City of the Week: Madrid, Spain

By Jamie Smith
While Madrid is the center of an extremely diverse country, it would be something of a misnomer to call it a melting pot. Those who have live in the capital often don’t blend in to the city but rather retain their fierce regional pride and provincial perspective, even if their family has been Madrileños for generations. In a country where no one hesitates to tell you what they really think, striking up a conversation in Madrid is one of the best ways to encounter a variety of Spanish perspectives.

And there’s no better place to talk to the locals than in a bar or restaurant (in Madrid, it’s often impossible to tell the difference between the two!). Spaniards tend to spend significant portions of their evenings at the corner bar socializing with their neighbors and whoever else is hanging out. Eating, drinking, and arguing are nothing less than national pastimes. But don’t be intimidated by the passion with which they discuss politics or soccer—most people are very sociable and open to being approached.

While you’re enjoying a cerveza and some conversation, impress your new friends by ordering some of these traditional dishes from Madrid.

Cocido madrileño: A hearty stew of chickpeas and root vegetables, beef, marrow, bacon, blood sausage, and chorizo.

Sope de ajo: A simple soup of garlic, bread, oil, and paprika. It may not sound like much, but in the hands of the right cook, it’s divine.

Manchego: A semi-soft sheep’s milk cheese with a distinctive, salty taste. Usually served with bread and cured meats.

Callos: Those with a weak stomach might be hesitant to try this dish, the main ingredient of which is stomach, or tripe. Give it a chance, however, as the tripe is simmered in a delicious tomato-based sauce with chorizo and ham.

To read more of Jamie's adventures, check out her blog, Shame on Seamus. Be sure to join us on Wednesday as Jamie takes us on a tour of Madrid's historic center.

Huelva, Spain's Donana

It is difficult to travel to Spain without making comparisons to my home state, Texas (formerly New Spain). Which is why, I could not write about Huelva or the Province of Huelva without mentioning Donana National Park and Natural Park. Located in the province’s southeast, Donana National Park and Natural Park was named a World Heritage site in 1994, and covers 104,920 hectares.

The unique area sits between the Guadalquivir River, Atlantic Ocean, with marshes, dunes, forest and scrublands making it home to dryland and wetland animals. Ducks, geese, flamingos, eagles, deer, fallow deer, wild boars, mongooses and more populate the area.

Just like Texas, it’s perfect to accommodate Andalucian horses, cattle-raising, farming and ranching, or heading to a nearby beach. Additionally, the “donaneros,” people from surrounding Almonte and Hinojos, preserve the land to hand down to each generation. Just like ranchers (or farmers) in Texas.

Upon every visit to Spain, I’ve frequented flamenco shows, bull fighting, tapas-tastings, and horse shows, often recalling mimicking these traditions back home. But it wasn’t until visiting the various terrains of Spain and Donana that I understood why my ancestors found a home in South Texas.