Travel Tuesday Roundtable: Spain

Bulls and matadors, flamenco dancers, giant tomato fights: Think the word "Spain" having not been there and your brain can probably cook up some of these common images. Get the chance to see Spain for yourself, though, and you'll leave awed by how those traditions truly are just specks on the vast spectrum. Each corner of the Kingdom of Spain flaunts its own proud customs and unique sensibilities; giants like Barcelona and Madrid proudly encapsulate Spain's progressive, cosmopolitan spirit, but as this week's Travel Tuesday Roundtable will attest, there are treasures to uncover throughout the terrain, from small towns in Andalusia to its gorgeous islands off the coast.

Luckily for us, people who love Spain tend to not shut up when given a chance to tout its greatness, and our Travel Tuesday Twitter Community is no exception. We've tailored their responses for your reading pleasure, giving you an idea of what tiny towns to add to your itinerary, what key city to visit first, and what local tapas dishes might make your stomach turn.

Without further ado, our illustrious and varied roundtable for this week:

Tanya Mazarowski Hilleary’s love affair with Spain began 20 years ago and endures to this day. Most recently she spent 40 days traveling around the country with her family, and had the pleasure of sharing her passion for this beautiful country with her two children, ages 4 and 6 (She notes Spain is fantastic for traveling with kids; Highlights from the kid-perspective include playgrounds in nearly every Plaza in Madrid and Barcelona, a Childrens' Day Fiesta during San Fermin in Pamplona, and a stunningly beautiful double-decker carousel on the beach in San Sebastian). When not traveling to, planning for, or dreaming about Spain, Tanya is a marketing consultant in the Washington, D.C. area. Find Tanya on Twitter @riverbyte.

Abigail King is a freelance travel writer and runs the excellent Inside the Travel Lab. You can find her on Twitter @abigailking.

Rachel Replogle is a veteran of Spain and a law student living in Washington D.C. Follow her on Twitter @RachelReplogle.

Rachel Hilton has traveled through Spain several times and currently resides in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter here.

Rebecca Schlanger is an avid fan of Spain and can be found on Twitter here.

1. Let's pretend a friend is heading to Spain but can only choose between one of Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia or Sevilla. Which of these emerges victorious? State your case.

Definitely Barcelona! I love the urban nature of Madrid, the quaint history of Sevilla, and the paella claim-to-fame of Valencia, but nothing beats the artwork, the people, and the culture of Barcelona. I was surprised by how much I'd love the city, given that Madrid was my first home in Spain, but Barcelona has a distinctly different personality. It's a uniqueness that you can see from the streets, a flavor that you can taste in any restaurant, a friendliness that you can enjoy when talking to any of the natives. Barcelona is, at the same time, a snapshot of the past and way ahead of its time.

- Rebecca Schlanger

Barcelona wins. The city has an amazing energy that is quite unique throughout Spain. It has a stellar market with hidden restaurants throughout, Las Ramblas, the pedestrian walkway that has the same "place to be vibe" as Times Square but without the strain on the power grid, and the wonderful Seuss-like architecture of Gaudi, his cathedral--still a work in progress--Parque Guell in the Gracia district, with a great view of the whole city, and of course, the clothes and shoes!

- Rachel Hilton

Madrid. If you really want to know a country, see its capital. For a quick visit, I’d suggest dashing to the Prado and pondering Velazquez and Goya and the influence they’ve had on European art throughout the continent. Next, hop metro and take a stroll around the Plaza Mayor. I so prefer this in winter, when it isn’t full of tourists eating overpriced meals, but summer will give you a grand sense of the place with the terrace café seating. Walk around the corner and take a peek at Botin, the famous old restaurant. If you want to see a funky, cool part of Madrid and chat with stylish Madrilenos, head over to the Malasaña neighborhood centered around the Plaza Dos De Mayo (if you’ve seen the Goya paintings, you’ll understand the significance).

If you’re there for a few days and want to see more of Spain and less city, it is easy to hop a high speed train to Segovia or Toledo for a deeper look into Spain’s rich history. Be sure to catch the high speed trains, however. The trip is 40 minutes high speed, but 3 hours via traditional rail.

- Tanya Balleary

2. Spain has the second-most UNESCO World Heritage sites on record. What Spanish historical landmark or area impressed you the most? Why?

The Alambra Palace in Granada is truly beautiful and a sight to behold. Only if you've visited Morocco will you get a sense of the artistry of the Moors incredible masonry. The colours, textures and the scale of the place and it's position on a big hill overlooking the city is not to be missed.

