Destination Spotlight: Santa Olalla and Real de la Jara (Sierra Norte of Seville)
Spain Savvy Destination Spotlight: Santa Olalla and Real de la Jara (Sierra Norte of Seville)
A feast for the senses. A mountain getaway a stone’s throw from Seville, in the Sierra Norte region just north of the city.
Castles, stunning countryside and the best Iberian ham. What more could you ask for on a day trip? Ancient fortifications, breath-taking views and delicious food. And all within easy reach of Seville, just an hour down the motorway. Take a trip to the Parque Natural de la Sierra Norte de Sevilla and to Santa Olalla for some of the best Iberian ham you’ve ever tasted. Walk into any bar and order a tostada con tomate, aceite y jamón and you won’t be disappointed.
Little more than a large village, Santa Olalla has a pretty central square with a fountain and a ruined castle perched at the edge of the village. It’s a great stop for breakfast and the aforementioned ham. After your ham toasty or churros from the stall on the edge of the main square, take a stroll to down to the 13th century castle. Built as a fortification by Sancho IV in 1293, it has great views over the surrounding countryside. Entry is free.
After all that fresh air it’s time for lunch. If you’ve decided to bring a picnic, head for Real de la Jara and stop off at the Rivera del Cala recreation area on your right. With a stream and picnic benches it’s a great spot to relax in the open air. If you’re looking for more history, carry on towards the village of Real de la Jara, where you’ll find another castle, this time dating from the mid-14th century. The castle is set in rolling fields, you will probably only have the sheep for company. Take a deep breath of fresh mountain air for the short stroll up the hill. After a wander round you’ll be ready for a hearty meal in front of an open fire, especially if you’ve come in autumn or spring when it can be sunny but cold. Try Mesón La Cochera, a stone’s throw from the castle. After lunch, explore the village. As well as the castle, there’s a chapel thought to have originally been an Arab mosque, the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, on Calle Cervantes. If churches are your thing, the Iglesia de San Bartomolé has works dating from the 13th century, including a work attributed to Zurbarán, Las Animas.
Before you set back off for the hustle and bustle of the city, maybe a coffee and one of the sweet treats the area is famous for. Look out for homemade honey pastries like roscos, piñonates and virutas realeñas.
This is a guest post written exclusively for Spain Savvy and featuring photos by Lucy Williams
Culture Corner: Halloween in Spain
Spain Savvy Culture Corner: Halloween in Spain
As today is a National Holiday in Spain, All Saints’ Day or Día de Todos los Santos, we thought it’s a perfect time to explain what you can expect if you travel here around Halloween. Every year the celebration of Halloween, from the Anglo-Saxon perspective, is becoming more and more popular. It’s a special night for both children and adults with spooky parties and events planned in cities and villages. It’s much less of a commercial holiday and more of a celebration of our dead and the continuity of life.
You may even witness some trick-or-treating although that concept seems to be a bit slower in taking hold. I credit this to two facts (and these are of course generalizations with their natural exceptions):
1) Most people in cities live in apartment buildings that aren’t conducive for door-to-door soliciting
2) Spaniards are private about their homes and it’s just not in their nature to open up their front doors to strangers – they so most of their entertaining en la calle as opposed to in their homes.
Since November 1 is a holiday, October 31 is a festive night anywhere in Spain. You’ll see mostly scary costumed folks out and about. The funny and satirical costumes we’re used to at this time of year are usually reserved for Carnaval in early Spring.
Traditionally, this is a time of year when the Spanish people will visit their deceased loved ones at the cemetery, trussing up their grave sites and decorating them with flowers. Families will gather for a large meal and in some areas, special sweets are a part of the celebration – like huesos de Santo (holy bones).
Late October is usually a lovely time to visit Spain and to be able to celebrate Halloween as well is just an added bonus!
Be sure to also check out this article for some more region-specific details and contact us to get started on your trip planning.
Destination Spotlight: Castillo de las Guardas
Spain Savvy Destination Spotlight: Castillo de las Guardas
Just under an hour from Seville in the Sierra Norte is an animal and nature wonderland just waiting to be discovered! The Castillo de las Guardas Reserve is a complex with an on-site Old West-themed hotel as well as rustic bungalows, a lakefront restaurant and the 15 kilometer expanse of natural habitats where the animals roam and which you can explore via train or in your own vehicle. You and your family can see, feed and photograph the following animals up close: zebras, giraffes, lions, Bengal tigers, dromedaries, bison, hippopotamus and more... They even offer a sea lion show and the chance to play with lemurs. When you pull in there is an old mining site now populated with reproductions of dinosaurs. Also on the property are an extensive paintball field, a go-cart track, and a classic vehicle exhibition. Fun for the whole family is guaranteed!
