Skip to main content

Tapas by the sea

 

The European Union leg of our trip has begun! On Thursday we landed in Almeria, Spain to meet up with my parents.

Our flight was short and sweet, but we were surrounded by kids! I have never seen that many children on a plane in my life. I think they were all headed to the Spanish coast for the UK bank holiday long weekend.

First views of Spain

We’re staying in a small resort town called Playas de Vera, which is right on the ocean. Today was a cooled day, dotted with rain, so we haven’t gone swimming yet…

Cloudy view of the beach

We took a nice walk today along the ocean to the slightly larger town of Garrucha. Although this town is also mainly beachside resorts, bars, and shops, we found some small medieval fortifications to explore.

Happy parents on the walkway by the ocean
Exploring!

On our way back, we stopped at a scenic beachside restaurant for some tapas and a refreshing drink. Tapas are a cuisine originating from the Spanish province of Andalusìa, and they are essentially little appetizers or snacks to be served with drinks.

Our tapas plates (from left to right: potatoes with onion, chicken croquettes, anchovies in vinegar, and grilled squid)


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Pastel De Nata

We had an absolutely stunning day today! Although we spent about 3 hours driving from Lagos to Sintra on Portuguese tolled highways, our time in both those cities was incredible. We had a fantastic breakfast spread in our hotel today, and we we spent about 45 minutes tasting Portuguese delicacies, including tomato and pumpkin jams, honey fresh from the comb, and many breads and baked goods. Delicious breakfast We were now fueled to take a walk on the beautiful boardwalk in Lagos. We walked along the Atlantic towards the Ponta da Piedade, a rocky outcrop where a small lighthouse stands. The water was a gorgeous blue, the sandstone cliffs a calm beige, and the weather was on our side gracing us with a nice cool breeze.  Gorgeous cliffside Made it to the end of the boardwalk! This is definitely a place we’ll have to return to…I would love to do a kayak trip along the coastline and explore the beautiful rock formations from below. Steps down to the water Going down the stairs Turquoise...

Francesinhas & Port Wine

 Today was our first full day in the city of Porto! The name Portugal actually originates from the name of this city. We arrived here yesterday afternoon after a pretty miserable travel day, but the taste of port wine helped us forget about late busses, lost things, and exorbitant ATM fees. Port wine originates in Porto, but was actually invented by the British as a way to help wine survive the journey from Portugal to England. This fortified wine comes in several varieties. The main two are “Ruby” and “Tawny”. Ruby is generally more fruity and has a more vibrant colour, whereas tawny is aged in oak barrels and is more nutty and honey tasting. We both enjoyed the tawny more than the ruby. Sampling white, ruby, tawny, and reserve port wines This morning we took a “free” walking tour through the old city of Porto. Our guide told us many interesting tidbits about Portuguese history and society.  The city has many beautiful buildings, but also lots of construction everywhere ...

Home cooked meals

 Our time in Cockermouth was spent relaxing and recuperating from a busy few weeks. We were able to stay with the grandmother of one of my friends so we were wonderfully taken care of :) On our first day we slept in and then did a little walk up to Watch Hill, a local walking route. This path takes you right through sheep grazing fields! It was quite fun to see all the sheep up close as you walk through their home. Generally they’re very calm, although a few did stare us down as we walked by.  Walking through the fields Relaxing sheep Mama and her babies Views from our walk In the afternoon, we explored a bit of the town centre. Most shops were closed as it was a Sunday, but we could still appreciate the lovely architecture. It was still warm today so there were quite a few people bathing in the River Cocker, enjoying their time off. Interestingly, the River Cocker’s name comes from a Celtic word which means “the crooked one”. The River Cocker Cute little houses Kirk in the ce...