- Rachel Hilton

I’m a big fan of the city of Segovia. The 2,000 year old Roman Aqueduct that graces the city never fails to impress. The Plaza Mayor in Segovia is where Queen Isabella was crowned Queen of Castile, and the Alcazar is beautiful to walk through. Before it was an historical site, it was a military training center and armory. There is a fantastic collection of armor and beautifully decorated rooms within to tour and explore on your own. A sweeping vista of Castile can be seen from the upper terrace, and you can clearly see the church built by the Knights Templar.

The Cathedral of Segovia is the last Gothic Cathedral to be built in Spain, and is the Grande Dame at the top of the hill. Walk around the cloister gardens for a bit of peaceful reflection.

- Tanya Hilleary

The historic city Toledo is my favorite place to visit in Spain. The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo, the city's main attraction, is truly remarkable. One can't help but be impressed by its sheer size, beautiful art collection (El Greco fans will love it), and Gothic architecture. It's fun to spend some time getting lost within the city's walls, talking to the very friendly locals, and checking out all the small shops that sell Toledo-made swords and knives (which are great souvenirs for friends and family and surprisingly inexpensive). The town is a great stop for history buffs; the city's history is rich with elements from Christian, Jewish, and Moorish cultures, and many historically important Spaniards called Toledo home. Finally, as a city that rises high above the surrounding countryside, great photo ops abound.

- Rachel Replogle

3. There's plenty to love in Madrid and Barcelona, but the less-heralded towns often evoke the true charm of the country. Is there a city that happened to charm you that you might have otherwise overlooked? Why?

I think that my all-time favorite destination in Spain is the island of Mallorca. Sure, lots of foreigners travel to the Balearic Islands for beauty and relaxation (and a little spot of over-indulgence in Ibiza), but Mallorca captured my heart. Outside of Palma, there is plenty to see -- renting a car and exploring the island is an absolute treasure. I stumbled across Port de Andratx on my second visit to Mallorca, and it's an idyllic, sweet little town with a beautiful port, delicious food, and comfortable sandy beaches. It may not be on everyone's maps, but it should be.

- Rebecca Schlanger

I will never forget my visit to Cuenca. This is one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, even though I was there in the winter and it was unseasonably cold. In Castilla-La Mancha and near the well-worn Toledo, Cuenca is a true gem. Located on a gorge, carved out by two rivers. Cuenca is widely-known for it's "hanging houses", homes that literally hang off the precipice of this gorge and appear to be on the verge of toppling over. We stayed in the most amazing small inn, which was in fact one of those houses hanging over the gorge, called Posada San Jose. The view across the gorge at night was amazing. We took the footbridge across to the ultra-lux Parador for a drink. There is a museum of abstract art, a lovely old Cathedral and museum.

- Rachel Hilton

I loved Jaén in Andalusia. You reach it by driving through field after field of olive groves and it’s easy to understand Jaén’s nickname as the world capital of olive oil. The city centre has fountains and an impressive cathedral but Jaén really comes to life in the side streets that crawl up the mountain: children, pensioners, young men on mopeds, mothers hanging out their laundry… it’s a chance to feel the real rhythm of the place. The Santa Catalina castle and the fortress on the cliff are also spectacular.

- Abigail King

My absolute favorite small city -- Logroño. Logroño is the capital of La Rioja, and the heart of the Spanish wine country. It is a fairly wealthy city, with beautiful parks and a pretty and safe Gran Via. The old section of the city is a gem, and the area surrounding “Calle Laurel” is famous for having the best tapas in all of Spain. Each bar has its specialty, and to wander from place to place sampling the best Rioja wines and tapas along with locals and the occasional pilgrim from the Camino de Santiago is a time to treasure. The Cathedral of Logroño is a relatively small one, but it boasts an original Michelangelo. Riojanos are a friendly bunch, the city is very safe, and one can tour nearby vineyards and bodegas to see an impressive display of fine Spanish winemaking in action. For a real treat, hire a car and go to Clavijo, the ancient Moorish castle ruin where a battle took place that many say turned the tide of the Crusades in the Christians’ favor. This castle is stunningly beautiful at dusk. The vista overlooking the valley of Logroño is magical, and you get a true sense of this historically-rich land.

- Tanya Hilleary

4. What site, perhaps previously hyped, ended up feeling more like a disappointing tourist trap? How come?

The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona wins this distinction for me. After hiking across the city, one is greeted with a construction site, clouds of dust, and a very American-looking hot dog stand selling drinks and snacks to busloads of Japanese tourists. Somewhere amid all of this chaos is Gaudi’s famous Sagrada Familia cathedral, but it will be 11 euro and a line that rivals something at Disney World to get in. No thanks!

