) from Paris

 (2 1/2 hours direct flight)

  

Sitting Saturday

Man with dog on the steps of the Catedral de Cádiz.

Andalucía 

3 hours (or less) from Paris

 (2 1/2 hours direct flight)

 

Flamenco Friday

 

 

Andalucía, a perfect off-season side trip from Paris.

 

 Above: a street dancer in old-town Sevilla 

 

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With August heat waves over, more and more Parisians are traveling in “shoulder months” - April/May, September/October. And with fewer crowds, lower costs, better weather, and businesses still in full swing, it’s neither too crowded nor is it deserted. Spain is a perfect choice: a vibrant world of distinct cultures and landscapes not that far away, and low-cost direct flights are easy to book. - BPJ

Andalucía 

3 hours (or less) from Paris

 (2 1/2 hours direct flight)

Wall Wednesday

 Wall wisdom.

"To love, is to be able to give… and to know when to hold back.”

Signed @Déni_de_Malice (Dennis the Menace)