Spain and Portugal 2013 – An idea is born

Spain and Portugal: a visit to my roots

In February and March 2013, hubby and I went back to my roots when we revisited Portugal and Spain. This trip planted a little seed in my brain: I wanted to come back, alone, and spend time rediscovering my Spanish roots. As we drove through the Spanish countryside, I took hundreds of pictures to capture the scenery along the highways and roads. And I kept thinking “I need to spend more time here. I want to get to know this beautiful, varied country.”

As I child, I had lived in Portugal. But since I have never lived in Spain, I don’t really know it as much as I know Portugal. On this trip we decided to explore places we’d never been: Barcelona, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Oviedo. 

Beautiful Barcelona and stunning San Sebastian

We started our trip in Barcelona, and wow… What  a city! It’s eye candy. Everywhere you turn, you see things that stop you in your tracks. From Gaudi’s stunning and unique architecture, to museums, shopping and food, Barcelona is truly a must visit city.

Before planning the trip, I’d reconnected with family and friends that I’d lost touch with. I love Facebook! One of those people was Rosa, a friend from my younger days. She ended up living in Barcelona when she married a Spaniard. Rosa and her family were very welcoming and insisted that we had to stay with them. It’s always such an honour to be invited into someone’s home. And to see a city with a local, someone who knows the good, the bad and the ugly is an unforgettable experience. And so it was with Barcelona. Rosa’s sister in law is a tour guide and she gave us a personalized tour of Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece. We also spent a beautiful evening in the mountains outside the city when we visited Lourdes, our tour guide. The evening was magical as it was snowing which is a rare occurrence for Barcelona.

Other highlights of Barcelona: the famous Las Ramblas avenue, a beautiful wide street where you can see some of Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces. It’s also where you find the famous market, Mercado la Boqueria, which was a feast for all the senses. It was so much fun to walk around and taste test local, fresh treats: jamon Serrano, delectable cheeses, fresh fruit. A foodie’s heaven. Walking around las Ramblas is truly an unforgettable experience. From the food, the street vendors, the architecture and the people watching, it all adds up to a very unique experience.

After Barcelona, we headed to San Sebastian. This city has fascinated me for years, but I was scared of going because of all the political upheaval. Very silly of me. Had I known what I was missing, I would have gone years earlier. What a city. We visited in February and it was cold and rainy. We still loved the city. Concha beach is a gem. The city streets are eclectic and vibrant. Tons of restaurants and art galleries. And the food! Those pintxos are exquisite. In the south of Spain, they are referred to as tapas. Here, it’s pintxos, delicious little nibbles of appetizers in every assortment imaginable.

We spent a cold, rainy day visiting the downtown core, going to the beach, and getting to know my Basque cousins. Not even a miserable day takes away my enjoyment of the ocean. There’s nothing like salty air to restore me.

Ah, Asturias…

Bilbao was the next city we visited. The main purpose of visiting Bilbao was to visit the Guggenheim museum. I’ve been very fortunate to see the other Guggenheims in Venice and NYC. This one was as impressive as the others. The only regret I have is that we didn’t spend longer in the city. The reviews I read on Bilbao all said that the only thing worth seeing was the museum. Wrong. My son went a year later and loved hiking in the mountains around the city. And he’s not exactly an outdoorsy type.  So, lesson learned. Do what I want and don’t pay too much attention to reviews.

We continued our trip along the north coast of Spain, to Oviedo. Oh, Oviedo! The beautiful  capital of Asturias is located on the Bay of Biscay. Like other Spanish cities, Oviedo has a unique and colourful history and culture. The food is so good: fresh seafood and delicious cider. Watching the waiters pour the cider was very entertaining. Restaurant floors were covered in sawdust to catch the drippings. A lot of fun.

How about the Camino?

We drove along the coast, heading towards Galicia. I’ve always loved Galicia, even though I haven’t spent too much time there. The people are friendly, the countryside side is lush, the food is delicious (
I do love good food!) We spent time visiting the various relatives and enjoying the sights.
I come from a large family. My mom had 7 siblings. I have a lot of cousins, most of them females. When I visited Galicia, the girls decided that we should do a Brandariz pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago. I loved the idea. A chance to spend some time reconnecting with some amazing women: strong, independent, intelligent, loving and funny women. So, the plan was for me to return in two or three years to do the Camino with the girls. Yet, as time went by I decided that I wanted to do this pilgrimage alone. As much as I love my cousins, I felt that I wanted to undertake this journey on my own. And so, this is what I’m doing in a couple of months. I’ll start my journey at the Galicia border and I’ll walk 160 kms over one week. I suspect that this personal journey will leave me blistered, tired, and yet rejuvenated as well. I’m ready for this once in a lifetime adventure!