go lucy and ethel: Food in Spain part one

June 3, 2019 First chance for food was Toledo. I was delayed in getting there by a late plane and no available trains until after the vegetarian restaurant was closed. Toledo is a very touristy town and the town almost folds up after they go home. So I went out to a nearby market for locals and found food.
Good prices and simple. But what was sweet were the "sweets" on my pillow at my hotel. Marzipan made here in Toledo. Delicate so I bought them home to share.

June 4, 2019 Next day I went to look for Marzipan to take with me. Almonds grow in Spain and they are the main ingredient. Like cookie with different fillings. And yes, traditionally made by the nuns and you would buy from them. Some still make them but shops sell them. Still Delicious.
(Look straight across to the mirror and see me.)

June 4, 2019 Left Toledo and arrived at Madrid and walked to my hotel to join the tour. These last two days would be the hottest ones on the tour. Most days I would have to wear jacket or a sweater in the mornings until the chill wore off. Glad I had my scarves to wear as well.

June 5, 2019 Next day we had the option to go outside of Madrid and see El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen.

In El Escorial we had a chance for a quick lunch in the nearby town. Here is the bakery.

So many choices, I decided for a simpler bread with what I thought was going to be cheese inside. Like a fancy hot pocket. Oh, well, it filled me up but no extra time to go back and get a treat.

That night at our hotel dinner, there was this tray at the dessert area. What do you think this is?

Yes. Carrot cake. I ate it. It was okay but I think our

American version is tastier with all the frosting!

June 6, 2019 Leaving Toledo we drove to Cordoba.

We stopped along the way at this fancy truck stop.

I had sent a photo before and Robb wanted to see prices.

So this place had they prominently displayed.

After our time in Cordoba sight seeing we arrived late afternoon in Seville.

June 7, 2019 After a day visiting the sights in old Seville-especially the cathedral- we returned to our hotel rooms for a quick break before heading out to the Flamenco dinner show. This snack I had came from the small market across the street from out hotel.

Unfortunately, I never saw these raspberries from Portugal again.

They had been on sale so I guess it was the end of their season's crop.

Best raspberries I have ever tasted. And, yes, I was hungry when I ate them.

Now we fast forward a few days. I became fascinated with the breakfast spreads at some of the hotels.

June 11, 2019 at our hotel in Cartagena.

Look at the gelatin squares and a kind of mousse or pudding.

(I stuck with the fresh fruit.)

June 11, 2019 we left Cartagena after seeing the Roman amphitheater

-and the missionaries desired new location to rent.

We headed on the Costa del Sol to Valencia.

That evening was cool and cloudy but we went to the beach and ate at La Marcelina restaurant and had excellent paella. I had tasted a bit earlier in the week at a hotel buffet. Unimpressed. But this was done the traditional way in giant pans of rice and other ingredients.

I just captured in photos the people and the place. But you can see we are happy!

Marcie, Karen and Paul.

Chandeliers and surrealist paintings on the walls, similar to Salvador Dali.

You can see the rice on Mr. Wolfmueller's plate. And yes, we had wine at every dinner.

June 12, 2019 We awoke to a beautiful day for seeing more of Valencia

and headed to the old city where we had a special cold drink in this cafe. Delicious.

Horchata in Spain is not the same as the kind from Mexico.

All I know is it I was able to drink it since it is made of tiger nuts or chufa.

I was also amazed by Europe's largest market. So many vendors in a permanent location selling their goods. Fantastic! I guess I would have to do comparison shopping on prices locally, but certainly they had the best selection of anything you could want!

From the baked goods...