What is it about Spanish Food?

What's the deal with Spanish food? Why is it so darned delicious?

When we first traveled to Spain, the food was something that took us by surprise. Not that we expected it to be bad, or had never tried any Spanish food at restaurants in the U.S....but still...it far exceeded our expectations!

It's always so flavorful, from the simplest, homemade style dishes to cheap fried food all the way up through gourmet and "molecular gastronomy". I have eaten in roadside stands and airport cafes with tasty food. I think I've only had one bland dish in the country. And, that's all done without being particularly "spicy" (caliente) either. Of course, garlic and salt are not lacking, along with great olive oil and other spices like pimienton and saffron.

Like any culture where you find good food, a lot of it goes back to the ingredients. You'll see "according to the market" on a lot of menus, and menu del dias changing to reflect the seasons or even daily market finds. Abundant, fresh produce abounds, mostly at city markets and fruiterias...why bother with buying that stuff at the grocery store (which is often imported from elsewhere too)? I often filled up a large bag full of produce for a few Euros at the vegetable market in Denia. I saw a local fruiteria selling 25 kilos of potatoes for 6 Euro--seriously!

At the same time, the cooks obviously take pride in cooking things well and creating delicious flavors. The aromas nearly kill me when I'm in Spain...my mouth starts to water and my stomach starts to growl...

The other thing about Spanish cuisine is that the diversity and regionality of the country has produced such a diversity of good dishes. Paella may be the most identified dish of Spain world-wide, which I feel is a bit unfortunate (wait, it's not because I don't like it, it's because I love it--read on...). It has led to some really crappy paella being served, often in Spain...but typically outside of the "paella region" of Valencia. Spanish restauarants in Madrid and Barcelona have to cater to tourists' desire for paella, so they buy pre-packaged mixes or come up with something with little resemblance to the "real thing" (if you haven't had the "real thing" it will undoubtedly seem delicious but trust me on this). And, horror of horrors, many places serve it for dinner...which is your first bet it is not authentic. Rice dishes are for lunch, as any good Valencian knows. There's nothing like a large serving of starchy deliciousness served up with some wine to get you in the mood for that siesta:-)

However, those regional dishes, when done right and especially when eaten in situ, mean that this is a country with all kinds of specialties. It seems each town has its special sausage. Though less well known worldwide, the cheeses and wines of Spain are gaining popularity with many high quality regions. Along the different coasts, you'll find an amazing diversity of seafood made in a wide array of preparations. As much as I liked calamari before coming to Spain, I rarely order it anywhere else now, I'm just too spoiled. My hubby thought it always had the "rubber band" texture and was amazed to find it so tender that you rarely need a knife to cut it most places in Spain.

My best advice...get to Spain if you like food. Find Spanish food products in some of the gourmet or specialty stores in the U.S. in the meantime. Find out what the regional specialties are when visiting Spain and don't miss those (there are plenty of dishes that are generally good everywhere, particularly a lot of the simple tapas...but don't miss what the area or restaurant is known for...you won't be disappointed). And, try things you aren't usually "in to" (calamari being case in point for hubby, ham being case in point for me). Oh, and don't even get me started on the ham...you can get an idea of the national obsession by viewing my "homage to jamon".

Check back soon for some restaurant reviews and specific food recommendations...

Talking about Tampa Bay

I was recently a guest on one of my favorite podcasts, The Amateur Traveler. This great podcast (and website, Facebook community, etc.) offers a wide array of information and insights from travelers to various destinations all throughout the world. I especially enjoy the diverse locations and diverse guests.

My episode covers the Tampa Bay area including Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Tampa. Click here to listen to the Tampa Bay podcast on Amateur Traveler and learn more about why you might want to visit this area or get updates about various sites and events if you have been here before (or if you're a local looking for new things to do). Feel free to leave a comment here or on the Amateur Traveler blog about the episode or anything you think I missed.

Happy travels! (As is every Floridian's duty, I have to inform you that it has been in the 70s here lately...a nice start to December!)

Staying in Touch: alternatives to expensive cell phone plans

Staying in touch on the road, overseas or at home does not have to be expensive. As more and more people take to mobiles and 'smart phones', cell phone companies find more and more ways to take our money. Our recent travels overseas forced us to find alternatives to traditional cell phone plans. Now that we are back in the States, I've found that those same alternatives work just as well here... and save a substantial amount of money!

I've heard many people in the last few months complain about their 'phone bill'. I've shared my set-up with several folks and thought that writing up how I do it may help more people break free of contracts and save some money in the process.

