Travel with Julie

Toasting The New Year With Cava

We are all familiar with champagne, the sparkling wine from the Champagne region in France.  And over the last few years, many have become familiar with Italy's version of the bubbly, prosecco.  But few have heard of, or had the pleasure of tasting, cava, Spain's sparkling wine.

Named after the cellars in which the wine is produced, cava is made in the "champagne" method.  It is said to have been first produced in 1872, and now more than two hundred million bottles are made for both domestic consumption and export. You can distinguish cava by the cork, which should be marked with a four-pointed star.

Typically, cava is a much better value for the money over champagne.  It is sold ready for drinking.  So, consider joining me as I toast in the new year with a lovely glass of cava!

Happy New Year's!

How to Celebrate New Year's Eve Spanish Style

After learning Italians like to wear red underwear and throw things out their windows on New Year's Eve, I thought it would be interesting to find out how to spend New Year's Eve (Noche Vieja) Spanish-style!   Here are the top 10 traditions you might consider:

1. Dress yourself up in fancy new clothes and gather with friends and family to offer up prayers.  The prayers are considered to drive away evil spirits and bring good luck in the year ahead.
2. Wearing a brightly colored costume, step out into the street and indulge in dancing and wild merriment.  Invite your friends to join you--dancing in groups is preferred.  (You may want to give your neighbors a little warning before you try this one at home :)...just sayin'!)
3. Watch a fireworks show.
4. Bake a special cake.  The cake must be shaped like a ring with goodies and gifts baked inside.  Divide the cake among your friends.  Those who find the hidden goodies are supposedly blessed with good luck throughout the new year.
5. Construct a large doll out of old clothes stuffed with straw.  At midnight, take the doll into the street and light it on fire.  The burning of the doll represents the end of the "old person" and the beginning of a "new person." (Do yourself a favor and be sober when you explain this one to the police--you know they are going to show up for this one!)
6. At the strike of midnight, eat 12 grapes--one grape per chime.  If you can successfully eat one grape per chime while following the rhythm and not choking or laughing too much, you can look forward to a year of happiness and luck.
7. Drink cava (Spain's bubbly).
8. Wear red underwear.  (Yes, the Spaniards also believe that wearing red underwear brings about good luck for the year--as long as it's been bought for you by someone else!)
9. Head out to a disco or bar (but only after midnight!).
10. Stay up all night celebrating, followed by eating churros con chocolate at sunrise.

The Unanticipated Architecture Of Spain

In Italy, you expect to see Roman columns and beautiful domes.  In England, you anticipate curved gables and Tudor windows.  In France, it is the iron balconies and gargoyles that come to mind.  In Spain, however, I did not anticipate the amount of Moorish influence in the architecture, especially in the Andalucia region.  Not only was I surprised by the Moorish designs, I was bowled over by its beauty.

Prior to my first visit to the region,  I didn't know that the Moors (of Arab descent from North Africa) ruled much of the Iberian Peninsula beginning in the late Medieval era. The Muslim Moors moved into Southern Spain in 711 BC and the region flourished culturally and technologically. Many great buildings and palaces were constructed, and several remain as grand monuments in the area today. One of the most eminent palaces is the Alhambra in Grenada (pictured above).

I was taken by the immense and intricate carvings, the detailed inscriptions and vibrant colors.  It's impossible to imagine the construction of such intricacy.  Yet, it's even more difficult to image the display of immense wealth these facades once created.  Standing inside these magnificent buildings allowed my imagination to run wild!

It's truly difficult to put into words the grandness and beauty of it all, and the impact it had on me.  So, I'll leave a few photos to illustrate what I'm talking about. Unfortunately, the photos don't begin to do it justice!

A column in the Alhambra in Grenada.

Ceiling in the Alhambra in Grenada.

Inside the Alcazar in Seville.

Indoor pool in the Alcazar in Seville.

Ribollita, The Ultimate Vegetable Soup From Tuscany

It's cold outside and nothing warms the body like a hot bowl of Ribollita, a traditional classic Tuscan soup.  Made with stale bread and garden vegetables, it was a hardy soup that country people found to be filling and budget friendly. Today, this delicious soup can even be found on the most discriminating menus in Tuscany.

Ribollita means "re-boiled."  Traditionally, the soup would be reheated day after day increasing in flavor each time. The main ingredients include green leafy vegetables, cannellini beans and stale bread.  Some versions add sausage or proscuitto. The recipe is easily adaptable to your tastes and availability of  vegetables. 

INGREDIENTS:

2 carrots (diced)                          1/2 head of Savoy cabbage (roughly chopped)

2 celery stalks (diced)                1 can diced tomatoes

1 yellow onion (diced)                48 oz chicken broth

2 zucchini (chopped)                  1 can cannellini beans (drained)

2 potatoes (chopped)                 Thyme (to taste)

1 bunch of spinach                     Salt and pepper (to taste)

1 bunch of kale (stems removed, roughly chopped)

Stale bread (sliced)

In a large soup pot, slowly saute carrots, celery, onion, zucchini and potatoes in 1/4 cup olive oil until nearly tender.  Add the tomatoes and chicken broth.  Add spinach, kale and cabbage.  Cover and bring soup to a boil, then simmer for 45 minutes.  Add cannellini beans and season with thyme, salt and pepper.  Cook until greens are tender (approx. 1 hour).

At this point, you may cool the soup and store in the refrigerator overnight, reheating the soup before proceeding with the next step. Otherwise, add the sliced bread, stir and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

Serves 6-8.

 

FIRST FRIDAY FOTO THERAPY

D-Day Beaches in Arromanches, France. 

Taken by: Nick and Samina Baker

On the first Friday of every month, I will share a photo from my travels, or yours.  If you'd like a chance to see one of your fabulous vacation photos published on this site, send it (in .jpg format) along with a brief description to:  Julie@MyFarAndAway.com.

Cure your travel bug with a little Foto Therapy!