Bomba Rice

 

One of the most well known dishes in Spain is paella but what is lesser known is the specific variety of rice that makes this dish possible. The variety of rice is called bomba, commonly referred to as Valencia Rice (named for the region in Spain where it most commonly grown). This rice is known for its non-stick properties and is also able to absorb two to three times its volume of water without spoiling. These two properties make it perfect for paella; long duration of cooking paired with absorption of all the delicious spices and flavors in paella. The name of the rice, "bomba", gets its name from the Spanish word “bombeo” which means “to pump”, which I interpret as a reference to pumping the rice full of fluid. 

The rice also has a slightly nutty taste which adds to the overall experience of paella as well. I've seen this rice used in soups but not many other dishes and I've also never seen a paella without this type of rice. The status of the rice is a critical part of the pallea experience. The rice can not be too hard nor too soft, rather the texture must be just right.

Manchego cheese

Manchego cheese is probably my favorite cheese in Spain and is specific to the area of La Mancha qualifying for the European Union Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). This means that to be classified as true "manchego cheese" it must come from that region, from the milk of a manchega sheep, and mature for at least 30 days. My favorite type is curado which means it has been aged for 3-6 months.

I am no cheese connoisseur and lack the vocabulary to accurately describe the tastes and textures but it's certainly a cheese that I find delicious on its own and not one that I would necessarily add to a sandwich. The flavor is more complex than your average cheese and pairing it with a red wine is a dangerous combination!

Gumiel de Mercado

 

You can see the "castillo" with bodegas in the background of this pic

For me, a trip to Spain is not complete without a visit to my mother in-law's home village of Gumiel de Mercado (Trip IV). We trekked up to the view point and enjoyed a beautiful clear day. In the evening I poked around the castillo in the center of town. A small hill that has been hollowed out with small scale wineries (bodegas) it has recently received some renovation to make it more tourist friendly. It's a stunning area with views of  the landscape and unique little chimney's aerating the cellars below.

Fresh grass of spring

Beautiful light

Mountain hikes: Miraflores de la Sierra

 

A view into the mountains

 

One of the things Madrileños tend to do is escape to the mountains. The city is surrounded by mountains most notably the Sierra de Guadarrama, Sierra del Norte and the Sierra de Gredos. There are loads of small mountain towns peppered throughout the mountains and their surroundings are perfect places for long walks. There are still many people that herd animals and thus there are a variety of trails to wander on. The backdrop of both the mountains and views into the plains below are stunning. 

I always enjoy visiting friends in the mountains and it is only natural to go on a walk. This year the spring time weather was particularly inviting and thus a perfect excuse to get out. Although there are natural parks and protected areas around (such as La Pedra) what is so nice about these villages is that you can literally step out the back door and find a suitable area to enjoy.

Fallow field

Segovia town

 

Segovia Cathedral towers over the cafes.

Although the aqueducts of Segovia are the most well known attraction, Segovia is a charming little town with some stunning buildings most notably the Segovia Cathedral and Alcazar. The Alcazar is particularly stunning located on the edge of the city overlooking a cliff. There is a deep moat and a beautifully landscaped area in front of the grounds. It's has a distinctive and romantic shape and style paired with the location on a rocky crag make it a prototypical medieval scene (in my unscholary opinion.)

It's not a tiny town like Morella but had a similar feel with the main pedestrian rohad connecting the aqueducts to the cathedral being packed with touristy shops. It was a holiday weekend when we visited and it was very crowded though enjoyable due to the nice weather. The city is a great place to spend the day and a must do day trip from Madrid.

 Alcazar of Segovia

A view of the city from Alcazar

Cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig)

 

One of the things I enjoy about Spain are local food specialties. Some are more well known like paella from Valencia or tripe in Madrid(callos a la Madrileña) but others are much less known. In Burgos we had the local specialty cordero lechal (roasted baby lamb) which was delicious but I am slightly squeamish at the whole baby animal thing. Well, in Segovia the specialty is cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig) which cranks up a notch even further. 

The restaurant was called Venta Vieja and it is a charming old place that feels like it has existed for millennia. The building is old with a massive open floor space and huge wooden ceiling beams and bare brickwork. Sure enough, according to the website:

It is located in the same place where there was an old inn, called Santa Lucía, on the road from Segovia to San Rafael and at the foot of the Sierra de La Mujer Dead, because of the way her silhouette recalls.

The restaurant takes its food seriously which is apparent from the moment you step in. There is a photo collage of various pig slaughterings and barbecues! The food itself was delicious and all of the tables around us ordered the cochinillo asado indicative of the restaurants prowess in preparing the local specialty.

Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja

Blowing the glass to expand it.

Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja is a really interesting glass museum, gallery, and factory. If you have even the slightest interest in glass making, the history of glass production, or appreciate glass art, then you should absolutely make a visit. 

The main reason I went was to see a glass blowing demonstration. They have a constant production of vases and the steady stream of tourists can come and observe. It was a really neat process of him heating up the glass, blowing, shaping, using a machine to form, cutting the top, and then putting in a gigantic oven-like object presumably for finishing. It was really well presented and the guys were really friendly and happily fielded questions from the tourists. 

I was unexpectedly engaged with the history of glass blowing production in the area and technologically. There were several replicas and originals of glass blowing equipment with some seriously impressive engineering. There was even a guided tour but we could not participate in the entire tour due to time. 

After the museum there is a gift shop and small gallery full of impressive works. The Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja was a real pleasant surprise, a kind of hidden gem for sure!

An old press for making glass sheets.