The Reserve has a restaurant but we did not eat there, opting instead to explore the nearby village Castillo de las Guardas. We had a lovely meal at Mesón El Rincón de la Brasa, with great views and tasty grilled meat dishes.
A highly recommended day trip from Seville!
Contact us today to include this excursion in your custom itinerary.
Travel Tips: Holidays in Spain
Spain Savvy Tips: Holidays in Spain
Since we have had lots of requests for holiday trips (Christmas-New Year's) lately, we thought it would be helpful to provide some information on the national holidays in Spain and what to expect as you consider dates for your upcoming trip.
DECEMBER/JANUARY/FEBRUARY
December 6: Constitution Day
December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Since these days are so close, most businesses tack them together and make a long weekend out of it when possible. It is a popular time for Spaniards to travel.
December 24-25: Christmas Eve - Christmas Day
Only Christmas Day is an actual holiday and Christmas Eve is very much a family-oriented holiday with most shops closing at mid-day.
December 31 - January 1: New Year's Eve - New Year's Day
Similar to Christmas, on New Year's Eve families will gather for a big meal and New Year's Day is a full-blown holiday.
January 5 - January 6: Feast of the Three Kings' / Epiphany
While Santa Claus is becoming more and more popular, traditionally Spanish kids await their gifts from the Three Kings on the night of January 5th, the eve of the Epiphany. Every town and city holds elaborate parades to welcome the Magi and you can feel the excitement in the air.
Some other notes about travelling to Spain around Christmas:
-Children are typically on vacation for the Christmas holidays from the last Friday before Christmas until the first school day immediately following January 6.
-Restaurants will sometimes stay open for the holidays although it's always best to call ahead and make sure, and make a reservation if you can.
-Hotels will organize banquet dinners for guests for both Christmas and New Year's Eve. It's typical to stay up very late on New Year's Eve to ring in the New Year by eating 12 grapes for each toll of the bells and then partying in to the wee hours of the first day of the new year.
MARCH/APRIL
Holy Week falls on different dates each year according to the liturgical calendar. Holy Thursday and Good Friday are national holidays, but places like Seville will be mobilized for Semana Santa during the whole week. We personally believe it's a special time to visit Spain, but do be prepared for crowds and a religiously-charged atmosphere.
This is a good link to learn more about Holy Week and the exact dates it will fall in the coming years.
In Seville, the colorful Spring Fair will usually be 2 weeks following Holy Week and lasts a full week.
MAY/JUNE
May 1: Labour Day
The Corpus Christi festival falls about 60 days after Easter and is usually a holiday in most regions.
JULY/AUGUST
Most people in Spain take their vacations in July and August, sometimes up to a month at a time continuously.
August 15: Feast of the Assumption
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
October 12: Spain's National Day
November 1: Feast of All Saints
While Halloween is gaining momentum, traditionally November 1 is a solemn occasion for Spaniards to remember their loved ones and visit cemeteries, etc.
There are lots of things to consider when deciding on dates for your trip (weather, vacation time, etc.) but we truly believe Spain is a destination that you can enjoy during any season of the year and no matter when you come, you'll most certainly happen upon some kind of festival, party or celebration of some kind!
Remember, each region in Spain might have different, specific holidays. We'll be sure to inform you of those holidays as well as advise you on the best time to visit as we work together to build your custom itinerary. Contact us today to get started on yours!
Travel Tips: Our commitment to sustainable tourism
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has declared 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
What does this mean?
By the UNWTO's definition, sustainable tourism should:
1) Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.
2) Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.
3) Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.
Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building. Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and/or corrective measures whenever necessary.
Sustainable tourism should also maintain a high level of tourist satisfaction and ensure a meaningful experience to the tourists, raising their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices among them.
How does Spain Savvy weave this purpose in to our company belief system?
We are a small organization whose main goal is to bridge gaps between cultures and provide travelers with an authentic and meaningful experience in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. We work with like-minded individuals and companies when organizing programs and activities for our clients.
*We support the local economy by sending our clients to local vendors and artisans
*We hire local guides with in-depth knowledge of the area
*We aim to educate our travelers before, during and after their trip on the history of the region they will be visiting as well as cultural issues, norms, habits and laws
*We urge our clients to learn a little bit of the local language before they travel, and even provide helpful vocabulary lists
Most of all, we truly believe that "respecting our world and all that makes us different and unique will only enhance your travel experience."