Disclaimer: this is not an endorsement of any company or service. The services I mention are simply what I've found works for me. The costs are as of the date of this post. With the flood of VIOP, cell and service providers, you are likely to find alternatives that work better for you. Knowing what is possible is half the battle... making it work for you is the other half.

First, I'll start with what I had... an iPhone with AT&T service (unlimited data, texting and around 900 minutes a month). This ran me a little over $100 a month including fees, taxes, etc. My 2 year contract with AT&T ended shortly after we returned from Europe, so I had some time to try my alternative plan back here in the States before deciding whether or not to renew.

Last year, before leaving for Europe, we did some research on European cell plans and SIM cards. One thought was to simply get a pre-paid "burner" phone for use over there, but there were a couple problems with that idea. First, I did not want an overseas phone number that my friends and family back home would have to pay international rates to reach me or have to pay international rates myself to call the US. Second, I really enjoyed my iPhone apps and games and did not want to have to carry 2 devices.

For those that are not familiar with cell phone network protocols, there are two types; GSM and CDMA. There are many differences, but that is not the subject of this post. What's important to know is that in Europe and most countries outside North America, cell phones are of the GSM variety. Most North American carriers are CDMA. So if you are not on AT&T or T-Mobile, you have a CDMA phone that simply will not work in GSM countries... regardless of "international plans, etc".

As my iPhone was with AT&T, I did have a GSM phone. Our research led us to a 'Dual Number Global SIM Card' from GeoSIM (see link on right side of this page). This SIM card works pretty much anywhere in the world and is a no contract, pre-pay plan. Your GSM phone has to be unlocked in order for GeoSIM to work in it. You can set it to auto-reload (in my case $15 at a time) when the balance nears zero. The appeal of this GeoSIM for me was that it comes with two phone numbers... a UK and a US. This means that my phone will ring when either number is called. There is no contract and no monthly fee (although there is a small, $10, annual fee each year)... you simply pay per minute of use. In coming calls to your UK number are free and calls to your US number are 14¢ per minute. Outgoing calls depend on where you're calling from and where you're calling to. Calls from the US to the US are 48¢ per minute. This can get expensive if you talk a lot, but this is only one link in the chain.

The second piece is Skype. While Skype is no secret and has tens of millions of users, I believe most people just scratch the surface of what is possible with Skype. Skype has a plan that allows you to call any US or Canada number (unlimited minutes) for $2.99 a month. There are other subscriptions that are country or region specific, but US and Canada is fine for my needs. Once you have a subscription with Skype, they will give you 50% off of a Skype phone number ($30 a year). This is a normal US phone number like any other, the difference being that when someone calls it, Skype rings and you answer with whatever device on which you have Skype running at the time... your PC or Mac and if you have a iPhone or Android, get the free Skype app and it works just like your phone. An internet connection is required to use Skype, so this may not be an option at all times.

The last piece of the puzzle is Google Voice (GV). GV is a free phone number, but a virtual one. It can not make or receive calls in the literal sense. Once you sign up for GV and pick a phone number (or port a number to it) you have one number to give people as a way to reach you. (If you've been keeping track, I have 4 phone numbers). There's no need to tell people which number to call or when or worry about if you have wifi... for me, the only number people know is my GV. Behind the scenes, you register your other numbers (GeoSIM, Skype) with GV, then you tell GV where to send your calls. If you're home or somewhere with wifi, send them to Skype. If you're on the road with no data, send them to GeoSIM. The person calling you simply dials your number and you decide where to answer. The other benefit of GV is free SMS (texting) to US numbers. Skype charges per text message, but open up GV on your computer or smartphone and (if you're on wifi) you've got free SMS from the only number people have for you. Skype allows you 'spoof' your outgoing number, so when I call people from Skype it shows my GV number. GV also has free voicemail so if you don't or can't answer (there is caller ID), your caller can leave you a message. GV can not "forward" to non-US numbers, so the US number on my GeoSIM becomes even more essential, although it does cost 14¢ a minute.

I use my GeoSIM as little as possible since that is the one variable cost in the equation. I find I am much more selective in making cell phone calls - do I need to make this call or just want to? Can it wait until I am on wifi so I can call with Skype? Receiving calls on my GeoSIM is a matter of severity. If I choose to answer, I find out if its urgent. If not, I ask if I can call back later (with Skype when I'm on wifi). If it is urgent, I pay the 14¢ a minute. I've found (being selective with my use, not stingy) that I am 'topping-up' my GeoSIM about once a month, $15 at a time, or $180 a year. Skype costs me $66 a year for a phone number and unlimited calls to US/Canada. That's it and that is over $950 less per year than what I was paying! Even if I doubled my GeoSIM use, I'd still be about 1/3 of what I was paying. Note: The cost of home internet is not factored into this as I am paying for that with or without a "phone plan".


