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Destination: Spain

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Video: Joy in the Park, Sevilla

It’s easy, when traveling, to get into that sightseeing groove where everything is gourmet, Gothic, Gaudí, and all grown-up. Instead, make a point to recognize neighborhoods, families, and the everyday reality of communities working together, as one generation lovingly pulls the next into adulthood.

On Day 38 of my 100-day trip to Europe, I found myself in a simple park — dodging soccer balls to the melody of gleeful children and enjoying memories of when my kids found delight in a swing set. And it made me really happy. It made me nostalgic. And it made me mindful of the joy that fills our world.

 

Do you have a dimension of travel that gets you feelin’ groovy?

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Video: Long Lines at Alcázar, Sevilla

There are two IQs of European travelers: those who wait in lines, and those who don’t. This year I’ve noticed that many of the greatest sights in Europe are attracting more visitors than they can physically contain. Online booking is getting extremely easy, and sights are simply turning their backs on those who show up with no pre-purchased ticket. In my Rick Steves Spain guidebook, I have decided to no longer explain how to try (and likely fail) to get a ticket on the day of your visit. I am writing up certain sights as if the only way you can get in is to pay and book online, well in advance. For 90 percent of the sights, this is unnecessary, and there’s no problem at all. But for the sights you traveled to that destination to see — the Alhambra (Granada), the Picasso Museum and the Sagrada Família church (Barcelona), Dalí’s home (Cadaqués), the Alcázar (here in Sevilla) — you have a choice: be organized, think in advance, take five minutes to go online and book your ticket…or show up, wait several hours, and maybe not get in. Again, there are two IQs of European travelers. Don’t be stupid!

This clip shows hundreds of travelers (without my guidebook) getting only a sunburn.

 

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My Favorite Tapas in Ronda

Snails, Spain’s ratatouille (pisto) with quail eggs, and a salad worthy of the bar’s name — all at a dollar a plate. Share a moment with me at my favorite tapas bar in Ronda.

Here’s a bit of the write-up in my Rick Steves Spain guidebook: “Bar El Lechuguita, a traditional hit with locals, serves a long and tasty list of €1 tapas. Rip off a tapas inventory sheet and mark which ones you want. Be adventurous and don’t miss the bar’s namesake, lechuguita (#16, a wedge of lettuce with vinegar, garlic, and a secret ingredient). Ideally, be there at 20:15 when the doors open and grab a spot at the bar.”

There are lots of ways to choose the place you’ll have dinner. In my not-so-humble opinion, none are as surefire as a lovingly researched and up-to-date guidebook, written by a traveler whose style matches yours.

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What’s your favorite tapas tip? Let me know in the comments below, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

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Video: Granada Can Be So Sexy

Enjoying the sultry sunset…stones of the Alhambra glowing red…romance all around…and Gypsy flamenco erupting at the San Nicolás viewpoint in Granada. It’s a sultry moment indeed.

While you can pay for a flamenco show, the street-music scene in Granada (here each evening as reliably as the sunset) simply can’t be beaten. Put that on your list when visiting Andalucía’s Granada.

What’s your favorite street-music scene?

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Video: The Crazy Streets of Granada

“Cheap beer. Great tapas. And what happens in Granada, stays in Granada.” That’s what my friend told me when I asked why there are so many hen and stag parties in this town. Surrounded by vitality and frolic, I had to grab a quick impromptu video. Take three minutes and walk with me for a dose of your basic love-of-life in Granada, here in the south of Spain. It’s conviviality gone wild: ham hocks hanging like bovine ballerinas from the ceiling, free tapas with your drink…and it’s so easy for a tourist to get swept away in all the fun.

Once again, I’m struck by how many of the best moments in travel are absolutely free.

 

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