Become an agent of positive change and join the Sustainable Tourism Movement today! For more tips on being a responsible traveller, check out this link and contact Spain Savvy to plan your sustainable tourist experience today!
#TRAVELENJOYRESPECT
Culture Corner: The mirroring minarets of Spain & Morocco
Spain Savvy Culture Corner: the mirroring minarets of Spain & Morocco
There's nothing like learning a little bit of architectural and cultural history as it relates to travel. Spain and Morocco are two countries bound by many centuries of history reflected in their modern culture. At one time the southern region of Spain was called "Al-Andalus". These photos of minarets are a perfect example of this.
The Hassan Tower in Rabat and the Giralda Tower in Seville were both modeled after the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech. The Hassan Tower's construction was halted in 1199 A.D. following the death of Yaqub al-Mansur, the project's financier.
Yaqub al-Mansur was a member of the Almohad Caliphate, a Berber Muslim empire in the Maghreb and Iberia. The tower, according to some traditions, was designed by an astronomer and mathematician named Jabir ibn Aflah who was also supposed to have designed Hassan's sister tower, the Giralda of Seville in Al Andalus (modern day Spain). Jabir's involvement in the design of the structure can not be confirmed though and many scholars assume that the tower was designed by Ahmad Ben Basso, the designer of the Koutoubia Mosque. Spanish Renaissance later added a belfry on top of the Giralda, which was converted from a minaret to a bell tower for the Seville Cathedral after the Reconquista.
Can you tell we are passionate about world history? Contact us today to start your own historical discoveries in Spain and Morocco on your very own customized tour.
"Study the past if you would define the future" ~ Confucius
Travel Trips: Flying with kids on TAP Portugal
Spain Savvy Travel Trips: Flying with kids on TAP Portugal
The Spain Savvy family recently returned from a summer vacation in Massachusetts, USA, flying with TAP Portugal airlines. We hadn't been in 3 years so it was a lovely, albeit whirlwind, trip of catching up with family and friends. We were also blessed with pleasant weather!
In the past, we have almost always flown to and from Spain (SVQ) with Iberia. This time, we wanted to try out TAP PORTUGAL through Lisbon, which has fairly direct routes to Boston, Newark and other U.S. cities (forming part of the Star Alliance worldwide network for other connections, together with United Airlines). We found them to be extremely affordable, keeping in mind the rule of thumb that the best time to book is around 6 months ahead of travel. Here at Spain Savvy, we have been using them quite a bit with clients recently with rave reviews, and I have to say our experience was just wonderful! For our travel dates, there was a great connection for the way out that only had us at the Lisbon airport for a couple of hours, which made for a total travel time of just around 12 hours.
Our return connection was not as short, around 6 hours, but there were unfortunately no other more direct options to Seville through Lisbon. The Lisbon airport has a lot of entertainment options which made the time go more quickly. Click here for a complete list of services available at the Lisbon airport, which include lots of shops and dining options, children's play areas and family rooms, and even a luxury lounge with sofas and showers (for a fee). The free WIFI throughout the airport worked great!
Our children are ages 6, 4 and almost 2. The older two kids had their own seats and the little guy was a "lap baby", meaning that you pay a cheaper fare (gasoline and taxes only) and the baby has to sit on one an adult's lap with a special seat belt adapter. For the short flights Seville-Lisbon and Lisbon-Seville we occupied the entire row (2 seats on either side of the aisle) on the small propeller plane. For the long-haul flight we occupied the entire middle row of 4 seats across. We were able to confirm these seats on the TAP website and then made sure everything was in order on the telephone a few days before our trip.
Our kids will sleep anywhere, so they were fine curling up on their seats. When the baby fell asleep in one of our arms, we would make a little cocoon for him out of the airline blankets on the floor in front of us and that worked out well. They picked at the meals that were offered to them. They do offer children's meals but I inadvertently forgot to order them ahead of time, which in retrospect didn't really matter as they would have picked at them just the same! Kids at this age are more likely to snack rather than have a whole meal, so I made sure to bring some baggies of things I knew they would want to eat (crackers, candies as rewards for good behavior, etc.) The baby pretty much just drank his bottles the whole time. I brought them full and they were able to fill them up with milk for me once on the plane. If you need to bring formula or breast milk while travelling, it's usually not a problem as long as you bring minimal amounts. Prepare to be stopped at security checkpoints at the airports so that they can send the containers through special scanners for liquids.
