OT - Adventure through Spain and what I am eating along the way - OT

Sea2Ski

This small town is fantastic
 I was not expecting such a great location. 
What is inside these houses? Simplicity. 


And one of the bathrooms is outside. Behind me where I told this picture was a shower with no roof. The toilet and sink were under cover. 



I found it appropriate that there was a lemon tree growing right next to the toilet for the lemon fresh scent. 


Dinner was fantastic 

Iberian pork tenderloin stuffed with cheese and Jamon


Shoulder and leg of sucking iberico pig. This is what I ate. The richness was over the top insane. The meat was fall off the bone ready, and the skin was crispy perfection. 


Steak


Pate appetizer:


Bottle of wine:

Sea2Ski

And in the shadow of this:

At night it looks like this


What a dream! 

Sea2Ski

Yesterday we went to Granada. Started the day right

We took our time taking the hour long trip and more time was added trying to find a place to park. 
By that time we needed lunch. Tapas because at first we did not order food. A chicken rice mix. 


Salads
 


After sightseeing we went home. 
Another pate, I had the leg of suckling goat, 



Dessert

johnmitchell

Fantastic.. You guys are going to need a C150 Cargo plane to get back.

Sea2Ski

This morning we got some breakfast pastries from the bakery a few doors down. We then went to our car - it is another weather day like all the others here so far. 


We went to a small town called Luque to go to their small castle and church. It is only a few miles away only to find it is closed on Saturdays. In the church was a christening. It was interesting to see everyone so formally dressed up.  Men is stylish suits and women in dresses and stylish hats.  We then just walked around town.




Went to the store. Pictures for price examples only. 

Came me home and sat by the pool and ate what we bought. 


After eating, I took a nice 1.5 hour long nap. 
Now that I woke up, I am going to try and climb the mountain in the first picture of this post.

Foghorn

Dude.  Awesome pics.  I just ate lunch and your food pics make me simultaneously hungry and sleepy - like I just ate all that and want a nap.

bgebrent

This is amazing Mark.  Incredible food and photography.

northGAcock

Sea2Ski said:

I guess so.  
Maybe slightly akin to meeting a bunch of people in a state park in NC to cook and eat and maybe have a drink or two.
 
Seriously, you could feel the excitement building. Nearly ever town square had a giant screen going up for people to watch it there.  I am sure it would be a great time if you had the slightest bit of interest. 

Drankin ain’t aloud in the NC State Parks. Now you can use a mod IST amount to marinade your cooks.

Sea2Ski

Have to catch you up.
 I walked up the mountain, but could not get to the top without proper authorization. Yep there was a guy checking. I could only go half way up.  I got a few pictures of the small town. 

That at night we skipped dinner and just had a little bit of leftovers from lunch.


Yesterday we drove to Saville and took a tour of Real Alcázar:  stunning place. 


 And lemons are in season, walking through the gardens, the scent of lemon permeated the air when the wind blew right. 


Then we went out for dinner. We got a few things and split them up.

Brie with red “fruit”

Iberico pork cheek


Spiced potatoes


Cod


This food is amazing.  Never really knew what Spanish food was, but now that I do, I love the flavors. Just fantastic.,

But today was the day I have been looking forward to all trip and it exceeded my expectations.  I am getting the pictures together now as they are on 2 cameras. It might take a bit.  Check for my next post I do not think you will be disappointed. 

Foghorn

We loved Sevilla as well even though it was brutally hot there.  We joked that it made us feel like vampires.  We always sought the shade because the direct sunlight seemed so hot that you felt like you were getting burned.

For Game of Thrones fans, Real Alcazar is where they filmed the scenes that were set in Dorn.  

WeberWho

Got to love the alcohol prices. My wife and I went to a shot bar when in Barcelona. We had some Barcelona friends stay back because it was $2 shot night. Not $1 shot night. 

They'd have a heart attack if they saw the $10 shot prices here in the states. And that's just pouring you a shot. That's not even a show or starting the shot on fire and roasting marshmallows with it. 



