Our Group Has Assembled
Stuart and Stephen took the train from Barcelona half-way to Stiges and road the C-31 coast road to Stiges, arriving at the hotel mid-day. John and I slept in, enjoyed the fabulous hotel breakfast and then explored the local area.We met about 2 pm for a light lunch and beverages. We will depart for Montblanc tomorrow morning.
Feast of Santa Tecla activities Continue. A variation on the large festival figures, children inhabit these costumed figures. A nearby resident broadcast the 1812 Overture to the world on an excellent stereo system this morning, most enjoyable. Then the outdoor sound revert to muffled football match commentary, passing scooters, and the occasional car horn.
Perspectives on Europe
Last evening John and I enjoyed beer, wine and tapas at several places, followed by gelato. While not up to San Sebastian or Barcelona standards, still excellent. We discussed the vast difference between tapas as presented in the USA versus the real deal in Spain. The recent Brexit vote prompted thoughts on a united Europe and how citizens stereotype each other. Here is another quote from The Quality of Travel:
La cuisine was one of
the glories of France. Nobody else knows anything: the Italians live on
macaroni, the Germans on potatoes; the English cook exclusively in tepid water;
the Americans do not cook at all.
—From The Quality of Travel, 1961
Heaven and Hell
Heaven Is Where:
The French are the chefs
The Italians are the lovers
The British are the police
The Germans are the mechanics
And the Swiss make everything run on time
Hell is Where:
The British are the chefs
The Swiss are the lovers
The French are the mechanics
The Italians make everything run on time
We normally find excellent food everywhere. Avoid predetermining what you want, rather enjoy what is available. Every country and region varies, and local cuisine developed before mass transportation melded locally available ingredients. I'm not really a locavore by philosophy, rather the local cuisine has been developed over hundreds of years and is usually excellent.
Buzzfeed offers a graphic perspective on common stereotypes:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/patricksmith/alternative-maps-of-europe?utm_term=.glWegw2aZ#.fpVmXe3RO
Perspectives on Europe. Travel Europe and form your perspective.
Plenty to Teach Costco. We all have purchased the $4.99 Costco chicken, but a Costco whole-chicken roaster has nothing on this establishment in Stiges.
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