Starbucks invades Europe.

Travelling solo is proving to be difficult at times. But with the recent Starbucks invasion through Europe, a familiar, comforting place for independent North American travelers has been created. The first Starbucks that popped into Europe was way back in 1971 in Zurich, Switzerland, and today there are hundreds all over the EU. I mean, I have already been to 3, just in Barcelona.

But is this invasion so bad? Or is in an invasion at all? I took it upon myself to Google the situation, and found that the only place that really had issues was France. No surprise there- the creators of espresso and a cigar for breakfast, while standing at the bar. France has a completely different coffee drinking culture than the 'American' grab-and-go. Typically the French enjoy their leisurely coffee time, inside a familiar worn cafe... instead of the paper cup on the run that I'm used to. Even so, I was definitely one of the very few tourists in all of the many Starbucks I have recently visited in both France and Spain.
I'd say the over-priced fad is growing, and for me- I don't like my Starbucks to-go. I love the option of sitting in their 'cafe' like sitting areas and leisurely sipping at my coffee. Maybe it is more European than they put it out to be.

So by my 4th day in Barcelona, the sun had fell away, the wind picked up and I was getting bored of people watching. Who would have thought? I think it was the lack of sunshine to be honest. So, giving up on analyzing the hilarious tourists and fashionable Spaniards, I found myself at the Aquarium. Paying too much to get into a child oriented museum turned out to be okay, I actually really liked it! I spent just over an hour (very small aquarium apparently) fish watching.
With all this time in my own head, and an extensive playlist of Glee hits strumming through my headphones, I started to think of the fish like I would think of people in my 'people watching'. Although, going from a huge market of extremely large fish on pile of ice to the aquarium was probably something I should have reconsidered...

Watching all the different fish kind of made me laugh.. I found myself watching one for a while, and trying to decide what it was doing or thinking. I must be going crazy, but yes this is what I did. The big round shark tank (and other fish that no one really cares about) was like a huge roller derby. The big silver fish (sorry no idea what they were :P), and all the other smaller fish were swimming in sequence with some sort of weird rhythm around and around. All the while the sharks patrolling like bouncers above, it was pretty hilarious, for me anyways..

Finding Nemo! 

Even though I went to play Dr. Suess's, Red Fish Blue Fish for a while, I still found myself fully aware of the other fish gawkers around me. A school group, a pushy father and his daughter, a short couple.. we all payed to look at some fish in tanks. Makes me wonder if the fish gawk back at us somehow, analyzing every little thing about us. I probably looked ridiculous checking out those lionfish- so cool.


Barcelona to me is Gaudi. When I think of Barcelona I think of Gaudi, and that is what I loved about this city. Parc Gaull, Sagrada Familia, and all the other fantastic art pieces hidden all over the city filled my days here. He must have been quite an interesting person, some of this stuff is so weird, and incomplete. While I was strolling through the Parc Gaull, all I could think of was some sort of Dr. Suess fairyland. It was incredible and so funky... and I recommend a trip to everybody. 

Sagrada Familia

All in all I had a great time in Barcelona, from the incredible architecture right down to the old men playing Bocce in the park. As for food, I ate a lot of bread, cheese and Starbucks.. :P Sorry to disappoint. I found Barcelona didn't have much for a specialties in food though either, it felt like a solid grasp on seafood and then influences from everywhere surrounding. There was so much variety: pasta, pizza, sushi and of course all the main Spanish dishes like Paella. I certainly ate well. 


Now after a big dinner of yogurt, toast and apple... I am ready for bed! I am back in France now, in Marseille, and it is my plan to catch up on my writing and my eating! 


Again, from the French, Bonne Nuit! shannon xx

Paella, originating in Valencia

Ahh Valencia... just rolls off the tongue doesn't it? How could I resist coming to such a wonderfully named place. 

Travelling from Madrid to Valencia was the best experience- a brand spankin' new high-speed train whipping through the mountains at top speed. It may seem like a crazy way to see the country side, but I certainly wouldn't do it any other way. You are not allowed to blink, because you will miss something, guaranteed... Kidding! You can blink, but you almost don't want to, the landscape is breathtaking. 

On the quick, 2 hour train ride to Valencia, the temperature rose from a wonderful 15 (ish) degrees to a whopping 23 upon arrival. Why would anyone be in Canada right now? :P I wish I could have taken a video or at least some pictures for you to see, but I was not even going to try while going 300km an hour through the mountains. I mean, the mountains even go by fast.

You could tell we were getting closer to Valencia as soon as the orange trees started to line up. As Shaggy was serenading me through the mountains (We all love Shaggy, don't deny it.) I can't help but get excited about what must be the most ordinary things. The bright blue sky, this rich burnt orange soil, rows and rows of orange trees, and Yucca everywhere! I have never seen Yucca so big, at least 6 feet tall! Yucca is that spikey almost sharp plant, looks very tropical and doesn't grow all that great in Eastern Ontario...