In terms of entertainment on the flight, my older kids brought (in their own backpacks) coloring books, their favorite toys and one tablet that they shared. On the long-haul flights TAP offers in-flight entertainment on individual screens at each seat which the kids absolutely loved. It was packed with movies, TV episodes and games geared towards the young set. My 4 year old also loved to watch the real-time map of the plane on its path. The baby was a bit more difficult to entertain, with plenty of short crying bouts and "get me off this plane!" moments but we would take him for walks around the plane and try to entertain him with small toys. I have also found that toddlers love stickers for these boredom moments!
We brought our double sit-n-stand Joovy stroller to help haul our carry-on baggage and the kids through the airports which was a must. For all the flights, TAP allows you to bring the stroller up to the aircraft for boarding and they give you your stroller as soon as you are de-boarding.
Overall, we were very pleased with ground and air services, tasty airline food, comfortable seats, and pleasant staff who checked in regularly on my kids to see how they were doing. Our particular flights had no scheduling issues and our baggage was prompt, which always makes for a stellar experience.
Two thumbs up and a five-star rating for TAP Portugal! We are already starting to collect our Victoria miles...
Contact Spain Savvy when you're ready to book your flights to/from Spain/Portugal. We're happy to help you figure out the best way to do it and to hold your hand every step of the way.
Culture Corner: La Velá de Santa Ana in Seville
Culture Corner: La Velá de Santa Ana in Seville
This week in Seville there is a fantastic opportunity for cultural immersion, at La Velá de Santa Ana, a festival taking place just along the Guadalquivir River in the emblematic Triana neighborhood. You can't miss the green and white awnings so typical of the Spring Fair and other festive celebrations of this region, and where you can find all sorts of local delicacies. The plate of choice of this particular festival is grilled sardines and if you want to give them a try, just ask the camarero for una de sardinas.
La Velá coincides with the feast days for both Santa Ana (July 26) and Santiago (a.k.a. Saint James, July 25). The so-called "mini Cathedral" of Seville is the church of Santa Ana (patroness of the barrio of Triana, of course), which is actually the oldest in Seville. It was built in 1280, combining early Gothic and Mudéjar styles and containing an impressive altar piece painted by Pedro de Campaña, a Flemish painter of the Renaissance period.
What goes on at La Velá? For a full cultural program, click on this link. There are local music and dance performances, religious ceremonies and conferences, and prized awarded to local Trianeros and institutions. Sporting events use the river as a focal point, like kayaking races - perfect for the hottest time of the year. Most importantly, you can experience the famous cucaña competition. Cucaña literally means greasy pole and the competition is one that actually has variations worldwide, and consists in being the first to reach the top of the pole (usually jutting out from a boat) without falling in to the water below. A fun event to watch for sure, and great for the kids.
Every year, a new artist is commissioned to design the official poster. This year's artist is José Cerezal and his distinctively beautiful fauvism style so reminiscent of the Impressionist period, yet with a splash of modernism. We love the color he brings with his art to the village where we live (it so happens we are neighbors!)
So, pop on over for a truly authentic cultural experience - join the Spaniards in their local festivities, and have a blast! Or keep it in mind for your next trip to Seville.
Contact Spain Savvy to design your culturally immersive itinerary today!
Culture Corner: The New Caixa Forum in Seville
The New CaixaForum in Seville
La Caixa is one of Spain's biggest private banks and its foundation focuses primarily on public social issues as well as the arts and sciences, research and education. They have in recent years begun to invest in Spain's cities by opening Caixa Forum cultural centers, many located in Catalunya but there is also one in Madrid. The city of Seville opened the doors to its very own center this past Spring and there have been wonderful things happening there ever since. Spain Savvy has got its eye on the art exposition featuring one of our favorite Spanish impressionist artists Joaquín Sorolla: Un Jardín para Pintar, as well as other family-focused workshops and music concerts, like this crafty one called Letrería (not currently on, but looks like they might bring it back at future dates) where kids can design their own typeface using all different kinds of materials. The Caixa Forum would be a wonderful stop to incorporate on your next visit to Seville. It's located just over the river in the Isla de Cartuja area (circular busses C1 and C2 stop there regularly).
The Caixa Forum Space
The building itself is also worth checking out. Designed by local, young (and quite successful) architect Guillermo Vázquez Consuegra, it is inspired by the former plans for this space, at the Atarazanas Reales, or the 15th century Royal Shipyards, and appears to take that space on a modern spin, using aluminum that looks extremely light and extremely heavy at the same time. The space has two exposition areas, a large auditorium and also features an impressive vertical garden. There is an on-site cafeteria and restaurant called laie featuring gluten-free options. CaixaForum Sevilla is completely handicap-accessible, and there is even a room designated for nursing moms!