The quality, quantity, and price for meals is amazing. For lunch one day in Barcelona I pointed to something on the menu not knowing what it was. I can't read Spanish but I thought it might be fun nonetheless.

To my surprise, the server brings out a big bowl of pasta for me. So I finish this big bowl of pasta and was happy with my guess on the menu. The server takes away my plate and puts down another plate. Huh? Turns out that was my appetizer. This plate consisted of meat and sides. At this point I'm stuffed. The server takes away my plate and sets down a huge piece of chocolate cake. Are you kidding me? Plus a mug of beer. 

Total price - $9

You can hardly get a value meal at Burger King for that. 

Sea2Ski

Yesterday was the top highlight of my trip.  We went to the a farm where they raise iberico pigs and make, monitor and produce Jamon and other pork products.

I learned a ton, and the experience exceeded my expectations.  If anyone wants more information, let me know, but for this post I will let the pictures do the talking. ( @20stone - you gotta do this! )

Sea2Ski

Sea2Ski

The smell was insane  

Sea2Ski

.


Then of course we ate some.

Sea2Ski

And of corse there was the gift shop


What a fantastic day it was. I can not wait to try some of the things I learned! 

northGAcock

You coming back? I mean really why would you? Reading this in amazement. 

Foghorn

northGAcock said:

You coming back? I mean really why would you? Reading this in amazement. 

That's a legit question.

YEMTrey

@Sea2Ski you're going to need a much larger fridge!

Sea2Ski

Foghorn said:

northGAcock said:

You coming back? I mean really why would you? Reading this in amazement. 

That's a legit question.

It really has been a fantastic trip, but unfortunately I Have to come  back at the end of the week.  

But first, Lisbon Portugal.

Tonights meal: a pot of seafood which I devoured. 

bgebrent

Too freakin cool.

JohnInCarolina

My God this trip is insane.

Sea2Ski

To @WeberWho point, depending on where you go, you can get great food and it can be inexpensive. 

Our last meal in Seville, we got all this and a bottle of wine and it was 47 Euro total.  It fed 3 people, (but one does eat on the lighter side).  This is how we prefer to eat. Many smaller portions rather than one big one so you can sample more foods in one place. 

Iberian pork tenderloin


Cod croquettes 


Baked sheeps cheese with caramelized onions in a balsamic reduction


Cod wrapped in bacon with a sauce similar to a pesto


Tuna steak with that pesto sauce


Braised Bulls tail. (This was freaking fantastic)


Creamed spinach with chick peas

nolaegghead

By the mother of Zeus!

Hook_emHornsfan_74

These posts just pushed us over the edge regarding planning a trip to Spain. My dad was stationed there and I lived there as a youngster but don’t remember. Can’t wait to go back.  Luckily she is a travel agent. Great hook ups. 

Sea2Ski

@Foghorn there were so many GOT fans there wearing GOT T-shirts as you can imagine. And of course the vendors jumped in and were selling other GOT garb right outside the walls. Where there is opportunity.....

And I echo your comment on the heat. It was intense there. I totally get the siesta thing and why they do not eat until 9-10 pm. 

Foghorn

Interesting. We were there in 2016 and I don’t recall seeing much - if any - GOT stuff. 

Sea2Ski

So we drove from Seville to Lisbon Portugal.  I was amazed at how undeveloped central Portugal was. miles and miles of farms, trees, vineyards and of course more olive trees, but very very very few buildings.
We got up yesterday and had a crepe.  Parmesan Cheese, onions, mushrooms and rocket (arugula) drizzled with olive oil then walked around the trendy historical district 




While the weather was overcast, the 68F weather was welcomed. 

Then hopped on on a train to Sentra. Was hesitant to go at first, but everyone said that was the thing to do, so we did, and I was glad.


Lunch was a simple hamburger and fries.


Then onto a castle where the weather or views did not disappoint. 

pescadorzih

dmchicago said:

Spain is on our short list. Following. 

Same here.

northGAcock

Wish you would hurry up and get back home. No one should have this much fun and food whilst the rest of us have to work.