Remembering Madrid's Chocolateria San Gines

Did you say chocolate and churros? That's right! If I'd eat this right now, I'd probably not taste the savory sweetness of the chocolate since I've lost my taste buds due to chemo, but it's certainly sweet to remember how the chocolate dipped churros tasted one morning in the city of Madrid.

Kepi and I walked from our hotel to the Chocolateria San Gines. It was a good 30 minute walk. When we got there which was about 9 AM, there was already a long line of locals and tourists eager to taste the shop's specialty. We could smell the whiff of freshly made churros and the warm, sweet, thick chocolate permeating the air.

The Chocolatería San Ginés is a café at Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5, in central Madrid, in a passageway close to San Ginés church, west of the Puerta del Sol. It has served principally chocolate con churros since 1894. (Wikipedia)

 We walked from our hotel to San Gines for a breakfast of chocolate and churros.

 That's what I'm talking about - pure, rich, thick chocolate.

 The churros were served straight from the kitchen. They were fresh, warm and ready for a good ol' chocolate dunking.

 You know a place is really good when people line up for it. The line was long when we get there. Also, just a suggestion, be quick to snag a table when you can because they get snagged quickly. Be warned that the place is crowded at times especially at breakfast, but I think it's all worth it.

Mosque-Cathedral Of Cordoba, Spain

We were supposed to visit the Rock of Gibraltar, but we were so glad we went to see the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, also called the Mezquita or the Great Mosque of Cordoba, instead. This place is a historical marvel and a real treasure for the people of Andalusia. A must see for history lovers and for anyone who visits Cordoba. The Mezquita is a medieval Islamic mosque and was later converted to a Catholic cathedral.

What was amazing in this structure is that, a Christian cathedral was built in the middle of it, and surrounding the cathedral is the presence of Moorish architecture and beauty. Christianity and Islam occupying one space.

 Imagine standing underneath these beautiful columns that withstood time and history. For me it was a historic moment.

Through the pages of history, we find out that a Cathedral was built right in the center of the mosque.

 The cathedral is quite impressive in design.

  Lavish in decoration.

 We also explored the villages surrounding the Mezquita. This area is in the La Juderia or Jewish Quarter. I love these hanging potted plants on the wall.

 A garden and fountains outside the Mezquita.

 A building with windows adorned with moorish design and architecture.

 Facade of the Mezquita.

 The tower entrance to the Mezquita.

 The beautiful halls of the Mezquita.

 According to our guide, there are more than 856 columns of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite.

My travel buddy and husband, Kepi.

 The famous alternating red and white voussoirs of the arches were inspired by those in the Dome of the Rock.

 Inscription on one of the columns.

 If you walk around the Mezquita, you'll find these signatures on some of the columns. Our tour leader said that they belong to those who built the columns.

Facade outside the Mezquita.

 This is the mihrab, which is part of the masqura or prayer room for the ruler. The mihrab faces the direction of Mecca.

 I think this is the ceiling in the maqsura or prayer space reserved for the ruler. It looks a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

This is the ceiling in the cathedral.

A UNESCO world heritage site and definitely a must see if you're in Spain!

Pastries I Enjoyed In Seville

This post is about the daily freshly baked pastries we enjoyed while visiting Seville. As I have written in the past, I always follow my taste buds when I travel. I also tend to plan my trips around food. Food is a great GPS.

 These pastries are from the local bakery we frequented while we were in Seville. They're topped with caramelized sugar.

When traveling, I tend to get excited with three things - cuisine, baked goods and sweets.

Every single pastry was an object of curiosity. The shop owner was amused with me taking photos and he was very accommodating and let me roam around the bakery to snap photos.

The beauty of a rustic bread. While taking photos, I wondered how this and that bread was made, what are the ingredients and who would be the lucky person taking them home today.

 I love how the shop owner wrapped our pastries in paper then tied a ribbon for easy carrying. He does this for every customer. It's like bringing home a gift every time we visited his shop.

 Topped with caramelized sugar and sprinkled with almonds. This reminded me of Puerto Rico's pan de mallorca except the caramelized sugar and nuts.

The taste is so similar to a Monay, a Filipino pastry. It's dense and perfect for my morning cup of coffee and milk.

For me, Seville brought the quiet and comfort I was looking for in a vacation. There wasn't a lot of tourists when we visited. We didn't miss the crowd and noise of Barcelona. Although at times, the cathedral would chime every hour, there was real quiet in between. We walked and felt welcomed everywhere. People in Seville were a lot nicer and unassuming. They were hospitable and real.

Our Train To Seville And The Lovely Hotel Abanico

We left Barcelona at about 6 AM for Seville. We purchased turista-class tickets as the only difference between turista-class and second-class was 30 Euros. So we said, "Why not!"

It was a good decision. Our train ride was quiet and relaxing. We were the only ones in the car all the way to Seville.

 Seats were comfy and clean.

 Empty and so quiet.

 Although the movies were in Spanish, we managed to watched and still put together the story of "Snow White and the Huntsman."

 Gotta have my soda and some pork rinds for the ride.

 Arriving at Sevilla-Santa Justa - the ride was about 6-7 hours.

 Hotel Abanico - a hotel that really embodies the beauty, character and hospitality of Seville. The workers there treated us so well and they were genuinely accommodating. I love that their coffee room is open for 24 hours.

 As usual when in Europe, don't expect a double bed but instead, two twin beds put together.

The bathroom is nice and just what we needed.

 These lamps were adorable.

 There were potted Poinsettias everywhere.

 Christian paintings/art adorned some walls and there were antique collections around the hotel.

 It didn't feel like a hotel at all. This is the hotel lobby.

Here's the lovely mirror in our room and a welcome bathroom kit when we arrived.

From Hotel Abanico, we walked to all the historical sites. We chose this hotel for its location but we were amazed that the hotel itself is a destination worth experiencing.