There’s not a week that goes by that I don’t think about my college study abroad trip.
I day dream of the sailboats at the Gulf of Trieste. Which for the record, is where I’d love to go back for a concert… bucket list item… Pearl Jam in Trieste, Italy. Sometimes, I reminisce over my crazy courage to go white water rafting in the Swiss Alps (umm… a category 4? What was I thinking?). Other times, it’s the small reminders of fascinations like visiting Mozart’s home in Austria.
These days, I sit in wonderment over how my parents let me study abroad at 19 years young! I can’t imagine my soon to be 17 year old… gone from me, exploring the world alone…in just 2 short years. Then again, I feel like I’ve trained my kids well in travel. My study abroad experience was so defining for me, that I have made a study abroad trip a requirement in college for the wee three.
Of all the cool emotional experiences, like jumping off cliffs and crying at the German camps…I’m always asked… what’s your favorite part of all the travel?
My answer, is generally the same as it was when I was 19 years old… simply visiting food markets. The food!! It is consistently thrilling.
When I returned from that European study abroad trip…just a short 98 years ago…the hardest thing for me to adjust to back in the States, was no piazza foodie center, no side ally market, no screaming negotiations from vendors, no fresh cherries, and no gelato.
So. Every time I can get to a food market, I’m one happy traveler. This is where I can try to blend in with the locals and get a true taste of the culture. Probably, my favorite market I have ever been to was the Mercado de la Boqueria in Barcelona.
The variety of foods were insane. The bustling feistiness of the locals…All awesome. Here, in Barcelona is where I tasted paella, like for real real. Of course. Go to the source if you want the real deal. And ever since, I can’t stop with the paella.
I won’t claim that I’m a Paella expert but, I do claim that I’ve made all kinds of tasty paella and it’s ALWAYS loved.
Have guest coming over? Paella
Need a fancy dish? Paella
Comfort food? Paella
Too cold outside? Warm up with some paella.
To hot outside? Seafood paella will make you feel like you’re cooling off by the ocean.
Lonely? Paella
What goes with paella? Paella.
Ok, well what goes well with paella is pan con tomate and Spanish wine, olives and cheese. And a second helping of paella.
Head here for a basic veggie paella recipe. The sofrito is the most important part. Add broccoli, chicken, clams…You do you boo!
Last night, I did a quick vegetarian paella. I cooked shrimp on the side for the meat eaters. Delicious.
Cheers… and someone get me to a European market stat!
Travel Ninja 