With only one full day in Valencia, I had to make the most of it. First on my list is the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciencies), an architectural complex with a variety of buildings that include an oceanographic park, dinosaur thing, and even a concert hall. All cultural entertainment type elements, kind of like the Biosphere in Montreal, but like a town of Biosphere's, with shallow bright blue pools everywhere in between. 

Next was to explore the Jardin del Turia, a 9km dried up riverbed that runs through the entire city. I only did a small chunk of it, 9km was a lot for one day! Full of fountains, gardens, and even a skate park at one point, the Jardin del Turia is awesome. I kind of relate it to the canal in Ottawa, when its frozen and you can walk on it.. otherwise not so much. 


After all this, it was my mission to see the Mediterranean. I spent my morning and part of the afternoon just wandering through the gardens and checking out these famous buildings, and finally made it to the beach in time for a late lunch and some sun. Now, with a climate such as this,  the possibilities are endless. You can have showers just in the open, long promenades and rows and rows of beach front eateries. 

Mmm beach front eateries... I wouldn't even be able to count my options. After little contemplation, I opted for a small place with pizza. The kind of pizza you want to eat like they do on that Ristorante frozen pizza commercial... which I did. I had a 4 queso (cheese) pizza and a delicious glass of red wine. And I have to say, eating pizza like they do in that commercial just makes it so much better! And I guess the beach in front helps.

For my day in Valencia, I had a full meal.

With a full belly and tired legs I wandered back towards the hostel. After deciding I was probably too full for dinner, I met two new roommates for the night, who were interested in trying some traditional Valencia Paella. And of course, who is going to pass up this opportunity, I had to try the Spanish dish that originated in Valencia! The thing with going for Paella is that you need a minimum of two people, because it comes in a big wok, and pretty near serves a family. And I have to say, after eating a massive amount of the stuff, it was probably the highlight of my trip so far. Paired with an excellent white wine, the Paella couldn't have gone over any better. I found and 'authentic' recipe online for the same version I was lucky enough to sample. If anyone is up for it! However we did not have rabbit, it was chicken, thank goodness.

• Prep Time: 30 min.
• Cook Time: 1 hr 30 min.
• 
  
• Ingredients
• 
  
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 (4 pound) whole chicken, cut into 6 pieces
• 1/2 (2 pound) rabbit, cleaned and cut into pieces
• 1 head garlic, cloves separated and peeled
• 1 tomato, finely chopped
• 1 (15.5 ounce) can butter beans
• 1/2 (10 ounce) package frozen green peas
• 1/2 (10 ounce) package frozen green beans
• salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon mild paprika, or to taste
• 1 pinch saffron threads
• dried thyme to taste (optional)
• dried rosemary to taste (optional)
• 4 cups uncooked white rice, or as needed
• 
  
• Directions

1. Heat a paella pan over medium-high heat, and coat with olive oil. Add the chicken, rabbit and garlic; cook and stir until nicely browned. Move the browned meat to the sides of the pan, and add the tomato, butter beans, peas, and green beans. Season with paprika, and mix well.
2. Fill the paella pan almost to the top with water, measuring the water as you put it in. This is to help you to determine how much rice to add, as paella pans come in different sizes. Bring to a boil. Simmer for about 1 hour to make a nice broth.
3. Season with a generous amount of salt, and just enough saffron to make a nice yellow color. Season with thyme and rosemary if desired. The goal is to make a rich tasting broth that will soak into the rice to make it delicious. Stir in half as much rice as the amount of water in the pan. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. 

• Footnotes
  Rabbit can be very hard to find so you can just use a whole chicken instead. It also may be easier to use boneless chicken but then you don't get any fun extras, like hearts and livers. If you do use the hearts and livers don't put them in until later as they cook very fast. They will however add a nice flavor to the rest of the dish.
  
  
  Keep me posted if anyone tries! I absolutely loved this. It does mention doing it in a special pan, a paella or a paellera. It is pretty much a big round flat wok-like pan. I don't know if it really makes a huge difference. Again, let me know if anyone tries! 
  
  
  As for my few short days in Valencia, they were wonderful. The food was amazing for starters, and the sunshine just makes everything better. To finish off, I want you to imagine you are sitting in a way too comfortable chair, gazing out a big window with the sun warming your cheeks and arms. On your left there are endless rows of full green and orange speckled trees just glowing above fields of bright orange ground. On your right there is a very hairy man, but f you look just past him there are these spectacular green mountains that reach way past the clouds. Takes your breath away I bet. 
  And keeping you company as you ride along, a familiar song from what I would call a three song wonder. (I only know of 3 songs from him.. maybe you know more? He might have done better if people could understand him)
  
  
  Shaggy - Angel (2001)
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWJrPzAUzAs&ob=av2el
  Buenos Noches! shannon xx