Reference - Articles and Tips About Spain and Spanish Food

DON HARRIS: REFLECTIONS ON SPAIN

Resilience and Hope

I have great faith in the resilience of the Spanish people. As I think of the major economic crisis my Spanish friends are facing today as a nation, I am reminded of one of my favorite essays: a story of perseverance and triumph despite challenging times.

I would like to share the remarkable story of my friends Pedro and Isabella Díaz, a devoted couple whom I met in Spain in 1975. Pedro is no longer with us, he died in 2006, but the life he lived with his beloved Isabella lives beyond him. Pedro and Isabella are the embodiment of the best of traditional Spain, and an example of the New Spain that has risen out of the ashes...

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PRODUCT STORY

About Chocolate from Spain

Spain is fanatical about its chocolate. Do you really think the Spanish explorers were looking for gold? Well they found it, black gold: delicious cocoa.

Before coffee became ubiquitous across Spain, chocolate was the drink of choice. It all started in 1544 when Dominican friars, accompanied by Mayans from Guatemala, presented containers of frothed chocolate to young Prince Philip, soon to be Philip II. He and his whole court were enchanted.

Soon any Spanish nobleman worth his salt renovated his home to feature a Chocolate Room - usually located between the Large Hall and the drawing room. There, as a man of leisure, he would...

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REGIONAL FOCUS

Cataluña

We have found such a kaleidoscope of experiences in Catalonia. Of course, there is vibrant Barcelona, which is the most cosmopolitan of all the cities of Spain. Not far from the French border that is demarked by the snow-capped Pyrenees, Barcelona has a familiar feel for those who have traveled in Europe. Strolling down the broad Ramblas boulevard, we have seen everything from stalls featuring pets and parrots, to others with local handcrafts – or the latest sunglasses and DVD’s! Dozens of flower sellers line the long Ramblas brightening the walkway with buckets of freshly cut blooms.

We especially enjoy the vast San Josep Boquería...