Caixa Forum programming for your trip
To check out their current programming, click on this link*
*Unfortunately it appears the CaixaForum Seville website doesn't quite properly work in English yet (sigh) so if you need any help in understanding what's on offer or any other logistical information to make your visit to the CaixaForum a success, we are more than happy to assist you!
Contact SpainSavvy to craft your custom travel itinerary today.
Travel Tips: Mindful travel
Spain Savvy Travel Tips: Mindful travel
Do you practice mindfulness? Do you want to learn mindful travel?
Are your days so harried that you count the days towards mindful travel to a new place where you can disconnect and live your days peacefully while having new, exciting adventures? Are you curious about traveling somewhere like Spain but afraid to take the leap?
Then this post is for you.
Spain Savvy fully believes in the positive benefits of living a mindful life and we see so many connections with this practice that can be applied to international travel. Mindful travel will
We recently found this post from Elephant Journal to be so helpful in providing tips on how to make your next trip a mindful one and we'd like to explain how Spain Savvy can guide you towards an authentic experience on your trip with us.
Abandon materialistic philosophy, keep an open mind, embrace everything
This will be easy because you'll only have a suitcase or two of your belongings! Forget your preconceived notions of what you think you know about the country(ies) you will be visiting, and just take in every moment as it comes, experiencing each new sensation with an open mind and an innate desire to understand what is going on around you in your new environment.
Spain Savvy will prepare you for major cultural differences (like meal times, cultural norms, etc.) but ultimately, this adjustment will be up to you and how open you are to embrace these differences.
Immerse in the culture, make local friends, try your best to learn the language
Our clients often come to Spain Savvy purely for this reason - for their desire to really get to know people and the culture. As an American expat located in Spain with a large professional and personal network, we can offer fantastic opportunities to do that and can recommend some really special experiences - like having a meal at a local's home or taking in an intimate flamenco show. It's also fun and will heighten your experience if you actually pretend you're Spanish by doing as the locals do, and even speaking like they speak. We are happy to provide you with tips to practice the language online before your departure, and can even hook you up with local cooking and language schools all over Spain if you really want to apply yourself in-situ.
Adventure every day
Relish in the fact that you will be doing activities you don't normally do at home, and stepping out of your comfort zone, which while it sounds like something that may bring suffering, will only push you to grow and become a better person. If an activity sounds like something you wouldn't normally do, DO IT.
Eat the street tacos and the coconut sashimi
In Spain, this might translate to "eat the pig's ears and the snails". This goes back to going outside your comfort zone, and food is a great way to do that. It won't kill you! We get so wrapped up in our diets and eating the same things every day, that we forget there are VERY different diets all over the world, and many healthy people regularly benefiting from them. Spaniards live some of the longest lives on the planet, mostly thanks to the Mediterranean diet. Here at Spain Savvy, we are gastronomic experts and if you are looking to be adventurous with your eating while in Spain, we can definitely provide you with some excellent tips.
Stay positive, stay strong, seek out life lessons
We are firm believers that the world is the best classroom there is. Take full advantage of your time abroad and make these life lessons real for your own existence. For instance, if you come to find that your body enjoys indulging in the Spanish custom of the "siesta", try to incorporate that in to your life back home. If you like the gazpacho, learn how to make some at home.
Traveling abroad can be psychologically taxing - you can get tired and frustrated with delays or unexpected changes in your plans. Training yourself to stay positive while undergoing these experiences is a fabulous way to strengthen your patience and general behavioral skills. You will only be stronger when you come out the other side and will have a fabulous adventure under your belt!
Mindful travel is an especially positive experience for family travel. Your children will do so much more than visit a new country - they will come away from it with a new world understanding and hopefully, a desire to explore the world over.
If mindfulness/meditation/yoga is a part of your daily life, or you are curious to learn more about it, we also have some wonderful local contacts who can set up yoga retreats in some beautiful, natural locations in Andalusia. We hope to launch some of these trips for small groups soon and are happy to organize these kinds of activities for our clients on a custom basis. Contact us today for more information.
We want end with a direct quote from the Elephant Journal article that resonates so clearly with us as we set out on this journey to make the world a little bit smaller by providing localized travel services and connecting cultures:
When you do, keep the experiences close to your heart and then take them home. Use them there, too. Tell others. Maybe we can start to change the world. End the judgments and hatred, increase the respect and understanding. I know it’s a leap, but maybe it all starts with conscious travel.
Namaste!
Contact us today to set up your own custom itinerary filled with opportunities for mindful travel.