I bypassed it. Clearly, the photos on the postcards and websites were specially done to avoid views of cranes and the clay-colored dust that settled on everything.

If Gaudi masterpieces are what you’re after, check out Parc Guell. Still can be a crazy number of tourists, but no lines, no fees, and a beautiful park to hike through with plenty of shady spots to rest.

- Tanya Hilleary

In general, I did not enjoy Barcelona. As people who weren't really into partying, I felt like the city was not worth our time. You have to watch your back everywhere you go because of the abundance of aggressive pick pockets, and it was much more expensive than other places in Spain. I personally found the style of architecture to be unattractive, and the beaches are so over-crowded that you have to travel elsewhere if you want to enjoy some decent time in the Mediterranean. The city is also very spread out, so you cannot get around as quickly, easily, and cheaply as you can in other cities, especially if you're not used to navigating a city on buses. Some people love it, but Barcelona is not some place I ever plan on going to again.

- Rachel Replogle

5. What's your time-tested method to best enjoy your siesta?

Decide you don’t need a siesta. Instead, use the time to explore Seville in the afternoon when the crowds have thinned out and you can “have the place to yourselves.” Stumble around in 45 degrees heat. Return to hotel exhausted and ill. Never miss a siesta again. Shutters closed, blinds down, air-con if possible. Ah…

- Abigail King

Do like the Spaniards, have a big lunch with some wine, draw the blinds, have sex and then sueno con los angelitos, as they say.....

- Rachel Hilton

If you walk through any street in Spain on a summer afternoon, you’ll see shutters closed and metal “persianas” drawn down all over the city. To an American, these look like security blinds used in our more dangerous neighborhood, but to Spaniards, they’re guaranteed darkness and shade from the bright summer sun. So, in Summer when siestas are most common, eat a big “comida” between 2:30 and 4:00, then return to your quarters, draw down the persianas, and enjoy the cool darkness for a few hours. By 6:30, you’ll be ready to rejoin the world, so head for a coffee house as that’s where the action will be. No worries – you haven’t missed anything. The sun won’t set in Spain until nearly 10:30 at night during the summer months. Enjoy it.

- Tanya Hilleary

6. Tapas is one of Spain's most treasured culinary traditions. But such a constant stream of different dishes means you're at risk to run by one that just doesn't feel right. Did a tapas dish ever make you wish you had skipped a round? Describe it in all its barf-bag glory.

I didn't actually let these little buggers pass my lips, but in Barcelona we went to the largest tapas place I've ever been that had seafood tapas items I'd never seen before. My friends, all Spaniards, ordered what I thought were winkles, but were more like long shell tubes with these hard worm like creatures that they picked out with a small hook. Revolting.

- Rachel Hilton

Oh wow… ok, there are a few oddities that I’d hesitate to order again, and some I skipped the first time since it seemed too bizarre. Also, a few weird ones that were surprisingly good…

Pig’s ear – this is a Madrid specialty, but you’ll find it in Logroño too. I’ll pass on this. I just couldn’t get over what it was I was eating. There’s another dish called, “cara de cerdo” – pig face. It is EXACTLY as described. Not on my preferred list, either.

Bull’s Tail – Yeah, this is another one I’ll skip every single time.

Octopus- There is a thing I’ll call a “blooming octopus” that is essentially an octopus (pulpo) flipped upside-down and arranged to look like a blossom or crown. It is a lovely presentation to behold, and you know precisely what it is, however it is served by simply hacking off a tentacle and putting it on a place. That leaves the rest of it up to courage or a drunken dare. Whenever I tried this, it was waaay too chewy and hung around my mouth far too long.

If you’re going to try octopus – and I suggest you do, since it is a Spanish specialty – order pulpo gallego- Galician Octopus. When prepared well, this is absolutely fantastic. It is thinly sliced octopus, potatoes and garlic in a stunning oil/butter sauce. The texture is more like a delicate steak than a chewy calamari. Delicious.

Cuttlefish – This too, if you saw it live, could give you nightmares, but if prepared well, this is quite good. A cuttlefish is a squid-like creature, but more tender than calamari. I had this in a Basque restaurant, so keep an eye out for it there.

- Tanya Hilleary


Thanks so much to our contributors for their insight! Be sure to follow Where I've Been on Twitter this #traveltuesday.

(img credits: alreza, Alaskan Dude, Luciti, Sifu Renka)