with love from Paris...

Christmas came early via the prettiest and most delicious macaroons fresh from Paris from mon petit amie toujours.

Eating-Asturian Style

Everything was so delicious in Asturias, especially the cheese and pastries! Asturias is famous for Sidra-alcholic apple cider that isn't sweet or fizzy like you might expect but subtle and best tasting when hand poured from a stretched arm into a tilted glass splashing everywhere. The first restaurant we went to even had sawdust on the floor to keep you from slipping on the splashed cider!

Cheese-The first thing we discovered. Incredible aged goat cheese, smoked cheese, blue cheeses (Cabrales), and some weird spreadable orange cheese...all served on lovely wood boards with nuts and apple jelly. Heavenly. (Check out the list of cheeses here)

Casadielles-the typical sweet treat of Asturias, flakey pastry, filled with nutty sweetness and sprinkled in powered sugar. I'll just say I had one every day and brought home a box...they were that good. (Try the recipe)

And of course, Fabada. Special white beans from Asturias (a kilo can cost up to 20 euros!) stewed with bacon and chorizo. The fabas really are incredible...such a smooth delicate flavor.

Asturias: natural paradise...and foodie paradise.

Oviedo Cathedral

The cathedral in Oviedo is probably one of my favorites. Subdued and elegant, the gothic lines and symmetry were stunning on the floors, the windows, the alter, and the relics.

Asturias

Girly weekend in Oviedo was a perfect start to the Christmas season with the most lovely gothic cathedral, pretty Christmas trees and lights strung up around the city. More food, coast, and culture and to come...

Happy Weekend

We have a long weekend in Spain for the national holiday to celebrate the constitution. Me and some ladies are off for a girly weekend in Oviedo. I'm hoping to snatch up some lovely presents...maybe a few for me...and spend some time bundled up on snowy streets with twinkling lights. I finally pulled out the Christmas carols this week, and this is one of my favorites. Enjoy it, and enjoy your weekend! besitos

Qué frío!

I've heard its snowing back in the states...and all over Europe people are also waking up and dealing with snow. Here in Spain, Galicia has been the worst affected, but so far nothing but a tiny dusting last night in Santiago so I'm off to work. But it is freezing...good thing I bought my hot water bottle for the bed...classic, cheap, and so warm!