Tapas, DJ's and vermouth
An accumulation of habits that, even if you don't remember it, you always love it and when you're away you miss it terribly. The sum of all those things that we do in our own way and enjoy without a trace of guilt, leaving our earthly neighbors with open mouth and surrendered spirit.
Review this list and you will find the good reasons to fall in love with your land again.
THE NIGHT MARCH. The eternal night, the open bars , the laughter, the street bursting at two in the morning. It is the first thing they comment on when they return and, of course, what they enjoy the most when they experience it. And as an example, the abc of the night in Madrid, a full-fledged Madrid La Nuit.
THE COVERS. At any time and of all kinds. Perfect so that alcohol does not fall on deaf ears and to make you strong at the bar counter and mingle with the parish. Irresistible and free, something that we all love.
** THE BEACH BARS **. that invention. Essential on the beach with a good paella – yes, although they take it in the sun with sangria and always mispronounce it – or with a portion of fried fish, or with some crushed olives. Music, good vibes and beautiful people.
Sa Cova D'en Xoroi in Minorca
SUN. Undoubtedly a success, in winter and in summer. That light that seems to come from everywhere and that always manages to lift our spirits. On the beach, in the mountains, in the parks, on the terraces of the squares and on the balconies with geraniums . The light is unmistakable and addictive.
BEACHES. With more than 7,800 kilometers of coastline spread over three seas, it is not surprising that the Spanish beaches are an irresistible attraction. From the busy Cantabrian Sea to the blue Mediterranean , without forgetting the impressive windows to the Atlantic. White sand, romantic lighthouses, fish taverns, unforgettable coves, dreamy chill outs and large golden expanses to rediscover your most seafaring side.
Golden horizon of La Pared beach, in Fuerteventura, at sunset
THE VANGUARD GASTRONOMY. it sounds to them El Bulli by Ferran Adria , that restaurant-concept that placed us on the world map of the most cutting-edge gastronomy. We love to discover new talents and enjoy the well-established . Luxury table and tablecloth in every corner of a country that prides itself on enhancing the quality of its products.
RED WINE . We began to be known with Rioja and Ribera as flagships, but the truth is that there are more and more varietals that manage to delight locals and others. Design wineries, signature wines and large extensions of vineyards. The Mediterranean in its pure state and a whole culture to discover.
Architectural plates are created here
THE GRAY HAIR. Very cold and well drawn . In a zinc bar or in designer bars, always with friends and definitely appetizing. The perfect excuse to go out for a walk and end up taking several. And as if this were not enough, we invented the clear , that middle way with sweetish overtones that ends up making the most reluctant fall in love.
THE NAP. Although we enjoy it much less than the legend says, and in practice it is a kind of summer whim, foreigners love the concept and practice it whenever they can, even if they have to wait to eat at four o'clock afternoon. Without a doubt a very successful ambassador.
This is how one of the best canes in Madrid is shot (Bar Alonso)
THE ISLANDS. An accurate claim that with Ibiza at the head has created its own brand. There is one for every taste. from the glamorous Balearics , dotted with idyllic coves of white sand and turquoise water, even the volcanic ones Canary Islands , perfect for discovering the wildest side of the Atlantic . Nights under the open sky, unforgettable corners and a lifestyle that relentlessly engages.
THE HOLY WEEK . The reverential silence of the street before the dramatic steps, the heartbreaking song of the saetas and the unprecedented social devotion turn Holy Week into a spectacle of lights and shadows. From sober Castile to explosive Andalusia. An unforgettable plastic painting.
Es Vedrà and Es Vedranell at sunset
THE ARCHITECTURE . We have an extensive heritage of historical stones, an artistic legacy that emerges in the architecture of a country that lives from the richness of its contrasts. romanesque churches, fortresses, gothic cathedrals, mosques, Jewish quarters… You only have to see the faces of foreigners when they contemplate, just to give two examples, the Segovia Aqueduct or the Alhambra in Granada.
THE FLAMENCO . The overflowing passion of flamenco, thrilling and authentic, fascinates everyone equally. To those who live it and to those who star in it. Although many remain on the surface of the matter, all travelers arrive here with the firm intention of seeing a flamenco show, and if they are thrown, make some sevillanas.
PARTIES . The fairs, the verbenas, the colored lanterns and the rocks. The well-known San Fermines, the castillets, the fireworks, the firecrackers, and of course! always the festivals of the towns with a string of customs that compete in eccentricity and border on fright. Brotherhood to the beat of regional songs and native drinks.
Views of the Alhambra, enough not to fall in love
THE MUSEUMS . Luxury art galleries and an artistic legacy that never ceases to amaze. Madrid takes the cake, with the triangle formed by the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Art Center and the Thyssen Bornemizsa Museum as an essential axis of our art history.
THE ROAD TO SANTIAGO . The path that runs through the north of Spain parallel to the Cantabrian coast continues to collect unforgettable stories where devotion, legend and mysticism merge into a pilgrimage endorsed by the centuries. Kissing the apostle's feet is the best excuse to live an irreplaceable magical experience.
CINEMA . Thanks to Pedro Almodóvar, Spanish cinema ceased to be that fascinating unknown to become that appetizing object of desire. Despite the crisis, there are many films that cross our borders and they manage to move us with their stories and our way of understanding life.
Basic dictionary to defend yourself if you travel to Galicia
** THE LANGUAGE .** The resounding and unmistakable sound of our r makes them crazy with laughter when they want to imitate us. The same thing happens with the zetas , and with thicker words is the end. Try to find a foreigner who has spent more than 24 hours here and does not know any tacos.
THE SENSE OF HUMOR. Acid, surreal and at times dark black . But always accompanied by laughter, the hallmark of a country that knows how to get the best out of itself even in the worst circumstances.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD SHOPS . The famous groceries converted into exhibition spaces where you can find almost anything, starting with a noisy and nostalgic decoration and a shop assistant with all the time in the world to attend to your wishes . A walk through recent history that always makes us smile.
The Recova
THE BARS OPEN . When in other countries the bell rings and you have to choose between a club or a house, here the night has only just begun. We all love to take the penultimate and hang around a little longer. To them too.
THE CHURROS . That invention loaded with cholesterol that is taken with chocolate or whatever comes up. A whole tradition to say goodbye to the night that continues to amaze us for its costumbrism and its legion of followers.
PEOPLE. Logically, we are a land of majetes who, with the good and the bad, know how to have fun with what they have at hand, and if not, as has already become clear, they make it up. We know how to indicate directions pronouncing slowly and patiently , and we don't mind being spoken to in Sanskrit as long as they give us a smile.
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The classic of the classics