Upcoming Trip: Basque Spain

Travel to Northern Spain with us from September 18 t0 24, 2011

Jinny and Ed Fleischman have a trip for you that will engage all your senses!

Join us as we travel to the historic region of Northern Spain this September. We will be offering a fascinating view of the area rich in wonderful food, wine, scenery and art.

Join us as we travel to the historic region of Northern Spain this September. We will be offering a fascinating view of the area rich in wonderful food, wine, scenery and art. Why this area of Spain you might ask? It is the region just south of the Bay of Biscay. North of Madrid this area's food reflects its location along the Costa Vasca with delicious fresh fish and seafood. The mountains to the south provide the perfect microclimates of the world reknowned wines of Rioja. It is a region filled with wonderful natural beauty as well as sophisticated cities and picturesque towns. The history of the area is fascinating with wonderful windows into a broad range of times from ancient to Moorish to 16th century to the present. There is a richness to this area that will stay in your mind long after your visit.

Our base for this trip is a traditional large Basque farmhouse that has been completely renovated. It now has six double bedrooms - each with its own ensuite bathroom as well as a modern kitchen, sitting room and dining room for us to enjoy. There is an outdoor grill that we are certain to use in our meal preparations. Five of our evenings we prepare dinners incorporating local foods and wines picked up in our travels that day. Meals will focus on the delicious regional foods and wines that we gather in our travels. We will have informal cooking classes as we prepare dinners for these evenings. This region is home to a wide selection of sausage, beef, duck, fish and sea food as well as cheeses, and food friendly red and white wines.

The 2011 wine harvest should be in full swing during our visit.

Here is how our trip to Northern Spain might run.

Sunday:
We will pick the group up at the Bilbao airport in early afternoon and drive to our house so that everyone can settle in. It should be warm enough to have a welcome toast outside before going inside for our first dinner. During the dinner we will discuss the upcoming week. Everyone will be encouraged to share any ideas or comments on the upcoming plans.

Monday:
After a quick breakfast the group will leave for Donostia - San Sebastian. Situated on the Bay de La Concha the setting of this city is absolutely breath taking. We will stop in to visit some of the wonderful old churches such as Iglesia de Santa Maria as we head to the Old Town to enjoy the best tapas in the world for lunch. Since there are so many great places to try we will be sure to sample the wares of a number of the famous small restaurants specializing in these tasty morsels. Time permitting we will head up to the Monte Igueldo to take in the views of this wonderful coast line.

Tuesday:
The group will head out today to visit the Spanish coastal towns along the Bay of Biscay. We will tour the one Gaudi building open to the public outside of Barcelona, El Capricho. Built for a wealthy industrialist early in Gaudi's career the building is full of a wealth of the details and organic feeling that made Gaudi such a Spanish treasure. After lunch in the central square in Comillas (and a visit to its market) we will travel back to our house by way of Santillana del Mar which has been called the most beautiful town in Spain.

Wednesday:
A day for a quick breakfast before we will head out to Rioja for a visit to this most famous wine area of Spain. Our day will be filled with wine tastings at two vineyards and a stop at the fascinating wine museum in Briones. With any luck it will be the harvest season and we will be able to see the grapes being picked. We will probably stop for dinner near our house - after a day replete with delicious food and wine!

Thursday:
Today we travel to Bilbao to visit one of the most famous museums in the world, the Guggenheim Bilbao. Its futuristic design by American Frank Gehry made it an icon of modern architecture even before its opening. First we will make a stop at the wonderful indoor market of Bilbao (and pick up some ingredients for our dinner that evening). If time permits we will stop into the Museo de Belle Arts before returning to make our dinner.

Friday:
Let's hope it is another sunny day as we head out to explore the delightful French Basque coastal towns of Biarritz, Ciboure and Saint Jean-De-Luz. The later two towns retain the low key charm that has made this region such a favorite with visitors since the end of the 19th century. On our way to France, we will stop to visit the wondrous Chillida-Leku Museum, the fifty year project of famed Spanish artist, Eduardo Chillida.

Saturday:
After breakfast it is time for everyone to travel back to Bilbao. Your next stop may be home or yet another leg on your fall adventure. Either way, you will leave the Spain with wonderful memories of great times filled with excellent company, sight seeing, food and wine!

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