Pros:

• I can make and receive calls anywhere in the world
• I have one US phone number (behind the scenes I have 4)
• It doesn't cost anyone in the US anything extra to call me
• It doesn't cost me anything extra to call someone in the US
  
• I choose where my calls go and when
• I have free SMS, Caller ID and Voicemail
• $20 a month (averaged) vs. $100
• No contract
  

Cons:

• It is complicated, although once you get the hang of it it is actually very easy
• I do not have cellular data

The over-the-air data was the hardest thing in all of this to give up, but with public wifi becoming so ubiquitous, it is becoming less of an issue. When we were in Spain, pretty much every cafe, bar and restaurant had wifi. It was protected, but stop in for a pint and they would gladly give you the key. Eventually I had almost all of them on our walking route from our apartment to downtown. As we walked I would jump from hotspot to hotspot. I essentially had a (free) data plan at that point. Just make sure your phone has wifi capability

My iPhone was locked to AT&T when I bought it, but unlocking was pretty easy and when I popped the GeoSIM in, it worked like a charm. Recently my iPhone bit the dust, so I purchased an unlocked GSM Android based phone on-line for about $350. GeoSIM works perfectly. I downloaded Skype and GV (both free) from the Android Market. The transition was seemless and even with the new phone purchase I'm still way under what I was paying.

Lastly, I should point out that GeoSIM and most other companies that offer these type of cards are not based in the US. So setting up a pre-pay/auto top-up with them will result in foreign transactions fees on your credit card, if your card charges them.

Happy traveling. Happy talking. Happy savings.

Meet, Plan, Go! (or...What Do You Want Out of Life?)

A few weeks ago we joined a small group for one of the national Meet, Plan, Go! events in Orlando, while others were being held throughout North America. Meet, Plan, Go is essentially a movement to encourage North Americans to take part in career break travel. As the name entails, the idea is to meet at the events and via web channels with others who have fulfilled such travel dreams or are in various stages of planning, to then be inspired to begin one's own planning and then to go!

For us, it was a bit backwards since we have already done career break travel (or in my case, digital nomad travel), however it was still great to hear stories, learn about some additional resources and ideas, and be surrounded by like-minded people. When you're passionate about something, you can sometimes be a bit hard to take for others who don't share that passion (thought bubble above the head of any person talking to me, "Enough already with the travel stories!"). Getting together with those who share your passion is energizing (and is the next best outlet to blogging for telling all your stories and hearing about places you dream of going:-).

What impressed me most about the panelists we heard was the variety of lifestyles, situations and motivations they started from to reach the common denominator of extended travel. I hear a lot of different comments from people when we're sharing our story, along the lines of "You're lucky to be able to do that" (yes, I agree:-) and "You can do it because...(you don't have kids, your job allows it, fill in the blank here)" or "How??" (which often relates to money). For us, it is true, some of the challenges were easier because of our jobs, lifestyles, etc. However, the panelists proved that people in a variety of circumstances were able to overcome obstacles they faced.

This isn't just about travel though, because that may not be something that matters to you. But if it is a priority and you think you can't do it, there's a lot of people out there who can tell you otherwise. For example, on the Orlando panel, there was a couple with three high-school aged children who traveled around the world for a year (after a slight detour in planning when their original savings plans were derailed by the housing market crash) and a solo woman traveler who is also a "digital nomad" and is now venturing out with her young niece for a year! I've read a number of blogs and articles about every type of traveler you can imagine: from older women who travel amongst youth backpackers to families with all ages of children and people from wide-ranging career and financial situations.

I guess my biggest take away is that these lessons can be applied to life whether travel is important to you or not. It's about what you want in life and the feeling many people have that they are stuck without choices. As a conservative worrier, believe me when I say, I know it isn't easy to face the unknown or make big changes. I am someone who generally sees the glass half-full and sometimes can get all too comfortable with the status quo because of this. I'm always pretty pleased with where I live, who I am with and what I do for a living or fun. I can easily get into a rut (and often do). But, I guess I've also always had a certain restlessness (I'll put the positive spin on it and call it intellectual curiosity) that doesn't allow me to settle in to my rut for too long.

What do you want to change in your life? What little steps can you take to start making that happen today? Do you try to prioritize the things you are passionate about daily?

If you're curious about the logistics of how some of these career break travelers made it happen (how did they save the money?, school the kids?, what did it cos?t, how did they handle medical insurance?, etc.), check out the Meet, Plan, Go! website and some of the blogs and social media sites of the various panelists or other round-the-world, career break travelers or digital nomads.

