There are certain dishes that are typical for each country and the Paella is one of the most typical dishes from Spain. It originated in the city of Valencia, where the word paella literally means “frying pan”. The paella is a rice dish that is garnished with either meat, vegetables or seafood and made in a paella pan called a paellera.

The paella is an art form that is taken very seriously and recipes are passed down from generation to generation.. I know I will one day inherit my dad’s recipe which was his fathers recipe and is an absolute secret at the moment.

There are many ways of cooking a paella and you need not be a chef to try to make one yourself. You can find many different types of recipes on the Internet, so all you have to do is gather ingredients and have some fun creating! Of course, going out and eating one already made by experts is also a great idea. They are usually made for a minimum of two persons so make sure you bring a friend along.

More information The Paella Company, and How to do a Paella in London or Dublin

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The north of Spain is an area with too many sites that can’t be missed. One of my favorites is Asturias, particularly Los Lagos (lakes) of Covadonga . Here you are one step closer to heaven. Covadonga has two lakes, Enol and Ercina, both located at over 1,000 meters of altitude.

There are several ways to get up to this paradise. A guided tour is always best since the ride leading up to the lakes has many curves on a small road. You can also take an escorted hike tour , for those adventurous souls who want to take everything in. How you get up is up to you! Once there the miles of flush green meadow, the smell of nature, the glimpse of the wilderness and the sound of the echo will enchant you.

Take a picnic basket and spend the afternoon with family and friends. This is a perfect spot to take young children since they have unlimited space to run and be free. There are also several campsites around the area if you feel the need to spend the night or longer….

More information Asturias

Resource Los Lagos

image credit flickr

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Valencia is slowly becoming one of Spain’s main tourist attractions, not due to its old world culture but more on the contrary, because of its futuristic new structural design. This, in part thanks to the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava who has created a new world. The City of Arts and Sciences is a huge complex located in the heart of Valencia.

This cultural attraction includes the Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe (Science Museum), The L’Hemisfèric (Imax - Planetarium), the L’Oceanogràfic (Aquarium) and The L’Umbracle (Parking + gardened promenade). Also not to forget the Opera House who is host to many international classical artist. This complex is not only a tourist attraction, it is a national educational center. With official university courses in oceanography and astronomy as well as others, one can’t ask for more.

There is so much to see and do you need a couple of days or more to take everything in. Knowing this, the city has doubled its number of hotels and amenities of all types to be able to accommodate all the new visitors. Most of these hotels are in walking distance of the complex and offer weekend specials and entry to the attractions.

More information City of Arts and Sciences

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