In the summer 2010, my family and I spent a month in Spain. After our first week in Barcelona we rented a car and traveled throughout the country, with stops in Costa Brava, Zaragoza, Pamplona, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Salamanca, Segovia, Toledo, Madrid, Granada, Tarifa, and Ronda (in that order). We also took a one-day excursion from Tarifa to Tangier, Morocco. Here’s a list of our top 10 experiences from the trip:
- In the Toledo bullring with 3000+ screaming Spaniards watching the Spanish soccer team beat Germany on a giant-screen TV, then in a small bar in Tarifa watching Spain win the World Cup title over the Dutch.
- Tapas everywhere, but in particular in Zaragoza.
- In Barcelona, Gaudi’s buildings, the Picasso Museum, and beach volleyball with locals.
- Mouth-watering cochinillo at Restaurant Jose Maria in Segovia.
- Anish Kapoor’s sculptures at the Guggenheim in Bilbao.
- Picasso’s Guernica in Madrid.
- In Granada savoring a verdejo wine from Rueda and listening to Steven Nightingale read sonnets while gazing at the Alhambra under lights.
- Walking the running of the bulls route (wihout the bulls) in Pamplona.
- Tarifa’s gale-force winds and its spectacular kite-surfing beach.
- Hiking the gorge at Ronda.
- Plus great meals at these restaurants:
- Montiel (Barcelona)
- Restaurante La Esenzia (Zaragoza)
- Rekalde Taberna (San Sebastian) – [thanks to Jeff Smallwood who worked there]
- Tedone (San Sebastian)
- Restaurant Jose Maria (Segovia)
- El Trebol (Toledo)
- El Aji (Granada)
- Bulevar Cafe (Granada)
- Inti Restaurant (Tarifa)