I would also recommend The Passion Test, a book and methodical system of identifying your passions and putting them first in your life (whether those passions are a hobby you want to improve, a business you want to grow, your children and family, friends, a better relationship with your partner or travel...).

Does this inspire you or tick you off? Do you think my view is unrealistic, idealistic, unsympathetic? Have you or someone you know changed courses in a big way and lived to tell about it?

Florida's Many Festivals

The weather in Florida right now is glorious. We rarely get temperatures this cool at this time of year (Halloween can be tricky when you're burning up in those heavy costumes). However, because things have generally cooled down a bit, this is the time of year when you'll find multiple festivals every weekend. Last weekend for example, there was Clearwater Jazz Holiday, an Octoberfest at the local Catholic church, an antique car show, and the "Taste of Dunedin" all within a 10 mile radius.

Most of the towns in the Tampa Bay area have a full schedule of events throughout fall (and spring). Part of the reason we chose Dunedin was that we found ourselves visiting for some event or another almost every weekend when we moved to the area.

If you are planning a trip to the area (oh, or if you live here!), here are some resources to find out what might be going on (or to plan when to visit):

Old Palm Harbor Main Street website: events in downtown Palm Harbor, Florida

St. Petersburg, Florida official site: events in St. Pete (today there is more than one thing listed for almost every hour!)-events are color-coded based on the type of event

Island Time: links to the various towns' events calendars plus more festivals throughout Florida

Dunedin Wines the Blues is one festival I would highly recommend, whether you like good blues music, wine or just a general good time in a fun, downtown atmosphere. For all of the events happening in Dunedin, visit the city of Dunedin events calendar.

In addition to the Clearwater Jazz Holiday, which is one of the area's premier events for locals and out-of-town visitors, you can find a variety of arts events, crafts shows, great music festivals, beer events, sporting events (we loved going to the Indy car races in St. Pete), and unique local celebrations such as Stone Crab weekend at Frenchy's Restaurants and the Palm Harbor Citrus Festival. The Strawberry Festival in Plant City is one of the most delicious!

Because of the beautiful weather and scenery, you'll find some type of outdoor celebration on almost any night. For example every evening, Sunsets at Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach has live music/entertainment, arts and crafts and (free!) one of the most striking sunsets you will ever see.

A Few Favorites in Tampa Bay, Florida

Listening to The Amateur Traveler podcast (highly recommended!), I was inspired to write about my hometown area. The podcast guests often talk about places they have traveled, but are mixed with guests from a particular area talking about their hometowns. Even though we sometimes neglect to take advantage of all our hometown has to offer, we all know some of the great spots and can be inspired to get out and explore those things that we should be enjoying!

I've had the chance to visit a few local treasures lately that are well worth a visit. First is the Salvador Dali museum in St. Pete which I covered in a recent post, "A Surreal Adventure Nearby". This is a world class collection, now housed in a world class building. While you are taking in some art, it is worth stopping by the Chihuly Collection at the Morean Arts Center. Many people would be surprised to learn St. Pete is such a great arts destination. Complete your day of the arts with the Museum of Fine Arts and touring the local galleries and shops. Or, check out some great local theatre at American Stage or the Progress Energy Center for the Arts.

Of course, for those less inclined towards art, there are all of the expected activities in the area such as beaches and water sports. Cross the bridge from Tampa and head in almost any direction and you'll find some of the most beautiful beaches you have seen. Honeymoon Island State Park is one of my favorites and often voted a top beach in the U.S. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are unlimited opportunities to fish, swim, kayak, paddleboard, bike and do just about any activity. I'll dedicate another post to more specifics about the beaches and outdoor activities, as well as some ideas on specific towns to visit and places to stay.

For now, I cannot neglect to mention Clearwater's biggest current celebrity, Winter the Dolphin. If you've seen (or heard of) the movie Dolphin Tail, you know Winter's story. Winter lives in the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, another local treasure worth a visit. Not only can you see Winter (and buy any type of merchandise you can imagine) but you'll see many other animals with similar stories and learn about the rescue and rehabilitation done by this facility. Expect crowds, at least while the glory from the movie lasts. However, it is still very manageable. They offer various packages too, including a combination with a "Sea Life Safari" cruise and several behind the scenes and interactive options (and photo opportunities with the celebrity:-). You can get discounted tickets as a AAA member or senior citizen (sidebar: I find it amazing that 60 and older is considered senior!). I'd recommend checking it out online and consider purchasing your tickets online too (especially if you want to do any of the special tours) due to the popularity.

