FOOD! Nom nom nom

Spain is one of the top travel destinations in Europe and also where I had the chance to live throughout the past year.
Aside from its rich culture and year-round sunny weather (depending on where you are), one of my ultimate favorite things are its delicious tapas - small portions of tasty seafood, pastries, curated meat, cheese, vegetables... to share with friends without any moderation!

Some of the best places to enjoy them are in small local bars/cafes. Nothing too fancy in appearance but you may often be surprised how good their tapas are - and cheaper, MUCH cheaper than in the classic main plazas restaurants, aka tourist traps.

Here is a photo I took in Denia (South of Valencia) in February last year, on a warm sunny day. Being a coastal town, it would almost be a sacrilege (unless you are vegetarian) to not have a go at the seafood tapas. Octopus or pulpo is an absolute delicacy to me - even more so when you realize that ordering it is often a hit or miss. Tenderizing the octopus properly is the secret to success when cooking it. If the preparation is mishandled, the octopus can be quite tough - A slow cooking method is key to a surprisingly tender and flavorful dish.