My first real experience with Spain was as an 18 year old backpacker, due to the unfortunate circumstances of being robbed of all my worldly goods on a night train in France, all that remained in my pocket was a train ticket to Alicante.
Little did I know at the time that under these slightly bizarre circumstances, a life long love affair with Spain and Latin America was about to shape the course of my future.
And nearly fifteen years later, I recently questioned why myself and so many other people flee to Spain at any given opportunity, why is Spain such a pleasurable country to travel in?
Sunlight
Light, there is so much sunlight and it’s not temporary and teasing like the light in northern Europe, it doesn’t just flirt with you for a few minutes from behind the clouds, it’s there all the time, unwavering and constant.
Ever wondered why you feel happier on a sunny day? Sunshine boosts levels of serotonin, the body's natural happy hormone, it relieves aches and pains and boosts your immune system.
Moorish influence
Makes for vegan friendly cuisine and spa's that only use natural oils
The Moors were Medieval Muslim inhabitants of northern Africa and invaded the Iberian peninsula in 711.
Spain was under moorish rule for over 800 years, that’s a long time, long enough to influence Spanish cuisine, architecture and culture.
Lesser know inland regions of Spain and it’s fascinating history are often overlooked even now due to years of cheap and cheerful package holiday deals directing people to the coast but you only have to scratch just beneath the surface to feel have a completely altered experience, one full of vegan friendly cuisine, generous hospitality and midnight conversations.
Festivals
Certain festivals seem to summarise life in Spain, with its love of having a good time in the company of friends and loved ones. The Fiesta de San Juan, is definitely one of these events. It is a celebration that is usually held on the beach with roaring bonfires, drink, food, and friends. It is a memorable, almost surreal scene and one that needs to be experienced.
San Juan, on the 23rd of June is all about changes. It is about night and day; fire and water. Fire purifies and water recuperates, refreshes, and rejuvenates.
Bonfires are the theme of the night. Men and women, young people and children all spend time building these bonfires. According to tradition, if people jump over a bonfire three times on San Juan's night, they will be cleansed and purified, and their problems burned away.
Midnight conversations
Years ago when I was living in Madrid I began a meet up group called midnight musings. If you arrange to meet people at 10pm in Spain, most people will show up at around 11pm and by midnight conversation is in full swing, hence midnight musings. There is an incredible sense of community when you're sitting there at midnight in Madrid with your cafe con leche de soya, your coffee with soy milk, you'll often end up joining tables with your neighbours and making friends with the locals.
Here’s the great thing; whether you drink wine, beer, coffee, juice or water, you're welcome in any bar. Fancy an ice cream at 1am, all your friends want beer and you want a coffee at midnight, freshly squeezed orange juice with dinner, no problem.
Vegan friendly tapas
Spanish cuisine reflects the countries rich history, regional cuisines are very different but nearly always have wonderful common ingredients such as garlic, olive oil, rosemary, oregano and thyme. Principle aspects of the modern Mediterranean diet include a wonderfully high consumption of legumes, fruits, vegetables, unrefined cereals and olive oil along with a reasonable consumption of vino tint, red wine.
Tapar, the Spanish verb to cover. It's thought that Andalusian sherry drinkers used to cover their glasses with bread to stop the flies going in and later, bar owners began serving bar snacks alongside the bread which became tapas. Such a common pastime in Spain that they verbed the word, tapear literally translates to lets go and take tapas!
Albondigas, soy balls served in a rich and sometimes spicy tomato based sauce are great for an afternoon snack.
Berenjena frito, battered fried aubergine (eggplant) is a very old and traditional Andalusian dish, upon ordering you'll receive a very generous plate of berenjeno frito with optional caña de miel (sugar cane / black treacle) to drizzle on the top.
OVER TO YOU
What would you like to know about vegan travel in Spain? Which part of Spain would you like to see a Vegan Micro Adventure in next? Let me know in the comments box below.
P.S PASS IT ON
VEGAN ADVENTURES IN 2015
www.veganbnbtravel.com for further information and to discover how compassionate travel can promote the availability of a lifestyle in which animals, people and the environment are not exploited, one holiday at a time.
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