After your visit to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Winter, hop over to Clearwater Beach for a sunset dinner at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill, preferably a grouper sandwich. If you're in town from about mid October to April/May, you have to try the stone crab claws. Frenchy's actually holds a big stone crab celebration every year at the beginning of the season. That same weekend is the Clearwater Jazz Holiday. If you are a fan of jazz, or just like sitting in a beautiful setting outdoors listening to live music, plan to visit this event. Another big surprise, this is currently a free event, run mostly by volunteers (such as ourselves) and embraced by the community for many years. Read more about the event in our Clearwater Jazz Holiday post from last year's event and on the Jazz Holiday website.

When you attempt to talk (or write) about your local area, you gain a better appreciation for all the area has to offer...and you realize you can't possibly cover it in one post. My goal is to do a series of posts covering the area as we "travel locally" so check back for more soon and let me know some of your local Tampa Bay favorites!

A Surreal Adventure Nearby

The Salvador Dalí Museum
St. Petersburg, FL

After spending time in Dalí´s home country of Spain (well, Catalonia, really), it is interesting that we only have to go a short distance from home to see one of the best (if not the best) collections of his works. Not that odd, I suppose, since the U.S. was his adopted home during the war years and he deeply identified with the innovation and discovery he saw and experienced here. During this time, he and Gala befriended the Morses, a couple who became not only friends, but serious collectors. It is thanks to them (and the locals who helped eventually bring the collection here for its permanent home) that we in the Tampa Bay area can enjoy a world-class collections of Dalí´s work. You can read more about the history of the collection and museum at the museum site here.

We had been to the museum before, but it has moved to a new home and we wanted to see the building as well as view the collection now that we have more context of Dalí's homeland and influences. It means a lot more to view his paintings of Cadaques after seeing the beachfront in Catalonia and to hear about his admiration for Velasquez after viewing many of his works at the Prado. And, with the complexity of Dalí, you could visit many times and discover something new each time, to say nothing of rotating exhibits and new features.

The new museum is a truly worthy home for this collection. Dalí would have appreciated the building's and grounds' aesthetic. Set on the waterfront, it is a beautiful area to enjoy, rivaling the seafront towns where Dali spent much of his time in Spain. The collections are housed in two wings divided by a stunning circular staircase and wall of over 1,000 glass triangles known as the Glass Enigma. Lennie Bennett of the St. Pete Times did a great overview of the unique features of the building.

Because there is so much complexity to this art and it helps to understand the context and meaning, which are so tied in with what was going on in Dalí's life and the world around him, I recommend a guided tour. The museum has regular docent-led tours as well as audio guides. Both are free! The museum has a fairly pricey entrance fee ($21) so this is a nice feature that they should offer (there are senior, student, and member discounts as well as discount tickets available at AAA, which we purchased and also helped us avoid the ticket line). I got one of the audio devices and listened to most of the segments as we viewed the collection (and building, as the audio also talks about the museum's history and creation of this new building). Bryan didn't get an audio guide, but listened to bits of a docent tour which had started before we arrived. The crowds were a bit much on this fall Saturday and locals are probably better off choosing a weekday or weeknight (the museum has $10 admission Thur. nights).

This new building provides space for all the works to be on display at once, and I will certainly go back to spend more time exploring each one. This is the largest collection of his Masterworks and one can spend a lot of time soaking in all the detail and expression held in these intriguing works (to say nothing of reflecting upon his personal evolution along with the context of what was going on in the world and specifically the creative movements of the times). Our visit was truly enriched by the memories of viewing art from Picasso, Velasquez, Miro and others in Spain as well as immersing ourselves in the scenery and culture of Catalonia and Spain. If you can't have that context, you will still get a lot out of the museum but I would recommend doing a "mini immersion" by perhaps reading up on Dalí, Spanish history and culture, and the Surrealists or even watching some films or shows about Spain.

If you visit, plan some time in St. Petersburg beyond the museum. This is one of the nicest cities nearby, with a pretty lively downtown and waterfront. Feel a little Spanish by taking in a coffee in a local cafe or wine and a snack or meal at a sidewalk table (the museum has a cafe offering a small array of Spanish selections to get you in the mood). One of the other treasures in the area that I highly recommend is the Holocaust museum. I was surprised by the quality of this museum, which doesn't compete with the size of the D.C. Holocaust museum but is done very thoughtfully. It may be a lot to take in within one day, though. Instead, spend a night and explore the city and its many art galleries, the new Chihuly museum (another local treasure), the waterfront and beach and much more. Make that a few nights!

More pictures of the new Dalí museum: