Most of you know that I am actually from Spain. This past summer I was lucky enough to be able to spend 2 months traveling all around Spain visit friends and family and getting to know many of the parts I never visited while living there when I grew up.

Cantabria is where my mom moved after I left Spain and even in such a small state there is much to see. Culture, architecture, gastronomy and topography are all so differently all over Spain. There is always something totally unique to see no matter where you are in the country!

These pictures are actually from a little town called Santillana del Mar. It is one of the most visited towns in Cantabria for its uniqueness and quaint little shops. Sobaos is a dessert that is very typical of this region. It is like a baked buttery cake that is nothing but delicious. A must try if you are in the area!

This picture I took a few years back. I just wanted you to be able to see the main square in Santillana del Mar in its full glory. The perfect place to visit if you are up North Spain.

You can see the little shops in one of the main streets. Here to the left is my favorite bakery. If you like palmiers this is the place to buy a couple. So yummy and of course homemade!

You can find street musicians all over town in the summer months. There are plenty of tourists and a lot of artists displaying their talent!

These shoes were painted by hand by a local artist. The detail was unbelievable and the shoes were just so unique and fun. Of course I bought a pair for my daughter and when we came back to the U.S. everyone kept asking where I found them. So super cute!

In Santader, which is the capital of Cantabria, you can visit one of the major “Mercados” , a food market where you will find all sorts of fresh fish, fruits, veggies as well as meat, cheese and local food vendors.

If you are in the area, you won’t be able to miss this food market which sits in the very center of Santander. You see “Conejo” here? “Rabbit” that is, not my thing!

My mom resides in a part of Cantabria, where lucky for us, when we arrived in June the year festival was taking place. I can’t tell you enough how happy I was. Have you had churros or porras before? This is also a very traditional food here in Spain, ” Chocolate con churros”. If you are lucky enough to be able to go to a Spanish festival you will sure be able to find a vendor selling these!

There were actually more than one “Churreria” vendor in Saron’s festival so no matter what festival you go to in Spain there will always be at least one to get your churros from.

Some of the “Porras” are even filled with some sort of cream. I have never had one of the filled ones but the basic churros for me are best. In Saron there is also a weekly food market, Tuesdays is my favorite day of the week while staying there. My mom only lives about 3 miles away from it so needles to say I make it every single Tuesday!

I was able to buy two containers of local honey and when traveling to South Spain they opened which meant I couldn’t transport them back to the U.S. I was so sad because this honey was like no other.

I wish I could take all of these dried legumes with me. I wasn’t prepared this time around since I didn’t take an extra empty luggage piece with me to be able to stock up on all the local ingredients. Big mistake…next time I know what to do!

Fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes…you name it. Such a beautiful display of local grown foods. Just one of my favorite things to do when I travel. Visiting places where I can find all sorts of local treasures!

Another beautiful thing about this part of Spain is that most people grow their own veggies. I can’t tell you enough how much I would love to be able to do something like this. Maybe in the future!

Cantabria is a part of Spain that sits at the very north of the country. It is surrounded by amazing mountains and beaches. The climate is milder than the rest of Spain making summers much more manageable and the winters not so cold.

If you are in the area make sure you get to visit some of these places, Santillana del Mar is a must and while there make sure you make time to visit any of the weekly food markets.

Until my next travel post.

Enjoy!

The post Spain adventure part II: Cantabria appeared first on Eat Good 4 Life.

For those that don’t know, Spain is where I come from. Ever since I moved to the U.S in 1997 to study I have been trying to go back every single year. After getting married and having a family it started to get a bit harder financially, after all, just flying there takes about $4000 on average, quite a bit of cash which doesn’t include renting a car, food and  many more other expenses!

Anyways, even though we spend a lot of money each time we go to Spain we are trying to make it every year. Not only because we have a blast but because the kids experience a new culture, learn Spanish and get to see things that they wouldn’t otherwise see here.

Are you looking to go to Spain anytime soon? I really recommend that you do. Not because I am from there but because it is a very unique country. It is pretty small and driving distances are not such a big deal. The topography, architecture and gastronomy is quite spectacular where the North, South, West and East of Spain is completely different from each other. It is like you are visiting different countries all together. The best of of both worlds.

The people are another reason why I love Spain so much. They are so friendly and welcoming. Look at these 3 sisters we meet in Comillas. We were just walking the streets looking at the architecture and spotted their beautiful flowers that were laid out through out their balconies and fence. They were so sweet and nice. I wanted to take them all home with me!

We were lucky enough that they same day we decided to go to Comillas they had the town fair. That made the visit even more fun and exciting, especially for the kids. It was a blast!

These were the so called “Cabezudos”. They formed part of the festivities in Comillas that take place every year around the end of June. A must see if you ask me! They are so cool and unique.

Comillas is just a magical place. It is one of the most visited towns in North Spain. The first University of Spain was born here. A very quaint and beautiful town.

The food was also excellent. I don’t think there was a place in Spain were the food was a disspointment. The seafood is always good, Calamares fritos (fried calamary) and pulpo al ajillo, (garlic octupus). No matter where in Spain seafood is always phenomenal. Thank goodness my kids love seafood!

The shopping, while it was not abundant in Comillas, it was very unique. I was so sad I couldn’t hardly buy anything. I wouldn’t have been able to fit it into my suit case but next time I know to plan better!

Comillas is a coastal city that sits right in the Cantabrico Ocean (Mar Cantabrico). A beautiful beach that you should visit if in the area. It was a cloudy day for us but even still we ventured out so that the kids could have a dip!

The architecture and food is what fascinates me the most about Spain. While in Comillas it was for sure the thing I enjoyed the most. A beautiful town that I wouldn’t mind moving to.

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